Alex watched her leave, the cold night air settling around him. Her footsteps faded softly over the straw-covered ground, swallowed by the quiet of the stable yard.
For a moment, Alex stood still by the doorframe, his heart beating fast like it wanted to break free. His breath came out in small clouds in the cold air.
Her words, sharp but gentle, kept running through his mind. "Too useful, maybe." What did she mean? Was it a warning? Or a secret message? He didn't know.
The queen of this broken world, a woman carrying a heavy crown that no one really wanted her to wear, was watching him closely—measuring him. Not just as a stranger or refugee, but as someone who might change the delicate balance of the camp.
Suddenly, a small noise came from behind the hay. Alex turned quickly, muscles tense, ready for danger. But it was only a small horse peeking out, nostrils flaring in the cold, eyes calm and curious.
He let out the breath he didn't know he was holding and reached out, touching the horse's nose. The smell of hay, sweat, and earth calmed him. Here, in this quiet place, things felt a little more real and less like a trap.
He pulled his cloak tight and stepped back toward the camp, his mind full of questions. Why did Historia keep coming back? Was she cautious? Curious? Or was it something deeper—something personal?
The next day went by in a blur—cleaning the stables, carrying water, and avoiding the horses' kicks. But Historia came more often. She didn't stay long, but each time, her eyes stayed on him a little longer, like she was trying to figure something out.
One afternoon, after the small midday meal, Alex saw her sitting alone on a worn wooden bench by the water trough. No guards. No followers. Just her, hands resting in her lap, staring far away while the camp bustled around her.
His heart beat faster as he walked closer, careful to give her space.
"Got a minute?" she asked without looking at him.
"Sure," Alex said, sitting down beside her but keeping some distance.
She sighed softly, still looking out. "The Scouts are planning a new trip soon," she said quietly. "They don't know what they'll find, but it won't be easy."
Alex nodded slowly. "If it goes wrong…" His voice caught. "This camp might be all that's left."
She finally looked at him. Her blue eyes were clear and steady, no royal distance this time. "What about you, Alex? What will you do if it all falls apart?"
Her question hit him harder than he expected. He swallowed, searching for a true answer. "I don't know," he said quietly. "I guess... I'll try to survive. Stay out of trouble like you said."
Her eyes softened for just a moment. "You don't have to do it alone."
Those words surprised him, waking something inside that he hadn't felt in a long time. Before he could say anything, she stood up fast, brushing straw from her cloak. "I have to check on the food. You should rest."
Alex watched her walk away, her figure fading into the busy camp. Her words stayed with him, warm but confusing.
Historia's visits, her quiet trust, stirred something inside him. Maybe it was hope. Or maybe fear, pretending to be hope.
Either way, he knew one thing: the quiet days were over.
Alex found himself looking forward to her visits, oddly tuned to the small moments she brought to the day. She said little, but just having her near pulled him slowly out of his loneliness.