The villainess rested in Kai's arms, her eyes half-closed as she listened to his steady heartbeat. Moments ago, they had faced impossible odds, and now they had this brief, precious reprieve together.
Kai brushed a hand through her hair, watching her as she lay there, vulnerable and at peace. She looked up at him, her fingers tracing light circles on his chest, her gaze filled with a mix of gratitude and affection. "You don't know what it means to me, Kai," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "To know that you'd risk everything for me."
His eyes softened, and he placed a tender kiss on her forehead. "You're worth every risk," he replied, his voice a quiet but firm promise. "I'd fight a hundred dragons if it meant I could protect you." He paused, his gaze steady as he looked into her eyes. "And I'll never let anyone harm you."
A shy smile spread across her lips, but it was laced with uncertainty. "But the world we live in… they'd never accept a royal and a commoner together. I'm afraid, Kai. Afraid of what might happen if they try to keep us apart."
"Then we'll find a way, together," he reassured her, squeezing her hand gently. "I'm not going anywhere, and no one can make me. Let them try."
She looked at him, her expression a mixture of hope and vulnerability. "Kai… sometimes I wonder if we could just leave everything behind. Just you and me. I don't need the crown, the titles, or the wealth." Her eyes were intense, her hand tightening on his. "All I need is you."
Kai felt his heart ache with the weight of her words. "If you want that, I'll make it happen," he replied earnestly. "But I also believe we can make them accept us, in time. I want to stand beside you in the open, not hidden in the shadows."
She nodded slowly, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I just wish it could be that simple. Sometimes I feel like I'm trapped in a story where I'm not allowed a happy ending."
Kai caught the tear with his thumb, brushing it away gently. "Then we'll rewrite the story," he whispered. "We'll give ourselves that happy ending."
They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's warmth, feeling the connection between them strengthen with every passing second.
Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted the silence. Kai stiffened, and the villainess quickly sat up, her face flushing as she wiped her tears. "Who… who could that be?"
Kai opened the door to find one of the academy messengers. "Kai, the king has requested an audience with you," the messenger said with a respectful bow. "It seems urgent."
The villainess tensed, her expression shifting to one of worry. "The king? What could he possibly want with you now?"
Kai met her gaze with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I'll be back before you know it." He gave her hand a final squeeze before following the messenger out.
As he left her room, the villainess watched him go, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and pride. She knew that Kai was strong, capable, and loyal to the core, but she couldn't shake the feeling that this audience with the king would bring them closer to the edge of the obstacles they'd been fearing.
---
At the Royal Chamber
When Kai entered the royal chamber, he was met by the king himself, along with several noble families and their heirs—including the game's main character, who stood by with a look of disdain.
The king looked at him with a mixture of respect and curiosity. "Kai," he began, his voice echoing in the grand hall. "You have shown remarkable bravery. You not only defeated the dragon that has threatened our kingdom, but you also protected our people in ways few would dare."
Kai bowed respectfully, though he sensed the tension in the room. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I only did what I thought was right."
The king smiled, but there was a shrewd glint in his eyes. "Such selflessness is a rare trait. But tell me, Kai… why does a commoner risk his life for a royal?"
Kai met the king's gaze head-on, his voice steady. "Because, Your Majesty, there are things in life that go beyond titles and wealth. I risked my life because there is someone I care about deeply. Someone worth any cost."
The nobles whispered among themselves, scandalized by his words. The game's main character sneered, crossing his arms. "A filthy commoner thinks he's worthy of a royal's affection," he muttered under his breath, loud enough for everyone to hear.
The king held up a hand to silence the murmurs. "So you believe yourself capable of standing beside a royal, despite your status?" he asked, his tone challenging but intrigued.
Kai's gaze didn't waver. "Yes, Your Majesty. I believe that love and loyalty are stronger than any title. And I would prove myself worthy a thousand times over if given the chance."
The room fell silent, and for a moment, the king simply stared at him, as if weighing his soul. Then, slowly, he nodded. "Then prove it, Kai," he declared. "Show the world that courage and devotion know no class. And perhaps, in time, they will accept you as I do."
---
That Night in the Villainess's Room
Later that night, after the audience with the king, Kai returned to the villainess's room. She threw her arms around him as soon as he entered, relief flooding her features.
"What happened? What did the king say?" she asked, her voice trembling with both hope and fear.
Kai smiled, wrapping his arms around her. "He challenged me to prove myself worthy. And I accepted. We're going to show them, together, that we're meant to be."
A look of determination crossed her face, and she nodded. "I'm with you, Kai. Always."
He cupped her face in his hands, his thumb brushing along her cheek. "Then let's make them see what we see. That our love isn't a weakness, but a strength."
Their lips met in a kiss, deeper and more passionate than any they'd shared before. In that moment, they knew that whatever trials awaited them, they would face them together.
They pulled away, breathless, and she looked into his eyes with a fierce resolve. "Let's rewrite the ending," she whispered. "Together."
Kai nodded, his own resolve matching hers. "Together," he echoed, sealing their vow with another tender kiss.