Hope in the Darkness
The evening settles over the city, painting the sky in deep shades of orange, wrapping every corner in a warm glow. After a long and exhausting day, we decide to head to a nearby restaurant. Between all the worries and plans, we had completely forgotten about lunch, and now the comforting aroma of food embraces us like a welcoming refuge.
"Mimi wants to try that ice cream!" Mimi exclaims, waving her staff excitedly as she points at a little girl enjoying a small cone.
Her eyes shine with the innocence and wonder of a child at a festival, and I can't help but smile at such purity.
"An ice-cold dessert would be perfect for a summer day. Even though it's winter, it still looks delicious," the big guy comments, grinning as he joins in on the excitement.
Little by little, more of us get on board with the idea, and soon, the atmosphere is filled with laughter and lively conversation. As the desserts arrive at the table, for a brief moment, the weight of our responsibilities seems to lift.
Emilia, sitting beside me, leans forward with a playful smile.
"Marco floated into the air!" she recalls, referring to that first hot air balloon experience. "My heart skipped a beat—I thought the wind was carrying him away!"
Laughter erupts around the table, and even the three who are famous for their clumsiness join in with their own stories. Even Reinhard, normally so serious, decides to contribute.
"At first, Lady Felt tried to run away from me," Reinhard says with a warm smile, just as Felt half-heartedly swats his arm.
"Shut up, Reinhard!" Felt protests, but her grin gives her away.
Between bites and laughter, a fleeting sense of peace fills the air. Emilia and I exchange glances; at first, a small uneasy stir inside me, but her smile eases my worries and strengthens my resolve.
'I'll protect that smile, no matter what,' I tell myself.
I wink at her, and in a playful impulse, I pretend to blow her a kiss. Emilia's ears turn red as she looks at me with a mix of surprise and shyness.
'We're in public, don't do that,' she scolds me mentally, but her smile doesn't waver.
I watch her as the murmurs of laughter surround us, and for a moment, the world fades away. Her eyes captivate me, leaving me completely vulnerable to her charm. Her lips move slightly, as if calling me in silence, and her pale, velvety skin is so flawless it could make anyone envious.
'You were the one who confessed,' I think with an amused smirk. 'I'm just following my lady's wishes.'
Without words, her gaze and the subtle movement of her eyes say everything.
'Idiot!' She sticks her tongue out at me, turning her head away.
'She's adorable,' I murmur in my mind, watching as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear with an irresistible sweetness.
I never imagined I'd feel this way again. Honestly, I had never thought of Emilia like this before; my actions hadn't just changed my surroundings but also something inside me.
"Quit the flirting already! You're making me sick!" Felt suddenly interrupts, pointing at both of us with a teasing grin. "We're all here! If you're gonna share something, make it for everyone!"
Felt's cheeks are flushed, and I suspect she's had a bit too much to drink. I thought Reinhard would step in, but it seems he's letting her be. Emilia turns as red as a tomato and lowers her gaze, while I keep enjoying the moment with a smug smile.
"Jealous?" I ask Felt with a cocky tone, egging her on.
"Jealous? Of what?!" she snaps, her blush deepening.
She tries to keep up her defiant attitude, but soon enough, she swings a punch at my face. Reinhard, ever vigilant, steps in immediately.
"Lady Felt!" he calls, gently holding her back.
"Let me show him the joys of a well-placed punch!" she protests, but after a brief struggle, she relents, sitting down with her arms crossed, watching us with a mix of amusement and irritation.
To my surprise, in a corner of the room, Crusch and Julius are engaged in a lively conversation. I knew they were acquainted, but I never expected Crusch to willingly start a chat with him.
"That's an interesting reaction," Anastasia comments with an amused smirk as she watches them. "Could it be that you two…?"
Everyone, except Crusch and Julius, turns to look at us like we're the latest gossip of the moment. Emilia, still smiling warmly, decides to speak up.
"It's not what you think. Not yet. It was just a week ago," she begins, placing her hands over her chest.
Emilia starts telling the story, carefully omitting private details about my situation and anything we need to keep confidential. She only mentions the details of the trials, leaving out the third one—the one about a possible future.
