As the night deepened, the effects of alcohol began to take hold.
“Hehe, Licht. Your face is red.”
“Please don’t lift the visor outside, Pina.”
“Why not…? I’m fine…”
With her flushed face, she continued to tease me, lifting my visor and stacking her hand on my palm.
“It’s embarrassing. I’m losing my appetite.”
“If you look closely, you’re handsome. Maybe.”
When I looked at her in shock, she just smiled shyly. Ah, this is definitely Lumen’s sleep talk. I could feel the alcohol swirling in my mind, making it hard to stay sane.
“Maybe? Are you saying I’m ugly?”
“Ah, you caught me. But you’re cute…”
Cute? I had heard that a lot growing up, but hearing it from a girl now feels weird. I drank some water to fight off the alcohol.
“Licht.”
“What is it, Pina?”
“Is love really… happy?”
She emptied her glass again, glancing sideways. Next to us, Dennis and the White Lily were happily laughing and chatting away.
They talked about unexpressed feelings, the empty spaces that were hard to bear in each other’s absence, with tears welling up in their eyes but still smiling. Curious, I wondered.
Even during the summer festival, it seemed our Pina knew little about love.
Well, when she became a Saintess, she probably fell victim to the Head’s machinations and forgotten any bad past. Her innocence might have stood out even more.
“…You can’t always be happy.”
“Then, does that mean we’re unhappy? Like, Professor Dennis too.”
“…”
The image of a person who was supposed to be invincible completely disappeared, but someday she might regain her bright self and love again.
“Think about it slowly. There are no right answers in love.”
Let’s leave it at this advice. I shouldn’t overlap the nameless Saintess’s image onto Pina and scold her for it.
“Will Licht tell me?”
Pffft.
As those words fell, a white-haired woman looked down with a slightly raised gaze, her golden eyes widening toward me.
“Ah, I’m flustered.”
I almost got caught off guard. My affection level with her was barely at 1%. I had no immediate plans to raise it.
“It’s just your imagination.”
You can’t measure feelings like love with numbers. Even if a status window appeared in front of me, showing an affection level, that couldn’t truly represent love.
‘If I were only thinking about raising percentages, I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to help Kainel and Ariel.’
The reason I distanced myself, giving them advice to confront each other’s feelings was the same. No matter how much it was for the Grand Route.
I never forced their will into a room alone or revealed that they liked each other.
‘Besides, I can’t trust the status window.’
Nex and Schartines, Dennis and the White Lily were also things that were noted later on.
It does drop when in crisis… but that’s about it. I only offered light advice in finding Pina, providing no actual help.
It felt like testing whether I could love even as a named princess. What could the reason be?
“Is this still..? Just my imagination? Licht..?”
As I habitually propped my chin and pondered, Pina, reeking of alcohol, approached me.
We were facing each other just a moment ago. Why the sudden change? Her white ears perked up, and her white tail wagged like a puppy.
“Your shoulders are broad….”
Gasp, her breath brushed against my ears, awakening all my senses. It was hot and small.
“We should stop drinking. You’re too drunk.”
“I don’t want to… Licht…”
I snatched her drink away. My stomach already churned, and sleepiness threatened, but this was beyond the limit.
“After all, I’m a Black Knight.”
“Ah….”
I poured the clear alcohol down my throat. This stuff is quite strong. But why is she staring at my lips? Wait, could this be an indirect kiss?
“…I drank it.”
I’d rather prioritize our Pina’s health. What if someone snatched her away? Why was she trying to drink more?
Gathering my courage, I spoke.
“Are you trying to get me drunk? Pina.”
“Ah, no..?”
Based on her reaction, that was a yes. She shook her head vigorously, but her tail and ears couldn’t hide it. Her white tail stood up like an exclamation mark. Her wolf ears kept perking up.
“Excuse me, could I get one chocolate drink, please?”
What on earth is Pina trying to do? Normally, she’d fall for a trick like this, but her tongue seemed tied.
