Dame un beso para siempre
Kiss Me Forever
Change has a way of stirring the human heart. A favorite inn altering its menu, replacing the hilt of a well-worn sword, or the subtle signs of a new season approaching—any of these small things can shift one’s mood. And if such little changes can alter a life, what happens when the change is far greater?
That’s exactly what everyone in Solias was facing.
Solias—where it had once been normal to battle monsters lurking in the darkness since the kingdom’s founding—was no more. No longer did the Nir’a emerge from the forest that sealed the kingdom’s border. People who had lived in constant fear of winter, surviving only by enduring it, now found other paths ahead.
Curiosity swept across the land. People dreamed of discovering the sea they’d only heard of in stories and exploring lands beyond the forest’s grasp. The curse that had bound Solias for generations was gone. Those who had lived under the weight of duty were now free.
The entire kingdom pulsed with life. When spring had first arrived, the people floundered as if lost—but after the capital’s leader returned, they began to find their footing again. Though the monsters were gone, many had still feared what freedom might bring. Now, that fear had turned into celebration.
And the royal palace was no exception.
Vine, dressed in light summer clothes, was patrolling the garden. He was ensuring the area was secure before fulfilling his lord’s request to take tea outdoors. Since Rigda had gone to check the other side, Vine took it upon himself to inspect the garden.
The afternoon sunlight drenched the garden in gold. It was stunning, but summer in the capital was hot and dry—just walking a short distance left you sweating. The heat was so relentless, it drained your energy even without effort. Worn out, Vine kept tugging at his collar to cool himself as he looked around.
There was nothing unusual. No matter how carefully he searched, he saw no suspicious figures. Only the gently swaying tree branches and the apple trees that filled the palace grounds glowed under the sun. It was so peaceful, it almost didn’t feel real.
Well, who would dare to come here, anyway?
Feeling satisfied, Vine finished his patrol. There were always unpredictable variables, so caution was necessary—but truthfully, he wasn’t worried. After all, the Grand Duke of the North personally stayed by his lord’s side.
Just thinking of Seiyad Brosius—whom all of Solias revered as a hero—filled Vine with pride. When he’d first met the Grand Duke, his fierce, almost demonic appearance had only evoked fear. But now, the entire world knew the truth: he was more noble and kind than anyone. And that was something to be truly grateful for.
Vine, too, had once thought him terrifying. But in serving his lord, he’d come to understand just how many horrific moments the Grand Duke had endured alone. He had sacrificed endlessly, yet never once received anything in return. If anyone deserved to be loved by all, it was the Grand Duke. The same could be said for his lord.
Vine’s chest tightened as he thought of his master—who had once stood at death’s edge and returned. Now, finally beginning to learn how to enjoy the smallest of joys, his lord deserved every happiness. Hoping to help his master enjoy teatime even a minute sooner, Vine picked up his pace.
As he headed toward the center of the palace at a brisk walk, he happened to cross paths with Ressas’s maids. Their arms were full of silk cloths, baskets, and food, and the moment they saw him, they beamed.
“Sir Vine, you’ve worked so hard! You’re absolutely drenched in sweat!”
“The heat is awful today, isn’t it? It must be exhausting—poor thing.”
The maids cheerfully surrounded him with friendly chatter. Vine’s already flushed face turned redder for an entirely different reason. Maybe it was the festive mood sweeping the kingdom, or maybe it was since the castle’s reconstruction brought people back to the capital—but lately, people had become much kinder to him. Especially the women. Not just today—more and more of them had been approaching him recently.
“Oh, it’s nothing. This heat’s hardly enough to tire me out. If anything, it’s good for circulation. Keeps the blood flowing, haha!”
“Oh my, how manly you are.”
“Here, use this to wipe your sweat.”
One of the maids stepped forward and offered him a handkerchief with a soft, fluttering motion. Her pale, delicate hand was the kind you’d never find among knights. Just seeing it made him feel strangely self-conscious. Mona had told him that his lord’s maids were all daughters of noble families—was it really okay for such refined ladies to treat someone like him this way…?
“What are you doing? Slacking off again, I see.”
Just as Vine nervously reached out to accept the handkerchief, a sharp sting struck his back. He barely swallowed a yelp and turned around. In the brief moment his attention had slipped, someone had snuck up on him—none other than Rigda.
The striking woman, her short red hair swept off her forehead, looked at him with eyes full of exasperation.
“Oh dear.”
Startled by the sudden scolding, the maids took a step back. Rigda, who had been glaring coldly at Vine, now offered the ladies a charming smile.
