24 - Confession

The moment Luna pushed open the inn door and stepped inside with Darren and his two knights trailing behind, the air in the room shifted.

Conversations halted. A spoon clinked loudly against a bowl, louder than it should have. Heads turned—some curious, some wary.

The scent of roasted meat and fresh bread lingered in the air, but even that seemed secondary to the sight of Darren reappearing after his earlier storming departure.

And then there was Sarah.

She stood behind the counter, wiping a wooden cup with a cloth, her motions steady but her eyes sharp. For the briefest heartbeat, surprise broke across her face, softening her usual composure.

She hadn’t expected Darren back—not so soon, not with Luna at his side.

Her gaze flicked from Darren, to Luna, to the knights who followed dutifully like shadows. Slowly, she set the cup aside and asked, “The two of you… what are you doing together?”

Luna didn’t hesitate. She hopped onto her usual seat at the counter, swung her legs with nonchalance, and announced brightly, “I told you this morning, didn’t I? I’m going to fix your relationship.”

The room went quiet again.

Sarah blinked. Then, after a long pause, she let out a small laugh—a laugh that carried equal parts amusement and disbelief. She reached out across the counter and gently patted Luna’s head.

Luna leaned into the gesture like a cat, eyes half-lidded in smug contentment.

“You’re impossible,” Sarah said fondly. “Dragging him back here… it’s nothing short of a miracle.”

“Correction!” Luna piped up, pointing a finger dramatically. “I didn’t drag him. He walked back on his own. In fact, he even took the lead.”

Sarah’s eyes slid mischievously toward Darren, who was settling into the seat beside Luna, posture stiff but purposeful. Her lips curved into a teasing smile.

“Is that so? Then tell me, Darren—why did you come back?”

Ah, there it was. Luna’s eyes gleamed as she fished a candy from her pouch, unwrapped it with exaggerated slowness, and popped it into her mouth.

This was the good part. The drama part. She was not about to miss a single word.

Darren hesitated. His jaw clenched, then relaxed. He took a slow breath, eyes fixed on the countertop, as though steadying himself against invisible waves.

And then, with a voice both low and steady, he spoke.

“Because… I like you.”

The words landed like a thunderclap.

The inn stilled completely.

A serving girl froze mid-step, nearly dropping a tray of mugs. A man halfway through chewing his bread stopped, mouth agape. Even the two knights, seated dutifully nearby, blinked in shock, their planned dinner choices forgotten.

Luna nearly choked on her candy. She coughed, thumped her chest, and shot Darren a wide-eyed look. Knight boy, you really just went straight for it, huh?

Sarah, meanwhile, had gone utterly still. Her hands clutched the cloth she’d been holding earlier, knuckles white.

“You…” she whispered, her voice almost inaudible. “You what?”

Darren lifted his gaze, eyes burning with a raw, unpolished honesty that silenced every corner of the inn. “I like you, Sarah. I always have.”

The weight of those words pressed down on the room. For a long, trembling moment, Sarah couldn’t move, couldn’t speak.

Finally, she swallowed hard, forcing air back into her lungs. Her expression softened, warmed—but her reply was firm.

“Darren,” she said quietly, “that isn’t possible.”

A chorus of hushed murmurs rose from the tables, but Darren didn’t flinch. He had braced himself for this, thanks to Luna’s blunt advice earlier. He shook his head slowly.

“It is possible,” he countered. “I don’t care what others think. I don’t care about status, or expectations, or what people will say. You… you’ll always be the one in my heart. And I won’t give up on you.”

The words were delivered with such blunt straightforwardness that Sarah’s lips parted, but no sound came out.

Her breath quickened. She looked away, flustered, her usually steady composure cracking under the intensity.

And then, before anyone could react further, Darren leaned back, cleared his throat, and declared calmly, “I’ll have stew, please.”

The entire inn blinked.

“What—?” Sarah sputtered.

The knights looked at each other, baffled.

Even Luna, who prided herself on her ability to predict the shape of drama, nearly fell off her stool. Knight boy, what the heck kind of mood swing is that?!

She wanted to laugh, but instead, admiration tugged at her lips. Bold confession. Unexpected pivot. A perfect combination of chaos and charm.

