Dragged Into Another World By The Obsessive Villain

Caspian turned to face her, his expression shifting to something a bit more reserved. He gestured towards the bed. "You may take the bed. Kyran left a bedroll for me in secret, I'll sleep on the floor."

Elara swallowed hard. "It's... it's fine," she managed, though her voice wavered slightly. "It might be troublesome if someone finds out that you slept on the floor while we're supposed to be holding Vigil. I know enough from the books to know if it doesn't seem like we're taking it seriously, people will take it as us mocking the goddess. Just sleep in bed with me. It's big enough that we shouldn't bump into each other, even with all my tossing and turning."

Caspian quirked an eyebrow, his eyes catching the firelight in a way that made them gleam like molten silver. "Are you sure that's comfortable for you? If you speak for the sake of my comfort, Elara, I assure you I'll be fine. I've slept in less comfortable places. After five years at war, I can sleep on the ground even when it's frozen over by Freitveil's gaze."

"I told you, it's fine," she said, a little too quickly to come off as convincing. She took a few tentative steps towards the bed, sitting down on the edge and trying to focus on the feel of the soft furs beneath her instead of the man standing just a few feet away.

He watched her for a moment longer, then began unbuckling his armor. The sound of leather straps and the soft clink of metal filled the silence, making her acutely aware of each piece he removed. He shed the heavy plate with the ease of someone who had done it a thousand times and Elara tried to focus on anything else but imagining him stripping out of his clothes.

We're here because of the assassination attempt on my life. Not anything else, Elara. Caspian doesn't want to do that, and neither do I. Well, I do but--no, no, no. Control your slutty thoughts, Elara.

When he joined her on the bed, the mattress dipped slightly under his weight. Elara's heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Her back was to him, and she was trying with everything in her to control the flurry of nerves fluttering to and fro in her stomach like a wild, living thing.

"Relax, Elara," he said gently, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it. "You're safe here. There's no one foolish enough to try to harm you while we're together."

She turned her head slightly, just enough to catch his profile. "It's not that I don't feel safe," she admitted. "It's just... this is new for me. I've never shared a bed with anyone before except for my sister and that really doesn't count."

Even when she was dating someone, she'd never allowed them into her bed before. The action was decidedly intimate, too intimate for her. It was her letting herself be vulnerable with someone, wholly trusting them, and it was never something Elara could bring herself to do.

His expression softened, he looked as vulnerable as she felt. "Neither have I," he murmured.

Even though she shouldn't be surprised, she was. She assumed there must've been something else that must've been cut from the novel and not included because surely, Caspian Isyndor had shared a bed with someone. The very outline of him, traced by firelight, gave the illusion of a man who could have any woman he wanted. There was no woman who would say no to a face or body like that. It was hard to believe, even if the novel had painted him as elusive and disinterested.

"Would it help if we talked?" he asked, his voice a low rumble in the quiet of the tent. "Until you feel more at ease?"

"About what?"

He was quiet for a moment and she could feel him thinking. When he began to speak, he spoke to her about his time at war. Not the nitty-gritty details of the deaths of his comrades or the murders he committed at his own hand to keep his kingdom safe, but instead he talked about the stars at the boundary between Elardwyn and Isyndor. He talked of the sound of the crickets that filled the night air and how the sound had become something like music to him as he lay in those trenches with those who would go on to become people who he trusted and who trusted him. He shared stories of how the sound of those crickets and the expanse of the stars made him think of his mother, of her quick, decisive steps when she danced. He painted pictures with his words, soft and unhurried, like he had all the time in the world.

She felt it when her muscles began to relax. She had shifted closer to him without thinking, just a bit, lulled by the warmth of his presence and the steadiness of his voice. It was the most at ease she'd felt since arriving in this world.

After his story of his mother dancing for his father at his birthday celebration and how he had never seen someone dance so beautifully, even to this day, Elara held on to the slippery edges of consciousness so she could speak.

"Caspian?" she whispered, eyes fluttering closed.

"Hm?"

"Thank you," she murmured, barely able to keep her eyes open now. "For... everything."

He didn't reply, but she thought she felt the gentle brush of his fingers against her hair, a soft, almost absentminded gesture. 

Within moments, she drifted into sleep, her breath evening out as the tension finally left her. 

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The soft light of dawn spilled into the tent, casting a golden hue on the fabric walls. Elara stirred. The memories of last night flooded through her, and she woke with a start. Caspian's side of the bed was already empty; she could hear voices outside as the camp came to life.

"Good morning, miss," Crisseda greeted her cheerfully as she entered, carrying a basin of water and a neatly folded dress. "I trust you slept well?" Her grin was teasing, and Elara could see the barely contained amusement in her maid's eyes.

Elara rubbed her eyes, feeling the remnants of sleep cling to her thoughts. "Well enough," she mumbled, though the fluttering in her stomach told a different story. The previous night passed through her mind, a blur of awkwardness and uncertainty. Yet Caspian had been kind, his deep voice filling the quiet with gentle conversation until she'd finally drifted off. He hadn't touched her, hadn't crossed any unspoken boundaries. He'd simply stayed beside her, his presence oddly comforting.

