“That’s not true. I was resting feeling the breeze next to you.”


  “I’m glad to hear that……”


  “Did you enjoy it?”


  Asked Sungjin, Ereka tried to answer.

  “I…… yes…… I……”


  Ereka looked at Sungjin and then looked around.

  Then she realized.

  “Yes, I had a lot of fun. I was dreaming about this thing for a while.”


  “What dream?”


  “As a successor of the throne…… I need to protect the kingdom and the people…… and that keeps me busy…… but one day…… I wanted to go on a picnic…… someone nice…… and enjoy the nature…… and……”


  Ereka couldn’t say the words she had in mind; the lover and secret rendezvous in nature, and looked down.

  “Sorry, Sungjin. I organized it for you, but it was my dream as well.”


  She dreamed of going on a picnic with a guy she likes or with her friends.

  She gave up the dream a long time ago, but now, her dream already came true.

  A royal princess of a kingdom.

  The princess knight who protected the people.

  But underneath her gown and armor, she had a tiny hope of an ordinary girl.

  “Great. Let’s do it again after this battle.”


  “Huh? Re……really?”


  “Why not? Let’s do this again.”


  “I…… really…… wish…… we could……do it again.”


  Ereka prayed.

  Walking next to Sungjin, sitting next to him to enjoy a little picnic lunch together in nature……

  That would be real happiness for her.

  Not a short break before a battle like today, but I would be amazing if she had no worries and simply enjoy the moment.

  Also……

  If she could finish the unfinished task of the day would make her the happiest person in the world.

  “Let’s defeat the blood ruler to come back. I promise.”


  “Yes……Sungjin…… Let’s do that. I can’t wait.”


  Ereka showed a bright smile.

  That was not the face of a strong and graceful princess knight, but an ordinary girl who was dreaming of a picnic.

  No, a girl who was less than ordinary who couldn’t even enjoy that kind of simple picnic.

  “Well. Let’ go then. We will be back.”


  “Yes. Sungjin.”


  Ereka’s steps were light and delightful on her way back.

  Wow…… It was…… my first time.

  She tried to protect her kingdom by all means. She was pushing herself because there was nobody else. It was the first time she felt protected by someone after her late king father.

  I’ve been dreaming of…… having someone…… who would protect me and love me?

  Love…… was an unclear part, but at least she was protected.

  Sungjin swallowed hard.

  That was close.

  It was very close. He couldn’t count how many times he was imagining having her.

  That was not something crazy for guys in his age, but today, there were so many chances he almost lost his control.

  When she was leaning on him, he almost took her and kissed her

  If he did, I was not sure if he could have stopped with a kiss.

  Huh. That was really close.

  What if he didn’t control himself.

  She is too nice to reject me.

  She thought she had to pay back his help, and the other day, she told him she would serve him in bed if he wanted it. He rejected it though.

  Because that is the worst of the worst, he thought. If he helped someone in danger and ask their body as a payment, that couldn’t be a help.

  People think she is a strong princess knight, but she is just a fragile and young girl when I see her like this.

  She was just a girl who wanted to go on a picnic with everyone. But in reality, she had to wear armor on that slender body and had to hold a weapon to protect everyone.

  She was the shield of the people, but who would protect the shield.

  Sungjin wanted to be the one who protected her.

  Rest when you are in my arms.

  She made him dream something different from the earth.

  On earth, his dream was to become a world champion by defeating all his strong enemies fair and square. And let the audience cheer for the game. That was it.

  On earth, the game was just sports. It was nothing more than sports with money, honor and pride at stake.

  But here, there was a kingdom at stake.

  And the happiness of poor and cherishable people.

  How he acted and what kind of result he brought could really change things and made him a real great legend.

  Or the opposite.

  I will protect them.

  So that I could be proud of myself.

  If he couldn’t protect this lovely girl, there would be no glory in his victory. Saving this poor girl had to be another priority along with the glory of defeating the strong enemy.

  So I wouldn’t take this beautiful and charming body just to satisfy myself. Because I want to protect her not just from the villains but from myself as well.

  He told himself and didn’t even touch her when he let Ereka sleep in his arms.

