Chapter 133

“Alexa, if you trust him… then I will too.”

Lunailliah spoke in a voice tinged with emotion. Her words pressed heavily on Alexa’s heart. All this time that Alexa couldn’t even remember, Lunailliah had been waiting for her.

“If he’s someone you’ve chosen, then I believe in him too.”

Even now, she still carried unwavering faith in Alexa.

“You saved Dephensores, Alexa.”

“I might have failed.”

Alexa shook her head. If only Alexandria, her past self, had succeeded in persuading Temperchi, this tragedy might never have happened.

“That’s not true, Alexa. If it weren’t for you, we would’ve faced total ruin. Dephensores, driven by rage, would’ve torn down the empire they built with their own hands.”

“Luna…”

“Don’t blame yourself just because I had to wait a long time. You’ve accomplished something far greater than that.”

Lunailliah gripped Alexa’s hand tightly.

“…So if you ever need my help, just say the word, Alexa. Just like before, this time too, I’ll respect your decision. Because you always make the best choices for us.”

What other faith could be as warm and kind as this? Alexa sniffled, and her eyes, resembling the clear blue sky, shimmered with emotion. Through Alexa’s eyes, Lunailliah recalled the skies they once opened long ago, and the descendants who now lived beneath them.

As she watched over the lives of those who bore the blood of Lunailliah and Dephensores, she never once felt bored. In her detached role as a bystander, Lunailliah had witnessed far more of Thersion’s days than anyone else. And to her, that was joy. That was happiness.

“I was happy because of you, Alexa… because I could see the children you protected.”

“Luna… I really don’t know if I did the right thing.”

“That’s not for you to decide. It’s for those of us who live on to judge.”

Lunailliah kissed the back of Alexa’s hand.

“In the past and even now, thank you, Alexa.”

Alexa hesitated for a moment, then gave a firm nod. 

As Lunailliah said, it wasn’t Alexa’s place to measure or judge. If Lunailliah’s life had been a happy one, then that was enough. Alexa realized she had gained more from this meeting than she’d expected. She had reclaimed an old bond.

* * * 

“Why are you crying?”

Ysildus let out a deep sigh as Alexa sniffled and couldn’t stop her tears. Despite her face looking like it might crumble at any moment, she simply shook her head in response to his questions.

“Alexa. Did I do something wrong?”

Terrun tilted his head and asked. At this rate, Ysildus might break down the carriage door and rudely storm off to grab Lunailliah by the throat.

“No, it’s not like that…”

“Then it must’ve been Ysildus’s fault! Right?”

A sharp flash of murderous aura burst from Ysildus and shot straight at Terrun. He’d already looked menacing ever since Alexa came out of the cabin sniffling, and now he wouldn’t even meet anyone’s eyes. 

Terrun looked away, trying to avoid eye contact.

“Ysildus would never do that to Alexa, Terrun.”

Jeremiah quickly stepped between them, flashing a disarming smile as he gently addressed Alexa.

“What did she say to you? I hope you’re not crying because it hurt.”

Ysildus bared his teeth. Compared to the foolish Terrun, Jeremiah was far more dangerous.

“I’m not crying because I’m sad. I just… I’m so happy it keeps making me cry.”

“You’re happy?”

Alexa nodded. But she didn’t know how to explain it. 

To do so would mean recounting a long history, an entire alternate worldline. But to give Alexa and Lunailliah’s story a happy ending, Dephensores had to return. And before that, Temperchi had to be dealt with. It was still too soon to tell them anything.

“Luna said she’d help.”

“…Luna?”

“Ah. I mean, Lady Lunailliah said she could help undo the Oath Seal.”

Alexa’s eyes darted nervously as she quickly corrected herself. Though that didn’t dispel Ysildus’s suspicion in the slightest.

‘There’s definitely something going on.’

So long as it wasn’t something or someone trying to take Alexa away from him. Ysildus gently caressed Alexa’s cheek, now streaked with slowly drying tears.

“If it’s too hard… you can stop. I want you to be happy beside me, not miserable, Alexa.”

“…Okay.”

