Player Chapter 30. Questionable in Morals
"I wonder where is he? He said he will come back before the dinner," Elena muttered.
The dining hall felt too large tonight.
Candles flickered along the stone walls. The long wooden table between her and Prince Eric was filled with food that had already begun to lose steam. The soup's surface had formed that thin, sad film. The roasted vegetables were cooling. The bread had stiffened slightly at the edges.
Half an hour.
She kept glancing toward the door.
Eric watched her quietly before speaking. "Maybe you should eat first."
She didn't move.
"He might have something that held him," Eric continued gently. "You know how he is."
Yes.
She did.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her teacup. It was empty now. She hadn't refilled it.
"He said he would be back before dinner," she said softly, more to herself than to him.
"He will come back," Eric said. "He is strong."
Strong.
That word didn't comfort her as much as it should have.
She had seen him fight.
Not like a hero.
Not like someone protecting.
He moved like someone dismantling a problem.
There was something terrifyingly composed about him when he killed.
And something even more terrifying about how normal he looked afterward.
She swallowed.
"Strength isn't everything," she murmured.
Eric studied her face.
"You're worried," he said quietly.
She didn't answer immediately.
The truth was uncomfortable.
"Yes," she admitted.
"Because of the Dawn Temple?"
She hesitated.
"That," she said. "And… him."
Eric leaned back slightly. "You don't think he can handle himself?"
She almost smiled.
"I know he can."
That was the problem.
"He goes too far," she whispered. "He doesn't hesitate."
Eric's lips curved faintly. "Neither do I."
"That's different."
"How?"
She lifted her eyes to him. "You were trained as a prince. As a knight. There are rules."
Eric looked down at his hands briefly.
"And him?"
She paused.
"He acts like someone who doesn't believe in rules," she said softly. "Only outcomes."
Silence settled between them.
Eric tapped the table lightly with his fingers. "He saved my life."
"I know."
"He fought things far above his level."
"I know that too."
"He's blunt and questionable in morals."
She couldn't stop the faint exhale that escaped her.
Eric smiled faintly. "Then trust him."
Trust.
The word felt heavy.
She did trust him.
And that scared her.
Footsteps echoed faintly from the hallway.
They both looked up.
The door opened.
Riven stepped in.
Clothes ripped.
Blood staining his sleeves.
Hair slightly disheveled.
And a completely casual expression.
"Sorry I'm late," he said, walking in like this was a minor inconvenience. "I had a dragon to beat up first."
Silence.
Elena's eyes locked onto him instantly.
Dragon.
She didn't even process the joke.
She processed the damage.
The torn fabric.
The shallow cuts along his forearm.
The faint stiffness in his posture.
She stood before she realized she had. "What happened to you?"
He blinked slightly at her sudden proximity. "Oh. This?" He glanced down at himself. "Hunting."
"Hunting what?" Eric asked sharply.
"Stuff."
She didn't wait for more.
Light gathered in her palms.
She placed her hand gently against his arm.
Warm radiance flowed into him.
He watched her quietly.
Her expression wasn't just clinical.
It was tense.
He noticed.
Eric crossed his arms. "Are Dawn Temple people targeting you?"
Riven sat down casually, pulling a plate closer. "No, no. It's from hunting." He picked up a fork. "I'm fine. Just… hungry. Can we eat now?"
The normalcy of it almost made Elena want to scold him.
Instead, she exhaled. "Yes," she said softly. "Let's eat."
They sat.
Plates shifted.
Bread was passed.
For a moment, the only sound was utensils against ceramic.
Riven took a large bite like he hadn't eaten in days.
Eric watched him with mild disbelief. "You really were hunting."
"Obviously."
"What were you hunting?"
"Monsters."
Eric sighed.
Elena studied him while pretending to focus on her plate.
He looked tired.
Not weak.
But drained.
His movements were a fraction slower than usual.
"You didn't tell us where you were going," she said quietly.
He shrugged. "Adventure."
"That's not specific."
"Specific is boring."
Eric shook his head. "You could at least inform someone."
Riven chewed thoughtfully before answering. "I left a save point. I wasn't going to die."
Elena's fork paused mid-air.
He said that so lightly.
Die.
Like it was just another variable.
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"How was the investigation?" he asked suddenly.
Eric swallowed before replying. "Not much progress. We sent news to the king."
Riven's eyes lifted. "You need to?" he asked evenly.
Eric met his gaze. "We do."
A quiet tension settled for half a second.
Riven stared at him.
Then exhaled.
"Fine."
He took another bite.
"And that vampire is still alive?"
"Yes," Elena answered. "He's still alive."
Eric added, "I fed him."
"Thanks for your attention." Riven snorted.
Eric rolled his eyes lightly. "Someone had to make sure your 'pet' didn't starve while you were out collecting dramatic injuries."
"At least you didn't share a horse with him," Riven replied.
Elena blinked.
Eric coughed lightly.
"Are you still upset about that?" Eric asked carefully.
Riven didn't even hesitate. "Sharing a horse is a thing." He stabbed his food with emphasis. "Sharing a horse while the entire town watches is another thing."
Eric almost smiled.
"It's going to stain my reputation for my whole life," Riven continued dramatically. "And I'm still single."
Elena stared at him.
He looked genuinely offended.
Eric finally laughed softly. "You're worried about that?"
"Yes."
"You just fought people far beyond your level. And survived. And your concern is reputation?"
"Reputation matters," Riven said firmly. "Especially when I have zero girlfriend prospects."
Elena almost choked on her tea.
Eric shook his head. "You're unbelievable."
Riven pointed his fork at him. "Easy for you to say. You got to ride with the Saint."
Elena's face warmed slightly.
"That was tactical," Eric said defensively.
"Sure it was."
Riven tore another piece of bread like it had personally offended him.
"Yeah, I get it," he continued, chewing. "It was fair and square. Rock, paper, scissors. Fate decided. I lost. I accept it."
He huffed dramatically.
"But still…"
Eric leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing with curiosity.
"Riven…" he said slowly. "Are you jealous?"