POV: Mabel

  Day 1 — Morning

  The carriage swayed gently on the stone road.

  I sat near the window, watching the landscape pass by. Fields. Farms. Small villages.

  Axoland was beautiful in a simple, honest way.

  Ferme was on the other side. Upright posture. Hands in his lap. Eyes closed.

  Probably meditating.

  He always did this on long trips.

  "Conserves mental energy," he'd say.

  I found it boring, but also kind of impressive.

  I looked at him without bothering to hide it.

  Black hair messy as always. Calm face. Controlled breathing.

  Eleven years old, but he already had the discipline of an adult.

  Sometimes I forgot he was only a year older than when we first met.

  Four years together.

  Since he was seven and I was six, when he became my personal knight.

  At the time, I thought it was ridiculous. A seven-year-old boy protecting me.

  But my father insisted. Said Ferme had "exceptional potential."

  And he did.

  He never failed. Never hesitated. Never disappointed me.

  Even when I provoked him. Even when I was insufferable.

  He stayed.

  Why does he stay?

  The question came unexpectedly.

  I shook my head, pushing the thought away, and turned back to the window.

  Midday — Lunch Break

  The old coachman, Sir Aldric, a sixty-year-old man with a graying beard and gentle smile, stopped near a stream.

  "Half-hour rest, Your Highness. The horses need to drink."

  "That's fine, Sir Aldric. Thank you."

  I climbed down from the carriage. Ferme followed behind me.

  Always behind. Always watching.

  "Don't you ever relax?" I asked with a teasing tone.

  "Not on a mission."

  "This isn't a mission. It's a diplomatic trip."

  "Same thing."

  "It's not."

  "It is."

  I huffed, but I was smiling.

  We sat near the stream. Sir Aldric distributed food the castle had prepared. Bread, cheese, dried fruits, cured meat.

  Simple, but good.

  We ate in silence for a while.

  Then I spoke up.

  "How's your brother?"

  Ferme stopped chewing, just for a second.

  "Mark is well."

  "He's been pretty busy, hasn't he? Since they reclaimed the title."

  Ferme went quiet.

  The O'Malleys had been nobles. An old house. Respected.

  But they lost everything when Ferme was a baby.

  Political betrayal. Fabricated debts. Title revoked.

  The family fell into disgrace.

  Mark, twelve years older than Ferme, had fought for years.

  Worked as a mercenary. As a guard. As anything.

  Until he caught the king's attention.

  Until he proved his worth.

  Until, three years ago, he was appointed leader of the Kyusei.

  And with that, reclaimed the family's noble title.

  House O'Malley. Restored.

  But the damage had already been done.

  "It must have been hard," I said more quietly, without provocation, genuinely. "Growing up without the title. Without the respect. People looking at you like... less."

  Ferme didn't answer immediately.

  He just looked at the stream.

  "It was."

  Pause.

  "But Mark never gave up. Even when it seemed impossible, he kept going."

  There was something in his voice. Not just admiration, but deep gratitude.

  "He took care of you."

  "Yes. When our parents died, I was four. He was sixteen." Ferme picked up a stone from the ground and threw it in the water. "He could have abandoned me. It would have been easier."

  "But he didn't."

  "No."

  I looked at him.

  And for the first time, I saw beyond the mask of calm.

  I saw a child who grew up too fast, who lost too much too soon, who never had the luxury of being just a child.

  Something tightened in my chest.

  "Ferme, I'm so sorry. You both went through so much and—"

  The carriage shook violently.

  Sir Aldric shouted, "Watch out!"

  And everything happened fast.

  The front wheel hit a large stone. The carriage tilted.

  Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

  I was too close, lost my balance.

  Ferme moved quickly and caught me, but he also lost his balance.

  We fell together.

  Me on top of him.

  Face inches from his.

  Dark blue eyes staring at me, wide.

  I froze.

  He froze.

  The world stopped.

  I felt his warmth. His heart beating. Fast.

  Or was it mine?

  I didn't know.

  Our faces were so close.

  So close that if I moved just a little...

  My face heated up. A lot.

  "I-I—" I started.

  "S-Sorry—" he said at the same time.

  We pulled away, too quickly, almost violently.

  I stood up, brushing off clothes that weren't dirty.

  He stood up, looking anywhere but at me.

  "Are you both alright?!" Sir Aldric ran up to us. "A thousand apologies, Your Highness! The stone appeared out of nowhere!"

  "I-It's fine!" My voice came out too loud. "Nobody got hurt!"

  "We're fine," Ferme confirmed, his voice controlled again.

  But the tips of his ears were red.

  I saw it.

  And felt my face heat up more.

  What was that?

  Why is my heart still racing?

  Why did I almost...

  I didn't finish the thought.

  Didn't want to.

  Afternoon — Inside the Carriage

  The rest of the day was... strange.

  We didn't talk much.

  I pretended to read a book.

