"We’re lucky the weather is so nice today, Lady Katherine!"
"Yes, Your Highness." Katherine returned the princess’s bright smile with a polite one of her own.
How did she end up here again? Oh, right—Princess Laura’s persistence.
Katherine had fully intended to ride in her own carriage to Athens, free to relax in solitude. But the princess had looked at her with those big, sparkling golden eyes and said, ’Won’t you ride with , Lady Katherine? I insist!’ and—well, what was she supposed to do? Say no? Impossible. So here she was, seated across from Laura in a very royal, very heavily guarded carriage.
"I would have loved to ride in your carriage," Laura said with a dramatic sigh, "but Rogelio insisted I take the knights with ."
Rogelio—the ever-watchful butler-bodyguard hybrid who was, at this very mont, riding outside with a face that scread, Nothing will happen to the princess on my watch.
Katherine nodded sagely. "Understandable. Rogelio seems... thorough."
Laura giggled. "That’s a nice way of putting it!"
Katherine couldn’t help but smile. Despite her initial reluctance, traveling with Laura was... actually kind of fun. She had never left Albania before, and now she was on her way to one of the most significant locations in the novel—Athens.
And speaking of people who had been there before...
Katherine wondered if Maestro Eldritch had ever traveled to Athens.
It had been two days since she last saw him. Before leaving, she had sent him a new sweet to try—chocolate-coated polvoron—along with a letter. His response had arrived by the afternoon, written in his usual sharp, no-nonsense handwriting:
---
Dear Lady,
The sweets you sent were well received. Let know more about these in detail when you return. Safe travels.
—E
---
Katherine had nearly laughed when she read it. For soone who didn’t particularly like sweets, he sure kept eating all the ones she sent him.
"Did you rember sothing funny, Lady Katherine?" Laura tilted her head, curiosity all over her face.
"Oh, I was just thinking about a friend who says he doesn’t like sweets, yet sohow keeps accepting them."
Laura gasped. "How mysterious! Did he ever complain?"
"Not even once. In fact, I think he secretly enjoys them more than he lets on."
Laura giggled. "Then that ans you’ve won! You’ve converted him into a sweets lover!"
"That... might actually be true," Katherine admitted with a grin. "Speaking of sweets, would you like to try so?"
Laura’s eyes lit up like a child’s on their birthday. "Yes! Your sweets were absolutely delightful last ti!"
Katherine reached for a small box and opened it carefully. Inside, neatly wrapped treats glead under the sunlight filtering through the carriage windows.
Laura gasped. "Oh, what are these? They look so shiny!"
"I had these wrappers specially made," Katherine said, feeling rather proud. "They’re practical and pretty, don’t you think?"
"They’re beautiful!" Laura ran a finger over the smooth, crinkly surface. "Which one do you recomnd?"
"There are two types in here, but if you like chocolate, go for the gold-wrapped one."
Laura’s fingers instantly plucked a gold wrapper from the box. "Ooooh, it feels so fancy! How do I open it?"
"Just twist the ends like this." Katherine demonstrated, smoothly unwrapping one.
Laura mimicked her movents, her face scrunching in determination before successfully peeling the wrapper away. She took a bite, and—
Silence.
Katherine watched, waiting.
Then Laura’s eyes sparkled. "Oh! This is amazing! It lts in my mouth!"
Katherine chuckled. "I’m glad you like it, Your Highness."
Laura peered at the tiny crumbs in her hand. "What is this powdery texture?"
"That’s powdered milk."
"Powdered milk? But how? Did you also make this?"
Katherine nodded. "Yes, it’s still in the experintal phase, but it turned out well."
Laura clapped her hands together. "I love it! Can I try the other one too?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
As the journey continued, the two of them chatted about sweets, recipes, and Katherine’s plans for future confections.
This trip was turning out to be a lot more enjoyable than she had expected.
And yet—
That nagging feeling in the back of her mind wouldn’t go away.
