Translator: yun

No matter how hard you struggle, you cannot save the 6th Prince. And you will lose the 7th Prince and your knight in turn.

Rusbellas words lingered in my mind. There was not a hint of hesitation in her voice when she spoke.

Why did Rusbella say that to me? So that I would feel hopeless? Yes, I would have felt that. In the future she was aware of, everyone had died. So, it could be possible.

But things were different now. Amor, who was friendly in the novel I was familiar with, was actually quite feisty. Both due to his powers and the curse inflicted on him, Hernan had two distinct personalities. Furthermore, Rebecca didnt love Castor at all.

The fact that even small changes in movements could cause such a twist in the future was what made the flow of time so interesting. The moment she summoned my soul and reincarnated it into this world, she had already changed the future to one different from what she expected.

You got me, Rusbella. Or should I say, the diary?

If that was the case, this meant that a future set in stone did not exist.

I twisted my lips into a smile.

I whispered.

Right?

Just then, a blinding light burst out of the diary.

[The future will not change.]

Lies. That is just what you want me to believe.

Before I realised it, I found myself in the space within the diary. A woman who looked like me stared back at me.

You had me completely fooled with Fleon.

I trudged towards her before glaring at the taller woman.

The moment you told me that it would not change, you made me overthink, rendering me unable to do anything. Unable to think of any other way.

If the future was truly unable to change, I would have been stuck in a future where I would die by Castors hands from the start.

Any future could be changed. The difference was whether I would be able to find the key to change.

I hadnt realised this fact which was why I lost Fleon.

I glared at the diary abhorrently.

Im sorry.

For the first time, the diary apologised.

Why did you do that? Are you going to take Rusbellas side too? Because youre a piece of her?

The diary did not answer. Instead, letters were slowly drawn in the air.

You had to lose him.

Why!

Your powers will only be complete when you lose something.

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Ha. I scoffed loudly.

Is that why I have to lose Dane and Lord Ray too? No, there shouldnt be any need.

How ridiculous.

I dont need powers that force me to lose people.

I dropped the diary I had been grabbing onto the ground. Because it was a parasite. I stretched my hand out. Gradually, light rose from the ground.

Did I have any power when I changed the future?

I hadnt been given anything. I had changed the entire future using just my body.

My life is my own.

Light continued to rise from the ground. It wasnt the purple glow from the diary I had been witnessing this whole time. It was the strange lightone that was a mix of gold and purplewhich looked even brighter than before.

Butterflies flew around me. Butterflies made out of light fluttered around me. (1)

Because I had been acting like such a moron, I had lost Fleon.

I forced myself to hold my tears back.

I wont let anyone die anymore.

My eyes stung with pain. When I opened my eyes again, I had found myself in Fleons drawing room. People were sitting around me as if nothing had happened. The conversation topic remained the same.

When I opened the diary, the red pages disappeared.

The pages describing Danes future had turned white. As if I could change it now.

[Since youve already lost one person.]

It was so ridiculous I burst out laughing. I then glared at it almost as if I was going to kill it. I clenched onto the diary tightly for dismissing Fleons death so easily.

As I slammed the diary down, their attention turned to me.

Is there really no other way? A way to escape the Empire in three days, no matter how ridiculous it sounds.

As the patrols stared at my smile, they gulped nervously. Before someone raised their hand warily.

Well, in the desert kingdom, La Harte, there are bird-drawn carriages known as noot. The bird only lives in the desert and the carriage can easily fly across a city that would take a week to traverse in a day.

The one who spoke had skin as brown as coffee beans. Like Meta, he was of mixed race as his mother was from the desert.

The reason why I hadnt brought this up before was because those carriages had been destroyed by war a long time ago and now theres only one left Even now, only royals are allowed to use it.

At the mention of their royals, I could tell what to do next. Without realising it, I grabbed his face before bursting into laughter.

The Royal Family of La Harte can never break an oath made on this treasure. I, Ahasia, in the name of the Kingdom of La Harte, I will repay you for this favour.

Are you watching this, Rusbella? The future I had changed before she appeared before me was already moving.

I will be on your side.

Whether it be the diary or someone else, anyone who tried to convince me otherwise, I knew I had changed the future several times now. Almost doggedly, I had brought people to my side.

