Chapter 8: Reunion with Gillain

It was a chaotic time for the guilds as they started up, as staff members floundered and acts of sabotage sometimes halted progress, but after two months, the guilds began to take off. Whether or not they would be recognized by adventurers and guilds in other countries would depend on their sincere work in the future.

I made the staff of the Third Tohkun Guild swear secrecy before I showed them my plate.

“You’re not just a gold, you’re a Trundle?!” shouted Yashiro, a guild worker who was a former C-rank adventurer. “I thought I’d made progress with my love, but...the hurdle is just getting higher...”

“I didn’t know you were so skilled... I guess I had no need to worry about you.” Mrs. Yoko forced a smile. She seemed to know what Trundle meant, being well versed in the business world.

“What’s that? Is it good?” asked a woman named Junko. She was pretty in a seductive way, so by appearances you might think she was trying to grab people’s attention, but she was an earnest, hardworking woman at heart. Apparently, she had been rejected from jobs in the past because of her looks despite genuinely wanting to work. Junko, you should open a tavern where legendary heroes can gather as part of your guild duties!

These three were the main staff in the afternoon, when I normally came and went.

I was no longer undercover, so I could accept missions from the guild in the open and have them reflected in my career as Serephione G. If I didn’t have some amount of experience, accomplishments, and commission stats recorded, then I wouldn’t be eligible for the next promotion test.

I was finally going for S-rank. I couldn’t have my gold plate next to my father’s platinum chain and Gillain’s platinum plate forever!

I’m gonna level up into an S-ranker with Lou as soon as I can!

◇ ◇ ◇

As I spent my days completing requests from the guild with Lou, working hard to master scalding sand, and baking cakes, the sun gradually became warmer and warmer, soft-colored flowers began to bloom, and the trees took on a dazzling new green. It was early summer.

An invitation arrived from Tabuchi along with a refreshing breeze. It read, “The new government will finally be inaugurated this weekend. It’s going to be under the umbrella of some big country, but it’ll have some autonomy. I want you to come to the signing ceremony and party.”

“I don’t get it. What does the big country get out of this?” Lou asked.

“Maybe the big country wants to take in a country’s worth of people, govern them according to their own will, and then have their help paid back with interest when the economy stabilizes? Or maybe the big country just wants to have a military alliance? Kind of like, ‘Come to our side if there’s a war! Give us soldiers!’” Numbers were power in this world, excluding irregulars like me.

“What country is it, even?”

“They’re keeping it quiet until the last minute because they don’t want a riot to break out. Also, Tabuchi got full powers in the referendum the other day. Marsche doesn’t have any iron ore right now, so maybe it’s somewhere like Dembre or Gunslair in the west of the continent.”

“Huh... So, do you want to go to the party?”

“No way. I’m the one who destroyed Marsche. I’m not interested anyway.” It didn’t have anything to do with me.

“Want to sneak away during the commotion this weekend and see how Miyu’s training has been going?”

“Yay! Sounds great!”

I’d informed Tabuchi of my upcoming absence through the guild and was busy making a snakeberry tart for Miyu when Sakaki came running into the kitchen with an unusual expression.

“Fio! Please! Come to the signing ceremony!”

“Huh? Why? It’s a milestone for the people of Marsche, not me.”

“What are you saying?! We only made it to this day thanks to you! Who was it that consulted with the Prime Minister, eradicated the bandits before they could form a clique, used incomprehensible magic to repeatedly transport ten carts worth of goods, and helped establish the guild?! It was you!”

“Sere, you’ve been working for free again?” asked Lou. “You’ve always been such a people-pleaser...”

“Only you, Tabuchi, and Yamada know that,” I explained to Sakaki. “Nobody would know who I was unless you told them. And I’m in hiding! There’s no way I can go anywhere high-profile. I can’t go to a signing ceremony, a party, or any of those other glamorous gatherings of world leaders!”

“This is bad... Fio, at least don’t leave Tohkun during the celebration days. We need you to pray for our new beginning to go smoothly!”

“Shouldn’t you ask the saint for that?”

“Are you trying to kill me?!”

“You’re the one who’s upset?!”