“If you want to get me drunk, be bolder than this.”
Thud. The table rattled as the ordered drink arrived, and I clasped her hand and intertwined our fingers.
Icicle.
With my other hand, I gripped the chocolate drink and activated my ice magic. I spun the glass slightly, turning the drink into a slushy.
“…If it’s you, I’ll drink as many as you want. For now, you drink this.”
“Eh..? Was this mine?”
Pina tilted her head at the slushy with frost forming on it. Yeah, I used to eat ice cream to cure hangovers in reality.
“Hehe, it’s cool… sweet…”
It seemed to work well. She stuck out her pink tongue, taking small bites of the slushy. She was adorable like a little puppy.
“So… why did you want to make me drunk?”
“I wanted to ask you something… Licht…”
She accidentally dropped the “Ri” from my name. I poured the rest of Lumen’s echoes into her glass and drank it. She shouldn’t drink more here.
“I’m curious about the Nameless Saintess… what kind of person she is…”
Her wolf ears and tail drooped. It was too crowded here to talk. What should I do?
“…Let’s finish that and go outside, Pina.”
“Okay, Licht.”
I draped my academy coat over her shoulders and secretly settled the bill before stepping out of the pub.
*
The summer heat didn’t cool down even at night; I sat in front of the empire’s fountain and opened my mouth.
“What are you curious about concerning the Saintess?”
Tap, and Pina’s head rested on my shoulder. Her white hair fell onto my leg, and I felt its light weight.
“What kind of person is the Nameless Saintess to you…?”
I guess it was about time. It was only natural for her to be curious. She mentioned the Saintess while being entangled in the Magic Hat incident, even mistaking her during a trauma.
Is it right that I resolve this misunderstanding?
If I said that the future Pina Grancia, who doesn’t exist now, once loved her during times when the Demon Kings reduced her life to rock bottom — would she believe me?
“I know she’s someone precious to you… Licht.”
Apparently, her traits shifted under the power of the Magic Hat, and her memories and names became clouded by ignorance.
But could it truly be considered a happy life? She was a lonely wolf without family or friends.
“She was my unforgettable first love.”
“…First love?”
Let’s stick to the truth here. Just as she loved all parts of me, I couldn’t love just a part of Pina Grancia.
Whether she was a princess or a saintess, it was right for her to embrace a happier life.
“Right now, it’s a one-sided love that can’t be met. Does that satisfy you, Pina?”
Even if fate couldn’t connect us, as long as she was happy, I would be content.
“All men are the same.”
And with that, Pina’s voice turned slightly prickly as if she was annoyed. Why is she suddenly so mad?
“I kept my promise to Licht.”
“…”
“I never said it was weak; I even gave you the Dragon Heart…”
She looked up at me quietly. Her eyes reddening as if she were about to cry. I thought saying this was the right answer, but it seemed I was mistaken.
“All men can’t forget their first love? Why do you give everything so easily?”
“Pina…”
“I saved you, Licht.”
My heart thumped strongly at her words. It must have been tough for her, worried about me. After all, she was a person who had been hurt by the Demon Kings twice.
“I know that.”
“The next Saintess almost let you die—and she didn’t show up at all!”
I could understand why she was angry. The Saintess was a person chosen by the God of Light, an extraordinary being even before becoming a saintess, skilled in divine powers.
“I… feel so suffocated…”
“It’s alright. I’m alive, aren’t I?”
In a dire situation, a person who only looked at themselves was shot by the Head’s bullet. Shouldn’t at least a healing spell be cast?
‘Later, Kainel said she stayed by my side for over half a day trying to save me…’
But you were a special case, Pina Grancia. How could she pull her future self here?
“The next time, just tell that Saintess to come and fix it… I won’t do it again…”
As she gripped my arm, Pina’s hand tightened. Now her tone almost sounded resentful.
“That’s not possible. She’s a very busy person, Pina.”
Before she pouted, I quickly patted her head. The softness of her hair startled me, and I felt tremors.
