Once Alistair had recounted the events of his past, he took a moment to take a gulp from his waterskin. Lenoria listened to every word without fail, and after a while Clara eavesdropped from one of the front windows. Joanna ran along with Lisa and Tsukuyomi, their laughter a sign that Lenoria and Alistair had some manner of privacy.

Let's just say I was supposed to get the gallows because the butcher's axe was too kind.

"So that's what Solveig did; she got sent here because she stood up for you. If that's her crime, she shouldn't even be here..." Lenoria did her best to put up a cheerful front, but her spirit had been crushed.

Sensing distress, Alistair was quick to justify his silence on the matter. "It was a difficult subject, Lenoria. I didn't want to worry you by dumping all these terrible things that happened to me. I was raised to bottle these feelings in, and-"

At some point the girl had stopped smiling at him and settled for staring at the wooden floor beneath them. Of course she wasn't happy; he kept such a huge matter from her, after all, he thought. Over the course of telling his story, she had persuaded him to keep going and did not seem bothered; but that was exactly the kind of thing he was used to. Mirabelle would always tell him nothing was wrong, only to turn around an hour later and start a conversation with 'We need to talk.' Those talks usually ended with her dumping him for a couple of days, then returning as if nothing had happened.

The boy feared what Lenoria could be thinking. "I'm sorry. My fa-, I mean, Janus would always tell me to just suck it up every time I wanted to cry. That's why I bottle these feelings in. And on the rare occasion they do come out, I either get laughed at or get a lecture on how unmanly it is." The boy sighed. "In the end, I guess that mattered very little. Compared to Carter and Thomas, Mirabelle was truly something else. She went as far as threatening my life, and now she's free. I've put you in danger by not warning you about her, and now-"

"Why would you think that?"

Lenoria's interruption rattled the paladin. Her tearful eyes waited for his reply. Maybe she didn't see things his way and was troubled by something else he hadn't seen.

"The villagers kicked me out of Norwich not long after you left. Mirabelle was there that morning and twisted the story to benefit her while slandering me. If she hadn't done that, it's possible the villagers would have rallied behind me and encouraged Lord Demetrio to stand down. And Lisa's caretaker wouldn't have-"

"Al, I'm sorry for interrupting you again but I'm not mad at you for that! In fact, I'm not mad at you at all!"

"W-what?"

A heavy shadow drawn across her face could only hide the girl's tears for so long. "You've been suffering your whole life. You never met your real parents, and you lost your adoptive parents at such a young age. You were thrown in jail over some bullcrap and almost went to prison for it. You went through all of that for such a stupid reason. You didn't deserve any of that! And yet...you managed to carry on. You carried on where most people would have just given up and accepted the injustice that was handed to them. I don't know what I would have done in your shoes, but I don't think I would have lasted as long. You were strong enough to not let it change you!"

"Lenoria..."

"And don't you ever blame yourself for something that isn't your fault! Lisa understands you couldn't save her caretaker, but she's happy you managed to save everyone else! If it wasn't for you, Caesar and I wouldn't have been able to save anybody!"

The girl banged her fists on the table, startling Alistair. But it soon became apparent her frustration wasn't directed at the boy.

"There's no way you could have known Mirabelle was slandering you, so why would I be mad about something like that? If anything, I should be mad at myself for being so stupid!" Despite her lower jaw quivering and the sobbing that followed, Lenoria continued, albeit with a choked voice. "No wonder you've been so distant. Mirabelle hurt you so much that you can't tell when someone's being real and honest with you. You safeguard your feelings so that you would never be vulnerable again. You feel like you have to do everything on your own, don't you?"

Left speechless but wishing to answer Lenoria, Alistair nodded weakly. Tears streamed down Lenoria's cheeks, her guilt and anguish becoming harder to conceal.

"I should have been more considerate of your feelings! You've kept your distance because you didn't want me to think you were acting inappropriately, right? And yet I kept breaching your personal space! I should have done more for you instead of acting selfishly! I knew the signs because I've been there before! And yet...I didn't do anything for you..."

