After coming out of the basement, Lara did not come out of her room for a while. Konny knocked on the door several times with something for her to eat, but it was useless.
"What should I do? She's been starving all day long…"
Demian found Konny stomping her feet in front of the door and approached her.
"What's wrong with Lara?"
"She said she had something to think about."
Would it be better not to disturb her then?
When Demian stood at the door and rubbed his chin with a serious face, Konny quickly added.
"As soon as she met His Imperial Majesty, she went down to the basement. She hasn't come up for a while ever since."
"The basement?"
"Yes, but after she came up, she went into her room and hasn't said a word until now…"
So she met her God.
Demian was able to guess that fact without difficulty.
"Lara, it's me."
Demian stood outside the door and talked to Lara. Her room was very quiet. Konny looked at the door and Demian with drooping eyes, alternating between them. Lara did not seem to be sleeping. Worried about her, Demian opened the door and tried to enter, but a very subdued voice was heard.
"I'm fine."
"Konny is worried."
"It's okay. I just want to be alone for a while. Please."
Demian did not force open the door to Lara's room. She said she wanted to be alone in this house, and no one could interrupt that time. Instead, he stood in front of Lara's room and waited for a long time. Until the time would change and the night was over. Until Lara opened the door and came out.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
It was early dawn. The dark sky turned blue, and Lara had been deep in thought all night. When she opened the door and came outside, Demian had been sitting in a chair brought by Konny and stared hard at her room.
His eyes were too clear for someone who just pulled an all-nighter.
"Demian? What are you doing here?"
"I have been waiting for you."
"What kind of foolish act is this? There are so many other rooms in this house…"
"Lara."
He smiled and said.
"There's no place in this house for me to be without you."
What a fool.
Lara blinked quickly. She held Demian's hand, raised him up, and hurriedly held him in her arms. Otherwise, she felt like crying.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
Over time, the day came for the delegation from the Eastern Union to return to their own land. They had to return while being surveilled like criminals being kicked out. Prince Nicholas headed to Lafort with Demian, the mighty warrior of the saintess.
Paimon's rebellion was stronger than Demian's. He complained that he did not want to be separated from Lara, he did not want to be away from Lara for even for a moment. After seeing him, Valac hinted that he was scared of being caught and torn to death by another demon lord candidate.
On the day they left, Lara came out after shutting herself away for a few days. She held Demian's hand and told him.
"Demian, I will make you a hero."
"What?"
Demian had a look asking her 'where did that come from all of a sudden.' He thought Lara was joking. However, Lara recalled the oath she made with her heart after returning to the past.
"That's what I decided to do in this life. So don't say anything and just do what I tell you to do."
"Of course, saintess."
"First, drive out the black sorcerers and demon worshippers in Sias and help Prince Nicholas become the successor to the throne of Sias. After that, announce that demon-worshipping forces are dominating Lafort…"
"Lara."
"What?"
"Do you want me to be the hero of the East?"
Demian asked. He was wearing armor and a cloak that Isadora purchased at an expensive price, and a royal sword bestowed by the King of Hautean around his waist. When he was told to wear it, he grumbled, saying it was cumbersome. But when he finished preparing, he gave an overwhelming feeling like a black knight that appeared only in legends. His shoulders were decorated with red epaulet, symbolizing the saintess Lara. And his waist was covered with a leather weapon band mainly used by Barbarians.
Lara replied to him.
"No, not just in the East. I hope you can be the hero of the whole continent. So that one day, when you take over the lawless zone with the Barbarians, instead of being called the King of Outlaws, I want you to be called a heroic king who saved the world from destruction."
"Why?"
"Because I'm going to live there too."
"I see."
Demian nodded. Then, he gave a deep kiss to her cheek and whispered.
"Forget being king, I can even be an Emperor if you want."
Lara raised her head. His lips that touched her cheek naturally covered her lips. She wrapped her arms around Demian's neck and left her body to his body's scent. It was a kiss full of sorrow. Demian did not know how to get away from her at all.
"Demian."
Lara called his name.
"Yeah?"
"Come back safely."
"Sure."
"I will wait here."
Her chest was hot. Love, which used to make her feel only sweet and pleasant feelings, was now painful and bitter.
Lara stood on the hill where the sanctum was and watched Demian leave. She stood there for a long time.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
The long-standing spring season had finally passed, and the beginning of summer began with the sound of thunderous rain. It snowed a lot in the winter and it rained even more in the summer.
