The grand hall of the palace glittered with golden chandeliers and flowing silken banners. Trumpets blared triumphantly as Zenjiro, still dusted with the remnants of battle, stood proudly before the royal court. Celeste stood gracefully beside him, her blonde hair shimmering in the light, a serene smile playing on her lips.
Before them, atop a grand marble dais, sat King Valerius, a burly man with a rich crown and an air of stubborn authority. He rose from his throne, his booming voice filling the hall.
"Zenjiro the Unbound! Slayer of foes, breaker of pride! You have proven yourself beyond all doubt! As tradition decrees — you have earned the right to wed my daughter, Princess Aria Valeflame!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause. All eyes turned to Aria, who stood stiffly to the side, her arms crossed, crimson hair flowing behind her like wildfire. She bit her lip furiously, her pride wounded, her cheeks burning in silent rage.
Zenjiro smirked lazily and stepped forward, one hand resting casually on his hip.
"Royal decree or not," he said, his voice ringing out over the court, "I don't take women. They choose me."
The court gasped softly at his audacity. Aria's fists clenched tighter.
Zenjiro turned his eyes to her, bold and fearless.
"Aria Valeflame. I'm not here to force you. If you want to join me... join me because you want to. Not because of some tradition. Not because of obligation. And if you don't... that's fine too."
The hall fell into a thick silence, the kind that stretched and tensed like a bowstring.
Aria stepped forward, her fiery gaze locking with Zenjiro's.
"You arrogant bastard!" she barked, her voice echoing. "You think you can parade in here, make a mockery of my people's tradition — and expect me to just fall into your filthy harem?! I refuse! I would rather die than be one of your conquests!"
Zenjiro shrugged casually, flashing her a roguish grin.
"Suit yourself."
Without another word, he turned his back on her — not out of disrespect, but of unshakable self-assurance — and walked away, Celeste gliding after him like a blonde shadow.
The court watched in stunned silence as Zenjiro and his bride left the hall without a care in the world, their silhouettes bathed in the golden light of the open doors.
Behind them, Aria stood trembling, her heart a confusing whirlwind of rage, humiliation... and something she could not yet name.
Outside the Palace, Zenjiro strode down the marble steps, the warm afternoon sun casting a glow over the bustling city below. His hands were folded behind his head in a lazy, almost cocky fashion. Beside him, Celeste kept pace, her blonde hair bouncing slightly with each step.
Celeste glanced at him, an amused twinkle in her blue eyes.
"So... are we heading back to Arcbridge now?" she asked softly.
Zenjiro stretched his arms with a grunt, letting out a relaxed sigh.
"Nah," he said, flashing her an easygoing grin. "I'm starving. Let's wander around a bit. Maybe find a tavern that serves something real — not just fancy palace feasts."
Celeste giggled behind her hand.
"You just fought through a brutal tournament and faced a furious princess. And your greatest concern right now is food."
"Hey," Zenjiro laughed, "a man's gotta have priorities."
The two of them made their way down the lively streets, blending into the crowds of merchants, bards, and townsfolk who whispered excitedly about "the wild champion" and his "blonde-haired bride."
***
The grand hall was eerily quiet after Zenjiro's departure.
King Valerius sat heavily back onto his throne, rubbing his temples in frustration. Before him, Aria stood, fists clenched at her sides, her whole body trembling — not with fear, but with seething anger.
He let out a deep breath.
"Aria," the King said, his voice quieter now, almost weary, "Why did you reject him?"
Aria snapped her head up, her crimson eyes blazing with fury.
"Because he's disrespectful!" she cried. "Arrogant! He waltzed in here and called himself a god—! He made a mockery of everything we've stood for! Everything we trained for! And — and — he has the gall to lump me into some harem like I'm just another conquest!"
Valerius studied his daughter for a long, silent moment. His gaze was heavy, but not unkind.
"Pride is a heavy crown, daughter," he said finally. "And sometimes... we wear it until it crushes us."
Aria flinched, but she said nothing. Her pride would not allow her to argue further — not in front of the court, not in front of her father.
Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed away, the heavy doors slamming shut behind her.
She bolted through the winding halls and into her chambers, where she finally allowed herself to collapse against the door, sliding down to sit on the cold marble floor.
Burying her face in her knees, she growled under her breath.
"That stupid, arrogant bastard..."
And yet, no matter how she cursed him... she couldn't erase the image of Zenjiro's fearless, smiling face from her mind.
The fire crackled quietly in the hearth, casting long, flickering shadows across the grand room.
