The steam of pouring tea elevated along with the sound of splashing water. They were three cups, one for Liliana, for Avellana, and for Keizo.

The three sat facing each other silently. After serving the tea, the maid moved elegantly and turned around, then left without a sound.

Watching the three youths within his visor, Darwyn stood near the door, arms crossed. He didn't know what happened to the three after slaying the two demons but he could tell that it was not good.

The princess and the wizard both have red eyes, while Keizo was ridden with a sullen expression.

His brand new helmet didn't move even when he scanned the room with his eyes. Its been almost an hour when the three came here without uttering a single word.

They are waiting, waiting for the arrival of the duke, it was the arrival of Liliana's parent.

Two knocks broke the silence, then the door opened.

A woman with pink hair that resembled Liliana entered, followed by a man with a dignified manner.

“Oh, dear! You're really here!” The woman with pink hair covered her mouth in shock.

“Mother...” Liliana averted her gaze, not bearing to look at the teary-eyed state of her mother.

“...” His father didn't say anything and just observed his wife hugging his daughter, then, his head turned to Darwyn.

“Perhaps you're Sir Darwyn?”He said. With a low “Yes”, Darwyn shook the hand of the duke firmly. The size of his hand compared to the duke was a bit comedic, but no one would dare to laugh at this situation.

“As the duke, and as a father, I thank you for not only saving the princess and the hero but also my beloved daughter.”

The duke placed his hand to his chest and made a slight bow.

“It's nothing. I just did what I should.” Gently shaking his head, he answered in a calm demeanor.

“A devoted servant of Aversia, I see.” The duke said to himself.

Being a noble, he heard Darwyn's adventures at a social gathering, or even from the gossips of his maids.

He heard that he was big, but not this kind of big. He had to look up just to have an eye to eye contact with him.

As if confirming something, the duke nodded, then faced the trembling Liliana.

He came forth, and with his every step, Liliana made a little shriek only she can hear.

When he was near to Liliana, he looked at her. Liliana was trembling in fear, she couldn't look at him, so she closed her eyes.

Her father was strict and proper, she knew that very well. She couldn't imagine what would she feel if his very own father said some harsh things to her.

Liliana's body was quivering, she wanted to cover her ears but that would be impossible.

“I'm very sorry Liliana.” It was monotone, yet it was the warmest voice of his father she has heard. Liliana's eyes widen, still trembling, she looked up to him.

“Father...?” She wanted to say so many things, but that was the only thing that lips could utter.

“If only I listened to what you wanted to say... No, that's not it. If only I was a better father the—”

“No!” She exclaimed. “Father didn't do anything wrong! It was me who didn't want to accept the responsibility of nobility! I'm so sorry father!”

She hugged his father tightly as she bawled. Her mother cried too while looking at her daughter and husband finally making up to each other.

The duke scratched his eyes, then patted her crying daughter. The duke didn't know how many years it had been since he held his daughter like this.

After Liliana finally stopped crying, Keizo inhaled deeply, then let out a nervous sigh.

“C-can I say something...?” The attention turned to him, it made him flinched, and yet he continued.

“I-I know that I personally asked the duke to have Liliana become my party member... B-but! I, I don't want that anymore!”

The duke calmly analyzed the words of the hero and asked for his reason. “Why, did something happen?” He quickly changed his attitude.

Keizo glanced at Darwyn with only his eyes, and after gathering enough courage, he spoke. “Yes. With my current state, I can't protect anyone, not even my party members. So I need someone that is stronger than me, so I can learn from them...”

“I see... Then I will arrange this matter to His Majesty. Is that all?”

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“Yeah...”

Conforming that it was over, the duke headed back to the silent Darwyn.

“Sir Darwyn, what do you think of my daughter as an adventurer?”

The sudden question instigated Darwyn to ponder deeply. After a moment of silence, he spoke. “She'll be a good adventurer. I personally think that she can enter the world of B-rank, or A-rank if she managed to survive.”

