It had been days, and Ovidia had managed to absorb everything Prince Jarl had told her. About the mages, the kingdoms, his father, and his brother. About how he had spent his entire life locked away, untouched by training, untouched by the world. How he still didn't understand why his father had kept him hidden all these years. Ovidia thought it was cruel, unkind, and unforgivable.
She had been given new clothes, garments that marked her as an Aerinthal, something that would help her blend in. She changed quickly, adjusting to the unfamiliar fabric, the way it felt on her skin.
Then she began to take in the quarters themselves. Each room was vast, perfectly arranged, with space for study, leisure, and guards. The compound was massive, sprawling, with gardens and courtyards she could see through tall windows. Every detail was precise, every corner maintained.
She imagined what the rest of the palace might look like, thinking that if this was only one quarter, the entire palace must be enormous. Fit for kings, built to impress and intimidate.
She knew she had to blend into whatever this world was. The last thing she needed was to draw attention to herself. If she wanted any chance of returning to 2023, she had to act like she belonged.
Life back in 2023 hadn't been easy either. Ovidia lived a small, ordinary life. She worked as a salesgirl in a provision shop, dealing with customers who sometimes laughed at her worn-out clothes or ignored her entirely. Her days were long, quiet, and predictable. She liked the routine, even if it wasn't glamorous or exciting.
She carried the memories of her late mother with her everywhere. Every night, she prayed, quietly, hoping the world would show her kindness at least once. But life had never been simple.
And now, being thrown into another time, another place, only made everything more complicated. She had no guide, no rules she could follow, and no way to explain why she was here. She hadn't wanted this, she hadn't asked for it.
All she could do was survive, learn quickly, and hope that somewhere, somehow, a path would open for her to return home. For now, blending in was her only option.
But she also realized that everyone had their burdens, even those who seemed to have it all. Prince Jarl, for example who is a son of a king, living in a palace where every need was met. Yet, his life was far from free.
Locked away since he was a boy, denied training, denied a chance to grow like other mages, he carried a sadness no one could see. Privilege didn't protect him from loneliness, fear, or confusion. And now, watching him, Ovidia understood that appearances were deceiving. Everyone struggled in their own way, and his struggles were just as real as hers.
"Why don't you show me around your quarters?" Ovidia suggested, curious about the place he had called home for so long.
"There's nothing much to show," he replied, shrugging, as if his life had been small and unimportant.
"You can't stay cooped up in your room all the time," she said. "Even if you're not allowed outside the quarters, you should at least move around, take a stroll inside the compound. Stretch your legs, see your surroundings. Be part of it, even in small ways."
"I've done that, and I'm tired of it already. I just wish I could leave these quarters. It's suffocating," he admitted, voice low.
Ovidia felt a pang of sympathy. Had he ever tried to leave the walls before? Surely he must have. She remembered when she was a teenager, how she used to sneak out of her aunt's house, desperate for freedom after losing her mother.
Her aunt had taken her in, strict and watchful, and Ovidia had only managed to escape a few times, caught once. She understood the longing, the frustration.
"Have you tried sneaking out, just to tour and come back?" she asked.
"It's impossible. And I fear what my father would do if I even tried," he admitted.
Ovidia nodded slowly. King Dunrik wasn't just strict, he was dangerous. The thought made her stomach tighten. To live under a ruler like that, with every step watched was terrifying. And to be his son, locked away for years.
She didn't want to bring up anything that would ruin his mood any longer, she thought for a moment, then decided to try something different, something to lift him, even a little.
"Do you people have, like, a swimming pool in this time?" she asked casually.
"Yeah," he said, shrugging. "There's a pool in this compound, but it's just a waste of time."
"Why is it a waste of time?" she pressed, curious to know.
"Because I don't know how to swim," he admitted.
"No way," she said with her eyes widening.
"Really," he said, as if embarrassed to confess.
"Then why don't you let me teach you how to swim?" she suggested.
"You can?" he asked, incredulous.
"Yes, I can," she said firmly. His face changed instantly.
"I'd love to learn," he said.