Passing the illusion of the lake, this time a green wheat field appeared. As I stepped into the wheat field, the memories of my previous life resurfaced.

***

It is a fresh green wheat field, but it was not beautiful. When the monsters came to the northern region, the Emperor ordered Prince Rakshul, the best swordsman of the Zelcan Empire, to subdue the monster. As the mage of light, I went to the place along with Rakshul and the knights. The monsters did not just attack human beings, but also destroyed some places, like this wheat field.

"Laontel..."

When I heard the man's voice, I turned my head.

"Rakshul..."

Laontel said while trembling.

I was also surprised when I saw him. His face looked exactly like Blake's after his curse had been lifted and he'd grown up. He had appeared in my dream once before.

At that time, I wondered why his hair was black, but now I realized that the man I saw in my dream was Rakshul, not Blake.

I felt Blake's soul in Rakshul, just like I felt Phillip's soul in Richard.

"Why are you using healing magic in such a place?"

"It's an important food. Without wheat, people would go hungry and wouldn't even be able to pay taxes. Even if we defeat all of the monsters, there would be another suffering awaiting them."

"You've been treating all the villagers and knights. Even if you're a genius, it's dangerous to use your mana like this."

"It's alright."

"My friend, Ser, gave me the blessing of light so I can use my power without any restrictions."

"Don't overdo it."

"It's really alright."

"Sometimes I wish you'd rely on me more."

"Huh?"

"When will you see me as a man?"

Rakshul's crimson eyes gleamed coquettishly. I wanted to ask what he meant by that, but I couldn't open my mouth.

I was afraid that I might've misheard it and might not hear the answer I wanted.

"Lady Laontel! There's a wounded man here!"

"I'm coming!"

I ended up running away.

***

With the help of Rakshul and the knights, we managed to wipe out the monster that infested the north.

We returned to the Capital in a joyful mood.

"Now that you've beaten all the monsters in the north, you'll become the Crown Prince, right?

"You think so? If so, he should've done it earlier."

The Emperor had many children. Although the Emperor and the commoners alike recognized Rakshul's capabilities, the Emperor wanted to pass on the throne to the son of the seventh Empress, whom he loved.

However, he was very stupid, and over time, his love for the seventh Empress also faded.

Now that even the northern monsters had been subdued, it was already determined that Rakshul would become the Crown Prince.

Everyone was happy, and I should've been too, but for some reason, I felt somewhat depressed.

I walked out of my tent and wandered through the lonely forest path.

"Laontel!"

But I ran into the person I didn't want to run into as he called my name.

"Why did you come out?"

"To get some air."

"It's dangerous to walk alone."

"All the monsters have been wiped out, so it's alright."

I tried hard to smile and walk away.

But Rakshul didn't leave and continued to walk next to me. His high nose bridge, elegant-yet-sharp jawline, face, and brilliant eyes looked magnificent in the moonlight.

He had grown up to be a great man.

Rakshul looked at me, but I turned my head away.

I was embarrassed to face him.

"Laontel, look at me."

"......"

He turned my head to face him.

I found myself staring directly at the crimson eyes that I wanted to avoid.

"Why are you avoiding me?"

"When did I do that?"

Would he really become the Crown Prince now?

Congratulations, I guess.

The Emperor always neglected political affairs in favor of searching for pleasures.

The people of the Empire were suffering from the rising taxes and droughts.

Rakshul tried to overcome the situation but there was not much he could do, as he was only one of the princes.

He had always wanted to become the Crown Prince.

But if he became the Crown Prince, he would have to marry someone with a title higher than a Count or someone of pure Roum blood.

I wanted to make Rakshul dreams come true.

So I became a mage at the Imperial palace, and even participated in battles alongside him.

But when he was about to marry someone else, I was overcome with sadness.

As I lowered my head, I heard Rakshul's voice.

"Laontel, you're really driving me crazy."

"Huh?"

"Do I need to propose to make you understand?"

"....."

His face grew closer and closer. I reflexively turned my head away again, but he lifted my chin and forced me to look up at him.

"I love you."

"......"

"I've liked you since the first time I saw you."

His lips pressed onto mine before I could realize what he had just said.

Rakshul and I confirmed our feelings that day.

***

Rakshul, I loved him.

I loved Rakshul, and I also loved Blake, whom I met again a thousand years later.

I touched my mouth and felt my cracked lips.

I walked alongside the Macul.

Many Macul had already disappeared and now there was only one left to guide me.

Did the Macul have a hard time too?

Or were they lost in the dark?

The heat worsened and it became harder for me to open my eyes.

I was sweating more and more as I walked.

But I had to save Ser.

I kept following the Macul. Then, the last Macul stopped still.

Are we there?

But I couldn't see anything except for the darkness.

"Macul, why did you stop? Where's Ser?"

The Macul shook its head and circled around me.

"You don't know?"

The Macul stopped but I couldn't understand what it meant.

"Do we need to keep going?"

The Macul didn't react.

But one thing was certain.

I couldn't get any more help from the Macul.

I must find Ser myself in this endless darkness. I walked forward fearlessly.

The Macul stood there and shook its body, as if to cheer me up as I walked forward alone.

I kept walking forward, leaving the Macul behind.

The light flowing from the Macul's body gradually became dimmer as I walked further into the darkness.

Fear took over me. It was so dark that I couldn't even see my body.

Rather than being afraid that I would be trapped here, I was afraid that I wouldn't find Ser.

If I didn't move forward, Blake and Ser's pain would never end.

"I must save her. I have to."

I gritted my teeth.

In the midst of the darkness, memories from a thousand years ago resurfaced in my mind again.

***

I got engaged to Rakshul. As expected Rakshul was given the Crown Prince title as soon as we returned to the capital.

The Emperor wanted to marry Rakshul to a partner worthy of his Crown Prince title.

But he declared that he wouldn't get married to anyone other than me.

The Emperor could no longer oppose him and allowed us to get engaged. He had already sent my family a letter of proposal in the name of the Imperial family.

As soon as my engagement was confirmed, I came to tell the news to Ser first.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you. Turns out Rakshul has liked me since a long time ago too."

"Hmm."

But somehow she didn't look surprised.

"Aren't you surprised?"

"I expected it."

"How? You've never even spoken to Rakshul."

Ser would hide herself whenever Rakshul came.

"You know I've known you since you were a child. It was really obvious from your stories that he liked you."

"Really?"

"Yes, you're the only one who didn't notice it."

She grinned.

"I didn't even realize anything until I kissed him..."

"Laontel."

She called my name.

Ser had always called me Laon since we became friends.

Why did she call me 'Laontel' now?

Was she mad at me?

"I have something to say too."

"Yes, say it."

"I want to become a human."

"What?"

"I've decided to marry Phillip."

Ser had many worries about her relationship with Phillip.

She was a Goddess but Phillip was human. There was an insurmountable difference between the two.

In the end, she abandoned the power given to her by God and chose love.

"Won't you regret it?"

"I'll regret it even more if I don't get married to Phillip."

She said determinedly.