Jetri’s consciousness floated in a haze. He vaguely sensed someone nearby, but opening his eyes felt impossible.

Dizziness.

The world spun.

Sleeping was hard. Waking up was harder.

No sound reached his ears, yet his mind roared with noise—like being tossed inside a washing machine. Tumbling endlessly.

He forced his eyes open. Before he could make out his surroundings, he rolled off the bed, staggered to his feet, and clumsily stumbled toward the bathroom, gripping the wall for support.

Soft hands caught him.

Gentle but firm, they guided him to the bathroom door.

The moment he crossed the threshold, Jetri shoved the hands away. He lurched toward the toilet and retched violently.

*Damn…*

*What cheap liquor has this kind of kick…*

His fogged brain could only muster disgust for the awful drink.

His hand slipped from the toilet rim. His sluggish mind didn’t react.

Those same hands caught him again.

Patting his back softly.

Jetri squeezed his eyes shut, gasping between waves of nausea burning up his throat.

“Th-thanks…” He didn’t turn around. Didn’t know who it was. Just instinct.

Honestly, he couldn’t turn. He might vomit again any second.

“Water?” A tender voice asked.

“Yeah…”

His numb brain still hadn’t registered anything wrong.

Not until a delicate hand pressed a glass into his.

Then his thoughts sluggishly clicked.

He looked up, dazed, at the hand’s owner.

“Victoria…?”

Princess Victoria’s gentle, beautiful face swam into his blurry vision.

“Why so much?” Victoria asked, concern softening her voice. No trace of surprise.

“Celebrating…” Jetri felt oddly guilty. His head throbbed, drowning out why Victoria was even here. “Crowd got carried away… lost track.”

“Why didn’t I see you this afternoon?” Victoria’s slender, pale hand rested on his back.

“Oh, I went—” He doubled over, heaving violently mid-sentence.

Victoria watched him suffer. Her fingers tightened unconsciously on his back.

Lips pressed thin. Head bowed.

Finally, she began a silent chant of purification.

The nausea and dizziness slowly ebbed away.

Warmth spread through Jetri’s body.

“Drink,” Victoria murmured.

“Okay…” The sickness faded, but exhaustion carved deep lines on his face.

“Sorry for the trouble… guess I overdid it.” Jetri rubbed his temples.

“It’s fine.” Victoria’s voice was barely a whisper.

“Didn’t mean to make a scene…” Jetri offered a weak defense.

“I should go. Sorry about this.” He gave an apologetic smile.

Victoria’s lake-blue eyes dipped slightly.

*Regret.*

*Shouldn’t have helped him.*

“Was… something worth celebrating?” Victoria ventured softly.

“Oh, that…” Jetri paused. “Helped someone this afternoon. They bought drinks tonight.”

“…” Victoria sighed. “Jetri. Must you be so distant?”

Jetri froze. His expression twisted. He sighed too, blinking hard to clear his head.

“Sorry. I—”

“Just tell me what happened this afternoon. Consider it your apology.” Her voice flowed like a forest stream—gentle, quiet, especially in the night hush.

“Alright. It started like this…”

Jetri rallied his strength, recounting every detail to Victoria.

She listened intently.

Silent chants wove through his words.

Jetri didn’t notice. His voice faded mid-sentence.

Victoria watched him sink into deep sleep.

*First-Circle Sleep Spell.*

*So defenseless…*

*Richard.*

She laid him flat on the bed.

Propped on her elbow, she studied his peaceful face.

Moonlight spilled through the window, gilding Victoria’s golden hair.

Her lake-blue eyes darkened.

She’d rarely seen him like this. Back then, Jetri always shared a tent with Vya during rests.

*Truly defenseless?*

Victoria pinched his cheek.

He didn’t stir.

Her thoughts wandered. She remembered how Jetri always woke first during night attacks—even before the guards.

*Why not now?*

*Because I’m here?*

*Richard?*

“I asked,” her lips parted softly, “is it because of me?”

No answer.

Victoria brushed stray hair from his forehead.

“You’re actually handsome. Why so gloomy all the time?” she murmured.

Honestly, even after five years, she’d never seen him like this.

But Vya saw it every day.

*So unfair. When you’re not even lovers.*

*Richard… Richard. Why can’t you see?*

Victoria leaned closer. Her fingertip pressed his lips.

Surprisingly supple. They sprang back when she lifted her finger.

*Has Vya… already kissed you in secret?*

*Stop. Or I’ll make myself furious.*

She sighed, lying beside him, propped on one elbow to watch his profile.

A faint smile touched her lips.

“Goodnight.”

Pale pink lips brushed his.

Jetri woke to heat.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he opened his eyes.

Calm, captivating eyes and a gentle face filled his vision.

“Morning.”

The princess pressed another soft kiss to his lips.

Jetri’s eyes flew wide.

Then snapped shut.

*Wrong way to wake up.*

He opened them again.

Those lake-blue eyes still hovered close.

Moonlight seemed to ripple deep within them.

“Before me… did you still have your first kiss?”

Jetri shook his head instinctively.

Victoria’s tender smile froze.

“Who?” Her voice tightened.

“Chelsey…?” Jetri mumbled, still half-asleep.

“The Succubus Lord?”

“Uh-huh.”

Victoria stared at his sleep-dazed face. Fury flared.

She cupped his cheeks.

Before Jetri could react, a tentative tongue slipped past his lips.

Clarity crashed into his mind. Horror flooded his face.

*Why can’t I wake up?!*

*This is a dream.*

*Right?!*