The morning felt slightly colder than usual.
Anna's hand fumbled across the bed, instinctively searching for the warm, firm presence that was always there. Instead, her small palm met only the cool softness of the sheets.
The princess slowly opened her sleepy eyes and rubbed them. As consciousness returned, so did the sight of the empty space beside her.
She turned left, then right, even lifting her head to glance around the tent, but the figure she sought was nowhere to be found. The familiar scent of musk and leather—so closely tied to her husband—had almost faded.
'Where is he?' she wondered.
This was the first time it had happened.
Since their marriage, Anna had grown accustomed to having Kyren by her side. The fearsome, stern-looking commander—dreaded by many—was, to her, nothing less than a devoted husband.
He always woke beside her, seeing to her first each morning and ensuring her needs were met, from her bath to her meals.
Even after she regained enough strength to care for herself, he remained close, leaving only when duty demanded his presence, and even then, he always returned before the day was over.
Yet this morning was different.
Anna sat up on the bed and fixed her gaze on the tent flap, half-expecting Kyren to step through at any moment. She waited.
Time passed—slow and unkind—but the flap remained still.
Her heart began to tremble.
'Did something happen?'
She swept her gaze across the tent once more, unease creeping in, until her emerald eyes caught on something amiss. The armour stand was bare, and the sword rack stood empty.
Realisation struck her all at once.
Anna rose hastily, splashing water onto her face and rinsing her mouth at the small basin by the table. She changed her dress hurriedly before pushing through the tent flap.
Outside stood two guards she did not recognise, stationed where none had been before. The moment they noticed her, both men bowed.
"Who are you?" she asked, a hint of curiosity and unease colouring her voice.
"My lady, we are your guards. Starting today, we will be assisting you. Should you require anything, please inform us," one of them replied.
Anna blinked in surprise.
"Under whose orders?" she asked.
"The commander's," came the immediate answer.
"The commander…" Her brows furrowed. "Where is he now?"
"He has departed on duty with several knights."
The princess's shoulders sagged. The thought she had dismissed earlier now proved true.
A wave of dejection washed over her. Kyren had left without a word. For a brief moment, the weight threatened to pull her down—but she forced it aside.
Drawing a steady breath, she steeled herself. He had warned her, and she had accepted the terms of his duty. Therefore, she would not allow herself to be shaken by this.
'It's all right. He'll be back.'
"My lady, are you feeling unwell?" one of the guards asked, noticing the change in her expression.
"I… I'm fine," she replied, her wandering thoughts snapping back into place.
Had this been her former self, tears would have already fallen. A life of rejection was never easy to endure—even after years of it, even when she never understood what she had done wrong.
But she was no longer the lonely princess who lived in isolation.
She was now the wife of a Knight Commander. Her husband had not abandoned her, nor had he turned away from her—he had merely departed on duty.
She should be proud. Proud of a man who stood at the frontier, protecting the kingdom and safeguarding its people.
Anna planted her feet firmly on the ground and clenched her fists.
This marked the beginning of her new life. She had to learn to endure the hardships faced by a knight's wife—with dignity and strength.
So, for him, she would grow stronger. For him, she would learn to stand on her own.
"Did he leave any message?" she asked after a brief pause.
"He told us to ask you to wait for him, my lady."
The words fluttered through her heart, as though spoken in Kyren's own voice. Even without a farewell, he had not forgotten her.
They meant only one thing—he would surely return.
***
A gentle summer breeze drifted through the tent, carrying a pleasant coolness. The flap had been tied open, allowing a clear view of the camp beyond.
Anna sat at the table facing the opening, elbows resting on its surface, chin propped against the backs of her hands. Her gaze remained empty.
Without Kyren, the tent felt strangely hollow.
Usually, his stern voice would echo within it—ordering her to eat more, to drink more, or forcing her to swallow the bitter medicine she despised.
His words could be sharp, sometimes even sarcastic, but his actions were always gentle. No matter how imposing he appeared, he treated her with unfailing care.
Only a few hours had passed, yet Anna already found herself longing for the husband who gave her the attention she had gone most of her life without.
Then, movement outside caught her eye.
A man in white appeared from the path leading to the tent. For a brief moment, her eyes sparkled with hope—only to fade as she recognised him.
It was Ayden, the assistant healer.
The excitement that had surged through her receded just as quickly, like a wave that crashes eagerly against the shore before dissolving back into the sea.
She watched him speak with the guards—likely here for her treatment.
After a brief exchange, one of them approached her for permission, and Ayden was escorted inside once she consented.
"Is this really necessary?" the assistant healer muttered with visible irritation, glancing at the guards flanking him as though he posed a threat.
"Forgive us, Mr Norman," one of them replied calmly. "This is the commander's order. The lady shall not be attended by any man without escorts. However, we will not interfere with your work."
