A thin steam rose from the milk pot above the long-deserted royal kitchen hearth. The hourglass in the corner of the room read past midnight; the cooks were asleep, a single candle left burning for the sentry. Alicia stood at the kneading table, her blond hair in a simple braid, still wearing the thin training shirt she wore under her armor. Her back felt hot despite the chill of the autumn air—a heat that came not from the fire, but from the memory of a gentle kiss on her thigh that still lingered like a secret stamp.
She spooned cocoa powder into a mug, trying to ward off her unease. But the spoon stopped in midair as soft footsteps sounded in the hallway. Ren appeared in the doorway, carrying a bag of mint herbs and a small smile that seemed to have known she would find him here.
"Long night, Princess?" his voice was low, adjusting to the silence.
Alicia hid her surprise by looking down at the pot. "Sleepless. Training tomorrow requires stamina." She stared at the still-partially empty mug, then added water as if busy. But the corner of her eye couldn't take her eyes off Ren who walked over, placed the herb bag on the table, and lit an additional small lantern. The new light highlighted the contours of Ren's face, and Alicia was caught by the warm gleam in his brown eyes—a gleam that made her heart race like a warhorse.
Ren filled their second mug with boiling water, sprinkling in a pinch of herbs. The scent of mint mixed with chocolate made the narrow space feel more intimate. They stood side by side, shoulders almost touching, stirring their drinks. There was no word for a few seconds; only the sound of spoons softly clashing and Alicia's heartbeat that seemed to beat against her own eardrums.
Alicia closed her eyes, inhaling the aroma of the drink—but the mint scent reminded her of Ren's hand on her thigh earlier that afternoon. Her cheeks heated up again. Unconsciously she dipped the spoon too deep until the chocolate dripped onto the table. Ren reached for a rag, wiped the spill without comment, then held out a clean rag to Princess. When their fingers touched, a subtle electricity flowed; Alicia pulled her hand away, but their eyes were already locked. The lantern light trapped the blue and brown rays in a suffocating silence.
Alicia broke the silence, her voice softer than usual. "The potion… worked. My muscles are still warm." She took a sip from the mug, hoping the sweetness would soothe her tongue. But when she lowered the mug, a speck of chocolate was left at the corner of her mouth. Ren looked down at the small stain with a faint smile—a smile that made Alicia's breath stop.
"May I?" he whispered.
She didn't know if he meant tissue or touch. But before she could ask, Ren's thumb touched the corner of her mouth, gently wiping the stain away. The soft touch ignited a fire in her stomach that hadn't been extinguished since the east tower. Alicia held her breath, her eyes wide, but she didn't pull away. Ren's fingers paused for a moment on her cheek, as if reluctant to leave her skin.
"Thank you," Alicia whispered, her tongue dry. She took another sip of the chocolate, this time slowly—but every movement now felt like Ren was watching. She set the mug down, leaning slightly against the table, trying to sound natural. "How's your injury? Your hand looked tense."
"Not as bad as the bruise on your shoulder," Ren replied, leaning his shoulder so that their hands touched. "But if you want, you can return the favor by massaging me."
The sentence came out half jokingly, but Alicia's heart skipped a beat. Her mind, like a wild horse, immediately imagined her fingers touching Ren's back. She quickly took a sip of chocolate, then laughed nervously. "Maybe after we defeat the Demon King." She thought the humor would break the tension, but Ren's gaze only grew hotter, as if the challenge were a sweet promise.
Time passed slowly. The warmth of the chocolate and mint made the air between them steam, even though the small fire in the fireplace was almost out. Secretly Alicia was happy that Ren didn't rush to hug or kiss her. She was afraid of her own weakness; but the fact that Ren was just standing here—smiling, offering his cloak to ward off the cold—made the Princess's heart soften faster than steel was forged.
Ren saw Alicia shiver, then took off her servant's coat, draping it over the Princess's shoulders. The coat smelled of herbs and a hint of horse sweat—a strangely comforting new scent. Alicia held her breath as Ren's hands smoothed the collar around her neck. Their faces were only inches apart. Ren's lips moved, but all that came out was a barely audible whisper.
"If it's cold, you can stay here until dawn."
Alicia paused, turning the mug in her hand. The simple words hit her harder than Hiro's shouts. Being here—in the small, forgotten kitchen—with the servant who was slowly becoming the center of her emotional orbit made her realize: her attraction was more than gratitude for the massage; it was something deep, burning, and almost frightening.
Ren made room, sitting on a low stool against the wall. He took a sip of mint tea, watching the small fire. Alicia sighed, set the mug down, and sat on the stool next to him. Their shoulders brushed lightly—enough to send a ripple through the Princess's fingers. She turned; Ren turned too. Their eyes met, and words were lost again. In the silence, the attraction felt more real than the brown smoke.
Alicia wanted to say: I miss your touch. But her tongue was tied with fear about the knight's promise, about Hiro, about the position of princess and hero. Instead, she substituted a safe, "Thank you for making the potion."
"Thank you for drinking it," Ren replied softly, his smile making Alicia's heart clench. He added, his voice lower, "I like it when you trust me with the little things… even when you're not ready to admit the big things."
Alicia held her breath, her fingers in her lap gripping the fabric of her coat. She swallowed slowly, asking almost silently, "When the big thing comes… are you ready?"
Ren stared at her for a long moment. "I'm here." Two words that sounded simple, yet deeply embedded, as if promising anything to come.
Heavy footsteps approached in the hallway. Both of them stood up immediately. Alicia took off her coat, but Ren motioned for her to keep it for warmth. The kitchen curtain parted; Hiro emerged, dressed in his night guard uniform, his expression surprised to see Alicia with Ren. His eyes held something unspoken—jealousy, suspicion, perhaps fear.
"Hiro… I only drink chocolate," Alicia said quickly, guilty for reasons she couldn't explain. Hiro looked down at the mug, then at Ren, who bowed respectfully. He tried to smile, but it broke at the edges of his lips.
"Dawn training awaits," Hiro finally said to Alicia. "You need your rest."
Alicia nodded. She turned to Ren, wanting to say "good night," but seeing Hiro at her side, she just tightened her coat and walked away. Ren watched her back disappear down the hall, feeling the invisible line between them grow tighter.
Hiro turned, his gaze piercing. "You have a knack for showing up at… unexpected places and times."
Ren smiled thinly. "Sometimes, warm water is needed in the middle of the night." He bowed his head, then busily tidied up the table. Hiro held back his words, but as he finally walked away, Ren knew the embers of jealousy in the hero's chest burned brighter than ever.
At the end of the hall, Alicia touched her own lips, finding herself whistling a little—an unconscious song that only came when the heart was happy. She stopped, turning suddenly, expecting Ren to follow… but the kitchen was already quiet. Only the scent of mint and chocolate lingered, marking a night where gazes were warmer than fire.
Before going to bed, Alicia lay hugging Ren's coat, promising herself that she would be honest about her feelings—either to Ren or to Hiro—while in another room, Hiro sharpened his sword, assuring himself that in the morning he would prevent anything from going wrong. In contrast, Ren prepared a new potion, stronger than before, for the night ahead.