A few days had passed since Ren left the capital. His satchel was full, his gear well-maintained — gifts and provisions from the people he'd once protected. Yet his heart still wandered, searching for purpose.
He didn't know what kind of journey he was on — only that it had to begin.
The sky gradually darkened into twilight as he traversed the forest path. When the sun dipped beneath the hills, he found a clearing near a ridge and decided to camp for the night.
With practiced hands, he pitched his tent, set a perimeter, and kindled a small fire. The smell of burning wood and the warmth of the flames gave a temporary sense of peace.
He sat down, wrapped in a travel cloak, sipping hot ale from a metal mug. The sky above shimmered with stars, and a pale moon loomed overhead, full and haunting.
"Beautiful moon," he murmured to himself, voice barely louder than a breath.
CRACK.
A branch snapped behind the bush.
Ren didn't flinch.
He calmly set his mug down.
Then, like the predator he once was, he stood — fingers wrapping around the hilt of his blade. His eyes scanned the shadows.
From the bushes, two crimson lights emerged.
Glowing eyes.
A beast slinked into the firelight. Large, matted fur. Saliva dripped from its maw. A Red Fanged wolf.
Ren narrowed his eyes. "A Red Fanged… alone?"
He took a step forward. "Databook lists them as Rank D when alone. Easy kill."
The wolf lunged.
Ren's body moved on instinct — sidestepping, then driving his blade across its throat in one swift motion. Blood sprayed across the dirt. The beast hit the ground with a dull thud.
He crouched beside it, inspecting the body.
"But why was it—?"
Howl.
A second one answered.
Then another. And another.
The ground trembled slightly. Ren's eyes widened.
"…It was bait."
Rustles from all sides. Growls echoing in unison.
A full pack.
Before he could draw again, sharp pain burst through his arm — fangs clamped down. He was pulled to the ground, his back slammed against the dirt.
"AGH—!"
The wolf's weight held him down. Saliva dripped onto his face as it snarled inches from his throat.
Move.
His left hand darted to a nearby rock — heavy and jagged. He brought it crashing down onto the beast's skull.
Once. Twice.
CRACK.
The wolf whimpered and dropped.
Ren scrambled back, blood leaking from his arm. He reached his bag with a grunt, pulled out a healing potion, and poured it over the wound.
"Fck… that hurts," he hissed through clenched teeth.
But he was used to pain.
The wound closed, not fully — but enough.
Three more Red Fangeds emerged from the shadows.
"Fine. Let's do this."
He unsheathed his blade.
One lunged.
He sidestepped and swept the sword in an upward arc, slicing its chest open.
The second came from the side.
He twisted his torso and thrust the blade backward — the tip pierced its heart. He ripped it out in time to parry the third beast's bite with the flat of his blade.
Then, he headbutted the wolf and ran it through.
Blood soaked the ground. Breathing heavy, Ren spun once to check for more.
Silence.
Only the crackle of the fire remained.
It's over.
He exhaled sharply and lowered his blade. "Phew… I really let my guard down tonight."
With practiced motion, he flicked the blood off his sword and sheathed it.
He crouched down, inspecting the bodies. He took one claw as a keepsake — or maybe just habit from his days as a registered adventurer.
He dragged the bodies to the edge of the woods and burned them in a pile — a merciful act to prevent further predators from sniffing blood.
Finally, under the pale moonlight, he crawled into his tent and shut his eyes.
The silence of the night returned.
But this time, it was earned.
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Morning light crept into the tent, its golden fingers stretching across Ren's closed eyelids. He stirred with a groan, muscles sore from last night's ambush. His body demanded more sleep — but something… felt off.
There was warmth beside him.
…Wait.
His eyes fluttered open.
A figure was lying next to him.
Inside his tent.
In his tent.
Ren froze. His heartbeat jumped. His senses, dulled from sleep, now screamed at him.
He shot up with a gasp and scrambled backward like a startled animal, nearly tearing through the tent wall.
"Wh-WHAT?! Who—?!"
The figure stirred.
Long flowing hair. A silky night cloak. A familiar smirk.
She yawned, stretched her arms, and sat up casually — as if this was just a normal morning in the palace.
"Morning, Ren," said Princess Aelia, rubbing her eyes and smiling at him sweetly.
Ren blinked once.
Then again.
"…Morning, Princ— WAIT, WHAT?!"
He almost choked on air. "P-Princess Aelia?! What in the world are you doing in my tent?!"
She tilted her head innocently. "Oh, did I not say I'd join you eventually?"
"NO??! You definitely didn't say that!"
"Well… surprise~"
Ren's brain short-circuited.
"You—You're a princess! You can't just— I mean— I could've— What if I slept naked?!"
Aelia raised an eyebrow and grinned mischievously. "You don't sleep naked though."
Ren's face turned red. "Wh—HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?!"
"Oh please, Ren. You think I can't unzip a tent silently? I snuck in last night while you were snoring like a bear. Honestly, with how loud you were, I'm surprised the wolves didn't come back."
He clutched his head in panic. "You—snuck in?! Do you realize what kind of scandal this could cause?!"