"For me, the trial was painful. I had never experienced the suffering of walking in someone else's shoes," she admits sincerely, capturing everyone's attention. "Thinking about someone's pain is one thing, but living it was something else entirely..."
Emilia pauses for a second before looking at everyone seriously.
"It was as if our souls became one, but their emotions were intruding into mine," she says, intertwining her fingers while offering a gentle smile. "It wasn't until I accepted it, until I embraced their soul as part of my own, that I understood."
I watch her, completely absorbed in her story, and the way she looks at everyone fills me with admiration.
"Is it really possible to see the past like that?" Anastasia asks, genuinely intrigued but without pressing further, leaving me deep in thought.
"It surprised me too!" Emilia continues, clenching her hands tightly. "Feeling their pain, their emotions, made me realize how much they meant to me. I fell in love—not with their suffering, but with what came after it."
She looks at me, and though her smile is faint, it carries a warmth that melts my soul.
"He entered my life, helped me in ways I never imagined, and that was when I truly saw his suffering—when I caught a glimpse of his soul," she says as a single tear rolls down her cheek. "At first, I even gave up, but thanks to those around me, I found courage. I still wonder if I could have done better or if I made mistakes."
I never imagined Emilia was still reflecting on all of this, still analyzing every detail. I stare at my hands, lost in my own thoughts.
"I was the one who confessed..." she continues, lowering her head slightly to hide her embarrassment. "I never knew what love was, but... only after experiencing all that..."
Smiles widen across the faces of those present, and excitement spreads like a gentle fire.
"I kissed him," Emilia declares, her sincere smile lighting up the room.
Her revelation ignites the atmosphere even more.
"Of course!" Felt and Anastasia exclaim in unison. "We already had a feeling since our last conversation."
"Really?" Emilia asks, surprised.
"Yes, it was obvious, but we kept quiet out of respect," Anastasia adds, raising a glass of wine to her lips. "In a way, it's kind of satisfying."
"Yes! You two make a great couple," Felt comments, grinning at me. "Plus, you've got your big brother under control. That's how it should be!"
"Controlled?" I retort, a little irritated. "That's not true! I never…"
Even some of the customers, who seem to have overheard the conversation, nod in agreement.
"Everyone knows our mayor is totally whipped," a waitress chimes in, giving me a teasing smile. "Every time Miss Emilia tells you to do something, you do it. When she gets excited about food, you bring her more."
"That's just me being a good servant." I smile, but everyone looks at me with disapproval.
"Yeah, but only with Miss Emilia do you smile differently." She points at me, and my eyes widen.
'Smile?'
Knowing looks pass around the establishment, and a faint sense of embarrassment creeps over me. With everyone nodding in agreement, I have no choice but to shut up.
"It was obvious, but I'm glad you said it," the waitress comments, giving Emilia a thumbs-up. Emilia responds with a shy smile. "People were already betting on how long it would take."
"I figured they'd wait until the New Year!"
"Agh! My silver coins!"
'How did I not know about this?' I think.
Clearly, Emilia has a history I wasn't aware of.
"Shit," I murmur, feeling the situation slip out of my control. 'This makes no sense.'
"Marco Luz," Julius interrupts, his tone carrying implications I'd rather not acknowledge. Deep down, I want to shut him up with a punch. "It is a knight's duty to think and act always in service of his lady; you need not be troubled."
Reinhard smiles at Julius's words, and for the first time, I sense something insincere in his tone.
"It is our duty as her protectors," he adds with a slight smirk.
'That bastard is mocking me too,' I think, staring at him. 'Can you read my thoughts? One day, I'll make you pay for this!'
"Yes, there's nothing to worry about," the dwarf chimes in, his face losing its earlier blush after staring at me intensely.
"Seems like I was too soft," I remark, fixing the three of them with a look that leaves no room for doubt.
"Marco!" Emilia calls out, but I try to ignore her for a moment, caught in the intensity of this ridiculous situation.
'To think I'd ever be called whipped… damn it.'
"Good evening," Otto greets as he enters the restaurant, hand in hand with Rem. He looks at me with a grin, as if he's heard everything.