Her golden eyes staring blankly into the flames. Her chest felt tight. She hated this feeling — this confusing, gnawing ache she couldn't fight with her sword.
Slowly, memories she thought long buried began to surface...
Dragging her into a gentler, warmer time.
Years Ago — A Sunlit Afternoon
A younger Aria, no more than six or seven years old, giggled as she knelt in the lush castle gardens, the sun beaming down from a cloudless sky.
Scattered around her were simple wooden toys — a little prince figurine, a dragon carved from oak, and a princess in a flowing painted dress.
"And then the brave prince!" little Aria declared dramatically, waving the prince toy in the air, "charges into the dragon's cave! He slays the beast with one blow and saves the princess!"
She knocked over the dragon with a triumphant thunk and placed the prince beside the princess, beaming proudly at her little scene.
A soft laugh floated through the garden.
"What a fierce little storyteller you are," said a warm, loving voice.
Aria looked up with a grin. Her mother, Queen Selene, with her golden hair shining like a halo, knelt down beside her, picking up the fallen dragon toy.
"You forgot something, my little flame," Selene said, winking. "After the prince saves the princess, they fall in love... and marry under the stars."
She picked up the prince and princess toys, twirling them together in a playful little dance, as Aria squealed in delight.
Aria clapped her hands.
"I want to marry a prince like that someday, Mama!" she said earnestly. "One so strong and brave he can even beat a dragon!"
Selene laughed and gathered her daughter into a hug, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"Then only a prince who is so brave and bold... one who fears nothing, not even fire... will be worthy of you, my little flame."
Aria giggled and nestled into her mother's arms, feeling safe, warm, and so loved.
Back to the Present...
Aria jerked slightly, the vivid memory leaving her breathless.
Her hand drifted instinctively to her chest, as if trying to clutch the memory closer.
"A prince who fears nothing..." she whispered to herself.
Zenjiro's carefree, fearless smirk flashed in her mind. His wild strength. His maddening, bold words.
A deep shiver ran through her.
She clenched her fists tightly, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"No," she muttered, shaking her head fiercely. "He's... he's just an arrogant fool."
But despite herself, a single tear slid down her cheek — not from sadness, but from the terrifying realization that somewhere, deep in her heart...
A part of her recognized the wild prince she had wished for so long ago.
***
Somewhere within the streets of Rosenthal, the sun was starting to dip into a golden haze as Zenjiro and Celeste settled themselves at a lively tavern just outside the royal city square. Laughter and clinking mugs filled the air, mingling with the scent of roasted meats and baked breads.
Zenjiro leaned back lazily in his chair, a wide smirk plastered on his face, one arm casually thrown around Celeste's slim waist. In front of him sat a towering stack of empty mugs — the aftermath of his beer-chugging contest…against himself.
Celeste giggled softly, her gloved hand covering her mouth. "You're going to scare the townsfolk," she teased, her blue eyes sparkling.
Zenjiro grinned, wiping foam from his lips. "Let them watch," he said boisterously, reaching for another massive stein of golden brew. "A God deserves an offering this grand!"
Around them, a small crowd had gathered — adventurers, merchants, even a few guards — whispering and gawking as the infamous "God of Arcbridge" downed yet another mug in one mighty gulp.
Someone tried to keep count.
"That's the sixth… no, seventh?"
"Is he even human?"
"He's drinking like it's water!"
Celeste rested her chin on her hand, watching him fondly. He was so different from anyone she'd ever known — so wild, so larger-than-life, so free. It made her heart flutter in ways she wasn't used to.
Zenjiro slammed another empty mug onto the wooden table, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Ahhh! Food, drink, and the company of a goddess!" He pulled Celeste closer, giving her a wink that made her cheeks color faintly.
"You'll regret this in the morning," she warned playfully, though she was clearly enjoying herself.
"Bah," Zenjiro waved off her concern with a hearty laugh. "Regret is for mortals."
One of the bolder adventurers finally approached their table, awe and nervousness written all over his face.
"Uh, Lord Zenjiro… is it true you defeated Princess Aria without even using magic?"
Zenjiro leaned forward, a cocky smirk curling his lips. "Not even a drop," he boasted, tapping his finger on the table like it was the punchline to a grand joke. "Why? You want me to arm-wrestle the whole kingdom next?"
The tavern exploded into laughter, drinks sloshing as mugs were raised in cheer.
Celeste shook her head with a soft smile. He really is a force of nature.