If anyone could tell how Alistair really felt, it would be someone who had gone through the same thing. She was a young girl who was ostracized for either rumors blown out of proportion or for things that were out of her control. She had a stalker obsess over her, and another man treated her as a plaything to amuse himself because he felt bored. And the headmaster, oh that awful, evil headmaster. He allowed it to happen, and she could not understand why he hated her so much. By contrast, Mirabelle Bisset was all three of them rolled into one.

Alistair was the first to rise from his seat and walked over to Lenoria. But the girl refused to wait for him and rose from her seat as well. The two met exactly in the middle, and Alistair immediately opened his arms with a welcoming gesture. Surprised by the paladin's boldness and unable to hold it anymore, Lenoria bawled and rested her head on Alistair's shoulder. The boy wrapped his arms around her, using his left hand to stroke the girl's head gently.

After a minute, Lenoria calmed herself, her voice weakened and her nose sniffling. "I'm the luckiest girl in the world," she said softly. "I've done nothing for you while you've spoiled me during our trip together, yet you've been so patient with me and never complained. Even now, you're putting me above yourself. You prioritized our safety before yours. I never matched that energy of yours..."

"Is that why you think you're selfish? You may not have realized this, but you've done more for me than anyone ever has."

"That's not very reassuring, you know. I know you're just saying that."

"I mean it. You've always been there for me. I always valued the time we spent together, even when you teased me. I don't mind you touching me, and I welcome it if that's how you express your love. But all I really want is to spend quality time with you. We could read a book together, attend a play at a theatre, or we could even just stargaze every night. That's what I like about you, Lenoria. You didn't mind my company, either, and you were always up for anything I suggested. The circumstances we met each other in were less than ideal, but I feel so blessed to have met you."

The two quietly continued their embrace for a little longer. Lenoria's crying eventually ceased, but Alistair did not let go. Because of this, Lenoria remained where she was for as long as she needed, feeling warm and safe in the arms of the man she loved. She eventually pulled herself away, calmed herself, and used her forearm to dry her tears. "Thanks, Al. I needed that. And I-I'm sorry. I made this about me, didn't I?"

"Don't apologize, Lenoria. I felt terrible hiding this from you this entire time. If Mirabelle hadn't been released, I probably never would have told you about her. I'm sorry for not doing so sooner."

"Then let's agree we both have been awful to each other. Otherwise, we'll be apologizing to each other all night. We both suck." Lenoria forced a chuckle, hoping to lighten the mood. And it seemed to have worked, because Alistair chuckled, too. "You aren't supposed to laugh," she said jokingly.

"Sorry." They both held their laughter, but Lenoria laughed after seeing how much Alistair was holding on to his laughter. "You started it this time!"

"It was because of your face!"

"Only because I feel relieved," Alistair pointed out. "I'm relieved I don't have to hide anything from you anymore. I know I can be honest with you without having to walk on eggshells. T-thank you..."

"You went out of your way to make me feel wanted and loved," Lenoria said after calming down. "How could I be mad for something you couldn't control? And you opened your heart to me, even though you didn't have to. That must have taken a lot of courage. Weren't you afraid that I could have been another Mirabelle?"

"I was," the boy admitted. "But a part of me believed in the sincerity of your words. I couldn't believe my ears when I first heard your confession, and you were fidgety back then, too. You were putting in a lot of effort just to speak to me, so of course I had to take the risk. No one in the history of ever went out of their comfort zone for something they didn't think was worth their while."

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

That night was still fresh in their minds. They were all tired after dealing with the giants all day, and for a short yet embarrassing moment, Alistair recalled the kiss he received from Cecilia. He had simply dismissed it as her relieving her stress after a busy day and had completely forgotten about it after what happened later that night; Lenoria, during a lapse in judgment and getting herself hurt as a result, grabbed his attention to let her feelings out in the open.

"Thinking about it, you were courageous, too. I could have been another Thomas or Carter, yet you opened your heart to me, anyway."

Lenoria blushed uncontrollably. "T-that's different! Mirabelle really hurt you and your self-esteem! It was easy to open up to you because you're a man of the cloth! You've had your powers this whole time, meaning you've always been a good guy! The worst you could have done was say no."

