The First Reward

That evening, after the dinner had ended, Aria and Kyle walked to the castle gates. She was dressed casually—at least as casually as a princess could get—wearing a simple gown and a shawl that draped over her shoulders. The dress was pale lavender, soft and flowing, clinging to her slender frame in a way that only emphasized her graceful figure. Her long blonde hair was pulled back loosely, with a few strands framing her face, giving her an almost carefree appearance.

Kyle, who had been waiting nervously by the garden fountain, couldn’t help but grin when he saw her approach.

“Look at you,” he teased. “I thought princesses weren’t allowed to look that chill.”

Aria rolled her eyes, though a playful smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Well, you’re not wrong. But tonight, I’m just Aria.”

“Fair enough,” Kyle replied, stepping up beside her. “So, where are we going? I don’t see any fancy horses or royal carriages.”

Aria smiled and motioned toward a small path leading into the nearby woods. “There’s a little tavern outside the castle walls. It's one of my favorite spots. Not a lot of people know about it, so it’s nice and quiet.”

Kyle nodded enthusiastically. “Sounds perfect.”

As they walked side by side, Kyle couldn’t help but marvel at the fact that he was actually going on a date with an elven princess. It felt like the kind of thing you saw in fairy tales or weird fanfiction—certainly not something that could happen to someone like him, especially not after being sucked into another world. But here he was, strolling through a moonlit forest, with slender blond girl with long ears.

“So, uh, what do you usually do for fun?” Kyle asked, trying to make conversation.

Aria shrugged lightly. “Honestly? Not much. I’m usually stuck with royal duties or meeting with diplomats. But I like to get away whenever I can. It’s rare that anyone looks at me and sees just a normal person, you know?”

“I can relate,” Kyle said with a half-grin. “I mean, I’m no princess, but when you’re a gamer, people kind of just see you as... well, a lazy guy sitting in a chair all day.”

Aria laughed. “I wouldn’t say that. You’re obviously more capable than that. I mean, you killed five rats in one go.”

Kyle winced. “Yeah, that was a bit of a mess. But I guess I’m a man of many talents.”

They reached the tavern just as the sun was setting. It was a humble building made of wood and stone, a sharp contrast to the grandeur of the castle. Inside, it was warm, with the scent of roast meats filling the air and a crackling fire in the hearth. Aria led him to a secluded table near the back, and they sat down, still chuckling from their earlier conversation.

“Okay, so... let’s just talk,” Kyle said as he looked around the cozy tavern. “Tell me something about yourself that no one else knows.”

Aria paused, then smiled as she sipped her drink. “Alright, here’s one. I once snuck out of the palace in disguise to see a play in the city. I had no idea what was going on, but I loved it. I had to sneak back in without anyone noticing... it was terrifying but exhilarating.”

Kyle’s eyes widened. “Wow. That’s kind of wild.”

Aria winked at him. “There’s a lot more where that came from. But enough about me—what about you? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done?”

Kyle scratched his chin. “I once ate an entire pizza by myself in one sitting... and it was a pretty big pizza.”

Aria laughed, the sound of her laughter light and carefree. “Now that’s the kind of story I can get behind.”

As the night drew to a close, Aria paid for thier bill, and they left the tavern. Aria looked at him with a soft, almost wistful expression. “This was nice, Kyle. Thank you for suggesting it.”

Kyle grinned. “Anytime. I mean, I’m not exactly prince material, but I can definitely provide some entertainment.”

Aria rolled her eyes, then pressed herself against him, grabbing his hand and guiding it to her hip. "Well, you’re not so bad yourself."

Kyle grinned as he pulled her closer, their bodies swaying together as they stepped out of the tavern and started the walk back to the castle. His hand slipped a little lower, and their footsteps rang softly in the stillness of the night. He thought that this world wasn’t so bad after all.