secret love

Episode 6

The King of Philip remained silent for a moment, deep in thought. His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of his throne as he considered the weight of Max’s words. Finally, he spoke, his voice firm.

“If what you say is true, then we must act immediately. If we delay, the dragon will destroy everything in its path.”

Max nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. The creature is enormous and far more powerful than we anticipated. That is why we have come seeking your aid.”

A knowing smile tugged at the corners of the king’s lips. “I must admit, I was surprised to hear that a commander like Max was forced to retreat. Your reputation precedes you, and I have heard many stories of your strength and victories.” He leaned forward slightly. “If someone like you says the dragon is truly dangerous, then I have no reason to doubt it.”

The king then straightened and made his decision. “Very well. My army will march to your kingdom at dawn. But for now, you are my guests. You must rest before the battle ahead. My servants will show you to your rooms.”

Max clenched his fists at the king’s words. He could sense the subtle amusement in his tone, as if he still found it difficult to believe that Max had been forced to flee. Frustration burned within him, but he remained silent, knowing that securing Philip’s help was more important than his pride.

With a respectful nod, he and Herry followed the servants out of the hall. Once they reached their rooms, Max shut the door behind him and exhaled sharply. The battle had yet to begin, but the weight of responsibility already pressed heavily on his shoulders.

Herry knew Max was frustrated. Without knocking, he stepped into his brother’s room, finding him standing near the window, arms crossed, his jaw clenched in quiet anger.

Max exhaled sharply and spoke before Herry could say anything. “Calm down and clear your mind. The king has made his decision—we leave tomorrow. There’s nothing we can do to change that.” His voice was firm but controlled. “So stop worrying.”

Herry sighed, nodding in reluctant agreement. But before he could say anything else, Max added, “Now, if you’re done, leave me alone.”

Herry frowned but didn’t argue. With a dramatic sigh, he turned and left the room, shutting the door behind him. But as soon as he stepped into the hallway, boredom crept in. He wasn’t one to sit idle, and the thought of spending the rest of the evening doing nothing was unbearable.

With a shrug, he decided to explore the palace. Maybe he’d meet someone interesting along the way.

As he wandered through the grand corridors, his gaze landed on a woman walking ahead of him. She had long, jet-black hair flowing over her royal attire. Her presence was regal, yet there was something delicate about her. She turned slightly, catching sight of him for a brief moment before walking away.

Herry stood frozen. His heart skipped a beat. Did I just stare at her like a fool? Did she think I was being rude?

Shaking his head, he muttered to himself, “She was… beautiful.”

Determined to fix whatever awkward impression he might have given, he followed her. Soon, he found her in the palace garden, gathering flowers. She held one delicately between her fingers, gazing at it with an expression of deep thought, almost as if the world around her didn’t exist.

Herry’s lips curled into a small smile. She’s even prettier up close.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward. “Excuse me…” he said, hoping he wasn’t about to make a complete fool of himself.

Herry hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. The woman hadn’t yet noticed him, her focus still on the delicate flower in her hands. Taking a deep breath, he finally spoke.

“I… I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable earlier,” he said, his voice softer than usual. “I didn’t mean to stare.”

She turned to him, her expression calm and unbothered. “It’s alright,” she said with a small smile. “No harm done.”

Herry felt a wave of relief but was quickly caught off guard when she added, “You’re Prince Herry, aren’t you?”

His brows lifted in surprise. “You recognized me? But how? My brother and I look alike.”

The woman shook her head, a knowing glint in her eyes. “Not at all,” she said gently. “You may be brothers, but you’re nothing alike.”

Herry wasn’t sure why, but her words made his heart race just a little.

Herry chuckled, nodding in agreement. “That’s true. My brother and I are nothing alike.”

Curiosity sparked in his eyes as he asked, “By the way, what’s your name?”

The woman gave a gentle smile before introducing herself. “My name is Lera. I am the daughter of King Philip,” she said gracefully.

Herry’s eyes widened for a brief moment before he let out an amused “Oh… so you’re his daughter.”

He glanced away for a second, debating something in his mind. Should I just say it now? Tell her what I feel? His heart urged him forward, but then a sudden doubt crept in. What if she refuses?

Letting out a small sigh, he decided against it—for now.

Herry took a deep breath, gathering his courage before speaking. “You’re very beautiful,” he admitted, his voice sincere. “The moment I saw you, I fell in love.”

Lera’s eyes widened in shock at his sudden confession. For a brief moment, she remained still, as if processing his words. Then, without saying a word, she quickly turned around and ran away.

Herry stood there, confused. Did I say something wrong? he wondered. Just as he was about to call out to her, he felt a sharp gaze on him. Turning his head, he saw a man staring at him with cold, piercing eyes—Lera’s brother.

Herry swallowed hard. Well… this just got complicated.

Lera's brother stood there, his eyes filled with suspicion and anger. "I don’t know what your brother was saying to my sister, but she walked away! That means Herry must have said something wrong to her."

Before Max could respond, Herry calmly interrupted, "I didn’t say anything to Lady Lera that would upset her. She left after seeing you, not because of what I said."

Lera's brother narrowed his eyes, his voice firm. "If that's true, then tell me—what exactly were you saying to my sister?"

Herry met his gaze without hesitation. "I was just telling her that she is a good person… and beautiful, too. And if I ever need to say anything more, I’ll say it directly to her. I don’t need anyone’s permission—as long as Lera is willing to talk to me."

Unbeknownst to them, Lera had been listening to everything. A soft smile played on her lips. Herry’s confidence, his honesty—something about the way he spoke made her heart flutter.