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Standing at the cave entrance, silhouetted against the morning light, was Lady Minerva. Her elegant posture and knowing smirk were unmistakable even in the shadows.

Oh for the love of—couldn’t I have one moment without the universe conspiring against me?

First kidnapped, then almost murdered, and now caught in a compromising position with the crown prince by one of the most powerful women in the kingdom.

At this rate, I’d be lucky if the next disaster waited until after breakfast.

I watched as Anderic’s shoulders relaxed, his defensive stance shifting to one of mere surprise.

“Lady Minerva,” he greeted, his voice remarkably composed for a half-naked man who’d just been caught in a rather enthusiastic embrace.

“Your Highness,” she replied with a slight bow of her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. “And I know Lady Ilyana is hiding behind you. You can come out, dear. I’ve seen worse in my many years at court.”

I clutched the leather cloak tighter around me, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

When no such mercy came, I stepped out from behind Anderic, my chin lifted in what I hoped was a dignified manner, though I suspected the effect was somewhat diminished by my tangled hair and flushed cheeks.

“Lady Minerva,” I managed, forcing steadiness into my voice. “What a… surprise.”

“I’m sure it is,” she said dryly, her eyes twinkling. “No need to look so scandalized, child. I was young once too, believe it or not.”

“What brings you here?” Anderic asked, tactfully changing the subject.

Lady Minerva’s expression turned more serious. “I thought you should know that I’ve already sent word to the palace about your whereabouts, Your Highness.”

I froze. “You did what?” The words escaped before I could stop them.

“I had no choice, my dear. The Crown Prince disappeared during a storm? The entire palace would be in an uproar.” She gave me a pointed look. “And yes, I mentioned you were with him.”

My stomach plummeted to my feet. “But that means—”

“Not to worry,” Lady Minerva interrupted, raising a hand. “I sent the message directly to Queen Felicia. She’s quite adept at managing… delicate situations. I’m certain she’ll ensure the news doesn’t spread beyond where it needs to.”

“That’s… thoughtful of you,” I said, still not entirely relieved.

“I’ve also taken the liberty of sending for your maid. Laurel, is it? She’s on her way with a carriage as we speak. Should be here within the hour.”

Anderic bowed his head slightly. “Thank you for your assistance, Lady Minerva.”

She laughed, the sound echoing through the cave. “Oh, put your princely manners away, boy. I’ve known you since you were stealing sweets from the kitchen. No need to thank me.” Her eyes softened with genuine affection.

“How did you even find us?” I asked, still clutching the cloak like a shield. “We’re miles from anywhere.”

“An excellent question,” Anderic agreed, his eyes narrowing slightly. Not with suspicion but rather curiosity. Anderic trusted her. After all, Queen Felicia and Lady Minerva were close friends. So, that was to be expected.

Lady Minerva’s gaze bounced between us, her lips twitching upward before settling on me.

“My dear Ilyana,” she said, her voice taking on a teasing lilt, “surely you didn’t forget about me feeding the geese at the lake every morning? Or did you mix up ducks and geese again?”

I looked down at my bare feet, suddenly fascinated by the cave floor’s uneven surface. “They look remarkably similar,” I muttered, aware of how ridiculous that sounded.

Anderic’s eyes darted between us, curiosity evident in his expression. The morning light streaming through the cave entrance caught the gold in his hair, making it shine like a halo—an effect utterly at odds with the man himself.

Minerva laughed, the sound bouncing off the cave walls. “Well,” she continued, still chuckling, “when I came here this morning as usual to feed my geese, I noticed something rather… unusual.” Her eyes twinkled with mischief.

My head snapped up, eyes wide with panic. The body. Oh gods, Gareth’s body was still out there. My heart hammered against my ribs as I remembered leaving the corpse by the lake’s edge.

Damn, Gareth. He is creating problems even in death.

Anderic narrowed his eyes, his relaxed posture tensing slightly.

“Oh, don’t look so alarmed now, dears.” Minerva waved her hand dismissively. “I’ve taken care of it. Such minor inconveniences shouldn’t trouble either of you.”

A minor inconvenience, she said…with a smile.

Minor? I stared at her in disbelief. A dead body was a minor inconvenience?

I glanced at Anderic, who was nodding as if Minerva had simply mentioned clearing away some scattered leaves rather than a human corpse.

