“If I continue, I’ll probably crash your city wall down . I really want to supervise you as you think about how to live, but I have to take care of Liu Yue,” said Ling Yue .

Ling Yue rested below the city wall, unreasonably shoving away the line of people preparing to enter the city . Everybody was startled and stepped back to avoid the huge fox . The guards on the city wall were also startled . In their panic, they took up their rifles and aimed them at Ling Yue .  Their legs must’ve been shaking . Their rifles looked pitiful before the huge fox . I doubt they had any confidence they could defeat her .

Ling Yue looked at the guards with her eyes narrowed . I could tell that she extremely hated having others aim their weapons at her . Perhaps it was due to her past experiences .

“Miss Lucia!! Miss Lucia!! There is a fox at the city entrance!! A very, very large fox!” cried a Guard .

Lucia dallied for a moment, and then looked at the guard: “There’s no need to be all fl.u.s.tered . That’s Miss Ling Yue . She won’t harm us, so there’s no need to worry . ”

“No… No… What I meant to say was, more importantly… H-His Majesty… is on the fox! His Majesty has returned!! His Majesty has retuned!!”

Before he could even finish half of his report, Lucia had already given him a slap to the face that sent him staggering to the side, where he crashed into a table and nearly tripped . Lucia sped off through the corridor similarly to a gust of wind . She ignored everything and everyone, from maids to guards and lamp stands to flower vases . She shoved aside everything that was in her way, leading to people shrieking and things shattering .

Lucia was an a.s.sa.s.sin from the Shadow Squad, without a shadow of doubt . Her speed when she ran full pelt was unmatched . The young girl’s short hair blew in the wind similarly to a flag with loyalty and pa.s.sion written on it . n.o.body doubted the young girl’s loyalty and love when they heard her footsteps zip by .

I lied on top of Ling Yue’s body . I discovered I had an extra string of fur in my hands . I looked up and saw her angry look just as I expected . I gently cleared my throat:, “It’s okay, Ling Yue . Your fur will grow back, so it shouldn’t matter, right…?”

“Your fingernails can regrow at any time, too, so how about I rip them out for you?”

Ling Yue narrowed her eyes . She then stood up and shook out her fur . She went over to one side, and then turned around to take one last look at me . Her gaze teemed with encouragement and reluctance to part . She didn’t say anything in the end . Instead, she took off, eventually appearing as a vague red flame .

I turned around to look at the people behind me, while they looked at me, dumbfounded . I was sure that they were very bewildered . The first thing they were bewildered with was why I was there, and the second they were bewildered with was why I appeared before them in that fas.h.i.+on . I raised my hands up high: “Everyone, I’m back . ”

“Your Majesty!!”

The people all around respectfully cheered . I saw the scene of the crowd in Hilles City cheering, “Your Majesty,” again .  When I saw the scene at Hilles City, pride and glory filled me for some odd reason . I didn’t enjoy the respect for me as a ruler . They only addressed me as such due to my Mom’s status . This time, however, their King was me . I was the Elizabeth of Hilles City in the North . In the North, they cheerfully call me “His Majesty,” because of me . But alas, I didn’t know how much longer I could rule the place .

I must admit the prophet was a legit prophet . I a.s.sumed I could meet him again . I believed there was still a shred of hope if I could find him . I needed to return . I needed to return to my wives and moms . I didn’t want to settle on just ruling as a King . I also wanted to live on and fulfil my obligations as a father and son . I didn’t need my mom to give me life or a way to live . I found the will to find a way to live with my own effort . I swore to win an opportunity at life for myself .

“Your Highness…”

I was just about to enter the city, but I heard someone at the door call out to me . The voice was hoa.r.s.e, and its owner was short of breath . I could distinguish the voice regardless of when . It was my most beloved Lucia’s voice . I could never forget her voice .

I turned around to see Lucia standing at the city door huffing and puffing . I couldn’t discern if it was sweat or tears that her face was covered in . She didn’t even have shoes on; she left a trail of blood behind her . The sight of it wrenched my heart .

