The male knight staggered back, clutching his fractured arm as though it were the only thing keeping him grounded. His eyes trembled between fear and fury.
"H-hey, stranger… what was all that?" he demanded, voice cracking. "Just who are you?"
Even after being saved, he looked at Jericho as if staring at something far worse than the creatures that attacked them—something unknown, unpredictable, dangerous.
Jericho didn't answer. His gaze shifted over the knight, slow and deliberate, as if measuring the extent of the damage rather than the accusation.
He stepped closer.
"You don't look so good," Jericho said quietly, ignoring the question entirely. "Your arm… it's broken."
His tone held concern, but underneath it was that same unsettling calm—like the storm had ended, but its echo still lingered around him.
The moment Jericho stepped closer, the male knight recoiled violently, raising his good arm as if it could keep a monster at bay.
"Stay back!" he barked, voice raw.
His breath trembled, but his suspicion didn't.
"I knew it… you're one of Jace's allies, aren't you? Only he—and his damned inner circle—wield power like that."
His eyes narrowed, burning with fear and defiance. "You're not fooling me."
Jericho didn't move. The wind rustled the ruined vegetation around them, filling the tense silence.
Then—
A sharp, commanding voice cut through the forest behind them.
"William. That's enough."
Both men turned.
The second female knight emerged from the fading mist, Alice limp in her arms, her armor scratched but her posture unshaken. Authority clung to her like a second skin.
William's eyes widened slightly.
"Commander… what do you mean 'that's enough'?" he asked, his tone immediately respectful but still bristling with alarm.
He gestured toward Jericho, nearly losing balance as pain shot up his broken arm. "Did you not see what this stranger did? We can't trust someone like him."
And in that moment, Jericho finally understood—
the quiet, focused woman carrying her injured comrade wasn't just another knight.
She was their commander.
A talented one, by the way William's voice shrank under her gaze.
The commander adjusted Alice in her arms and fixed William with a stern, steady look.
"I understand your concern," she said, voice cool but edged with authority.
"But the very least you could have done was thank him first. He saved all of us—Alice most of all."
She nodded toward the unconscious girl in her grip. "Gratitude comes before interrogation."
William's jaw tightened, the fight slowly draining out of him. He looked from his commander to Jericho, then exhaled a long, defeated sigh.
"…You're right, Commander."
He turned fully toward Jericho, lowering his eyes in a respectful half-bow despite the pain twisting his injured arm.
"My apologies. And… thank you. For your assistance."
Jericho blinked, slightly caught off guard.
A faint, nervous smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"It's fine," he said softly. "Given the circumstances, anyone would be wary. I get it."
He paused, then added more firmly, "I'll answer your questions… but only under one condition."
William stiffened again. The commander's eyes narrowed with interest.
Jericho continued, "That you answer mine as well."
The commander exchanged a brief glance with William before nodding once.
"Agreed."
William followed with a reluctant nod of his own.
And just like that, the forest fell quiet again—three strangers, bound by danger, suspicion, and now… a fragile agreement.
After settling Alice gently onto the ground, the commander stood and stretched her shoulders, the exhaustion finally showing through the cracks of her discipline. She turned to Jericho with a calmer expression, one brow slightly lifted.
"Alright," she said, brushing dirt from her gloves. "Go ahead. What is it you want to know?"
A slow, mischievous smirk curved across her lips.
"Though I have to say… you're quite the exhibitionist."
William froze, blinking hard.
Jericho's face flushed instantly.
The commander tilted her head, amused.
"I mean—considering how we first met… you weren't exactly dressed for the occasion."
William choked on his own breath.
Jericho instinctively crossed his arms over his chest, even though he was clothed now.
The commander chuckled under her breath—a light sound, but one that eased the lingering edge of distrust just a little.
The forest air shifted again—not safe, not relaxed, but no longer hostile.
A fragile camaraderie beginning to form, sparked by danger… and a mildly humiliating first impression.
Jericho's cheeks flared bright red, the memory hitting him harder than any monster.
"T-that was a misunderstanding," he blurted out, rubbing the back of his neck as if trying to erase the whole incident from existence.
His voice cracked slightly. "A complete misunderstanding."
He cleared his throat, desperate to redirect the moment.
"Ahem—l-let's… start with introductions."
The commander's lips curved into a small smile.
In her eyes, a soft thought flickered—cute.
She turned slightly, gesturing toward the injured man leaning against a tree.
"First, the passionate and perpetually grumpy knight over here—Sir William Grey."
William grunted at the description, but didn't deny it.
"He's the vice commander of the Holy Knights of the Kingdom of Righteous."
Next, she nodded toward the unconscious girl resting peacefully on the ground.
"And this is Alice Will Hidenham… a four-star high-ranking knight. One of our best."
Finally, she placed a hand over her chest with quiet pride.
"As for me… I am the commander of the Holy Knights."
She paused before delivering the true blow.
"And the princess and heir of the Holy Kingdom of Righteous—Princess Erica von Righteous."
Jericho froze.
His breath hitched.
His mind stopped.
Everything in him simply malfunctioned.
"P–Princess... PRINCESS?!"
He immediately dropped to his knees so fast William flinched.
"I—I'm so sorry! I didn't know! I wasn't flaunting my—my parts on purpose!"
His voice cracked into a desperate plea. "Please don't kill me!"
William stared at him as if Jericho had just invented a new era of humiliation.
But Erica—
She burst into laughter.
A warm, genuine, melodic sound.
"mister… watch your phrasing."
Still smiling, she knelt beside him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Her warmth steadied him like a slow exhale after panic.
"I would never harm the man who saved my life—and my knights' lives."
Her voice softened. "If anything… I owe you."
Their eyes met.
