Frida was the first to break the silence.

  “Ah, those over there,” she said, pointing. “That’s Duncan and Varys. The princess’s personal royal guards. They were promoted recently.”

  Max looked at them closely. They walked upright, but their expressions gave them away—tired. More like… very tired.

  “And the elf walking with them is…” Frida began.

  “Dorian,” Max completed without thinking. “The royal healer.”

  Frida turned to him, surprised.

  “Exactly!”

  As if he’d heard them, the elf in the light-colored robe stopped when he saw them. His expression lit up immediately.

  “Frida!”

  In two long steps he was in front of them. Before Max could react, Dorian hugged the dwarf… and lifted her off the ground as if she weighed nothing.

  “HEY, PUT ME DOWN!” she protested, ughing. “I’m working!”

  “Later,” he replied, gently setting her back on the ground.

  Duncan and Varys stayed a few steps behind, blinking slowly, clearly still half asleep.

  Dorian then looked at Max.

  “You must be Max.” He smiled warmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you. You seem like an interesting person.”

  Max straightened up a bit.

  “The pleasure’s mine,” he replied. “I’ve also heard a lot about you.”

  Dorian raised an eyebrow, amused.

  “Oh, yeah?”

  Max thought of the game. Of the party. Of everything he knew… and shouldn’t say.

  “Yes,” he said with a smile. “Very good things.”

  Dorian leaned in slightly.

  “Though I have to say…” he lowered his voice, “you seem even more fun than what I was told.”

  Max frowned.

  “Huh…?”

  Dorian’s eyes gleamed mischievously.

  “Especially for what you put in these two’s water.”

  Max felt his stomach drop.

  “W-what…?”

  Dorian raised a hand calmly.

  “Shh. Rex.” He smiled. “Dear Abby told me. Your secret’s safe with me.”

  He stretched a little and added, as if commenting on the weather:

  “After all, I also throw the occasional spell on the royal guard when I’m bored. Nothing serious. Just to see what happens.”

  Duncan and Varys yawned behind him.

  Max didn’t know whether to ugh or panic.

  At that moment, a window appeared before his eyes.

  [ Side Quest Completed ] [ Get to know the castle and its inhabitants ] [ Cim Reward ]

  Before he could process it, another notification overpped it.

  [ New Main Quest ] [ A Talk with the King ] [ Convince the king to allow the princess to take walks outside the castle ] [ Reward: Large Leather Backpack ]

  Max stared at the text, frozen.

  “Did you get lost?” Dorian asked, tilting his head. “Or are you reading something in the air?”

  Max blinked.

  “I… uh…”

  Dorian chuckled softly.

  “Ah. I see.” He tapped his temple. “I can open my menu too. Quests, stats… all that.”

  Max looked at him, stunned.

  “You too…?”

  “Of course. It’s something we can all do.” He winked. “So if you’ve got a new quest—and it looks like you do—don’t hesitate to ask me for help.”

  Max looked back at the invisible window.

  Convince the king.

  ‘Great…’ he thought. ‘Now I really am dead.’

  And for some reason, Dorian seemed to be enjoying that a lot.

  ***

  They kept walking through the castle corridors, with Frida talking nonstop about ancient tunnels, poorly done renovations, and the time a tower almost caught fire because of an apprentice mage and a chicken.

  Max nodded from time to time, more out of reflex than real understanding.

  That was when they passed a tall, light-wood door, slightly ajar.

  From inside came a soft light… and a rhythmic murmur, almost musical.

  Max stopped without realizing it.

  Inside the magic cssroom, Enor was standing in the center of the room. Her hands were raised carefully, her brow slightly furrowed in concentration. Around her, several candles floated in the air, slowly spinning as if dancing around her.

  The scene was silent. Delicate. Beautiful.

  “What a beautiful sight…” Max let slip.

  The problem was that he didn’t think it.

  He said it.

  Out loud.

  Enor blinked.

  The candles wavered for a moment… then all fell at once, extinguishing against the floor.

  “AH—!”

  Enor clutched her chest, completely flushed, looking toward the door.

  Max had no idea why he’d said that.

  “I—I didn’t mean— I mean— sorry—”

  Before he could bury himself any deeper, Sophie appeared inside the room.

  The maid looked at him with one eyebrow raised.

  Then, without saying a single word, she smmed the door shut.

  CLACK.

  Silence.

  Frida watched him for two seconds… and then burst out ughing.

  “HA!” She grabbed her stomach. “The look on your face! By the hammers of the north, I almost died!”

  Max covered his face with one hand.

  “I want to disappear.”

  “No, no,” Frida said between ughs. “That was glorious. I swear I needed to see something like that today.”

  She sighed and adjusted her apron.

  “Well, royal pet,” she added. “I think that’s where the tour ends.”

  Max slowly lowered his hand.

  “Yeah… thanks for the tour, Frida. Really.” He gnced at the closed door. “I think I’ll stay here waiting. I need to… ask Enor something when she comes out.”

  Frida smiled, sincere.

  “It was nothing. I had a lot of fun.” She gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. “And I’m gd I met you, Max.”

  She was already walking away when she turned back again.

  “Now I’ve got to check on the horses, then keep working on your gift, then fix a crooked axle on the carriage, then—”

  “Frida,” Max interrupted, tired but smiling.

  “Oh! Right, right.” She smiled back. “See you.”

  The dwarf walked off down the corridor, talking to herself.

  Max slowly slid down beside the cssroom door and sat on the floor, resting his back against the wall.

  He sighed.

  Then he remembered the pending notification.

  [ Reward avaible ] [ Cim ]

  He selected it.

  [ Reward obtained: Small HP Potion ]

  A small bottle appeared in his inventory.

  “Great…” he muttered without enthusiasm. “Something for when I’m about to be executed.”

  He rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes.

  Convince the king.

  He thought about expining it to him. He thought about begging. He thought about running.

  They all ended the same way: him dead.

  And then, between ridiculous ideas and impossible scenarios…

  One option appeared.

  “What if…” he whispered, “I turn it into a bet?”

  He opened his eyes.

  A dangerous smile formed on his face.

  “Yes…” he murmured. “A bet with the king.”

  It was a terrible idea.

  But it might be the best idea he had.