In Need of a Break

Naomi sat down.  "I have so many questions, but I guess we should start at the beginning.  Like, why you were 'visiting' in my time period in the first place."

"That's fair...." he agreed. "Well....I was rather unhappy, having just gotten out of what I'd hoped was going to be a lasting relationship. I'd known the girl ever since I was a child...."

"The Princess Grace?'

"Yes.  How did you know?"

"Your Mother was telling me this morning, all about you and your friendship with the King and his sister, and how she had a crush on you."

"My Mother can be such a busy body!  Yes, we were good friends for many years, and everyone just assumed we'd become a 'couple'"

"...including me."

"But then she told me she wasn't interested in a romantic relationship with me. She said she thought of me as a good friend, and like a brother, and it couldn't be anything more. ​

"She left for a while, and met someone else who she fell in love with.  I tried to be happy for her, but I missed her.
​
So I'd get together in the Tavern with the guys after work...."

"but they'd soon head home to wives and girlfriends, leaving me the sole attention of the flirtatious barmaids..."

"Saturday nights were spent hanging out with the other single guys who didn't have a date...."

"I suppose I was bored....and lonely. I needed a break.  Take some time for myself. Go somewhere where no one knew who I was. But as First Knight everyone here knew who I was, so there weren't many options...."

"Then Miho suggested she could send me anywhere. As a great and powerful Sorceress, she could send me ANYWHERE. Even to a different time. She suggested the challenge of trying to fit in in a totally alien culture might be exactly what I needed. The idea sounded intriguing, but I had to think about it.  I finally decided that it could be an interesting distraction, and told the King that I was taking a leave of absence.  When I was ready to leave, Miho gave me a special jewel"

"Take this jewel. When you are ready, or need to come back, it will bring you home."

"But she never told me that 'True Love's First Kiss' would do the same."