The Little Prince's First Night Raid

Night had fallen. Anduin lay awake alone in his room. He was nearly ten years old now. After so many years in the Royal Palace, he understood many things. For instance, in chess, Varian was already close to being unable to beat him.

He had had a wonderful time in Theramore these past few days and had never seen so many novel things before.

But tonight, he felt troubled. His Elf guard, Valeera, seemed very unhappy.

He did not know how to comfort her. In the past, he had been surrounded by male attendants. Even the one female nanny he had known had been elderly and stern.

His memories of his mother had already grown blurry. Still, he felt that a mother's embrace should have been warm.

Yet when he had fallen from the inn's rooftop that day and Valeera caught him, it had reminded him of that warmth.

He turned over. The White Lady's moonlight shone faintly through the window, spilling over his golden hair.

When everything outside had fallen silent, Anduin made a decision he had never made before.

He quietly slipped out of his room. Valeera lived in the room directly opposite his.

He hesitated in the corridor for a long time and found that everyone was asleep. Gathering his courage, he gently pushed open Valeera's door. It was unlocked. That was a thief's habit—never locking oneself completely inside an enclosed space.

Anduin did not know how he had ended up walking barefoot, step by step, into an Elf's room. Once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw Valeera lying on the bed, sound asleep.

A thief should not have been so relaxed and at ease. But over the past few days, Theramore's prosperity, the comfort of the inn where Your Majesty was staying, and the