"Looks like everyone's having fun. The bet… seems like I won," Otto says, smirking at me. "I also have some interesting stories about these two."
The atmosphere flares up again.
"I want to hear them!" Felt exclaims excitedly, while Anastasia watches with a knowing look.
"Mimi does too!"
"It's interesting to see this side of the so-called 'Hero of Lugunica.'"
More people gather, drawn in by the lively conversation. Emilia and I exchange resigned smiles.
The night flows quickly, like a river dragging the hours away without mercy. We know we'll have to fight, that painful times lie ahead, but this moment of rest is necessary.
We need to recharge, to find the will to keep going.
And as the night fades, we all head off to sleep.
In the dim mansion, near a window where pale moonlight filters through, I find Anastasia. Her violet hair glows faintly, and her gaze drifts to the sky, as if searching for answers among the stars. Though her serene smile radiates control, something in her expression betrays a silent distress.
"Did you call me?" I ask. She turns to me, her usually calculating eyes now carrying a depth that hides a burden too heavy to bear.
'That look… it's the same one I wear sometimes.'
"Yes, I wanted to talk to you in private," she says, gesturing for me to follow.
At a slow pace, we walk to my office. The lingering effects of the evening's wine add a touch of melancholy to the air. As we step inside, Anastasia sinks onto the sofa, exhaling a sigh that seems to release some of the weight she carries.
"I wanted to take this moment," she begins, looking at me with a calmness that's hard to believe. "For the first time in a long while, I feel at peace—enough to speak without distraction. I know you understand the situation, not just regarding Priestella, but also the future."
I watch her closely. I know Anastasia rarely reveals her thoughts, which makes this moment all the more significant. Something important is about to be unveiled.
"The Diaries of Hoshin of the Desert," she finally says, her voice breaking slightly, almost vulnerable. "I only have volume two… out of three."
"The Diaries of Hoshin?" I repeat, trying to recall. I know Hoshin, of course, but those diaries were never mentioned in the novel. 'What secrets could they hold?'
"I got it at an auction. I've always been a fan of him," she continues, clasping her hands together with a tension that reveals her nerves. "At first, I thought he might have had some illness, or that the book was a forgery. But its contents… describe a past that could have existed, one that has now been lost. And something more."
As I watch her, a thought creeps in. 'The error, the inconsistency of the world.' 'Did Hoshin manage to escape that shift in reality?'
The question lingers in my mind as I take in her expression.
"The tomb of the Witch of Greed, the fact that there were multiple witches besides the Witch of Envy—ones who also brought chaos to the world. The possibility of older, more powerful kingdoms than the current ones, a betrayal never recorded," she says, gripping her hands even tighter, as if trying to contain an internal storm. "Priestella… created to kill powerful beings through its water. It's all connected, everything… everything fits together too perfectly, like someone pulled the strings of the world to make it make sense."
Her eyes narrow for a moment, and a deep sigh escapes her lips, as if the weight of her revelations is too much to bear alone.
"What lies beyond the other side of the world," she murmurs, and her words steal my breath away. "That's the missing piece I have yet to decipher."
My eyes widen, trying to grasp every nuance of her confession.
"The other side of the world?" I ask, not fully understanding.
"I don't know what the other two journals might contain," she continues, her hands trembling slightly as she struggles to maintain her composure. "But this volume details the existence of something beyond the great waterfall. Maybe it wasn't the Witch of Envy who plunged the world into darkness, but something else—something hidden. I tried verifying the stories, searching the memories of spirits and people alike, but no one seems to remember. No books, no notes, no artwork, no songs—nothing and no one holds any recollection of what happened."
I press my lips together, remembering Natsuki Subaru, that ever-present figure pulling strings from the shadows. 'Could he be involved in this too?' I wonder, skeptical.
"Maybe it never happened," I say, unable to hide my doubt. "Forgive me, but I can't help but question—"
'I can't just take Hermod's words at face value.'
Anastasia shakes her head, cutting me off as she rubs her hands together.
"The journal held a latent magic—one that only activated after I read it in its entirety," she explains, gesturing toward the window. "It showed me fragments of the past and glimpses of an imminent future, scattered images that, chaotic as they seemed, are starting to form a pattern."
