The room was far too quiet.
Far too large.
And yet, it felt small for the amount of tension that entered along with us.
The door closed behind us with a dry sound. No one spoke for the first few seconds. Only the light noise of boots on the stone floor, controlled breathing, and looks that said far more than any words.
I knew this was coming.
I just didn't know how it would begin.
Rai'kanna started.
"So."
A single word.
But spoken with an absurd weight.
I stopped in the middle of the room.
"Things aren't like that," I said.
"Oh really?" she replied.
Lyannis leaned against the wall, crossing her arms, observing everything carefully. She didn't seem angry. She seemed analytical. As if she were trying to understand where this was going.
Liriel walked to the window and stared outside, taking a deep breath before speaking.
"We need to stay calm."
Vespera threw herself into the armchair and rested her chin on her hand.
"I want to hear his explanation."
Elara stood with her arms crossed, staring straight at me.
"So do I."
I ran a hand over my face.
"She pulled me."
Rai'kanna replied immediately.
"And you stood still."
"I had no reaction."
"Convenient again."
Lyannis finally spoke.
"Rai'kanna, let him finish."
I took a deep breath.
"I didn't expect that. I didn't want that. I didn't ask for that."
Vespera tilted her head.
"But you didn't stop it either."
"How was I supposed to stop it? Push the princess of the kingdom in the middle of the hall?"
Silence fell for a moment.
Elara looked away.
She knew that was true.
Liriel was still by the window.
"This isn't just about the kiss," she said.
I looked at her.
"Then what is it about?"
"It's about what this means."
No one spoke.
Because they all understood.
So did I.
Rai'kanna walked across the room.
"She didn't do that on impulse. She did it to mark territory."
Lyannis nodded slowly.
"It was calculated."
Vespera smiled slightly.
"And very well done, by the way."
"Are you finding this funny?" Rai'kanna asked.
"I'm finding it impressive."
Elara took a deep breath.
"This creates a political problem."
I agreed.
"Yes."
Liriel finally turned.
"She didn't kiss you as a woman. She kissed you as a princess."
The sentence was direct.
And heavy.
I understood immediately.
That wasn't just personal.
It was public.
It was diplomatic.
It was strategic.
Rai'kanna stopped walking.
"And now the entire dwarven kingdom thinks you two have something."
Lyannis added,
"And the king supported it."
I sat on the bed.
"I don't know how to get out of this."
Vespera stood up from the armchair.
"Maybe there's no way out."
I looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
"That maybe you're already inside it."
Silence returned.
This time longer.
Heavier.
Liriel walked closer.
"Takumi, you're no longer just an adventurer."
I sighed.
"I know."
"You've become a political piece."
Elara nodded.
"And actions like this have bigger consequences than they seem."
Rai'kanna was still irritated, but no longer speaking with the same outburst as before.
"I hate to admit it, but… she was smart."
Lyannis looked at her in surprise.
"You're complimenting her?"
"I'm recognizing it."
Vespera laughed softly.
"The dwarf played very well."
I rested my elbows on my knees.
"I just wanted to have dinner in peace."
Liriel almost smiled.
"That no longer matches your life."
The room gradually grew calmer.
The anger gave way to analysis.
Thought.
Caution.
Elara spoke again.
"She's going to continue."
I looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"She didn't do this to stop here."
Lyannis agreed.
"She made the first public move."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"And she'll want to reinforce it."
Vespera smiled.
"I'm starting to like her."
"Vespera!", Rai'kanna complained.
"What? She's brave."
Liriel spoke calmly again.
"The important thing is that you don't make decisions on impulse."
I nodded.
"I won't."
Elara looked straight at me.
"But you also can't ignore it."
I knew.
That was the problem.
Ignoring would be disrespect.
Accepting would be commitment.
Staying in the middle was impossible.
We stayed silent for a while.
The atmosphere was no longer one of fighting.
It was concern.
Understanding.
Awareness of the size of the problem.
Rai'kanna sighed.
"I'm still angry."
Lyannis touched her shoulder.
"I know."
Vespera yawned.
"This is going to make for interesting days."
Elara finally sat down.
Liriel returned to the window.
And I stayed there, thinking about how a single action had completely changed the course of the trip.
After a few minutes, Rai'kanna spoke more quietly.
"Are you going to talk to her?"
"I am."
"Today?"
"No."
Lyannis nodded.
"Good choice."
Liriel agreed.
"With a cool head."
I lay down on the bed staring at the stone ceiling.
Silence returned to dominate the room.
But now it was a different silence.
More rational.
More controlled.
And even so…
I knew.
None of this was over.
In fact, it was just beginning.