The palace's rear garden was an oasis of quiet. The whisper of wind through leaves and the distant murmur of the river gave Alex a sense of calm he thought was lost. Here, far from prying eyes and expectations, he could breathe.
Ever since the conversation in the throne room, one thought had been circling his mind: the journey with Emi. It didn't thrill him. He preferred this solitude a thousand times over.
In the distance, like a whirlwind of boundless energy, he saw Emi exploring the rosebushes as if they were a newly discovered marvel. Alex watched her from afar. Always as a spectator. Always on the sidelines.
A movement to his left shattered his tranquility.
It was Princess Leona.
Her bearing was impeccable, her morning dress an example of discreet elegance. But her gaze… her gaze had the hardness of polished crystal. And it was fixed on him.
She walked toward him unhurriedly, each step a declaration of authority. The tension in her jaw was the only crack in her perfect mask.
"Alex," she said. Her voice was soft, but flat. It wasn't a greeting. It was an acknowledgement.
He gave a slight nod. He could see it: the internal struggle, the resentment toward the ease with which Emi stole everyone's attention. Leona worked for every gram of respect that rained down on Emi effortlessly.
"How can I help you?" he replied, keeping his tone neutral.
She studied him, and a flicker of genuine curiosity appeared in her eyes, mixed with something else… envy?
"I heard you're traveling with Emi," she began, her tone becoming direct, almost a challenge wrapped in royal courtesy. "Why? Aren't you afraid of getting more involved than you should?"
The question gave him a jolt. Did she know something about his ability? Or was she just noticing the obvious: that he was the anchor Emi always clung to?
"It's not a matter of fear," he replied, coolly. "I don't have a choice. Emi has a habit of dragging me into her messes. And I… would prefer to avoid them."
Leona frowned slightly, but didn't seem offended. On the contrary, her expression softened for an instant.
"And doesn't it bother you?" she asked, lowering her voice. She leaned in slightly, creating a space of false intimacy, charged with provocation. "Always being the… supporting character?"
Alex held back a sigh. For some reason, in this silent garden, the truth seemed less dangerous.
"Honestly, no," he said. "I never wanted the spotlight. I don't have powers like the others. I just want to help from the shadows. And Emi… well, she always finds a way to take me with her. I've gotten used to it."
The princess fell silent. She watched him as if deciphering a complex code. Finally, she nodded, and a faint, almost sad smile touched her lips.
"I understand," she murmured, and for the first time, her voice lost all pretense. "The expectations of others are an incredibly heavy burden, aren't they? Everyone expects me to be important. To shine. To fulfill my destiny. But sometimes… sometimes I just wish I could fade into the background, like you."
Her words resonated in Alex with an unexpected force. He saw the crack in her armor, the vulnerability of someone who, from the top, yearned for the freedom of anonymity. It was a distorted reflection of his own desire.
"It's not that easy," Leona murmured, more to herself. Then, her gaze hardened again, regaining its princely chill. "But listen to me, Alex. Even if you don't want to stand out, reality is stubborn. Emi can't do it all alone. And destiny, however capricious, placed you by her side. You can't run from that."
She turned to leave, but stopped for a moment, without looking at him.
"Be careful," she added, her voice barely a sigh carried by the breeze. "The shadows you like so much… sometimes hide dangers not even heroes can see."
Before Alex could ask what she meant, she walked away, her impeccable figure blending with the perfect geometry of the garden.
Her warning hung in the air, a disturbing echo.
Just then, the whirlwind reached him.
"Alex! Are you ready?!"
Emi burst into his space like a sunbeam, completely ignoring the solemnity of the place. Her hair was slightly tousled, and she had a smudge of dirt on her cheek.
"Our next adventure awaits! We can't waste any time!" she said, radiant, as if announcing a picnic and not an actual mission.
Alex looked at her. At her carefree joy. At the unease now sown in his mind by Leona's warning.
"The shadows… sometimes hide dangers."
"Alex?" Emi tilted her head, her smile fading a millimeter. "Are you okay?"
He let out a long, deep sigh, the sound of complete resignation. He nodded.
"Yeah, Emi. Let's go."
As he followed her, a certainty settled in his chest, heavier than before. He couldn't say no to her. He never could. But now, for the first time, a doubt gnawed at him: was she dragging him into an adventure… or into the shadow Leona had spoken of?