When I held her face in my hands, it was unexpectedly warm.

I had imagined it would be cold—her icy white hair exuding a frigid sensation, her skin freezing to the touch like frost on a windowpane.

That was the limit of human imagination: dreaming of her as a distant, unattainable star.

But I was wrong. Her skin, against my scarred hands, radiated the unmistakable warmth of life, not the chill of the night sky but the heat of a breathing, loving being.

As the distance between us closed, I couldn’t resist any longer and leaned in.

The honor I was once praised for as a hero crumbled with a single breath.

“Mm…”

“...”

The kiss wasn’t gentle. It was clumsy and forceful, more of a collision than an embrace.

Our breaths, trapped between our lips, didn’t mingle but stayed confined.

Yet she didn’t resist. She merely kept her lips sealed, waiting for the moment to pass. I, too, didn’t press further and eventually drew back.

“Ah…”

“Hah…”

She gasped softly, as if she’d been holding her breath too. Her cheeks seemed slightly flushed, though I couldn’t be sure if it was just my imagination.

Her expression, however, remained as cold as ever. For a brief moment, I thought she might slap me, but instead, she delivered a dry rebuke.

“You’re more reckless than I expected.”

“My apologies.”

“I didn’t think you’d act like this from the start.”

“I’m not one to speak carelessly.”

“How heroic of you—for better or worse.”

Mirian raised her hand toward me. I braced myself, thinking this time a slap might actually come.

But her hand bypassed my cheek and went to my neck. Her fingers grazed the back of my neck and pressed lightly on my throat.

“What are you thinking?” I asked.

“I’m measuring the length of the rope that will go around your neck. It can’t be too loose, but I don’t want to make it unnecessarily painful.”

“How considerate of you.”

“I tend to think of every possibility. So, what material should the rope be? Thorny vines? Or perhaps the roots of a hawthorn tree?”

“I suppose your hands alone might suffice.”

I gently grabbed her wrist and lowered her hand. Then, stepping closer, I said,

“But I won’t die. Instead, His Majesty must keep his promise.”

“You’re confident, aren’t you? Is this the pride of a hero?”

“I’m merely claiming what is rightfully mine. And since you touched my neck, I believe it’s only fair I repay the gesture.”

“Hah.”

“I’ll be gentle.”

Her soft breath brushed my nose.

When I wrapped an arm around her waist, her body flinched reflexively, and warmth flowed from her into my wrist.

Was she finally feeling nervous? Pushing aside my doubts, I pulled her closer and left a deep kiss mark on the curve of her neck.

“...”

“Mm…”

She let out a faint sound, her body reacting instinctively to the sensitive touch. The warmth of her breath escaped, mingling with the irresistible fragrance of her skin.

Her smooth, slightly moist texture made me understand, for the first time, the allure of a vampire’s thirst.

Something primal stirred within me, urging me to extend the kiss further and deeper.

Had there not been a knock at the door just then, I might have crossed a line I couldn’t return from.

“Your Majesty, the guards will begin their rounds soon.”

“...”

“Forgive my impertinence, but perhaps it’s time you returned to your chambers.”

The maid’s composed voice brought a sudden chill, cooling the heat that had risen between us.

Finally, I pulled back and exhaled the breath I had been holding.

“Hah…”

“Hah…”

A faint, transparent strand lingered on her neck, where a red mark remained.

Mirian brushed her fingers over it and cast her gaze out the window.

“It looks like an insect bite.”

“Yes, an insect bite.”

“Are you satisfied now?”

“I won’t answer that.”

“I wasn’t expecting one anyway.”

Realizing it was time to step away, I reluctantly backed off. Even as I moved, her scent lingered in my mouth.

Mirian too, seemed affected by what had just transpired; her cheeks still bore a faint redness, though it quickly disappeared under the cool autumn breeze.

“This meeting was purely out of my goodwill.

I see no reason to extend further courtesy. If your night vision is sharp, you should be able to find your way back the way you came.”

“Understood. Have a good night, Mirian.”

“Pain often teaches lessons. As you know, there are those who only learn after they’ve felt suffering.”

“I—”

“But sometimes, lessons require pain as a companion.”

Suddenly, a thorny vine coiled around my wrist like a serpent. Its long, sharp spike pierced deep into my skin.

“Urgh…!”

Though the pain wasn’t unbearable, I groaned instinctively. My body recognized the danger—the spike had narrowly missed a vital artery. If it had been even slightly off, it could have severed the vein entirely, unleashing a torrent of blood.

The thorny vine disappeared like dust after piercing just one spot. A single drop of crimson blood emerged where the pain had lingered.

