Break

Chapter 15: Mercenaries and Princesses

Delsair lays next to me, his sleeping form slowly rising and falling. Still restless, I rise from my bed and creep out of the room without making a sound. The fact that I can never sleep soundly is driving me insane. Everything is going through my mind too fast for me to even contemplate it. I am a wreck.

"Look who's up," Rafael says.

I spin around to face the mercenary, feeling a bit of dread at seeing his handsome face. "What are you doing?"

"I was leaning against a wall," he snorts. "How you missed me is beyond me."

"I'm just thinking," I mumble.

"Wanna talk about it?" he asks.

"No."

"Damn," he mutters. "I was hoping to get some royal gossip. Heard it is amazing."

"I wouldn't know," I say. "What are you doing up?"

"I had to take care of some business," he says, patting his sword. "Couldn't sleep afterwards. It is either the adrenaline or the memory. I think it's the memory because my blood isn't pumping."

"What did you do?" I quickly ask.

"Took a contract to kill an assassin. Lady Rean wanted that guy dead. Maybe she was just angry," he says without showing any remorse.

"Why are you taking contracts?" I ask him angrily.

"The one I have with you is technically over. I took you to Klestia. You are alive and unharmed. I completed my task."

"Are you going to leave?" Please, say no.

"You seem desperate, princess," he chuckles. "Gonna miss me?"

"So you are leaving," I guess.

"No, not yet," he finally answers. "I have to teach you to fight. After that, I may leave."

"What about Gravo?"

"I'm a mercenary, not a hero," Rafael states. "I kill for money. I don't save a royal family for free."

"I thought we were friends," I growl.

"We can't be friends," he says in almost a whisper. "You're a beautiful princess with a future all laid out, and I am a deadbeat sellsword barely making by with what little he has, and I am one of the more famous ones. People wouldn't believe we knew each other, much less had a friendship."

"Since when did you care what people thought?" I snap.

"I don't. I care what they think of you. If certain people knew that I am friends with you, they would kill you in a heartbeat. I can't do that to you."

"Then we can be friends in secret," I suggest.

"Look, Penelope," Rafael groans, forgetting all formalities, "you and I have gone through a lot together. I get that. I wanna be friends, but it is hard to maintain a friendship when people wanna kill those close to me and the fact that I don't want to be friends."

"You cod have said so from the start," I spit.

"That came out wrong," he grumbles. "I don't want to just be friends, alright? I lo- think you're pretty great. Hell, if you weren't cuddled up with the prince, I'd probably try to at least get a kiss out of you. I see the way you looked at me that night in the woods. I have to go. I'm not going to be the one to compromise anything."

"Rafael, I...." I can't finish it. I don't know what to say.

"Goodnight, Princess Penelope."

Why is it so hard to watch him leave?