Her craze for him~

Standing with a big smile on her face was a middle-aged woman with Auburn hair adorning her head and elation covering her persona.

Other than the fact that the woman was wearing a maid uniform and did not have any kind of insulating cloth even though her background was practically dyed in white with bone-chilling breezes flowing at a rapid speed, what made the woman special was the person she was waiting for.

The princess of a country, the person who was called humanity's hope and Priestess of Miracles, was arriving from the door where the maid was standing in front.

Other than the maid, there were proper carriages which were, instead of horses, bonded with big husky wolves of size more than two meters.

About two dozen men were standing by each carriage in a proper arrangement with weapons hanging on their waist or back and a solemn expression on their faces.

It goes without saying why these many guards came when a single person was arriving through the teleportation portal, as the person in question wasn't someone whom the emperor could take a chance upon risking.

After what seemed like an hour since the carriages arrived, the door of the portal center finally swung apart as the figure of a man in his late twenties walked forward before standing at a side and thumping his hand on his chest to greet the person who followed.

Not only him, but the other guards too joined their feet before thumping their fists on themselves in the union as they shouted simultaneously.

""Long live the Young Lady!!""

The person who they referred to as the 'young lady' and the person who made the already elated maid teared up in joy was none other than the first love of Austin, Luna Eldritch.

Upon seeing the scene, Luna just nodded indifferently before she walked toward the person she only could talk openly within this nation. Her nanny and her caretaker, Anna.

"How have you been, Anna? Looking at your wrinkles, it doesn't seem you have been doing well at all."

Upon hearing the carefree remark and slight smile, Luna bestowed, even only for a blink, made it clear that Luna was doing great in the nation of Gram.

When Luna left her home, there wasn't any specific expression on her face. Anna was used to seeing her young lady wearing such a facade so she could hide her inner bitterness. But looking at the current Luna, the loyal maid couldn't help but feel even more joyous.

"I am very well, my lady. Please come inside since it's extremely freezing today."

After a bow, Anna took Luna inside the royal carriage, which looked the most extravagant of them all.

The other carriages weren't for the soldier guards, but the transportation carried top-tier mages and medics in case of an emergency.

"Well, it's not like it doesn't snow around the year."

Muttering under her breath, Luna, with the help of her maid, climbed the carriage before a highly exquisite sight greeted the duo.

The inside was far warmer than the outside, with mana stones working as insulators and comfortable couches, making the whole room like carriage, extremely cozy.

Luna settled on one of the sofas before Anna instructed the coach to move forth.

*WOOOOOOOO*

The howls of Fenris echoed in the surroundings as every white-furred being signaled each other before the carriage started to move.

Anna went to the counter as she started preparing milk tea for her young lady. After a few minutes, a cup of freshly brewed tea was presented in front of the silent Luna, gazing at the outside solemnly.

"Thanks, Anna."

Thanking her with a slight smile, Luna sipped on the tea only to sigh in nostalgia and comfort.

"You're smiling quite often, my lady. Did something happen recently...or maybe you finally found your prince Charming?"

Through the letters Luna sent quite often to her sole friend Anna, until the recent months, she made it clear that she wasn't interested in Kyouki, that's why Anna didn't mention the name directly but instead left with a trail.

Upon hearing her nanny's query, a shy insuppressible smile formed on Luna's charming face as she hurriedly sipped on the tea in one go.

Due to her family relations, Anna rarely saw her young lady smiling in the past, but now, looking at her seemed that she was looking at an entirely different person.

Gone was the aloof and cold saintess. In front of Anna, only a shy maiden in love was available.

Fidgeting at her seat, Luna hesitated only for Anna to tease even more as the latter pushed her young lady to confess everything.

"Young lady~ Won't you tell me about him?"

With a slight grin, Anna raised her brows before the cornered Luna finally gave in.

"Yes, yes, I found my love after this long. Happy now?"

With a giggle, Anna walked toward her young lady, before kneeling in front as she held her hand and asked for more.

"You know how long I have waited for this gossip. Don't hide it, my princess, and tell me about this selected one who has melted this ice lady and made my pure Luna so much crazed in love."

Luna became flushed slightly as she heard her nanny's shameless remark but again, Luna couldn't deny what she heard, so she finally let go of her restraint.

"The most handsome and charming man I have ever seen has captivated me, Anna! You know, he made me realize that a human could have so much kindness inside them and still doesn't boast about it. He made me realize that life isn't about selfishness but also about caring and sacrificing for others. The way he handles these many griefs, which I can't even compare mine with, and still how he smiles carelessly like a stupid fool made my heart thump at its highest pitch. I don't know when but he made his way inside the deepest part of my heart from where I could never let him escape anymore. I love him, Anna. I love him more than I2 could ever define with mere words..."

Anna, throughout Luna's dreamy confession, was carefully observing her young lady's expression. And from what she concluded, Luna wasn't just in love with the said boy, but she was utterly drowned in his love, hopelessly.

Anna wasn't sure whether the man, as Luna said, actually was or not, but she hoped dearly that whatever happened, her lady doesn't get heartbroken in the future.

(A/N:- Flag?)

The way Luna was describing her love made Anna glad as well as scared at the same time about any unforeseen future which could make her young lady disheartened to the point of no return.

