Translator: yun

In my opinion, nothing much has changed.

Maybe it was because I had seen this through my diary many times before. Since I had already been spoiled beforehand, I was not the most impressed at the change.

I had grown a little taller. No. It wouldnt be good to disappoint him. Slowly, I took a step back before taking off my bracelet. At the same time, a dim ray of light twirled around me.

When I opened my eyes again, I didnt feel any different. Slowly, I took off my mantle.

Just as I thought, nothing had changed. If I really had to pick, Id say perhaps my height changed? I think I come up to your chin now, brother.

I looked up at the sky. The pale moon had risen. I turned my back against the moon that looked just like his hair.

No. Since you grew taller too, brother, would things be any different?

Just when I glanced at him with a smile. I noticed him staring at me blankly. I slowly erased my smile.

Amor?

Ah

He clasped his face as if he had just realised what expression he had been wearing.

No, when you were talking about your awakening, or the fact that you had matured, I hadnt expected this

He murmured in unexpected bewilderment. I sprinted one step towards him.

Whats wrong?

No. Hold on. Stay there.

He stretched his arm towards me to stop me. Curious, I stared at him before grabbing his arm. As I intertwined our fingers, he groaned as if he could no longer hold back.

Brother? Whats wrong? Hold on.

Then, my vision shook. When I returned to my senses, I found myself crushed in his embrace.

I thought the Goddess of the Moon, Diana, had descended.

He whispered as he buried his face into my shoulders.

Not the Goddess of Beauty and Love?

Venus. Usually her name was used when quantifying beauty. That was why I was curious.

Ros. The most beautiful thing in my world has been the moon.

His low voice rang in my ear.

I wondered if you just became my moon.

He trailed off slowly.

Nothing could compare to you.

Murmuring, he held my face. His face was surprisingly red and as I stared blankly at his red ears,

Are you feeling shy?

No.

Yet the redness was not enough to bury his exceptionally pale and delicate skin.

I already said that wasnt it.

Redness dripped continuously like paint from his skin that was so pale that it looked like even his veins were spread thin.

Why? Have I become too pretty?

How are you able to say that about yourself?

What about it? Its my face.

I have nothing to say to that.

Amor let out a hot puff of air. It felt like his redness was spreading to my heart.

Hm. Have you fallen in love with me all over again?

Alright.

Now, it was my turn to panic.

Huh?

Ros, you hadnt changed much from before.

Before I knew it, his redness had dissipated as he kissed the inside of my wrist.

But this appearance suits you the most. Because what I fell in love with was you. And I might fall even deeper in love with you as you have taken on this appearance.

His kisses which started from the bottom of my arm, travelled up my arm before reaching my shoulders and ending up at the back of my neck.

Still, Id love you regardless of what you look like.

Eventually, his kisses landed on the tip of my chin.

Because its you.

The place his gaze landed on was my lips. As he whispered to me sweet words, he slowly lowered his head.

Closing my eyes, I felt his warmth falling onto my lips.

HIs lower lips planted themselves between mine. His warm yet strong tongue tickled my lips for the longest time. All the while he hugged my waist and caressed my back.

Hmph

A nasally sound burst out of me. Yet he swallowed even my moan. I remained in his arms like that as he blew the sweetness he had just fed me away. For a moment, I became afraid.

I dont know if I can be this happy.

His lips parted from mine before I grabbed the hem of his clothes like a playful child. Leaning on his shoulder, I mumbled.

I feel sorry for feeling the slightest amounts of happiness.

Because of the late 6th Prince?

He saw through me immediately. My tears had been out of happiness but now they were out of sorrow.

Yes.

Each time I felt the smallest happiness from my daily life, I thought of you, Fleon. Could I dare to be happy after losing you? Could I dare to be happy without being able to save you?

Of course, since he was dead, he remained silent. Since he could not answer me.

I knew him.

Fleon wouldnt like it if I continued thinking like this. He would have sworn at me.

I smiled with tears on my face.

You damned chick, I could hear him calling me names.

So, Im going to atone by never forgetting him. Because thats the best I can do.

I couldnt be sorry if I wanted to be happy. I wanted to be happy.

Dane and that guy, be happy. Make sure that youre all happy.

Because he had hoped for my happiness till the very end. I would live as he wished and as I wished.

You know the answer, youve found it. And Ill be rooting for you.

He planted another kiss on my eye.

By your side, Forever.

HIs lips felt for mine. I slowly closed my eyes again in his warmth.

Did you see your god when you awakened?

God?

He slipped his arms under my mantle before nodding. He wrapped them around my waist before speaking.

During their awakening, a templar would get to meet their god or witness something left by their god.

What about you, brother?

He closed his eyes for a moment.

I saw a statue of my god. It was a statue left behind by the god who had long returned to the heavens. The moment I embraced it, I had awakened and became a templar. But not everyone went through the same thing.

He carefully tucked my hair behind my ears.

There are gods who had returned to the heavens, ones who left statues of themselves and gods who chose to continue living as humans. We have no idea how they will appear before us. Because its different for each templar.

I tilted my head at his words.

Am I abnormal for not having seen anything like that? I have never gone through anything you described, brother.

I had just talked to my diary and recalled what I had forgotten a long time ago.

The Lord of the Gods and the God of Death. Perhaps it was because the two gods are known to have disappeared a long time ago.

It was said that the Lord of the Gods had fallen asleep as dusk fell upon the Empire after the First Emperor had passed away. And the God of Death had been imprisoned by his brother. If the legends were proven true, perhaps the two gods had disappeared and I would never get to meet them again.

Dont mind it. As Ive said, each god has different ways of doing things.

I nodded slowly. For some reason, something that had been bothering me felt like it would be resolved soon.

Recently, it felt like a tough knot was slowly unravelling before me. So, this strange feeling wouldnt linger for long and would disappear soon.

I wondered why?

It felt like I was uncovering the secrets behind the diary all over again.

***

The next day, I sat at my desk in my study, feeling a little tired.

A third of the Empires templars were involved in the coup. Of the remaining two-thirds, 90% were either bystanders or remained neutral and the other 10% were followers of the Crown Prince.

Granius had not participated in the coup. It was difficult finding a higher-up who had not been involved in the coup which was why he was currently drowning in work.

That was why, as a result, the number of reports I had been receiving was overwhelming. Even after Rebecca had organised and selected the reports to be presented to me.

Rebecca. If we are discovered to have died next to each other, our cause of death is definitely overworking.

It seems like youre not that tired given that you have the energy to say that.

Youre too cold.

Rebecca smirked as she answered as a matter-of-factly. Afterward, she handed me more documents as per normal as if she had planned it. What a consistent lady.

Alright. I just need to do this, right?

I smiled and turned to the papers. Just when I was reading the report describing the number of templars left in the Empire.

Princess!

Bang! The door swung open before someone rushed in. Rebecca momentarily grimaced but quickly closed her mouth the moment she noticed the intruders urgency.

Soricks? Whats wrong?

Since he had run here so quickly, Soricks arrived panting.

I-I have something urgent to reportugh

Soricks was both a brilliant knight and a templar. Even with his physical abilities that far surpassed an average humans, he was left struggling to breath. He must have ran here at an immense speed.

Whats the matter?

The Succession Ceremony will soon be held.

The Succession Ceremony?

Yes. The emperor had just declared it moments ago!

Soricks reported stiffly.

The emperor had just announced that he will be handing his throne over to the Crown Prince.