The journey officially became a mess. Seraphine, Kael Arisugawa, and Lionel Kisaragi were walking together, constantly shadowed by Yuzael Valestrian, who maintained a formal, cold distance, usually walking ten steps behind them.
Clumsy Calamity
The day was spent traveling toward the next river, Riven no Hikari. Seraphine, naturally careless, was trying to walk across a mossy log that served as a makeshift bridge.
Of course, she slipped.
She tumbled forward, but before she hit the damp ground, three different hands shot out to grab her.
Yuzael's hand, elegant and strong, grabbed her shoulder.
Kael's hand, warm and familiar, grabbed her elbow.
Lionel's hand, firm and possessive, grabbed her wrist.
They stopped her fall, but the result was a tangled, awkward mess. Seraphine was leaning backward, suspended between three handsome men, her soft face a picture of "stupid-act adorable" confusion.
"See?" Yuzael said, his voice cold and perfectly honest. "I told you she needs supervision." He released her first, dusting off his perfectly clean coat as if she had contaminated him.
"It was an uneven log! Not her fault!" Kael snapped, his hands lingering on her arm for a moment longer to make sure she was okay. He then glared at Yuzael.
"You should have been watching her better!" Lionel yelled, feeling a burst of possessive anger, even though he knew he was just as slow. He held her wrist tightly before letting go and immediately turning his fierce face away to hide a blush.
Seraphine just giggled nervously, completely missing the heated, jealous tension crackling between the three boys.
A Taste of Home
That evening, they camped by the river. Seraphine, wanting to thank them for the help (and break the tension), decided to cook. Using her excellent Herbal & Medicine Skills to flavor the simple forest ingredients, she created a small, comforting meal.
She handed a warm bowl to Kael first. Kael took it, his eyes meeting hers, and he offered a bright, flirty smile that made her heart feel warm. "You really are wife material, Princess. This is amazing." He didn't just compliment the food; he complimented her.
She handed a bowl to Lionel. He snatched it quickly, trying to maintain his grumpy expression. "Hmph. Decent," he muttered, but Seraphine saw his eyes soften as he took the first bite. His harsh words always hid his unbelievably soft heart.
Finally, she offered a bowl to Yuzael. He accepted it politely, with a small, stiff bow. He tasted it carefully. "It is surprisingly adequate," he stated. It was a cold compliment, but Seraphine noticed he finished the entire bowl quickly, something she knew was unusual for the prince.
The Pillow Fight
Later, as they were setting up their sleeping mats, the rivalry erupted over the last clean pillow.
Kael grabbed it, resting his head on it while smiling at Seraphine. "I get the soft one. I need my beauty sleep to protect the Princess from grumpy tsunderes."
Lionel was instantly furious. "Give me that! I need it more! I was here first!" He tried to pull the pillow away.
Yuzael, watching the childish fight, let out a quiet, nonchalant chuckle. "Truly uncivilized. Two grown men fighting over a pillow," he said, sounding superior. He then smoothly walked over and offered Seraphine his own luxurious, rolled-up travel blanket. "Use this, Seraphine. It is cleaner and more comfortable than their grubby toy."
Seraphine took the blanket, blushing at the attention. Kael and Lionel immediately stopped fighting and stared at Yuzael, their eyes burning with intense jealousy. They had been so busy fighting each other that the cold prince had quietly won the sweetest moment of the night.
The princess had gone to sleep safely nestled between her three rivals, blissfully unaware of the wars being fought over her comfort.