Walk to the courtyard.

After snaking through the many hallways of the royal castle, the two of you exit through the back doors into an expansive and gorgeous field of trees, flowers, and a stone path threading through. In the center is a fountain glistening under the light of the sun, surrounded by benches. It's just another day for her, however. You continue to hold her hand as the two of you walk through the yard and towards the western edge. A patch of tall, violet flowers are growing over this way. She lets go and hurries up to them, and takes a deep inhale through her nose.

"These are my favourite," she says.

"With so many people disappearing, are you sure you should be out here?"

"You have my back, Sir Warren. I'm not worried." She kneels down in front of the flowers.

You lean back against the tall black fence completely encircling the area while she entertains herself. There's a road not far away with several people walking back and forth. You watch for a time. Suddenly, you spot a familiar face. While her outfit doesn't completely stand out in a world of knights and wizards, you definitely recognize Vivila the witch when you see her. She's still garbed in her short tattered skirt and pointed cap, and as you watch her go by, her eyes turn over to you in surprise.

She looks left and right and then hustles over near the fence. "Kyle? Did you break into the castle?"

"Why is that what you assume first?" you reply. "I was hired to guard the princess."

"Which one?"

"Princess Abigail."

"Hm. Don't know that one, but royal families are confusing. Also I lived in that forest for quite some time."

"I kinda felt pressured into this one. If anything happens to the princess, I'll probably be publicly hanged... I don't know if it's really worth it."

"You'll be fine. Don't be a baby."

You groan and pause for a moment. Your eyes turn to the princess still kneeling in the grass, and then back to Vivi. "You know a lot about magic, potions, and all that stuff, right?"

"Of course I do."

"I have kind of an embarrassing request." As quietly as you can muster, you say, "You know that stuff that happened at the beach? Can you make me something, or cast a spell, that will like... suppress my desires for a couple days?"

Vivi looks past you, and then back to you. She scratches her chin. "Oh I get it."

"It isn't that I lack self-control. I'm just scared that if I pop a boner, they'll chop it off. There's some real intensity in this castle. Don't make me feel even weirder for asking."

She smirks. "You know, I'm not a child. I'm a lot older than you are. You expect me to start giggling at you for this, but it's a pretty honest request. Hold on." She reaches into her bag and begins rustling around. She takes her time. Finally, she pulls out a pale green potion in a tiny vial, inspects it, and hands it through the posts of the fence. "This one only lasts six hours, sadly. So just drink it when thing get too bad."

You take it happily. "Oh thank you, Vivi. You might have just saved my life." Can I ask you something else? You've been around the block a few times. What is your opinion on demon kings?"

"I think people give scary names to things they're scared of, no matter what they are. If I started causing enough problems for the queen, built a little fort in the woods, and got myself an army of cute minions, they'd probably call me one too. Some have actually been terrible, but you know, some have just made themselves enemies of people powerful enough to name them Demon King. I think it's a silly term, honestly. Makes some people strive to obtain it."

"I see. Thank again."

She gives a two-fingered salute. "No problem. Have fun with the princess. Or I guess, try not to."

After she wanders off, you hear the footfalls of the princess behind you. "What are you looking at?" she asks.

"Oh nothing. Did you get enough fresh air?"

"I did! I have other duties to attend to now, but please accompany me. I'm afraid it won't be very exciting, however. I have books to read and writing to be done. But I know with you here, it won't feel so dull."