Teresa Hussey. The princess of Haramark who was tired of having heroes fail her and became her own hero. The Princess Knight whose dream was to turn Arden Valley into an impregnable fortress...
And the one who did.
Though, not completely on her own merit.
"Jihu..." Teresa leaned out against a balcony overlooking the entire Neutral Zone.
Down below, the Earthlings who had come hoping to find a chance to turn their life around, hoping to strike it big, or hoping to just fulfill something they were lacking in life...
Although she *technically* wasn't allowed in the Neutral Zone since she wasn't an Earthling, the gods made an exception for her because of Jihu.
Teresa let out a wistful sigh and said, "My darling really is too amazing, isn't he?"
Darling... yes. The darling who had her heart. The darling who could have had her any time but waited until she built herself up to stand on her own two feet. Her ridiculous darling who kept running so fast that he barely outran death each time...
And the darling who dared to tell her to get in line after she came onto him when he gave her an outrageous kingdom's ransom worth of funding to fulfill her dreams.
Teresa smiled. "Maybe that's why it doesn't sting?"
Originally, Teresa thought that it would hurt. That knowing she wasn't the only one... No, the fact that he told her to get in line in the very beginning DID hurt her pride. The fact that she wasn't enough... it stung considering what she had been doing at the time.
===
*"I'm not marrying you."*
*"What? Am I not good enough? ...No, I suppose I wouldn't be if it's like that. E-Even so!"*
*"It's not that. You have to get in line first."*
===
Teresa chuckled, remembering that conversation. "It seems so long ago now..."
Right after he saved Teresa's dream from crumbling. When Jihu bought Ian's contract to bring the alchemist along with him. And when Jihu left without looking back once, never asking Teresa for anything even though he gave enough to own all she had...
===
*"Just call me Jihu, Teresa. And if you seriously want to repay me, go fulfill your dreams first. If you're still determined on me afterwards, we can talk then."*
===
"...Jihu, darling." Teresa smiled and looked up at the false sky of the Neutral Zone. "...You already fulfilled my dreams for me."
She had heard from Gula already.
Although that Sung Shihyun bastard was running around outside somewhere in the old Imperial Palace, it was a done deal.
Paradise was already safe. No matter how much that cocky prick struggled, all it would take would be Jihu stepping in and lopping off his head.
So she wasn't worried about that.
Moreover...
"Big sis Roe. That little Charlotte. Me... And with Flone, that's all the powers in Paradise, minus the Federation." Teresa murmured.
Haramark had recovered and was impregnable with the Arden Valley Fortress and the wasteland of blades that Jihu left behind after the battle with the Army Commanders.
Scheherazade had been purged of Sinyoung and was being properly supported by Hao, Jihu's sworn brother, who had structured the Triads to be the honorable organization it once was.
Eva had its filth scrubbed clean and hosted Elysium, Jihu's organization. A complete reincarnation, fitting for the host of Elysium, the heaven for fallen heroes.
And the Empire... Flone came from the Rothschear family, one of the pillars of the Imperial forces before the Empire fell to the Parasite Queen. Not only that, but her adopted daughter, Rose, was apparently a major player in the Empire in the past too.
The four pillars of Paradise... the TRUE Paradise before it the Federation arrived along with the Parasite Queen and her forces.
...Well, the Empire had been pretty bad, so honestly, having just Haramark, Eva, and Scheherazade around was probably for the best.
Still...
"You didn't have to do this, Darling. Any of this."
Teresa couldn't help but speak her thoughts. Because it was true.
Jihu could have left any time.
Teresa had seen it for herself now.
Jihu had a loving family at home. A younger sister, parents, an older brother... who apparently was even busier than Jihu since he was never home.
But anyway, Jihu had all of that. And he also had Hannah, Flone, and all his other women.
So he could have stopped. Any time. Could have taken all he wanted from Paradise and let it rot.
But he DIDN'T.
And the reason for that...
Teresa laughed. "How funny."
A creditor who wrote off all the loans he gave out. Debts that he crossed off the ledger. Selfless selfishness where he went out of his way to give, give, and give again before saying that since they were 'friends' there weren't any debts between them.