Zenjiro leaned back again, resting both hands behind his head. "Now bring me a roasted boar or something! I need proper sustenance if I'm to continue dazzling this fine nation with my presence!"
The barkeep, half-laughing, half-panicking, hurried off to fill the order.
ZZVRRRMM!
Suddenly, a strange, low vibration rumbled through the tavern floor, making mugs rattle and chairs groan. At first, people exchanged confused glances, wondering if it was just a tremor — earthquakes weren't exactly common, but not unheard of either.
The vibrations grew heavier, louder, until it became almost unbearable — a deep, thrumming sound that set teeth on edge and glasses to shivering on the shelves.
Then —
CRASH!
The tavern doors flew open with a bang as a breathless, wide-eyed man stumbled inside, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"A DRAGON!! A GIANT DRAGON!! IT'S HEADING FOR THE CASTLE!!"
Chaos exploded in an instant.
Chairs clattered, tables overturned. Patrons scrambled to their feet, knocking over mugs and plates as they rushed for the exits. The lively tavern turned into a stampede of fear.
Zenjiro, still sitting calmly with a half-eaten drumstick in one hand, arched an eyebrow lazily. "Well… that's not something you see every day."
Celeste was already on her feet, her gaze narrowed sharply as she turned toward the window, where the sky outside had turned dark — not from clouds, but from the massive silhouette of a dragon, its wings casting a terrible shadow over the city.
From her sharp eyes, she caught glints of armor on figures riding the beast's back.
"This isn't just a wild dragon," Celeste said, voice tense. "It's an attack. Assailants... and they're heading straight for the castle."
The panicked shouts of the townsfolk filled the streets as people fled into alleys and homes, desperately seeking shelter. Bells began ringing frantically from the castle's highest towers — alarms that hadn't been sounded in decades.
Celeste turned to Zenjiro, her expression serious. "Do you want to get involved?"
Zenjiro leaned back in his chair, gnawing casually on the drumstick like he was mulling over whether to go for dessert. After a long, theatrical pause, he tossed the bone onto his plate, wiped his hands on his pants, and grinned wickedly.
"Of course I do."
He stood up in one smooth, predatory motion, cracking his knuckles with loud pops. "Wouldn't want the fun to end so soon."
Celeste shook her head, a wry smile tugging at her lips. Typical.
Outside, the dragon roared — a deafening, hellish sound that shook the rooftops and rattled the very air.
Zenjiro's grin only widened.
***
The ground trembled under the weight of the dragon's wings, each beat sending shockwaves across the kingdom.
Smoke and fire billowed from its nostrils as it loomed over the castle walls, a living nightmare blotting out the sky.
The townspeople screamed, fleeing in every direction. Horses reared. Merchants abandoned their stalls.
And at the palace gates, the king's guards — rows of steel-clad knights and soldiers — stood firm, weapons drawn, despite the fear twisting their faces.
FWOOOSH!
A torrent of fire exploded against the castle's eastern tower. Stone cracked and blackened, rubble raining down.
Atop the dragon's scaled back, shadowy figures in dark armor barked orders to each other — assassins, armed with spears, crossbows, and cruel blades.
"Protect the King! Protect the Princess!" a captain of the guard roared, rallying his men.
The knights surged forward to meet the threat. But it wasn't easy. The dragon's tail whipped across the courtyard, sending soldiers flying like dolls. The invaders leapt from the dragon's back, crashing down onto the battlements and rushing for the royal halls.
Screams and the clash of steel rang through the air.
From one of the castle balconies, Aria watched in frozen horror, her fists clenched.
Her mind raced — not with fear, but fury.
This was her kingdom. She wouldn't stand idly by.
Below, the enemy forces cut a path through the outer defenses.
More of the royal knights fell, overwhelmed by the combined assault of the raiders and the fire-breathing beast.
One by one, the last defensive lines were being broken.
Inside the main courtyard, a second shockwave hit — the dragon landed, slamming into the cobblestones, shaking the entire palace ground.
Its riders dismounted in a flash, sprinting toward the inner keep — toward the King's chambers.
"THEY'RE AFTER THE KING! PROTECT THE ROYAL FAMILY!" another captain bellowed desperately.
But their forces were thinning.
The castle was falling.
Inside the royal halls, blood stained the marble floors.
The ornate columns shook with each distant roar of the dragon.
Three assassins, clad in blackened armor, stormed into the King's audience chamber.
The elderly King stood defenseless at the throne, gripping a ceremonial sword that shook in his aged hands — a poor match against seasoned killers.
