Forbidden Desires: Conquering Kingdoms And Women In a Fantasy World!-Chapter 25: Back To Millbrook Village

The decision to escort the three rescued captives to Millbrook village had been swift and necessary. Arlos might have fled, but I couldn’t shake the nagging doubt that he might return—likely with reinforcements and a thirst for revenge.

Walking beside Lisa, I became acutely aware of the weight of three pairs of eyes boring into my back. Their gazes felt almost physical, a constant prickle between my shoulder blades that had nothing to do with the afternoon sun filtering through the canopy above. I could practically hear their unspoken questions buzzing in the air like persistent insects.

It was Riley who finally broke the awkward silence. "Why do you have white hair?"

I glanced back to see him staring at me with the unabashed curiosity that only children possessed, his light brown eyes wide with fascination. Behind him, both Judith and Zoey wore nearly identical expressions of barely contained interest, though they were trying to appear more dignified about their curiosity.

"Because my mother has white hair," I replied simply.

Riley’s brow furrowed as if this explanation somehow raised more questions than it answered. "But why do you have pink eyes?"

I suppressed a sigh. "Because my mother has pink eyes."

Princess Judith, who had been maintaining what she probably thought was a regal silence, finally couldn’t contain herself any longer. "I have never encountered individuals with such... distinctive features," she murmured.

Her admission gave me pause. If even royalty—someone who presumably had access to the most diverse courts and traveled extensively—had never seen this combination, then perhaps my appearance was more unusual than I’d realized. Back on Earth, unusual hair and eye colors were just genetic quirks, but here... here it might mean something more significant.

The thought of my mom, Isabella flickered through my mind. She had always been evasive about her family, her past, deflecting Rosaluna’s and my inquiries with gentle smiles and subject changes. Even now, I had no idea where these distinctive features came from or what they might signify in this world.

"Well," I said, shooting Judith a pointed look, "I’ve never seen a princess get herself kidnapped before, so I suppose we’re all encountering new experiences today."

The effect was immediate and dramatic. Judith’s pale cheeks flushed a deep crimson that spread all the way to the tips of her ears, and her mouth opened and closed several times before she managed to sputter out a response. If looks could kill, I would have been reduced to ash on the forest floor.

Riley, apparently feeling the need to defend his own honor, puffed out his chest and began shadowboxing the air with surprising vigor. "He just caught us off guard! Otherwise, I would have beaten him up!"

"I seriously doubt that. You should be grateful he chose to kidnap you instead of killing you outright."

The shadowboxing stopped abruptly.

"Why should we be happy about being kidnapped?" Judith demanded, her voice rising with indignation.

"Because," I said, stepping over a fallen log and offering a hand to help Lisa across, "you were fortunate enough that we happened to stumble across you and save your royal behinds, Your Highness."

The strangled gasp that came from Judith was almost comical. "You—! How dare you speak to me with such insolence! I’ll have you executed for such disrespect!"

Her face had gone from pink to red to a shade that practically matched Riley’s hair, and she was trembling with what I assumed was outrage. Lisa shot me a look of pure horror, clearly mortified by my casual disregard for royal protocol.

I supposed I should have felt some remorse for my lack of etiquette, but the truth was, I didn’t. In my previous life, the concept of divine right or royal blood had been relegated to history books and fairy tales. Everyone was equal under the law, regardless of their birth circumstances. Old habits, it seemed, died hard—even when transplanted to an entirely different world.

"Um... thank you for saving us." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The soft voice belonged to Zoey, who had been quietly observing our exchange with wide eyes. Unlike her companions, she seemed genuinely grateful rather than entitled or belligerent.

I offered her a genuine smile. "You’re welcome, Zoey."

She ducked her head, a blush spreading across her freckled cheeks as she quickly averted her gaze. From the corner of my eye, I caught Judith’s expression darkening further, though whether from continued anger or something else entirely, I couldn’t tell.

The remainder of our journey passed in relative peace. The forest gradually gave way to familiar farmland, and by the time Millbrook’s humble collection of buildings came into view, the sun was already beginning its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose.

As we approached the village outskirts, I noticed we were drawing quite a bit of attention. Lisa and I were well-known faces around Millbrook but our three companions were complete strangers, and their appearance told a story that had the villagers whispering among themselves.

We made our way through the curious crowd, ignoring the stares and murmured questions that followed in our wake. The village chief’s house sat near the center of Millbrook, a solid structure of stone and timber that, while not as large as the home I’d recently built, still one of the finest buildings in the settlement.