“S-Sere, I don’t get what’s going on, but let’s stay here for the next few days,” said Lou. “Sakaki looked like he was about to die for a second there.”

“What?!”

Is everyone going to just be freaking out until the signing ceremony is over?

We decided to hole up in the inn over the weekend instead of going to visit Miyu.

It was the day of the signing ceremony, and the town was alive, almost like there was some kind of festival going on.

The people may not have been proud to surrender to a larger country, but they were also tired of being in limbo. Most people were relieved to finally be able to build a new nation under a stable country. For now, they just wanted to become a country where everybody could work and not starve.

Cheers rose up from outside the window. It seemed the delegation had finally arrived.

Lou and I poked our faces out of the window. It reminded me of the Liberation Day parade from about two years prior. It had been funny seeing Sakaki’s face when I shot the magic needle at him.

The sound of the hooves of dozens of horses echoed from afar. Were they showing off their superior military power by arriving on horses? The leader of the group finally came into view, waving their battle flag.

“No way...”

The crest was in gold on a red background, depicting Asu—I had thought of it as an eagle before—and a lion facing each other.

I had fought under this emblem in the book. There was no way I could mistake it.

“It’s Galé...”

“Galé?!”

I instinctively clutched my plates over my clothes.

The Galé troops continued to run down the main street without dropping speed. The townspeople cheered at their disciplined movements.

A man at the back of the procession entered my view. He was on an especially large black horse, and he was wearing a black military uniform. It was clear to see that he was particularly important.

“The emperor himself came...” Lou glanced my way as if to check my reaction, but I wasn’t in any state to return his gaze.

No way... We’re so far apart. Is it even possible for us to meet eyes?

Ah...he locked onto me.

Just then, Gillain vanished from my line of sight—and suddenly reappeared right before my eyes.

He closed the distance between us with one step and cupped my cheeks in both hands. His thumbs traced the outline of my face, and he ran a finger down the faint scar on my cheek.

“What’s this scar?” His voice was deep, relaxed, and pleasant.

“I...made a mistake.”

His slender fingers ran through my shoulder-length hair. “And your hair?”

“I cut it myself. I wasn’t hurt.”

There was a commotion outside due to the emperor suddenly vanishing. I heard the clamor, but it felt like it was in another world entirely as I gazed at Gillain before me.

In the two years since I’d last seen Gillain, his cheeks had hollowed out slightly, and his silver hair was now swept back to the nape of his neck. His blue eyes looked more worn out than cold. Gillain was now about the same age as I had been before my reincarnation. The young working generation was always putting in hard hours; being the emperor was, in a way, like working a high-stress job. We had one more thing in common.

“You look so tired, Gillain. Are you okay? Getting enough sleep?” I gently touched the scar I had healed on his face before and cast a charm on it.

“Ah... It’s been so long since the last time I saw you worry for me... You’re right. I am tired. It may not seem like it, but I really hurried to get here.”

“You did?”

“I hurried to give you the perfect reception.” Gillain’s arms circled my back, closing the distance between us.

“Gillain?”

My face pressed against his chest, and I looked up.

“Sere, it’s been ten years. It’s time.”

Like falling snow, his lips drifted gently onto mine. It was our second kiss, after the one we shared on that snowy night. His coffee-like magic circulated through my body. I met his eyes. They were more sincere and serious than ever before, communicating an unmistakable warmth.

“You still want to marry me?” I asked.

“I’ve wanted you and you alone ever since I met you.”

That was the most direct proposal I’ve ever heard...

“One correction, though. I don’t just want to get engaged. I want to marry you and live with you. All I want for the rest of my life is to have you by my side.”

“Your whole life?”

“You don’t believe me? That’s okay. I won’t leave you, ever.” He squeezed me tight.

Does this feel so natural because I’ve gotten used to being surrounded by his magic?

“I was late. I don’t want to make you suffer like that ever again. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to keep my promise.”

I heard Gillain’s clumsy apology from above my head. He sounded as if he had shared that near-death moment with me. You don’t have anything to apologize for...

