[Leif's POV — The Next Day—Thorenvald Estate—Leif's Chamber]
"…my lord, you have a guest."
Nick's voice came slicing through my perfectly warm, blissfully soft cocoon of sleep like a knife through butter.
I cracked one eye open, still trying to remember which dimension I existed in.
"W…h…o…?" Yeah. That's my early-morning voice. The voice of a soul that hasn't reconnected to its body yet.
Nick opened the door fully, far too energetic for this cursed hour. "It's Crown Prince Arden."
I blinked. "...Crown Prince Arden?" My brain tried to boot up like an old machine. "Why the hell is he here… at…" I squinted toward the balcony. The sun had just risen, soft and annoying. "...this ungodly hour?!"
Nick, being the loyal servant who pretends this is normal, said calmly, "He's waiting downstairs, my lord."
My soul momentarily left my body. "Downstairs. Downstairs." I groaned as I dragged myself off the bed, mumbling, "Alright… alright… let's go meet the royal pain in the—"
