Silvia smirked. "You dunderheads are acting like this is new. He was always like that. You think someone who was sentenced to death would help out civilians when he could have escaped at that time?"

The rest fell silent. In that moment, surrounded by the sounds of work and laughter on the streets, they couldn't help but agree.

No matter how sharp his tongue or grim his face, Vangeance had a heart far nobler than most could see.

Silvia was talking about Vangeance's past, the day he'd first met their commander.

It was years ago, when one of the frontier cities fell under a demon siege. The Temple of Light had arrived late, but by the time they reached the place, there were hardly any casualties. The reason? Vangeance had been there first. Alone.

Covered from head to toe in demon blood, he had fought like a man possessed, defending civilians when there was no one else standing. He wasn't anyone's subordinate back then, just a condemned hooligan trying to atone.

But that day, he embodied what it meant to be a knight.

"Haha, Senior Vangeance and the Commander really are amazing," Kevin said, pumping his fist. "Yosh, I'm going to help the people, too!"

Inspired by his enthusiasm, everybody from the Temple of Light dove back into the rebuilding work with renewed vigor.

.

Days rolled by. The Crown of Aetherion soon announced a grand memorial ceremony to honor the fallen and compensate the bereaved, along with something much flashier, a public display of the Heavenly King's head.

A grim trophy meant to show the people that humanity could win.

By the end of the week, the capital looked alive once again. The streets were packed, both from the locals and the flood of guests who had stayed behind to witness the rumored marriage of heroes- Vaerion, the legendary Dark Knight, and Princess Diana of Aetherion.

On the morning of the wedding, the city practically glittered. The royal palace's cascading waterfalls framed a vast crystal hall filled with guests from every corner of the continent.

At the altar, Vaerion stood tall, dressed in an immaculate suit and clutching his vows. The man was fully prepared for this day. Though Reinhardt, sitting in the guest area, couldn't help but make a strange face after seeing that.

"Finally, the day we came here for has arrived," the Queen said, smiling gracefully from the seat beside him.

Reinhardt nodded politely, expression unreadable. "Indeed."

The demon attack on the capital had been an unexpected disaster, but technically the original purpose of their visit was this... the wedding.

The Queen leaned closer. "By the way, where is the bride?"

Reinhardt's mouth twitched. A faint, awkward grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "Good question…"

His mind flashed back to a certain moonlit park a week ago... to Vaerion, the gallant Dark Knight himself, doing more than just patrolling the city with his Vice Commander. And of course, to the part where Reinhardt accidentally brought the princess to witness it live.

He had assumed; no, hoped that Diana would stew in silence, endure the ceremony, and drop the hammer later in royal fashion. But now? He was getting that sinking gut feeling again.

It wasn't any divine intuition—just the sharp awareness that always showed up before things spiraled into chaos.

He chatted idly with the Queen for a bit while the King, already a few glasses deep, laughed loudly with foreign dignitaries nearby. Yet time ticked on, and the bride was still missing.

Soon murmurs began spreading, whispers rising like ripples across the hall.

"Where's the princess?"

"She should've been here half an hour ago…"

"Did something happen?"

The musicians faltered. The courtiers started shifting uncomfortably.

At last, the truth slipped out, first as rumor, then as panic.

The Princess of Aetherion was missing.

She hadn't been seen anywhere near her mansion for days. At first, the royal family had dismissed it as nerves, assuming she'd hidden away to calm herself. By the morning of the wedding, guards had already been dispatched discreetly.

But she had outwitted them, leaving behind trails and diversions that led nowhere.

Despite their best efforts to contain the gossip, word spread anyway. And now, the palace buzzed with speculation.

Reinhardt exhaled sharply, one hand brushing his temple. "Perfect. Just perfect. I knew this was coming."

He got up, muttering something under his breath. "Please excuse me for a moment—"

The Queen rose as well, placing a hand on his arm. "Wait. You're not going alone."

He blinked. "Your Majesty?"

"I need to know what's happened to that girl," the Queen said firmly. Her voice carried no hesitation, only quiet concern. "She isn't the type to run away. Not like this... not on a day that stains her country's honor. Something must've happened."

Reinhardt nodded, having a woman with him would be better in this situation. "Fair enough. Might be easier to get answers with you around anyway."

In the confusion, the two slipped out through one of the side corridors while everyone else was distracted by the commotion at the altar.

Reinhardt found a secluded balcony overlooking the gardens. Without a second thought, he wrapped an arm around the Queen's waist, purely for safety, of course... and teleported them away.

A heartbeat later, the royal palace vanished behind them.

Somewhere along a lonely forest road, a single travel carriage rumbled along the dirt path, carrying villagers and commoners toward the outer settlements.

Among them sat a hooded figure wrapped in a robe far too fine for a traveler's garb. Though seated quietly in the corner, her posture screamed noblewoman pretending to be inconspicuous.

And if the faint golden hair peeking from beneath her hood didn't give her away, the soft, gloved hands clutching a heavy coin purse certainly did.

Two particularly rough looking passengers sitting across from her exchanged glances.

"Psst, hey," the bald one whispered. "Look at that one. Doesn't she seem... off to you?"

His younger brother followed his gaze, then nodded slowly. "She's been hiding her face the whole trip. Didn't even talk to the driver."

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