As the warm orange glow of the evening faded into starlight,
Ben left the Grimoire Tower, his cloak brushing the stone steps as he walked down toward Hage Orphanage, where laughter and chatter echoed through the trees.
Behind him, the Royal Knights followed silently, their eyes sweeping the surroundings.
Even during a celebration, security around the king remained absolute.
Orphanage…
Lanterns illuminated the old stone walls of the orphanage, colourful streamers fluttered in the breeze, and tables were filled with homemade food and baked treats.
Children were running around joyfully, and villagers from every corner of Hage were in attendance.
The feast was lavish—
Roasted meats, spiced stew, fresh bread, and pies—
All sponsored by Ben.
Ben stood at the back for a moment, watching.
A faint smile crossed his face as he saw Asta animatedly waving his grimoire in front of the villagers.
Who looked shocked by the revelation.
Yuno stood calmly beside him, his own four-leaf clover grimoire tucked under his arm, proud but composed.
Father Orsi raised a goblet and called out with a booming voice,
"To Asta and Yuno, Hage's pride! May their journey as Magic Knights begin with glory!"
Cheers erupted, and children clapped excitedly.
Charlotte, who had quietly arrived in her own cloak with Sol not far behind, approached Ben from the side.
"____"
Ben was stunned when he saw Charlotte and Sol chatting with Sister Lily.
Because he had not told her about his plan to come here.
"What? Today is our get-together plan, both of us according to our agreement. And you left and didn't even bother to inform me."
Even though her face was red from blushing, Charlotte snorted and turned her head away in anger.
There was a silence between them.
"____"
"____"
Ben felt as if he had misspoken; she would make him pay one way or another.
"You sponsored the whole thing?"
She asked, her voice gentle beneath the noise.
Ben chuckled softly.
Chuckle~
"It's their night. They deserve it."
Sol, munching on a skewer of grilled meat, nodded.
Nod~
"You're a better king than I expected."
Charlotte elbowed her, but Ben just laughed.
Meanwhile…
The Royal Knights kept a discreet perimeter around the orphanage.
Some of them, though tempted by the food and joy, remained vigilant.
A few local children peeked at the armoured knights with awe, whispering about their gleaming weapons and strong magic.
As the night deepened,
Ben took a seat on a wooden bench near the bonfire.
Asta ran past him, then stopped, doubling back and holding out a piece of honey-glazed bread.
"Hey, Ben! You've got to try this—it's soooo good!"
Ben took it with a smile.
"Thanks, Asta. Don't eat everything before the others get a chance."
Asta grinned, then ran off again.
Yuno passed by quietly, giving Ben a respectful nod.
Nod~
"Thank you. For everything."
Ben returned the nod, watching the firelight flicker in Yuno's calm eyes.
"Your path starts now. Walk it with pride."
And under the stars, the village of Hage celebrated.
After the celebration had died down and the villagers returned to their homes,
Ben quietly took Charlotte's hand, leading her away from the orphanage.
Sol stayed behind, agreeing to spend the night at the orphanage with Sister Lily and keep an eye on Asta and Yuno.
Beneath the moonlight,
Ben and Charlotte arrived at the hidden wooden cabin nestled deep within the forest—
A peaceful retreat known only to the two of them.
The faint scent of cedar lingered in the air, and the warm glow from the lanterns inside painted soft golden hues on the wooden walls.
Charlotte stepped inside first, her arms crossed and a playful pout on her lips.
"You came here without telling me again."
Ben let out a soft chuckle, closing the door behind him.
Chuckle~
"Guilty. I just wanted to check on it... Their Grimoire ceremony... But I was going to bring you here eventually."
Charlotte turned her back to him, her pout deepening.
"____"
Gasp!
Smiling, Ben stepped forward, gently grasped her wrist, and pulled her back into his embrace.
She gasped softly, surprised but not resisting.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close as the forest sounds hummed quietly outside their sanctuary.
"I missed you,"
He whispered into her hair.
Her breath hitched.
"Then show me."
Their foreheads pressed together, their gazes locked—
And slowly, tenderly, their lips met.
What started as a gentle kiss soon deepened with emotion, of longing, of words left unspoken.
Their breaths grew heavier as they stumbled toward the bed, caught in each other's orbit.
The world outside the wooden cabin was still, cloaked in moonlight and the hush of the forest.
Inside, the fire's warm glow painted golden arcs across the walls, casting shadows that danced like silent witnesses to the emotions simmering between Ben and Charlotte.
Their clothes lay forgotten, strewn across the room—
Evidence of the urgency that had brought them together after days of work, stress, and separation.
Now, wrapped in soft sheets, their bare skin pressed together, hearts beating in sync,
It felt like time had paused just for them.
Charlotte lay with her head on Ben's chest, his arm around her, hand resting over the curve of her hip.
The rhythm of her breathing, slow and heavy, matched the weight in the air—
Intimate, deep, unspoken.
Ben brushed his fingers through her hair, then pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Charlotte,"
He said softly, his voice tinged with hesitation.
