The oil lamp in the old armory glowed dimly, casting golden reflections on the blades of the swords neatly hung on the wooden racks. It was past midnight, but the autumn air still carried the lingering heat of the day, mixed with the scent of metal and weathered wood. Ren stood in the middle of the empty room, his black coat off, wearing only a thin linen shirt that clung to his skin from his hasty journey. The small hourglass on the wall ticked slowly, as if counting down the seconds until the promise made on the balcony that afternoon was fulfilled.
The old wooden door creaked slowly. Alicia appeared, closing the door behind her, her back pressed against it for a moment as if gathering courage before stepping forward. She wore a white silk blouse tucked into black training pants—no armor or knight's robes, just herself as a woman. Her blonde hair fell loose, covering her reddened ears. The lantern light traced the curve of her cheeks to the nape of her neck, drawing her figure in copper shadows.
Ren held his breath; the scene was more thrilling than any duel. He took a step forward. Alicia looked up, her blue eyes gleaming—a new courage, mixed with fear and hope.
"I'm coming," her voice trembled faintly. "There's no turning back."
Ren returned the smile softly, but he was in no hurry. He waited for the first move. Alicia moved closer; the distance narrowed until their breaths met, warm in the cold air. They stared at each other, as if writing words in each other's pupils. Ren raised a hand, touching Alicia's cheek with the back of his finger. The touch was light, but the Princess sighed, her eyelids half-closed. She tilted her head, pressing her cheek against the touch, as if encouraging Ren to move forward.
Ren brushed the hair that had fallen on Alicia's forehead, pushing it behind her ear. His fingers touched the hot tip of her earlobe. Alicia held back a sigh. She closed her eyes, waiting for what would come next. Ren lowered his hand to her chin, lifting it slowly. He bent down, getting closer, stopping just a breath away. Their lips almost touched. Alicia opened her eyes, looking at Ren once more as if asking for reassurance.
"Is this your choice?" Ren whispered.
Alicia nodded, barely perceptible, then whispered, "Yes."
Ren pressed his lips together—slowly, carefully. The first touch was as soft as a butterfly's wing, but Alicia was surprised at how hot lightning spread from his lips to her entire body. She returned it, pressing slightly, feeling the texture of Ren's warm lips, his trembling breath. Ren's hand rose to the side of her face, cupping her cheek, while the other hand circled her waist, pulling her closer.
Alicia moaned softly, her fingers finding a grip on Ren's chest, grabbing the fabric of his shirt, squeezing it gently. She felt Ren's heartbeat through the thin fabric, fast but regular. Ren's lips moved, nibbling on her lower lip, then stopped—giving Alicia a chance to catch her breath, or refuse if she wanted to. But Princess didn't refuse. She instead stood on her tiptoes, pursuing the next kiss, her trembling lips surrendering to Ren's rhythm. This time, Ren was a little bolder; his tongue touched the edge of Alicia's lips, asking for permission. Alicia was surprised, but after a second of hesitation, she opened her mouth, hesitantly accepting. Their tongues touched briefly, sending a rumbling in Princess's stomach; she moaned softly into Ren's mouth—a soft sound that almost made Ren lose control.
The kiss deepened, grew hotter. Ren's hands moved to Alicia's back, rubbing up and down, counting the vertebrae. When his fingers stopped at her lower back, the Princess' muscles immediately tensed, then melted, remembering the massage the night before. Alicia hugged Ren's neck, pressing her body close. The swords on the rack creaked softly as they leaned against the wall, but neither of them cared.
But at the peak of that wave of feeling, at a breath where Ren was about to kiss the Princess' neck, the knight's consciousness interrupted: Ren, the servant—herself, the Princess. The girl gasped, her mind teetering between passion and discipline. She lowered her hand to Ren's chest, pushing gently. Their lips parted, a thin bridge of saliva breaking in the air.
Ren stared at her in confusion. Alicia closed her eyes, breathing heavily. Her chest heaved, her cheeks burning. For some reason a pool of emotion pressed against her eyelids; she slapped Ren reflexively—a quick slap, not as strong as sword training, but loud enough to make a loud sound. The room was silent, even the swords on the rack seemed to fall silent.
Ren froze, his head swaying slightly. It wasn't the pain that hurt, but the surprise. Alicia covered her mouth, her eyes wide, tears flowing. "I'm sorry… I—" her voice broke, overcome with guilt. She stepped back, her back hitting the equipment table, but didn't try to run; instead she pressed her hand to her own lips, as if Ren's warmth was still there.
Ren looked down, his hand on her cheek, but then stepped closer slowly. He wasn't angry. There was only worry in his eyes. "Are you hurt?" Ren asked softly.
Alicia shook her head, tears falling. "Not physical," she answered hoarsely. "I… am a knight. I must uphold my honor. But this heart…" She hit her chest once, then fell to her knees on the wooden floor. Her gaze was fixed on the ground, tears dripping between her fingers. "I'm afraid… all of this is weakness."
Ren knelt too, but kept a half-careless distance. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "If my kiss made you feel guilty, I—"
"No!" Alicia lifted her head, looking at Ren through her tears. "Your kiss… was beautiful. I was the weak one. I shouldn't have…" She couldn't continue, her shoulders shaking.
Ren reached for the Princess's shoulders gently. "A knight's cry isn't weakness. It's a sign that his heart is still alive." He wiped the tears from Alicia's cheeks with his thumbs. "You slapped me out of fear, not hatred. And I accepted it. Because we both learned our limits."
Alicia sobbed, then—without warning—buried her face in Ren's chest, crying silently. Ren hugged her, his large hands patting her back rhythmically. He waited until the sobs subsided, leaving only heavy breaths.
The Princess finally said, voice choked, "I… won't report. There's nothing I can report. That kiss… I wanted. That slap… was for myself."
Ren stared at her, resisting the temptation to kiss her forehead again. He knew which space was still fragile: "I'll go if you want."
Alicia gripped Ren's arm tighter. "No. Stay." She caught her breath, straightening her back slowly. "But… no more kissing tonight. Let my heart catch up. I'm not ready yet."
Ren nodded, accepting. He helped Putri to her feet, straightened her blouse, then pulled out a wooden chair for her. Alicia sat down, lips still trembling, but her eyes calmer. Ren sat on the floor in front of her, keeping eye level.
"You once said: 'I won't take what you don't give.'" Alicia wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. "Keep your word. When I'm ready, you'll be the first to know."
Ren placed his hand on his chest, as if making a vow. "With my sword and my blood."
They stared at each other in long silence. No swords were raised tonight, no bodies intertwined. But the feelings that grew did not subside—like a fire quenched by a cover, burning silently, hotter than before.
When Ren finally stood up to leave, Alicia called out, "You deserve it." The words were spoken softly, but to Ren, they were louder than a shout of victory. He turned, smiled, and opened the door. The cold night air greeted him, but the heart in his chest was burning.
Alicia sat alone, staring at the closed door. She touched Ren's cheek that was still felt in her palm, her heart pounding hard. Soon, she smiled a little—a knight's smile that found her human side.
along the corridor under the tower, Hiro stood behind the pillar, still holding the hilt of his sword. He heard the slap, saw Ren come out with a calm smile and red marks on his cheeks. The hero's eyes shone sharply—tomorrow, the honest speech he had planned in the hall of heroes would take a new direction, perhaps turning into a trial of the heart that no one expected.