Max moved through the castle’s long hallways at something close to a military march.

Well, not exactly military.

More like someone walking way too fast while desperately trying not to look desperate.

Which he was very clearly failing at.

His heart was pounding so hard against his chest that he was honestly starting to wonder if that was medically advisable.

’Alright, calm down.’

He thought as he turned a corner.

’I’m just going to talk to Elanor.’

He took a deep breath.

’My fiancée.’

He wiped sweat from his forehead.

’The princess.’

He smiled.

’The girl I think I’m in love with.’

Max nearly tripped over his own feet.

"Great," he muttered.

He dragged a hand down his face.

How exactly was he supposed to say something like that?

He couldn’t just show up in front of her and blurt out:

"Hi, I think I fell in love with you, and also one day I might have to leave this world to prevent an interdimensional catastrophe."

No. Terrible strategy.

He turned another corner.

And nearly crashed straight into Abby.

The demon girl jumped back slightly.

"Whoa!"

Max came to an abrupt stop.

"Sorry."

Abby looked him up and down.

"Max?"

He raised a hand in greeting, already resuming his pace.

"Hi, Abby. We’ll talk later."

He practically jogged past her.

Abby stood there watching him disappear down the corridor. Then frowned.

"Is he about to piss himself, or why is he running like that?"

Thankfully, Max didn’t hear her.

He kept moving through corridors, staircases, and even more corridors.

Every person he passed seemed to have something to say to him.

Guards.

Servants.

"Good morning, young Max."

"Yeah, yeah, you too."

"We’re glad to see you back."

"Thanks."

"I heard you went on a dangerous mission."

"Mm-hm."

None of it was actually registering in his brain.

His mind was focused entirely on one thing.

Elanor.

As he turned another corner, he heard a familiar voice.

"Max!"

He stopped again.

Sophie appeared walking in the opposite direction, carrying several papers under one arm.

The cat girl looked visibly relieved the moment she saw him.

"There you are."

Max gave her a slightly nervous smile.

"Hi, Sophie."

She narrowed her eyes.

"The princess was extremely worried about you."

She crossed her arms.

"So please don’t make her worry any more than necessary."

Max nodded way too quickly.

"Yeah, yeah. I’m actually heading there right now."

Sophie studied him for a few seconds. Then smirked to herself.

"Ah."

Her expression shifted into a mix of amusement and complete understanding.

"Oooh."

Max immediately sensed danger.

"What does that ’oh’ mean?"

"Nothing."

Sophie shook her head.

"Absolutely nothing."

Her smile widened.

"Just go."

She pointed dramatically down the hallway, clearly enjoying this situation far too much.

Max sighed.

’Everyone seems to know something I don’t.’

He kept walking.

Finally.

After what felt like an eternity.

He reached the hallway where Elanor’s room was located.

He stopped.

His blood pressure probably did too.

"Okay," he muttered.

"I’m here."

Now that he was actually standing there in front of the objective, he felt like he might faint.

His hand was shaking slightly.

Ridiculous. He had fought giant orcs, cultists, magical creatures, and slave traffickers. But apparently knocking on a door was his true final boss.

He couldn’t think too much about it.

If he thought too much, he’d run away.

So he marched directly to the door and knocked.

KNOCK KNOCK.

And then he heard her voice.

"Max?"

His heart nearly exploded.

"Yes."

He answered way too quickly, then cleared his throat.

"It’s me."

He heard hurried footsteps from inside.

"You’re finally back," Elanor said through the door.

Her voice sounded genuinely relieved.

"I was really worried."

There was the click of the lock.

The door opened.

And there she was.

Elanor was wearing an elegant white dress with silver details. Her red hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her eyes looked at him with a mixture of relief, affection, and concern.

"Max, I—"

He didn’t let her finish.

He just stepped forward and hugged her tightly.

Elanor let out a small sound of surprise.

"M-Max?"

But Max didn’t let go.

He hugged her even tighter.

Like he needed to confirm she was really there.

That nothing had changed yet.

"I needed to see you," he murmured.

Elanor blinked. Slowly, she raised her arms and hugged him back.

"What happened?"

Max took a breath.

And before his brain could sabotage him, he started talking.

Everything at once.

"I think I like you. A lot."

Pause.

"No, that sounded way too mild."

He inhaled badly.

"I like you way too much. More than I thought was even possible."

Elanor’s eyes widened slightly.

Max kept going.

"You make me feel weird. In a good way."

He looked her in the eyes.

"When I’m with you, I feel calm, but also nervous, but also happy, and honestly I have no idea what’s happening to me."

He took another breath.

"And I know this might be completely inappropriate, badly timed, socially questionable, or deeply ridiculous."

He blinked.

"Probably all of the above."

Elanor stood perfectly still.

Just listening to him.

Max swallowed.

"But I needed to tell you."

He looked directly at her.

"Because if I didn’t say it, I felt like I was going to explode."

Max could feel his soul slowly leaving his body.

’Great. Ruined it. Excellent work.’

Then he noticed something.

Elanor was smiling.

A small smile. Beautiful. And tears were starting to gather in her eyes.

Max panicked immediately.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes," she replied softly.

But a tear slipped down her cheek.

"It’s just that..."

She let out a small, shaky laugh.

"I never thought I’d hear something like that."

Max stared at her, not fully understanding.

And then, before he could say anything else...

Elanor kissed him.

Directly.

On the lips.

The world stopped for Max.

Everything disappeared.

The hallways.

The castle.

The possible dimensional apocalypse.

Nothing mattered.

Just this.

Just her.

Just the warmth of her lips.

Just the fact that this was his first kiss.

And honestly, he couldn’t imagine a better one.

When they finally pulled apart by a few inches, Max was still completely frozen.

His brain had turned into mush.

Elanor rested her forehead against his.

Smiling.

Her cheeks lightly flushed.

"I feel the same way."

She said it softly.

"I never thought I could feel this way about someone either."

Max looked at her like he was still trying to process reality itself.

Then he smiled.

A huge, completely genuine smile.

"Wow."

That was all he managed to articulate at first.

Very eloquent.

Very dignified.

"How romantic," he muttered to himself.

Elanor laughed.

Max finally recovered a bit of verbal function.

"I didn’t know it could feel this good to actually connect with someone."

He lowered his voice a little.

"And say what you really feel."

Elanor nodded.

Still smiling.

"Neither did I."

She pulled back slightly, though still holding his hands.

"I was actually just getting ready for a politics lesson."

Max blinked.

"That sounds significantly less exciting than this."

"Much less exciting," she confirmed.

"My new teacher came from the other side of Eldoria to instruct me."

She sighed dramatically.

"Responsibilities."

Max nodded.

"Understandable."

Elanor looked at him fondly.

"But if you want..."

She squeezed his hands gently.

"We can keep talking later."

Max smiled.

"I definitely want that."

Elanor leaned in again.

And kissed him once more.

Shorter this time. But equally devastating to Max’s emotional stability.

When they finally pulled apart, Max was completely red.

Elanor smiled, amused.

"See you later."

Max nodded much too fast.

"Yeah."

He turned around.

Walked three steps.

Stopped.

Turned back around.

Gave her one quick kiss again.

And then practically fled down the hallway.

With a smile so wide it looked physically impossible to remove from his face.