Three days have passed since the great battle that destroyed half of the city. The campsite has now transformed into a temporary small town with various tents that can be quickly assembled thanks to the help of the goblins.

Their initial emergence from the forest did cause quite a commotion, as people thought they were there to attack. However, with the assistance of Anderson's knights, who explained that the goblins had been protecting the city from attacks all along and intended to help them, a peace was established.

This peace will now be recorded in history as the beginning of friendship between humans and goblins, something rarely seen even behind the scenes.

During those three days, the princess didn't allow me to go anywhere alone. I always had to be with her, for the reason of keeping me safe. I refused, but the princess wouldn't hear of it. So, I resigned myself to it, especially since the princess burst into tears upon seeing my bloodstained clothes, thinking I was in critical condition.

Who would have thought that the princess didn't sleep and instead waited for us until 2 in the morning, even though we purposely waited for over an hour before returning to the camp to avoid her.

However, during those three days, I learned many new things about the princess. For example, she dislikes broccoli and won't eat anything if it has broccoli in it.

It's a new side of the princess that I didn't expect. I always thought the princess was the type who would like everything, but it turns out she's just like any other 8-year-old child, which makes me even more fond of her.

Mr. Anderson thanked me for intending to spend time with his beloved daughter, especially when he needed rest after the long-awaited great battle, which left his entire body shocked and still in pain.

But Mr. Anderson also reminded the princess not to take up too much of my time because I also needed rest. However, the princess took advantage of it by sleeping next to me, forming a puddle in the morning, and waking me up with her continuous drooling, like a fountain. So, I had to wash two bed sheets that turned into a water war with her.

If compared to the previous days, these three days feel like a vacation. Celine came and asked the princess to give us some alone time, which she reluctantly agreed to.

The princess became possessive, always making me stay away whenever Celine was near us. I understand why the princess acts this way, as she's worried about losing me and being left alone again.

However, on the third day, I talked to her, trying to make her understand that Celine feels the same way, worried about me and needing some time with me just for a little while. I was genuinely afraid that the princess would refuse. If she did, I wouldn't know what else to say. Fortunately, the princess understood and responded with a nod, although her face looked sad.

"Don't worry, it won't be long. After that, we can play as much as the princess wants, alright? Do you agree?" I said while gently caressing her head.

A smile, which has become a habit for the princess, formed along with her sparkling eyes. "Do you promise?" she asked.

"I promise," I replied.

The princess instantly jumped for joy and exclaimed, "I will play to my heart's content with Zent! Don't take too long! I'll be waiting for you, Zent!" She ran off, giving Celine a chance to come closer while giggling, sharing in the princess's happiness as she now busily ran around the camp.

"She's really attached to you," she said, slowly approaching until our arms touched. She blushed and shyly intertwined our fingers in a warm grip before giving me a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for coming back."

"Didn't you already say that?" I asked, trying to appear casual even though my heart was filled with joy, beating rapidly, hoping Celine wouldn't notice.

"That wasn't official; I said it while crying. Now, I really want to thank you, and... " She paused for a moment, unable to meet my gaze as she turned her face away, then regained her composure and continued after gathering her courage. "I want to make our relationship more serious."

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Hm? What? Did I hear that correctly?

"Celine... Are you sure?" I became even more confused when she nodded with full conviction. "But why? Our first meeting couldn't even be considered normal. Besides, there are still many men out there who are better than me."

The knight shook her head, looking straight into my eyes. "Zent, it's true that there are many men out there. However, can they make me feel as happy as I am when I'm with you?" Celine approached, gently stroking my cheek with a melancholic gaze. "I'm sure that you're the only one who can make me feel like this..."

What happened next can only be described as a dream.

Our lips met, sensing each other, expressing what we now felt in our hearts. The world felt like it stopped spinning, with seconds stretching into what seemed like minutes, feeling so long yet at the same time, so fast.

As we separated, Celine's lips appeared reddened and slightly wet, making me want to kiss her again. However, the sound of the princess running closer deterred me.

