124. XAVIER — "Ariel is missing!"

I was exhausted.

I had been out and about since the crack of dawn and the one thing I desperately needed was to soak in a hot bath and fall asleep on Ariel's thighs afterwards. But Ariel was probably asleep by this time, she went to bed quite early these days so maybe I would just settle for the hot bath.

I handed my sword to Sean and tucked my knife into my pocket. "What's my schedule for tomorrow like?" I asked.

Sean sighed and looked at me with pity in his eyes. He didn't need to say more; my day was probably just as packed as today had been.

"Goodnight, your Grace." He said, eager to escape.

I nodded and waved him away. He was just as exhausted from following me around all day and he needed to do the same tomorrow anyway.

When I entered the room, I was surprised to see that Ariel wasn't sleeping. Had her insomnia started again?

"Ariel." I called out glancing around the room.

I could not put it past her to be hiding somewhere in the hopes of scaring me when I entered.