The towering walls of Sunset Fortress bore the scars of battle — arrows embedded deep, freshly patched stones nestled against old wounds.
A silent testament to the brutality of war.
Like a colossal beast sprawled in twilight, battered and bruised.
The room personally arranged by Astraea for Wendy Black was located on the third floor of the main keep.
A bronze vanity mirror sat on the nightstand, and a half-length dressing mirror stood in the corner.
Opening the creaking wooden window revealed the heavy darkness settling outside the fortress.
Not luxurious, but tidy and quiet enough.
**Knock knock knock—**
Wendy opened the door to find a neatly dressed young man standing outside.
He held a folded set of clothes in both hands and gave a slight bow.
"Good evening, Prince Wendy. I'm Edwin Vade, secretary to Her Highness Astraea. These are clean clothes prepared for you."
Wendy gave a small nod and accepted the bundle.
He walked over to the dressing mirror and casually held the outfit up to himself—only to freeze mid-motion.
A long silk robe in a teal-green hue, paired with puffy lantern-style trousers.
"…What the—!"
Wendy shuddered, a chill running down his spine as goosebumps flared across his skin. He nearly flung the clothes from his hands.
That color, that style — anyone wearing it would instantly transform into *the Emerald Fairy of Oz*, complete with a built-in voice-changer for soprano performances.
He could already imagine just how flamboyantly ridiculous he'd look in that outfit.
"Sorry, could I get something a bit more... minimal?" Wendy handed the clothes back to Edwin. "If nothing else, a simple shirt and shorts would do."
As long as it didn't blind people with its shine. Or look like a walking apology meme.
Edwin Vade's jaw twitched slightly, and his knuckles turned white as he gripped the fabric.
"Prince Wendy, do you find these humble garments unworthy of your noble status?" His voice rose slightly, layered with forced courtesy and barely contained anger. "This is Sunset Fortress — a frontline military base! Not the royal palace gardens of your fallen kingdom! We have no spare men's clothing lying around!"
"These clothes were given to you because Her Highness Astraea *personally* asked me to!"
"If you find them so unacceptable, then don't bother changing. Or better yet… kindly leave Sunset Fortress altogether!"
Wendy was momentarily stunned by the verbal onslaught.
But upon observing Edwin's flushed, tightly clenched expression — the barely contained rage simmering beneath his polished noble exterior — he understood instantly.
*Ah, the classic jealous-rival archetype. Cannon fodder love interest #2.*
*Looks like I'm blocking someone's path to love…*
*But wait, I don't remember this guy from the game. Probably just a minor NPC…*
Before Wendy could even formulate a witty comeback, Edwin took a step forward, almost poking Wendy in the nose with a perfectly manicured finger.
"I don't know what flowery lies you told to make Her Highness Astraea bring you back here! But let's make one thing clear — this is a military camp, a battlefield! We don't need some pampered pretty boy who throws tantrums over clothes!"
**"What's going on here?"**
A clear female voice came from the doorway.
Astraea had changed into a simple indigo outfit. Without her armor, she appeared more relaxed — almost gentle.
She strode forward quickly and stepped between the two men.
The fury on Edwin Vade's face froze, then drained into an awkward pallor.
The noble posture he'd worked so hard to maintain instantly collapsed, and he looked like a rooster whose neck had just been wrung.
Wendy sneaked a glance at the secretary's rapid transformation and chuckled inwardly.
*Tsk tsk… poor EQ, zero damage control. Not worth the screentime.*
He had no interest in wasting words over such a trivial matter — and even less interest in making things difficult for Astraea.
So, under Edwin's disbelieving stare, Wendy gently took Astraea's hand.
"It's nothing, Astraea."
The prince's voice was soft, laced with just the right touch of wounded dignity and forced bravery.
"I just thought… with a major battle approaching, wearing such flashy garments would be… inappropriate. The clothes Secretary Vade brought are lovely. I only wished to wash up first, lest the dust and bloodstains ruin them."
At those words, not only Edwin, but even Astraea looked slightly surprised.
But at the mention of "washing," the First Princess's cheeks suddenly flushed crimson for some reason.
"Ah… f-forgive me, Prince Wendy… Sunset Fortress is a military base — the facilities are crude. There's no… no dedicated bathing area for men."
The voice of the famed "Lioness of the North" suddenly turned clumsy and shy.
"I-If you don't mind, you'll have to wait until the female soldiers finish using the public bath. But… it's already late, so I assume they're done by now. I… I'll take you there myself."
Wendy gave a nod and gently tightened his grip on her hand.
"Astraea, there's no need for such formality between us. Didn't we agree before? Just call me Wendy."
"Al-alright, Wendy…" Astraea lowered her head, golden lashes trembling.
Wendy leaned in slightly, bringing his lips close to her ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"While I bathe… would you mind waiting outside the door for me?"
"After all, I'm just a helpless prince. If some overly eager lady barges in, I'm afraid I wouldn't know how to handle it."
His warm breath brushed against her ear, and Astraea froze, feeling like even the tips of her ears had caught fire.
"In this whole fortress… you're the only one I trust\~"
That mischievous, almost flirtatious request struck Astraea like a powerful spell, crashing through her knightly defenses.
Her entire face turned scarlet, even her neck flushed deep red.
"Don't worry, Wendy!" she declared, puffing up her chest proudly. "As long as I'm here, I won't let *anyone* disturb you! No one will peek— I mean, I'll stand guard properly!"
Wendy's eyes briefly lingered on the proud and very *bouncy* view she was presenting — quite enthusiastically — and smiled with satisfaction.
"Excellent spirit. I leave it in your hands, my brave knight."
With that, he cast a meaningful glance behind him — directly at Edwin Vade, who had now gone from pale to red, and from red to green.
The poor secretary was now visibly shaking, eyes practically spitting fire.
Wendy naturally took Astraea's hand and strolled off with flair, as if nothing at all had just happened.
Leaving Edwin Vade alone in the room.
His hands, still gripping the clothes, trembled with suppressed fury.
The once smooth silk was now crumpled and misshapen, and his well-manicured nails had dug into his palms, leaving pale crescent marks.
A nameless fury surged through him, blinding his reason.
"Why… why *him*?!"
After a long pause, Edwin Vade spat out a furious whisper, dripping with jealousy and resentment:
"I was here first…"