“Hello, Alpheus.”

“...Princess.”

“Did you sleep well?”

It was still early. Rubbing his sleep-laden eyes, Alpheus rose to find the princess greeting him with her usual poised demeanor.

Her neatly styled hair and perfectly adjusted attire suggested she had been awake for quite some time, already prepared for the day.

Considering the sun had yet to rise outside the window, Alpheus thought it peculiar for anyone to be up at such an hour.

The princess, seemingly aware of his unspoken question, offered a bright smile.

“Strangely, I woke up quite easily today.”

“It’s still very early.”

“I know, I was surprised too. Maybe this means I’m finally an adult? No more being teased as a child who throws tantrums over sleep.”

“Are you not tired?”

“Not at all. In fact, it was quite amusing. Watching you sleep was a refreshing experience.”

Without hesitation, the princess extended her hand and lightly tapped Alpheus’s lower abdomen.

Perhaps it was due to the events of the previous night, but she seemed more at ease bridging the physical gap between them.

“My apologies for the intrusion. I should prepare since we have a schedule today.”

“You don’t have to rush. It’s still fine to take it easy.”

“I wouldn’t want to appear disheveled before the princess.”

“Then, shall we bathe together?”

She delivered the suggestion with a casual tone as if it were a jest.

However, Alpheus knew better than to take the bait. If he did, he might be ensnared in a trap he wouldn’t escape.

Instead, he offered a faint smile and shook his head.

“I feel shy showing my body to others.”

“In this regard, you seem oddly childish.”

“Which has led to many awkward situations during my adventures.”

He recalled how his bashfulness had provided ample material for pranks by Seha and Jorfe.

Though he had been annoyed at the time, those memories now felt fond in retrospect.

Yet, the clock’s hands had turned, and those companions were no longer by his side.

The mischievous elf and the ever-smiling sage had ventured off in search of new horizons, leaving him behind with only a single parting wish

“Live as you desire.”

For some reason, those words resonated deeply within him today. Even as he doused his head with warm water and wiped away the moisture, the weight of that sentiment lingered.

When Alpheus and the princess finally left the room and headed into the corridor, his mind continued to echo with those parting words until a voice brought him back to the present.

It was the king.

“You seem lost in thought again today.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Are you still dwelling on yesterday’s events?”

Perhaps the sentiment was mutual.

As Alpheus lifted his gaze, the king’s familiar, genial smile greeted him.

Yet today, his expression carried a subtle stiffness around the edges.

Regardless, formality came first. Alpheus began to kneel, only for the princess to intervene.

“Enough of that. Let’s get on with things. Alpheus and I are both quite tired.”

“You’ve just woken up. How can you be tired already? Was your bed uncomfortable?”

“Not at all. My mind was just busy because of what you did yesterday.”

“I told you it was a misunderstanding. I even apologized.”

“You should apologize to Alpheus, not me. He went through an ordeal against his will.”

The princess’s tone dripped with resentment, and the king, eager to avoid her ire, turned to Alpheus with a hasty apology.

“Now that you mention it, you’re right. My apologies, brave hero. I only wished to introduce you to many people.”

“You needn’t apologize, Your Majesty.”

“No, no. It was wrong of me. Please don’t make me more ashamed. I suppose my old adventurer instincts got the better of me. I shouldn’t have arranged that meeting so recklessly.”

“...”

“Today’s gathering, however, is an official one, with many important figures in attendance. I hope it will be a valuable experience for you.”

The king, his tone lightening, patted Alpheus’s shoulder affectionately.

It was hard to tell whether he was genuinely simple-hearted or adept at masking his emotions.