“Your Highness… Your Highness… You’re back… You’re home… I was right . You won’t leave me, as I thought… You’ll always be my side, always . You’ll always come back… You’ll always be by my side . I’ve always believed that…”

Tears of joy gushed forth from Lucia’s eyes . She leaped straight at me before I could walk over to her . She hugged me tightly and gave me a kiss on my lips . She kissed me with her lips that were smothered with her tears . I relished her fine and slippery tongue . I shut my eyes and clasped her face as I earnestly responded to her kiss . The two of us locked each other in a tight embrace as though we wanted to become a single ent.i.ty . I had prepared for imminent death, but Lucia, who was in my arms, was unwilling to let go .

I didn’t want to die . I didn’t want to leave . The girl in my arms was so gentle and warm that I didn’t want to leave in the slightest . I never wanted to let go of her . My heart ached as if it was being ripped apart whenever the thought of never seeing Lucia again seeped into my mind . My will to leave weakened . I was more reluctant to die . I wanted to be with her . I want to always be with her .

“Your Highness… Your Highness… I am so glad you are still alive… I am so, so glad you are still alive… I love you… I love you, Your Highness… Please don’t leave again… Please… don’t leave again… I believe in you… But I really want to lead a peaceful life by your side . Please don’t go now that you’re back…”

Lucia and I didn’t release each other until we couldn’t breathe . Lucia leaned on my chest and sobbed, while I hugged her tightly . Lucia never pleaded me to be by her side before . She always unconditionally supported me in the past regardless of where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do . I just had to mention it, and she’d support and wait for me at home feeling rea.s.sured . Unlike Nier, she’d believe me unconditionally and firmly believe that I’d return . The fact she pleaded sufficed to indicate she was truly afraid . She was genuinely afraid that I wouldn’t return .

“I overdid it . I should now stay at home and look after my children . I should peacefully live with my moms and wives,” I thought . I gently stroked the side of Lucia’s face: “Lucia, I love you… I love you… I really love you… I don’t want to leave you… Honest . I swear I don’t want to leave you at all . Trust me, Lucia . I’ve never thought about leaving any of you . You’re my most beloved wife . If I can, I’ll definitely stay by your side . I want to tell you about something, though . Let’s head back . Let’s talk after we return to the palace . I want to see our girls, too . Let’s go Lucia . Let’s head back . ”

“Mm, mm, sure, let’s go home . Let’s go home . The girls would surely be happy to see you . They really miss you . ”

Lucia meekly nodded then tightly clung to my arm . I looked at her bleeding feet . I lingered for a moment before picking her up around her waist . She exclaimed in a high-pitched voice, and then tightly hugged me around my neck . Fl.u.s.tered, she looked around . Her ears turned red, too . With her arms tightly around my neck, she buried her head on my chest and shyly said, “This is embarra.s.sing, Your Highness… I’m so embarra.s.sed…”

Me in my mind: “Is that something a woman who kisses me in front of a crowd says? You just kissed me, yet you’re now embarra.s.sed over a princess carry?”

I chuckled but didn’t let go . I whispered in her ear, “It’s fine . What’s wrong with a husband carrying his wife? You’re my wife . Why are you embarra.s.sed?”

“Mm…”

Lucia’s face was flush red with bliss and embarra.s.sment . She then tightly grabbed my s.h.i.+rt, but I could still see the smile of bliss she wore on her face .

Before Nier was a forest . She took out a map and nodded: “This should be the place . His Majesty should be inside the forest . This is the Galadriel Tribe’s land . Their villa is located here, so there should be elven guards present . ”

“What shall we do, then?” asked Tanya .

“If possible, let’s avoid conflict . If they stop us, we won’t back down . I must find my husband . There’s no way I can allow them to lock up my husband,” Nier answered .

Although Nier said that, Tanya could still see her eagerness to fight the elves . The Valkyries resented elves due to their fighting in the previous war . Nier still held onto those feelings despite no longer being a Valkyrie since long ago .

With their eyes on the forest, they tapped their steeds with their feet and advanced forth .