Will it be faster with Penne?

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Yes, it will!

Now, look at that? All the changes I made were stacking atop each other ultimately changing my future.

A future set in stone? A future that could not be changed? How ridiculous. At this point, I could no longer find humour in this.

No. Even through I would break into pieces.

Send them a message immediately.

Ahasia replied the next day. To grant me permission to secretly use the sky carriage, noot.

Preparations were quick. With a three day deadline, only a handful of peopleme, Dane, Lord Ray and some patrolsleft the palace.

We hiked up the mountain north of the Imperial Palace before finally arriving at the promised meeting place. We arrived at a sheer cliff face.

This is a mountain formed long ago by the Lord of the Gods for the First Emperor and is now being protected as a sacred mountain.

Are there any vicious beasts? Like the watchdog in the Forbidden Forest.

No. There are no such animals here. It had been made this way because the First Emperor liked quiet places.

Just as Soricks mentioned, the vacant space was as still as a cemetery. Hence, even with such a bright light, the shadows still looked sombre. A mountain with no creature living atop it, a mountain that had lost its vitality.

The emperor doesnt come here often. Because when he was younger, he had once been attacked here.

Really?

I paused for a moment before feeling someone tapping my hand. Turning around, I found Dane.

Can we be left alone for a moment?

Alright.

The patrols moved away from us for a little. One of them even shrouded us in a soundless barrier with their divinity.

Ashley, I heard that my eyes can be cured.

My head shot up.

Seriously?

Yes. There is a talented templar situated near the borders. He had been the Head Templar of Asclepius, the God of Medicine and had been expelled for his position for breaking a curse the emperor had placed. Thats what I heard from rumours but if its true, then I can be cured.

So all youve heard are rumours

I didnt manage to finish my sentence. He gave my cheek a slight pinch.

Ashley. Im saying that Ill be back.

He planted his lips on my cheek before whispering softly.

I cant stand next to you but being behind you is fine too.

He then took a step back. Behind him, I spotted a large bird in the distance. One that got closer at an unbelievably rapid speed.

Ashley, dont get used to loss.

Dane spoke.

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But come to terms with it.

Dane.

You werent able to save Fleon. Even a hero who saved countless people before has some they cannot save.

Dane already knew what was weighing on my heart. He was trying to tell me. That I was not to be blamed for Fleons death.

Really?

Like the maids whom I was unable to save during my 40 deaths.

Yes. So face forward and live. Ashley, even if the past holds you in confinement to repeat time. Live in the present. I am here. And you are too.

And finally, the carriage descended. After exchanging a few words with Penne when he stepped down from the carriage, the patrols approached us again. Lord Ray and Dane stood in front of the carriage. After staring at me, Ray lowered his head. Without uttering a single word, he finally said his heavy farewells to me.

Ashley. I have a favour to ask of you.

During our final moments, Dane fumbled before grabbing my face.

Become the emperor.

He whispered softly.

Weve only been losing for a long time. So, now you have to take everything.

I stared at the cloth covering his eyes. Recalling his bright red eyes I could never see again.

When I return, I will become the night that protects your back.

I liked his eyes. From the moment I met him, I loved his eyes that shone like the sun, his eyes that were as beautiful as camellias in snow, the eyes that always looked towards me sweetly. I liked the eyes that looked towards me kindly and affectionately all the while I pretended to not notice his overwhelming emotions.

If I knew this was going to happen, I should have looked at them one more time. I should have faced him sooner instead of avoiding him.

Tears filled my eyes. I was glad that at least Dane was unable to see what expression I was wearing now.

Alright, Dane.

I smiled brightly with a whimper.

I was thinking of doing so as well. Ill be taking everything now.

I once thought that peace would befall the Empire once it was handed over to the 2nd Prince, Julian. But I was wrong. Instead of giving it to him, I should have taken it.

That was what I learned after meeting you all.

There are people who suffer from my happiness.

Did they say they wanted the Empire ruined? Then I shall keep this Empire alive.

And I would finally be happy.

So, Ill be happy.

This was the best revenge I could serve.

After possessing everything.

***

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T/N:

(1): It repeated in the raws so I just kept it in!