The lead assassin grinned beneath his mask, raising his weapon high.
"This is the end of your line, old man."
CLANG!
A furious strike knocked the assassin's blade off-course.
Aria, blazing with rage, stood between the assassins and her father.
Sword drawn, hair whipping wildly around her face, she planted her feet firmly.
"You'll have to go through me first!" she shouted.
Without hesitation, the assassins attacked.
The first swung a curved dagger at her side — Aria parried it sharply, countering with a fiery slash that scorched the air.
The second lunged from behind, but she twisted mid-duel, using her momentum to elbow him across the jaw.
A third assassin tried to grab her from behind, but she erupted in a burst of fire, forcing him to leap back.
Despite her fierce skill, the numbers were against her.
Blades flashed. Sparks flew.
Aria ducked under one strike, countered another — but a shallow cut grazed her arm.
She gritted her teeth, blood dripping down her sleeve.
Her breathing grew heavier. She couldn't hold them forever.
Meanwhile—outside—
Zenjiro soared through the smoke-choked skies atop a summoned gust of wind, Celeste riding gracefully beside him.
Below them, the battlefield raged — fire, steel, and screams.
They touched down near the castle entrance.
A group of enemy raiders spotted them immediately, charging forward with weapons raised.
Celeste stepped forward with a sigh, raising her hand.
A pulse of brilliant energy burst outward like a shockwave, sending the attackers flying back like ragdolls.
Zenjiro turned toward the castle gates, flashing her a quick smirk.
"Think you can hold the party down out here?"
Celeste tossed her blonde hair confidently over her shoulder. "I can manage, my love. You should hurry — the princess might already be in danger."
Without wasting another second, Zenjiro dashed toward the castle.
Inside, the battle between Aria and the assassins reached a desperate pitch.
One assassin caught her blade on a parry and twisted it, forcing Aria to stumble. Another lunged with a dagger — aiming straight for her exposed heart.
NO!
Aria realized, too late, she couldn't stop it.
The assassin's blade gleamed —
— then stopped, inches from her chest.
A hand had grabbed the assassin's wrist mid-strike —
A hand burning with godly strength.
Standing there, smirking like the devil himself, was Zenjiro.
"Sorry I'm late, Princess," he said, tightening his grip.
With a casual flick of his wrist, he hurled the assassin across the room into the wall with a sickening crash.
The other two assassins turned in shock.
Aria gasped, wide-eyed, heart pounding — not from fear, but from the absurd sight before her.
Zenjiro cracked his neck, stepping between her and the attackers with a lazy grin.
"Now then... who's next?"
Aria, still catching her breath, snapped at him, voice sharp:
"What are you doing here?!"
Zenjiro casually flicked some dust off his sleeve, unfazed by the chaos around them.
"Isn't it obvious?" he said, flashing a cocky grin. "I came to save you."
Before Aria could retort, a fresh wave of assassins burst into the hall — six, maybe seven of them — weapons gleaming, eyes burning with murder.
Aria instinctively raised her sword again, stepping forward.
"I don't need saving—!"
But Zenjiro gently, almost teasingly, placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.
"Relax, Princess. Just watch," he said with a wink. "Bask in my awesomeness."
Aria opened her mouth to protest — but it was too late.
Zenjiro cracked his knuckles, stepping toward the charging assassins like he was strolling through a garden.
One assassin lunged first — a brutal overhead slash.
Zenjiro sidestepped lazily, tapping the attacker on the forehead with two fingers.
BOOM — a tiny pulse of magic blasted the man backward into two of his comrades, sending them sprawling like bowling pins.
Another tried a sneak attack from the side — Zenjiro snapped his fingers without even looking.
A jet of compressed air exploded from his fingertips, launching the assailant clean across the room, where he crashed into a tapestry and got tangled like a fish in a net.
Aria stood there — sword half-raised, jaw slightly dropping — as Zenjiro casually dismantled them.
One assassin, looking a little smarter than the rest, tried to cast a spell.
Zenjiro just sighed, lifted a hand, and clenched it into a fist.
The assassin's spell fizzled out mid-air as if the very mana was squeezed from the room.
The poor fool dropped to his knees, coughing, as if the air itself turned heavy.
Zenjiro finally turned to the last two, giving them a mischievous grin.
"Your turn."
The two assassins exchanged a nervous glance — and bolted, tripping over each other in their hurry to escape.
Aria blinked.
She had seen skilled knights. She had seen master mages.
But this… this was something else.
