Atheline stretched his shoulders as they stepped into the palace corridor.
"I think I prefer training."
Lilith looked at him from the corner of her eye.
"I noticed."
"The moment the fifth report appeared, you looked as though you’d rather fight a corrupted beast."
"I would."
She let out a quiet laugh.
"I’ll remember that for tomorrow’s council."
He sighed dramatically.
"You’re merciless."
"So I’ve been told."
The corner of his mouth lifted into a smile. There was something comforting about moments like these; not every conversation had to revolve around politics, conspiracies, or war. Sometimes... It was enough to simply tease one another.
As they reached their chambers, Atheline began removing the formal robes required during council sessions. Heavy ceremonial clothing looked impressive, but it was also terribly uncomfortable.
A short while later, he emerged wearing a simple dark travelling outfit with a plain cloak draped over his shoulders.
Lilith had done the same. Her elaborate royal attire had been replaced by modest black clothing that would not attract attention in the streets. She tied her dark hair into a simpler style before fastening a hood around her shoulders.
The transformation was remarkable. Without their royal regalia, they looked less like rulers and more like ordinary noble travellers.
Atheline adjusted his cloak as it created an illusion over his face; she did the same.
"I don’t think anyone will recognise us."
Lilith calmly replied,
"I hope not. If they do, our walk will become considerably shorter."
He chuckled.
"That’s true."
The white fox watched them from atop the bed, her ears twitching from side to side. The moment she realized they were preparing to leave, she immediately jumped onto Atheline’s shoulder.
"No."
The fox froze. He gently lifted her back onto the bed.
"We’re trying not to attract attention."
The little creature tilted her head, then, with surprising determination, she leapt onto his shoulder again.
Lilith folded her arms.
"It has made its decision."
"I can see that."
He looked at the fox.
"You are not allowed to show off."
The fox gave an innocent chirp.
"I don’t trust that answer."
Rather than leaving through the palace’s main entrance, they exited through one of the smaller eastern gates frequently used by palace staff.
Only two guards stood watch, both immediately recognised the couple despite their simpler clothing. Mostly because it wasn’t their first time.
Lilith spoke before either could salute.
"No formalities. Treat us as ordinary citizens."
The guards immediately nodded.
"Understood."
As the royal couple disappeared into the streets beyond the palace walls, one guard quietly whispered to the other,
"They really do enjoy these walks."
The other smiled.
"I think that’s a good thing."
The Court had changed considerably since the end of winter. The last patches of snow had disappeared almost entirely.
Trees lining the streets had begun producing fresh green leaves while colourful flowers decorated balconies and shop entrances.
Atheline slowed his pace slightly.
"I’ve missed this."
Lilith looked around the bustling street.
"The markets?"
"The people." He smiled. "When we’re inside the palace... It’s easy to forget what all those reports actually represent."
She understood. Numbers written on paper could never fully capture daily life. Seeing it with one’s own eyes always carried greater meaning.
They wandered through several streets without speaking much; instead, they simply observed.
An elderly couple argued playfully over which vegetables to buy. A blacksmith proudly displayed newly forged farming tools. Children gathered around a travelling storyteller who exaggerated every movement until even nearby adults began smiling.
No one paid particular attention to the quietly dressed couple walking among them. Exactly as intended.
The white fox, however, had different ideas. Her nose twitched continuously. Every few moments, she spotted something new. A bird, a colourful ribbon, fresh bread.
She nearly jumped from Atheline’s shoulder toward a stall selling roasted fish before he caught her just in time.
"Snow, you promised."
The fox looked almost offended.
"I distinctly remember making you no such promise."
Lilith hid another smile.
"You’ve lost."
"I know."
He sighed before purchasing one small roasted fish. The merchant happily wrapped it before handing it over. The fox accepted her reward with obvious satisfaction.
The merchant laughed.
"Your little companion has expensive tastes."
"So I’ve noticed."
Eventually, they reached one of the Court’s northern gates. Unlike the palace, the atmosphere here was far more disciplined.
Rows of Royal Guards practiced spear formations inside the training yard while patrol captains reviewed maps with their subordinates before sending them toward various districts.
One young guard happened to notice the fox first. His eyes widened.
"What a beautiful beast."
Atheline smiled politely.
"It hatched recently."
"It seems remarkably calm."
"Usually."
Almost as though understanding it had been complimented, the fox stretched proudly before hopping from his shoulder directly onto the wooden fence surrounding the training grounds.
The nearby guards stopped their drills. One cautiously approached. The fox simply sat there, watching them. Another guard slowly extended his hand.
To everyone’s surprise, the fox sniffed it once before allowing herself to be petted. Several soldiers immediately gathered around.
"I’ve never seen fur this soft."
"Careful."
"It might bite."
"It doesn’t seem interested."
The fox happily accepted the attention.
Atheline rubbed his forehead.
"I think we’ve been replaced."
Lilith calmly observed the scene.
"It appears so."
One older captain eventually walked over. Unlike the younger soldiers, he paid more attention to the couple than to the fox.
"You two aren’t from around this side of the ring."
His tone wasn’t suspicious, merely curious.
Atheline answered naturally.
"We’re visiting relatives in the Court."
"I see."
The captain nodded.
"Be careful near the western markets, the crowds become difficult toward evening."
"We’ll remember that."
The captain smiled before turning back toward his soldiers.
"Enough, back to training."
Several guards reluctantly stepped away from the fox. One quietly scratched behind its ears one last time before returning to formation.
The little beast looked almost disappointed. She glanced toward Atheline as though asking why everyone had suddenly left.
He laughed quietly.
"They have jobs and so do we."
The fox chirped once before jumping neatly back onto his shoulder.
The captain barked a command, and the training yard immediately came alive. Wooden practice spears thrust forward in perfect unison. Shields locked together.
The rhythmic sound echoed throughout the courtyard. Atheline watched with interest.
"They’re well trained."
Lilith nodded.
"They’ve improved. The increased patrols against the corrupted have forced everyone to become better."
He continued watching for several moments. The discipline impressed him. The formations were clean. The timing nearly perfect. Only a few younger recruits struggled to maintain pace.
"They’ll become reliable soldiers one day."
"They already are."
She looked toward the training yard with quiet pride.
"Our people have always learnt and adapted quickly."
He smiled.
"It’s because they have a ruler worth following."
She looked at him briefly.
"I could say the same about their king."
Neither corrected the other; instead, they simply continued walking through the lively capital together, unnoticed among the thousands of ordinary citizens who carried on with their lives, never realizing that the two cloaked figures quietly admiring their city were the very rulers who worked each day to keep it peaceful.