Max was leaning against the corridor wall when he heard them.

  Footsteps. Not one. Several.

  Heavy boots. Armor. The unmistakable rhythm of a patrol of guards approaching down the hall.

  'Shit…'

  He looked to one side. Then the other.

  There was nowhere to hide.

  The footsteps were too close. There wasn't time to slip away or activate anything new. The ring was already working, but that didn't make him invisible.

  There was only one nearby door.

  Enor's.

  Max didn't think any further. He yanked the door open, slipped inside, and smmed it shut behind him.

  The door should have echoed through the entire corridor.

  It didn't make a single sound.

  Max pressed his back against the door, his chest rising and falling fast. He let out a sharp breath.

  "That was close…"

  "MAX!"

  He looked up.

  Enor was standing right in front of him. Not fully dressed.

  Her gown was only half fastened, the fabric still open at the sides, one hand holding it against her chest, the other clumsily pulling at the closure. Her face was completely red.

  "Close your eyes!" she yelled. "Please!"

  "Sorry!" he said instantly, turning his back like he'd been given a military order. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

  He covered his eyes with one hand just in case.

  "I swear it wasn't on purpose," he added quickly. "The guards were coming down the hall and I didn't know what else to do."

  Enor huffed nervously, trying to fix herself.

  "Warn me before you come in!" she said, her voice shaking with embarrassment and urgency.

  "There wasn't time!" Max replied.

  A few seconds of awkward silence followed.

  "…Okay," she finally said. "You can lower your hand a little. But don't turn around."

  Max barely obeyed, staring hard at the wall.

  "I really am sorry," he repeated.

  "You'd better be," Enor muttered.

  Outside, the guards' footsteps passed right by the door.

  Max swallowed.

  "Uh…" he said. "When the suitors' event is over, I promise I won't come in without permission again."

  Enor, still flushed, couldn't help letting out a short ugh.

  "I want you to wait here, without making any noise, Max."

  She finished adjusting her dress and took a deep breath.

  "You can turn around now," she said at st.

  Max did so carefully, as if one wrong move might cost him his life.

  Enor was wearing a white dress, simple but elegant. Her cheeks were still warm with color, though now her expression looked more uncertain than embarrassed.

  She hesitated for a second.

  "Max…" she began. "Do you think this is okay?"

  He blinked.

  "Huh?"

  "The dress," she crified, lowering her gaze slightly. "Sophie and Abby couldn't help me choose… and I don't know if it's appropriate for the event."

  Max looked at her for a few seconds longer than necessary.

  Then he shrugged, honestly.

  "You look perfect. Just the way you are."

  Enor lifted her head sharply.

  "Really?"

  "Yes," he said. "Your suitors are probably going to start a battle royale over you."

  She frowned.

  "A what…?"

  "Nothing," he said quickly. "I mean… they're going to compete hard."

  Enor looked at him for another moment, not quite understanding, and then smiled.

  "Thank you," she said softly.

  She walked to the door and took the handle, but stopped before leaving.

  "Stay here," she added. "Don't make any noise while the event is going on."

  Max nodded.

  "Are you sure?"

  "Yes," she replied.

  She opened the door carefully and stepped out into the corridor, heading toward the main hall.

  Max was left alone in the room.

  He watched the door close.

  He sighed.

  '…This is getting weird.'

  And the event hadn't even started yet.

  ***

  Max dropped into the chair by the window and ran a hand over his face.

  "Well…" he muttered. "Time to check how the quest's going."

  He thought about the system.

  The interface appeared immediately in front of him, translucent and silent.

  [ Main Quest: Discover what makes the princess sad ]

  [ Progress: 97% ]

  Max raised an eyebrow.

  "Ninety-seven…?" he whispered. "Seriously?"

  He read the details.

  [ Current Objective: Discover why the princess is sad. ]

  [ Status: In Progress ]

  He frowned.

  "So… what am I missing?" he wondered. "I already know she's sad because she doesn't have friends in the castle…"

  His gaze drifted a bit lower.

  [ Active Side Quests ]

  [ ? Explore the castle and meet its inhabitants ]

  [ Progress: 15% ]

  His mouth twisted slightly.

  "Ah… right." He sighed. "That side quest is still there."

  He dismissed the interface with a mental gesture.

  And then something came back to him.

  The guards. The ones he had put to sleep earlier.

  "…Shit."

  He stood up abruptly.

  "Are they still lying there?" he thought. "Or did someone find them?"

  If someone found them unconscious near the fountain… questions would follow fast. And if those questions reached the king…

  No. Better not.

  He looked at the window.

  It was slightly open, letting in the cool air from the inner courtyard. From there, he could see the central fountain, lit by torches.

  An idea struck him immediately.

  'I could try out my new boots, if I don't make any noise…'

  He stepped closer to the window and looked down. It was very high. A tricky jump, but nothing fatal with the Featherfall Boots.

  "Well," he said to himself. "I've done stupider things today."

  He pced one leg on the frame.

  And jumped toward the fountain, activating the boots' effect.

  [ Featherfall Boots ]

  [ Effect Activated ]

  [ Skill Activated ]

  [ Effect Enhanced ]

  It felt like flying. And in a single leap, he reached the fountain without making a sound or taking any fall damage.

  "…This is absurdly useful."

  As he moved forward, he couldn't help smiling a little.

  "Meet the inhabitants of the castle…" he thought. "I guess starting with the ones I left sleeping is a valid approach."

  The fountain was getting closer.

  But the guards' bodies weren't there anymore…