The next morning...
Selena *looking up at the sky from her bedroom window* (It's morning, but you're still not here) What happened to you, Zip? *worried*
That evening...
Zilpher *walking* Hah! Hah! *breathing heavily*
Until he collapsed near a farmer's house...
Farmer *emerging with a lantern* !!!
He was shocked to find someone lying near his house and immediately approached. Upon seeing the person's face:
Farmer: Your Majesty?!! *astonished*
Three days later...
In the golden council chamber...
Selena *slammed the table* We need to declare the disappearance of....
Before Selena could finish her sentence, suddenly...
Creak!!
Soldier: Someone is here to see you, Your Majesty!!!
Afterward...
Selena: Yaahhh!!! Yahh!!!
Zilphy: Neeyy!!!! Neeyy!!!!
Meanwhile...
Zilpher: Aunt Chana, thank you for taking care of me so well while I was unconscious *chopping onions*
Aunt Chana: It's nothing, Your Majesty. In fact, I should be the one thanking you because even though you are a king, you still insisted on helping and working here on our farm.
Zilpher: It's nothing, we are all equal because everyone here in this country is the same, there are no rich or poor. Besides, we're all unique and have the same origins. And how could I bear to leave you alone to manage everything here if I'm here, lovely lady *wink*
Aunt Chana: Hahaha, you really are a charmer, Your Majesty!
Zilpher: Why, isn't it true? *smiles*
Aunt Chana: Oh!, you're such a flirt (I'm glad you're returning to your old self, Your Majesty. Ever since you were crowned, your lively behavior suddenly changed. Maybe it's due to the responsibilities you bear as the king of Exolorus) But what happened to you? Why were you injured and found lying on the road by my husband?
Zilpher: ....
Then...
Creak!!
Zilpher: ?! *surprised*
Aunt Chana's Husband: Over here, Your Majesty *bowing*
Selena: We need to have a serious talk, Zilpher Farley.
Selena and Zilpher went outside the farmer's house.
Selena *noticing the small cut on Zilpher's left cheek* What happened to you? Why did you leave alone in the forest?
Zilpher *averting his gaze* To hunt more.
Selena *touched the cut on Zilpher's cheek*
Zilpher *looked at Selena* Sel....
Selena: Don't you know that there was a Titan roaming that night?
Zilpher: .... (Does she know already?)
Selena: YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE ALONE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED!, AND YOU LEFT ZILPHY BEHIND JUST TO DO WHAT?!, HUNT ALONE?!, FOR WHAT?!!!!
Everyone was shocked and disturbed by Selena's anger and shouting...
Aunt Chana *emerging* !!!
Zilpher: Sel?! *surprised*
Selena gave Zilpher a thorough scolding....
Selena: YOU ARE THE KING! WHAT IF SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO YOU THAT NIGHT?!, WHAT THEN----
Before Selena could finish her sermon, Zilpher suddenly kissed her on the lips.
Selena: Hhmm?!!! *surprised*
Aunt Chana *smiling*
Afterward...
Selena *hit Zilpher on the shoulder* Tsskkk!!!
Zilpher *scratched his head* Hehe!! *smiling*
Selena continued to scold Zilpher...
Aunt Chana (It looks like this wonderful lady has brought back your old self).
Then they had lunch together...
Aunt Chana *handing plates of rice to Selena* Eat well *smiling*
Selena *nodded and took a plate of rice*
After they finished eating, Aunt Chana spoke to Selena.
Aunt Chana *sitting beside Selena* Thank you
Selena: For what?
Aunt Chana: For bringing back my former ward *looking at Selena and smiling*
Selena: Ward? (Wasn't she Zilpher's nanny before?)
Aunt Chana: Yes, you know, Zilpher was very cheerful, kind, intelligent, mischievous, and lively when he was a child. Do you know why you know this?
Selena: Why?
Aunt Chana: Because I used to be his nanny. But he became somewhat melancholic after his father passed away, but he would always cheer up when he saw a picture of a person.
Selena: ...
Aunt Chana: He would laugh and laugh whenever he looked at those pictures.
Young Zilpher: Hahaha!, how cute he is eating shrimp!!!
Aunt Chana: I feel those pictures were of the woman he liked when he studied in your place.
Selena (When he was my classmate?) Ah...
Aunt Chana: He always talked about how beautiful the purple hair of the woman he liked was and how it smelled when the wind blew it across her face.
Selena: !!! (Wait, it sounds like...) *looked into Aunt Chana's eyes*
Aunt Chana *nodded*
Selena (So that's why...., he wanted me to keep watch over him, because....) ....
Aunt Chana: But before his twelfth birthday, I had to leave and leave my job as his nanny.
[Flashback]
Young Zilpher *hugging his nanny* Why do you have to leave, Nanny? *crying* Why are you leaving me?
Nanny Chana *hugging Zilpher tightly* My father got sick, Your Majesty, so I have to leave to take care of him and our farm. Otherwise, we would lose our livelihood and what the others who work for us would eat every day if no one manages it *also crying*
Until...
Other Maid *hugging Zilpher tightly*
Young Zilpher: Nanny!!!, Nanny!!! *screaming and crying*
Nanny Chana *looking at Zilpher* Goodbye, my ward *getting into the carriage*
Aunt Chana: And then it was said that he fainted on his twelfth birthday.
Selena: ...
Aunt Chana: And then the rumors spread that the Majesty had an inexplicable illness that, over the years, I can confirm is indeed true.
Man 1: Your ward is feverish again, said the palace servants to me.
Nanny Chana *stopping her rice harvesting* (My poor ward) *sad*
Aunt Chana: But no one knew what kind of illness the king had.
Selena: ...
Aunt Chana: Then I just heard from others that Zilpher became somewhat quiet since then. Later, when he was crowned, he was known as the feared king throughout the world.
Woman 1: Did you know that King Zilpher beheaded someone again yesterday?
Woman 2: Yes, indeed!
Woman: I witnessed how he beheaded the criminals yesterday.
Woman 1: Really?!
Woman 4: How?!
The women gathered and whispered...
But little did they know, Aunt Chana was secretly listening attentively...
Nanny Chana: Your Majesty?? *surprised*
Aunt Chana: Which deeply saddened me
Selena: ...
Aunt Chana: But when you arrived, I noticed that my ward Zilpher was returning to his old self, so I want to thank you again *holding Selena's hands* Please take good care of him, okay?!
Selena: I will do everything I can to keep him safe (As long as I'm here).