"How long have you known?" I ask, feeling the weight in the air grow even heavier.
"For months. The magic only activated when I read it, and it never triggered again, as if someone had left it there specifically for me," she answers, rubbing her forehead as though trying to ease an invisible pain. "You know I have no gate—mana is poison to me—but somehow, that seems to have influenced the book. I don't know if it was just a coincidence… or something else."
'Natsuki Subaru.'
She looks at me with a rare vulnerability, though her expression remains serious. Anastasia has always kept her composure, but this… this is beyond her, and that only makes me admire her more.
"Honestly, I didn't trust you enough to share this," she admits, squinting at me with a small smile. "But you've proven yourself to be against everything."
She pauses, then smirks. "Besides, I have a good eye for people."
"That's understandable," I concede, though my skepticism lingers. "I still can't fully wrap my head around it, but it's not something to take lightly."
I don't think Anastasia is lying, but the doubt gnaws at me, fueled by the possibility that Subaru is orchestrating some grand distraction. And yet… the look in her eyes tells me she's just as lost as I am.
"I suppose that's fair," she says with a bitter smile. "I never expected you to believe me entirely. If you did, I'd have to reconsider my trust in you."
"I had a feeling about what you were saying, but I didn't expect it to be like this."
I understand her logic—we're both strategists, both fixated on keeping control in a world that's falling apart. But at this moment, I see something else in her. Fear. A deep, gnawing fear of what the future might bring.
"Marco Luz," she says, her smile fading. "According to Hoshin, the world will be at war in about ten years."
Her voice shakes, and I watch as the weight of her vision takes hold.
"I don't know what will happen to me… or to anyone else. But I saw you, Marco. I saw you fighting those creatures… indescribable monsters. I saw a sea of corpses, cities reduced to ruins, so much… blood."
Her gaze falters, her expression breaking just slightly.
"I am greedy, yes," she continues, locking eyes with me again. "But what good is wealth if the future crumbles around us?"
Determination settles in her stare. A merchant's instinct leads her to the only logical conclusion.
"Let's be allies," she says. "More than just rulers."
"You'd give up the throne?" I ask, genuinely surprised by her proposal.
Her eyes widen, as if suddenly remembering our conversation in the capital after the trial.
"You already knew I'd say this, didn't you?" she asks, resting her hands on her lap.
"I didn't know. But I needed to hear it." I meet her gaze, my expression serious. "So, I'll ask again—would you abandon the throne?"
Anastasia presses her lips together, visibly uneasy.
"This isn't the Lady Anastasia I thought I knew," I say, watching as her eyes widen slightly. Her hands still tremble, struggling to find steadiness.
"I… I've never stopped dreaming about it," she confesses, and for just a moment, a single tear glistens in her eye. "It feels like a curse embedded in that book. Since then, I've seen everything I built collapse, watched everyone around me die. There were times I cursed the day I ever found that book… but at the same time, I'm grateful for the chance to change everything. That's why I need to ally myself with someone even more involved in all of this than I am."
I step forward, placing a hand on her shoulder in reassurance.
"You're only human, Lady Anastasia," I tell her. "No supernatural powers, just as vulnerable as anyone else. I'm not saying that to insult you—I'm reminding you that you're not alone. I understand your fears. I know how hard this has been. But you have something more powerful than magic: a mind sharper than most."
Under my touch, she relaxes just slightly, revealing for a brief instant the woman behind the façade of cold calculation.
"I am greedy, Marco Luz," she says with a faint smile. "But a true merchant knows when to act. It doesn't matter who rules—together, our alliance will be priceless."
I smile. That was always my goal. You don't conquer a monopoly by destroying the competition. You integrate it.
"A commercial empire, built by the two of us," I declare, extending my hand. Anastasia hesitates but takes it, and in that moment, I feel we've sealed something far deeper than just a deal.
"It's an honor to forge this alliance, Lady Anastasia."
"Just Anastasia, please, Marco," she replies, smiling—genuinely, this time. "Let's hope the future surprises us in a good way."
