The air was heavy.
The queen’s aura burned like the sun.
— “You die here, Souta Kihara.”
But Souta only smiled.
— “Protective Smile: activated.”
Stingara rushed forward, placing herself between her mother and her sister.
— “Mother, what are you doing?! I don’t care about the rest of these idiots, but Meliora is in front!”
The queen kept her eyes fixed on Souta.
— “And since when do you care about your sister?”
— “We fight, we argue, but she’s my sister! I can’t let you hurt her!”
— “Step aside, Stingara. Will you make me repeat an order?”
That single phrase was enough to paralyze Stingara.
Meliora raised her voice, cutting through the tension.
— “Enough!
— Mother, I will go with Lord Kihara. I’ll be safe with him. Please… let’s honor my father’s memory and stop this stupid fight!”
The hall fell silent.
The queen stared at Souta, firm.
— “The next time you set foot in this kingdom, I will kill you myself. Don’t forget it.”
Souta still carried Meliora on his shoulder.
— “Well said, princess.”
He tossed her into the air and caught her in his arms, as if in a dance.
— “Remember this: I’ll be back soon, after I finish off the Demon King. Until then, don’t die, you worms.”
The hall erupted in murmurs.
He was defying the queen… and kidnapping the princess?!
Souta laughed.
— “Blah, blah, blah… you talk too much. But not one of you has managed to touch me. I’ll trample over all of you.”
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— “Lord Kihara!” Meliora scolded. “Don’t speak to my mother like that!”
— “The adults are talking, Meliora,” Souta cut her off.
She lowered her head.
— “I’m sorry…”
Souta smiled.
— “So you do have manners after all.”
**Shadow Step.**
He vanished with the princess in his arms.
Advisor Elisabeth approached.
— “Your majesty… you really let them go? If it were me, I’d have killed him.”
The queen remained calm.
— “He killed Garra and destroyed Termia. We owed him much. That was all.”
— “But…”
— “Now leave. And this matter is not to be spoken of again.”
Her words fell like thunder.
No one dared contest.
---
Souta brought Meliora to a clearing.
She sat on a rock, feet in the river.
— “The feeling is incredible…”
— “Careful, princess. The stones are slippery.”
— “Lord Kihara, I’m not—”
*Splash!*
Meliora slipped.
— “Damn, I’m going to fall!”
Souta caught her at the last moment.
— “Careful, princess. You could get hurt.”
Meliora blushed.
— “O-okay…”
He set her down gently.
Later, Meliora asked:
— “Do you really intend to destroy Beeatrix? Is that why you brought me here?”
Souta answered without hesitation.
— “I will destroy Beeatrix, yes. But that’s not why I brought you.
When we met, you said you wanted to see the world. That’s what we’ll do.
While I eliminate the generals, you’ll see the world. I bet your father would agree with me.”
Meliora stayed silent. Her eyes shone like constellations.
*He caused all that chaos… for me? He wants to cheer me up?*
She blushed and looked away.
— “How childish…”
---
With the sun setting, Souta set up camp.
Meliora, anxious, watched.
*Lord Kihara is so kind… when I look at him, it feels like he hasn’t changed at all. My heart races whenever he touches me or looks at me… To be honest, I’m in love with him.*
*—He only set up one tent? If something happens between us—*
She shook her head furiously.
*No, no, no! What indecent thoughts are these?! Souta isn’t that kind of man… He’s a gentleman. But… what if he’s changed?*
When she saw Souta had set up two tents, she sighed in relief.
*So he has no ulterior motives…*
She ran into her tent, heart pounding.
Souta only watched, confused.
— “She must really be tired…”
---
Meliora woke early.
She had barely slept the night before.
*Today I’ll wake him up. I’ll surprise Lord Kihara!*
She suddenly opened his tent.
— “Got you!”
But what she saw left her speechless.
Souta was asleep…
Holding a girl in his arms.
Pikonota.
Meliora froze.
— “Who… is she?!”