I could only restrain myself, unable to divert my gaze from Celine, who, for some reason, appeared exponentially more beautiful than before.

Especially with the sunlight illuminating her figure, making her lovely hair color appear more vibrant, enhancing the color of her eyes that were now gazing back at me, desiring the same thing.

I hurriedly approached, reaching for a beautiful necklace with a green gemstone, a gift from a goblin whom I helped fix his horse carriage, and I placed the necklace on Celine, who smiled softly and said, "Thank you."

"Zent! Zent! There's an old goblin who will showcase his cooking skills! We have to watch it together!" exclaimed the princess, full of excitement. Without waiting for my response, she quickly pulled me away, leaving Celine behind, laughing at me being whisked away by the energetic little monster, who seemed to have gotten energy from somewhere after running around since morning.

The show turned out to be not too bad, even intriguing. It was a cooking competition between two renowned chefs from each race, battling to present their best dishes, reminding me of an anime character who always releases his headband after finishing cooking while shouting, "OWAGARIYO!"

But seeing the princess happy like this is the best gift I could receive (aside from Celine, of course).

I know what it feels like to be lonely without anyone to talk to, feeling like you're alone in facing the world.

That's one of the reasons why I feel close to the princess, and perhaps it's also the reason why the princess can be close to me. Maybe she also feels the same way without realizing it. It's as if both of us were destined to meet each other.

I smiled at the absurdity of it all because, destiny or not, I will make sure that smile never fades from her face.

"Zent, you should join us," said a man with wolf-like ears and gray hair, appearing later as I was walking alone, enjoying the natural scenery around the river after washing the third bedsheet because the princess had created another water island.

"I don't understand."

"You don't need to understand now. What you need to do is join us, then seize all the Glory to save this world. Or at least, to save those you love and care about," he said, pointing towards the distant campsite with his chin.

Through the power emanating from the bodies of the two individuals in front of me, I knew I would die if I made even the slightest mistake.

Both of them were equally strong, if not stronger, than the woman who was currently unconscious in one of the tightly guarded tents. I could only sigh, nod in understanding, and turn back while saying, "I have to say goodbye to them-"

But he stopped me, placing his right hand on my left shoulder. "We don't have time. The longer you spend here, the fewer chances you have to save them. We gave you three days to spend your final moments with them; that's enough."

"But..."

The man sighed, pulling his hand back and retrieving a piece of paper from his robe. "Here, express your farewell on this paper, the words you want to say."

He handed me the blank white paper and walked away with his companion, giving me privacy.

I stared at the paper, standing still as I heard the sound of the princess running and laughing loudly, making me bite my lip, trying to restrain myself from running over there and giving her one final hug. I didn't know how long it would be until we met again.

With a tear falling down, I uttered the words that I hoped would at least bring them some comfort, placing the paper inside the leather bag hanging from the tree along with the freshly washed sheets.

"Celine, have you seen Zent?" the princess asked anxiously, realizing that Zent had not yet returned even though she had circled the campsite three times, and Zent always came back on the second round.

The knight shook her head gently, looking around to search for her beloved, then turned back to the worried princess, feeling a sense of unease starting to overwhelm her heart. "Do you know where Zent was last seen?"

The princess nodded, gripping Celine's hand and hurriedly leading her towards the river where a horse was still tied to a tree, a sign that Zent should still be around here.

However, the sight of the clean sheets hanging from the tree made Celine think otherwise, especially when the princess suddenly burst into loud tears while clutching something. Celine rushed over, kneeling beside her and found Lady Luna holding a white paper with beautifully written golden letters.

"Z-Zent... has gone," she uttered amidst her sobs, making Celine's heart feel constricted.

As Celine held the paper, she finally heard a voice that she knew so well, warm yet piercing like a dagger.

"Wait for me, I will come back."

At that moment, Celine's legs gave way, and she fell to her knees beside the princess, crying together, embracing each other while holding onto their respective memories, Zent's first and final gifts.