“You let Asu come to me,” I said. “I wouldn’t be here if not for that. You don’t have to apologize. Thank you, Gillain.” Just as Lou and Asu had taught me, I said thank you instead of sorry.

“Sere...” Gillain held me even closer.

Ka-chuk! The door burst open. I lifted my face from Gillain’s chest in shock to see Sakaki standing there in a military uniform.

“Your Imperial Majesty! I knew you’d be here... How impatient of you!”

“Quiet,” Gillain commanded. “You’re interrupting me.”

Gillain and Sakaki know each other...?

“Why are you in a Galé uniform?” I asked Sakaki.

Sakaki and Gillain exchanged glances, and Gillain nodded.

Sakaki sighed. “I’m from Galé, Lady Serephione. I infiltrated Marsche... Basically, I’m a spy.”

“I have spies in every country,” said Gillain, as if to brush it off.

Oh, so it’s an ironclad rule...

“In the beginning, I was simply a spy to find out what was going on in the Kingdom of Marsche. But then things hit a turning point, the kingdom was overthrown, and I happened to meet you, so my role kept on changing. Now, I’m the coordinator between Prime Minister Tabuchi and Galé, as well as the informant on your condition.”

What? Didn’t Sakaki rise to the rank of troop leader in Marsche’s army? And he was spying on the royal family for Tabuchi too, right? This is so messy... Doesn’t this mean he’s actually really good at what he does? Did he get recruited for successfully taking down the royal family? Or did he just get swept up in this?

“You knew I knew Gillain?”

“It was well-known that the emperor’s lady was in Judore. He didn’t hesitate to tell any women who tried to suck up to him that they couldn’t outdo his lady and that they shouldn’t be so conceited. I didn’t know it was you until after the incident with Princess Tomoe, however. I’m really glad that I didn’t leave any scars on your face. I could have been killed.”

“You were telling Gillain about what I was doing here?”

“Well... He ordered me to, yes.”

“So you stopped me this morning because...”

Sakaki scratched his cheek. “Yeah, basically. So, Your Imperial Majesty, you’ve had your tearful reunion now. We should get back to the signing ceremony.”

“I’m not done here. Let’s go, Sere.” Gillain picked me up.

“W-Wait? Why? The ceremony? That has nothing to do with me!”

“I heard from Sakaki that there are some people making passes at you. I’ll make it known that you’re mine.”

“Huh? That’s so embarrassing! I don’t want to go!”

“Give it up, Sere,” echoed a voice in my head. “He’ll treat you well.”

“Asu!”

When did you get here?!

“Hmm...” grumbled Lou.

“Lou?! Oh, come on, let me down already!”

I struggled with all my might, but Gillain descended the staircase after Sakaki, as if he were dealing with nothing more than a light breeze. I’m supposed to be an A-ranker... Sniffle.

“Fio!”

“Fio?!”

The people in the guild and cafeteria were abuzz when they saw me in the arms of an apparently strong man who had shown up out of nowhere. Gillain kissed me on the cheek as if to show off.

“Eeeeee!” screamed multiple people. Including me. Ah... Zero hit points...

Gillain got on his black horse, still holding me, and covered me with his black cape on his lap. I was taken off to the old castle while still in a daze.

“Your Imperial Majesty, Lady Serephione, I never thought I would see two holy beasts at once with my very own eyes...” Tabuchi knelt before Lou and Asu and hung his head, dripping an impressive amount of sweat.

“I suppose this is our first time meeting. We don’t have much time, Prime Minister. Let’s begin at once.”

“Yes.”

Gillain tried to take me to the podium where the signing would be held while I was still in my pajamas. I managed to drag myself away and made it to a corner of the room, peering around to make sure I wasn’t in his line of sight.

Lou and Asu stayed by my side. They were giving off immense magical energy too! They usually hid their presences, so why?!

As I sat in the corner, awash in a powerful aura with Prime Minister Tabuchi kneeling in my direction, I felt like a ghost haunting the building. It hurt being looked at by everyone in the room like I was suspicious.

Oh, I understand... There are a lot of political influences from different countries at the historical signing ceremony of Marsche and Galé. They’re protecting me so nobody with sinister motives approaches me.