Zenjiro dusted his hands off with a satisfied grin, turning back toward her.
"So," he said, smug as ever, "what do you think?"
Aria, cheeks faintly flushed from a confusing mix of admiration and annoyance, grumbled under her breath:
"You're insufferable."
Zenjiro just laughed.
CROOOM!!
Suddenly, a thunderous crack tore through the air as the ceiling above them split like an eggshell.
Chunks of stone rained down. Screams echoed through the grand hall.
And then —
A massive shadow loomed.
The dragon's head, monstrous and ancient, forced its way through the shattered rooftop. Its eyes burned like molten gold, and its maw dripped streams of smoke and embers.
With a deafening roar, it lunged downward — straight for the king.
"Father!" Aria cried.
Without thinking, she darted forward, slamming into her father's side and shoving him out of the dragon's path. They tumbled together behind a broken pillar.
Aria scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding against her ribs.
She turned — and there it was.
The dragon loomed over her now, wings unfurling wide enough to block out the sun, its teeth gleaming like swords.
It inhaled — a deep, terrifying sound — and the fires of hell began to gather in its throat.
Aria stood frozen, staring death in the face.
Every instinct screamed to run, to hide — but her body wouldn't move.
Terror gripped her.
Just as the dragon reared back to unleash its fiery death —
a figure stepped between them.
Zenjiro.
He walked calmly into place, standing tall, his back facing Aria.
No fear. No hesitation.
"Stay behind me," he said casually, as if telling her to watch out for a puddle.
Aria clutched the back of his cloak, trembling, the scent of smoke and death thick in the air.
The dragon roared again — louder this time — and unleashed a searing column of fire straight at them.
It slammed into Zenjiro like a tidal wave of molten fury.
The entire hall shook.
Stone melted.
Tapestries burst into flame.
The wind howled from the sheer force of it.
But through it all — through the raging inferno — Zenjiro stood firm.
Unmoving.
Untouched.
A shimmering, golden barrier surrounded him, the flames parting like water against a rock.
The dragon's fire couldn't even scorch him.
Aria, eyes wide, stared at his back — a fortress of calm against impossible power.
Slowly, the dragon's breath attack faded, smoke and ash swirling around them.
Zenjiro cracked his neck lazily and turned his head slightly over his shoulder, giving Aria a grin she would never forget.
"Don't worry Aria, I got this."
The smoke cleared, revealing Zenjiro standing as if nothing had happened.
The dragon snarled, clearly confused. It stomped forward, the ground trembling with each monstrous step, baring its fangs in rage.
Zenjiro rolled his shoulders, stretching his arms out casually, as if warming up for a morning jog.
Aria, still clutching his cloak, could only stare.
In that moment — through the haze of fear, the chaos, and the roaring of battle — something stirred inside her.
A memory.
A feeling.
A small hand, years ago, reaching out for a wooden toy prince.
Her mother's gentle laughter.
"Only a prince that is so brave and bold, is worthy of you."
Her breath caught in her throat.
Here he was — a man who stood before a dragon without flinching, who shielded her without hesitation, who fought not for fame, not for obligation — but because he wanted to.
Not out of duty.
Not out of tradition.
Out of choice.
Zenjiro — this arrogant, ridiculous, infuriating man —
was everything she had once dreamed of as a child.
Aria's fingers tightened in the fabric of his cloak.
She didn't know whether to cry, laugh, or scream.
Meanwhile, Zenjiro cracked his knuckles and faced the dragon fully now.
"You," he pointed at the beast, grinning like a madman, "picked the wrong castle today."
The dragon, enraged, lunged at him with jaws wide open —
but Zenjiro moved faster.
In a flash, he shot upward, meeting the dragon head-on with a punch so powerful it echoed like a thunderclap.
The dragon's head snapped back from the impact, roaring in pain.
Before it could recover, Zenjiro blurred around it, slamming into its wings, its legs, its chest — each blow hitting like a meteor, driving the beast backward, crashing through the remains of the grand hall.
Debris flew everywhere.
Guards and knights barely had time to dive for cover.
Aria stumbled after him, watching wide-eyed as he toyed with the dragon — not just surviving, but dominating it.
Zenjiro, grinning wildly, gathered energy into his palm — a sphere of blinding white power — and with a final roar, hurled it straight at the dragon's chest.
The blast hit like a falling star.
The dragon was launched out of the castle ruins, crashing into the plains beyond with a distant, earth-shaking BOOM.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Every soldier, every knight, every noble stared in stunned awe.
