She felt as though it has never done anything for personally. In the end, she remains an empty sh.e.l.l; there is nothing different. It's still empty, no matter how much she consumes, she cannot rid herself of that empty feeling.

When Lyn next woke up - she found herself in a dream s.p.a.ce created by her magic. When she saw the huge oak tree and the pale grey surroundings, she sighed. Once again she came back to this place, huh? Lyn supposed pa.s.sing out and using up a lot of her energy is the trigger to coming here.

Her gaze fell on the huge tree that had several threads or should have. However, she noticed several threads fading. Lyn made her way over and placed her hand on the tree; it's weakening. Everyone is splitting apart.

' You don't have to argue anymore. I understand that this is parti— no I'm the reason why there has been a bad vibe between you three. No between everyone else too. The truth was that I knew; I knew that I had been the one holding everyone together. That no matter how close you all were with each other, I knew if I were one day to leave then something like this would happen,'

"Even though you have all been working hard, I've noticed it how everyone doesn't seem to be well, how you all seem to seek and searching for something. The truth is the same goes for me, without all of you beside me, I realized that my days have seemed rather empty like there has been something missing," Lyn muttered to herself. Since the war started, no since she became Queen. Things have changed.

"You guys all gave it to me after all, you all taught me what I had been missing this entire time. You guys don't have to fight.. You're all such good people, that's why there's no need for this. I want all of you... Everyone in I want them all to be happy."

Her gaze lands on the threads in the center, that seemed to engulf around her. Ah… these belong to….

"Oh wow, King's thread is quite strong, eh? But so is Rhys!" A cheerful voice from behind her said.

Lyn sighed, "So you're really going to keep showing up. Should a dead person be given so many privileges?"

Indeed behind her was none other than a certain blonde hair boy, with a stupid grin on his face. This man is Jin, he was senior during her academy days. "How cruel. You and King are so cruel to me, you know?"

Her eyes widened at that comment; she refrained from looking too excited at the mention of Kazuya.

"….you've been speaking with Kazuya?"

Jae nodded, " Yeah, he seems to be quite worried about you. Maybe you should start with not neglecting to answer your magic connection. Seems like he wants to clear some a misunderstanding."

Ah, of course, it's that. Of course, it was a misunderstanding; she overreacted for nothing.

"Since I'm here I have to say, you seem paler now," Jin frowned, "Taking up so many jobs your desperately trying to ease your pain, are you not?"

"Even if that's so, there's nothing more that I can do."

"Is that what.… you want?"

"Besides doing my job as Queen, I have no other way to move forward with Kazuya," Lyn said. This was the only thing she could do, for them to be together, for them to stay together.

She finally managed to argue back, but she was unable to move Jin. The man looked at her, amused, as laughter pa.s.sed his lips.

"So it's the same thing for you, huh?"

Even though Lyn had changed over the years and become more self-aware, there are many topics she still hesitates about.

"Forget about the war, right now, your dancing on a fine rope that's about to snap at any given moment."

"What are you trying to get at?," Lyn said, her words came out in an anxious tone, "Things have already become like this, what more can I do?"

How did it end up like this? She wanted to have a quiet conversation, a proper talk with him. But it seemed like that isn't possible.

"There's no other way," Lyn said in a tone like it had nothing to do with her when it had everything to do with her.

"If you want to fight for the sake of the one you love, I don't think there is anything wrong with that," Jae replied.

Lyn shook her head, "Kazuya won't allow that. Right now, he's fighting too," that's right, he's fighting, isn't he? Fighting for her sake and yet — Lyn has always told Kazuya to abandon her if need be. Right now he's not beside her mainly because of the antidote but at what cost? Look at what's happening in the Kingdom, the seeds of hate towards him have emerged again. Everything he built back then is being destroyed just because of her.

"Didn't you use to tell me that bonds were everything? Over these years, did you forget about the most important thing while trying to achieve your dream? Did becoming Queen cloud your judgment?"

Jin's words surprised her. Usually, he wouldn't be so straightforward and try to dance around the subject more. However, this time around, his words. .h.i.t a critical point in her heart.

"Since King is clever, he should be able to understand you, right?"

"…!!"

When Lyn heard Jae mention Kazuya name so casually, intense emotions emerged in her heart.

"It's not like I can wait for him before doing anything," Lyn coldly said, "If I wait, what do you think will happen to the empire? It will fall apart, completely."

And, during this time, Jin stared at her. He stared at her. Lyn s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably; there was something about this man's gaze - even back in the academy that made her feel slightly uncomfortable. Back then, she didn't understand what it was, but now she does. It's because this person can read her like an open book. Kazuya can do that and Rhys is the same - but this man's gaze made her uncomfortable because he's always smiling even though that smile of his is empty.

"Aha, I get it," Jin realized something as he nodded his head, "In contrast to your att.i.tude towards being a Queen, a ruler - the feelings you have for Kazuya are smaller in comparison,"

When Jin said his name, Lyn clenched her fist. She wanted to retort back. How can that be? She never wanted to be Queen; if it weren't for Kazuya, then she wouldn't have become Queen. Smaller? Along the way, did she start prioritizing her duties as Queen over her love for Kazuya? Since when did that happen?

Jin nodded his head, "It makes sense now. Though you love him so much and will do anything for him, at the same time you're contradicting yourself, you think that doing things for the one you love will only be regarded as reckless and harm people. You're conflicted. You're worried that the one you love will get dragged into something dangerous because you can't make rational decisions."

It wasn't a lecture, nor did he mock her. It felt like a bit of both.

"Love won't be fazed by anything. As long as two people's hearts are connected," Jin trailed off, he smiled, "But you knew this, didn't you? The power of love."

Lyn looked down at her feet; she didn't know what to say anymore. She knew it was futile to try to act strong; she wants to meet Kazuya - she misses him so badly. Even if the whole world fell apart, Lyn wouldn't care. She just wants to be with him. Lyn crouched down on the ground, and Jae bent down.

"Queen is like a child."

Lyn sobbed, the tears she struggled to hold back finally fell, "Shut up."

"Don't worry; you two will be reunited soon. But it won't be in the Mist Kingdom."

She looked up, eyes widened at his words, "Are you sure?"

Jin smiled, "Let me show you what I saw, and you decide where to go from then onwards. But even you know my powers are limited. There's no saying that these events will change."