"Nacirfa Kingdom..."

Sitting on the bed, Rheanne muttered under her breath and a deep frown creased her elegant eyebrows as she stared at the floor, processing the information.

Brandon, who was sitting beside her, gave a nod "Mhm."

She turned to look at him "Why would they send assassins after you?"

"Nacirfa has stayed carefully neutral for decades. Attacking the Goddess’s Shadow directly like this... it makes no sense unless they have a very specific goal."

Brandon shrugged lightly and fell back onto the bed, lying on his back with his hands folded behind his head "My best guess is that they want you to do something for them,"

"The only real vulnerability the Goddess has is her companion. So they might have thought they could capture this ’weak’ companion and then force you to do whatever tasks they need. Using me as leverage to control you is the smartest play they could make."

Rheanne’s frown deepened "That’s... plausible."

"But it’s also incredibly reckless. Nacirfa knows my power. They know what I’m capable of if someone threatens what I care about."

Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on his lips "Well, they just underestimated my strength, I guess. But yeah... it’s a solid plan on paper. Take the companion and threaten the Goddess. Classic leverage tactic."

Rheanne let out a slow breath and looked at him for a moment.

The idea that someone would try to use him against her made her chest feel tight.

For Rheanne, Brandon is her source of comfort, and someone she had grown deeply attached to

"But if they ever managed to capture you... I would burn entire kingdoms to get you back."

Brandon’s expression softened. A gentle chuckle rumbled in his chest as he reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her forward.

Rheanne let out a small, surprised sound as she fell on top of him.

"I know,"

She stared down at him with her hands resting on either side of his head as she hovered above him.

Looking into his gentle blue eyes, her gaze grew tender with quiet affection.

*knock*

But at that moment, they heard a knock on the door.

Rheanne’s eyes flickered with mild surprise. She gracefully slid off Brandon and sat up on the bed before smoothing her nightgown.

Brandon turned his head toward the door and a faint sigh escaped his lips as he sat up.

He stood and walked over, opening the door just a crack at first, then wider as he saw who it was.

Freya stood in the hallway with a silk cloth wrapped around her body.

The moment she saw him, a seductive smile bloomed on her lips.

Without a word, she let the cloth fall open and slip from her shoulders, revealing the daring lingerie she wore underneath.

It was a stunning deep crimson set of a lace corset that barely contained her generous, full breasts.

The soft lantern light from the hallway kissed her skin, highlighting every lush curve, the deep valley of her cleavage, and the smooth lines of her waist and thighs.

Brandon’s eyes widened slightly, genuinely amazed.

Freya giggled softly at his reaction and stepped forward to capture his lips in a kiss.

Her arms wrapped around his neck as she pressed her bare body against him.

"Let’s sleep together,"

Inside the room, Rheanne’s gaze sharpened the moment she saw Freya.

She remained seated on the bed with a calm expression as she watched the scene unfold at the doorway, but there was a slight irritation in her eyes.

Her fingers tightened slightly on the edge of the blanket as she watched the bold blonde woman kissing Brandon so openly in the doorway.

Freya pulled back from the kiss just enough to glance past Brandon toward Rheanne.

Huh? Her eyes widened in shock, and she hurriedly stepped back "G-Goddess Rheanne? What is she doing here?"

Brandon smiled dryly, rubbing the back of his neck as he stood caught between the two women.

"Well..."

Rheanne stood up from the bed and approached the door.

Without hesitation, she reached out and took Brandon’s hand "Kael is sleeping with me tonight."

Freya was dumbfounded and glanced back at Brandon, then at Rheanne ’T-They have that kind of relationship? He never told me that.’

Before he could speak anything, Freya hurriedly bowed her head "I will take my leave then."

She hurriedly picked up the cloth from the floor and wrapped it tightly around her body once more.

Looking at her, he moved his lips to speak silently ’We can talk tomorrow’

With one last glance at Brandon she turned and walked down the hallway toward her own room.

Rheanne gently pulled Brandon back into the room and closed the door behind them with a soft click.

"I thought it was only the princess, you are this close with this woman too?"

"...Things happened so quickly."

Her gaze condensed and she pulled him along with him "Let’s sleep together for a while."

"You would need more ether from now on, especially if Nacirfa people attacks you again."

She guided him onto the bed first, then climbed in beside him.

Without a word, she pulled the blankets over both of them and shifted closer until her body was pressed flush against his.

One of her arms draped across his chest while her leg tangled lightly with his.

Brandon wrapped his arm around her and noticed that her body is still tense ’Is she perhaps jealous?’

He has been with her for more than two years, but he has never seen any reaction from her that indicates romance.

He knows she is very protective of him, since he is like her...

... but this is new.

Brandon smiled faintly in the dim light, his hand never stopping its soothing strokes along her back.

’So even the Goddess can get jealous...’ he thought with a fond chuckle.

---

Next day morning

The castle hallways were bathed in the soft, golden light of early morning.

Amelia was walking through one of the quieter side corridors wearing an elegant blue dress.

Though her light fever had mostly subsided, a faint flush still lingered on her cheeks.

Suddenly, a strong hand reached out from a narrow side passage and gently pulled her in.

"Eep-!"

Amelia let out a startled gasp as she was drawn into the shadowed alcove.

Before she could react, a pair of warm arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against a familiar chest.

She looked up and met Brandon’s calm blue eyes.

"Sir Kael... very pleasant morning," she managed to say, and a deep blush immediately bloomed across her cheeks.

Brandon gently caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers and brushed his thumb lightly over her skin.

Amelia tried to maintain her composure, but her heart was pounding wildly in her chest.

"Now if you let me go," she muttered in a soft voice, "I am in a hurry to meet my father. I will come to your room later-"

Instead of letting her go, Brandon hugged her tighter, pulling her even closer until there was almost no space between their bodies.

He leaned down and nuzzled his nose affectionately against her cheek, "You’re not going anywhere."

"B-But... I am in a hurry," she protested weakly, though she made no real effort to pull away.

Brandon tilted his head and pressed a soft kiss to her flushed cheek.

"Kiss me," he whispered near her ear, "and you can go."

A deep, vivid blush painted Amelia’s cheeks and spread all the way to her ears.

Her hazel eyes widened in surprise as she stared up at him "Me... kissing you?"

He nodded his head with a playful smile "Yes. One proper kiss. Then I’ll let you go meet your father."

Amelia glanced around nervously, making sure no servants or guards were nearby.

The narrow passage offered them some privacy, but the thrill of possibly being caught made her even more flustered.

She bit her lower lip, clearly torn between embarrassment and desire.

After a few seconds of internal struggle, she rose onto her tiptoes.

"J-Just one..." she whispered.

Brandon’s smile widened as he lowered his head to meet her halfway.

Amelia’s lips brushed against his lips hesitantly.

Then, gaining a little courage, she pressed forward more firmly, kissing him with sweet, innocent passion.

When they separated, Amelia’s quickly stepped back, covering her mouth with both hands as if trying to hide her lips.

"T-There... I kissed you," she stammered, unable to meet his eyes. "Now let me go. Father is waiting."

Brandon chuckled softly and released her waist but not before stealing one last quick kiss on her forehead.

"I’ll see you later."

Amelia nodded hurriedly and quickly fled down the hallway toward her father’s study.

He watched her go with a warm smile, leaning against the wall of the narrow passage for a moment.