She wasn’t just traveling with a princess.
She was traveling with Princess Laura.
The sa Laura who, in the novel, was kidnapped by Count Adolfo—a man obsessed with her, to the point of attempting to murder Florante just to have her for himself.
Katherine’s fingers tightened slightly over her dress.
If she grew too close to Laura...
Would she get caught up in that event?
She had no special powers. No magic. No superhuman strength. If sothing happened, she was done for.
But... she liked Laura. She had tried to stay neutral, to avoid getting too involved with the main characters, but now—
Well. That plan was going about as well as her first attempt at making caral (burnt to a crisp and full of regret).
She sighed and popped a chocolate polvoron into her mouth.
I’ll stop thinking about it for now. If it happens, it happens.
As the carriage rolled steadily toward Athens, she savored the taste of her sweet creation, all while pretending she wasn’t internally screaming.
***
As the grand gates of Athens lood into view, Katherine had exactly two thoughts.
One: Wow, this place looks straight out of a history book. Two: Oh no, I have to survive here for a month.
The city was even more stunning than she had imagined—so stunning that, for a brief, blissful mont, she almost forgot she was about to throw herself headfirst into the setting of so of the novel’s most dramatic disasters. Towering marble structures glead under the golden sunlight, the streets thrumd with energy, and rchants hollered their best deals with the desperation of people who believed volu directly correlated with sales. The scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling at curled through the air, imdiately betraying her to her own stomach.
anwhile, inside the carriage, Princess Laura was practically vibrating with excitent, her golden eyes shining. She has the enthusiasm of a tourist on their first international trip, Katherine thought.
"We’ve arrived!" Laura clapped her hands together, radiating pure joy. "Isn’t it magnificent, Lady Katherine?"
Katherine gave a very dignified nod—the kind of nod a refined noble lady would give instead of imdiately sprinting to the nearest food stall. "Truly, Your Highness."
Internally? She was already mapping out which vendors to raid first. Priorities.
As their carriage rolled deeper into the city, Katherine took in the sights: bustling bookshops (dangerous—she could lose hours in there), glittering jewelry stalls (not in the budget, stay strong, Katherine), and a suspiciously large number of shadowy alleyways (pri kidnapping zones, duly noted).
Then ca Rogelio—the ever-serious butler-bodyguard extraordinaire—who leaned slightly toward Laura, already bracing for whatever disaster she was about to suggest. "Your Highness, we will proceed directly to the academy’s residence before heading to the academy."
A perfectly reasonable, logical, responsible plan. Which, of course, ant Laura had no intention of following it.
"But surely we can take a small detour to explore first?" she pouted, fluttering her eyelashes with the force of a girl who had been spoiled by success.
Katherine swore she saw a flicker of despair pass through Rogelio’s soul. The man was suffering.
Wanting to help—but also kind of wanting to explore—she decided to throw him a half-hearted lifeline. "We can at least look around a little before heading to the residence," she suggested, putting on her most responsible and innocent smile. See, Rogelio? I’m a good influence!
Rogelio sighed. Deeply. Like a man who had seen the future and knew it contained nothing but pain.
The mont their carriage stopped, Laura wasted no ti. "Lady Katherine! Let’s go!"
"Wait—!" Katherine barely had ti to protest, think, or breathe before she was dragged into the chaos of Athens, Laura moving with the determination of a general leading her troops into battle.
The marketplace was a war zone of temptation. Vendors called out about "exotic spices!" and "handwoven silks!" while Katherine struggled to keep up, already regretting her choice of shoes.
She had imagined this mont so differently. A graceful, elegant entrance into Athens, perhaps a leisurely stroll through the city.
Instead?
She was sprint-walking after a princess, dodging rchants like an obstacle course contestant, and ntally preparing herself for whatever nonsense was about to happen next.
Oh, and let’s not forget the horrifying little detail currently lurking at the back of her mind like an ominous narrator in a tragedy—
Major novel events are supposed to happen here.
