”Why are you living here in the middle of the forest?” I asked.

“Just because.” Elara shrugged. She was hiding something. Is she the rumored Mage that people kept talking about?

“Anyway, how are you feeling right now? Want me to change your bandages now?” She asked.

I looked at the bandages neatly wrapped around the upper left side of my body. Now that I notice, I am not wearing the same clothes I had last night. I have a large brown knitted cardigan covering my shirtless body, though my pants are the same.

This caught Elara’s attention. “We apologize; we couldn’t change your pants to something else, so we cut part of your pants to give us access to your wound. However, we changed your top to this cardigan to also care for your wound on your shoulder.” 

“That’s okay. I can get another pair of pants and a top.” We stayed in silence after this.

Are the assassins still around? I thought to myself. 

Elara stayed in the room by the bed and watched every move I made.

”Excuse me, did I happen to have someone come get me since last night?” I asked.

”No, since you are injured, I can only assume that either someone was after you or you got involved in a fight. We only helped you out since you came to our door injured.” How dare she talk to the crown prince like that?

But then again, I never told her exactly who I am. I have to keep it hidden, or I will get in more trouble if it was revealed that the crown prince was out and about outside the castle. Hopefully Jake got me covered back there and distracted everyone from noticing my disappearance. 

“Well, I can’t tell you what exactly happened, but I really appreciate your help. I will leave your house as soon as possible. In fact, today. I have to go home very soon,” I said as I finished my chicken soup.

Her green eyes continued to look deep into my own brown eyes. She didn’t say anything and picked up the tray with the empty bowl, then walked out of the room, leaving me alone in this room. 

Should I jump out of this window and leave back to the castle? Or will I be in danger again if the assassins are still waiting for me at the village? Did the monsters eat them? How did these two women live alone in the forest full of monsters? 

The sound of a door opening interrupted my thoughts. I looked up and came into eye contact with her grandmother. 

“My granddaughter said that you need to go back to your home today. Is that what you wish for?” 

“Yes, ma’am. I really appreciate your help and care for me. I will for sure pay you back for your care.” I nodded my head down in gratitude.

”It’s okay, child. You don’t need to pay us back. We wish for your speedy recovery. Do you feel better to be on your own feet walking around though?” She asked gently.

”Yes, ma’am…” 

“Very well then, I will have Elara prepare a set of new clothes for you.” She said to me, then walked out of the room. 

Again, I am left with my own thoughts. 

My mission was to learn more about the rumors circulating the village. When Jake came back from his patrol, he told me that he heard rumors about a mage who lives in this village. I decided to take it upon myself to discover the truth outside the castle in my disguise. 

However, I decided not to bring in any guards or weapons when I left, but I ended up getting ambushed. Could one of these women be the rumored mage? 

I scanned my surroundings once more. A wooden dresser and a mirror next to it, right by the bedroom door; a window by the bed that I am lying in; a bedstand right beside me; and a chair next to it. It looks like a simpler bedroom than my own. Could they be nobles? 

Given the state of the room and the absence of a single maid or physician, my assumption may be incorrect.

A soft knock was heard on the bedroom door. Elara gently opened the door and walked into the room with grace while holding clothes in her arms. The aura around her was strong. She carried herself with confidence with each step she took towards the bedside. 

“Here you go. I only have these clothes on hand. Not sure if they fit you though. Are you sure that you can walk on your own?” She placed the clothes on the bedside table by me as she asked.

A white linen shirt and a pair of brown trousers lay on that table. 

I didn’t answer her question. I only stared at the clothes in front of me. Only one question was on my mind that kept repeating itself.

“May I ask why you are living in the forest?” I asked one more time. Her expression became unreadable. Green eyes stared deep into my brown eyes.

“Why do you want to know?” She asked.

“It is pretty strange for two women to live far from the village, deep in the forest where monsters appear at night.” 

“We are not far from the village. We are actually quite near it.” 

“How so? I thought I was deep in the forest.” 

“You are leaving today anyway, right? When you step out of our house, a few steps down that road, it will lead you back to the village.” Elara pointed towards the window. I followed her finger, and indeed there was a road right outside the house.

“But this is the forest.” I could’ve sworn that there wasn’t a road or any paths near this house last night. 

“Yes, you can consider this area as a forest, but the forest that you have in mind with monsters in it is not this one. We are way closer to the village than the actual forbidden area.”

So this isn’t where monsters live? 

“It’s actually easier to be closer to where people are than farther away from them. Many benefits come from that, but the main one is that we can get food.” True, the farther from the population-dense areas, the harder it gets to find food unless you live off your crops. 

But it’s not convincing. I do not remember a road near this house. 

“Anyway, I will let you get dressed then, sir.” With that, she turned back to the door and walked out of the room, and gently closed the door.

Was I in a very critical condition last night for me to miss the road like that?