"What are you saying?" I asked trying to suppress my anger, especially in front of the princess who now looked confused by my reaction.

"Ahh, calm down, I'm just saying, be careful next time because we never know if we offend the wrong person," he answered in a rush while raising both hands, trying to prove he had absolutely no bad intentions.

He took two steps back while maintaining that nervous smile, then bowed, saluting "Then I'll be going, enjoy your evening!" he shouted, running farther and farther away. And finally disappearing behind the crowd of people.

The princess walked to the side, curious as to where the black-haired man with sunglasses had gone, then turned to me, looking slightly worried "Is Zent okay?" Se asked softly, afraid that her question would hurt my heart.

At least, that's what I got from those blue eyes.

"I'm fine princess, thank you for worrying about me" I replied softly while smiling sweetly.

"Zent do not worry! Papa is a duke! The king's confidant! So Zent is in trouble, papa can help!" She said still trying to calm me down with his signature smile that can make the cold night become warmth "Come on! The show is about to start!" Exclaimed the princess then took my hand to come with her to approach the stage.

Since I got here, this is the first time I know Mr. Anderson is a duke. I had guessed he was someone of high standing, but who would have thought he was actually a duke.

So, is this city his?

But then, who lived within the palace?

What's the point of a Duke being on the same turf as the King? Wasn't the title of Duke given for the sake of guarding a royal territory?

You know what?

I won't think about heavy stuff anymore for tonight.

Things that make my brain feel so heavy that my head is bobbing trying to keep it steady.

Like the suspicious man said earlier, let's enjoy the night.

Especially seeing the princess looking happy like now, makes my heart feel more at ease. To be honest, I am indeed someone who is very weak towards children. So even small things like this can make me happy.

A happiness that is so precious, so crucial that I want to keep it in my memory forever.

At the same time, just like when the computer glitched, the scenery around me changed several times, showing the same location. But with black-reddish sky and lifeless bodies just strewn over the streets that previously looked neat and beautiful. Now it looks damaged and dirty by pools of blood and traces of battle, a big battle.

The imposing buildings, now also just ruins, have huge holes with some parts still burning from the fire.

When I looked up, not far from where I was standing, a floating island looked tilted and was already so close to the ground, only a few meters before it finally fell covering a quarter of the city.

The huge ruins seemed to roll down making a terrible sound like a landslide before creating a strong vibration accompanied by a thunderous sound as soon as it hit the ground.

One of the black iron tubes on another island, lost most of its body causing an electric spark which is the main reason the island is now tilting and slowly falling down, it's only a matter of time before the same thing happens.

Just as I was about to take a step, someone called my name in worry.

As soon as I turned to the side, my eyes widened, I was shocked to see a small hand holding mine without a body, blood dripping one by one, creating a new puddle.

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I rushed to find the owner of the body, found herself a few meters ahead.

She looked so dirty with a mixture of blood and dirt, lying on the ground with her eyes closed, no longer breathing.

"Zent!"

I gasped in realization, gasping for air, not realizing I had been holding my breath for who knows how long.

The princess looked panicked, called my name repeatedly until it was enough to attract the attention of the people around who were also starting to worry, noticing a man who looked like he was having a heart attack.

Sweat flowed, wetting the face with a mouth that felt so dry as if I had just swallowed sand.

The chest feels tight, sore and torturous.

I tried my best to calm myself down, focused on the grip of the tiny hand that was now squeezing my hand with fear.

Thanks to her, I can breathe normally again, exhale deeply.

Then gave a gentle smile to the princess who was starting to tear up, holding back a cry "Princess, I'm sorry, I don't know what happened, but I'm fine now" I said softly, kneeling in front of her then wiping the tears that started to flow down those adorable cheeks.

"I-is it sob.. Is it because- sob, because I gave Zent too many snacks? Sob sob, papa used to say- sob, if you eat too much- sob, sn-snack, your teeth will hurt. Sob sob , b-but I saw Zent's sore chest, sob, wh-did papa wrong?"

"No princess, Mr. Anderson is right. If princess eats a lot of snacks and doesn't brush teeth, then princess's teeth will hurt. I'm fine princess, no need to be afraid okay?"

The little girl wiped away the tears, took a deep breath and then looked at me firmly "Zent is right! I am someone who is brave and someone who's brave should not cry!" She shouted.

The words just now, made me shake my head slowly, disapproving "It's not like that princess"

"Uh, it's not?" She asked back, looking confused with still puffy eyes.

"A brave person is someone who is willing to show their feelings and not keep them to heart. It's fine if the princess wants to cry, as long as the princess doesn't become someone too spoiled.

With the princess crying, Zent came to know how the princess felt and could understand the princess' wish. Princess, it's okay. Look" I lifted her up on my shoulders so she can feel more at ease as well as get a better view of the stage "How? Zent is strong isn't it? Does the princess believe Zent is alright now?"

The princess nodded quickly, smiled broadly with her head turning left and right, saw the world from a new perspective and made her so excited that she forgot about the incident just now.

"Zent Zent! I'm tall! I can see everything!!" She shouted out happily, which also made the people around us laugh too, feeling the happiness of the little girl on my shoulder.

Sometimes, I feel a little envious of young children.

How quickly they forget something so life doesn't seem to have a problem. I hope I can also feel something like that again.

Living quietly without worrying about the world also makes me hope that the princess doesn't grow up. I know it's impossible because every living thing must grow.

But imagining herself learning how rotten this world is behind the colors she felt when she was little, makes me not want to lose her cheerful figure full of happiness like the warmth of the sun.

We also spent the night watching the events being held while enjoying the various foods there which were given out for free when the merchants noticed the presence of the princess beside me.

They who at first looked tired, immediately smiled excitedly when the princess came over and gave her the best of the best food while asking the princess to come back to visit them, longing for her cheerful laugh that felt lukewarm after so long she had not appeared outside, from the mansion and just put on a gloomy face.

Of course the princess agreed with sparkling eyes, looking at every free snack she could eat to her heart's content.

But what the princess said next surprised not only me but also them "I want my present to be given to Zent. Zent won't be here long so I want to give Zent a good memory!" She said, proud of the plan.

However, I can hear the sadness hidden behind her cheerful tone.

The merchants who were all over the age of 35 looked me up and down then back up again, assessing whether I deserved the princess' kind treatment.

They looked at each other and nodded in unison.

They came closer, pulling me away after asking permission to the princess who gave a quick nod while enjoying her snacks "Hey young man, it's been a long time since we've seen the young lady smile like that. We're sure you're the cause, but..."

They drew closer, each wearing a ferocious face with a voice full of menace "If you made her cry, we will intervene before Mr. Anderson acts and you should be grateful for that, you understand?"

I thought that someday, something like this would happen.

Who would have thought it would happen so quickly and involve old men.

However, looking at the princess who is like a flower in the middle of the meadow, anyone would have an urge to protect her so I understand why they are so protective like treating they're own daughter.

"I promise with my soul I will look after her according to the duty the princess gave him as her personal knight." I replied committedly without taking my eyes off the aged man who looked like the leader since he was the only one controlling the direction of the conversation since earlier.

He also held his gaze as if trying to read me through his eyes, then nodded in approval.

Either because they have found the answer or because they are just testing me "Okay, we take your word for it. Please, take care the young lady, don't let her get hurt, not after the mother's death"