“Thank you, Lou, Asu.”

The signing ceremony proceeded solemnly. The content of the agreement was that Marsche would become a full vassal state of Galé. Tens of billions of gold in financial aid, interest-free loans for an indefinite period of time, the elimination of tariffs between the two countries, the development of resources in Marsche, and free passage... Wait, what?

“Is that...to come get me?”

“Yeah, he wanted to be able to come into the country without it looking unnatural. Now it’ll be treated the same as traveling within the nation.”

That’s so heavy!

“He bought a whole country for you, Sere,” Lou teased.

“Yes, it took a lot of effort,” Asu explained. “It came down to Gillain’s heavy lifting in the end.”

“He must really love you!”

“Don’t let it get to you, Sere,” Asu reassured me. “It does have upsides for Galé.”

He took a foreign country as a vassal just to pick me up... Maybe I really am loved?

Applause rang through the building. I looked up to see Gillain and Tabuchi shaking hands. Th-This is a win-win in the end, right? That’s good... No, don’t come straight for me!

Gillain stopped in front of me, took my hand, and kissed the back of it. I activated my long-neglected skill as the daughter of a count and smiled gracefully.

“Thank you for protecting my beloved fiancée, Tabuchi.”

The crowd went wild hearing what Gillain said!

“Oh, no, I enjoyed spending time with your lovely Serephione,” Tabuchi said, as if I weren’t right there. Wait, why are you revealing my name?!

Gillain put his arms around my shoulders and kissed my temple. “This is the perfect time for an introduction. Everybody, this is my beloved Serephione Granzeus, daughter of Count Granzeus. Serephione was attacked by bandits in her home country of Judore due to her exceptional qualities, and she has been in hiding under the protection of Prime Minister Tabuchi. We are finally ready to welcome her in Galé. Could I ask for your blessing on our engagement and eternal love?” Gillain glared intimidatingly into the audience.

“Congratulations on your engagement, Emperor Gillain and Lady Serephione!”

“Congratulations!”

“Hooray for engagements!”

“Hooray!” everyone cheered.

Gillain smiled as wide as he could and raised the hand that wasn’t around me to the audience.

“Asu...I’m completely lost. What’s going on?”

“Your time in hiding is over now. The time is right, Sere. You’re going public.”

I wish someone would have told me this before the fact...

“Sere! Hey! Come back to earth!”

Gillain held me tight around the waist so that I couldn’t get away, so I gave my best countess smile to the big shots who looked at us.

“Your fiancée is very lovely, Your Imperial Majesty, but...I can’t help but notice how terribly young she is.”

Well said, Adversary A! Yes, we have a ten-year age gap!

“Thank you for your concern,” responded Gillain. “It is true that Serephione is young, but she is not at all frivolous, since her life has been threatened many times. I feel sad for her. I won’t let anyone hurt ever again, though.” His eyes glinted. The first hero left the scene.

“Congratulations on your engagement! However, given that you are an emperor, in terms of status, don’t you think the daughter of a foreign count... I mean, having a lovely girl at your side is one thing, but our nation needs a queen who can maintain order.” He looked me up and down in evaluation.

Oh, well said, Adversary B! You’re right, an emperor should marry a princess, or the daughter of a marquis at the very least. Definitely not a house ghost in pajamas!

“Thank you for your concern. It’s true that Serephione is the daughter of a count, but I don’t consider status to be an issue. Her maternal grandmother happens to be a Trundle. The family is very well-educated and has garnered respect worldwide. I don’t suppose you’ve heard of them?”

“The war gods of Judore...!”

Why not the gods of wisdom or something? The second hero left the scene.

“Congratulations, Your Imperial Majesty. However, she seems like such a delicate young lady... Will she do well as the empress of Galé? Will she be able to hold the nation together if you go out into battle?”

Well said, Adversary C. Of course the people won’t support a random girl from another country!

“Thank you for your concern. My Serephione is powerless, as you can see, but that just means I will have to pay all the more attention to internal affairs when I am absent. Do you think I will let Galé have a weak point? I don’t intend to have my subjects pay deference to Serephione in the first place. She’s mine alone.”