I meet her gaze, noticing how the weight on her shoulders seems just a little lighter now. She and I have always been of the same kind. Talking to her is easy. I used to think we were different, but in reality, it's only the circumstances that set us apart.
"For now, this will be our little secret." I smirk, watching as a flicker of nervousness crosses her face.
"Are you planning to cheat on Lady Emilia?" she teases, her gaze lowering slightly as if embarrassed.
"For you? It might be worth it." I take her hand, and she blinks, caught off guard, before quickly regaining her composure.
"That kind of line won't work on a lady," she smirks, lifting her chin slightly. "You'll have to try harder than that."
"That's why I'd never actually cheat." I wink before turning to the window. "One more thing—something to help you understand my purpose."
I place my hand against the glass before looking back at her.
"Changing the future has always been my goal," I say with unwavering resolve. "I fight for a tomorrow filled with hope. My greatest ambition is a future worth smiling for."
"That's quite an ambition," she says, and for the first time, I feel like we truly share the same vision.
We both offer faint smiles, letting the conversation end there, a silent promise hanging between us—we will face whatever comes, together. Little by little, my plans are taking shape, but Anastasia's words still echo inside me: a past erased, an uncertain future… 'What awaits us ahead?'
I glance out the window again, up at the moon watching from above, and wonder if, one day, we'll be able to change the course of this world.
For now, all we can do is keep moving forward.
The morning passed in a blur—quick, full of movement. Some stayed behind to handle logistics, while others followed me as I showed them the factory facilities. The looks of astonishment were immediate; they weren't prepared for the sheer scale of what they saw. Anastasia, in particular, seemed intrigued, though a shadow of unease flickered in her eyes.
Competitors, yes, but also allies for a better future.
After a long, refreshing bath, I dressed carefully, choosing each piece with the intention of impressing someone very special. Today, I am not the ruler, not the strategist, not the man burdened by the weight of decisions.
Today, I am simply Marco—a man preparing to meet the person who brings light into his life.
As I adjust my jacket in front of the mirror, I notice the changes in my body—stronger, steadier. The mana within me has stabilized, and the miasma is no longer a constant threat.
I may not have Return by Death, but I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life.
'All that I miss is my daughter,' I think, but a sharp slap to my own cheeks snaps me back to the present.
"Ahg!" I exhale, refocusing.
Today is special. A day I've decided not to think about the battles ahead. A day off, even if just for a few hours.
After this, Priestella and Pardochia await.
"Let's go," I murmur, clenching my hands briefly before stepping out into the main square.
The air is crisp, laced with a gentle wind that brushes through the city. It's around four or five in the afternoon, and the overcast sky gives the atmosphere a melancholic tint. Life in the city goes on—some dressed in mourning, others in everyday clothes.
Today, I've chosen to break away from the formalities.
No military uniform. No somber black attire.
Instead, I wear a brown leather jacket over a black pair of pants.
Today, I am not a ruler.
Today, I am just me.
"Marco!"
Her voice is like a melody that chases away every shadow in my mind.
I turn, and there she is.
Her silver hair, shining like freshly forged steel, falls in soft braids that frame her face. She wears a cream-colored sweater and a pale pink skirt that sways with every step, as if dancing to an invisible rhythm.
A small bag hangs over her shoulder in earthy tones, and peeking out from it, the tiny ear of a Puck plush toy.
Her slightly pointed ears hint at her heritage, but it's her smile that truly captivates me.
A smile that brightens everything around her.
A smile that carries innocence and joy in every glimmer of her eyes.
Around her, nearly translucent feathers drift in the air, swirling to the rhythm of a breeze that only she seems to command.
It's as if her very presence is a beacon in the storm, dispelling the darkness threatening to engulf us.
"You look beautiful," I say, taking her hand in mine. The words are simple, but they come straight from my heart. My fingers intertwine with hers, feeling the softness of her skin.
"Thank you! You look great too!" Her ears flush red, but her smile widens, brimming with excitement. Her eyes shine like stars, and I can't help but smile back.
I hadn't planned this.
But something in her gaze changed my mind.
We both know that soon, we'll be risking our lives in ways we can't yet imagine.
