The bright smile lingering on her lips caught Kyren's attention.
Since returning from her daily outing, Anna had been beaming nonstop.
His gaze slid toward her as he casually asked, "What's making you so happy today? You've been grinning like a Cheshire cat."
Anna lifted her chin and looked at him. The commander had just changed into his robe while she sat at the edge of the bed, waiting for him.
"It's just a trivial matter. Not even worth mentioning," she replied, still smiling.
Kyren walked over and sat beside her.
"So, you don't want to tell me?" he asked.
"It's not that," she said. "You're busy. I don't want to bother you with unimportant things."
"My nights are meant for you," he replied, eyes fixed on her. "You can talk to me about anything."
"Really? You mean it? You won't be mad?" Her doe eyes sparkled.
"Tell me first. Then I'll decide whether I should be mad," he teased.
Anna pouted and turned away. "Then I'm not telling. You'll surely scold me."
Kyren chuckled and pinched her cheek.
"I'm joking. I won't be. Now tell me."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Eagerly, she recounted the fight—the reprimand, threats, handshake, and how she successfully got the two knights to reconcile. The action had earned her respectful greetings and nods from those who had only stared before.
In truth, Kyren already found out.
His ears and eyes were everywhere within the camp, and more than once he had watched her quietly from a distance himself.
He had expected his wife to conceal certain matters from him, keeping minor concerns to herself to avoid his scolding.
To his surprise, she hid nothing. Everything was revealed openly and without hesitation.
"You're quite the peacemaker," he said, smirking. "If it were me, I'd have included a few floggings to make them shake hands."
Anna's excited face immediately clouded with worry.
"You wouldn't punish them, would you? Oh, God! I shouldn't have told you all this!" she regretted.
Kyren almost laughed.
"Since you handled it so well, I'll overlook it. Just so you know—nothing escapes my notice here. Even if you don't tell me, I'll find out sooner or later."
He stroked her long, wavy hair.
"Thank you for being considerate," she said, gratefully relieved.
"Now, let's go to bed."
The lanterns' light was put out, and as usual, one was left lit.
Kyren pulled Anna down onto his arm as they lay together on the bed. Her petite figure had warmed his nights since his return. It had become his routine—embracing her while he slept peacefully.
The faint scent of ripe apples from her hair soothed him whenever he took his rest.
His hand patted her shoulder lightly.
"Kyren…" she suddenly called.
"Hm…"
She lifted her head and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He turned his head to her and blinked in surprise. "What's the kiss for?"
"It's an appreciation kiss."
"Appreciation?"
"For giving me a life I never dreamed of. I never thought I'd have friends who cared for me. It means a lot."
"Are you happy with me?"
She smiled. "It couldn't be better."
Those sweet lips had always tempted him, weakening his resolve every time he looked at them.
His fingers traced her cheek before slowly brushing across her lips.
"Anna…"
"Yes, Kyren."
Hearing his name fall from her soft voice stirred something deep within him—a quiet hunger, a rising desire, and a burning primal instinct.
"You're so soft…"
Heat surged through him.
It had been days since he last touched her intimately, afraid she might get hurt again. Holding her every night was already torture enough.
But that kiss—
It cracked his restraint.
He sighed, trying to calm himself.
"What is it? Are you mad at me?" she asked.
The dim surroundings made it hard for her to read his expression.
"No."
Her fingers touched his jaw gently, trying to soothe him.
Instead, he caught her hand and brought her fingers to his lips, drawing them slowly into his mouth and gently licking them.
"Oh—Kyren!" she gasped.
Swiftly, he buried his face into her neck, breathing in her scent, lips trailing down her skin. His mouth closed over her nape, sucking hard enough to leave a mark.
A soft moan escaped her.
"You shouldn't have started that kiss," he muttered. "Look what you've done to me."
He tilted her chin and kissed her deeply, hungrily, tasting every bit of her softness.
Her body squirmed beneath him.
Not enough. It was never enough.
"More…" he breathed.
His hand slipped beneath her nightgown, fingers exploring, gripping.
Anna jolted from the bold touch.
"Gentler… please…"
"Sorry."
Kyren immediately withdrew, guilt flashing across his mind. At the same time, Rafe's warning echoed, suffocating his desire.
But Anna grabbed his hand and pressed it back against her chest.
"Don't stop."
"I don't want to hurt you."
