Afterwards...
Selena: Is it okay with you if we both ride on the same horse?
While they were traveling home along the road...
Selena: How are your wounds?
Zilpher: They're fine.
Selena: Doesn't it hurt anymore?
Zilpher: I feel like my wounds are healing.
Selena: Are you eating properly while you're staying at your former nanny's house?
Zilpher: Yes, but how did you know she used to be my nanny?
Selena: She talked to me earlier and shared a lot of stories about you.
Zilpher: Tsskkk!!!
Selena: Were you attacked by a Titan that night which is why you couldn't come home right away and were found injured and lying near their house by Aling Chana?
Zilpher: I-I don't remember clearly. All I recall is waking up at their house *swallows hard*.
Selena: Next time, don't let Zilphy leave your side no matter what, and above all, don't leave yourself alone in any place. You might not be killed by monsters, but you could be abducted by bandits.
Zilpher: Sel...
Selena: I know you're strong and powerful, but don't be complacent because no matter how brave and strong a person is, they still have weaknesses.
Zilpher: Are you worried about me? *smiles*
Selena *glances at Zilpher briefly* ...
Zilpher: ???
Selena *turns away* What if my answer is yes?
Zilpher: Sel... *blushes*
Until they arrived home...
Selena: Rest in our room first.
Zilpher: Sure.
As Zilpher was about to leave, a person with white hair and indigo eyes ran towards him.
???: Zilph!!!!
Zilpher: Gusano?! *surprised*
Selena (Ah, he's the man and friend of Zilpher who brought me to the altar before)
Gusano *hugs Zilpher* Where have you been, Zilpher? Why were you gone for so long?! *cute expression*
Zilpher *tries to push Gusano away* You're like an anxious dog. Just because your master was gone for a while, stay away and leave me alone, Tsskkk!!! *annoyed*
Then another person came running towards them with long green hair and orange eyes wearing glasses and lab-like attire.
??? *bows*
Gusano *stops*
Selena (I think I've only seen this person recently)
Zilpher *adjusts his clothes* Oh, Scientist Heraldo, you're here too!
Heraldo: We need to go to my laboratory, Your Majesty.
Zilpher noticed Selena staring intently at Heraldo.
Zilpher *pulls Selena to his side* (They haven't met each other yet)
Selena: !!!
Zilpher: Ah, Selena, this is Heraldo, the chief scientist of our laboratory.
Heraldo *bows to Selena*
Zilpher: Heraldo, this is my wife Selena.
Heraldo: I am honored to meet you and serve you until my last breath, Your Majesty *bows again*
Selena: It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir *smiles slightly*
Zilpher *frowns*
Gusano: Hey, I'm coming with you to the laboratory too.
Heraldo: Alright.
Zilpher: Oh, then we'll meet again next time, Selena *smiles*
Selena *nods*
And so the three of them left...
Selena (Why do they need to go to the laboratory?) What are they planning to do there?
And at the laboratory...
Heraldo carefully tended to Zilpher's wounds...
Zilpher: Aiishhh!!! Be gentle, Tsskkk!!!
Heraldo: You didn't bring your medicines again.
Zilpher: ....
Heraldo: You changed forms again, didn't you?
Zilpher: Hayysss...
Heraldo handed Zilpher a yellow capsule...
Heraldo: Always carry this with you even when you're outside the palace.
Zilpher *nods*
Gusano: Zilph??
Zilpher: Oh?!
Gusano: Have you told the Queen about this? About your true condition?
Zilpher: Not yet.
Gusano: When do you plan to tell her?
Zilpher: I have no intention of telling her.
Gusano: Zilpher!!! *shouts*
Zilpher: Tsskkk!! I'll tell her when a cure for my condition is found and when I've recovered.
Gusano: You should tell her now while there's still time, okay?
Zilpher: O-ookayyy....
Until...
Selena *practicing archery*
Twang!!! Swish!!!!
???: May I join you again in practicing?
Selena *stops* Sure, Zilpher.
They talked while practicing archery...
Selena: You're really persistent. I told you to rest properly, but here you are, practicing archery with me.
Zilpher: I just want to make up for it and spend more time with you since I didn't fulfill my promise to come home right away.
Twang!! Swish!!!!
Selena *stops and looks at Zilpher* Don't get too close and play with fire, Zilpher.
Zilpher *also stops and looks into Selena's eyes* What if I've become so used to playing with fire that I'm willing to get hurt for it? Because that's the only way I can keep my sight on the only light I see in a dark path I'm walking.
Selena: Zip, what if that fire becomes the cause of your end? (Whatever you're hiding from everyone, I will find out one day.)
Zilpher: I don't care. As long as I'm happy seeing that fire, I'll keep playing with it *smiles*.
Selena: You're really crazy *grabs a sword* But... I prefer you like this...
Twang!!! Swish!!!!
Zilpher: Sel...
Selena *stops* Let's go, teach me how to use a sword properly.
Selena attacks first...
Selena: Yaahhh!!!
Zilpher *dodges Selena's attack* You're taking this fight too seriously *smiles*.
They trained hard until evening...
Selena *stops* Hah! Hah! We'll continue tomorrow *drops the sword on the ground*
Zilpher *stops too*
Unexpectedly, Selena trips over a small stone...
Selena: !!! *surprised* (Oh no, I didn't notice there was a stone.)
Zilpher quickly catches her, but he loses his balance due to the wounds on his legs that haven't healed yet.
Zilpher: Acckkk!!!
And so, they both end up on the ground, where...
Selena: Hhmmm???!!! (We're on top of each other?!)
Zilpher: !!! (How did I end up with Selena's lips on mine?!!) *blushes*
They quickly stand up and dust off their clothes.
Zilpher *turns away* L-Let's get up!!! *blushing*
Selena *nods*
As they walked back into the palace...
Zilpher: Sel??
Selena: What?
Zilpher: I hope you'll trust me until the end. I will tell you everything one day.
Selena: I'll try...
And they continued walking under the white moon in the dark sky.
Until they went to sleep...
Zilpher *takes off the blanket and leaves their room*
Selena *wakes up* Zilpher....
Selena immediately follows Zilpher...
Selena (I will find out your secret tonight, no matter what!)
She quietly goes down the stairs and follows Zilpher...
Zilpher grabs a bottle of water from the refrigerator...
Selena *hides behind the walls*
Then Zilpher takes something from his pocket...
Selena (He's going to take that yellow medicine? But why?) Maybe for his pain? *whispers*
Zilpher drinks the medicine...
Then Selena quickly leaves to avoid being caught awake by Zilpher.
While in bed...
Selena: Tsskkk!!! (I still haven't learned Zilpher's secret! (I could have used that for the good of my land) But there will be other days to find out his secret *closes her eyes*)