Ysildus held her small hands in his and kissed each knuckle. Alexa’s cheeks turned a soft, peachy pink. She glanced nervously at Jeremiah and Terrun, then hurriedly pushed Ysildus away.

“T-They’re watching us…”

Her voice, almost a whimper, made Terrun’s ears perk up. And of course, Ysildus wouldn’t let this chance go to waste. 

Seizing on her words, he smiled knowingly. The mood, once emotional, flipped in an instant. He slid his fingers between hers, deliberately interlacing them. Their palms and the backs of their hands now pressed together like one.

‘Something’s… weird.’

Alexa blinked quickly. Just moments ago, this hadn’t been the vibe at all, but now it felt like they were dripping with sugar. As she floundered, Ysildus whispered teasingly.

“Why? Can’t they look? We didn’t even do anything.”

“Huh?”

Ysildus curled his lips into a sly, crescent smile. Unlike Alexa, he wasn’t the least bit shy. He wanted to shamelessly show Jeremiah and Terrun, who kept eyeing her, that Alexa was his. Only then could he put Jeremiah, with his arrogant stares, in his place. That’s the difference between being private and being public. 

He gently ran his thumb across the back of her hand.

“I said, what exactly did we do?”

There was a rich, unmistakable allure in his coaxing smile. Alexa opened and closed her mouth wordlessly.

“N-N-Nothing happened!!”

Why hadn’t she built up resistance yet? Everything from her words to her body language screamed something had happened. 

Ysildus glanced between the trembling Terrun and the sneering Jeremiah. Then, for the ever-shy Alexa, he offered up his broad shoulder. She buried her face against it with a deep exhale.

“…It’s true. Nothing happened. Right, Ysu?”

Yeah, sure. That’s what everyone here was thinking. But Ysildus just nodded sweetly.

“Of course. If you say so.”

Just as Alexa was breathing a sigh of relief… 

“Then I guess that kiss we shared counts as nothing too, huh?”

Alexa froze like stone.

“I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!!”

Terrun shot up so violently the carriage rocked. Apart from that dramatic moment, the rest of the trip was relatively uneventful.

* * * 

Terrun clutched his head, pacing in frustration. Jeremiah, who’d been staring blankly, shook his head.

“This is a conspiracy. Ysildus must’ve drugged Alexa’s food.”

“…He would never do that.”

If there was one thing they could trust about Ysildus, it was that he’d never hurt Alexa.

“Then why? Why Ysildus?!”

Because he’s the one who’s been wooing Alexa the longest…? Jeremiah glanced sideways at Terrun.

“It’s Alexa’s choice. Not ours.”

His voice sounded utterly despondent as he forced a smile.

“She made her choice, Terrun. There’s nothing we can do now.”

“It’s not fair!!”

Terrun stomped his foot, but nothing would change. 

From the start, this was a rigged game. Ysildus, who grew up with Alexa, versus Jeremiah and Terrun, who came in later. Who do you think had the advantage? No matter how you looked at it, the game had been stacked in Ysildus’s favor from the beginning. 

Jeremiah bit down on his lip.

‘Still… I’m not going to give up just like this.’

Maybe Ysildus saw Alexa as something else, but to Jeremiah, she was light, salvation itself. Unlike Ysildus, who always wore a smirk or twisted his words with cold sarcasm, Jeremiah could say it plainly. He wasn’t about to lose her without even confessing once.

“Terrun. I’ve got a brilliant plan to flip the tables.”

Tossing out a stone like Terrun first wasn’t a bad idea.

“What kind of plan?”

Terrun tilted his head innocently.

“Maybe Alexa picked Ysildus because she doesn’t know how we feel yet. We’ve got to give it everything we’ve got.”

“So…?”

“We confess, Terrun. Give her a chance to choose.”

“…Who goes first?”

Terrun narrowed his eyes, clearly on alert. It was a miracle someone this pure had survived in this castle. Jeremiah offered a generous smile.

“Of course you go first. Terrun, I’m the last one who came into her life. It’s only fair I let you go first.”

“…Unlike Ysu, at least you have morals.”

Morals…? Really? If he had any of those, would he even have survived this place? Jeremiah sighed at the absurdity of Terrun’s words.