“####… wake up…####”

A soft, familiar voice echoed gently through the darkness.

“Your mother will scold us if you keep sleeping like this…”

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

The familiar ceiling of my small room greeted me.

Not just familiar.

It was my room within the servant quarters of Arondain Castle.

For several long moments, I simply stared upward in silence as memories flooded back into my mind.

The duel.

Valen .

The violet flames.

I carefully sat up.

Bandages wrapped around my head, shoulder, and right arm.

Surprisingly, the pain was dull.

The royal healers must have already treated most of my injuries.

“Az!”

I turned toward the voice.

Luna , who had been sitting beside my bed the entire time, immediately sprang to her feet.

Before I could say anything, she wrapped both arms tightly around me and buried her face against my chest.

“You reckless idiot…”

Her voice trembled softly.

“Why do you always push yourself so hard?”

Her grip tightened slightly.

“Even this time… you almost got yourself killed because of me.”

Warm tears slowly soaked through my shirt.

She was crying quietly.

For the first time since waking up, I realized she had probably remained here the entire time.

Waiting.

Worrying.

Refusing to leave my side.

I didn’t know what to say.

So I simply raised my hand and gently stroked her silver hair.

After a long moment, Luna slowly pulled back and wiped her eyes.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but the relief on her face was unmistakable.

“You won the duel,” she said softly.

A small smile formed on her lips.

“We can stay together even longer now.”

Something warm loosened inside my chest.

Relief.

At least… I thought it was relief.

I still didn’t fully understand emotions.

Not completely.

Then suddenly, Luna looked directly into my eyes with unusual determination.

“Az.”

“Yes, Princess?”

Her brows immediately furrowed.

“Don’t call me ‘Princess’ or ‘Your Highness’ anymore.”

I blinked in surprise.

“…What?”

“We’ve been together for almost four years,” she continued softly, though her voice remained firm.

“So from now on… just call me Luna.”

Her blue eyes remained fixed entirely on mine.

“Even during formal ceremonies.”

I froze.

“B-But… I’m only a servant—”

“Hush.”

She cut me off immediately.

A faint blush spread across her cheeks.

“It’s an order.”

I stared at her for several long seconds.

Then finally gave in.

“…Luna.”

The moment the name left my lips, her entire face lit up with pure joy.

The atmosphere inside the room softened instantly.

Then—

BANG!

The door suddenly burst open.

Both Luna and I jumped slightly in surprise.

Commander Kael entered the room with his usual imposing presence.

Even without trying, the authority surrounding him filled the room.

Behind him walked a woman I immediately recognized.

She was the same woman who had caught me before I collapsed.

She looked to be somewhere in her twenties.

Long black hair tied into a high ponytail.

Sharp emerald-green eyes.

She wore an eastern-style keikogi and hakama, and a katana rested at her waist.

Its sheath was colored white, green, and gold.

The moment her eyes landed on Luna sitting so close beside my bed, a mischievous grin spread across her face.

Luna immediately shot backward in embarrassment.

Her face turned bright red.

Commander Kael pulled a chair closer and sat down beside the bed.

“How are you feeling, kid?”

Instinctively, I tried to get out of bed and kneel.

But before I could—

“Stop with the formalities,” Kael said immediately.

“You’re injured.”

I hesitated before sitting properly again.

“I am feeling much better, my lord.”

Kael studied me quietly for a moment before letting out a small breath.

“You know, kid… it was genuinely a miracle that you won.”

A faint grin appeared on his face.

“You even managed to scare me a little with those tricks of yours.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Cleverly landing two hits against Valen with pure wit alone…”

Then his expression became serious.

Before he could continue, the black-haired woman suddenly stepped forward.

“Kid, you genuinely surprised me.”

Her emerald eyes gleamed with interest.

“To think you awakened that power…”

I looked toward her in confusion.

I still had no idea who she was.

Noticing my expression, she placed a hand on her hip and smiled casually.

“Right. Guess I should introduce myself first.”

She straightened slightly.

“I am Ren Kamakiri.”

“A wandering samurai.”

“Vice Commander of the Royal Guard.”

She gave a lazy shrug.

“I only got appointed last year.”

“I was traveling around handling a few matters before returning.”

I blinked once before introducing myself properly.

“I am Azrael… personal butler to the princ—”

“Luna.”

A cold pressure suddenly pressed against me.

I slowly turned toward Luna.

She was smiling.

Very calmly.

Far too calmly.

“…Luna,” I corrected immediately.

The pressure disappeared at once.

Ren stared at us for several seconds before grinning widely.

“Oh?”

“So she finally gave you permission, huh?”

Luna’s face instantly turned red again.

“R-Ren!”

The samurai only laughed softly.

Ignoring Luna’s embarrassment, I looked back toward Ren.

“So… you know about that power?”

The playful atmosphere vanished immediately.

Ren’s expression sharpened.

“Yes.”

Then her eyes narrowed slightly.

“But before we discuss that…”

A heavy silence settled inside the room.

“There’s a problem.”

Commander Kael folded his arms quietly.

Ren looked directly into my eyes.

“You are being summoned to trial by Marquis Gregor.”

My expression stiffened.

“…Trial?”

Ren nodded slowly.

“He is accusing you of using forbidden and unfair means during the duel.”