  He pretended to meditate.

  But I felt the tension.

  Something had changed.

  Something small, but present.

  And I didn't know what to do with it.

  Evening — Camp

  We stopped in a clearing near the road.

  Sir Aldric set up a small tent for himself. A campfire in the center.

  Ferme and I had our own tents. Separate. Obviously.

  We ate dried meat and bread in silence.

  The fire crackled, the only sound besides the crickets.

  Then I heard it.

  Branches breaking.

  Far, but not too far.

  Ferme heard it too. He stood up, hand on his sword.

  "Stay here."

  "Ferme—"

  He had already disappeared into the darkness.

  Sir Aldric was sleeping, snoring loudly.

  I stayed alone near the fire.

  And then I heard voices.

  "Look at that. Nice carriage."

  "Must have good stuff."

  "And maybe a maiden?"

  Laughter. Coarse. Threatening.

  My stomach tightened.

  Bandits.

  I stood up slowly.

  They emerged from the trees.

  Five men. Dirty. Armed. Hungry looks.

  "Well, well," the leader smiled, showing rotten teeth. "A little princess."

  He knew who I was from the clothes, the carriage, the royal emblem.

  "Must be worth a good ransom."

  The others laughed.

  I didn't move, just breathed slowly.

  Mana began to flow naturally, instinctively.

  "Where's her knight?" one of them asked.

  "Doesn't matter. It's five against one girl."

  They approached.

  The leader raised his axe.

  "Let's make this quick and—"

  I moved.

  I didn't run.

  "Time Magic: Temporal Leap."

  The world blinked.

  Blue. White. Distortion.

  Three seconds skipped.

  And I was behind them.

  Instantly.

  The bandits froze.

  "What—"

  The leader turned, swinging his axe.

  I ducked. The axe passed overhead.

  I counterattacked.

  Kick to the side of his knee.

  He screamed and fell.

  The others reacted.

  Two came from the left, swords raised.

  "Time Magic: Temporal Leap."

  Blink.

  Now to their right.

  I kicked one in the back. He flew forward.

  The other turned, trying to cut me.

  I dodged, spun, elbow to his face.

  Broke his nose.

  He fell, screaming.

  The two remaining hesitated.

  "She... she has time magic," one whispered, terrified.

  "So what?! She's still a child!" the other shouted, trying to convince himself.

  They attacked together.

  One with a spear. Another with a sword.

  Coordinated. Experienced.

  The spear came first.

  I threw myself to the side and rolled.

  The sword came next.

  I blocked with my forearm. The blade scraped against the leather bracer I always wore.

  I pushed, creating distance.

  They pressed on, not giving me time.

  The spear nearly hit.

  "Time Magic: Temporal Leap."

  Blink.

  Three seconds.

  Now behind the spearman.

  Kick to the back. He stumbled.

  The swordsman turned quickly, but I was already moving.

  I dodged, spun, gathered momentum.

  And channeled mana. A lot of mana.

  "Time Magic: Stellar Shot."

  The sphere formed in my hand.

  Bright blue. Pulsing. Vibrant.

  The size of a tennis ball, but the contained energy was devastating.

  I released it.

  The sphere flew, not fast, but inevitable.

  The swordsman tried to dodge.

  Too late.

  The sphere hit the ground between them all.

  And exploded.

  Not fire. Not wind, but pure temporal distortion.

  The air cracked. Time wavered.

  The bandits were thrown violently, as if an invisible force had grabbed them and hurled them away.

  They hit trees, stones, ground.

  They fell, groaning, motionless.

  Not dead, but broken. Humiliated. Completely defeated.

  I took a deep breath.

  Mana still pulsing in my veins.

  Heart racing, not from fear, but from adrenaline.

  And then I heard it.

  Applause.

  Slow. Deliberate.

  I turned.

  Ferme was there, leaning against a tree, watching.

  Sword still sheathed.

  "How long have you been there?!" I shouted.

  "Since the beginning."

  "AND YOU DIDN'T HELP?!"

  "Didn't need to." He walked toward me, calm. "You had complete control."

  "BUT WHAT IF I DIDN'T?!"

  "Then I would have intervened." He stopped in front of me. "But you always have control, Mabel."

  Pause.

  "Even when you fight."

  My face heated up.

  Not from anger, but from... something else.

  "You... you knew I could do this?"

  "Obviously." He shrugged. "You've been training time magic for years. Everyone in the castle knows."

  "Not about this! About me being... this strong."

  "Yes." No hesitation. Just fact. "I always knew."

  "And you never cared?"

  "Why would I?" He tilted his head, genuinely confused. "You being strong doesn't change my job."

  "But you're my knight. You're supposed to protect me."

  "And I do." He looked at me directly. "From everything you can't or don't want to face."

  Pause.

  "And when you can face it alone, I just watch. With pride."

  Something trembled in my chest.

  Not just the words, but the way he said them.