Aelia stood up and casually stretched, completely unbothered. "Relax. I ran away. I'm not a princess right now. I'm just Aelia. A rogue, freedom-seeking, badass traveler Aelia."
Ren just stared at her in complete disbelief. "…You ran away… from the palace. To follow me?"
She winked. "Told you, I already rejected the other heroes. And you didn't think I'd let my hero travel all alone, did you?"
He groaned and sat down in defeat. "This is a dream. This has to be a dream. I got bit last night, and this is just blood loss hallucination…"
Aelia giggled and leaned in close, nose almost touching his. "Want me to pinch you?"
Ren flinched back. "NO!"
She laughed out loud. "Well, too late to send me back now. You've got yourself a travel companion, stupid hero."
Outside the tent, birds chirped as the sun rose fully into the sky.
Ren sighed heavily, half-dreading what the day might bring. "This is going to be a long journey…"
Aelia clapped her hands. "Great! Now where's breakfast? I didn't pack anything because I assumed you would."
"Of course you didn't…" Ren muttered, already regretting everything.
(A few days earlier – Inside the palace)
In the heart of the royal palace, the lavish chamber of Princess Aelia lay soaked in moonlight. Velvet curtains swayed gently with the breeze, and the scent of garden roses drifted in through the open windows. But despite the beauty around her, Princess Aelia lay sprawled across her bed like a heartbroken prince in a drama play — arms outstretched, face blank, her golden hair a tangled mess across the silk sheets.
Beside her, her loyal attendant, Maya, stood patiently — prim and proper as always — her hands neatly folded in front of her, waiting for a command that never came.
"You can relax, Maya. You don't have to act like we're in front of the king," Aelia mumbled without looking up, casting a tired glance toward her maid. "Be more casual for once."
Maya bowed her head slightly. "Forgive me, Princess. Even if it were your order… I couldn't. I'm still your humble servant. And the king would have my head if he heard me address you improperly."
Aelia let out a long, dramatic sigh and turned to face the ceiling again. Her violet eyes grew distant. Images of Ren filled her mind — his stupid, serious face… his awkward voice… the way he looked away when she got too close…
She rubbed her lips subconsciously. That memory still made her cheeks flush.
"…That stupid Ren!" she suddenly cried, rolling over and hugging her pillow in embarrassment.
Maya stifled a laugh behind her hand. It was rare to see the sharp, proud Aelia like this — flustered, vulnerable, giddy.
Aelia caught her maid's amusement and narrowed her eyes. "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing at all, Princess," Maya said, failing to suppress a grin. "It's just… funny. Seeing you like this. Not as one of the famed Trinity Sisters—just… a girl in love."
"Hmph. Don't say that like it's a weakness," Aelia huffed. "The whole world knows us as cold, perfect symbols of royalty and power. But he… Ren was the only one who ever saw through that. The only one who saw me. Not the 'princess'... just Aelia."
Maya's expression softened. She stepped closer and sat beside her on the bed.
"Princess… Do you love him that much?"
Aelia turned her head, her voice firm and defiant.
"So what if I do?"
Maya smiled. "Nothing. Just… making sure."
Silence lingered for a moment, the warm kind filled with unspoken understanding. Aelia stared out the window, toward the distant night horizon. Her heart stirred with an impossible thought.
"…Hey, Maya."
"Yes, Princess?"
"I want to run away," Aelia said suddenly. "To go find Ren. Right now."
The words hung in the air like lightning.
Maya blinked.
Then, to Aelia's surprise… the maid smiled proudly.
"Then go," she said, standing up. "I'll help you."
A few hours later – Midnight
With the moon high in the sky, Aelia crept through the palace's servant corridors, cloaked in a dark traveling robe. Maya led the way, guiding her through hidden passages and blind spots — the routes only the help knew.
Guards passed by. Hounds barked in the distance.
More than once, they nearly got caught.
But eventually, with a final heave over the outer garden wall — and a muffled cheer — Aelia landed on the other side of the palace, free.
She turned back once and waved at Maya, who gave her a tearful thumbs-up from behind the gate.
Then she disappeared into the night.
Present – Back at Ren's Camp
"…And that's how I ended up here," Aelia finished, sitting cross-legged by the tent entrance. She grinned like a proud troublemaker.
Ren stared at her with his mouth slightly open, still trying to process the absurdity of it all.
"You… snuck out of a royal palace," he said slowly. "Crossed half the kingdom. Tracked me down. And now you're just—camping here like it's normal?"
"Yup!" Aelia nodded cheerfully. "I told you I was serious about joining you."
Ren buried his face in his hands. "This is going to start a war…"
Aelia leaned toward him, resting her chin in her hand. "Then maybe you should protect me, Mr. Hero."
"…You're insane."
She winked. "And you love it."
And just like that, Ren, the former Hero who had walked away from duty and destiny, found himself with a companion he never expected—yet somehow always knew would find her way to him.
Princess Aelia, the woman he once served with unwavering loyalty… now sat beside him not as royalty, not as one of the Trinity Sisters, but simply as Aelia—a stubborn, bold girl who defied the world just to stand at his side.