Gilbert's stomach painfully grumbled, begging him to eat something. He would have if he weren't out of food already.

It had been a few difficult weeks since he fled and went into hiding. Gilbert regretted not taking survival lessons seriously when he was still young. All he ever learned seriously were the history of places he's never been into and politics, not to forget the painstaking manners he was forced to learn as the future ruler.

He was tired and frustrated, asking himself, "Is this the best I can do?" How far were his enemies in their plan while he was starving to death, unable to do something useful, he wondered?

"No use in sulking over it, I must push ahead," Gilbert muttered to himself as a little encouragement, and so he did with an empty stomach and a weary physique.

Despite that, he could not deny his sight blurring as he moved further along the winding path towards the unknown. Gilbert never got out beyond the castle walls. Now that he was alone, the young prince realized just how sheltered and foolish he was.

It wasn't until he felt the ground shake that he snapped out of his train of thoughts.

With wide eyes, Gilbert felt panic surge through his veins. He focused on his surroundings and found himself on unfamiliar grounds. Tall, thick trees lined up on each side of the rocky path he was treading on. He hadn't even noticed he was already out of the comfort of his country's walls. No houses can be found nor are there people roaming around. He was utterly foolish, and now he might die, wasting the efforts of his best friend and possibly killing the hope of those who wait for his return along with the sword.

"There he is! Just as the princess predicted!"

Startled, Gilbert stood frozen in front of a marching army. In their possession was a flag raised tall and proud, bearing the symbol of the sun. Gilbert knew which kingdom—rather, queendom, it belonged to. Sunny Drop.

Surrounded by the marching battalion was a carriage Gilbert recognized as a carriage solely for royalty due to the symbol of Sunny Drop neatly carved on the carriage's entrance.

The door swung open and there emerged an elegant young woman dressed in the most expensive silk and covered in precious gems. Despite her luxurious look, she did not come off as pretentious. Rather, she was confident, just like what a princess should be.

"I've been waiting," she said, her voice rich and melodic.

"...Waiting?" He queried as the princess, oddly familiar to him, approached him slowly. Gilbert could not help but be attracted to her soft giggles as she assured her knights that they do not need to follow her.

"Yes. I've waited for several long years, and now the time has come."

The fugitive prince was even more puzzled, and it didn't escape the kind eyes of the princess.

"Pardon my rudeness. I am Luna, princess of the Queendom of Sunny Drop." The girl curtsied with Gilbert clumsily bowing in courtesy.

"I am…" the prince hesitated, believing that he wasn't a prince now that he was driven out of his household.

"I know who you are," she said, offering him a kind smile before continuing, "The future king of Wyvern and the hero of our united lands, His Royal Highness, Prince Gilbert."

It was unbecoming of a future king to embarrass himself, especially in front of a young lady from a royal family, but Gilbert couldn't help but gape in surprise.

"Come, we have many things to discuss." Luna offered her hand to the unkept prince. Seeing his hesitance, Luna gently placed her hand above Gilbert's fairly large one.

"I am your ally, we wish to bring an end to the Lord of the dead's rising."

Hearing the villainous name out of her mouth, Gilbert's demeanor changed. For a moment, Luna was so stunned that she had to contain the knights accompanying her. The blood lust that Gilbert unconsciously released was so strong that even her knights caught wind of it.

Slowly, gently, Gilbert gripped Luna's hand with new determination.

"Take me."

Smiling, she led him by the hand towards her carriage.

After years of painful waiting, the hero was finally in front of her. she can finally do something other than dawdling.