The Snow Knights rode endlessly through the day, reaching Zilant’s dukedom. He carried Enya to the guest room, then spun around to face everyone who had followed, his eyes sharp and commanding.

“Summon the family doctor, Luther. Everyone else—out. Now. I’ll handle this alone. Protect Hansel while I help the doctor,” Zilant ordered.

The group exchanged hurried glances, then nodded obediently.

“Okay…” Hansel murmured.

One by one, they stepped out, the door closing behind them, leaving Zilant alone with Enya. He stood beside her on the bed, fists clenched, his voice low and tense.

“Who are you? Why are you dressed as a boy?” Zilant groaned, flustered and struggling to maintain control.

When the doctor checked on Enya, he was silent, listening to Zilant’s order. After he was done, he left, leaving Zilant and Enya alone. Zilant sat on the chair beside the bed, staring at her.

“Why did you take the arrow? Now I feel like I owe you…” he leaned his head back, frustrated.

Zilant waited for a few days. He didn’t eat his meal because he was so focused on Enya. He stared at the window, watching the sun fall before the night rose.

As the moon was the only light for the room, Enya finally twitched. She slowly turned and saw Zilant in the chair, staring at her. She paused, processing everything that had happened. Then she started laughing. Zilant narrowed his eyes.

“Why are you laughing—”

“Go ahead and question me… There’s no need to hide it anymore,” Enya said.

He sighed in frustration, shaking his head.

“Why are you disguised as a boy?” Zilant asked.

“I don’t know. I thought it would be more fun…”

“Enya… huh… is your name really Enya?”

“Yes. Enya Fraye… There’s no lie in that.”

“Enya, hiding yourself and joining my knight is an empire’s offense. No ladies—”

“Now you see… that’s why I dressed as a boy. You would automatically reject me if you had found out that I was a girl,” Enya interrupted, leaning her cheek on her hand.

Zilant paused, staring at her. She locked eyes with him, waiting.

Nothing. He said nothing in response to her.

She smiled, raising her hands up like a criminal caught in the act.

“I get it… It’s a crime to lie, right? I mean, damn… you guys considered everything a crime… That prince considered bickering with him a crime, too,” Enya teased.

Zilant groaned, having to think about Llard at this time. He rubbed his face with his palm, pressing against his head.

“I… I need some time to think about this. For now, you are not allowed to leave this room.”

“What?! Why?!” Enya jumped out of the bed.

“Not a foot outside. No one knows yet… only the family doctor and me…”

“Then what can I do? I don’t want to be imprisoned in here…” she argued.

“You’re not imprisoned…” Zilant frowned.

“Then what? Why are you not allowing me to leave?” Enya asked, walking up to him.

Zilant took a few steps away from her as soon as she got closer, avoiding her eyes. Blushing.

“Stop getting close!”

“Then I can leave, right?” Enya questioned.

“No!”

“Why not?!” she pressed closer.

“Fine!” Zilant shouted.

They both stared at each other. Zilant swallowed hard, flushing. He quickly ran out of the room. Enya was confused, looking around.

“What is wrong with him? Has he ever talked to a lady?” Enya wondered. Then she looked down at her clothes. She quickly turned red, screaming. “Who the hell changed my clothes?!”

Zilant sped to his office, burning red. His heart was beating rapidly. The moment the door opened again, he covered his face.

“Commander, I heard Enya screaming. Is he okay?” Cullen asked. He stared at Zilant.

Zilant closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

“Enya is fine… just give me a minute.”

Cullen nodded slowly, glancing at the paper in front of Zilant. He took a step out, but then stared at Zilant’s hands. Zilant clenched the paper tightly, waiting.

As soon as it was still and silent, Zilant lowered his hand to peek over the paper.

“Commander!” Cullen suddenly called.

Zilant jumped out of his chair, his heart racing as he took a step away.

“Why are you still here?!”

“You’re being different… so I got curious. Why are you so red?” Cullen wondered.

Zilant swallowed hard, recalling being in the room with Enya earlier. He started flushing red again.

“I’m not! I’m fine! I need some time to think,” Zilant flustered.

Cullen nodded, walking away as far as possible. He stepped out of the door completely this time.

“Okay. Whatever you say, Commander…”

“And don’t let anyone enter Enya’s room without knocking!” Zilant commanded. Then he slammed the door shut, returning to his desk. What’s wrong with me?! Why is my heart… racing when I think of her?

The day went by fast. Enya stayed in the guest room, refusing to leave as Zilant suggested. She paced back and forth, thinking about what to say to everyone else, especially Hansel. As she drifted her thoughts to the High Priest, she stopped, staring at her sword.

