The restless sun pierced through the morning dew, casting its warm glow across the kingdom’s sky.

The rare warm weather drew people into the streets in light clothing, savoring a fleeting day of spring warmth between the winter breaths. Children eagerly seized the opportunity for outings, and even the animals sprawled lazily in sunny spots, yawning contentedly.

It was the perfect day to celebrate the return of the Hero’s party. Judging the timing ideal, the king promptly ordered the ceremonial carriages to the main avenue. Alongside him were key ministers, ornately dressed soldiers, and even court maids, all following in a grand procession.

At the very center of it all stood, predictably, me. Though I had anticipated this to some degree, I couldn’t help but feel my shoulders tighten under the weight of the moment.

“Straighten your shoulders, you fool. What kind of hero slouches like that?”

“...I’m just not used to this sort of thing.”

“I understand, Alpheus. It’s your first time, so it’s natural to feel that way. But now’s the time to show confidence,” said Jorfe, a hint of encouragement in his tone.

“You seem awfully comfortable with this, Jorfe.”

“At the academy, I often had to stand in front of large crowds. There were plenty of uncouth

people causing trouble, too.”

“And what about you, Seha ?”

“Me? I love standing before these inferior beings. It’s like watching ants swarm over a fallen crumb.”

So, I’m the only one lagging behind in this situation. No matter how much I tried to compose myself, sweat trickled down my forehead, and my nervous gaze darted around.

Meanwhile, the soldier leading the procession bellowed loudly to announce the arrival of the hero. His thunderous voice shook me to my core.

“Behold! The appearance of the great Hero Alpheu, slayer of the Evil Dragon!”

“Alpheus! Alpheus! Alpheus!”

“Wooooooaaaahhh!”

As the soldiers began chanting my name, the easily influenced crowd quickly followed suit, erupting into cheers. Although most of them were too ordinary to truly relate to the hero’s tale, they were more than eager to admire it. Their faces beamed with pure joy.

“Long live Alpheus! Long live Alpheus!”

“We love you, Hero!”

“Great work, Hero Alpheus! Long live the kingdom!”

“Th...thank you,” I stammered, overwhelmed.

In such an atmosphere, even the most stoic man would feel compelled to respond. Swept up by the crowd’s enthusiasm, I hesitantly waved my hand, which only fueled the cheers further.

“Hero! Herooo! Please, just touch my baby’s hand! Her name is Cecilia!”

“Alpheus! Alpheus! Alpheus!”

“The dragon is gone! The era of humanity begins now! Long live the great Hero Alpheus! Long live the king!”

The excitement grew so infectious that even the reserved nobles joined in, shouting joyfully.

Among them were the delighted king and the princess, basking in the people’s adoration.

But Mirian wasn’t there. My anxious gaze wandered, searching for someone who wasn’t present. Before I could dwell further, the euphoric nobles approached, showering me with words of encouragement.

“Look around you, Hero! Witness these fervent crowds! All of this is for you. Today, you are the star of the kingdom!”

“Ah...yes. Thank you, Count Brey.”

“Ah, don’t be so stiff! Let’s put our past conflicts behind us and start anew. If you’d like, consider me your brother from now on. You can call me Brey, your younger brother!”

“That’s a bit...”

“Don’t hold back now! On another note, Hero, don’t you think it’s time to take an interest not just in the kingdom’s external affairs but its internal matters as well? If you don’t mind, I’d like to offer some advice on that...”

Ambitions for power knew no bounds, regardless of time or place. Sighing faintly, I lamented this reality rather than being impressed. Despite my wishes, the court’s figures were already scheming plans with me at the center.

If I hoped to avoid such situations in the future, I’d need to find excuses or distractions. Fortunately, the king’s authoritative voice silenced the nobles’ ambitions.

“Enough! I shall speak a word for my hero!”

“Cease at once!!!”

The exaggerated cry from the forefront brought the procession to a halt. At that precise moment, the disciplined soldiers froze in perfect unison, bringing a satisfied smile to the king’s face.

He began a low, solemn speech to the gathered masses.

“To the people who have suffered under the tyranny of the Evil Dragon, I declare this:

Those dark dawns, when its massive wings cast shadows over us, are over.

The princess, once taken, has returned. Never again will this great kingdom cower in darkness at the hands of unknown monsters.”

“Ooooohhh...”

“The era of heroes has not yet ended. People, do not cry any longer. Instead, shed the tears of joy you’ve held back for so long.”

“Uwoooaaaahhh!!!”

“Your new hero is here, standing before you!”

“Yaaaahhhhh!!!”

With all his might, the king shouted and raised my hand high into the air. The crowd’s jubilant cries erupted like a fountain. Amidst their cheers, the king repeatedly patted my head and shoulders, shouting alongside them.

Then, with a subtle wink visible only to me, he whispered softly.

“Never forget this moment, Alpheus. This overwhelming applause is the legacy I leave to you.”

“This is far more than I deserve.”

“Other than me, no one fits this role better than you in this kingdom. So, accept it without hesitation.”

“Your Majesty, what I truly want is—”

“Ah, there comes my other gift,” he interrupted, redirecting my gaze.

Following his line of sight, I saw the princess approaching. She clasped her hands modestly and, in a shy voice, called my name.

“Alpheus.”

“Princess.”

The exchange was brief. The princess stepped closer, taking both of my hands.