The last hero left the scene. Now that he was done being publicly shamed, Gillain left to go see Tabuchi. I was finally able to take a breath and go out to the balcony with something to drink. Lou and Asu came with me.

“Asu, care to explain?” I asked.

“You must have gotten most of the idea by now,” he responded. “With the protection that comes with being Gillain’s fiancée, you’re safe to present to the world as yourself. To attack you would be to attack Gillain and Galé. As long as you’re with Gillain, you have no need to hide. You can contact the Granzeuses too. I don’t think you should go back to Judore just yet, though.”

“I wonder what Schneider will do when word of this reaches Judore. Maybe he’ll send an assassin to Galé,” Lou hypothesized.

“Galé may be a mess internally, but it’s merciless to outsiders. An unfamiliar face won’t be able to hide here so easily.”

Both Prince Schneider and I are going to have to shift from static to dynamic...

“I can’t believe how big this engagement announcement was, though...” I said. “I feel bad about causing trouble for Gillain.”

“You didn’t cause any trouble, Sere,” said Asu. “He was going to come for you one way or another. He just also happened to take care of some other issues at the same time. Don’t look so down.”

“Lady Serephione, do you even understand how much trouble you’ve caused for our nation?” someone said. I looked up from Asu to see a tall, blond man in a Galéan military uniform. He looked slightly older than me.

“Um, how do you do?”

“I can’t believe His Imperial Majesty has gone to such lengths for you, of all people.” The handsome man glared at me from above. Is Galé full of beautiful people too? I mentally sighed.

“Who’s he?” I asked Asu in a whisper.

“Gillain’s aide.”

Appraisal!

He shone blue.

Arthur Nirva (Aide to the Emperor of Galé, former aide to the First Prince, heir of a marquis, S-rank adventurer)

Status: Tired, irritated

Skills: Wind magic, one-handed sword, hatchet

Well, he doesn’t seem like a bad person, but what is Gillain thinking by employing someone who was helping his enemy, the first prince?

“He’s not thinking anything, Sere,” Asu answered my thoughts. “He’s not interested in minor details like that.”

“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” I greeted Arthur. “My name is Serephione Granzeus. I’m terribly sorry for the trouble I’ve caused Emperor Gillain.”

“Galé didn’t need this random country...” grumbled Arthur. “What about you clouded his judgment?”

Hmm, I guess he’s neither a friend nor an enemy to Gillain.

“I don’t mean any offense by this, but do you think Gillain’s judgment is ever clouded?”

“How dare you call our emperor by his first name without a title, little girl!” he barked.

So he’s not necessarily an ally, but he respects Gillain as the head of state... “Asu, what should I do in terms of Galéan etiquette? Ignore him? Apologize? Cry?” I asked again, too quietly for Arthur to hear.

“Beat him up!”

“I didn’t ask you, Lou!”

Just then, an older man with white hair and well-groomed, stylish facial hair started to make his way toward us from behind Arthur.

“That’s the Prime Minister, Sere. Don’t let your guard down.”

That makes sense. He was wearing an expensive-looking suit instead of a military uniform, and on top of it, he wore a cape. He clearly wielded a great deal of magical and political power.

“Oh, I see we have the heavenly beast of the west here. I would expect nothing less from our emperor! He never misses. Arthur, kneel down!”

The prime minister knelt down, but not to me; he was kneeling to Asu and Lou. He could see them.

“It’s nice to meet you. I am Regueid, Prime Minister of Galé. Congratulations on your engagement to Emperor Gillain.”

Appraisal!

He shone blue.

Regueid Patridge (Prime Minister of Galé, marquis, tactician, S-rank adventurer)

Status: Good

Skills: Fire magic, water magic, wind magic, earth magic, tactics

All four kinds of magic and tactics... I’ll have to bring this up with my grandmother later. I curtsied, although it wasn’t very good since I wasn’t in a gown. “It’s an honor to make your acquaintance.”

“Prime Minister!” Arthur shouted. “Please stand up! What’s going on?!”

“Don’t you understand her power?! You’re not even close to her level!”

