Leticia and Aleph arrived in one of the towns near the capital of the Spring Kingdom and went to stay at the place Daniel had recommended. The inn, a charming mix of Eastern and Western styles, welcomed them with a cozy atmosphere. During check-in, the attendant, with a mischievous smile, asked if they were a couple and led them to a room specially decorated for newlyweds, filled with romantic and suggestive details.
"What on earth did Daniel suggest!" Aleph thought, embarrassed. "Princess Leticia, I will request that they change our room."
Before he could do so, Leticia interrupted him, her face flushed.
"There's no need, Aleph," she said in a thread of a voice. "It would be strange to refuse, since... we are a couple."
Aleph was surprised by the sudden response and the absence of formal address. That simple "Aleph," without the title of "Sir" or "Knight," created an unexpected intimacy between them. On an impulse, he decided to return the informality, calling her by her name.
"Leticia," he said with a soft smile, "if it doesn't bother you... I think this room will help disguise our identities."
With a brief bow, Aleph wished her goodnight and settled onto the comfortable sofa in the room, ceding the bed to Leticia.
The Spring Kingdom, protected by a powerful magical barrier impenetrable by the shineideas, offered a safe refuge for Leticia and Aleph. That protective shield reassured Aleph, who knew that there, at least for now, Leticia would be safe.
While exploring the main city, Aleph encountered a familiar face: Kirin, an old friend. Leticia, with discretion, stepped away so they could speak in private.
"That young lady is the princess of the Winter Kingdom, isn't she?" Kirin asked with a curious look. "Why are you escorting her?"
"What do you want, Kirin?" Aleph asked, getting straight to the point. "Do you have a message from Master Yoshi?"
"The message is from the Autumn Kingdom," Kirin replied, handing a sealed scroll to Aleph.
Aleph opened the scroll and read its contents, his expression growing serious.
"Why didn't you go straight to the Autumn Kingdom?" Kirin questioned with an ironic smile. "What's keeping you here? Don't tell me you're... stalling to spend more time with the princess?"
Aleph stared at him without responding. Kirin laughed, amused by his reaction.
"Don't tell me you haven't noticed!"
Kirin looked in Leticia's direction and gave Aleph a signal.
"Your princess is surrounded by parasites. Right at this very moment."
With a final wave, Kirin said goodbye and disappeared into the crowd.
Leticia was looking at a display window with dresses in the style of the Spring Kingdom when some young men approached. One of them said with an arrogant smile:
"That dress would look enchanting on you, miss. That blue color would match your eyes perfectly."
He moved a little closer and, speaking almost confidentially, added:
"But it would look even better without it."
Leticia was surprised by the stranger's boldness and, without hesitation, replied:
"I appreciate the compliment, but I am taken."
"He's not even here. How about we take a walk?"
Leticia noticed that the other two young men began to surround her, blocking any possibility of escape. She knew she couldn't cause a scene, but she couldn't allow this situation. One of them placed a hand on her shoulder, and when she tried to pull away, the other moved in to touch her arm.
"We can keep you company, my love."
Before she could react, Aleph appeared like a lightning flash, firmly gripping the arm of the man who was about to touch her and abruptly pushing him away. He stood between Leticia and the young men. When the three saw Aleph's icy gaze, they realized they didn't stand a chance and, without a word, they backed away.
They had been trying to drag her into a hidden street.
Aleph looked at Leticia with an expression of concern, but also confusion.
"Why didn't you do anything against them? Why did you act as if you were defenseless?"
She faced him, a little surprised by the question.
"I am strong, I could have defended myself," Leticia replied, trying not to show insecurity.
Aleph turned quickly to her, walking in her direction, and said calmly:
"Are you sure about that? What if the person is stronger than you?"
Before Leticia could respond, Aleph pressed her against the wall with a firm gesture, pinning her arm above her head. Leticia had never seen him act that way, and the shock made her question him, her eyes searching for answers.
"What... what are you going to do?" she asked, her voice trembling.
She couldn't break free, and her heart sped up. Aleph approached slowly, his face inches from hers. Leticia felt his warm breath on her skin, Aleph's intense gaze penetrating her eyes. A mix of fear and excitement ran through her. She closed her eyes instinctively as Aleph's lips were just centimeters from hers.
However, at the last moment, he stopped, moving away quickly.
"Sorry," Aleph murmured, backing away abruptly, his face flushed. "I didn't mean to scare you. It was just a... warning."
Aleph was visibly embarrassed by the action he had taken.
"Thank you... for the warning," Leticia replied, still breathless, her heart pounding in her chest.
They walked in silence to the bookstore, not exchanging a single word during the journey. When they arrived, Leticia entered alone, and Aleph waited outside.
"Why am I losing my patience? This shouldn't be happening. Why did I do that? It makes me just like those harassers," Aleph thought, pacing back and forth, lost in his own thoughts.
Inside the bookstore, Leticia saw several young women talking animatedly, and, curious, they approached her.
"Excuse me," one of them began with a shy smile, "is that young man your... boyfriend? He's very handsome!"
"We're... engaged?" Leticia replied, a little hesitant.
"You make a beautiful couple," the young women said excitedly.
Accustomed to a formal and pragmatic environment, Leticia had little experience with the intricacies of romantic relationships. The young women, on the other hand, seemed to be experts on the subject. Seizing the opportunity, Leticia decided to ask for advice.
"Our engagement is arranged," she explained. "How can I know if he... likes me?"
The young women looked at each other, a little surprised, before answering.
"What do you mean, 'how'?" one of the young women asked, incredulous. "When you're in love, it's so easy to tell!"
The young women began to share tips and personal experiences, talking about the signs of infatuation and the nuances of romance.
"But... the hard part is having it reciprocated," one of them said thoughtfully.
"When there are problems involved, it gets much more complicated," another added.
Noticing that Leticia was more confused than before, one of the young women smiled and said:
"You must be from another kingdom, because here, everything breathes romance!"
With that, they became animated.
"I know!" another exclaimed. "Let's recommend some books to you! After all, you're getting married soon!"
Enthusiastic, the young women chose three books on romance and handed them to Leticia, who received them with surprise. This was the first time she would have access to a book of this type.
"I have an idea..." one of the young women said with a mischievous smile. "Why don't you take the opportunity and test it out on him? He's your fiancé, and he's been waiting for you for so long!"
"But... what could I do?" Leticia asked, uncertain. "I want to thank him for everything he has done for me."
"Since he helps you so much..." the young woman began, and, moving closer to Leticia, she whispered some suggestions in her ear.
Leticia's face turned completely red. After a moment of awkward silence, she thanked them for the books and hurried out of the bookstore, her mind buzzing with the young women's daring ideas.
One of the young women, seeing her hasty exit, asked her friend:
"What did you say to her?" one of the girls asked her friend, curious.
"Nothing much," the other replied with an enigmatic smile. "Just a little push. He's gorgeous, she has to seize the opportunity!"
Back at the inn, Leticia replayed the daring advice from the young women in the bookstore in her mind.
"I need to thank Aleph for everything he's done for me," she thought restlessly. "The journey is ending, and soon I won't have this opportunity anymore. But... can I do it?" The memory of the bold suggestions made her blush. "I don't know if I can be so... direct."