And then, without warning, she kissed me deeply.

“Uhh...?”

“...”

The sudden kiss left me bewildered, and I instinctively took a step back. More than the sweetness lingering on my lips, it was the repercussions of this moment that concerned me. I tried gently pushing her away.

But the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. To them, this scene was the prologue to a new era of glory.

“Whoooooaaaahhh!!!”

“Hero! Hero! Hero!”

“...Princess.”

Amidst the roaring frenzy of excitement, I quietly spoke, hoping the concern and sincerity in my voice would reach her.

But that was all I could do. Not even a hero who defeated the Evil Dragon could reject a princess’s heartfelt gesture in the heart of the kingdom.

And the princess, Mirian , knew that all too well. Clever as ever, she leaned in and whispered with certainty,

“Shh, Alpheus .”

“...?”

“Don’t say anything.”

With just those words, she controlled my actions and tilted her head once more. This time, though, she didn’t approach me aggressively; she merely closed her eyes and slightly puckered her lips, waiting for my response.

Instead of meeting her lips, I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, conveying my respect and gratitude. Even so, she clasped my arm tightly with both hands, a content smile on her face.

After the procession ended, I found myself lying alone in my bed, unusually separated from my companions. Normally, I’d listen to their advice and stories, but tonight, I didn’t feel like it.

Why was that?

Was it because I realized the princess was more sincere toward me than I’d thought? Or was I distracted by thoughts of someone who wasn’t there?

I wasn’t sure. The wound on my wrist throbbed faintly as I pondered.

Sigh.

My tangled thoughts spilled into a deep sigh. I raised my hand and pressed it to my lips—the very lips that, just hours ago, had felt the princess’s breath. She had always seemed like a child to me, but in that single kiss, I sensed an overwhelming sincerity.

Yet, beyond that, I felt little else. There was no thrill of sharing a breath with someone, no rapture—just the persistent realization, like an iron nail hammered into my mind, that the princess wanted me.

And the more I replayed the moment, the more my thoughts drifted to another kiss—one I shouldn’t have, but couldn’t stop recalling.

The deeper I delved, the more the wound on my wrist throbbed.

“...Ugh.”

The pain was sharper than expected, enough to draw a soft groan from me. My body was unusually resilient, and minor injuries usually healed quickly. Yet, this tiny puncture showed no signs of mending, even after days had passed.

Sometimes, a drop of blood would seep out, and the reflection of my face in the crimson speck reminded me painfully of that day.

“Some lessons must be learned through pain,” she had once said.

Staring at the small black mark, I repeated her words in my mind. As I lay back, the cool bedsheets beneath my hand brought memories rushing back. The chill of the air, the bed draped in heavy curtains, her soft skin pressing against mine.

Closing my eyes, I could almost summon her scent vividly. Maybe my growing fixation stemmed from never receiving what I should have.

If that’s the case, what about her?

Was Mirian also lying in her bed, reliving memories of me? Was she trembling slightly, haunted by the traces of my presence?

Just as such thoughts crossed my mind, a faint sound came from outside the window.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“...?”

It was so faint that one might mistake it for an insect. But my sharpened senses immediately turned me toward the window. For the briefest moment, I caught sight of thorny vines slipping away.

There was only one person in the palace who would send a message like that. My heart began to race.

“Miriam...?”

I called her name, just in case, but received no reply.

As I cautiously approached the window, I caught the faint trace of a shadow moving—heading toward Miriam’s room.

“...”

I couldn’t decipher its meaning. But without hesitation, I found myself already rising and moving toward the door, as if drawn by an unseen force. It was nearly midnight, so with just a little discretion, I could reach her room unnoticed.

But I hadn’t accounted for one variable. The moment I opened the door, it appeared before me.

“Oh.”

“Ah... Alpheus?”

“...Princess?”

The person standing there was none other than the princess herself. She froze mid-motion, her hand raised as if she were about to knock, looking up at me with wide eyes.

I, too, froze, meeting her gaze. Though it wasn’t the first time she had come to my room, it was unusual to meet her at this hour.

As we stared at each other, startled, the princess broke the silence with a soft smile. She leaned in and placed a kiss on my chin.

“Hello, Alpheus.”

“What brings you here at this late hour, Princess?”

“Well... I could ask you the same. Where were you going?”

“I was thinking of taking a walk. And you?”

“Your room is bigger than I thought.”

Before I could ask more, she slipped past me into the room, casually inspecting it. Then, without hesitation, she plopped onto my bed.

“Where are your companions? I thought they’d be with you.”

“I asked for some time alone. It’s been an exhausting day.”

“You felt it too? Well, the royal procession is like that. People don’t realize that being protected is just as tiring as protecting others.”

“Princess, so what brings you here...”

“For some reason, I just couldn’t fall asleep,” she interrupted again, lying down on the bed.

“So, I came here, hoping I might sleep better in a familiar place.”

“Princess...”

“The safest place for a princess to sleep is beside the hero. That hasn’t changed, you know.”

“I—”

“And besides, I have so much to say about today.”

Her voice dropped to a secretive murmur, brushing my ear. Moonlight streamed through the window, softly illuminating her silver dress.

Its delicate fabric was thinner than usual, almost translucent under the light if one wasn’t careful. But she seemed entirely unbothered, whispering with her characteristic poise.

“So, just for tonight, stay with me. Like before, just holding hands. Can’t we?”