“If I continue, I’ll probably crash your city wall down . I really want to supervise you as you think about how to live, but I have to take care of Liu Yue,” said Ling Yue

Ling Yue rested below the city wall, unreasonably shoving away the line of people preparing to enter the city . Everybody was startled and stepped back to avoid the huge fox . The guards on the city wall were also startled . In their panic, they took up their rifles and aimed them at Ling Yue .  Their legs must’ve been shaking . Their rifles looked pitiful before the huge fox . I doubt they had any confidence they could defeat her

Ling Yue looked at the guards with her eyes narrowed . I could tell that she extremely hated having others aim their weapons at her . Perhaps it was due to her past experiences

“Miss Lucia!! Miss Lucia!! There is a fox at the city entrance!! A very, very large fox!” cried a Guard

Lucia dallied for a moment, and then looked at the guard: “There’s no need to be all fl.u.s.tered . That’s Miss Ling Yue . She won’t harm us, so there’s no need to worry . ”.

“No… No… What I meant to say was, more importantly… H-His Majesty… is on the fox! His Majesty has returned!! His Majesty has retuned!!”.

Before he could even finish half of his report, Lucia had already given him a slap to the face that sent him staggering to the side, where he crashed into a table and nearly tripped . Lucia sped off through the corridor similarly to a gust of wind . She ignored everything and everyone, from maids to guards and lamp stands to flower vases . She shoved aside everything that was in her way, leading to people shrieking and things shattering

Lucia was an a.s.sa.s.sin from the Shadow Squad, without a shadow of doubt . Her speed when she ran full pelt was unmatched . The young girl’s short hair blew in the wind similarly to a flag with loyalty and pa.s.sion written on it . n.o.body doubted the young girl’s loyalty and love when they heard her footsteps zip by

I lied on top of Ling Yue’s body . I discovered I had an extra string of fur in my hands . I looked up and saw her angry look just as I expected . I gently cleared my throat:, “It’s okay, Ling Yue . Your fur will grow back, so it shouldn’t matter, right…?”.

“Your fingernails can regrow at any time, too, so how about I rip them out for you?”.

Ling Yue narrowed her eyes . She then stood up and shook out her fur . She went over to one side, and then turned around to take one last look at me . Her gaze teemed with encouragement and reluctance to part . She didn’t say anything in the end . Instead, she took off, eventually appearing as a vague red flame

I turned around to look at the people behind me, while they looked at me, dumbfounded . I was sure that they were very bewildered . The first thing they were bewildered with was why I was there, and the second they were bewildered with was why I appeared before them in that fas.h.i.+on . I raised my hands up high: “Everyone, I’m back . ”.

“Your Majesty!!”.

The people all around respectfully cheered . I saw the scene of the crowd in Hilles City cheering, “Your Majesty,” again .  When I saw the scene at Hilles City, pride and glory filled me for some odd reason . I didn’t enjoy the respect for me as a ruler . They only addressed me as such due to my Mom’s status . This time, however, their King was me . I was the Elizabeth of Hilles City in the North . In the North, they cheerfully call me “His Majesty,” because of me . But alas, I didn’t know how much longer I could rule the place

I must admit the prophet was a legit prophet . I a.s.sumed I could meet him again . I believed there was still a shred of hope if I could find him . I needed to return . I needed to return to my wives and moms . I didn’t want to settle on just ruling as a King . I also wanted to live on and fulfil my obligations as a father and son . I didn’t need my mom to give me life or a way to live . I found the will to find a way to live with my own effort . I swore to win an opportunity at life for myself

“Your Highness…”.

I was just about to enter the city, but I heard someone at the door call out to me . The voice was hoa.r.s.e, and its owner was short of breath . I could distinguish the voice regardless of when . It was my most beloved Lucia’s voice . I could never forget her voice

I turned around to see Lucia standing at the city door huffing and puffing . I couldn’t discern if it was sweat or tears that her face was covered in . She didn’t even have shoes on; she left a trail of blood behind her . The sight of it wrenched my heart

“Your Highness… Your Highness… You’re back… You’re home… I was right . You won’t leave me, as I thought… You’ll always be my side, always . You’ll always come back… You’ll always be by my side . I’ve always believed that…”.