Demian went to the East. Contrary to Lara's advice, he waited and did not immediately dispose of the demon worshippers. It was Paimon who took action first. He ordered the black sorcerers who followed him to rebel in Lafort.
The three Eastern countries were then shocked by the rebellion of the black sorcerers in Lafort and were confused. Demian took that chance and took Nicholas to Sias. Then, he borrowed Sias' military power to overpower the traitors in Lafort.
Nicholas became the head of the Eastern Union, and at the same time, a hero who saved Lafort from the demon's grasp. Of course, it was thanks to Demian's performance, the mighty warrior sent by the saintess.
Nicholas appealed to the three countries—Lafort, Sias, and Moltan. He shouted that the opponents they had to fight against were black sorcerers and demon worshippers, and since the Barbarians on the border were blocking the demon from ascending under the order of the saintess, they should work together.
Besides being diplomatic, Nicholas had such a wide network of people that even the Emperor and Lara acknowledged. To the general public, he appealed with tears pretending to be a righteous member of a royal family, but behind the scenes, he met with very powerful people from each country and persuaded them that the continental territory would revolve around the saintess.
The great demon war.
War was a tragedy, but for some, it was a great opportunity. The powerful people in the East immediately fell into their thoughts. What, where, who, and how much to bet on to gain more benefits. The lead may have already been taken away by the Tarragon Empire, but should the runner-up not be the East? To do so, one country would be better than three divided countries.
That was how the East merged.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
"It's going to be flooded at this rate. It pours out for three days, clears up for one day, pours out for three days, and clears up for one day. When the laundry is dry… It gets wet. When the laundry is about to dry… It gets wet again. This is getting on my nerves."
It was a huge rainy season, enough to cool down even the summer heat.
Konny hung from the carriage window and looked outside. It was raining so much that rainwater was flowing down from the carriage roof as if the bank had burst.
"We have arrived!"
The coachman shouted louder than usual. The sound of the rain was so loud that his voice could not be heard clearly. As soon as Lara got off the carriage, she ran quickly.
"Milady! The umbrella."
"It's fine. Hurry and run!"
Konny quickly followed with an umbrella but Lara was already running so far ahead.
They arrived at the Lara's Garden hotel. The hotel lobby had always been crowded. But due to the pouring rain piercing out of the sky, silence flowed and the usual hecticness was nowhere to be found. Lara tapped her wet skirt to shake off the water and entered the hotel. Sebastian had been waiting for her at the entrance, he approached her with a quick step.
"Milady, it's been a while."
"How have you been?"
"I'm always the same. The item requested by milady is said to have been safely installed in the riverside manor in Hautean. The wolves in charge of transporting it decided to stay in Hautean to protect the manor."
"Thank you."
"And I have obtained all the diamonds you asked for. I will deliver it to Valentine on my own, so milady, you can conclude the negotiations with His Imperial Highness Acerus."
"How much should I get?"
"How much do you want to get?"
"I don't need money or anything. Territory and titles are also a nuisance… I think I should get a license for free trade throughout the entire Empire."
"That's a great merchant's mindset."
Sebastian looked at Lara with a proud face.
"Where's mother?"
"She's having fun."
"Again?"
"She has gotten into parenting late and now she cannot get out of it."
"It seems that I have done something unnecessary."
As Lara sighed heavily, Sebastian laughed and patted her shoulder.
"But it's okay because she's enjoying it. You're helping me a lot for work, milady."
Lara went up to the top floor of the hotel with Konny. The outside air was so damp that moisture would stick in one's eyebrows, but a pleasant atmosphere hovered around inside. The carpets laid out in the hallway were fluffily arranged and a warm air flowed slowly.
Lara entered the drawing-room and searched for Isadora.
"Mother, where are you?"
Isadora was sitting in front of a large desk by the window. Though there was a pile of documents that had not yet been processed, Isadora was not working. Her hand that was holding a pen was drooping on the desk and her tired-looking eyes were full of sleepiness.
Lara's mother was dozing off. She stood there and blinked her eyes still. Sebastian, who followed her, cleared his throat.
Isadora was not alone. Now, the giant of fire that had grown as big as a young puppy was sitting on Isadora's lap, dozing off with the same posture and expression.