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Frey had been gone all day. No one was worried. She did that sometimes, spending a night in the fields fighting monsters. The villagers did not think much of it.
On day two, Volkanon began to worry. But it did not take much to worry him anyway.
On the third day, Forte checked the field outside the village; just to be sure Frey was not lying face down somewhere. Everyone started keeping an eye out for the princess.
After a week, Leon barged into the castle.
“Ventuswill!” He barked. “Bring Frey home now!”
Ventuswill jumped at the guardian’s tone. It was rare to see Leon outside of a teasing, lighthearted mood.
“Bring her back?” Ventuswill repeated. “I haven’t locked her up someplace.”
“But you can take off and find her. Do it! Bring her back!”
Ventuswill sat up to her full height, giving Leon a hard look. “Leon, you are my friend, and you are also a priest, but you will not order me around like that. Calm down. Now.”
Leon answered with a glare. The two stared silently at one another for a few moments.
Finally, Ventuswill softened. “Leon, what’s wrong?”
The fan in Leon’s clenched fist shook, then his shoulders sagged and he sighed. “It’s not like Frey to be gone for so long. I’m… worried.” He said the last word like someone was pulling it forcibly from his throat.
“Frey took on the Sech Empire in their own territory. Twice. I think she can handle a week on her own.”
“But what if she’s hurt? Or lost? Or kidnapped? You told me she got here in the first place because she fell from the sky and lost her memory. She’s clearly accident prone.”
“She’s really not.”
“Or worse? What if she’s staying away because of-” Leon cut himself off and cleared his throat. His looked down at his fan and began opening and closing it.
“What?” Ventuswill pressed. “Because of what?” She narrowed her eyes. “Did you do something?”
“No!” Leon said quickly. “I didn’t do anything I just…” He suddenly grinned and stuck a pose. “Maybe I’m just so handsome she could not bear it any longer.”
The grin looked forced, and it was clear Leon’s heart wasn’t in the joke. When Ventuswill did not so much as giggle, Leon signed again. “I saw her before she left town. I told her that when she came back, I had something to tell her.” He twirled the fan in his hands. “Do you think she’s staying away on purpose because of me?”
Ventuswill cocked her head. “Why would she not want to talk to you?”
“Maybe I made her too nervous to come home. Or something.”
“I think you’re giving yourself too much credit. What do you plan on telling her? Should she be nervous?”
“Yes? I think? I think people get nervous about stuff like this.”
“Like what?”
“I was going to…”
Leon trailed off and opened the fan so it covered is mouth. He mumbled something. Ventuswill leaned in closer. “What?”
“…I was going to confess.”
Ventuswill reared back. “YOU-”
Behind Leon, the front doors of the castle banged open. Frey stood there, smiling widely at them both. To Leon’s immense relief, she was unharmed, though out of breath.
“Leon!” She cried. She ran towards him and jumped into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. On reflex, he caught her around the waist, still shocked to see her.
“Frey, what-”
“I’m so sorry I kept you waiting so long!” The princess interrupted. “It’s so hard to keep track of time in a cave and I didn’t even plan to stay out that long and-” She pulled away to smile up at him. “I missed you.”
After a moment, he returned the grin. “What was your name again?’
With a laugh, Frey released Leon to smack him in the arm. “Jerk!”
“Oh I see, let’s just all ignore the huge dragon in the room. She may be of the Divine Wind but I’m sure she doesn’t mind being totally ignored.”
Leon scratched one ear and looked around. “Did you hear something?”
Frey giggled and waved up at Ventuswill. “Sorry. I missed you to, Venti.”
“That’s better,” Ventuswill said.
Frey turned to Leon. “Now, you said you wanted to tell me something?”
“Did I?”
“Before I left. You said you had something to tell me when I got back.”
“I think I remember that. Let’s find somewhere else to talk. Apparently there is a dragon in this room.”
“He was worried sick about you, Frey!” Ventuswill called, annoyed, as the two made their way to Frey’s room. “He’s not as tough as he looks! Remember that!”
Frey looked up at Leon with surprise. “You were worried about me?’
Glaring, Leon closed the door behind them. Ventuswill did not hear Leon’s response.