When exactly had I tumbled into this bizarre world where disposing of bodies was considered a “minor inconvenience” for a prominent guild master and the crown prince?

Probably around the same time I’d decided time travel and second chances were reasonable life goals.

A sharp screech pierced the air, and I looked up to see a massive eagle diving straight toward us. Anderic casually extended his bare arm as the deadly bird of prey chose the half-naked prince as its perch. The eagle landed with surprising gentleness, talons carefully positioned on Anderic’s skin.

I let out an embarrassing yelp, stepping backward until my shoulders hit the cave wall. Because why would His Royal Highness use something sensible like a pigeon when giant murder birds were so much more practical?

Anderic caught my expression, and his lips quirked upward as he scratched under the eagle’s beak. Minerva, too, seemed amused by my reaction.

“What?” I rolled my eyes defensively. “I’m the normal one here.” I pointed at the massive predator currently being petted like a kitten. “That is not.”

Anderic snorted. “I highly doubt that,” he said, deftly untying a small rolled parchment from the bird’s leg. With another ear-splitting screech that made me flinch, the eagle launched itself back into the sky, powerful wings stirring the air as it disappeared into the morning light.

“Most people use pigeons,” I grumbled, wrapping the cloak tighter around myself.

“Most people aren’t crown princes of Aetheria,” Lady Minerva observed with obvious delight at my discomfort.

Anderic’s eyes scanned the parchment quickly, his brow furrowing.

“Lennox is on his way,” he announced, his voice tinged with a mix of amusement and resignation.

“And unfortunately, when the messenger went to inform Mother, Sebastian found out as well. Apparently, Lord and Lady D’Arcane were quite worried about your disappearance. ”

My heart dropped into my stomach. Home was the last place I’d want to go now. And to think I just reconciled with Mother just yesterday. “Oh my God, they must know I was with you.” Panic clawed at my throat, threatening to choke me.

Anderic pretended to think for a moment, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Well, with your bold display at the ball—”

“I heard about that too,” Lady Minerva piped in, looking far too entertained by our predicament.

“—and since the crown prince is also missing, I can see why they’d jump to that conclusion,” Anderic finished, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

I felt my face heat up, a combination of embarrassment and frustration. “This isn’t the time for jokes, Anderic!”

He laughed, the sound echoing off the cave walls. “If you don’t want me to get punched in the face—and I sure as hell don’t feel like getting punched today—you should probably get dressed.”

I opened my mouth, ready to deliver a scathing reply, when Lady Minerva cleared her throat. “I believe I hear the sound of an approaching carriage.”

My ears perked up, and sure enough, the distant rumble of wheels on gravel reached me. Within seconds, Laurel appeared at the cave entrance, clutching the wall for support. She looked frazzled, as if she hadn’t slept a wink.

“My lady, I’m here,” she gasped out between breaths. “You don’t have to worry. We can go now.”

Then her eyes landed on Anderic’s half-naked form and really took in my disheveled state, wrapped in his cloak. Her eyes widened comically.

“Laurel, did you bring a spare dress?” I asked urgently, trying to redirect her attention.

She kept staring, her gaze bouncing between Anderic and me like she was watching a particularly intense match, her eyes wide.

I shook her gently. “Laurel! This isn’t the time for that. Did you bring a dress or not?”

She snapped out of her daze. “Yes, my lady. I did.”

“Good. Collect my ruined dress. I’ll change in the carriage.” I started moving, my mind racing. “We need to hurry and get out of here before Sebastian arrives.”

I was about to leave when I hesitated, my gaze drawn back to Anderic. His golden curls were still slightly damp, catching the firelight in a way that made him look almost ethereal. I swallowed hard and steeled myself.

“Anderic,” I said quietly, taking a hesitant step toward him.

“I’ll see you later,” I said softly, my heart hammering against my ribs. “And I’ll let you know about the northern mines.”

Before I could lose my nerve, I leaned in to place a quick kiss on his cheek. But Anderic had other ideas. His hand shot out, catching me by the waist and pulling me flush against him. My breath caught in my throat as he cupped my face with his other hand, his intense gaze boring into mine.

“Is that the best you can do, Princess?” He murmured, his thumb tracing along my jaw.