Page 149 of I Ran Away to Evil
Henrietta used her fingers like a blade, activating her skills as if she wielded a sword. Julia dodged some and took a few hits with a magical shield.
Keith reinforced the shields around the ring. No one wanted to have to [Resurrect] a civilian from the audience; there would be so much paperwork.
“If your wife accidentally kills my wife, I’m not going to be happy,” Chloe said, sneaking up on him while he was watching the fight.
“We’re not married yet,” Keith deadpanned, not letting her get to him this time. “And technically, you’re not married yet either.”
“You’re no fun.” Chloe took Henrietta’s seat beside him. “Is everything ready?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not worried?”
“I’m not going to answer that.”
“Fair enough.” Chloe flinched as Ria sliced Julia’s arm, but the paladin usedthe opportunity to punch the princess in the gut. Ria doubled over, but she was laughing and commending her opponent on a fine hit.
The match devolved into Julia practicing her strikes while Ria dodged and coached her movements. The cheering eventually died down as the audience grew bored, and Keith was forced to call the duel a draw. Both women were sweating, bruised, and bloodied, but each bore a wide grin. They walked out of the ring side-by-side.
Afterward, Keith tookhis princessaround and bought them matching bracelets. Hers was a blue closely matching the color of his eyes, and his was a fawn brown that matched her eyes and hair. He gently played with the rope braid around his wrist, thinking about all the enchantments he could fit into it.
The market in the castle courtyard was triple its normal size with the festivities, and people were visiting from all over the kingdom to celebrate. It wasn’t as active as previous years, though; he had sent word to all of his nobles and generals recommending that they spend time with their clans this year—he didn’t want to host people. Not while there were still all these blasted assassins about.
He had thought that routing their main group would have given them pause, but the attacks had resumed a few days later.
“Tell your master I’m tired of the annoyance. I’m going to begin executing you lot and sending you back as controlled ghoul assassins. We’ll see if a constant stream of brainwashed killers with in-depth knowledge of his castle changes his tune,” Keith told the young woman who was being dragged off by Vikli and Brithli, two fill-in guards who covered for Chikli and Sithli during the holiday. He ordered, “Give her to Rex.”
His giant wolf construct would carry her by her chains all the way to the Drendil border. Rufus didn’t want them in the dungeon, so he was deporting them for now. That was going to change right quick.
With perfect timing, Henrietta came back from the ladies’ room.
“I’m ready, let’s go!” She grabbed his arm, and they finished perusing the last of the shops.
Keith whisked her away to a late dinner, catching Minstrel Bronwynn’s last show. As planned, it was ridiculously late by the time they got back to the castle. Instead of seeing her to her rooms, Keith took her to the outlook at the highest point of his inner sanctum. They could see out over everything from up here.
The spring night was chilly, but the sky was clear and full of stars. The moon was high above, and Keith mentally ticked down the seconds while they stargazed.
“Henrietta.” He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
“Yes?” She covered the spot with her hand.
“Happy birthday.”
She tackled him for a real kiss.
CHAPTER 89
Still, Still, and This One Won’t Stab You
Henrietta
Last night had been the most wonderful time of my life. I’d gone to bed content, exhausted, out of breath from kissing, and ready to live the rest of my life as an official adult.
The system updated my filed paperwork, and my character sheet changed to Henrietta Doryn of Nilheim. I kicked happily on my bed and rolled around a few times hugging my pillow.
I was officially free to beme. Andmewanted to spend the rest of my life in this Dark Lord’s castle baking cinnamon buns and filling tax revenue forms with the odd quest.
I woke up a bit sleepy but ready for the day. Nothing was going to stop me from celebrating my first day as a citizen of the Dark Enchanted Forest with my friends.
