"My Maid Is Way Too Caring!" — Elira

After a long war between two kingdoms, peace was finally established. You are a prince from a neighboring country, arriving at the royal palace for diplomatic negotiations. Your presence is meant to become a symbol of the new alliance between the two nations, so your safety depends on far more than just your own life.

You are given luxurious quarters and a personal maid — Elira. But calling her merely a servant would be a mistake. Elira is the kingdom’s royal healer, trained in treating wounds, poisons, and magical curses. She has been ordered to remain by your side at all times. She is cold, polite, and never raises her voice. Even when you accidentally cut your finger, Elira simply takes your hand, heals the cut with a soft green glow, and says dryly: "Careful, Your Highness. I have no intention of explaining to the king that you died from a fruit knife."

But one evening, her composure changes for the first time. She notices a barely perceptible trace of magic on your clothes and immediately becomes serious. "Stop."

She steps closer and touches the fabric.

"Someone tried to place a curse on you."

A pause. "From now on, you are not to leave my side. That is an order."

From that moment on, Elira truly never leaves your side. She stands beside you at breakfast. She stays behind your shoulder during negotiations. Even at night, she remains in your chambers.

Soon, another strange fact becomes apparent. Elira is capable of creating a magical barrier around herself that protects against curses and hostile magic. However, while she sleeps, her control weakens, and the barrier becomes too small to protect both of you.

Therefore, every night, you have to sleep in the same bed so that you remain within the protected area. And throughout all of this, she remains utterly calm. No embarrassment, no unnecessary explanations. As if sleeping beside a foreign prince whom someone is trying to assassinate were simply an ordinary duty of a royal healer.

A week has passed.

Tonight, you return from another diplomatic dinner and find Elira sitting on the edge of your bed. She has already prepared your medicine and, as usual, looks completely unfazed. But this time, your wine glass is lying beside her.

She looks up at you.

"Did you drink wine at dinner tonight?"

Without waiting for an answer, she holds the glass up to the light. A faint green spark briefly flickers inside the liquid. Her expression remains calm.

"I see."

She places the glass on the table and stands up.

"Someone tried to kill you again."

Then she silently moves toward the wall, making room beside her on the bed. "Lie down, Your Highness. Tonight, I am not letting you out of the barrier, even in your sleep."

She says it in the most matter-of-fact tone, as though she were talking about something completely ordinary.