Anna paid little mind to their presence. It was nothing new to her.
Back in Ardel, she had rarely gone anywhere without supervision. When she was named the sole heir to the throne, the constraints tightened further. Escorts trailed her every step, with Clara most often at her side.
Ignoring the guards, Anna turned to Ayden. "You're alone today. Where is Rafe?"
As the healer and his assistant insisted, she now addressed them by their given names. They visited daily to check on her condition and provided her with medicine.
"He left before dawn with the commander. There was an emergency," Ayden replied.
At last, she heard more of Kyren, something beyond the simple instruction to wait for him.
"What kind of emergency?" the princess asked, her eyes bright with concern.
"I heard that some traffickers and robbers who were previously captured escaped towards the border of Dracor."
"Is it dangerous?" she asked anxiously.
"I'm not certain. Normally, the knights can handle such matters without the commander's involvement. But since it concerns another kingdom's border, his presence is required."
"I see… No wonder."
She nodded thoughtfully, prompting Ayden to gaze at her with curiosity.
"You understand this?" he asked.
"Yes. Foreign armsmen entering a territory would be considered a national threat. A political representative would be required to prevent escalation; otherwise, it could lead to armed confrontation. And if such conflict is not contained swiftly, it would strain relations and could easily erupt into war."
Such had been the case when the Bargesians breached Ardel's southern border, and Kaiser was dispatched to resolve the matter—though none could have foreseen that he would seize the opportunity to turn his blade against her.
Ayden was taken aback by the precision of her explanation. Even the guards exchanged startled glances, as though they had just heard a briefing delivered not by a sheltered woman, but by someone well-versed in military protocol, knowledge more befitting high-ranking officers or those entrusted with leadership.
"How do you know this, my lady?" he asked. "Did the commander explain it to you?"
Anna realised she had slipped again. It was time to offer an explanation, one that was not entirely a lie.
"Oh, no," she replied. "I learned it from books. I've read a great deal since childhood."
She might have been a confined princess, but the royal library had been her refuge—her world, her escape from the walls that hemmed her in.
Through its shelves, she acquired knowledge spanning many disciplines. Once she was named heir, her tutors compelled her to study administration and military law, sharpening her understanding of both.
The princess was on the verge of learning more about politics when her Prime Minister intervened, insisting it was unnecessary—that he would handle such matters on her behalf.
And he had 'helped' her. Far too much.
Ayden nodded in understanding, his interest in the commander's wife deepening.
At Rafe's advice, neither he nor Kyren had pressed her about her past, mindful of the risks of retraumatisation.
Physical injuries could be treated with medicine and time, but psychological wounds required far greater care and restraint.
"It seems Ardelians excel not only in medicine, but in intellect as well," Ayden remarked with a faint smile.
"Thank you," Anna replied softly, pleased.
Her gaze drifted outside once more, thoughts returning to Kyren.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips. "I hope he returns safely."
"The commander will be fine," the assistant healer said confidently. "He has handled border conflicts many times."
She nodded. She knew Kyren was formidable—his towering build and commanding presence alone spoke of his credibility.
"Now, may I examine you?" Ayden continued. "Mr Amares requested that I oversee your treatment while he is away."
"Yes, please."
"Gentlemen, kindly turn around," he instructed the guards.
Though the examination was routine and required the princess to expose only her face, neck, and hands, the assistant healer maintained strict professionalism and discretion throughout.
The guards, for their part, adhered strictly to military protocol, while he was careful to uphold the proper boundaries expected between patient and medical practitioner.
They complied without protest.
The examination proceeded smoothly, and Ayden recorded her progress with care, recommending adjustments to her medication to support her recovery better.
From Anna's observations, the assistant healer was meticulous and precise—possessing the keen judgment and breadth of knowledge characteristic of a skilled medical practitioner, much like Rafe.
Something stirred within her. If she truly wished to change—to become stronger and better, as she had resolved—she would need to acquire new knowledge.
There was no library here to shelter her curiosity, but the assistant seemed reliable enough to guide her. She would need to broach the subject.
"Ayden," Anna said suddenly, her voice hesitant. "May I ask something?"
"What is it, my lady?"
"Would you… Be my teacher?"
Ayden's eyes widened. "Teacher? To teach you what?"
"I'm not sure. Anything of value," she admitted. "I'm new here. I don't know much."
"But you are still recovering," he reminded her gently.
"I know. But once I've recovered, I want to improve myself. I promised Kyren I wouldn't become a burden. If I can learn something new, perhaps it will help me adapt. I'm married now, and life is no longer as it used to be."
Ayden studied her determination before nodding.
"Very well. Let us focus on your recovery first. Then we can begin."
Anna's eyes lit up with quiet joy. At last, a chance to become more.