After returning from the region of Taddeus, the prince visited the cemetery to pay homage to the warriors. Again, he saw Ryan was there. Claes watched him from afar. In the depths of Ryan's heart, he felt sad, "I feel like a failure figure. Why not just me? Why is someone like me still alive?" Ryan blamed himself. Although on the outside he looks strong, inside he is fragile and there is no place to lean on.

After he left, the prince went there and saw the flower bucket on the monument. Claes put down the flowers he brought. It was pouring rain at dusk. The prince raised his head and saw a rainbow appear while muttering, "Thank you for all you have been struggling..." Tears were flowing down his cheeks. The sun rises and set. Life comes and goes. But in the mid of despair, there will still be a shining hope. The prince left the cemetery. And the twilight sun shone over the yard. "May you all be happy and at peace."

Two days later...

Ryan is on the grass field and meets Taddeus.

"Hi Ryan..." said Taddeus.

"Good morning, commander."

"How are you?"

"There's nothing to worry about for me," Ryan said casually while chuckling.

"That's what it looks like."

"What about the commander?"

"Yes, same. It's just that when I wake up at that time my head is a little dizzy. But it's gonna be well."

"I'm grateful that you are fine...." Ryan answered with a faint smile. It seems on his face that he looks confused.

Taddeus noticed it and said, "What's up?"

"Uhm. How about the prince's condition?"

"Didn't he see you?"

Ryan shook his head.

"It's weird. Because two days ago, he visited me." Taddeus muttered.

Ryan heard a glimpse of what he said earlier.

"Ah... Don't worry he's getting better," said Taddeus.

"In that case, thank god." In a flat tone.

"Do you want to ride today? Asked Taddeus to relieve his feeling.

"Uhm... I just want to go to the garden to take a rest."

"Hey, if you're lazy, your abilities will weaken." Taddeus joked to cheer him up again.

"Y... Yeah. I'll practice later."

"OK see you." Taddeus got on the horse and left.

"I've come three times to see him, but he said nothing. Usually, the prince will visit if he knows that I'm coming maybe the maids didn't announce my arrival?" thought Ryan as he walked towards the garden.

In the garden, he was surprised to see Prince Claes there. When he was about to enter, the guards prevented him from entering. "I am familiar with the prince, please let me in."

"Sorry. This is the prince's command. He doesn't want anyone to interfere."

"Okay," I said languidly after trying to face the guards.

But just as I was walking away, I passed Princess Eudora. I immediately bowed. After she left, I looked back and saw the fact that he was visiting Claes! My heart is sad to see it. I concluded that the prince didn't want to see me. My legs feel weak to walk. I don't want to stay here any longer which only makes me sadder.

"Good morning prince, what a beautiful day to enjoy the beauty of this garden." Say hello from Eudora.

"Yes, as you said," Claes replied while thinking that Eudora was the reincarnation of the goddess Lyra.

Eudora and Claes got closer to each other.

The next day, I kept trying to keep an eye on Claes. At that time, he was in the royal meadow leaning under a tree. Seeing him looking up at the sky in solitude, I thought to myself, "This is the right time." I approached him.

"Hey prince. How are you?" I said warmly.

"Well." He answered. Seeing his surprised expression when he saw me, for some reason I felt that the two of us weren't as close as usual and it was as if we had just met. But I tried to smile a little at him. I had steeled my heart before meeting him.

I pulled out a flower from behind my back, trying to smile wider as I said, "Thank you prince for the opportunity you gave and forgive me if it doesn't live up to your expectations."

Claes gasped and he slowly took the blue flower with his soft hand. After he accepted it, I said to end this meeting, "Excuse me, prince, I will go first." Then I go away. Because if I linger there, I'm afraid I'll cry.

"Ryan..." mumbled Claes.

At night in the room, Claes sees the flower that Ryan gave him. "I shouldn't have avoided him for reasons of not falling into feelings. Instead, I imagined that Eudora was the reincarnation of the goddess Lyra. When I met Ryan this morning, he didn't even ask me why my attitude had changed. Now I feel guilty. I'm a coward. Tomorrow I will go to him to apologize."