"W-when you put it like that..." Alistair let out an awkward chuckle. "Am I truly that easy to trust?"

"You say that like it's a bad thing. If people can trust you easily, then that's a good thing! That means they don't see you as a bad person." Lenoria reached for Alistair's hand. "And I'm glad you appreciate my company. But I understand that Mirabelle hurt you deeply. If you're ever having trouble trusting me, you can tell me, and we'll talk things out. I don't plan to ever give up on you."

And then came the words Lenoria promised herself she'd say to Alistair the next time she could speak to him.

"I love you, Alistair Adams. I've had my eyes on you ever since I saw you at the graduation ceremony, but this journey helped me see the kind of man you truly are. No man, other than my father, has protected me the way you have. And when something threatened to tear us apart, I couldn't bear the thought of it for long. Ever since then, I couldn't picture life without you. I just couldn't." The girl hid her face with both hands. "My feelings may have been, um, less than pure at the beginning, but I've come to fall in love with the man I got to know."

Alistair seemed relieved to hear it, but now that Lenoria put her feelings out in the open again, he felt he needed to return the favor. But he wasn't sure if his heart would truly be in it. Would he be doing it just because Lenoria did it and she was expecting an answer from him? It wouldn't feel right at all unless he was 100% sure. And with his mind a jumbled mess thanks to the stress he accumulated, he could only remain silent.

There was a stray thought in his mind that had plagued him since night before, and Lenoria's last line solidified a decision he had to make. Was it okay to be a little selfish, himself? Maybe it was okay to make a request...

"Don't force yourself, Al." Lenoria smiled. "Your silence says it all. The last thing I want is for you to feel like you have to say it back when you're not sure. Peer pressure is awful, so I understand if you can't right now. But you're the one I love. I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't ready to be rejected. Even if you broke my heart now, I wouldn't regret it because I know you would have done your best to be gentle."

"But I don't want that." It was only fair for him to exchange Lenoria's confession with his own, especially when he, too, couldn't stand the thought of being apart from her. "I don't want to break your heart. Not now, not ever. I feel the same way about you. I was fully committed to the idea of walking all the way here last night, crushing all the undead that tried to stop me. You were on my mind the entire time. That's why I fought and pushed forward."

"Al..."

"That moment we shared last night," the boy said as he blushed, "you know, before we parted ways...I couldn't forget about it, either. I don't think I could do it with anyone else, and I-I was wondering if we could reenact it at least tenfold. You said your thoughts were less than pure, but I w-wouldn't mind indulging you to an extent."

Now that was a surprise for Lenoria, and she could feel her heart skip a beat before it started pounding her chest. "A-Al, you know I'll always consent to a kiss, so you don't need to ask for permission. Not even for dozens and dozens of them!" The girl looked to her side, still unable to believe what she was hearing. "But are you sure about that? This is such a big step for you! And what about your vow of chastity? Aren't you afraid you'll break it in the heat of the moment?"

"Going to the extreme is still out of the question, but I feel like words alone cannot convey how I feel about you. I...I love you, too, Lenoria Tsukino. I love spending time with you, and you've always loved to be around me. But you've also yearned for something I couldn't provide, and that I still can't provide. My service to the Hammer of Justice has always been important to me, and I'm glad you understand that. But I also want to show you how much I care about you."

The paladin paused to hold Lenoria's hand before making his way to the men's dorm, dragging her along.

"The least I can do is meet you in the middle. I promise that these lips of mine will touch yours, and only yours."

Entranced at first by Alistair's declaration, reality set in for Lenoria when Alistair closed the door behind them once they were inside the men's dorm room. The beds lined up perfectly just like in the women's dorm room, and they could only see the inside at all thanks to the moonlight seeping in through the curtains from the windows.

Once Alistair's eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room, he pulled Lenoria towards one of the beds. He didn't think he would have gotten this far, but Lenoria had been submissive the entire time and complied with whatever non-verbal cues Alistair had given her. She sat on the bed, hands on her lap, without Alistair having to tell her. When her beloved sat down with her, she took that as her cue to pull him closer to her until she was flat on her back and Alistair on top of her.

"Al, t-this is the men's dorm. You remember what the Sheriff said, right?"

