October 7, 2502 of the Divinity Calendar.
Even though it was not specifically ntioned in the original story, I could say that everything that was supposed to happen at this point in ti was either in motion or had already transpired.
I wonder how it went.
Alana Sol Astraea steeled her soul and decided to confront the Seven Family Heads of the Hero Bloodlines because of their evident complacency, thinking that the matter with Caelen was negligible.
One more thing, it’s also the first ti she faced her maternal blood after the late True Hero’s demise. Based on the Astraea Bloodline’s long standing tradition, whoever was anointed as the True Hero by the Holy Goddess would beco the Family Head. What’s more, if the True Hero perished one way or another, then the blood of the said figure would take the position until the next Hero Ascension Trial.
In other words, Alana Sol Astraea was fated to be the new Head of Astraea Family—sothing hated by her own mother, who was the previous generation’s candidate yet turned out to be a failure.
Because of envy and a taste of power, Seraq Sol Astraea would make it difficult for her daughter to seize everything and be extrely influential.
It will be an interesting but grueling journey. Either way, I have to prepare on my side as well.
Everything that happened so far was just the beginning of peace spiraling down to the abyss. One could say it’s the first major arc described in [Hero’s Apocalypse], along with its aftermath, but it’s rely a spark that would soon bring forth the exhausting scorching flas throughout that could swallow the Divinica Continent.
"You seem to be drowned in your own world."
A dreamy voice shattered through my contemplation, prompting to gaze at the royal woman sitting across from , elegantly holding a glass of purple wine.
Yuridika—who was gradually adapting to the present world without being treated as royalty—stared into my eyes.
"I still find it odd; there’s an abyss of mist in your consciousness."
Hearing her bringing up such a thought for an umpteenth ti, I let out a chuckle as I reached for the glass of the sa drink prepared in front of .
It’s a lonely world.
Looking up to her absolute perfection physical features under the starry night and glistening moonlight—her gleaming athyst eyes, cascading white hair, snow-white skin, and slightly petite figure—I couldn’t help but be amused.
Throughout all my ti I breathed in my previous world, I never had soone to be in a relationship with in a serious manner, though it would be a lie to say that I didn’t have experience with won.
After all, so of my dangerous missions as a naval intelligence officer involved won to reach the crux of the matter. It included emotionless sex...
Only the mission was what truly mattered.
Then, during my retirent—or discharged due to what I committed against protocol and the persons above my rank for the sake of knowing and personally seeing the aftermath of what happened to the dear orphanage that made what I am—I only encountered won whose interests aligned with their own kind. Ah, what luck.
"What do you think about ?"
It was a broad question coming out of my mouth, but Yuridika smiled while fidgeting with the wine glass’ stem.
"That’s out of nowhere. But let think... Hmm."
Staring at for so ti, she continued, "You seem more mature than your age, and your mindset feels... How should I put it? Radical? It’s like you’re looking ahead and preparing for non-existent catastrophes. But with the existence of demonkind alone becoming prominent compared to my era, I kind of get it?"
"Radical, huh?" I chuckled.
Am I extre in my ways?
Teaching children around the age of 11-13 to beco spies.
Breaking every bone and body possible of the soldiers through rigorous, seemingly torturous training.
Yes. I admit. Such ways would be a war cri on Earth.
Even then, it was not enough...
Complacency nearly shoved humanity to the brink of extinction if not for the True Hero and her future allies.
"Do you hate for it?"
Yuridika snorted, though it was a valid question.
"What prompted you to ask that question?" She asked.
"It’s because you loved children."
My response caused her to subconsciously grip tightly the stem of the wine glass.
Letting out a sigh, she avoided my gaze and proceeded to stare at the celestial body illuminating the serene night.
"In the bygone world, training children to beco assassins, spies, or soldiers also existed. If there’s one thing that separates you from those radicals of the past, I couldn’t tell. Yet I instinctively know you’re not doing this for the sake of greed."
Retracting her gaze from the heavens, she returned her stare to . However, this ti around, I saw her beautiful eyes breaking down into crystalline tears.