Well, my A-rank is equal to S, so I’m the same as Arthur... Wait, is he going off Lou’s power?

“Daughters of counts are a dime a dozen in Galé. She’d be nothing without the Trundles behind her.”

Hey, I have the Granzeuses behind me too!

Asu chuckled. “Look what they have to say about you, Sere.”

“He needs to learn some manners!” grumbled Lou.

“I see...” said Regueid. “Miss, could you teach this hard-headed man a lesson?”

“Hm?”

He brought out a small table. Is he going to do the classic party trick where he pulls the tablecloth off? Oh...nope. Another test of strength...

“Ready, go!”

Bam! One shot!

“It can’t be...” Arthur had lost both the argument and the contest not to cry first. He sank to the ground helplessly, still clutching my hand.

“Hey. Hands off.” Gillain, who I hadn’t realized was back already, swatted Arthur’s hand away.

“You really do have a discerning eye,” Regueid said to him. “I wondered what you were up to when you propositioned a little girl while you were studying abroad, but...now Galé has not one, but two holy beasts. This is wonderful!”

We actually have three, including Miyu. I felt gloomy seeing that they were blatantly being treated like weapons, though.

Instantly, Lou was in front of me, directly intimidating Regueid.

Regueid folded under the pressure and fell to his knees, yet his eyes were still glittering. “Amazing!”

“The western beast will have no mercy on anyone who hurts Serephione,” Gillain warned. “Remember that for your own sake.”

“Yes, I understand.” Regueid grinned. I don’t feel like I can trust him.

“We’re done, Sere,” said Gillain. “Let’s go.” He took my hand and led me away. Lou and Asu followed us out of the old castle.

◇ ◇ ◇

Gillain’s black horse took us to a rectangular building on high ground.

The room we were ushered into was an unexpectedly cozy space with lots of wood. Gillain had ordered everyone else to leave, so it was just us and the fluffballs. The window overlooked the city of Tohkun.

“What is this place?” I asked.

“This is where the emperor officially lives,” Gillain replied. “It was originally a battle fort, so the building isn’t decorated.”

Oh, so this is the place where they would have demolished Tohkun from if it had come to it...

“Would you like some tea?” I asked Gillain.

“You’d make some for me?”

“I want to relax a bit.”

I took my tea set out of my Magic Room as usual and made some of my best tea. Even I had a sense of pride, after all. I got the water boiling right away with a combination of water and heat magic, and I put the tea in to steep just as my grandmother had taught me.

Gillain was sitting on the sofa, legs crossed, watching me intently. I brought out an apple cake, cut it into eight pieces, and gave myself and Gillain one slice each, then three each to Lou and Asu.

“Enjoy!”

“You don’t have to entertain these guys!” complained Lou.

“You’ve improved, Sere,” said Asu. “This is great. And this is your first time having her cooking, right, Gillain?”

Gillain picked up a small piece and popped it into his mouth. I watched the three of them eat, then I picked up my cup and looked out the window, satisfied that they liked it.

It was dark outside now, and the stars had come out.

“It actually isn’t my first time.”

“What?”

“Eating your cooking, I mean.”

When? I can’t recall anything.

“I had a green cake that you made. I was worried since it was the same color as grass, but when I tried it, I really liked it. It was bittersweet.”

“You mean matcha?! Is that the one I gave Sakaki?!” Sakaki was protecting him even back then...

“He brought it since he saw I’d been forgetting to eat. He figured it was something even I would eat.”

So Sakaki worries for Gillain... I’m glad.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you two were connected?”

“I couldn’t act. Asu hadn’t returned yet, so there was nothing I could do. I didn’t want to make you happy only to let you down later.”

“I would have felt better if you’d just contacted me.”

“That’s exactly what I wanted to avoid. What would contacting you have accomplished? If I didn’t have the ability to save you, I would have just given you false hope.”

“Well, that may be true, but...”

“I’m an emperor. I don’t make promises I’m not sure I can keep.”

I was lonely, I almost said, but stopped myself. Gillain had been the one who was really alone during that time.

“Did you like the cake?” I blatantly changed the subject.

“I loved it. I can’t believe I’m able to put something in my mouth without checking it for poison for once.”