But today, just for today, I wanted this to be our day.
"I didn't think you'd want to go out before we left," she says, looking at me in surprise.
"I wanted to have a date with you," I reply, gently ruffling her hair. My fingers weave through her silver braids, savoring their silky texture. She closes her eyes for a moment, relishing the gesture before taking my hand and pressing it to her cheek.
"I wanted a date with you too," she whispers.
And for that moment, the world stands still.
Hand in hand, we walk toward the park.
Irlam isn't a city built for entertainment—it was designed for industry, not leisure.
But I know Emilia finds joy in the simplest things.
The sound of laughter.
The sight of children playing.
The quiet beauty of a sunset.
We sit on a bench, watching the kids run and jump. It's the weekend, and the park is alive with energy. A few people glance our way, but I don't care.
The only thing that matters is her—right here, beside me.
"Here, I got this for you," I say, handing her a chocolate ice cream cone. I hold one of strawberries for myself.
"Thank you," she says, taking it with a smile that could outshine the sun.
Our fingers brush for just a moment, and a shiver runs down my spine.
We start eating, and before long, our free hands find each other again, fingers lacing together naturally. The ice cream is cold, but her presence makes it feel warm.
"The park is pretty packed today," I remark, watching the children play.
"I love seeing everyone laughing and having fun," she says, taking a bold bite of her ice cream. "It gives me the energy to keep going, hehe."
I watch her, captivated by the way she enjoys the simplest things.
It's incredible.
'How can someone so powerful find so much happiness in something so small?'
"When I was a kid, I used to climb trees," I say, lost in nostalgia. "My friends and I pretended they were watchtowers."
"You were so mischievous!" she exclaims, laughing. "In your world, mana didn't exist, and injuries didn't heal as easily. Your parents must have been worried!"
"Ha!" I puff out my chest proudly. "When you're a kid, you're invincible. If I fell, I just got back up like nothing happened!"
She laughs, and the sound is so pure that I find myself smiling without realizing it.
"When I was little… I used to run away and hide," she says, her eyes on the playing children. "I always wished I had friends. I always wanted to play with kids my age. But… just for being who I was, my childhood was stolen from me."
She closes her eyes, and I cup her cheek with my hand.
I lean forward until our foreheads touch, and we sit there, in silence.
No words can change her past.
But right now, all I want is for her to know she's not alone.
"That's why I…" she whispers, taking my hands in hers.
"I want every child to have a future. I don't want them to live the way I did."
"We're doing it," I say, feeling a tear slip from her face onto her lap.
"Yes, we are," she murmurs, pulling me into a tight embrace. "Thank you, Marco. Thank you for coming into my life."
I hold her close as the sunset paints the sky in hues of gold and pink.
"Let's get something to eat," I suggest. "Then, I want to take you somewhere."
After dinner, we climb to a cliffside—a place that once symbolized death but now brims with life. The protective railings can't hide the beauty before us: the flowers, the distant lights, the crisp scent of the night.
I rented a private bench, a small luxury worth every coin.
The night wraps around us, and the cold air seems to still, as if the world itself is holding its breath. Emilia stands before me, her amethyst eyes glowing with a light that pierces through me. In this moment, everything I am, everything I've been, narrows down to one thing—her.
"To think this place used to be a forest," Emilia muses, admiring the landscape.
But I can't look away from her. The moonlight catches in her silver hair, making it seem like part of the sky itself.
"I'm still afraid," I admit, staring out at the vast lands ahead of us. "This will be dangerous. The people we're facing… they're the worst of the worst."
She takes my hand, her gaze steady.
"We have to save the people who need us," she says, cupping my cheek. "Marco Luz doesn't abandon those who depend on him. I'll protect you, just as you'll protect me."
A faint blush dusts her cheeks, and her hands are warm despite the biting wind. In this moment, under the moon's soft glow, there are no enemies, no fears—just us, standing together.
"As long as we're together, we can face anything," she whispers, stepping closer. Her voice is gentle yet unshakable, each word carved into stone. "This time, we're all in this. Everyone wants to help those in need. I'm scared, too—so~ much—but think of those who are even more afraid. Ordinary people who can't defend their loved ones. The child who doesn't know what to do. The mother who is willing to give her life for her family. The father who stands before the inevitable."