Phew… Licht…
“Speaking of, where did you learn that men are playboys and can’t forget their first loves?”
Her wolf ears had completely fallen back, making it easier for me to pet her. This isn’t good; Pina is starting to get used to my touch.
“I read it in a book…”
I gently tickled her lightly closed eyes, and only then did she seem to sober up a bit, her eyes wide open.
“See… all men are wolves and perverts…”
The princess stammered, and if Pina was teasing like this, wouldn’t it be worth a reward?
“What kind of book did you read?”
“Romance novels…”
Romance novel, huh? Now that I think about it, it was part of her character that she loved to read those. But do they come out so explicitly?
“Why would you…?”
“Because the protagonist resembles me.”
She inched closer to me, and as she began speaking, the rose scent wafted over my clothes, muddling my senses.
“The emotionless female lead is loved by four male leads.”
Ah, it’s a reverse harem, isn’t it? As soon as I realized that our platinum wolf was reading taboo magic, my mind cleared.
“The male leads crave love, but the female lead either falls into tragedy or can’t find happiness.”
“…Reality and fiction are different, Pina.”
“I used to think they were the same…”
It was then. She lifted my visor and smiled. Our brown and golden eyes met.
“Hehe, until I met Licht…”
“But I’m a Black Knight. I’m nothing like those perverts.”
Blood rushed to my face. I had always known Pina was beautiful, but this proximity was too much. A man and a woman leaning against the fountain.
“I know the truth. Licht is kind.”
She referred to when I made the slushy while shaking her drink earlier. She was happy because I always cared for her differently.
“You always cared for me, protected me.”
“I didn’t do it for any rewards… We’re friends…”
“Friends… Friends, huh…”
Suddenly, her eyes narrowed like a crescent moon. I felt an urge of foreboding, like I had touched something dangerous.
“If so, this wouldn’t qualify as just friends, would it?”
Tap, she grabbed my neck with both hands. Our faces moved closer. Her softly glowing lips glimmered under the moonlight.
“Pina. Just a moment, you’re too drunk.”
“If so, if I feel it like this, will you treat me as someone precious too, Licht?”
It seemed like Pina was drunk and being childish. I’d never seen such a situation before.
As I tried to pull away, her wolf eyes glistened like a predator ready to pounce.
“Indeed, you are someone precious to me. Pina.”
“I know it’s real, but I can’t believe it. Licht.”
She gently closed her eyes and slightly parted her lips. A tiny wolf fang peeked from within, as she acted like she wanted to kiss.
“I just want to be more special to you. Just like that Saintess…”
I tried to push her face away, but,
“Ugh… Licht… They said this is how men come over when I read books…”
Every time she resisted cutely, the walls in my heart chipped away little by little.
‘This shouldn’t happen, it shouldn’t…’
My head was filled with alcohol, making it hard to think. Should I just accept this? As I squeezed my eyes shut and resolved to just go for it this one time.
“Your Highness Grancia!! His Majesty Rock has summoned you!!”
A man from the Inrang tribe, clad in gold armor, burst onto the scene just before our lips were about to touch. I could see knights in armor of differing colors behind him.
I’ve seen this somewhere; no way.
‘Isn’t that the Imperial Guard?’
They were the ones clinging to Pina. I was startled and quickly distanced myself from her. I wasn’t ready to lose my head yet.
“Father…?”
She desperately hid her flushed cheeks and gazed at the kneeling knights, but their faces were pale like they had lost all color.
“Yes, Sir Licht, you are also summoned to the palace tomorrow.”
What? Me too?
Recalling the recent situation, a sense of coldness enveloped me. It felt like a sharp axe was being held to my neck.
“Gold, is this true..? Why me too…”
“We do not know the reason, Lady Grancia.”
The strongest fighter among the Ten Heroes.
The Wolf King of the Grancia Empire.
A woodsman who generates sonic booms with sheer strength.
A wolf that devours the sun and swallows the moon.
Emperor Rock of Grancia called for Pina and me.