"It's fine… just don't rush."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes… mould me slowly. Let me get used to you."
Her arms looped around his neck as she loosened his robe.
Her warmth, her touch, her breath… every bit of her drove him mad.
"Take me… please…"
That soft plea shattered the last of his control.
He groaned low, surrendering completely.
Their bodies moved together, heat against heat, breaths tangling, hearts pounding in sync until pleasure swallowed them whole.
***
Hours later, when the camp had long fallen silent, two figures stood in the forest for a secret meeting.
The wild hummed softly in the night—the distant hoot of owls, the breeze weaving through the trunks, and the steady chorus of summer crickets.
The scent of damp earth lingered in the air, thick with moss and aged bark around them.
"So, what have you discovered about her so far?"
The commander's voice broke the woven calm of the forest.
Noah stood before him, gaze fixed ahead.
"She's a high-ranking noble," he replied at last.
After several days observing Anna as her escort, the conclusion had settled firmly in his mind.
Kyren's lips curved faintly.
"I thought as much."
"But she's different," Noah continued. "Very different. She's one of a kind."
"Meaning?" The commander raised a brow.
"She isn't adamant or arrogant. She's polite, selfless, and caring." Noah paused. "She's… kind."
"Then why assume she's a noble?" Kyren countered smoothly. "From what you've described, she sounds unlike most noblewomen."
"It's her ability," Noah answered. "I watched how she interacted with Ayden and Rafe. She grasps new matters quickly. Her observation is sharp, and her memory even sharper."
"A fast learner…" Kyren murmured.
"Yes. And she speaks four languages fluently, especially Old Ro'an. From what I gathered, she's formally educated and well-read. The books she references… most are accessible only to high-ranking families."
Kyren nodded slightly.
"I've observed her as well, from a distance. She draws people in without trying. Even you and Eric bowed your heads after that quarrel. No one has ever managed the two of you so neatly."
Noah looked away, faint embarrassment crossing his features.
"With that gentle appearance, I never expected such persuasion," he admitted.
"She has knowledge of military law, too," Kyren added, pride slipping subtly into his tone. "When she cited regulations, it was as though I were listening to a living codex."
"That's remarkable," Noah said. "Not even every high noble memorises such things."
"For members of a royal household, it is compulsory," Kyren replied. "Ro'an was once the empire's tongue. We were trained in languages, governance, history… and more." He paused briefly. "She may appear timid, clingy even, and somewhat clumsy in manner. But her education, her reasoning… they align with royal upbringing."
Noah's eyes widened.
"Could she be a princess?" he asked in disbelief.
"She could."
"But Ardel has no princess. The royal family perished two years ago, and a regent has ruled since," Noah stated.
The information had once passed through the mercenary guild he served.
"Then perhaps she was hidden," Kyren said quietly. "For reasons we do not yet know."
Realisation dawned on the knight.
"Then the knightess she mentioned…" he said, snapping his fingers lightly. "She must have been her escort."
Kyren turned to him. "She told you of a knightess?"
"Yes. A close friend. She said the woman was the finest in the knighthood… but she has passed away."
"That narrows the field considerably," Kyren mused. "There are few knightesses on this continent and fewer still considered the best."
"If such a knightess was assigned to guard her," Noah concluded, "then she was no ordinary noble."
Kyren's eyes gleamed faintly in the darkness.
"Did she ever speak of her family?" he asked.
Noah shook his head.
"Never. She only spoke of you as her family. And she trusts you completely."
The commander fell silent at that.
"That is because she has no one else," he said after a moment. His jaw tightened. "Something happened in Ardel. Something severe enough to drive her into hiding."
Noah nodded gravely.
"For a royal to be hunted by Bargesians and nearly sold by the slave traders… she must have endured much."
A flash of fury ignited in Kyren's gaze.
The thought of hands laid upon her and of fear forced into her heart sent a cold surge of rage through him.
"Go to Ardel," he ordered at once, voice low but edged with steel. "Find out everything. Who pursued her. What happened. Leave nothing buried."
"Yes, Commander." Noah bowed deeply. "I depart immediately."
Without another word, the knight stepped into the shadows, his figure swallowed gradually by the forest as the night resumed its quiet murmur.
Kyren remained where he stood, eyes fixed on the dark path ahead.
Whatever past Anna carried, he would uncover it.