'I hope my fear never turns into reality, my lady...'

Suddenly Luna grabbed her nanny's hand, startling the latter before she heard the continuation of Luna's flowery words for the man she adores.

"You will like him, Anna. In a way, he makes me remember you. I am sure you will have a great time together discussing the elemental spells and other nerdy stuff."

Upon hearing Luna's enthusiastic remark, Anna closed her left eye as she said teasingly.

"Won't you be troubled, my lady, if I were to sweep away such a fine young man for myself? I am still single after all~."

Suddenly the warm atmosphere inside the carriage started dropping in temperature as Anna felt her connected hand with Luna, freezing at a furious pace.

Looking at Luna's darkened expression, Anna hurriedly cleared the childish misunderstanding she only spouted on the spur of the moment.

"M-My lady...it was a joke! A joke."

Coming out of her stupor, Luna stated without much change of tone.

"Oh, well. I was aware."

Lying with a straight face, Luna retracted her gaze toward outside before the room regained warmth and freedom for Anna's hand.

Sighing, the beautiful maid got up from the ground before she took the empty cup from the table as she went to prepare a hot brewing for Luna and herself.

While boiling the water, a sudden question arrived in Anna's mind as she asked with slight concern filled in her voice.

"Young lady...what about Hero-sama? I didn't want to bitter your mood, but your majesty has already boasted a lot about your special relationship with hero Kyouki-sama. Have you thought about it?"

Upon hearing the tensed tone of her maid, Luna sneered inwardly. She wasn't bothered because Anna asked it instead; it was the person she mentioned.

"As I said in my letters, there was nothing in between that hero and me. He is a foolish moron who hasn't seen what this world actually has in store. The time he would realize that justice and stuff look only good in fairy tales, it would be too late for him. And I'm not going to be a part of it anymore. "

Taking a slight pause, the expression over her face washed with a dark makeover as in a deep voice, she continued.

"And as for father...then I know what I have to do. I am done with that old man's whims and blinded judgment. It's time to make it clear that I am no more bonded with this place nor with any relationship. By hook or crook, this would be the last time I would visit this place on someone's command, not by my desire."

_________

On the morning of the fourth day, since Austin went to the toughest lair of his life, he finally decided to return to his dorm.

Last night he spent the whole night without realizing how fast the time had passed. The entire night he didn't sleep a wink and only stared at the night starry sky while remembering the face of the person he found his first love in.

Walking at a steady pace toward the school premise, Austin carried his little sore body with his clothes still in the beggar's state.

'Man...what does he wants now...'

Upon sensing familiar mana, Austin grumbled inwardly before continuing his step in the forwarding direction.

Austin would have avoided the person who was, without a doubt waiting for Austin at the school entrance, but Austin had some words to deliver, so he decided upon confrontation.

"Where is she?"

Holding his anger and resisting his urge to lunge at Austin right at the instance, Kyouki asked in a stable tone.

His expression was sullen, signifying how long he had waited for Austin's arrival and not finding Luna beside him, how miserable Kyouki felt inside his heart.

Those who saw him continuously patrolling in the jungle and standing at the entrance days and night could only understand how deeply he was concerned for Luna.

Kyouki's party members also helped him, but in the end, he asked for isolation when he felt hopeless about finding his love. The three beauties, even being reluctant, agreed with Kyouki's wish and left his side on the third day.

And now, when Kyouki finally got a glimpse of hope to see Luna, he found Austin shaking his head in denial, urging Kyouki's anger to an unparalleled state.

"In actuality, I don't really know, so move aside."

Austin was about to walk forward when a sturdy hand wrapped around his nape before an angry voice made Austin's eardrums slightly numb.

"Tell me where the fuck you hid MY LUNA."

Upon hearing such a remark, the previous Austin would have played scumbag and said something to get his ass beaten, but now when he has realized his love for Luna....

*SWISH*

*BANGGG*

In an instant, Kyouki's whole world flipped upside down, and before he could realize it, his body was slammed on the ground with his previously tightly held hand, holding nothing but open air.

The back of his head was aching profoundly, signifying at what furious pace he was thrown to the ground, but what made his bone freeze in fret was the voice of the man, who was pressing Kyouki down on the floor.

"Listen, you blind piece of justice trash. When you proudly announce Luna as yours, it fucking irritates me. Next time when you see her, ask her yourself what she thinks of you, then, you might come to a realization of what a massive jerk you are. Now stop hindering and play the hero of justice for the people who lick your ass."

Letting go of the hold, Kyouki finally came out of the stupor as he felt air regulating in his lungs, as he started breathing heavily.

He gasped audibly to catch as much air as possible while panting like a dog on the floor.

Austin didn't walk more than five steps when he halted and called for the hero, making the latter hold his breath again.

"Wherever Luna is, you won't have to worry about her involvement in this upcoming matter, so rest well with your fairies and don't assume that everything that would be happening from now on is your concern. Understood?"

Kyouki just glared at the back of Austin, who clearly told him not to meddle with the matter regarding Charles, and since Luna wasn't involved, Kyouki also didn't have a plan to come forward in the first place.

Austin also sensed the conclusion from the hero, so continuing his walk, he muttered his departing words.

"I think you do...."