“I didn’t mean to startle you, ladies. It seems my colleague was in your way.”
“Not at all, Lady Rigda!”
“You’re far too kind to indulge this clueless fool. Your heart must be softer than silk. If it’s alright with you, may I escort you? We’re heading in the same direction anyway.”
“Of course.”
Just like that, all the attention that had been on Vine shifted to Rigda. Huh? That’s weird. Weren’t they all just looking at me…?
The situation flipped in an instant. The maids who’d been fawning over Vine moments ago now clung to Rigda’s side instead.
With beautiful ladies flanking her on both sides, Rigda gave Vine a cold once-over before confidently walking ahead. What’s her deal? He’d been feeling great until a second ago—what did he do wrong?
“Hey, what’s with you? Why the sudden attitude?”
“Maybe because instead of going straight to His Highness, you were busy flirting.”
“I just got here! Doesn’t my sweat-soaked face make that obvious?”
“Sure it does.”
Rigda’s response was brutal. The maids, rather than being put off by her snark, leaned in and whispered about how cool she was. Watching it all unfold, Vine felt miserably left out. If anyone was enjoying this scene, it was clearly her…
“I’ll wait in the garden. You go fetch His Highness. I’m off.”
With that, Rigda disappeared down the corridor, trailed by a line of elegant maids. Watching their retreat with envy, Vine turned and trudged back toward the main wing alone. It stung a little, but truth be told, Vine had never been particularly interested in women. Soon enough, distracted by the sight of the rebuilt palace, he let the whole thing slip from his mind. The new face of Solias stirred something far more exciting in him.
The royal palace, which had been devastated by the colossal Nir’a that struck the capital, had been largely restored in the span of just a few months. Tithers from the royal family—each with their own unique abilities—had lent their aid, and now that the Desertus had revealed themselves, they too had joined the reconstruction efforts, speeding things along.
The rebuilt palace had a very different look. Gone were the glittering golden rooftops and extravagant decorations. In their place stood bright white stone and polished marble. The once-abandoned southern wing had also been renovated into a charming annex. Though small, it was warm and bright, quickly becoming the most beloved spot in the entire castle.
Ressas Raman Solias—formerly the second prince and now Crown Prince—remained in the main wing during official duties, but spent the rest of his time in the annex. One might think that, having become the most powerful figure in the kingdom, he’d start making demands. But perhaps because he’d grown up with so little, His Highness showed no signs of greed. He lived simply, without extravagance, and poured every last coin of the remaining budget into rebuilding Solias.
That selflessness only made him more beloved. From the moment he rose from a scorned prince to the kingdom’s strongest Guide, he’d had the people’s support. Now, he was revered.
Soon, at his coronation, he would officially become the symbol of the kingdom—a guiding force for Solias. Even before ascending the throne, he already had the people’s love. All that was left was for him to enjoy it.
And yet, instead of taking a moment to bask in that affection, His Highness was working harder than anyone. Since returning to the capital, the soon-to-be king hadn’t had a single break. His schedule was relentless. Between restoring the palace, restructuring the system, reassigning noble titles, preparing for the coronation, and mapping out future plans, the meetings never ended. The topics were so complex, just listening to them gave Vine a headache.
Worried about someone who’d only just recovered pushing himself so hard, Vine had suggested he take a break. But Ressas refused. In the beginning, he’d struggled to manage people, but after a few stumbles, he’d grown into an exceptional leader. He learned quickly—so quickly, in fact, that it felt like he’d aged and matured by years in mere months.
“Your Highness, it’s Vine. May I enter?”
Vine stood at the door of Ressas’s study and called out politely. Mona, who was stationed just outside, leaned over and whispered to him.
“Vine, no matter what you see in there—just act like you didn’t. And don’t freak out like last time.”
“What? Why? What’s going on?”
“You’ll see.”
Last time? Vine tried to recall what she meant, but nothing came to mind. That’s odd. He prided himself on being steady—he didn’t get easily rattled. While he was still puzzling over it, Ressas’s voice came from inside, granting him entry. Vine slowly opened the door.
The study was bathed in warm sunlight streaming through large arched windows. The curtains billowed gently in the breeze, and somewhere near the sill, birds chirped sweetly—Sey must’ve been singing there again today.
And then Vine saw it.
What he walked into was so unexpected, so stunning, that he stopped with the door half-open, completely frozen in place.
There, on a sofa barely large enough for one grown man to sit alone…
“I’ll get up now, Your Highness.”
…was the Grand Duke of Axid—Seiyad Brosius—seated squarely in the Crown Prince’s lap.
