Tensa felt softness below and above her. She should be dead by now, right? So was this the afterlife? Opening her blurry eyes a crack, she could make out a large cloth hanging a few feet above her. A bed canopy? But where--
Yes, she was in a bed. A particularly large and luxurious bed. Almost obscenely luxurious. Tensa closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to clear away the cobwebs. She charged the Demon King, swung her sword down, and then...
Tensa's eyes flew open. Even though her consciousness faded away, she remembered the searing pain in her arm. Considering the size of the magic blast the Demon King was preparing, she shouldn't have survived. Was it a phantom sensation? Because the hand before her face was clearly her left one. Furthermore, there was no blemish, no scar...while the musculature was there, the calluses and damage she had sustained during her battles in the demon lands were all gone from that arm. What healing spell could do that much? Comparing it to her right arm, which still maintained her calluses from swordplay, something seemed off.
Ah, right, this must be the afterlife. That makes sense...because nothing makes sense otherwise.
Sliding out of the bed, Tensa found she was dressed in a delicate nightgown, and the room decor was just as gaudy and expensive as the bed. Walking over to the closed drapes, Tensa realized she did not feel tired or worn, further convincing her that she must have died back in the Demon King's castle. Drawing open the curtains, Tensa looked up at the clear blue sky outside. It was at that precise moment --
"Mmmph!!" Tensa clenched her teeth and grasped at her left arm, which felt as though an electric shock had gone through it. Leaning against the wall to the side of the window, Tensa furrowed her brow. What was that?
However, before she could consider what had happened, the door flew opened and someone barreled inside.
"Tensa, you're awake! I am so happy!" Obliv cried as he burst in excitedly, a gloomy Bursin standing at the room entrance. "That means we can have the celebration banquet tonight! And announce our engagement as well!"
Engage-what?
"Prince...where am I?" Tensa asked confusedly.
"Oh, you are in the Royal Palace, naturally!" Obliv chattered happily. "I was so worried when you did not wake up for so long, but now that you are well again, we can finally put that whole episode behind us..."
Tensa tuned out Obliv's onslaught as she returned to her own thoughts. She was a commoner. Even if she was the heroine who slew the Demon King, the most she should receive is an audience with the king and a commendation, not being housed in the palace. What on earth did Obliv mean about an engagement? And the others? Maybe this isn't any old afterlife, maybe this is hell.
"Your Highness, where are the others?" Tensa broke into Obliv's prattle, her eyes flicking to the grim Bursin at the door. It took Obliv a moment to realize Tensa's attention was concerned with people other than him, and his face fell slightly.
"Oh, Sanci went back to his Temple saying he had to report; Manti ran off to her tower saying she had to research something. But you will see them at the banquet tonight," Obliv said shortly.
"And...Vix?" Tensa asked.
"Somewhere in town," Obliv answered casually, but then noted Tensa's sharp look. "She's fine, but you know beastkin are not allowed in the Royal Palace. She will probably find her way back to beastkin country sooner or later."
Tensa couldn't help frowning, but she knew the prejudices held by the Vaunt kingdom. She decided as soon as she could she would leave the palace and find Vix to at least offer help if needed. Of all her companions, Vix was the only one Tensa felt she had built a genuine camaraderie with, as Vix had no ulterior motives in helping the mission. The rest, on the other hand...
"Your Highness, I would rather not attend the royal banquet...if possible," Tensa began, but was interrupted rudely by Obliv.
"Oh, you might as well get used to these little things, since you will have to host many once we are married," Obliv hurried on, not giving Tensa a chance to object to his statement. "Besides, you will have to attend this one, because..."