My Knight Rescuer is a Jerk! So Why should I ignore the Prince?
"Always remember, no matter how much a fae may seem like they experience emotions, no matter how human like a fae may behave...a fae can never be a human." The Keybearer. A young maiden from another world foretold by ancient prophesy, destined to collect the seven keys and save the world. Surely that's the kind of story that finds some plucky high schooler dreaming of adventure and whisks them off to find their true love, right? Overworked salary women like Emily have long passed the point where such fantasies can come true, and even if they did, it's not like she'd know the first thing about what to do. ...So of course, nobody even bothered to ask her before dropping her into an entirely new world full of magic and danger. Like the three hungry orcs eyeing her as soon as she wakes up. "What do you mean I can sense the keys if I use magic?! What magic?!" If Emily could, she'd have immediately issued a rejection letter, but unfortunately, the only way back is to finish her quest somehow. But it's not all danger and confusion. The knight who rushed into battle to save her is charming and kind and gorgeous, and the beautiful and lonely prince has a soft and kind smile only for her. If everyone she meets along the way is like them... Well. It can't be that bad, right? "...--I'VE BEEN KIDNAPPED BY A PAINTING?!"
Sixty-Fourth
A few hours later, Adrien leaned forward suddenly and pointed out the window with a cheerful smile. "Look! There's a small lake ahead! It is an important lake for this area. It's said to carry only crisp, incorruptible water"
Emily peered out of the carriage and stared at the scene in front of her.
In contrast to the harsh surroundings of the mountain and the closed in woods of the forest, this place was....
It was nice, she supposed.
No, not just nice. Nice felt like too gentle a word, especially after the last few days of riding through treacherous positions and chased after by enemy raiding parties of orcs. Peaceful rolling hills, a quiet forest in the different.
And a perfect, crystal clear, calm and beautiful lake.
"So beautiful..." She breathed. "Such clear reflections, too...I can see them so strongly even from this far away. Almost...like a mirror."