“You mean that there's a possibility that my daughter will die?” A foolish question, the duke knew that of course there was and always have been the dangers of adventuring, but to think that her daughter might die before him, made his heart to ache.

“Yes, but having a party greatly reduced the risk.” He answered. The duke was still thinking of what to say next when Dawryn said another thing.

“And so, I am asking for the hand of your daughter.”

Liliana shouted with a “WHAAAT!”

“Oh! Oh my!” Her mother shrieked in excitement. Avellana blankly stared at Darwyn while Keizo nodded with a smile saying “As expected, he's really the man amongst men, he's so direct.”

The only thing that remained normal was the duke and Darwyn.

“I see, I see... So you want to be the companion of my daughter?”

“Yes.” The two perfectly understand what the other wanted to say. A weird connection was formed between the two ever so serious men.

Liliana sighed with “Whaaat...”

“Oh... Oh my...” Her mother muttered with disappointment a she looked worriedly at her daughter. Avellana stared at Darwyn with a passionate gaze while Keizo nodded with a smile saying “As expected, true gentleman understand themselves no matter what.”

Ignoring all the ruckus, the two proceeded with their talk.

“Can I have the reason why?”

“I received a divination from my goddess.” Last night as while was praying, Darwyn received several flashes of vision in his mind.

It was not usual for a greater god, especially Aversia, to give a handout to her followers. So that was why Darwyn was so direct about this matter.

“Can you tell me what is it?”

Darwyn said “No” and shook his head. “It's extremely confidential.”

“Hmmm...” The duke closed his eyes. Having Darwyn as a party member of his daughter was the best possible outcome, he could safely put his mind at ease knowing that one of the strongest adventurers out there was protecting her daughter, but.

“You should ask Liliana, not me.” The duke said. All of them looked at Liliana who stiffened up, not knowing what to do with all the stares she was receiving.

“Er... I... I need to ask my party members...” Scratching her cheek in embarrassment, Liliana stared down.

“I see, then do that.” With a brief answer, Darwyn went quiet again and looked into who knows where.

Breaking the looming silence with a cheerful tone, Liliana's mother clasped her hand, and as if she had a bright idea, she exclaimed “Then how about we go out together as a family again?”

“I still need to report this to—”

“Hmph! Fine, it's only me and Liliana then! I'm so sorry Liliana, that your father doesn't care about us...!” Her mother puffed her cheeks and grabbed Liliana's arm and walked away. “Ah! Mother! Wait until tomorrow Darwyn! Okay! Wait okay! Okay! O—” Liliana shouted while being dragged by her mother.

“Wait, I think I can put that on hold for a moment.” The duke followed with indifference in his voice but his hasty movement said otherwise.

Keizo suddenly stood up with vigor. “Yoosh! I will train harder today! I will leave for now Avellana, Darwyn!”

The hero left while pumping himself. He looked like he accomplished something great.

With only two of them inside the room, Avellana took small sips from her teacup. The once energetic room finally returned to its quiet state.

“Aren't you leaving Sir Darwyn?” She asked softly.

“His Majesty asked me to keep an eye on you specifically.” After what happened earlier, the king ordered Darwyn to prioritize Avellana.

“Heeh” Avellana placed her cup on the table before standing up and facing Darwyn with a faint smile.

“Since we got all day with nothing to do, how about we play a game, Sir Darwyn? We'll ask each other and answer them honestly as they could.”

“I do not mind.”

Avellana placed her hand behind as if hiding something, then she began to ask.

“What's your favorite food?” Her voice thin and soft entered Darwyn's ear like a soothing song of a bird. Even her way of speaking carried grace, Darwyn was amused by this.

“I eat everything.” He said with his usual low voice.

Avellana frowned cutely. “You should say something specific!”

“Urg...” Darwyn realized that he had made a mistake and backed down a bit. Avellana giggled while hiding her mouth with her hand.