As we approached the front door, it swung open to reveal Aldan himself. The village chief took one look at our unusual party and his weathered face immediately settled into stern lines.

"What is the meaning of this?" He asked.

Before Lisa could formulate a response, Judith stepped forward.

"I am Princess Judith of Briaran," she announced. "Royal Princess and Heir to the throne of Briaran."

The effect on Aldan was immediate and profound. His eyes widened in shock, and I watched as his gaze traveled over her appearance—taking in the fine bones of her face, the quality of her clothing, the unconscious way she held herself. Years of dealing with people from all walks of life had clearly taught him how to read the signs of true nobility, and everything about Judith screamed royal blood.

"May we have a discussion inside?" Judith continued, her tone perfectly polite but carrying an undertone that suggested this was more a courtesy than a request.

Aldan seemed to shake himself from his stunned state. "Yes, of course, Your Highness," he replied quickly, stepping aside and gesturing for us to enter. "Please, come in."

I followed the group inside, noting how Aldan’s demeanor had completely transformed from stern authority to nervous deference in the span of a few seconds. The interior of his home was comfortable and well-appointed, with sturdy furniture and colorful tapestries that spoke of modest prosperity. Fortunately, both Rumia and Alric were absent, which meant we could speak freely without worrying about additional ears.

"Please, take a seat, Your Highness," Aldan said, gesturing toward his best chair while shooting me a quick, questioning glance.

I could practically see the wheels turning in his head as he tried to piece together how I’d managed to show up at his doorstep with royalty in tow. His expression clearly said ’what have you gotten us into now?’ but I simply shrugged in response.

Give me a break, I thought. It wasn’t like I’d gone looking for trouble.

Judith straightened in her chair, her hands folded gracefully in her lap as she prepared to recount their ordeal. The transformation was remarkable—gone was the flustered, angry girl from the forest path, replaced by someone who carried herself with the poise and dignity befitting her royal station.

She drew a measured breath, her green eyes meeting Aldan’s gaze. "What I’m about to tell you must be handled with the utmost discretion. The circumstances that brought me to your kingdom are... complicated, and not something I can discuss at this time."

Aldan nodded gravely, understanding that some matters of state were beyond the scope of a village chief’s concerns.

Judith continued, her narrative flowing fluidly as she recounted the events from their capture onward. She spoke of Arlos, described their imprisonment with clinical detachment, and detailed our rescue with surprising eloquence. What caught me completely off-guard, however, was how she portrayed my role in their salvation.

Gone was any trace of her earlier irritation with my informal manner. Instead, she painted me as some sort of heroic figure—praising my tactical thinking, my combat skills, and what she generously termed my "decisive leadership" during the rescue. Her description was so glowing that I almost wondered if she was talking about someone else entirely.

Lisa? She told them something more I guess but Judith was clearly exaggerating I mean she didn’t even see me fight.

It was, I had to admit, remarkably mature of her to set aside her personal feelings in favor of giving credit where it was due.

"That is why we would like to remain here until my mother’s search party locates us," Judith concluded, her hands smoothing the fabric of her torn dress unconsciously. "It would be most helpful if you could dispatch some of your people to assist in the search for Her Majesty as well. I’m certain she’s looking for us, but the forest is vast, and additional eyes would be invaluable."

Aldan’s response was immediate. "Of course, Your Highness. I’ll send riders out at first light to comb the surrounding areas and spread word to the neighboring settlements." He paused, his weathered face creasing with concern as he considered the logistics. "In the meantime, you’re most welcome to stay in my daughter’s room—she’s away won’t return for several weeks."

"That’s very generous of you," Judith replied with genuine gratitude, then surprised everyone by glancing toward her two companions. "But what about Riley and Zoey?"

Both looked stunned that she had spoken up for them. Riley’s mouth actually fell open slightly, while Zoey’s eyes widened with something that looked like wonder. It was clear they hadn’t expected the princess to concern herself with their accommodations, and the gesture seemed to touch them both deeply.

Judith was probably feeling guilty as they got dragged because they tried to save her.

Before Aldan could formulate a response, Lisa stepped forward. "I’ll take them to my house, Your Highness," she said. "I have plenty of space, and they’ll be comfortable there."

Riley’s face immediately flushed a deep red at Lisa’s attention, and he bobbed his head in an enthusiastic nod that made his red hair bounce. Zoey, meanwhile, cast a quick glance in my direction—though what she was looking for, I couldn’t quite determine.