“This one, you don’t need to return,”Mirian said.

“...”

“Take care on your way out.”

Her final words were colder than ever, brushing past my ears like frost that seemed to freeze my skull. Yet, the punctured wrist still bled, the warm sensation refusing to fade despite the blood clotting quickly.

Thump, thump, thump.

“ Alpheus”

“...”

Thump, thump, thump.

“Alpheus! Are you still sleeping?”

“...”

Thump, thump, thump.

“Alpheus!”

“Ugh, for crying out loud. Who’s being so loud in the morning? I swear, I’ll shove a rooster down their throat,” grumbled Seha from beneath her blankets.

“I’ll handle it,” I muttered, raising my weary body after a sleepless night.

As I approached the door, I could already sense the labored breathing of the person waiting on the other side. When I turned the handle, Princess was standing there, her face flushed.

The moment our eyes met, she stood on tiptoes and planted a kiss on my cheek.

“Good morning, Alpheus.”

“Did you rest well last night, Your Highness?”

“Please, don’t be so formal when we’re alone.”

“Understood. But why are you here yourself, instead of sending a maid?”

“I wanted to see where you’re staying. So, is everything alright? You’re not uncomfortable?”

“Yes. His Majesty was thoughtful enough to let us share quarters with my party members.”

“Hmm…”

Her eyes scanned the room. Jorfe greeted her politely, already dressed neatly after rising with the sun. Meanwhile, Seha extended a lazy arm from beneath her blanket to wave halfheartedly.

The Princess cast a disapproving glance at them before turning back to me, her smile quickly returning.

“Well, I’m glad you’re all settled in. I suppose you’d feel more comfortable staying with your companions for now, wouldn’t you?”

“It does help to be in a familiar setting. A proper bed still feels a little strange.”

“I know what you mean. Maybe we should all just pitch a tent outside and sleep under the stars. It could be fun!”

“...Please, if you’re going to do that, just take Alpheus and leave me out of it!” Seha shouted from her bed.

“Honestly, you’re hopeless,” the Princess retorted, glaring.

To ease the tension, I reached for her hand, covering it gently with mine.

“It’s not a bad idea, Your Highness. It could be a nice way to create memories before we all part ways.”

“True. We might miss each other more than we realize when the time comes.”

“Though we’d need His Majesty’s permission. He might be upset about his precious daughter sleeping outside.”

“Alpheus, you’re always so thoughtful,” she said with a grin. Then her eyes narrowed as she spotted my wrist. “What happened there? Did you get hurt?”

“...It’s nothing. Just a scratch from sleeping,” I replied, quickly pulling down my sleeve to hide the mark.

The Princess shrugged it off, assuming it was a minor injury, but Jorfe examined my wrist carefully. Before I could say anything, he turned to the Princess and asked,

“Your Highness, you seem to have come in a hurry. Is there something important you wish to share?”

“Typical of you, always impatient. I would have told you without the need for prompting.”

“My short lifespan makes me eager to learn everything the world has to offer. Besides, I have a feeling this news might be good.”

“You’re right—it’s great news! Especially for Alpheus and me.” She paused dramatically before exclaiming, “We’re getting engaged! Tomorrow!”

“...Tomorrow?” I echoed.

“Yes, tomorrow!”

Her joyful declaration left me stunned. Instead of sharing her excitement, I could only muster an awkward smile. Gratitude for her feelings was overshadowed by confusion, and I wasn’t skilled at hiding my emotions.

Jorfe, equally startled, hesitated before speaking.

“That seems... rather sudden. I thought the ideal time would be a month or two from now.”

“Why wait? You overthink everything, Jorfe.”

“With the Princess’s recent return, I assumed we’d focus on stabilizing the kingdom first. Then, we could celebrate Alpheus’s achievements and announce the engagement, allowing the people to fully embrace the joyous news.”

“The people have lived in fear of the dragon for too long. They need good news now to lift their spirits.”

“You’re absolutely right, Your Highness. However, moving so quickly might come across as... impulsive.”

The Princess’s enthusiasm faltered at Jorfe’s concerns. Observing them, I asked softly,

“So this decision—was it made abruptly, Your Highness?”

“This morning. As soon as I heard, I rushed over.”

“Did you strongly express your wishes for this?”

“No, I wasn’t involved. I barely had time to discuss anything.”

“Then... was it Her Majesty’s idea?”

At my last question, I lowered my voice, narrowing down the possible source. Jorfe also seemed to ponder the events of last night as he listened closely.

The Princess, however, answered in a casual tone, oblivious to our tension.

“No, it was Father. He summoned me this morning and told me. He’s always been unpredictable, but... could something have happened last night?”