Night had slowly faded into morning over the city of Hattusa.
The stone walls of Sarri’s estate glowed softly beneath the rising sun. Servants moved quietly through the courtyards, carrying water jars and sweeping dust from the stone paths.
Whispers passed between them.
Some spoke about the prince’s mysterious guest.
Others whispered about the boy who had nearly killed her.
No one seemed to know exactly what had happened the night before.
Inside the prince’s private chamber, Lena stirred.
She woke to the steady rhythm of someone else’s heartbeat.
That was strange.
Even stranger was the fact that she was naked.
Her eyes snapped open.
She was lying against a warm chest.
Sarri.
Lena shot upright so fast the blanket tangled around her legs.
“WHY AM I NAKED?!”
Sarri blinked at her from the bed, clearly startled.
“…Good morning.”
Her face burned bright red.
“Don’t ‘good morning’ me! Why am I naked?!”
Sarri sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Your… unusual clothing was ruined when you fainted,” he said carefully. “The servants removed it. Clean garments are being prepared.”
Lena narrowed her eyes.
“The servants?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t—”
“No.”
He answered quickly.
Lena stared at him for a long moment.
“…Good.”
She glanced around the room.
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Then froze again.
“Why am I in your bedroom?”
Sarri leaned back against the headboard.
“Because you will remain here.”
“What?!”
“You heard what happened last night,” he said calmly. “Someone managed to attack you inside my estate. Until I understand how that happened, you are safer near me.”
His dark eyes met hers.
“I will not allow another attempt.”
Lena crossed her arms beneath the blanket.
“I don’t like that plan.”
“I didn’t ask if you liked it.”
Sarri studied her quietly.
“You are unlike any woman I have ever met.”
“Oh really?”
“In Hattusa, women lower their eyes when I speak.”
“And?”
“You glare at me like you’re planning a war.”
“Maybe I am.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
Slowly he reached out.
His fingers brushed lightly against her arm.
Warm.
Gentle.
Curious.
Lena stiffened immediately.
Sarri noticed.
Interesting.
His fingers traced slowly along her skin as he studied her reaction.
He moved closer.
Too close.
Lena suddenly became very aware of everything.
The warmth of his body.
His breath.
The fact that she was sitting in his bed wrapped in nothing but a blanket.
Sarri’s hand slid higher.
Toward the edge of the blanket.
Toward the curve of her shoulder.
Toward—
SMACK.
Her hand cracked across his face.
Sarri blinked slowly.
Then touched his cheek.
“You do that often, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
His eyes gleamed faintly.
“A challenge.”
Before Lena could react, he leaned forward and pushed her gently back onto the bed, his body hovering above hers.
“Why fight me?” he murmured.
“Because where I come from you don’t just take what you want!”
Her voice cut sharply through the room.
“You ask.”
Silence filled the chamber.
Sarri stared at her.
“You ask for permission.”
For a long moment he said nothing.
Then he stepped away from the bed.
“My apology.”
Before Lena could respond, shouting erupted outside the estate.
Lena frowned.
“What is that?”
Sarri didn’t answer immediately.
The noise grew louder.
Soldiers.
Voices.
A crowd gathering.
Lena’s stomach dropped.
“Sarri.”
He sighed.
“…Justice.”
“What does that mean?”
His gaze met hers.
“The boy.”
“A??u?”
Sarri nodded.
“He raised his hand against a woman under my protection.”
Cold dread crept into Lena’s chest.
“No.”
“He is to be executed.”
“What?!”
“It is the law.”
“He didn’t even know what he was doing!”
“The law does not care.”
Lena was already moving.
“Take me there.”
“No.”
“Take me there.”
Sarri hesitated.
Then nodded once.
?
The courtyard outside the estate was crowded.
Soldiers formed a ring around a wooden execution frame.
A rope hung from the beam.
A??u stood beneath it.
His hands were tied.
His face was pale, but he stood straight.
When he saw Lena, relief flooded his expression.
“I’m glad you’re safe,” he said softly.
The execution officer stepped forward.
“A servant raised his hand against a woman under the protection of Prince Sarri.”
“By the law of this kingdom, the penalty is death.”
The rope slipped around A??u’s neck.
Lena stepped forward.
“STOP!”
The courtyard fell silent.
“He didn’t even know what he was doing!” she shouted.
“The law does not care,” the officer replied coldly.
A??u lowered his head.
“My prince,” he said quietly. “It is the law.”
Then he looked at Lena.
“I am sorry I frightened you.”
Lena’s chest tightened.
Sarri stood beside her.
“I am doing what I can.”
Lena turned on him.
“Then where is the justice in that law?!”
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
Sarri stared at her.
Then he stepped forward.
“Remove the rope.”
The soldiers hesitated.
Sarri’s voice hardened.
“The boy acted under my authority.”
“I take responsibility.”
The rope was removed.
A??u collapsed to his knees, shaking.
The soldiers quickly untied his hands.
Lena walked toward him slowly.
“A??u…”
He lifted his head.
Then bowed deeply.
“My life belongs to you now,” he said quietly.
“You saved me.”
Lena shifted awkwardly.
“Just… try not to get executed again.”
A faint laugh escaped someone nearby.
She turned.
Zida stood just beyond the soldiers.
He stepped forward, eyes fixed on his younger brother.
After making sure A??u was unharmed, he looked at Lena.
Zida bowed his head slightly.
“You saved my brother.”
“That debt belongs to me as well.”
“You have my loyalty too.”
Lena blinked.
“I… wasn’t trying to build an army.”
Zida’s mouth twitched faintly.
“You may have done so anyway.”
Behind them, Sarri watched silently.
The crowd slowly dispersed.
A??u rose beside Lena.
Zida stood at his shoulder.
Sarri remained just behind them.
For the first time since arriving in this strange ancient world…
Lena realized something.
She was no longer alone.
?
Far away in the royal temple, a bronze basin trembled.
The water inside rippled once.
A faint disturbance moved across its surface.
Then the water stilled again.
And somewhere in the darkness…
someone smiled.