Zenjiro dusted his hands off, turning back toward Aria with a cocky smirk.
"All in a day's work," he said nonchalantly.
Aria opened her mouth — but no words came out.
Her heart hammered in her chest.
This wasn't just some fool.
This wasn't just some arrogant braggart.
The dust and smoke settled around them.
The broken castle walls, the silent soldiers, the unconscious assailants — none of it mattered in this moment.
Aria stood frozen, her heart pounding.
Her knees buckled, and she sank to the ground, overwhelmed by everything — the fear, the relief, the memory of her mother's words.
Zenjiro approached her slowly, the usual cocky grin gone, replaced by a steady, warm gaze.
Aria, trembling, looked up at him, voice cracking with emotion.
"...Am I... truly worthy of becoming your bride?" she asked, her pride stripped away, leaving only the vulnerable girl underneath.
"Worthy?" Zenjiro chuckled softly, kneeling down to meet her at eye level.
"You're brave enough to throw yourself in front of a dragon to save someone you love."
He reached out his hand toward her — open, steady.
"Not everyone has that kind of courage. That's more precious to me than any strength."
Aria stared at his hand.
It wasn't a command.
It wasn't an order.
It was a choice.
"If you want to be with me," Zenjiro said, voice firm but gentle, "it has to be your will. Not gratitude. Not obligation. Only what your heart truly wants."
Her lip quivered. Tears welled in her eyes — and she finally reached out, placing her hand in his.
In the next breath, she threw herself forward, wrapping her arms tightly around him, burying her tear-soaked face against his chest.
Zenjiro caught her with ease, steady and reassuring.
Around them, the remaining assassins, still conscious, dropped their weapons and surrendered without a word — awed and broken by what they had witnessed.
Celeste, tears shining in her eyes as well, rushed forward and hugged Zenjiro from behind, laughing through her sniffles.
"You're amazing," she said, voice full of pride and adoration.
Zenjiro simply smiled, holding both girls close.
***
The sun began to break through the wreckage, its golden light bathing them as the people around the castle started to cheer, a cry of victory and hope echoing across the land.
It was suddenly dawn, the castle halls were in ruins, but life pulsed through them again.
The king, battered but alive, stood proudly atop the main steps of the courtyard. Knights, servants, and citizens filled the grounds, their cheers echoing like thunder.
Zenjiro stood before them all, flanked by Celeste and Aria.
The king raised his hand, calling for silence.
His voice, though weary, rang out strong and clear.
"Zenjiro of Arcbridge," the king declared, "you have saved not only my life, but my daughter's as well. You have defended this kingdom when we could not. By all our laws and all our traditions, you have earned the right to claim Princess Aria as your bride."
The crowd erupted into cheers again, but Zenjiro simply smiled, turning to Aria.
He said nothing, only watching her — waiting.
Aria, cheeks flushed but heart steady, stepped forward.
She looked up at him, her voice strong and sure.
"I choose you," she said, voice trembling only slightly with emotion.
"Not because I have to... but because I want to. I want to walk beside you, Zenjiro."
The crowd hushed, sensing the weight of the moment.
Zenjiro grinned wide — a rogue's grin, full of life — and without hesitation, he pulled Aria into his arms.
She gasped softly, but only for a second before he captured her lips in a bold, passionate kiss.
A roar exploded from the crowd — cheers, whistles, and laughter ringing out as the kiss deepened.
It wasn't just the sealing of a marriage — it was a statement of defiance, freedom, and true choice.
Celeste stood beside them, hands on her hips, smiling with a proud glint in her eyes.
When they finally broke apart, Zenjiro chuckled low.
"You're mine now, Princess. Hope you're ready for a wild ride."
Aria, cheeks flaming but eyes sparkling, smirked back at him.
"I should be the one saying that"
Later, with the sun setting and the people still celebrating, Zenjiro, Celeste, and Aria prepared to depart.
At the gates of the city, with their horses waiting, the king embraced his daughter one last time, whispering a blessing only she could hear.
Zenjiro mounted his horse with a stretch and a yawn.
"Alright, ladies! Back to Arcbridge we go. Time to show off my beautiful brides to the rest of the world!"
Celeste hopped up beside him with an exaggerated sigh.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Zenjiro."
Aria, mounting her own horse with practiced grace, shot him a look.
"You better not embarrass me."
Zenjiro only laughed, throwing his arms wide.
"Me? Embarrass you? Never!"
With a final wave to the cheering crowd, the trio rode out of the city — the wind at their backs, the future wide open before them.