The kidnapper was tied up and left for the kingdom's guards, who'd arrive soon enough thanks to Lucen's loud and unnecessarily poetic yelling for "justice."
We were safe.
More importantly—she was safe.
"Thank you," Lumière said again, holding onto my arm like a kid afraid to get separated in a crowd.
I ruffled her hair, trying to stay cool. "You don't need to thank me. I told you—I'm kind of amazing."
Aelira rolled her eyes. "You peed your pants an hour ago."
"It was a tactical accident," I hissed.
Lucen scoffed. "Truly, nothing screams 'divine' like failing to aim properly."
I ignored them. Mostly.
---
We made our way back to the festival, where the music was still playing, the lights still glowing. Life hadn't stopped just because we had almost died.
The crowd parted as soon as they saw me.
They knelt. Literally knelt.
A merchant whispered, "It's him... The Yes King..."
Someone shouted, "Bless us, my lord!"
More people joined in. Dozens. Maybe hundreds. A swarm of admiration.
"Uhh... blessings for everyone?" I said, waving awkwardly.
They cheered. Someone tried to kiss my boot. I side-stepped.
Aelira leaned toward me. "You're basically a celebrity now."
"I didn't even do anything that cool," I muttered.
"You said one word. That's your whole thing," Lucen said. "Try curing depression next."
---
Later, by the lantern lake…
The four of us sat beside a calm, glowing lake decorated with floating lights. Lumière dipped her toes in the water, kicking gently.
"I've never had people like this before," she said quietly. "You three… You're like… my first real friends."
That hit weirdly soft.
We weren't just protecting her anymore. We were something.
Aelira smiled gently. "You're not so bad for a royal pain."
Lumière grinned. "That was bad. That was a bad pun."
Lucen stood up suddenly. "I, the great and flawless Lucen, bless this moment as sacred among mortals."
We threw pebbles at him.
He tripped. It was glorious.
---
As the night wind settled and the festival lights twinkled in the sky, I leaned back on the grass, arms behind my head.
My life used to suck.
Now I had powers, weird friends, and a literal princess as a travel companion.
I didn't know what tomorrow held.
But tonight?
Tonight, I was the Yes King—and this world felt just a little more mine.
---
[To be continued…]