The morning crowd flooded the main courtyard. The royal army prepared for open training in front of the nobles. Swords were sharpened, armor was polished, and warhorses neighed impatiently. Amidst the hustle and bustle, Hiro stood proudly in his silver armor, while Princess Knight Alicia was by his side, her face calm but tense, as if today was a real battle, not a simulation.
Ren stood on the sidelines, pretending to be a water and supply officer. His clothes were simple, without any emblems, but his eyes were sharp, judging every movement. He watched how Alicia held herself together in the face of Hiro's increasingly dominant and impatient attitude. Small moments like that became openings. And openings were opportunities.
The training began. Hiro led the cavalry into the enemy's wooden dummy, but mistimed the timing with the magic unit. A small clash occurred. Two infantrymen fell—not badly, but enough to raise whispers. Alicia stepped forward quickly, reprimanding Hiro in a calm tone, but Hiro responded with a loud voice, almost shouting.
Ren chose that moment to appear, carrying a water jug. "Princess, for the wounded soldier," he said politely, but loud enough for Hiro to hear. Alicia thanked him, and Ren immediately began to help treat the wounded. Hiro watched—and for the first time, couldn't hide his discomfort.
The drill resumed. Hiro looked like he wanted to make amends, but in his attempt to lead more tightly, he kept contradicting Alicia's strategy. Alicia remained patient, but her face began to show signs of fatigue. When the formation was about to fail again, Ren, who was standing on the side of the field pretending to arrange the flags, whispered to Alicia, softly enough for Hiro to hear.
"Hiro's horse's blind spot is on the left side. If the Princess closes the gap, the formation will remain stable."
Hiro turned quickly. "You servant, stay out of it!"
The shout echoed, loud enough to bring the drill to a halt for a moment. All eyes were on them. Alicia looked surprised. Ren immediately lowered his head.
"I'm sorry, Master Hiro. I just wanted to help."
Alicia's eyes shifted from Ren to Hiro. Something had changed in her gaze—not anger, but disappointment. She then returned to the formation and, as Ren suggested, closed the gap. The training ended smoothly. The king looked satisfied. Hiro was speechless.
When it was time for a break, Alicia entered the tactical tent. Ren was already there, preparing warm water and clean cloths. The princess sat down with her helmet off, her shoulders drooping. Her face looked tired.
"He's not like he usually is," she murmured softly, mostly to herself.
Ren poured some water into a cup, then said, "Burdens can change the way people talk. But that doesn't mean everyone has to accept being treated badly."
Alicia glanced at him, then smiled slightly. "You always know what to say, huh?"
"No. I was just observing."
He offered to clean the dirty shoulder plate. Alicia nodded. As Ren unbuckled and wiped the plate, his fingers deliberately touched the skin beneath the armor. He found a bruise.
"A bruise?" he whispered.
Alicia smiled stiffly. "Just a small bump when Hiro maneuvered."
Ren took a breath and touched the spot gently, channeling mana energy to ease the pain. Alicia bit her lip, her face flushing slightly. But she didn't resist. Instead, she lowered her head, as if enjoying the warmth of the touch.
"You're more than just a shield," Ren said softly. "Without you, Hiro is nothing."
Alicia looked up, and their eyes met. There was a pause, a moment of silence that was so dense. Ren could smell the scent of soft skin and sweat. He resisted the urge to move closer. But there was no need. Alicia herself did not move away.
As the sound of footsteps approached from outside, Ren immediately quickened his movements. Hiro entered a few seconds later, and immediately froze at the sight of them. Alicia stood, fixing her own clothes.
"Ren helped me. There's a bruise," she said flatly.
Hiro turned to Ren, who only bowed politely. There was anger behind Hiro's gaze, but he swallowed it down.
"I'm sorry about earlier. I was… too tense," he said, but more to Alicia than Ren.
The princess only nodded. However, her tone was no longer as warm as usual. Hiro noticed that.
That night, Ren received a piece of paper from Alicia's maid. Inside, the princess's handwriting: "East tower, after patrol. We need to talk."
Ren slipped the letter into his pocket. His eyes stared at the night sky. A faint smile appeared.
The first step had been successful. Hiro was starting to lose his footing. And now, it's Alicia's turn to open her heart deeper.
On the other side of the courtyard, Hiro stood in the shadow of the wall, watching Ren cross toward the eastern tower. He gripped his sword tightly, his jaw clenched. If Ren had truly touched the Princess... then the battle would no longer be between demons—it would be between heroes.