The Princess' Harem
Chapter 95: The Gathering of the Harem

Chapter 95: The Gathering of the Harem

The fire crackled, its orange glow painting the faces of the men gathered around it. The desert night was truly cold, the kind of cold that seeped into bones and made muscles ache.

But the warmth of the flames, and the quiet company, kept the bitter chill at bay. The scent of woodsmoke mingled with the dry, clean desert air.

Viana sat back, her hands wrapped around a steaming cup of herbal tea. The warmth from the ceramic mug spread through her chilled fingers. She watched them, her gaze moving from face to face.

Joel leaned against a rough rock, his body relaxed but ready. He was sharpening his dagger with slow, deliberate strokes. His usual lazy smirk was absent, replaced by a focused, distant look.

Reyes sat cross-legged on the sand, cleaning his sword with a methodical rhythm. His sharp eyes occasionally flicked toward Prince Rayne and his two accompanying knights, a silent watchfulness in their depths.

Kaley, the young priest, sat a little away from the others, his back straight and calm. His hands rested gently on his knees, and his eyes, thoughtful and sharp, took in the quiet tensions around him, as if he was a silent observer of their struggles.

Arden, ever the scholar, hunched slightly. He scribbled notes by the flickering firelight, his quill scratching softly on parchment. Yet, his gaze drifting from his work to the newcomers, filled with a mix of curiosity and unease.

And there was Rayne. He was still weary from his long journey, but no longer on the verge of collapse. He sat beside his men, his posture betraying his royal upbringing even in exhaustion. He held himself with a formal grace, even though still playful as ever, even on the rough desert ground.

Eryndor lingered at the very edge of the firelight, just beyond the circle of warmth. His silver eyes reflected the dancing flames, like tiny mirrors. He didn’t eat, didn’t drink, didn’t seem to breath. His presence was a subtle shimmer in the air, a faint coolness against the dry heat.

A strange warmth curled in Viana’s chest as she looked at them all. It was a surprising feeling in such a harsh place.

All of them... here, together. It was almost laughable, almost like a cruel joke. They were meant to be the men of her ’harem’. They would be bound to her by fate, by love, by duty, their lives intertwined with hers in a gentle, romantic way.

But here in the desert, that seemed like a dream from a faraway world. They were just... people. Complicated, stubborn, dangerous people, brought together by a dying land a desperate quest.

Even Kaley, the gentle priest, seemed to fit into this strange, fragile collection.

Rayne, with his casual boldness, caught her staring. A knowing wink touched his eye, a hint of his usual easygoing nature. "See something you like, Princess?" he drawled, his voice low enough not to carry far.

Reyes’ grip tightened on his sword hilt, a subtle warning in his movement. Arden coughed into his notes with a nervous sound. Joel stiffened, his brown eyes with was usually indifferent, darting to her face, then he smiled. Kaley remained still, his gaze thoughtful, as if weighing to speak or kept silent.

Viana rolled her eyes, feigning annoyance, though her cheeks warmed despite the cold. "I see a group of idiots who’ll get themselves killed if they don’t rest properly before tomorrow."

Her voice was sharp, masking her sudden awkwardness.

Rayne chuckled, a low, easy sound that broke the quiet. But the others becoming stiff, the air between them was thick with unspoken rivalries.

’This is going to be a problem,’ Viana thought, a weary certainty settling over her. Keeping this group together, focused on the quest, would be as hard as surviving the desert itself.

She exhaled sharply, then called the alien transparent paper in her mind.

’System? I want to see their Love Percentages...’

Silence. That transparent paper once again was silent in a long break.

’System?’ she thought again, trying to push it harder.

Nothing appeared, not a flicker, not a hum, not even a denied writings on that annoying transparent paper.

She hissed under her breath, a tiny sound of frustration.

Of course it wouldn’t answer now. When she actually wanted to know something, when things were finally coming together, when she finally needed some kind of guide to navigate these complex human emotions, it stayed silent.

It was so typical behavior of that strange system, and so utterly frustrating. She had to rely on her own judgement, her own instincts.

She took a long, slow sip of her tea, forcing herself to focus on the warmth.

Rayne cleared his throat, a small sound that drew all eyes once again.

"Princess Viana," he said, his voice steadier now, devoid of his playfulness self. "You said we ride at dawn. What’s our next move?"

All eyes turned to her, waiting for her answer. The firelight flickered on their faces, highlighting their varied expressions.

Viana set her cup down on the sand, the click of ceramic against grit surprisingly loud in the stillness.

"We’re close to the Ruins of Al’Khar," she stated with a clear and firm voice. "According to the ancient maps, it’s the last significant landmark before the true heart of the desert, the place where the Desert’s Embrace is said to be hidden."

She looked at each of them, letting her words sink in. "And it is found, according to our latest knowledge, in the Heart of the Sunstone Wastes."

Arden nodded slowly, recognition dawning in his eyes. He leaned forward, his voice softer than usual.

"The Ruins of Al’Khar are truly ancient, Princess. They predate both Elysia and Valendale, remnants of a civilization lost to time. If there’s any surviving record of the flower, it might indeed be hidden within its crumbling libraries or forgotten vaults."

His academic interest was clearly piqued, even amidst the danger, his eyes already envisioning forgotten texts.

Reyes, ever practical, cut to the chase. "And if there’s not?" he asked, his voice low and devoid of emotion. "If it’s just dust and rubble?"

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