A quiet connection sparked—unexpected, tender, undeniable.
For a heartbeat, the forest fell away.
Until—
William loudly cleared his throat.
Both snapped back to reality.
Erica stood abruptly, cheeks faintly pink, while Jericho looked like someone had just turned the world's largest spotlight on him.
The moment was gone… but not forgotten.
William, still holding his broken arm, and hiding his distrust behind a stiff posture, gestured sharply toward Jericho.
"Alright then… your turn."
His tone was polite enough for a knight addressing a stranger who saved his life—but underneath, suspicion simmered.
Jericho felt it.
He felt Erica's eyes too—gentle, curious, and already far more trusting than she should be.
He swallowed hard.
For a moment… he froze.
Should I tell them?
Or stay quiet a little longer?
If I say too much… I might make everything worse.
William took a step forward, irritation cracking through.
"Well? Go on."
Jericho exhaled slowly.
He didn't know them well enough to bare everything—but he could offer a slice of the truth. Just enough to build a bridge.
He lifted his head.
"What I'm about to tell you… might sound unbelievable."
Erica straightened slightly.
William narrowed his eyes.
Jericho continued, voice steady but heavy with the weight of what he was about to reveal.
"My name is Jericho von Menssai."
A pause—a deep breath.
"The lost prince of the Dynasty of Menssai."
The forest went dead silent.
Erica froze mid-step.
Her expression shattered into pure disbelief, eyes wide, lips parted slightly.
William's reaction was far louder.
"That's impossible…. stop joking around and tell the truth"
He pointed aggressively at Jericho, shock overriding all manners.
"But I am telling the truth— I am Jericho, the former prince of the Dynasty of Menssai" Jericho responded nervously but was very honest.
"We buried you. They held a national funeral—for you and your father!"
His voice cracked with incredulity. "We mourned for months!"
He shook his head violently, as if trying to force reality to make sense.
"So how—how are you standing here? Alive?"
Jericho's heart pounded.
He had known disbelief was coming.
He had known his words would sound insane.
But seeing their faces—Erica's stunned silence, William's near panic—made the truth feel even heavier.
And now… he would have to choose how much more he dared to reveal.
Erica finally stirred, the shock fading enough for her to find her voice.
"So…" she said slowly, eyes locked on Jericho, "you're the Saint Prince of Menssai?"
Jericho's gaze dropped to the ground, his cheeks warming.
"I… don't really approve of that title," he murmured, thumb rubbing nervously against his palm.
"But yes. I am Jericho."
William ran a shaky hand through his hair, exhaling as if releasing months of confusion, grief, and disbelief all at once.
He looked at Jericho again—this time without anger, without suspicion… just an honest need to understand.
"Then tell me," he said quietly,
"how did you survive? And where have you been all this time?"
Jericho's breath caught in his throat.
Here it is again.
The question I'm not ready to answer.
His mind churned.
Should he tell them?
Should he lie?
Should he wait?
Would they trust him… or turn on him?
He froze—caught between truth and safety.
But then—
A faint groan broke through the tension.
Erica spun around.
William's eyes widened.
Alice's fingers twitched.
Her eyelids fluttered.
"Alice?" Erica knelt beside her instantly.
The girl let out a small, pained breath as consciousness returned.
All attention shifted to her—concern, relief, urgency.
And Jericho—
He quietly exhaled, the pressure easing from his chest.
For now, he was spared the truth.
For now… he had a moment to breathe.
A moment to think.
A moment to decide what the next version of his story would be.
Alice's eyes finally fluttered open fully, her vision sharpening. The first thing she saw was Erica leaning over her, Her ponytail brushed her cheek, red strands gleaming faintly, relief softening the princess's features. But as Alice's gaze shifted, her world seemed to slow.
Her big, green eyes locked onto William's stern face, his usual cold stare assessing her condition.
Then—
she noticed him.
A stranger she didn't recognize.
The moment her gaze fell on Jericho, her breath caught.
Her chest tightened—no pain, just a sudden, heavy thump that grew quicker and quicker.
She stared, lips parted slightly, one hand rising instinctively to her chest.
Erica had to call her name three times before Alice even blinked.
"A–Alice?"
"Alice."
"…Alice!"
Alice finally snapped back, startled.
"Ah—! Y-yes, Commander?"
Erica frowned softly.
"Are you alright? You blacked out there for a moment."
Alice swallowed, still unable to take her eyes off Jericho.
"I'm fine… I just… felt something strange in my chest," she whispered, cheeks tinting pink.
Her gaze flicked to Jericho again. "W-who is he?"
Erica straightened and called out,
"Mr. Jericho, please come over."
Jericho stepped forward, still shy but steady.
Erica introduced them.
"This is Prince Jericho von Menssai."
Alice's eyes widened so fast it looked painful.
"Prince… Jericho?"
Her voice trembled in disbelief.
"Wait—am I… am I in heaven? Because the Saint prince of Menssai is supposed to be dead."
Erica snorted.
Jericho let out a soft laugh.
He crouched down to Alice's level, meeting her eyes gently.
Then, with a warm and unexpectedly radiant smile—the kind that made her heart skip again—he extended a hand.
"please, I do not approve of that nickname, it's kind of embarrassing" Jericho responded shyly… "and No, you're alive. And so am I."
His voice softened. "It's a pleasure to meet you properly. I'm Jericho."
Alice's face turned pinker than her hair ribbon.
She blindly reached for his hand, gripping it a little too tight.
"I—I'm A-Alicia Will—"
She froze, mortified.
"I mean—Alice! Alice Will Hidenham!"
Her cheeks puffed, glowing red with embarrassment.
Jericho chuckled softly. And for a moment, the forest felt warmer.