  Simple. Factual. True.

  "Ferme..."

  "And," he continued, cutting me off before I could speak, "I'm glad you're strong. It means when I'm not around, you can protect yourself."

  He started walking back to camp.

  "Come on. You need to rest. We still have two days of travel."

  And he left me there.

  Standing. Confused. With my heart racing again.

  What the hell was that?

  Day 2 — Afternoon

  The journey continued, calmer now.

  The bandits had been left tied up near the main road with a note for the local guard.

  Sir Aldric was still snoring. Fortunately, he'd slept through everything.

  Ferme and I were inside the carriage.

  And for the first time, the silence wasn't uncomfortable.

  It was just... present.

  "Ferme?"

  "Hm?"

  "Thank you. For yesterday."

  "I didn't do anything."

  "Yes, you did. You trusted me."

  He opened his eyes and looked at me.

  "I always trust you."

  It wasn't a grand declaration, just a fact.

  But it made my chest tighten anyway.

  "Can I ask you a question?"

  "Sure."

  "Why did you agree to be my knight? You were seven years old. You could have refused."

  Ferme went quiet for so long I thought he wouldn't answer.

  But then he spoke.

  "Because of my parents."

  I blinked.

  "Your parents?"

  "Yes." He looked out the window, tone distant. "They were adventurers. Famous throughout the kingdom. Indomitable, people said."

  Pause.

  "Other nobles despised them. Said it was a low profession. That nobles should govern, not get dirty in dungeons killing beasts."

  He smiled, small and sad.

  "But I saw them as heroes. They saved people. Protected villages. Faced danger so others wouldn't have to."

  "And you wanted to be like them."

  "Yes." He looked at me. "When your father offered the position, Mark said it was about honor. About restoring our name."

  Pause.

  "But for me, it was about being a hero. Like my parents. Protecting the princess. The king. The queen. The entire kingdom if necessary."

  His eyes shone.

  "Even if it cost me my life."

  Something tightened in my throat.

  "Ferme... you don't have to die for me."

  "I don't have to, but I would." Simple tone, as if it were obvious. "Because that's what I'm here for."

  My heart skipped.

  Not from fear, but from something different.

  Something warm. Scary. Beautiful.

  "You... you're an idiot, you know that?"

  "Probably."

  "And stubborn."

  "Also true."

  "And way too heroic for your own good."

  "I inherited it from my parents."

  I laughed, small but genuine.

  "They'd be proud of you."

  Ferme didn't respond, but I saw it in his eyes.

  Gratitude. Pain. Hope.

  "Thank you, Mabel."

  Day 3 — Morning

  "You know what I want sometimes?" I said, looking out the window.

  "What?"

  "To run away."

  Ferme looked at me, surprised.

  "Run away?"

  "Yes. From royalty. From expectations. From endless meetings." I sighed. "Just... leave. Live on a distant farm. Have chickens. Plant vegetables. Be... normal."

  "You're not normal."

  "I know, but it would be nice to try."

  Pause.

  "Do you think I'm crazy?"

  "No." He looked forward again. "I think... you're human."

  "Human?"

  "Yes. Sometimes we forget you're just a girl. Eleven years old. With responsibilities that adults couldn't carry."

  He looked at me again.

  "So no, I don't think you're crazy. I think it's understandable."

  Something tightened in my throat.

  "What about you? What do you want?"

  Ferme went quiet.

  "I don't know."

  "What do you mean you don't know?"

  "I never thought about it. It was always about surviving. About restoring the family's honor. About protecting you." He looked at his own hands. "I never asked myself what I want."

  "Then it's time to think about it."

  "Maybe."

  We sat in comfortable, intimate silence.

  Then Sir Aldric shouted, "Your Highness! Look!"

  I looked out the window.

  And I saw it.

  On the horizon.

  The Netherheart Mansion.

  It wasn't just big, it was imposing.

  But different from the castle.

  Not severe intimidation, but welcoming grandeur.

  Light stone. Extensive gardens. Elegant towers.

  Enormous windows reflecting the sun.

  Beautiful.

  "We're here," I murmured.

  "Yes."

  Ferme was already tense again, knight mode activated.

  And I also straightened my posture, princess mode on.

  But before completely slipping into character, I looked at him.

  "Ferme?"

  "Yes?"

  "Thank you. For these days."

  He blinked, surprised.

  "You don't need to thank me."

  "Yes, I do." I smiled genuinely. "You let me be just... me. Without judgment. Without expectations."

  Pause.

  "That's rare."

  Something passed across his face.

  Softening. Warmth.

  "You're welcome, Mabel."

  Not Your Highness.

  Mabel.

  And my heart skipped again.

  The carriage stopped.

  The mansion gates.

  Time to work.

  But something had changed in those three days between him and me.

  Something I still couldn't name, but it was there.

  Real. Present.

  Scary.

  And also...

  Beautiful.