Her words settle deep inside me, but they don't extinguish the fire burning in my chest. Her gaze sharpens, and I can't look away. There's something about her, something that draws me in, something that consumes me—something that makes me want more. Always more.
"I can't stand by and do nothing," she continues, her soft yet determined smile cutting through the night. "It's my duty to shield them from fear, to give them a future. That's who I am, and that's who I'll always be."
I can't believe this.
I can't believe the moment I'm living right now.
Here, with her hands on mine, looking at me with such certainty—the girl I once thought of as naïve, the one I had to watch so closely just to understand, stands before me with a fire that burns away every shadow of doubt.
'I can't believe it.'
My hands find her shoulders, as if I need to be sure this is real. That this moment isn't a dream.
"When I came to this world, I wanted to change it just to survive… to atone for what I've done," I confess, tilting my head toward the sky for a brief moment. The clouds part, and the moon shines in its full splendor, illuminating her face like a masterpiece. "I've been through so much. I thought I deserved to suffer. That I should just bring joy to others and set my own feelings aside."
My eyes return to hers—those eyes that look at me as if they understand everything.
"I wanted you to be a ruler, to make everyone shine in their own way," I say, smiling warmly as my fingers brush the pendant resting against my chest. "Beatrice made me feel a father's love. She made me believe the world could change. For her, I wanted to change it—to show her the beauty of existence."
I step closer, feeling her breath mix with mine.
"I reached out to my people. Seeing their smiles made me want to build something, to grow strong enough to protect them," I continue, tracing my fingers along her cheek. "For my friends, I want to be someone they can rely on, someone who stands by their side and watches them shine."
I've always loved stories where everyone has their own role to play, where everyone gets their moment to shine. I know I'm not whole. I know I have so much to face, so much to fix.
But there's one thing I know for certain.
"For you," I say, my voice filled with a conviction that rises from the deepest part of me. "For you, I want everything."
I'm not a romantic person. In that sense, I'm more like Anastasia.
I'm greedy.
Excessively so.
I crave seeing people happy. I want to see them laugh.
I crave the joy of my friends.
And I crave everything about the person I love.
She stares at me, surprised—but she doesn't look away.
"I want to see your smile every morning. I want to hear your laughter on the darkest days. I want to feel your hand in mine when everything seems lost," I continue, my hands cupping her face as I draw her closer. "I want your happiness, your sadness, your fears, and your dreams. I want every part of you, every moment, every breath."
My words hang in the air, heavy with meaning.
"Emilia, I like you," I confess.
And then, our lips meet.
The kiss is slow, deliberate—full of everything I can't put into words. Our arms wrap around each other, holding on as if to say all the things we've never spoken. Emilia's tears fall, but they aren't from sorrow. They're from something deeper, something that ties us together in this moment.
I never thought I could feel this way again.
I never thought I could be this greedy, this envious, this desperate.
I thought I could keep my composure, that I could control the emotions that burned inside me, that I had tamed the beast lurking within.
'In the end, I really am just human.'
'What a relief…'
Our breaths mingle, and the warmth between us fills me completely. Her lips feel like home—the place I've always longed to return to.
"I like you too," she whispers, her shy smile piercing through me, making me feel like a child experiencing love for the first time.
Like a boy discovering his first love.
"Emilia… I've changed the fate of this world just to keep moving forward, and I'll keep doing it," I say, holding her hands as our foreheads rest against each other. "No matter what happens, I'll keep changing this world if it means staying by your side."
"Hehe" She giggles—a soft, melodic sound that lingers in the night. "That's why I like you so much."
With her in my arms, I lift my eyes to the moon.
I feel whole. Like I could move mountains if I just willed it hard enough.
I don't want to lose anything else. I don't want the world to keep taking away what I love.
I'll fight.
I'll fight to protect it all.
Right now, under the moonlight, with her in my arms, I know there's nothing we can't accomplish together.
'My name is Marco Luz.'
'And I'll show what I'm made of.'