INN

"Fine"

then I turned to Lucius and signalled him to leave the room so I could change. He smirked, his gorgeous lips curling with mischief.

"Are you aware that's my wife's body and not your real body?" he teased, leaning casually against the doorframe. "So, I might as well stay and watch you change."

I gave him a hard glare, crossing my arms. "Get out, Lucius."

He chuckled softly, a low, irritating sound that made my skin prickle. "Okay, feisty cat," he said, still grinning as he finally stepped out.

Once alone, I quickly changed into the dress he'd given me. It was simpler than I expected but surprisingly comfortable and flattering. As I adjusted the hem, I noticed the hat he'd left behind—a long, ancient-style black hat. I placed it on my head, realizing it didn't cover my face entirely but would help me blend in.

When I opened the door, Lucius was waiting outside, his expression calm but unreadable. Beside him stood a tall, imposing man with a scar running down his face. He looked to be in his late thirties or early forties, his sharp gaze assessing me immediately.

"I'm Kael," he said, his voice low and gravelly as he extended his hand.

I shook it firmly. "Kiara." Then I turned to Lucius, my brows furrowing. "Is he following us?"

Lucius nodded, his tone matter-of-fact. "Yes. Did you expect us to leave without any protection? I don't have my powers right now. If anything happens, he'll be in charge of protecting us."

A wave of disappointment washed over me. I'd been hoping—foolishly, perhaps—that it would just be the two of us. But before I could say anything, Lucius's sharp eyes caught my expression, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.

"Don't worry," he said smoothly, leaning closer as if sharing a secret. "Kael will stay at a distance. He's just here to ensure nothing goes wrong."

I sighed inwardly and nodded, letting it go. It wasn't worth arguing about.

They led me outside into the cool, quiet night. The palace was eerily still, with most of the guards off duty. Only a lone night guard patrolled the area, making it easy for us to slip away unnoticed. Lucius guided us to a secret passage hidden behind an unassuming door, one I would have never noticed on my own.

The tunnel was narrow and dark, the air damp and cold. I stayed close to Lucius as we made our way through, Kael trailing silently behind us. After what felt like an eternity, we emerged into the open air.

Waiting for us was a large carriage drawn by three majestic horses. I stared at it, momentarily dumbfounded.

This is happening, I thought, but not in the way I imagined. I had half-expected something modern, like a car—maybe not a sleek one, but at least a vehicle with wheels and an engine. Instead, this world gave me carriages and horses.

I couldn't wrap my mind around how things worked here. It was so different from my world. Everything felt surreal, as though I were caught in a dream I hadn't chosen to enter.

Lucius glanced back at me, his expression softening for the briefest moment. "Come," he said, motioning toward the carriage.

I took a deep breath and followed, climbing in with a mix of anticipation and unease.

The carriage began to move, and, as promised, Kael was not riding with us. Yet, his presence lingered, a peculiar sensation I couldn't quite place. It felt as though his aura hovered nearby, watching, though he was nowhere in sight. How was that even possible?

As we travelled through the night, the rhythmic sway of the carriage began to lull me into a daze. My eyelids grew heavier, but I fought against it. Falling asleep wasn't an option—not when I was finally about to experience the adventure Lucius had promised. What if he decided I was too exhausted to continue and turned the carriage back? That thought alone kept me awake.

When the carriage finally slowed, I straightened, shaking off the haze. We stopped in front of a massive inn, its structure towering like a relic of a forgotten era. Lanterns hung at every corner, their golden glow illuminating the carved wooden beams and intricate stonework. The place buzzed with life, people strolling in and out, laughter and chatter spilling into the cool night air.

Lucius glanced at me, his lips twitching into a faint smirk. "This," he said, gesturing to the grand building, "is our first stop. The most popular inn in Decresh. It's where people come to wine, dine, and gamble all night."

I raised a brow. "So, like an ancient nightclub?"

His smirk deepened. "If you want to call it that. Except, instead of blaring music, you get violins and flutes. More refined, wouldn't you say?"

I stepped out of the carriage, still taking in the sight of the inn. The faint melody of a violin drifted from within, weaving through the air like a siren's call. As we entered, we removed our shoes, as was the custom here—sandals, slippers, or whatever these people called them.

Inside, the inn was alive with activity. Tables were packed with patrons sipping from large mugs of ale, the warm glow of candles casting dancing shadows across the walls. A woman sat on a small stage in the centre of the room, her fingers gliding over the strings of a violin, filling the space with an enchanting tune.

Lucius led me to a table near the bar, where a burly man was busy pouring and mixing drinks with an efficiency that suggested he'd been at this for years. Before I could get too comfortable, Lucius leaned in, his voice low and firm.

"Don't you dare get drunk?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Your Highness."

He gave me a warning glance but didn't push further. A mug was placed in front of me, and I took a cautious sip, letting the rich, earthy flavour of the ale warm my throat. The music, the laughter, the clinking of mugs—it was strangely beautiful, almost surreal.

Then, the atmosphere shifted. A group of men entered their presence commanding attention. They were rowdy and loud and honestly mad-looking, their voices cutting through the hum of the room. Lucius straightened, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Now," he said, a mischievous edge to his tone, "this is the best part. The gambling."

I turned to see two men stepping forward, each sizing the other up with the intensity of predators. The crowd began to gather, excitement crackling in the air. Coins clinked as bets were placed, and the two men sat opposite each other at a small table, a deck of cards between them.

The game began, and it wasn't long before the stakes rose. One of the men—a wiry fellow with a patchy beard—slammed his cards down, his face twisted in triumph. The other—a hulking brute with a shaved head—let out a string of curses so colourful it made the bartender pause mid-pour.

The crowd erupted in laughter, myself included. The sheer absurdity of watching two grown men nearly come to blows over a card game was too much. The bearded man stood, puffing out his chest as he scooped up the winnings, while the loser stormed off, muttering about rigged games and unfair odds with the rest of his supporters.

Lucius chuckled beside me, clearly entertained. "See? This is the essence of this place. Passion, chaos, and a little bit of madness."

I couldn't help but agree. As strange as it all was, I found myself captivated by the raw energy of the inn, only if the modern club can learn from this then they will there be fewer unexpected pregnancies.