The morning after the festival felt like a fog, a haze in which nothing seemed real. Erika had awoken with a start, the memory of Alaric's kiss lingering in her mind like a dream she couldn't shake off. Her heart raced every time she thought of it, and her mind was a whirlwind of confusion.

Was it real? Or had it all been a fantasy?

Alaric had kissed her—gently, softly, yet with an intensity that left her breathless. And the way he had looked at her afterward, his words echoing in her ears… "I think I might be falling for you. I love you, Erika."

She had never felt anything like it. But now that the festival was over and reality had returned, Erika found herself terrified.

She couldn’t stop thinking about it. She couldn’t stop thinking about him.

And so, the next day, Erika began to avoid Alaric. Every time she saw him, her pulse would spike, and her thoughts would race back to that kiss. She couldn’t breathe properly in his presence. Every glance, every word he spoke to her, made her heart beat faster, more erratically.

She kept to herself, staying in her rooms, avoiding the corridors where he might be. She told herself it was just a kiss—a fleeting moment in the chaos of their lives. Nothing more.

But it felt like more.

As the days passed, Alaric began to notice her growing distance. She would quickly turn away whenever he walked into a room, and when he tried to speak with her, she found an excuse to leave. At first, he thought maybe she was simply overwhelmed with the duties of being a future queen. But it became clear—Erika was avoiding him.

He couldn’t figure out why. Was it something he had done? Was it because of the kiss?

He had to find out.

One afternoon, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, Alaric made his way to the palace gardens, hoping to find Erika. He had caught a glimpse of her from a distance, walking briskly down a pathway, her head bowed, clearly avoiding someone—him.

“Erika,” he called, his voice soft but determined.

She froze, caught. For a brief moment, she considered running, but something in her stopped her. Maybe it was the way he said her name, full of concern, or maybe it was the fact that she hadn’t seen him in a few days, and that emptiness had started to grow inside her.

“I… I need to be alone,” she muttered, not meeting his eyes.

Alaric stepped closer, not allowing her to walk away this time. “You’ve been avoiding me,” he said, a hint of frustration in his voice. “Why?”

Erika swallowed, her heart beating faster as he came closer, his gaze never leaving hers. The memories of their kiss flooded back into her mind, and her face flushed with the heat of it.

“I—I don’t know how to deal with it,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know how to deal with you.”

The confession hit Alaric like a jolt of electricity. She was struggling, just like he was. He had known the kiss had changed something between them, but he hadn’t realized how deeply it had affected her.

“I’ve made you uncomfortable,” he said softly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push you.”

Erika’s eyes flickered to him, and for the first time in days, she saw the sincerity in his expression. The sincerity that had been there when he kissed her when he told her he might be falling for her. But now she wasn’t sure what to believe. She wanted to be angry with him for making her feel so confused. But she also wanted to give in—to let go of the walls she’d built around herself.

“I just don’t know what to do with all these feelings,” she said, her voice shaking. “One moment, I feel like I’m lost in you. The next, I feel like I’m drowning. I can’t even think straight.”

Alaric stepped closer, his hand reaching out tentatively. “You don’t have to think straight, Erika. You just have to feel.”

Erika blinked at him, her heart pounding. “What if my feelings are wrong? What if this isn’t what I should want?”

“I don’t know what the right thing is,” Alaric said, his voice gentle yet filled with certainty. “But I do know one thing. I don’t want to be apart from you. When you were avoiding me, I felt sad and something inside my heart felt hollow. My days isn't complete without seeing you or talking to you. I want to stay by your side and give you kisses."

Her breath caught in her throat. His words were simple, yet they made her chest ache with something she couldn’t name.

Before she could speak, Alaric stepped closer, lifting his hand to her cheek. His thumb brushed lightly over her skin, and the touch sent a wave of warmth through her. Her eyes fluttered shut at the sensation.

And then, without thinking, Alaric leaned in and kissed her again.

This time, there was no hesitation. No confusion. It was a kiss of understanding—of connection. Erika’s body responded instantly, her hands reaching up to rest on his shoulders, pulling herself closer to him.

As their lips met, she realized something: this wasn’t just her imagination. This wasn’t just a fleeting moment. She wanted this. She wanted him.

The kiss deepened, and for a moment, everything else faded away—the pressure, the doubts, the uncertainties. All that mattered was the feeling of his lips against hers, the warmth of his touch, and the way his presence made her feel alive.

Finally, they broke apart, breathless and flushed. Erika looked up at him, her heart racing.

“I—” she started, but Alaric silenced her with another kiss, this time more tender, more reassuring.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he murmured against her lips. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now. But I want you to know… this is real and this is not a dream.”

Erika closed her eyes, letting the moment settle around her. She wasn’t sure where it would lead, or what their future held, but for the first time since arriving at the palace, she felt like she was finally exactly where she was supposed to be.

“Alaric,” she whispered, “I think I’m starting to understand what love feels like.”

And for the first time, Alaric smiled, a genuine smile, full of hope.

“I think I am too. I think we both are. I love you, my dear Erika."