Sunrise and the birds chirping. After breakfast, Claes looked for Ryan enthusiastically. Then in his search, he met Taddeus in the corridor.

"Taddeus..."

"Yes. Claes?"

"Did you see Ryan this morning?"

"Oh, that. He said goodbye to me yesterday afternoon. Since the kingdom's activities were decreasing, he asked for permission to leave. Didn't he tell you, prince?'

"Does that mean that he came yesterday to say goodbye?" prince's mind. "Where did he go?" shouted Claes while holding Taddeus' arm.

"Ah that, I don't know prince. He didn't tell me."

Claes let go of his hand and looked down languidly. Then, he turned towards his room leaving Taddeus without a word.

Taddeus slightly understood the state between them since Ryan said that Claes hadn't seen him since awakening.

Claes headed for Ryan's room. Not so many things were left, not even a piece of paper. He returned to his room and saw the blue flower that Ryan had given him. "Is this your farewell? Are you really leaving me? Will I never see you again?" Claes sat up while touching his head. So many questions arose in his mind.

Ryan came home while sitting on the cart at the back. He also saw the view of the kingdom, more and more distant, while in his mind said, "Goodbye ..." Then he lay down while looking at the sky view, "Ah. It feels spacious ..." He smiled to strengthen himself.

Gruduk... gruduk... "The roads are uneven," Ryan muttered.

A few moments later...

"Sir... Sir......"

"Yes?"

"It has arrived."

"Oh, yes?"

Ryan got off the cart and paid more to the old man.

"It's more, Sir."

"Yes, just keep the change."

"Thank you very much, Sir."

"Yes. You're welcome." I spoke.

His stop was at Helcia's inn.

"Uncle... Helcia." I greeted from outside.

They saw Ryan at the door.

"Ryan??" Helcia looked at me with a surprised face as if she still couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Yes. It's me." I answered with a smile.

"You finally come home." Greet uncle warmly.

They also serve drinks.

"How are you there? Is it good there? Do you live comfortably? What is it like in the kingdom?" asked Helcia.

"Helcia asked one by one," said the uncle.

"He-he-he..." I smiled. "As you can see, I am fine. It's comfortable there. The kingdom of a vast and beautiful place."

"Wow, thank god... The important thing is that you feel at home there," said the uncle.

"Here I have a souvenir for everyone."

"You don't have to bother," answered the uncle.

"And here is some money, it's not much, but I want you to accept it. For allowing me to stay here in the past."

Helcia and her father were impressed and looked at each other. Then the uncle returned the envelope and grasped Ryan's palm while saying, "No need to hesitate. After all, you have also served us well. You'd better keep it to yourself."

"But... I want to give. Think of it as a token of my gratitude. I beg you to accept. This way, I feel happy in giving." While handing the envelope back.

Seeing his seriousness, the uncle finally accepted it. "Then thank you, Ryan."

Ryan smiled.

*****

At twilight, when Ryan was in the meadow, Helcia came over to him. "It was predictable that you would be here." Said Helcia breaking the silence. "Even though you are already a warrior, you still want to visit here. I'm glad to see you." She spoke.

Ryan turned his head, "Of course. You are like family to me. I can enter the kingdom; it also cannot be separated from your kindness. Accompanied by this peaceful natural atmosphere. How could I have forgotten?"

"You seem to remember it," Helcia said.

They also enjoy being together in the meadow. The wind blows lightly.

"Seems like a long time. This is the place where we first met where you helped me."

"Yes..." Ryan answered.

"Ryan, I have something to say." said the cute girl with short hair.

"Yes, what's up?" asked Ryan inviting her to ask.

Helcia dared and made up her mind to say, "R-Ryan. I love you..."

Ryan was shocked by what he just heard. He also looked at Helcia. Seeing the seriousness in his round black eyes, he couldn't believe it, "How can that be?" Thus, he replied.

"I've loved you since the first time we met in this place."

"B-but..." Ryan said.

What is Ryan's answer? Did he choose Helcia or Lucien? And what about Claes, does he actually like Ryan?