with you?”

“Yes.”

Greed-sama replied, exhaling a little, and placed the holy sword into its scabbard.

“Alright, let’s go back to Schwarze! Everyone is worried so let’s relieve their agitation.”

While leaning against Renas-sama, Milly-sama exclaimed cheerfully.

....I’m going home. I can go home. To Schwarze....! To the Princess, to the King, the Prime Minister, Famir-sama, and everyone else!

At that moment, I couldn't contain what I was bottling up inside, and my lacrimal glands gave out.

Greed-sama was stunned when he saw the tears streaming on my face.

“Aria!?”

“I-I’m fine....”

I could not stop crying. I’m happy, so why?

I wanted to smile because everyone was worried, but my tears continued to spill.

“Aria, it’s okay.”

Greed-sama said and hugged me.

Feeling his warmth, my tears spilled again.

I wonder what’s happening to me. Is this a delayed reaction from my suppressed fear when I was a hostage?

“She’s relieved. Let her cry, Greed.”

Farah-sama looked at Greed-sama and me and said that with a smile.

I shed more tears when I heard her words, clinging to Greed-sama as I tried to hold back my tears. But it didn’t work.

....I’m back. Finally, in his arms.

I clung to Greed-sama’s chest and started crying in earnest.

“It’s okay, Aria. It’s okay now.”

Greed-sama hugged me and told me so many times to comfort me.

──The stars, the moon, and the light from the spirits were shining brightly on us from the broken ceiling.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry.”

Eventually, I stopped crying and wiped my tears with my sleeves, and tried to get out of Greed-sama’s arms.

However, Greed-sama did not let me go.

“Greed-sama?”

Looking up, I saw Greed-sama looking at me with a soft smile.

What is that sensual expression? My tears have withdrawn in an instant!

“I want to keep you in my arms until we return because when you return to the castle, I will have to share you with those who are worried about you, including your parents.”

“Eh, parents?”

“Yes. And your brother, too. Everyone was worried about you and rushed to the royal castle.”

“Geh.”

Did they tell my parents that I was kidnapped....? But it’s only been a day.

I’m very worried that my father has caused any inconvenience to everyone.

“Not just your parents. Everyone in the castle is worried about you. So let’s go home and reassure them.”

“....Yes!”

Smiling as I nod, that’s when I noticed. Suddenly, I heard a clicking sound from my left arm.

The source of the sound was the bracelet.

When I hurriedly raised my hand and looked at it, there was a long crack in the golden bracelet’s flower pattern!

The crack spread in the blink of an eye, and the bracelet crumbled in front of my eyes.

And there was also a change in the silver bracelet on Greed-sama’s arm. It made a rattling noise and fell off from Greed-sama’s arm to the floor.

“W-Why....?”

I was stunned as I watched the debris falling on the floor.

Greed-sama answered me in a calm voice.

“I think it used so much power that the bracelet could not withstand it. It is made in pairs, so if one bracelet breaks, the other will break at the same time. That’s what it is.”

“What....”

I stared at the debris that had fallen on the floor.

Thinking of it, the bracelets connected Greed-sama and me.

I thought it was outrageous to have that “bam!” activated on top of it not coming off, but it has protected me all the time and has saved me from a lot of pinches many times.

Because of this, it has given me hope when I was trapped in the Demon King’s castle.

Now the bracelet has come off, and my left wrist is empty.

I was struck by an unexpected sense of loss and loneliness as the things that I had taken for granted disappeared.

I looked at my wrist for a while and I thought, am I not the “Hero’s Fiancee” anymore?

The bracelet made the world know that I was the “Hero’s Fiancee”.... that was the case, I believe.

Not having the bracelet . . . means I’m no longer his fiancee?

“I see.”

It was Rufaga-sama who said that.

“Well, you’re still the ‘Hero’s Beloved’, but now that the threat from the demons is gone, you don’t have to be the ‘Hero’s Fiancee’. We don’t know what will happen in the future, so the rest is up to you.”

Oh. Even though he made me into a “Hero’s Fiancee” just because I was in danger, since he does not need to protect me, he is free to do anything and be irresponsible. Hmp.

While I was sulking, Greed-sama took my hand and said.

“Yes. It doesn’t matter if I am the Hero or it is because of the danger of being attacked by demons. It’s already done. Didn’t you say this before Aria? Let’s begin with a blank slate. We are in that state now.”

I looked up at Greed-sama and gave him a soft smile, then looked down at the shattered pieces of the bracelets on the floor.

Blank slate.... Where there wasn’t anything yet....?

Everything, even from the marriage proposal at that hall?

Seeing that I was stunned, Greed-sama smiled deeply and said.

“And you said, you want to start anew. That’s what I also thought, so let me start over.”

“Eh? Start over?”

Greed-sama released me, who is still dumbfounded, and took a step back.

When Greed-sama took my hands, I raised my head and said that.

....His blue-green eyes were the same as that time.

“Let’s start over from the beginning. I will propose to you this time, not as a Hero, but as just Greed.”

“Greed-sama....”

“I love you, Aria. From the bottom of my heart. Will you spend the rest of your life with me?”

....My face flushed.

──It was a very similar scenario.

At that time, a handsome Hero who triumphantly returned held my hand in the hall in front of many people.

Now, unlike that time, only a few people are present.

Only the important friends who had been with him through thick and thin were around.

It was not the same hall that is full of people and decorations, but an abandoned castle that could collapse at any time.

....But I think it is ten times more wonderful than that time because my feelings had changed dramatically.

Everyone around us is watching us with a smile.

Renas-sama, the white priest. Cuddling him is the frank Milly-sama with short, red hair. Even in his robe, Rufus-sama is exuding mobility and elegance. Rufaga-sama, who looks like a boy but is more intelligent than anyone. And the dashing Farah-sama, whose golden hair is fluttering.

And kneeling in front of me is a pale blonde man. He is the valiant Hero who is clad in silver armor.

I’m many times happier being surrounded by people who we love very much and who are very important to us than at that time.

That’s why I──

“Greed-sama.”

I looked down at him and said.

“I──”

My answer is──