But hey—what’s the worst that could happen?
...Famous last words, Katherine. Famous last words.
***
Athens was a city that demanded to be admired. Towering marble buildings stretched toward the sky, their grand architecture reflecting the wealth and history of the land. The streets were a whirlwind of activity—rchants shouting over one another, noblewon gliding gracefully between stalls, and the scent of freshly baked bread mingling with the rich aroma of exotic spices.
Amidst the chaos, Princess Laura and Katherine wandered through the market square, taking in the sights.
"Lady Katherine, look at this!" Laura held up a silk scarf embroidered with golden threads, twirling it between her fingers like a prized treasure. "Wouldn’t this look wonderful on you?"
Katherine glanced at the luxurious fabric, a polite smile tugging at her lips. "It’s beautiful, Your Highness, but I think it would suit you better."
Laura pouted dramatically. "You should let buy you sothing! Consider it a gift for accompanying on this journey."
Before Katherine could politely decline, a voice cut through the lively marketplace. Smooth, familiar, and far too amused for her liking.
"What an unexpected sight. I never thought I’d see you here, Lady Katherine."
Katherine turned, and there he was—Adolfo.
Bathed in the golden afternoon light, his silver hair glead like polished tal, and his red eyes, sharp and assessing, locked onto hers with an air of quiet amusent. The uniform of Athens’ prestigious academia adorned him, the gold insignia on his chest marking him as a noble student of considerable standing.
"Lord Adolfo," Katherine greeted, her voice composed despite the sudden, inexplicable flutter in her chest.
Beside her, Laura’s expression soured instantly. Whatever warmth had been in her face disappeared in a heartbeat, replaced by a look of pure irritation.
"Why are you here?" she asked bluntly, her voice cool enough to freeze the sumr air.
Adolfo, unbothered as always, placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "Princess Laura, what a pleasure," he said smoothly. "But that’s a rather strange question. As you know, I study here."
Laura huffed. "I was hoping you’d leave early."
Katherine blinked at the sheer lack of subtlety. She had read about the animosity between them in the novel, but watching it unfold firsthand was far more entertaining.
"Ah, Your Highness, you wound ," Adolfo sighed dramatically, as if personally betrayed. "And here I thought you’d be happy to see a familiar face in this grand city."
Laura scoffed. "I’d rather not see you at all."
His smirk only widened at her sharp remark, before his attention drifted back to Katherine. His gaze lingered, sothing unreadable flickering in his crimson eyes.
"It’s a rare pleasure to see you here, Lady Katherine," he said, his voice dropping slightly, as if sharing a secret ant only for her. "What brings you to Athens? I wasn’t aware the marchioness’s niece had an interest in our esteed academy."
Katherine, ever composed, t his gaze evenly. "I’m accompanying Princess Laura for the symposium. It’s my first ti here."
"Is that so?" Adolfo tilted his head, studying her with a kind of lazy curiosity. "Then allow to extend a warm welco. Athens is full of wonders—you’ll find much to enjoy."
Laura, who had been biting back her irritation, swiftly intervened. "We’re already enjoying ourselves," she said curtly. "We don’t need your help."
"Of course, Your Highness," Adolfo chuckled, clearly entertained. "Far be it from to intrude. I’ll see you at the academy."
Sothing about the way he looked at Katherine lingered—a gaze just a little too knowing, a smirk just a little too smug.
Laura, unwilling to entertain his presence any longer, turned sharply. "Let’s go, Lady Katherine."
Without hesitation, she grabbed Katherine’s arm and pulled her away, her strides firm and determined.
Katherine didn’t resist, but as they moved through the crowd, sothing gnawed at her thoughts. Even as distance stretched between them, she could still feel the weight of Adolfo’s gaze.
And even more unsettling—she couldn’t quite shake the feeling that he was enjoying this far more than he should.
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