One of the knights stepped forward.

  His breathing was heavy, his armor scratched, pride wounded more than his body. He lifted his sword and walked toward one of the unconscious bandits lying in the dirt.

  “For daring to attack the royal carriage…” he muttered.

  The blade rose.

  And then stopped.

  Cale’s hand had closed around his wrist.

  Firm.

  Unmoving.

  “Do you really think they haven’t learned their lesson?” Cale asked calmly.

  The knight tried to force the blade down, muscles straining.

  “But he’s a bandit! A murderer and a thief! He doesn’t deserve to live!”

  Cale’s grip tightened.

  In one smooth motion, he pulled the knight backward. The man lost his footing and tumbled several meters across the ground.

  Cale stepped forward, voice no longer soft.

  “Whether someone deserves to live or not… is not for us to decide.”

  Silence fell over the clearing.

  “The fight is over,” Cale continued. “They lost. And a knight, of all people, should know better than to strike the defenseless.”

  Every knight stood frozen.

  “Stand down! That is an order!” Sylvia’s voice rang out sharply.

  The fallen knight clenched his jaw, humiliated, but said nothing.

  Cale walked up to him and extended a hand with an easy smile.

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  “Besides… do you really think any of them will ever dare to attack a royal carriage guarded by six knights again?”

  The knight stared at him for a moment… then grabbed Cale’s hand and allowed himself to be pulled up.

  “…You’re right,” he said reluctantly. “But next time, we won’t be this merciful.”

  The tension broke.

  The forest breathed again.

  Sylvia invited Cale to ride inside the carriage with her.

  Fang was welcomed as well.

  Inside, the atmosphere was calmer, though Sylvia could not stop stealing glances at the young warrior sitting across from her. Fang lay peacefully beside him, his silver head resting in Cale’s lap as if he were nothing more than a loyal hound.

  “Hey, Sylvia,” Cale suddenly said.

  She startled slightly. “Y-yes, Cale?”

  “Why were you traveling?”

  Sylvia hesitated, then answered honestly.

  “I am second in line to the throne of Estralia. My elder sister, Princess Lily, is first. To preserve our family’s standing… it is my duty to form alliances. That usually means marriage into a powerful noble family of a neighboring kingdom.”

  Cale frowned thoughtfully.

  “I don’t know much about love,” he said, “but if I ever married someone… I’d want it to be by choice.”

  He looked at her and smiled with complete sincerity.

  “But you probably won’t have that problem. You’re the most beautiful human woman I’ve ever seen. I’m sure your future husband fell in love with you the moment he met you.”

  Sylvia’s face turned crimson.

  Even Fang’s ears twitched slightly in disbelief.

  Before she could answer—

  “My lady! The city walls are in sight!”

  Cale’s eyes lit up. He leaned out the window, then climbed onto the roof of the moving carriage to see the view better.

  Sylvia watched in shock… then found herself smiling.

  “Who are you… my hero…” she whispered softly, a hand over her heart.

  As they neared the gates, Cale jumped down from the moving carriage. Fang followed gracefully.

  The carriage slowed.

  “Wait!” Sylvia called.

  Cale laughed. “We’re close enough! Looks like our mission ends here. Until we meet again, Princess Sylvia! And say hello to your beautiful sister for me!”

  She watched him, a strange sadness filling her chest.

  Then—

  He came running back.

  He stopped by the carriage and held something out to her.

  A pendant.

  A delicate silver chain with a deep crimson gem at its center, polished to a mirror sheen. The stone caught the sunlight and seemed almost alive, like a captured ember frozen in time.

  “When you feel lonely or sad,” Cale said cheerfully, “remember today. I think this suits you. And Fang definitely wouldn’t have let me give this to a demon.”

  He waved.

  “Goodbye, Princess!”

  Sylvia couldn’t speak.

  She could only watch as Cale and the silver beast disappeared into the trees.

  Inside the carriage, she slowly looked down at the pendant resting in her hands.

  The silver chain shimmered gently.

  The red gem glowed warmly in the afternoon light.

  And for the first time in her life…

  Her arranged future felt uncertain.

  For others, it is the first time they truly see who Cale is.

  I’m grateful you’re here.