"...You call yourself a bad person, but you're a terrible liar, darling."
That was why Teresa loved him. Even though she wasn't the only one. Even though a woman like her should demand that her man look only at one woman: herself.
Even then... Teresa loved Jihu. Because...
"A hero isn't someone you keep close by. It's someone you watch and admire, even knowing their light can vanish at any moment. ...Right?" Teresa murmured.
Paradise had plenty of heroes. Brave men and women who threw their lives away in a vain attempt to change the future.
They had all failed. Again, and again, and again.
And Teresa had hated them for that. For giving hope only to have it dashed.
But now, having met Jihu...
"...It wasn't meaningless."
Yes.
Heroism was like love. It was given with the hope that something might arise... but it was given freely. Like seeds upon the wind, or the warmth from the sun. Something that another person received without expectation.
While Teresa had been a bit restless recently... admittedly, a bit too much. It wasn't because she was jealous or upset. It was just impatience.
She knew that Jihu loved her. She knew that Jihu wasn't going to throw her away. Hell, she'd seen how he went out of his way to save her numerous times.
People might think that Jihu did that for anyone with his recent actions, but that wasn't the case. He was a man who would only lay his life down for those he loved and no one else.
So...
"...Ah, darling. This is frustrating." Teresa chuckled.
Frustrating. Yes, that was the best way to put how she felt.
A lot of it was lust, of course. Jihu WAS an incredible man.
But also... he was Teresa's first and only love.
Sure, she was flirty. Sure she teased others and was vulgar. But in terms of someone she wanted to give herself to, one who she wanted to give the whole world just because she felt he deserved it...
"A dangerous man..." Teresa smiled and placed her hand over her heart, feeling the gentle warmth spreading when she thought of him. A warmth that had illuminated the darkness she carried all this time in seeing her world fall apart around her since she was young.
The brilliant guiding star that lit up the night slowly encroaching with the Earthlings who just treated her home as a place to pillage and exploit... No. The one who showed her that people who simply refused to allow 'evil' existed.
"...Though, I suppose you could call a man like that 'evil' for playing around with so many beautiful women." Teresa chuckled and let out a wistful sigh. "Since when will it be my turn, darling?"
"Well, how about now?"
Teresa paused.
If it had been any other person, she was sure she would have flinched or reacted.
But...
Teresa slowly turned around and chuckled. "It's funny, darling." She watched the handsome man standing there wearing a freshly laundered black suit and holding a plate of pink sugar cookies. "...You always arrive in my life like a bolt out of the blue. But you never seem to surprise me."
Jihu chuckled and handed the plate of cookies over to Teresa before saying, "That's because I'm your hero, aren't I? I always show up when you least expect it. But you know that I'll always show up."
Teresa took a cookie and nibbled on the corner before letting out a teasing smile. "You know, someone could mistake that for you playing with their heart."
"Mmhm. They could. But you wouldn't."
Teresa's smile shifted, growing warm. "...Yes. I wouldn't, darling. Though." She laughed and said, "When you told me to get in line back after 'buying' me, I didn't think the line would be this long."
Jihu laughed as well and said, "Well. Apparently, the world likes to make my words come true in strange ways. But." He reached over and took a cookie before eating it. "...You WERE in line. Meaning you were always a part of my life, even then. Right?"
Teresa shook her head as she finished up her cookie. After grabbing another one, she said, "Your tongue's gotten better. You were always good at alchemy, so did you turn it into silver?"
Jihu laughed and said, "No. I've just become better at making sure the women who love me feel loved in return. And words play a large part of that, you know?"
Teresa smiled softly. "That's true. Hell, look at me. This rough, crass, tomboyish princess... for you, she's this demure."
Jihu smiled back and said, "Nah. You've always been this way. It's just that you didn't have the chance to be this again until now."
Teresa was quiet. Then her pink eyes softened and she said, "It's funny, Jihu. In all these years, all the men I've met... you're the only one who's said that about me. Even father thinks that I enjoy being crass and vulgar."
"Well, you do a bit. But I think you prefer peace more, right?" Jihu took another cookie and said, "Otherwise you wouldn't have been working so hard. The days where you could laze about, enjoy pretty clothes, eat good food... And the days where you could idle away with good friends like Flone. That's your real dream, isn't it?"