“He…”

*

“Here… everything you need to know. I… I’ve kept it and never realized that I would have to hand it down to you… I’m sorry…” the High Priest said solemnly.

Enya looked at his hand. A roll of scripts. She took it, wrapping it around her sword with her trembling hands. She placed her sword back into the sheath and panted as she slowly turned and looked at him.

“Your mother… you look just like her…”

*

Enya grabbed her sword which was placed on the chair by the balcony.

“I hate life…” she mumbled as she opened the sheath, checking the contents of the scripts.

Enya sat down, reading the contents without a bother.

THUD.

Salem hopped through the balcony door, dragging an assassin with her.

“Enya… why are you here?”

“Salem… send these to Kahni. It seems like the Empress has quite a project to build…” Enya handed the scripts to Salem.

Salem looked at them and then at Enya.

“Okay. But… will you be safe?”

Enya groaned, checking the assassin.

“I don’t know… he doesn’t seem to want to rat me out,” Enya responded. She pulled the assassin’s mask down. “Ew. This one ate poison.”

“Yes… he also hasn’t left your side since you’ve come back…”

“I know. I purposely closed my eyes for a day, and he was still there…” Enya blushed, thinking about Zilant.

Salem pouted, staring at Enya closely.

“You… are you okay?” Salem wondered.

“What? What do you mean?” Enya flustered. Then she glanced at the assassin. “Where did you find him anyway?”

“He was hiding above your roof.”

Enya frowned, sitting down on the chair.

“Take him, too. Ask Kahni about the poison he took,” Enya ordered.

Salem nodded, lowering her head to bow.

“Yes. Let me know if you need anything,” Salem responded. Then she grabbed the assassin’s dead body and jumped out of the window.

Enya looked at her sword, putting it back in the sheath. She placed her sword down and pressed her hand against her face, leaning back in the chair.

“Why did I react like that?”

She headed to the bed and went to sleep for the night.

As still for the night, Zilant stared at his balcony, looking straight at Enya’s balcony.

“Who are you? What are you up to…?” Zilant sighed. “Will you bring harm to Hansel? Because if you do, I will not let you get closer.”

When the morning sun rose, Hansel ran through the corridors to the guest room.

“Your Highness… Commander has alerted us not to let anyone in without knocking—”

“Enya! You’re awake!” Hansel shouted, pushing the door open.

Enya froze, gripping her shirt tightly to her chest as her back was shown. She stared at them. Hansel and Cullen stared at her.

“…”

“GET OUT!” She grabbed a chair and threw it at them.

Cullen quickly scooped Hansel out of there and closed the door. He paused, gasping.

“Enya…”

“Is a girl?” Hansel finished.

They locked eyes with each other, their jaws dropping.

Zilant walked by and saw them, hearing Enya’s scream.

“What are you two doing there?” Zilant asked.

Cullen and Hansel looked at Zilant, shifting from confused to serious instantly.

“You knew!” Cullen pointed.

“What?! He did?! Was that why you wouldn’t let anyone enter?!” Hansel argued.

Zilant frowned, sighing.

“What?”

“Enya is a girl!” Hansel screamed.

Cullen panicked and shushed Hansel, covering Hansel’s mouth. Zilant’s teeth seethed, shushing him from afar.

“Shh! If we just knew it now, then that means no one else knew…” Cullen whispered.

Zilant took a deep breath, shaking his head. He pressed his fingers against his forehead.

“I… I need some time to think about what to say to His Majesty about this…”

Cullen and Hansel glared at him.

“What?!” they shouted together.

Enya slammed the door open, startling all of them. Zilant stiffened up.

“Enya… you’re—”

“Just tell him. I did nothing wrong! You were the one who would have refused me if I signed up as a female knight!” Enya stated.

Cullen stared at Enya and then at Zilant. Commander has gone silent… now that I think about it, he’s… flustered!

Hansel leaned closer to Cullen, staring at Zilant and Enya.

“Has His Grace ever gone this quiet before? Is it because he has never talked to a lady?” Hansel wondered.

“I think so… now that we know Enya’s a girl, he’s definitely acting… different,” Cullen added.

Zilant clenched his fists, hiding his face. He closed his eyes with his ears listening to Cullen and Hansel carefully.

“You do know… we can all hear you, right?” Zilant asked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 🪶 🔥 Princess, Don’t Waver ❄️ 🐉 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author’s Note:

 

This chapter is shorter, but I hope you enjoyed it!