Tears of joy gushed forth from Lucia’s eyes . She leaped straight at me before I could walk over to her . She hugged me tightly and gave me a kiss on my lips . She kissed me with her lips that were smothered with her tears . I relished her fine and slippery tongue . I shut my eyes and clasped her face as I earnestly responded to her kiss . The two of us locked each other in a tight embrace as though we wanted to become a single ent.i.ty . I had prepared for imminent death, but Lucia, who was in my arms, was unwilling to let go

I didn’t want to die . I didn’t want to leave . The girl in my arms was so gentle and warm that I didn’t want to leave in the slightest . I never wanted to let go of her . My heart ached as if it was being ripped apart whenever the thought of never seeing Lucia again seeped into my mind . My will to leave weakened . I was more reluctant to die . I wanted to be with her . I want to always be with her

“Your Highness… Your Highness… I am so glad you are still alive… I am so, so glad you are still alive… I love you… I love you, Your Highness… Please don’t leave again… Please… don’t leave again… I believe in you… But I really want to lead a peaceful life by your side . Please don’t go now that you’re back…”.

Lucia and I didn’t release each other until we couldn’t breathe . Lucia leaned on my chest and sobbed, while I hugged her tightly . Lucia never pleaded me to be by her side before . She always unconditionally supported me in the past regardless of where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do . I just had to mention it, and she’d support and wait for me at home feeling rea.s.sured . Unlike Nier, she’d believe me unconditionally and firmly believe that I’d return . The fact she pleaded sufficed to indicate she was truly afraid . She was genuinely afraid that I wouldn’t return

“I overdid it . I should now stay at home and look after my children . I should peacefully live with my moms and wives,” I thought . I gently stroked the side of Lucia’s face: “Lucia, I love you… I love you… I really love you… I don’t want to leave you… Honest . I swear I don’t want to leave you at all . Trust me, Lucia . I’ve never thought about leaving any of you . You’re my most beloved wife . If I can, I’ll definitely stay by your side . I want to tell you about something, though . Let’s head back . Let’s talk after we return to the palace . I want to see our girls, too . Let’s go Lucia . Let’s head back . ”.

“Mm, mm, sure, let’s go home . Let’s go home . The girls would surely be happy to see you . They really miss you . ”.

Lucia meekly nodded then tightly clung to my arm . I looked at her bleeding feet . I lingered for a moment before picking her up around her waist . She exclaimed in a high-pitched voice, and then tightly hugged me around my neck . Fl.u.s.tered, she looked around . Her ears turned red, too . With her arms tightly around my neck, she buried her head on my chest and shyly said, “This is embarra.s.sing, Your Highness… I’m so embarra.s.sed…”.

Me in my mind: “Is that something a woman who kisses me in front of a crowd says? You just kissed me, yet you’re now embarra.s.sed over a princess carry?”.

I chuckled but didn’t let go . I whispered in her ear, “It’s fine . What’s wrong with a husband carrying his wife? You’re my wife . Why are you embarra.s.sed?”.

“Mm…”.

Lucia’s face was flush red with bliss and embarra.s.sment . She then tightly grabbed my s.h.i.+rt, but I could still see the smile of bliss she wore on her face

===========.

Before Nier was a forest . She took out a map and nodded: “This should be the place . His Majesty should be inside the forest . This is the Galadriel Tribe’s land . Their villa is located here, so there should be elven guards present . ”.

“What shall we do, then?” asked Tanya

“If possible, let’s avoid conflict . If they stop us, we won’t back down . I must find my husband . There’s no way I can allow them to lock up my husband,” Nier answered

Although Nier said that, Tanya could still see her eagerness to fight the elves . The Valkyries resented elves due to their fighting in the previous war . Nier still held onto those feelings despite no longer being a Valkyrie since long ago

With their eyes on the forest, they tapped their steeds with their feet and advanced forth

 .