“Stew it is,” Sarah managed, her voice shaky.

She retreated to the kitchen, clutching at the cloth as if it were a lifeline.

Her heart hammered so hard she was certain the whole inn could hear it. No matter how she tried to calm herself, she couldn’t.

Her chest felt too tight, her breaths too shallow. Why now? Why like this? Just Why?

Behind the counter, Luna chuckled to herself. She ordered her own stew, partly because she was hungry and partly because she wanted to maintain the illusion of casualness.

But inside, she was impressed. Darren had taken her advice and run with it—further than she had expected.

He’s reckless, she thought with a grin. But maybe reckless is exactly what Sarah needs.

Dinner passed in a strange silence. Darren ate calmly, as though nothing monumental had just been said, while Luna devoured her stew with gusto.

The knights ate more cautiously, darting glances between their young lord and the kitchen door. The other patrons, though buzzing with curiosity, kept their voices low out of respect—or fear—of the tension in the air.

When Darren finished, he set down his spoon and turned back toward Sarah, who had emerged once more from the kitchen, her expression carefully neutral.

“Sarah,” he asked, “do you have any rooms available?”

She blinked. “Rooms? You’re… you’re not going home?”

“Not tonight,” Darren said firmly. “Not tomorrow either. I’d like to stay here. For a while.” His gaze softened. “So I can see you.”

Her breath hitched. A faint blush crept across her cheeks. “…Three rooms, then. One for you. One each for your knights.”

The knights inclined their heads in gratitude, though their eyes betrayed their confusion.

Sarah handed Darren the keys quickly, avoiding his gaze. “Good night,” she said, her tone brisk but her ears pink.

Darren accepted the keys with a quiet smile. He stood, motioning for his knights to follow, and the three men climbed the stairs to their rooms.

As soon as they disappeared from sight, Sarah turned sharply toward Luna, who was still nibbling at the edge of a candy.

“…What did you do to him?” Sarah demanded.

Luna blinked innocently. “Me? Nothing. Just told him to be honest with his feelings. That’s all.”

Sarah stared, speechless, before groaning and covering her face with her hands. “Honest? If that’s honesty, then my heart can’t handle it.”

Luna’s grin turned mischievous. “Sounds like my advice is working.”

Sarah narrowed her eyes at the smug little girl. Without a word, she reached across the counter and pinched Luna’s cheek.

“Ow, ow, ow! Abuse! Abuse!” Luna whined, though her grin never faltered.

That night, Luna retired to her room, feeling quite pleased with herself. She cleaned herself with magic, brushed her hair, and was about to climb into bed when a knock came at the door.

She frowned. “Who’s bothering me this late?”

When she opened the door, she found Darren standing there—his two knights flanking him like silent sentinels.

Luna raised an eyebrow. “Uh, knight boy? What is this, some midnight invasion?”

Darren rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “I… wanted to ask for more advice. About Sarah. And since I didn’t want anyone to misunderstand, I asked my knights to come with me.”

Luna blinked. Then she burst out laughing. “Wait—you dragged them here so no one would think you were sneaking into a girl’s room? Even when that girl is, you know, me?”

Darren flushed, but nodded. “It wouldn’t be proper otherwise.”

The knights exchanged long-suffering looks, silently cursing their young lord’s stubborn sense of propriety.

“Well, come on in then,” Luna said, ushering them inside.

The room was small, and with four people inside, it felt cramped.

Luna plopped comfortably onto the bed while the three men folded themselves onto the floor, shoulders nearly touching.

The knights looked at each other, silently asking why are we sitting on the floor while the child gets the bed? But neither dared voice the thought.

“So,” Luna began, swinging her legs. “What’s the problem this time?”

Darren leaned forward, earnest. “I have three days before I must return home. Three days to make her see how serious I am. Tell me what I should do.”

Luna pursed her lips, thinking. Three days wasn’t much time. But maybe, just maybe, it was enough.

“Alright,” she said finally. “If that’s all the time you’ve got, then we’ll need to use every moment. First—do you know any places nearby where she could relax?”

Darren thought for a moment, then nodded. “There’s a lake. With a waterfall. But it’s far. Eight hours on foot.”

Luna’s eyes sparkled. “A waterfall? Perfect!”

