Footsteps hurried back into the courtyard. The royal guards reappeared between the columns, visibly agitated, breathing heavily.

  "There was no emergency. Is everything alright here?" one of them asked, looking around.

  The other frowned.

  "We ran through the entire castle for nothing."

  Elanor stood up immediately.

  "Nothing has happened," she said calmly. "Abby and Sophie have already returned to their duties."

  The guards exchanged glances.

  "…A prank?" one of them muttered.

  Max stepped forward and raised his hands.

  "Come on," he said in a conciliatory tone. "You have to understand, the castle is big, quiet… it's only natural to get bored. People play pranks sometimes. It happens."

  The guards snorted, tired.

  "Great," one complained. "Next time I run like that, it better be for a real attack."

  They approached the fountain without much thought. One of them leaned down first and took long drinks of water. The other followed immediately.

  Max watched them in silence.

  'Please… let this work the way I think it does.'

  The guards finished drinking. One of them blinked.

  "Don't you feel—?"

  He didn't finish the sentence. His legs gave out and he dropped to his knees… then collapsed onto his side.

  The second guard took a step back.

  "What…?"

  He fell flat on his back, completely unconscious. Elanor gave a small gasp.

  "Max! Are they okay?"

  "Yes—" he replied quickly, though his voice sounded less confident than he wanted. "Yes. Relax. They're just asleep. That's all."

  He crouched beside one of the guards, driven by curiosity… and fear. He extended his hand. The window appeared.

  [ Status: Deep Sleep ]

  [ Remaining Duration: 730 hours ]

  Max froze.

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  "…How many?"

  He did the math in his head. A month. A whole month. He swallowed.

  'Okay. This… this was not part of the plan.'

  "Ahem…"

  Max snapped his head up.

  Sophie was standing beneath one of the courtyard arches, holding a small stack of folded fabrics in her arms. She looked at the scene with contained curiosity… and a dangerous smile.

  "Elanor," she said softly as she approached. "I think it's the perfect moment."

  The princess blinked.

  "The perfect moment for what…?"

  Sophie lifted the fabrics.

  "For you to go take a walk through the city with your pet," she replied as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "I promised I wouldn't say anything."

  Elanor's eyes widened in surprise.

  "To the city…? Now?"

  "Before your father asks where you are again," Sophie said, leaning closer. "And before the suitors arrive."

  The word seemed heavier than usual.

  Elanor looked at Max. Then at the unconscious guards. Then back at Sophie.

  "…Alright," she said at last, with a small but determined smile.

  Sophie grinned triumphantly.

  "Perfect. Let's move quickly."

  She grabbed Elanor by the arm and practically dragged her toward one of the side doors.

  "And you," she said without looking directly at him, pointing a finger at Max. "Don't even think about looking."

  Max raised both hands immediately.

  "I wasn't planning—"

  The door closed before he could finish the sentence. He was left alone in the courtyard, staring at the sleeping guards.

  "…Great. Now I have soldiers in a magical coma."

  It wasn't long before the door opened again.

  Elanor came out first.

  She was no longer wearing her white dress. Now she had on a simple outfit made of thick, light-colored fabric, poorly cut, as if it had really been improvised from bedsheets. Over it, she wore a dark cloak that covered her shoulders… and part of her face. The vivid red of her hair barely peeked out.

  For the first time, she looked like an ordinary girl.

  Sophie came out behind her and walked over to Max.

  "Here," she said, handing him a gray sack, rough to the touch. "Just finished. The best we could do with worn-out fabric."

  Then she gave him a hat.

  "Put it on. It covers your hair and ears. People aren't ready to see a new race."

  Max obeyed silently. The sack was a bit big on him, but it did the job. He adjusted the hat and noticed how his brown hair fell down the sides of his face.

  "Wow," he murmured. "I look… suspiciously poor."

  "Exactly," Sophie replied. "Perfect."

  Elanor looked him up and down… then nodded, satisfied.

  "Now you really look like a harmless pet."

  "Thanks. I think."

  Sophie took a step back.

  "I'll call Don."

  Elanor raised her voice just as Sophie walked away.

  "Don! Remember you owe me for that one time…?"

  The faun appeared almost instantly, peeking out cautiously.

  "…Yes, princess."

  "Well," she said with dangerously sweet gentleness, "I'm going to need you to take us to the Grand City for a walk with Max. Just a few hours. Before the suitors arrive."

  Don opened his mouth… then closed it.

  He sighed.

  "…I'll prepare the carriage."

  He turned around and left without another word.

  While they waited, Max stepped a little closer to Elanor.

  "Can I ask something?"

  She looked at him from beneath the hood.

  "Of course."

  "Why did he agree so easily?" he gestured toward Don. "What is it that he owes you?"

  Elanor laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.

  "Once," she began, "Don asked for a few days off to go to the village."

  "Uh-huh…"

  "He said he was going to visit a friend." She leaned a little closer to Max. "And begged me not to tell my father."

  Max raised an eyebrow.

  "…A friend."

  Elanor smiled.

  "Exactly."

  Max glanced toward where Don was adjusting the carriage, whistling nervously.

  'Yeah… that friend wasn't just a friend.'

  The carriage was ready. Don opened the door and bowed.

  "Whenever you're ready."

  Elanor stepped in first.

  "Let's go," she said softly, looking at Max. "Before the guards wake up."

  Max took one last look at the unconscious guards.

  '…So we've got, like, a month to go sightseeing.'

  And climbed into the carriage.