A sudden jolt sends a wave of pain through my head. The sound of falling stones echoes in my ears, deafening yet distant. I can't help but think that if the accident had happened just a moment later, I wouldn't have to worry about meeting Alasdair's family. But for now, we are safe.

"It's okay now, Elle. Don't be scared. It's over," Alasdair says, his warm hands holding mine. His eyes, usually stern and focused, now show a hint of fear. It's a rare vulnerability that makes my heart swell.

"Your eyes are so beautiful, Alasdair," I say, reaching out to him.

He flinches, as if surprised by my sudden affection. "Oh, Elle, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault, you must be in shock," he says, his voice thick with guilt.

"No, I'm fine," I say, trying to steady my breathing. "Just a little disoriented. The sound was so loud. It's still ringing in my ears. Could you give me a minute?"

"Of course, my dear," Alasdair says, "I'll go outside and check what's going on. Do you need anything? Water, maybe?"

I shake my head, grateful for his thoughtfulness. "No, I'm good. Just...be careful out there, okay?"

He gives me a small smile, the lines on his face deepening. "I will. Don't worry about me."

Alasdair steps out of the carriage, his eyes scanning the road ahead. A load of stones, boulders the size of melons, block our path, tumbling down from the hillside above.

The air is thick with dust, and the smell of crushed stone and earth fills my nostrils. I peer out the window, watching as Alasdair and the coachman confer, their heads together like conspirators.

A few minutes later, he returns.

"We'll have to take a different route, my dear. I'm terribly sorry. I've put you in grave danger. It won't happen again."

"It's all right. I've made the right decision to come with you."

He gives me a small, sorrowful smile as the horses continue walking.

"We'll be stopping soon, Elle. Don't worry, so we can all rest."

"Are we not going to visit the Count, then?"

"Unfortunately, we can't right now. I'll send him a letter and ask for the road to be cleared. But we can't wait that long."

I lay my head on his shoulder and drift off into a restless sleep. In my dream, Alasdair's kind and compassionate eyes appear, but suddenly, an image of Percy enters my mind, and his intense stare fills me with unease. It's as if he's warning me, "You're putting yourself in grave danger. Don't say I didn't warn you."

As I awaken, I rub my eyes to shake off the drowsiness and gaze out of the carriage window. A curious village comes into view, one that seems out of place in the daylight. This village is unlike any other I have ever seen. The uneven roofs of the houses and buildings stand tall and crooked. Some are so high that they seem to touch the sky, while others are strangely small. The peculiar shapes of the houses reflect the diversity of their monstrous inhabitants.

As we draw nearer, I observe cattle calmly walking outside and people bustling about, going about their daily business. Some tend to the cattle, while others practice their respective trades. As we make our way through the village, I notice various shops lining the street, each with its unique monster proprietor. One shop, in particular, catches my eye, a bakery displaying an array of freshly baked bread and pastries, while next door, a leatherworker is busy creating intricate designs on his products.

The monstrous commoners, workers, and peasants here are dressed in practical clothing, suitable for their daily work, with a few exceptions. Some wear long, flowing robes, adorned with mystical symbols, while others sport capes that seem to blend into the shadows. Despite their eerie appearances, the villagers look quite content, and their faces light up with excitement as they see the king riding through their streets.

As we continue down the road, we come across a group of children playing with a ball. They immediately stop and stare at our carriage, their eyes wide with wonder. The smallest among them runs up to the carriage, waving enthusiastically, while the others quickly follow suit. Their joyous laughter echoes through the village as we ride on.

It's clear that the people here are not rich, but they seem to be well-off and content with their way of life. They appear to be genuinely happy to see the king, waving and cheering as we pass by.

"What kind of place is this?" I inquire of Alasdair.

"This is just a small Nightmarian village. It may appear a bit chaotic, but it's actually a rather tranquil community," Alasdair explains with a hint of regret in his voice. "We simply need to change horses and rest briefly before continuing on our journey. I apologize for having to stop at such a place, but there are limited options along this road."

"Please, don't apologize. I'm actually thrilled to see your people... our people," I respond.

Alasdair's expression softens, and he gives me a warm, pleased gaze. "Thank you, Elle. They are indeed our people."

~.~

As soon as we step inside the inn, all eyes turn to us. It appears that everyone wants to see the king.

"Good day, your majesty!" the owner rushes over to greet us. "It is such an honor to have you as guests. We didn't expect your Majesty... I... I..." he stumbles over his words before Alasdair steps in to help.

"Good day, Sir. We would like to use your hospitality for a couple of hours. Could you please help us check the carriage and prepare for the road?" Alasdair asks politely.

"Will do, Sir. Please make yourselves comfortable. You will be immediately served," the owner replies, still in awe of the king's presence.

I can't help but notice how gracefully Alasdair handles the situation. Despite the fact that this is not the type of place a king would normally stay at, he remains calm and collected.

~.~

As I take a sip of the tea, its warmth spreads throughout my body, calming my nerves. I take a deep breath and decide to get some answers.

"What happened up in the mountains?" I ask, trying to keep my tone calm.

"It was an accident, Elle. Please, don't dwell on it," Alasdair responds, his voice carrying a hint of concern.

I can tell he doesn't want to discuss the matter further, but I press on, "You were very quick to stop the carriage. If you hadn't reacted in time..."

"If only I had reacted earlier and kept my eyes on the road". I could see the confusion etched on his face as he said it. This time, I'll bring up the topic.

I raise an eyebrow, "But how could you be watching the road from inside?"

He takes a moment to gather his thoughts before replying.

"I have some powers here," he says cryptically. "I can see a bit more than you can."

"How far more?".

"A bit," he replies nonchalantly.

"Can you see me when we're not around?"

"Yes, but I don't do that unless there is any danger," he answers.

"Do you mean a danger to me or that I could be a danger?"

"I suppose both," he says with a twinkle in his eye, causing me to blush as I understand his implication.

"Looks like people hold you in high regard," I say, attempting to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"Do you really think so?" he asks.

"Absolutely. We were followed all the way to the inn, and even the owner seems to be going out of his way to make us comfortable. He mentioned being indebted to you for this place."

Alasdair chuckles, "I'm not sure I've ever met the man before."

I join in the laughter, "Maybe you've been kind with taxes."

"You're not wrong. When I ascended to the throne, I made it my foremost concern to reduce taxes and to promote the freedom of commerce."

"That must have made a huge difference for the common people. You've done a fantastic job," I compliment.

"Thank you. Your words mean a lot to me. I don't often receive praise," Alasdair responds with a hint of humility. "My uncle has been of great help to me. I couldn't do it without him, I hope we get the chance to meet him soon. He is a person of exceptional qualities. I'm positive you will like him".

I hope so... but unfortunately I can't help but feel a sense of nervousness creeping up within me. It is clear that Alasdair's uncle is a person of great prestige and aristocratic background, which only serves to amplify my apprehension about meeting him. However, I try my best to compose myself and maintain a calm demeanor, hoping that I would make a good impression when the time comes to meet the distinguished uncle...