"You're saying this now?" The boy stifled a laugh. "The door is locked and right now I'm the only man living here. Miss Clara and Aquamarine are with Lisa right now, and I've heard children can be quite demanding. I doubt they'll be looking for us anytime soon."

Her eyes stared at him longingly with anticipation for his next move. She only planned to kiss for who knows how long, but she mentally rehearsed for this moment dozens of times before. Yet, she didn't feel prepared and had forgotten the script she had filed away in the back of her mind. In fact, the couple's talk about their past had already been forgotten. Their hearts were filled with desire, and both only wanted one thing.

Each other.

"And then there's Caesar and his crew. If he's joining our cause, then it stands to reason he'll be moving in here, as well. This might be the only chance we have to do this. And if we do get in trouble," Alistair pressed his forehead against Lenoria's, "I promise to take full responsibility. So please...please stay with me."

The girl could feel it. Alistair's heart was racing, too. The suspense was killing her, and she was having trouble controlling her breathing. It was time to give Alistair a little push.

"Alistair...aishiteru..."

After much waiting, the first kiss finally landed. She had always admired Alistair's strength, and now even his lips were strong and commanding, urging her lips to lock and move with the same strength and boldness. She refused to part from such a bold yet sweet kiss.

His lips trailed down to her neck, which elicited a soft whimper from her. Alistair bashfully pulled away and turned his gaze a little lower. "Sorry..."

"It's okay. Eyes up here, mister..." When Alistair looked up at her, blushing, Lenoria lunged with another kiss. Her fingers intertwined with his, ensuring they didn't wander towards anywhere they shouldn't be. After a while, his lips wandered down her neck again, but the girl giggled this time. He kissed all over her neck, resulting in differing levels of joy and laughter, focusing more on the parts that tickled her the most. Payback for all the teasing she gave him ever since they met.

He eventually trailed his kisses down Lenoria's shoulder, which had been exposed thanks to the looseness of her yukata. Her breathing grew louder, and he stopped to ponder if it would be a good idea to go beyond the shoulders. He decided against it and, ever the anxious one, Alistair glanced at her with uncertainty. The girl had her eyes closed, obviously enjoying what he was doing.

"Why...why did you stop..."

This gave him the reassurance he needed to keep going.

Alistair had an idea how much Lenoria desired him, but it was one thing to know something and it was another thing entirely to actually feel this desire. Feeling wanted was not something he knew he would come to like, but the feeling was certainly welcomed. He couldn't hide the joy he felt whenever Lenoria responded with the same level of passion he provided.

***

Alistair found himself resting his head on Lenoria's chest. The girl stroked his head just like he did to her when she cried earlier, curling her fingers in his hair from time to time while using her other hand to gently press his head against herself.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking," the girl asked.

"Yeah."

"I'm bad at this," they both said at the same time. They laughed at how in sync they were, even when stating a negative opinion.

"Sorry, Al. I just never kissed anyone before you came along."

"Neither have I, despite being engaged for two years. Mirabelle never even touched me."

"What a waste. If she had, I could have had a wonderful teacher who could show me how to be a better kisser."

"I see it as a good thing that we're both bad at this," Alistair stated. "We have an idea of what we're doing wrong. It's just a matter of p-practice, now. And, well, there's also the fact we're each other's first experience. We'll be learning things together at the same pace."

Two broken people, brought together by circumstance in the midst of their healing. A lot happened before they met, a lot happened during their journey together, and they were both sure a lot more will happen in the future. Most, if not all, would argue that what they're doing now isn't a good substitute for the therapy they surely needed, but it definitely eased the pain in their hearts. Like a strong painkiller taken while the patient waited for a long-term solution to their injuries.

They cast aside their worries for now and sighed contently. Lenoria kissed Alistair on the forehead and nuzzled her cheek against his hair. That was when she remembered he had taken a bath earlier, and the aroma of manly perfume was still fresh.

Alistair closed his eyes; he wasn't drowsy, but he wanted to do nothing more than to cuddle with his sweetheart. And he was beyond sure the feeling was mutual.

He was right.

"Practice, huh? I like the sound of that..."