"There's something I need to tell you."
She stirred slightly, tilting her head to meet his gaze.
"____"
His green eyes held a flicker of uncertainty.
"Nebra… she told me she wants to be with me. She spoke to you before she said it…?"
Charlotte didn't flinch. Instead, she studied him—
Calm, unafraid, but serious.
Then she shifted, sitting up slightly so they were face to face, her hand trailing slowly along his chest.
"I knew this would happen,"
She murmured.
"From the moment you became king, I knew you'd face this. You're the last of your house, Ben. You're bound to carry more than just your crown."
She leaned in, brushing her lips just beneath his jaw.
"But if you love another—if you choose to make her part of your life—then promise me this."
Her eyes locked onto his, glowing fiercely in the firelight.
"____"
"Promise me it will be real. That you'll never make her feel like a shadow. That no matter how many you may love, you'll love each with your whole heart."
Ben's throat tightened.
"____"
He nodded slowly.
Nod~
"I promise, Charlotte."
Her fingers moved to cradle his jaw, pulling him closer, and her voice dropped, sultry and raw."Good. Because I'm not afraid to share the man I love—but I'll never share half of his heart."
Before he could respond, her lips were on his—
Hungry, deep, and filled with every emotion she'd buried during long nights apart.
Her body moved over his with growing urgency, slow and deliberate.
The passion that followed wasn't wild—
It was sacred. A giving.
A claim.
Her fingers threaded into his hair as she whispered his name between gasps.
Ben responded with the same intensity, his hands exploring her as if he were trying to memorise her all over again.
They didn't speak anymore.
Words melted into touches, sighs, the warmth of skin and soul colliding in the quiet crackle of firelight.
The moments blurred—
Fingers trembling, mouths hungry, hearts exposed—
As they lost themselves in one another.
It was love, raw and unapologetic.
A silent vow sealed not in gold or title, but in breathless unity beneath the moonlit rafters of the only place where Ben wasn't a king, and Charlotte wasn't a captain—
Just two people, bound by choice, not duty.
Next Morning...
Hage Orphanage...
The sun rose gently over Hage village, casting warm hues across the rooftops and painting the surrounding forest in gold.
Birds chirped overhead, but the small group gathered at the orphanage was unusually quiet.
Ben stood in front of the gate, dressed in his travel gear, his eyes filled with calm authority.
Beside him stood Charlotte—
Composed as always, her arms folded—
And Sol, who looked particularly fired up this morning.
Facing them were Asta and Yuno,
Both with bags slung over their shoulders, grimoires tightly secured.
Their faces were a mix of excitement and nerves.
Ben placed a hand on each of their shoulders, his voice steady and full of encouragement.
"Today begins the first page of your journey. Don't slack off during your travels. You'll face challenges, failure, doubt—but none of it matters if you keep moving forward. Even if you fall a hundred times… get up. Don't give up."
Yuno nodded solemnly, his gaze fierce with purpose.
Nod~
Asta gave a bright grin, trying to hide how much Ben's words meant to him.
Before they could respond, Charlotte stepped forward with a stern glare, Sol flanking her with the same fiery resolve.
"If either of you dares to waste the effort Ben put into you,"
Charlotte warned,
"I will hunt you down myself."
"And I'll help!"
Sol chimed in with her fists clenched.
"You'll regret slacking off on your training!"
Both Asta and Yuno gulped hard, their backs straightening instantly.
Gulp!
"Y-Yes, ma'am!!"
"We promise not to waste your time!"
Ben chuckled at their terrified expressions, nodding in approval.
Chuckle~
Charlotte turned to him, brushing a bit of dirt from his cloak before saying,
"Sol and I will return to Blue Rose base by broom. You take care of the capital."
Ben gave her a knowing smile.
"Stay safe."
With that, Charlotte and Sol mounted their brooms, waving once before lifting off into the sky.
Ben then turned to his Royal Knights squad nearby and signalled to them.
"I'll return ahead. You lot follow behind."
The knights bowed in acknowledgement.
Ben lifted his arm, fingers tapping the dial of the Omnitrix.
With a soft whir and a mechanical click, the core lifted and rotated.
Click~
His fingers stopped on the familiar slithole insignia—Jetray.
He slammed the dial down.
FLASH!
With a burst of radiant green light, his form was engulfed—
Shifting and morphing—
Until the light faded, revealing a majestic, sleek crimson alien with sharp wings, a glowing tail, and piercing green eyes.
"JETRAY, READY FOR LAUNCH."
With a powerful gust of wind as his wings snapped open,
Jetray blasted into the air like a comet, cutting through the sky in a dazzling streak of red and green.
Below, Asta and Yuno shielded their eyes as dust swirled in the wake of his takeoff.
The people of Hage looked up in awe, many mistaking him for a falling star.
And as the royal knights prepared to follow, one thing was certain.
The journey of Asta and Yuno had begun.
And the skies of the Clover Kingdom once again bore witness to the crimson streak of their king, watching, protecting, soaring forward.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)Thanks for reading the chapter!
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