That was the strangest thing of all. The comfort of his presence beside her. After spending the entirety of her dating life refusing to share a bed with any of her partners because of the intimacy and the vulnerability that act represented, she had done it with her fictional crush. Not only that, but it had been comfortable.

After Elara washed up, Crisseda began to help her dress, humming to herself.

"You seem awfully cheerful this morning," Elara remarked.

Crisseda's grin widened. "Why wouldn't I be? The Grand Duke enacting Valanora's Vigil with you—it's the talk of the camp. It's quite the romantic gesture, you know. And when it ends, well…" She leaned in conspiratorially. "I wouldn't be surprised if His Grace proposes."

Her cheeks heated. Of course, she'd like to tell Crisseda everything, but she knew she couldn't. The fewer people who knew the truth, the better. So, she had to remain quiet, her cheeks flushed with the misunderstanding.

"It's so unlike the Grand Duke's usual self, too," Crisseda went on, moving on to Elara's hair. "His Grace has always been a respectable man, it's why I chose to serve him. But, he's kind of...intimidating. The only ones who were able to really breach his armor were Chancellor Kyran, Mr.Orland, and Sir Chirovan. Yet, when he's with you, he's a very different person, miss. He actually smiles."

Her mind drifted to Caspian as he'd always presented himself to her. From the moment she'd come to this world, he'd been nothing but kind. He always seemed to go above and beyond to make her comfortable since she'd come here. This Caspian had yet to be touched by the horrors the female lead would put him through. He was different from the Caspian she'd read about—colder, more ruthless. This version of him, the one who was willing to share a bed with her just to ensure her safety, was kind. 

She wanted, with everything in her, to protect him from Lyanna and her schemes.

When she was finally dressed, Crisseda took a step back to admire her handiwork. "There. You look lovely as always, miss. It's no wonder his Grace fell in love with you at first sight."

"Thank you," Elara said, feeling oddly bashful under the maid's approving gaze. "Shall we join the others?"

The camp was already bustling by the time they stepped outside. The knights were readying their horses, their armor gleaming in the early morning light. Chancellor Kyran stood by Caspian's side, the two of them discussing the route for the day with Edris and Chirovan.

After the night's events, Elara felt... embarrassed, somehow, at the idea of facing him. But with a few gentle nudges from Crisseda, she approached the group, who turned to look at her.

"Good morning," Caspian greeted her. "I trust you're well rested?"

"Well enough," Elara replied, giving him a small smile.

"Wow," said Chirovan, grinning infectiously. "I've only seen you from a distance, but now that I'm looking at you close up, I get it, your Grace. No wonder those haughty capital women never did it for you, you were waiting for a rare beauty like this to appear."

Caspian cut a look at Chirovan, who put his hands up. "I'm just saying, your Grace. I'm just saying."

Breakfast was a quick affair—hearty stew and fresh bread shared around the fire. The knights laughed and spoke with ease, the tired tension of the previous day somewhat lifted. Elara found herself seated beside Caspian once again, their shoulders brushing as they ate. Despite herself, she felt a warmth spread through her at the proximity.

"Today will be a long ride," Caspian said to the group as they finished eating. "We'll be riding hard again today. There will be few breaks."

"Yes, your Grace," the group chorused.

Caspian turned to Elara. "This may be a little difficult for you, but bear with it. We'll reach Brovendor before nightfall, and you'll be able to sleep in a warm bed and take a proper bath."

Elara nodded. "Don't worry about me, just keep going. It's better to get to the capital as soon as possible." If they didn't, Lyanna would just use it as an excuse to further prove Caspian was disloyal to the crown and wished to take the throne for himself.

The camp packed up, and everyone got to their places. Elara was cozily warm inside the magical carriage as they wound through the golden autumn forest, leaves rustling across the pathway.

The journey to Brovendor was quiet; the group rode through the forest in a calm rhythm. The golden leaves of Valtren's Bounty were beginning to carpet the ground, and a brisk, crisp breeze swept through the trees. Chirovan was riding alongside her carriage and whenever she peeked her head out, he found some excuse to chat with her. He asked her if it was true she was an Otherworlder and when she said yes, he asked a million and one questions about what her home had been like. 

"I've never been to another world before," he mused, rubbing at his chin. "I imagine it must be...strange if I've permission to put it lightly."

Elara chatted back to him. She was bored in her carriage, and staring at the journal she'd written all her memories of the novel down in only served to further agitate her most of the time. She told him about the skyscrapers of her world, of all the conveniences that had been her everyday life. Little by little, some of the other knights who had been riding nearby all tuned their ears in and asked their own questions.

Was there magic? How did the internet work? How could they connect them to computers and cell phones? She answered it all to the best of her ability.

"Hold," Caspian commanded suddenly, raising a hand. The entire procession came to a halt, knights shifting uneasily as they took in the sight. When Elara peeked her head out of her window, she saw two carriages lying on their sides, broken wheels, and scattered belongings littering the road. It looked like a merchant convoy, but there were no signs of the merchants themselves—only an eerie silence.