After the fight with Nicholas, everything turned back to normal, and everyone who knows about the kidnapping of the princess and the heir of the Alpheus house was completely forgotten as if it never happened.

Athanasia and Lucas go back to the past for the last time and grew up as childhood friends. Lucas and Ijekiel also became friends because of that but they're not as good friends as everyone thought they'd be and only Athanasia knows.

Athanasia got her memories back when she turned 15 as Lucas surprised her which made her remember their first date. And also ruined Lucas' plan of telling her everything when she turned 18.

And 3 years later. Everything is still normal yet so sweet and peaceful to Athanasia now that Nicholas is gone. Nothing will ever bother her and her loved ones anymore.

Though there is one thing that's bothering her.

Come to think of it... Athanasia thought sitting up from her bed after a long sleep, her hair was all over the place but she didn't bother. It's been 3 years that I got my memories back...

She got out of her bed and found Lilian walking into her room after knocking.

"Ah, good morning princess," Lilian greeted. "You woke up early."

"I just thought of something..." Athanasia replied with an awkward chuckle as she scratched her messy hair. "And good morning to you too Lily."

Lilian smiled and walked towards Athanasia. "Let's go get you cleaned, you're gonna have breakfast with your family and Lucas."

"Okay!"

Athanasia took a bath while Lilian went to her closet to find her some clothes. Minutes later Athanasia came out of her bathroom and saw her dress lying on her bed neatly.

"Here are your clothes for today," Lilian said as she bowed.

"Thank you, Lily," Athanasia said, smiling.

Athanasia dressed herself up with the help of Lilian and went to the dining room after, for breakfast, she saw her mother and father who was just about to sit down on their seats.

"Good morning, mom, dad!" Athanasia greeted, walking towards her seat which is across Diana's. Her parents smiled, greeting back their lovely daughter.

"Oh, by the way... Where's Lucas?" Athanasia asked, frowning. "He's always the first one to come in the dining room."

"Lucas just got home from his research last night so he might be still asleep from the journey," Diana explained as she took off the cloth and put it on her lap, Athanasia and Claude also do the same.

"Why are you asking for that boy anyway?" Claude scoff. "He's a magician, the best one according to the elder magicians."

"Well, I was used to him being here with us," Athanasia said, pouting, looking away from her father. "And dad! You're still not calling his name!"

"I-! Why would I do that?" Claude frowned, glancing at his family back and forth. "He's not someone who deserves for me to call his name."

"He has a name for a reason."

"Then what are nicknames for?"

Diana chuckled silently, watching her family bicker. She's proud to see Athanasia defending Lucas since in the past she used to deny everything nice about the magician and also amused to see her fighting back to her father.

I sure did raise her well, Diana smugly thought taking a bite of her pancakes. This is delicious.

--

"Lucas?" Athanasia peeked behind the door that leads to the young magician's room with a basket in hand. She noticed a small mountain on the bed covered by a blanket, with his hair sticking out from it.

Athanasia lets out a giggle and tiptoed herself in the room and gently put the basket on the nightstand. She crouched down to see Lucas' face which was half-covered by his blanket. She sighed, shaking her head.

"It's almost time for lunch and you're still asleep?" She muttered, pouring. "I was thinking of going on a picnic with you but you're still asleep?"

She gently stroked his hair, admiring every detail on his face that she sees. Her lips curved up into a smile. "I know you're tired so rest well, okay? You did a great job."

Athanasia stood up and hummed, staring at the basket that she brought. She looked around in the room to find a piece of paper and a pencil to at least write the older a letter that she visited him today. But as soon as she saw the pen and paper on Lucas' desk, she was suddenly pulled by a hand down on the bed.

The hand then swiftly hugged her around the waist, locking her. Athanasia's breathing hitched to see a pair of red sleepy eyes staring at her, she noticed how close their face was making her cheeks go red.

"Good morning," Lucas greeted with a smile. "Ah, ain't this nice? Seeing your face as soon as I wake up... Should I wake up late now to see your beautiful face first every day?"

