After four exhausting days of travel, Princess Luna mentioned that a brief stop would be necessary.

"We’ll spend the night in a city along the way," she explained while the carriage moved. "We need to restock supplies for the rest of the journey, and my servants need to rest."

While Mark wasn’t particularly happy about losing time, he ended up agreeing, and not out of consideration for Luna’s servants.

The truth was that the mere idea of sleeping in a real bed sounded extremely appealing.

He had spent four nights sleeping sitting up inside the carriage, and every morning he woke with his entire body aching.

His neck in particular was a disaster, stiff and sore from hours in a bad position.

And a night on a decent mattress sounded, at that moment, almost as valuable as any political alliance.

After a few more hours of travel, the carriage began to slow down.

"We’re here," Princess Luna announced, leaning out the window.

When the carriage came to a complete stop, all four of them climbed out.

And the moment he set foot on the ground, Mark looked up and found himself staring at the building in front of him.

He had expected to find a roadside inn or tavern, but what rose before him was a mansion.

A large three-story structure with a pair of rows of servants standing at the entrance, clearly waiting for the princess’s arrival with their heads slightly bowed.

"This is where we’re spending the night?" Mark asked, looking the place over.

"That’s right," Luna said, heading inside. "My family has residences like this throughout the kingdom for when we need to make a stop... Much more comfortable than any inn, you’ll see."

Mark and Ely followed her inside.

’Yuki, I want you to inspect the entire mansion,’ he ordered through the mental link. ’Check every room, every exit, every corner... I don’t want any surprises while we sleep.’

’Understood, Master,’ Yuki’s voice replied in his head. ’I’ll report back if I find anything out of the ordinary.’

With that, Yuki’s presence faded into the mansion’s shadows to do her work.

Once inside, Mark watched Luna approach a couple of servants and speak to them quietly, giving instructions.

After a moment the princess turned toward them.

"They’ll take you to your respective rooms," she said, gesturing to the servants. "I asked them to prepare the best ones we have, so I hope they’re to your liking... If you need anything during the night, don’t hesitate to ask the staff."

It was then that Mark heard another voice in his head.

’Master,’ Ely said through the mental link, in a tone he knew all too well. ’Could we sleep in the same room?... It would be nice to spend a night together.’

Hearing the subdued tone from the knight, Mark had to summon all his willpower to turn down the plea hidden behind her words.

’I don’t think that’s a good idea...’ he replied. ’Remember that in front of these people we’re still maintaining the appearance of ruler and bodyguard... we have to be careful.’

’...But I’ve gone four days without having you to myself,’ she replied, and Mark could almost picture her pouting. ’Everyone else stayed at the palace, so now I’m the only one here, and even so I can’t sleep by your side... This is unfair.’

’Ely... I promise I’ll make it up to you later,’ he said, trying to cheer her up. ’But for now, we need to behave.’

’...Alright, Master,’ Ely finally conceded, though her tone made clear she wasn’t entirely satisfied. ’But you’d better keep your promise.’

’You know perfectly well I will,’ Mark replied, suppressing a smile.

Back in the real conversation, Mark addressed Luna out loud.

"Thank you very much for the hospitality, Princess Luna," he said. "After so many days of travel, a night under a roof is more appreciated than you can imagine."

"It’s nothing," she replied, waving a hand. "Consider it part of the perks of traveling with me... Rest well, tomorrow we set out again early."

Mark nodded and began following the servant who would guide him to his room.

At the same time, he watched Ely being led by another servant in the opposite direction, toward the other end of the mansion.

The knight gave him one last look over her shoulder before disappearing down a corridor.

Mark followed his guide through a series of elegant hallways until they finally arrived at a door.

"This is your room, sir," the servant said, opening it for him. "If you need anything, there’s a bell by the bed... Have a good night."

"Thank you, you as well."

After bowing goodbye, the servant left the room and closed the door, leaving Mark alone.

The room was spacious and well decorated, with quality furniture and a window overlooking the gardens.

But honestly, at that moment there was only one thing in the entire room that mattered to him.

The bed.

An enormous, plush bed with clean sheets and several pillows that were practically calling him by name.

Without thinking twice, Mark crossed the room and fell backward onto it.

"Finally a real bed," he murmured, sinking into the mattress with a sigh of pure relief.

The contrast with the rigid carriage seats was abysmal.

He could feel every aching muscle in his body beginning to relax against the softness of the mattress, and his neck, which had been tormenting him for days, finally found a position that didn’t send shooting pains through it.

Mark closed his eyes and almost immediately Yuki’s voice resonated in his mind.

’Master, I’ve finished inspecting the mansion.’

’And?’ he asked, opening his eyes again.

’Everything seems to be in order,’ she reported. ’I checked the entire mansion, including the staff quarters, the exits, and the surrounding area. I found nothing suspicious, so for now the place is safe.’

’Good work, Yuki,’ he replied, his voice already starting to drag with exhaustion. ’I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.’

’I’m only doing my duty, Master,’ she replied. ’Rest... I’ll keep watch throughout the night.’

Mark smiled faintly, too tired to respond beyond that.

His eyelids, which he had been struggling to keep open, started growing heavier and heavier, and the warmth of the bed was slowly pulling him toward sleep. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

But then...

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Three knocks at the door yanked him abruptly from the edge of sleep.

"...Huh?"