She clapped her hands, excitement bubbling in her chest. A plan was already forming.

Darren’s words lingered in the cramped little room, “There’s a lake. With a waterfall. Eight hours away.”

The image planted itself immediately in Luna’s mind. The cool rush of cascading water, the way sunlight would fracture through droplets, the promise of a natural pool to splash in. Her lips curled into a grin.

“That,” she declared, “is perfect.”

The knights exchanged wary glances. They weren’t sure what about an exhausting hike to a waterfall qualified as “perfect,” but they wisely kept their thoughts to themselves.

Luna leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, her eyes alight with mischief and determination. “Alright, knight boy. Here’s the plan, you’re going to invite Sarah on a three-day trip. Just you and her.”

Darren stiffened. “Just the two of us?”

“Yes,” Luna said firmly. “No distractions. No knights lurking behind bushes. You’ll go together, cook together, camp together, and—most importantly—you’ll talk.”

The knights frowned at that, visibly uncomfortable. One of them finally spoke, his voice careful. “With respect, my lady, our duty is to guard our young lord. Leaving him alone—”

“Relax,” Luna interrupted, waving a hand. “I’m not saying you’re off-duty. You’re just… reassigned.”

The two knights blinked. “Reassigned?”

Luna nodded, deadly serious. “While Darren is out there winning Sarah’s heart, the two of you are going to work here. At the inn.”

The silence that followed was thick enough to cut.

“…Work,” one knight repeated.

“As in serving drinks?” the other asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

“Exactly!” Luna said brightly. “Carrying trays, wiping tables, helping with stew prep. Whatever Sarah usually does, you’ll cover. Otherwise, she won’t agree to leave. She’ll say she has too much work.”

The two men gaped at her as though she’d asked them to juggle flaming swords while blindfolded.

“We’re knights,” one finally protested. “Not tavern hands.”

Luna gave him a flat look. “And yet, tomorrow morning you’ll be wearing aprons. Life is funny like that.”

The knights turned imploringly toward their young lord, expecting Darren to put an end to the madness. But Darren—after a moment of hesitation—nodded.

“She’s right,” he said quietly. “Sarah won’t leave the inn unless she knows it’s in good hands.”

The knights sagged in resignation.

Luna clapped her hands in delight. “Perfect! See, you’re already being useful.”

One of the knights muttered something under his breath about dishonor. The other elbowed him, reminding him silently that their young lord had agreed.

“Now then,” Luna continued, “the next part is crucial. You need to invite her naturally. Not like a command, and not like you’re dragging her. It should feel like… like a gift.”

Darren furrowed his brow. “A gift?”

“Yes. You’ll tell her it’s a reward. For working so hard at the inn. That you just want to give her a little rest.” Luna tilted her head, her grin sly. “If you say it sincerely, she won’t refuse.”

He considered this, worry etched across his face. “And if she does?”

Luna leaned back, smirking. “She won’t. If a woman is invited by the man she likes—even if she pretends to hesitate—she’ll say yes. It’s practically a law.”

The knights looked skeptical. Darren, however, listened as though she were reciting scripture.

“I see,” he murmured. “So, sincerity… and reassurance.”

“Exactly!” Luna beamed. “You’re catching on.”

Darren nodded solemnly, committing the words to memory as though he were preparing for a battlefield strategy.

The knights sighed in unison. To them, it felt like watching their young lord prepare for execution rather than romance.

The planning session stretched late into the night. Darren asked questions with the intensity of a soldier drilling maneuvers,

What should he pack?

How often should he compliment Sarah without sounding insincere?

Should he offer to carry her things?

Was it acceptable to build the fire himself, or should he let her help?

Luna answered each one with relish, alternating between teasing comments and surprisingly thoughtful advice.

“You should definitely carry her things. It’s gentlemanly. But don’t hover. No one likes a clingy shadow.”

“Compliments? Be specific. Don’t just say she’s pretty. Tell her how her hair shines in the sun, or how her laugh makes you want to hear it again.”

“As for the fire—let her try first. If she struggles, then you step in. That way, you look capable without making her feel useless.”

Darren absorbed every word, nodding gravely.