  He kept promising himself. To come back for a picnic.

  Because he was determined that he would make it possible again.

  * * *

  The picnic ended peacefully and joyfully. But that night, maids surrounded Ereka to ask her what happened. Jenna set in a corner pretending she was not listening

  “Did you make it happen?”


  “I don’t know what was wrong but Sungjin didn’t take me.”


  “Really?!”


  “Yes.”


  “Oh my god……”


  Jenna’s tail sword sharpened.

  What?! He didn’t take her while she did all that?

  “Maybe he didn’t feel it because I was not charming enough.”


  “We thought you made it because you looked so happy.”


  “But……”


  Ereka blushed with shyness.

  Dig it up! Now!

  Jenna signed to the maids with her eyes.

  “Would you like to share with us? So that we can plan for the next time.”


  “Ok.”


  Ereka explained everything from the start.

  “Humm. So that is what happened.”


  “Yes. It was a bit far from our plan, but he said he enjoyed and wanted to do it again. I was just so happy. But maybe I am not a woman enough for him.”


  “That is……”


  The maids looked at each other. They didn’t know how to understand his actions.

  Jenna strongly grabbed the empty bottle.

  What is going on?

  Sungin oppa didn’t like the princess…… was not the case.

  He refused his level and social status to protect her. It is impossible that he doesn’t like her.

  And well, it was more than just clear that the princess was head over heels for Sungjin.

  Then why nothing happened in their secret rendezvous.

  When Sungjin didn’t call the princess to his bed at first, he had his philosophy that he wouldn’t do it without love. But this time, what was the matter?

  A guy and a girl at their sudden age, if liked each other, wasn’t it end of the story?

  Even without a picnic, wasn’t it normal to knock on the girl’s window at night?

  But why. Why.

  Unfortunately, Jenna didn’t grow up in an era of the culture of Romeo and Juliet.

  Jenna was smart and wicked but was too young to understand the difference between dating and marriage.

  “I was just happy to hear that he wanted to do it again. Was too naive?”


  Ereka revisited her memories to cloud her face.

  Jenna’s tail sword stiffed.

  Sungjin oppa, what the……! You can’t make a girl hanging like this!

  But she couldn’t let the princess worried and sad like this. She quickly whispered to the wind spirit stone on the other end of the hammer.

  And the maids followed her order.

  “No, your highness. In our opinion, it was not that Sungjin didn’t want you.”


  “R……right?”


  Ereka’s face became slightly brighter.

  “He…… he didn’t…… take you…… because……”


  “Because……?”


  Jenna’s tail sword was spinning rapidly.

  “Maybe there is a custom not to take a girl before a huge battle?”


  “I heard there’s such a tradition in a faraway land.”


  “Or since he is level 0 now, maybe he thought it was a little too early for that.”


  “I think that makes sense. He needs a victory to take his power back, and then he could make a baby who is properly strong.”


  “Ah…… that makes sense.”


  Ereka nodded saying that made sense.

  “Either way, he said to go back after the battle against the blood ruler. We believe he meant to do it when it is time after the battle.”


  “Ok!”


  Ereka found her bright smile again.

  There were so many reasons she had to defeat the blood ruler.

  Now there was one more added.

  She wanted to go back on a picnic with him to make real love.

  That dream filled up her heart.

  That’s what you meant.

  She thought he just wanted to do another picnic and was already happy enough.

  This time…… after defeating the blood ruler……

  Ereka touched her cheek, closing her eyes.

  She thought of the moment when she fell asleep in Sungjin’s strong arms. She felt shy but also very very happy.

  Just that much made her so happy.

  What kind of happiness she would feel when she really becomes his lover and loved by him passionately.

  The maids showed teats looking at excited Ereka.

  Jenna hid tears behind the pillar.

  Oh my princess. I’m so happy that you are happy.

  Her tail sword rolled into a fist shape.

  Count on me. I will make you two work.

  The princess needed happiness.

  I have no idea why Sungjin oppa didn’t take the princess today though……

  The story she told the princess was to make the princess feel better. But when the battle against the blood ruler is over, she would get rid of all obstacles and to find their happiness.

  She could follow after that.