Yuridika was broken.
Everything she had fought for was gone.
Even if she promised protection, she never expected that it would be in the form of sacrifice.
Even if she lived in this era, her heart and soul were still grappled to the past.
I already sensed her shattered spirit before then, which refused to but was already to the point of breaking down. But tonight was the only ti she showed her fragile side.
What should I say?
Should I stop drafting the children to fight for this land?
I wanted that too...
I really do.
But would it make any sense to give them the kind of life the normal children should have in this uncertain world?
Would it be all right to normally educate them for their future, knowing it could be snatched out of their sight by the lingering unforgiving threats?
Or were my questionable ways for the best, at least giving them a fighting chance in this chaotic world?
I couldn’t imdiately respond to her tears that were cold, silent, yet they told many stories.
"..."
"You told that you’ll take responsibility for ... Right?"
In my prolonged silence, her sudden question touched sothing within .
"..."
I couldn’t answer. No, perhaps it wouldn’t matter.
My athyst eyes staring at hers were my only response. Both of our gazes were filled with different yet similar emotions.
Loneliness.
Alone.
Longingness.
It was then that she leaned across the miniature circular table, hitting the bottle of wine to the side.
Should I have avoided it?
Or maybe I let it happen?
Smooch...
Yuridika’s soft lips touched mine, which instinctively prompted us to close our eyes. Her supple hand then began to caress my hair, gently down to my cheek and neck.
Smooch...
Finally, I decided to return her efforts as I stood from the chair, knocking both of our wine glasses to shatter, pressed her against the wall beside the manor’s balcony door, and calmly led her.
Feeling this sensation again, I surmised that she was not experienced in this matter. Well, that’s not an issue.
Even if this young body of original Lugh had none of that, what possessed it——had abundant experience, all of which was no strings attached.
I proceeded slowly, so Yuridika could get a feeling of it.
I caressed her smooth white hair, which earned her the moniker of White Princess.
My hand then slowly grabbed her nape, drawing her entire existence to .
Smooch~
"Ah."
Our tongues passionately touched, two becoming one, as I heard her pleading moan.
Our minds montarily forgot everything as we lived in the present mont without caring about anything else.
She then montarily pulled her head away, caressing both my cheeks with her hands as we sensed each other’s breath. She then looked into my eyes with her gradually dissipating tears before speaking with her serene voice,
"Please..."
It was at that mont that I abruptly lifted her body as our figures eventually vanished into the darkness.
*
The next day.
"What’s the matter, Young Miss?" Beatrice, who led the other maids to prepare breakfast for everybody in the mansion, asked Kaya, whose expression seed to depict soone who had seen a horrific scene.
"Ah... B-brother... I-I was about to wake up my brother..."
Sensing that sothing was wrong, Butler Wilfred and the maids looked worried yet curious.
"Y-Yuridika... Brother..." Kaya mumbled, her eyes were almost out of reality.
"Huh? What happened to them, Young Miss?" Beatrice asked innocently, her hand preparing the scorching hot dishes.
"You... Why don’t you get what I’m saying?! I-I can’t say it! It shouldn’t be happening!" Because of Beatrice’s absentmindedness, Kaya snapped.
However, the one who seed to catch on was—
"Don’t tell ... Did you see Young Master and Yuridika... sleeping together on the bed?"
...Count Wilfred!
Shatter... Crash—!
It was at that mont that fragile plates and glasses left the maids’ hands. Even Beatrice, holding a soup dish, forgot to maintain her balance for a second.
They glanced at Kaya, whose atmosphere was grave as if she saw sothing impossible.
"WHAT—?!" The maids had their brows raised as they said in unison.
"DOES... DOES IT AN... YOUNG MASTER AND YURIDIKA HAD... S-S-S—!?" Beatrice’s hands trembled.
"S-SHUT UP—!"
On the other hand, Count Wilfred’s reaction was different.
"Young Master... Young Master! Oh, how manly you’ve beco!"
He was in genuine tears.
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