"Excellent," Judith said, seeming genuinely pleased with the arrangement. She turned back to Aldan with renewed focus. "Now then, I’d very much like to be shown around your village and discuss certain... practical matters regarding our situation."

The way she said it suggested there were aspects of their circumstances that required private discussion—matters of security, communication with the capital, or perhaps political considerations that went beyond simple hospitality.

"Of course, please allow me to show you around," Aldan replied immediately, already moving toward the door.

I watched them go, noting how Judith had seamlessly shifted into what was clearly a well-practiced diplomatic mode. Whatever she wanted to discuss with Aldan was none of my concerns anyway.

"Come along, you two," Lisa said gently, addressing Riley and Zoey. "I’ll show you to my house and get you settled in properly."

Riley’s blush deepened to an almost alarming shade, and he managed another vigorous nod. The poor guy was clearly developing quite the crush on Lisa.

Zoey, however, lingered for a moment, her eyes finding mine with an expression I couldn’t quite read. There was something there—gratitude, certainly, but also a kind of curiosity that went beyond mere interest in my unusual appearance.

"I’m heading home," I said, stepping toward the door myself.

"Harold," Lisa called out just as I reached the threshold.

I turned back to see her standing in the doorway.

"Thank you," she said simply.

"You’re welcome," I replied, matching her smile with one of my own before stepping out.

The walk home gave me time to process the day’s events, and by the time I reached our front door, I was already feeling better thankfully.

The moment I stepped inside, I noticed that both Isabella and Rosaluna were there.

"Oh, there you are, Harold," my mother called from the kitchen.

She was standing at the large wooden table, sleeves rolled up to her elbows as she worked on what appeared to be preparations for dinner.

Rosaluna glanced up from where she sat curled in her chair, a thick volume balanced on her knees. The moment her pink eyes met mine, I could practically see the questions queuing up behind them.

"So," she said, closing her book and setting it aside with more force than necessary, "how was your little... expedition with Lisa?"

The way she said Lisa’s name—with just the slightest emphasis that managed to convey volumes about her feelings on the subject—made it clear this wasn’t simple sisterly curiosity. There was definitely an edge there.

I couldn’t help but wonder how she’d react if I told her the complete truth: that we’d been attacked by bandits, that I’d been stabbed, that I’d kissed Lisa and oh, by the way, we’d also rescued a princess and two other children from kidnappers.

Instead, I decided on a course of strategic mischief.

"Very well, big sister," I replied with cheer, allowing my smile to grow just a touch too bright, too satisfied. "Very well indeed."

The effect was immediate and dramatic. Rosaluna’s teeth clenched, her pink eyes flashing with something that might have been jealousy, concern, or possibly murderous intent—it was hard to tell with her sometimes.

She bit her lower lip and then stood abruptly and stalked toward her room sulkily.

I turned to my mom with what I hoped was an expression of innocent confusion. "Is she angry with me about something?"

Isabella sighed. "She’s just... protective of you, Harold. And perhaps a bit concerned." Her own expression grew thoughtful, almost troubled. "I sometimes think I may have sheltered her too much over the years. She spends so much time with Isadora and her studies that she hasn’t had much opportunity to understand... well, matters of the heart."

"I see," I said thoughtfully, then moved closer to where she stood at the preparation table. "Do you need any help with dinner?"

I reached out to steady the knife in her hand, my fingers brushing against hers in what should have been a simple, innocent gesture of assistance.

Isabella’s reaction was as swift as it was unexpected. She jerked her hand away from mine as if she’d been burned, the knife clattering onto the wooden surface as she stepped back with a sharp intake of breath. For just a moment, her carefully composed expression cracked, and I caught a glimpse of something raw and vulnerable in her pink eyes—fear.

"Mom?" I looked at her worried, though internally I was filing away every detail of her reaction.

"I—it’s nothing, Harold," she stammered, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I’m fine, really. You should go rest... you’ve had a long day."

Her hands were trembling slightly as she turned back to the vegetables, and there was a tension in her shoulders that hadn’t been there moments before.

"Are you sure you’re okay?" I pressed gently, keeping my voice soft and concerned. "You seem upset about something."

Mother’s shoulders hunched slightly, and she couldn’t quite meet my eyes when she glanced back at me. The guilt written across her features was so plain it might as well have been painted there.

"Yes, don’t worry about me," she said quietly. "I’m just... tired."

I nodded slowly, allowing my expression to remain concerned for a few more seconds before turning toward my room. But as I walked away, I couldn’t quite suppress the small smile that tugged at the corners of my mouth.