Athanasia's face turned even redder than it already was. Her heart's beating like crazy as if it was about to explode any minute.

She didn't know how good-looking Lucas was waking up.

She immediately pushed his face away out of reflex but the latter didn't let go, tightening his hold around her waist pulling her even more close.

"W-What are you doing?!!" Athanasia starts to panic, leaning her head away from Lucas'. "Y-You're too close!!! Too c-close!!!"

"If you stop pushing me away then I won't pull you closer!" Lucas retorted, grunting as he struggled to hold the princess in place. "You're gonna fall if I don't hold you!"

"Let me be!!"

"No!! No way!!"

"Why won't you just listen?!!!"

"I wanted to ask the same, dummy!!"

"Let go!!!"

"For the love of..." Lucas sighed exasperatedly, rolling in his eyes in annoyance as his patience is starting to fade away.

He pulled Athanasia in the middle as he sat up and held both of her hands, putting them on both sides of her head. Athanasia was now locked in between Lucas and the bed, noticing it made her heart go wild but not just her heart but also her mind, stopping her to think.

"Finally you've settled down..." Lucas sighed with a chuckle. "I take back seeing your face as soon as I wake up. I didn't know that you were this brutal in the morning."

Unruly hair and sleeping attire with those drowsy eyes and raspy deep voice all in one, Athanasia suddenly forgot how to breathe. She slowly gulped at how small she is underneath him and helplessly being locked with just both of his hands.

Lucas noticed the princess' reaction and smirked, tilting his head. "Is milady getting flustered?"

Athanasia got out of her trance, flinching. "W-What?! N-No way!!"

"C'mon princess, there's no need to be embarrassed when you're already caught by the best magician."

"S-Shut up! I don't know what you're talking about!"

Lucas faked a pout, his long hair rolled down from his shoulders, forcing for his shirt to slightly slide down, almost showing his collarbone. "You were so sweet to me when you first walk into my room, why are you being like this?"

"What do you mean?" Athanasia looked away, laughing forcedly.

"Be honest with me Athanasia, we promised," Lucas suddenly said in a serious tone. Athanasia felt her heart jump at the mention of her name, he rarely calls her by her name.

"What does that have to do with this?"

"Everything."

"You're kidding..."

"I'm not!"

"Why are you so persistent?!!!"

"Why are you so cute?!"

Athanasia's eyes widened in surprise. After Lucas said that he gave her a cute peck on the tip of her red nose.

"W-What was that?!!" Athanasia panicked, she wanted to touch her nose but her hands are still locked.

"A kiss," Lucas confidently said, smiling proudly. "Why are you so flustered about it?"

"W-We're not even dating!!" Athanasia reasoned. "Why did you just suddenly kiss me?!"

"I thought we have the same feelings towards each other." Lucas tilted his head. "And it's not like we've broken up in the past with the loop, it's just we got separated."

"..."

"What?!" Lucas lets out a dramatic gasp. "Do you want us to be just friends forever?! After everything we've been through?!"

"What?! No!!" Athanasia immediately said, her voice then falters seeing Lucas move his face close until their nose touch.

"Now you're being honest."

Athanasia felt her cheeks getting red again, making Lucas chuckle. "Look at you, so red! Let me pepper you with kisses!"

"No way!! Brush your teeth first!!!"

"So you would let me kiss you?!"

"T-That's not what I meant!!!"

"I'll go brush my teeth!!"

"Lucas wait!!"

Lucas left his room, leaving Athanasia alone, in a mess. She lets out a sigh with a light chuckle mixed with it. She somehow feels relieved hearing that from Lucas.

The answer to her question is now answered positively.

... What would be our relationship now?

"I thought we have the same feelings towards each other. And it's not like we've broken up in the past with the loop, it's just we got separated."

"That's a relief..."

"What's relief?" Lucas suddenly popped out.

"NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!!!"

--

4 more chaps to go T~T