The moment Kael Arisugawa left the palace walls of Asteruya, he was no longer the flirty prince-friend. He was a determined tracker. He used his sharp observation skills—the ones he usually hid by acting naughty and casual—to quickly find Seraphine's trail.
She is definitely clumsy, he thought, shaking his head with a small smile.
Seraphine's path was clear: a broken twig here, a faint footprint there, and a few dropped medicinal leaves she hadn't noticed. It was an easy trail to follow for someone who knew her so well. He moved fast and silently, his heart driven by the pure love he'd felt for her since they were children.
He soon saw Seraphine from a distance. She was walking with someone else—a tall, fierce-looking guy with long, messy hair.
Lionel Kisaragi, Kael immediately recognized the look of the fierce young noble. Wait, why is she with him?
A protective instinct, mixed with a quick flash of jealousy, hit Kael. He watched as the grumpy guy argued with Seraphine over the map, but then Seraphine laughed softly.
No, Kael decided, pulling back into the shadows of the forest. I won't show myself yet. If I join them, I'll just make her go back. I'll be her guardian angel until she needs me.
He vowed to stay hidden, secretly protecting her and her freedom.
Travel Buddies, Sort Of Maybe...
Meanwhile, Seraphine and Lionel Kisaragi were having a very bumpy journey.
"You said you had a map, but you've been reading it upside down for the last hour," Lionel grumbled, walking slightly ahead. He was still blunt and annoying, but he kept looking back to make sure Seraphine hadn't tripped or lost anything.
"I am not reading it upside down! It's an abstract perspective," Seraphine defended herself, though she knew he was probably right. Her careless nature made navigation almost impossible.
To make up for her lack of direction, she took charge of dinner. When they stopped by a small river to rest, Seraphine used the small pan and spices she had packed to cook a simple but wonderfully savory stew.
Lionel watched her, trying to keep his usual fierce face, but the delicious smell was too much. When she handed him a bowl, his eyes softened, and he accepted it awkwardly.
"It's... decent," he mumbled, trying to sound aloof. He was easily attached and getting clingy already.
Seraphine, ignoring his bad review, just offered a bright, kind-hearted smile. "I'm glad you like it. I have excellent Herbal & Medicine Skills too, if you get hurt!"
Lionel didn't say anything, but he looked away, a small blush dusting his cheekbones. He realized this cute, clumsy princess was going to be his unexpected comfort.
From a distance, hidden by the trees, Kael watched them share the meal. He noticed Lionel's small, secret smile and the easy way Seraphine interacted with him. Kael's playful eyes narrowed slightly. He was going to have to catch up soon.