We have the Poisoning Victims Alliance here...

“I wish I could have your cakes every day.”

“I’ll make as many as you want, as long as you promise not to skip meals.”

“What?!” Lou exclaimed.

“Read the room!” Asu scolded him.

The mood softened thanks to my silly fluffball.

“I’m sorry you had to announce our engagement to get me out of Marsche.”

“Do you...not want to be engaged?”

“It’s not like that, I just feel bad...”

“I thought I made it clear how I feel this afternoon.”

“I see...”

“It’s okay if you don’t believe I feel that way. You can just use me to get out of your current situation if that’s what you want.”

I believe you feel that way. I’ve understood completely, ever since you gave me your plate. I shook my head.

“Your feelings are what matters here. If you’d rather die than marry me, I’ll break off the engagement.”

“What do you mean, ‘rather die’...?!”

“If you hate me, then I’ll find some other way to protect you.”

Hate Gillain? No, I don’t...

“I’ve waited for ten years. You can reject me if you don’t want this. I’d accept my loss then.”

He’s wanted me for ten years, and I just ignored him and ran away from him the whole time.

“Your happiness is everything to me. I don’t want to force you into anything. I’ll leave right now if that’s what you want. Asu can support you.” Gillain always meant what he said.

Gillain would leave? The one person who I can fully trust not to lie to me ever since the events of the book?

“No! Please don’t leave! Don’t...abandon me...” I couldn’t help but run up to Gillain and sit down before him, begging with my hands on his legs.

He opened his eyes wide in a rare expression of surprise, then placed a hand on my head. “You’re my one and only, Sere. How could I ever abandon you?”

“Didn’t Asu tell you? The book of prophecy says that everyone will betray me when I’m seventeen! Everyone I love will hate me!”

“I’ve heard. But I’m not included, right?”

“You’re not, but that’s exactly why...if I lost you, I wouldn’t be able to go on living...” I suddenly had trouble breathing—hyperventilating? I clutched my chest.

“Sere!” Lou shouted.

“Gillain!” Asu shouted.

Gillain leaned forward, still sitting on the couch, put his hands on my sides, and lifted me onto his lap. I buried my face in his chest and took deep breaths, clutching the fabric of his clothes. He stroked my back gently, as if he were touching something fragile.

Once darkness had filled the room, I had become used to being in Gillain’s room, and my breathing was gradually settling down. Asu permeated the air with his warm magic. Breathing it in made me feel better.

“Sere, that really worried me just now. I’m the one who wouldn’t be able to go on living if I didn’t have you. You’re the only one who sees me as just another person. You know the same pain as me and see things from the same point of view as me. You don’t hate me, do you? I really believe you don’t...”

Gillain trusted me so deeply, it almost hurt. I couldn’t go on hiding my feelings—not anymore.

“Gillain... My loyalty, past, present, and future, is to you alone. But, I’m scared...”

Will you still love me in the future?

“I’m not going to betray you. Time will make that clear to you. You can wait patiently at my side until that time comes.”

I want to believe in a future where I stand close to Gillain so he won’t be lonely. I’ll be next to him, not anybody else.

“Will you marry me, my frightened Sere?”

I couldn’t resist. To live for someone who wanted me from the bottom of their heart was my dream...a dream I had turned my back on for so long.

I saw Lou and Asu in my field of vision. Loudarylphena, my other half, watched me with his sky-blue eyes. They inspired courage in me—the courage to take the next step.

I want to believe...

I met eyes with Gillain and nodded slightly, my chin trembling.

I...loved Gillain. I didn’t know if it was romantic, platonic, or familial love, but I didn’t care. My only thought was...I want to make him happy.

Gillain took out a ring with a vivid blue gem that matched his eyes perfectly—probably tanzanite—and slid it onto my left ring finger. I felt his intense magic inside it. As he put it on me, he kissed me.

“I love you.”

I’d fallen for him, just like in the book. I didn’t regret it, just like in the book.

Having put a conclusion to the thing that had been eating away at me for all this time, I let myself relax, lean against Gillain’s chest, and gaze at the sky.

A star fell.