By the time the session ended, the knights were slumped against the wall, looking utterly defeated. Their armor wasn’t meant for cramped floors and endless discussions of “feelings.”

Finally, Darren rose, bowing his head slightly to Luna. “Thank you. Truly. I’ll put this to use tomorrow.”

Luna waved him off. “Go get some rest, knight boy. Tomorrow’s a big day.”

He left with his knights in tow, their heavy boots echoing down the hall.

Luna stayed by the window, gazing out at the starlit sky. Her grin widened.

Of course, she hadn’t told Darren everything. Yes, it would be just him and Sarah on paper—but there was no universe where she was missing out on this trip.

The idea of a hidden waterfall, of watching two people stumble through love, of playing unseen cupid from the shadows—it was irresistible.

“Sorry, knight boy,” she whispered with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “But you’re not shaking me that easily.”

She hugged her knees to her chest, content, and drifted into sleep with the stars above her.

Morning came bright and clear, golden light spilling through the inn’s windows. The bustle of breakfast filled the air—clattering dishes, the hiss of frying pans, the murmur of patrons eager for a warm meal.

Luna sat at her usual spot, chewing on a sweet bun, watching the scene unfold like a stage play. She knew the moment was coming.

Darren climbed down the stairs, flanked by his knights. He looked calmer than the night before, though his jaw was tight with determination. He spotted Sarah behind the counter and squared his shoulders.

“Here we go,” Luna murmured around a mouthful of bread.

Darren approached the counter. Sarah looked up, surprised, but greeted him politely. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes,” he said. And then, without further hesitation—without even easing into it—he dropped his line.

“Sarah, come with me on a trip.”

The room froze. Again.

Luna nearly fell off her stool laughing. Knight boy, you have no sense of pacing!

Sarah blinked, startled. “A… trip?”

Darren nodded, his tone firm but not commanding. “You work tirelessly here every day. You deserve rest. There’s a lake, with a waterfall. I want to take you there. For three days.”

Her lips parted, her breath catching. “Three days? Darren, I can’t just—”

“You can,” he interrupted, softer this time. He leaned forward, his gaze unwavering. “I’ll handle everything. You’ve earned this, Sarah. Please. Come with me.”

Silence stretched. Sarah’s hands trembled slightly as she clutched the cloth she’d been wiping with.

“…The inn,” she murmured. “Who will—”

“Us,” one of the knights blurted suddenly, though his tone was flat with dread. “We will handle the inn.”

Sarah stared at them, bewildered. “You… will?”

Both knights nodded stiffly, clearly regretting every life choice that had led them to this moment.

Luna, munching her bun, nearly burst out laughing again.

Sarah looked between Darren, his knights, and finally Luna, who was watching with an infuriatingly smug expression.

Her shoulders sagged in defeat. “…You’re all mad,” she muttered.

But when Darren reached out, gently this time, offering his hand across the counter, she hesitated only a moment before placing hers in his.

“…Alright,” she said softly.

Darren’s breath left him in a rush of relief. His fingers curled around hers, warm and certain.

Luna bit down on her bun to stifle the squeal threatening to escape. Step one, success.

The rest of the early morning was chaos.

The knights were hastily shown how to carry trays, where to fetch stew, and how to refill mugs of ale without spilling them.

Their armor clanked with every motion, and Sarah had to bite back laughter more than once at the absurd sight of noble guards in aprons.

Darren, meanwhile, packed supplies for the journey.

Luna lingered nearby, pretending to lounge idly, but her eyes sparkled with secret schemes. She already had her own pack prepared—water flasks, rations, even a change of clothes suitable for swimming.

There’s no way I’m missing that waterfall, she thought gleefully. Besides… they’ll need me if things get awkward.

As the sun climbed higher, Darren and Sarah stood at the edge of the village, ready to depart. The knights watched grimly from the inn door, already dreading the work awaiting them.

“Be safe, my young lord!” one called, though his voice cracked halfway.

Sarah looked back once, her eyes soft with uncertainty. Darren caught her gaze, gave a reassuring nod, and led the way onto the forest road.

Unseen, just beyond the first bend of trees, Luna crouched behind a bush, grinning like a cat ready to pounce.

“Operation Cupid,” she whispered to herself, “is officially underway.”