“I guess I like meat stew.”

Avellana let out an astounded “Ooh” before nodding in agreement.

“Then, it is your turn to ask me anything.” She said as she tilted her head. The white hair fell from the back of her ears and touched her rosy cheeks.

“...What's your favorite food...”

“Don't copy my question okay?”

“Urg... What's your favorite drink?”

“Fufufu, my favorite drink is black tea, also, you can ask a question about anything. Like, what did you do this morning?” She was clearly enjoying this moment as she let out another bit of laughter.

The man before her seems awkward at conversation, not like the knight in her book who could spout cool lines one after another.

“I did my morning training... What do you think of adventurer?”

“Oh! You're getting the hang of this! I love the stories of adventurers! Especially about dragon-slaying and princess saving stories!” She was delighted that Darwyn was quick to pick up the mechanics.

Their conversation went to what “What's your dream as a child” to “What would you do if you're given one hundred thousand gold coins?”

The day went on without the two of them noticing, they talked and talked, and finally, the day was nearing its end.

Standing at the mansion gate, Darwyn and Avellana still have their conversation going.

“Hahaha! You can pull a carriage by yourself!?” Avellana was surprised by how strong Darwyn was. Darwyn could take a blow from Simidar, a demon that literally throws three and big boulder, she should have expected that much.

She stared at the setting sun, the orange flare spread through the wide sky. From the horizon, she could see birds migrating with a V formation casting silhouette. She inhaled and exhaled and placed her hand to her chest.

“Then, for my last question.” Avellana cleared her throat, then peered into Darwyn.

“If... If I'm in trouble... Would you save me?” For some reason, her voice became wobbly and unstable. Her eyes became watery as she waited for his answer.

“Yes.” He said calmly.

“Even if I'm not the princess?”

“Yes.”

“Even if I don't look like this?”

“Yes.”

“E-even if you didn't know me?”

“Yes.”

His single simple answer filled her heart with joy. From her pocket, she pulled something. A silver necklace with a red gem as its pendant.

She managed to cease the liquid from her eyes as she gave the necklace to Darwyn. The ending of the book she read ended with the knight and the princess parting with each other, but before they separate, the princess gave something to the knight. A necklace just like the one in her hand.

“Here, take this.” She grabbed the huge hand of Darwyn and laid the necklace into his palm.

“Please always wear this... Can you do that?” Her tone was more of begging than asking one.

“I see. Then I will.”

Grasping the fingers of Darwyn, Avellana looked up to him. “Please... Always think of me when you're wearing this.”

Maybe because of the sunlight, her face became flushed red.

“I will.”

His usual demeanor made her smile, a happy and a sorrowful one.

“Please do.” She said as she looked down on the ground. Her first love, ended, in the most hurtful way she could think. This day was fun and exciting, she was happy to know about Darwyn. She was happy to know that he liked meat stew, or that he always pray before going to sleep. She laughed about the fact that Darwyn used to be scared of spiders.

But...After this, the two of them will probably never see each other. His face that she only saw once, will remain in her memories forever, along with this day, she would never forget it.

There was no hope from this, she had to let go as soon as she can, or else it will only hurt more.

Tears finally escaped her eyes as her vision become blurry. Nonono, he will think that I'm weird if he saw me like this.

But still, it didn't stop flowing. She cannot take it anymore, she turned her back and started to run. Droplets of water from her cheek shone like glitters before falling into the ground.

Darwyn didn't say anything and just watched her as she goes. He didn't know what was going on, so that was why he couldn't act.

Don't worry, I still have enough time. Darwyn thought.

The vision he received from Aversia contained many things, vague information, blurry pieces of information, and amongst those things, he clearly saw the face of Avellana traveling with him at some point in time. It was his goddess that told him that they will meet again, how could he doubt that.

But first, I need Lilliana.

Yes, before all of that, Liliana and him, have to do something together.

Striding violently, Darwyn left the mansion without words.