Teresa felt her heart warm at Jihu's words. Then she nodded. "...Yeah. But that's unfair, darling." She chuckled softly, staring at him with soft eyes. "You're not supposed to read me this easily."
Jihu finished his cookie and said, "Mm, can't help it. After all, you're the first and only princess I love."
Teresa paused.
The first and only princess...
Teresa had never considered that.
...But it was true, wasn't it?
None of the other women in Jihu's life were royalty. Charlotte didn't count because she was a Queen. And even if she tried to wriggle her way into Jihu's heart, it was already too late.
No, not too late.
Jihu said it himself, right? To wait in line.
To wait in line...
Wait.
Teresa's eyes widened and she burst out laughing. "You sly bastard... Telling me to wait in line... that's because I'm royalty, isn't it?"
At royal balls and events, the highest-ranking guest always entered last. As a princess, that meant that Teresa would always be the last to enter at events where her father wasn't present.
Meaning...
"...You did this on purpose."
Jihu chuckled. "Well. It wasn't intentional. But." He took another cookie and said, "I suppose I must have done it subconsciously. After all, I can't make you the 'first.' But I can make you the 'last.' The line ends with you, you know?"
Teresa laughed. "I should be upset. Telling a woman she's last in line... most would slap your face and be done with it."
"But not you."
Teresa smiled. "...Yes. Not me. Because." She tossed the empty tray of cookies aside and pulled Jihu in for a kiss.
Jihu immediately wrapped his arms around her and leaned her back for a deep kiss, just like in the fairytales Teresa used to read so long ago.
A breathless moment. One where Teresa forgot about everything else but the here and now. Where, just for a little bit, she was sent back to her days as a young girl imagining about a beautiful knight sweeping her off her feet in a place just like this.
And when the embrace and kiss finished, Teresa realized it wasn't just her imagination anymore.
Although it took a long and roundabout path to get to this point... although she had bled, cried, and screamed numerous times in frustration...
Teresa laughed and leaned her head against Jihu's shoulder. "...You really did give me a fairytale ending, didn't you, darling?"
"Mm, it's not quite over just yet." Jihu smiled and kissed her cheek. "I still have to clean up that arrogant bastard and the other things. Plus I can't quite marry you, so we'll have to compromise a bit."
Teresa smiled. "Oh, don't worry. You can't marry me, but I definitely can marry you. We'll work it out, one way or another. But for now..." She licked her lips and then leaned over to kiss Jihu's neck. "...You stole this princess's heart. You placed your hands all over her bare body already. But you still didn't take her purity. Hero... I think it's time you finally claimed your prize. Isn't it?"
"Mm." Jihu ran his hands down Teresa's back and said, "Before then... tell me how to love you, Resa."
Teresa's eyes widened. Then she let out a warm laugh. "...You silly hero." She placed her hand on Jihu's cheek and tilted her head, looking into his eyes with a loving gaze. "I don't need to be loved by you. I just want to give you my love. You receiving it is enough."
Jihu's eyes widened. Then they softened. "Oh. You're dangerous..." He scooped Teresa up in his arms and said, "If you're like this, if you're giving me everything so completely... I'm going to take it, you know? It's a bad habit, but I've become a bit greedy recently."
Teresa purposefully shifted so that the curved valley of her chest was clear for Jihu to see. "Good. Because you earned this 'treasure' long ago, Hero."
Jihu smiled and started walking off with Teresa, shifting the space around them until he walked back into her bedroom. Then, after making sure they had privacy, he laid her onto her bed and said, "I heard there's a dessert named after you..."
Teresa's heart raced at seeing the desire in Jihu's eyes. She swallowed and let out a nervous laugh. "There is. Why?"
"Well..." Jihu slipped off her clothes and placed a kiss against her collarbone before murmuring, "I want to see. Just how sweet the real thing is."
Teresa shuddered and then let out a teasing smile. "Well, I hope you're hungry then. Because..." She rolled Jihu over, her eyes dark with desire. "...I won't stop until you've eaten me in every way tonight."