As the night faded and dawn broke in the distance,
the never-ending party finally came to an end. The sound of snoring people filled the city as they drifted off to sleep.
"Looks nice, doesn't it?"
"It sure does."
Two elderly figures who had been watching the city's farewell celebrations all night shared a conversation.
Guests who had come with Ariel from the Lake Kingdom,
the elderly couple once known as the Sword Demon and the Spear Demon.
The delegation from the Lake Kingdom was set to depart early in the morning, and the couple had already packed their things and were sitting on the carriage that brought them.
"Now that our curse is lifted, how about we enjoy ourselves like that?"
"Come on now… We're not immortal anymore, and we don't have the strength to swing swords and spears, so let's take it easy."
The elderly couple leaned their heads against each other and quietly observed the scene in Crossroad.
Specifically, they were watching Ariel, who was still deep in conversation and meetings with various kings, even as the night drew to a close.
"…."
"…."
In truth, the Sword Demon and the Spear Demon had another reason for visiting Crossroad this time.
Previously, Ash had offered to give them his gold coins, but instead, he made another promise.
He offered to relocate the people of the Bottom Village outside of the Lake Kingdom.
He offered to officially allocate land within the Empire's territory and help them start anew there, so they wouldn't have to live as slaves in the Lake Kingdom anymore.
As village chiefs, the couple had naturally intended to go along with Ash's proposal.
However…
"Her Highness sure is working hard."
"Indeed, she is…"
Upon returning, Ariel had made every effort to restore order in the Lake Kingdom.
She was busy meeting with kings to secure foreign support, and she had achieved meaningful results. The Lake Kingdom successfully established diplomatic relations with several countries.
Before coming to Crossroad, even in the Lake Kingdom,
Ariel had taken the lead in restoring order and had initiated sweeping reforms.
The Lake Kingdom had traditionally classified people based on whether they could use magic.
Those who could use magic were considered citizens, while those who couldn't were classified as non-citizens, creating an extreme disparity in social status.
However, now that magic had vanished, there was no longer any reason to maintain the existing class system.
Ariel sought to gradually abolish the old class system and restructure the country to treat those who worked honestly with their hands and sweat without discrimination.
Though the existing Lake Kingdom royalty and nobility fiercely resisted, Ariel pushed forward with unwavering resolve.
She believed that to raise the kingdom from the dried lakebed and restore it, these changes were necessary.
While they were still far from escaping their distant past, under Ariel's leadership, the Lake Kingdom was struggling to adapt to the modern world.
"…."
"…."
Originally, the Sword Demon and the Spear Demon had planned to meet Prince Ash during this visit to discuss the timing and method for leaving the Lake Kingdom. However,
now… they found themselves wanting to place their trust in Ariel.
"Sword Demon, Spear Demon!"
A voice interrupted the elderly couple's thoughts.
When they looked up, the Crown Prince of Everblack, wearing a smile, was walking toward them, waving.
The Sword Demon and the Spear Demon exchanged glances.
It was time to make their decision.
"The proposal you gave us before, Your Highness."
The approaching Sword Demon and Spear Demon spoke respectfully.
"We'd like to turn it down."
"What?!"
I was taken aback.
I had scouted suitable land within the Empire's territory to help the Bottom Village make a fresh start, intending to give them the land documents right here and now.
"We want to stay in the Lake Kingdom, with our princess…"
The Sword Demon and Spear Demon gave awkward smiles.
"We want to try rebuilding the kingdom from the bottom up, just once more."
"We've gotten used to making things hard for ourselves."
"…"
I looked towards Crossroad with the two of them.
Ariel, who had been in meetings with the kings all night, was now wiping her forehead with a tired expression as she walked out toward us.
I nodded to the elderly couple.
"Thank you. It couldn't have been an easy decision. Sword Demon, Spear Demon, you two will be a great support to Ariel."
"We're just old folks without much strength left…"
"For people who have been separated for so long to come together, they need to listen to each other. And you two can help make that happen."
I smiled at the Sword Demon and Spear Demon.
"Please take care of Ariel and the Lake Kingdom. I'll visit often as well."
I slipped the land documents back into my pocket and was about to take out a gold certificate instead.
"Since the relocation is canceled, I'll give you the gold I originally promised…"
"That won't be necessary."
The Sword Demon declined politely.
"If you insist on giving it, it would be better to add that gold to support the Lake Kingdom."
"And this too…"
The Spear Demon gestured toward the wagon behind their carriage.
"Could you use these for the Lake Kingdom?"
The wagon held several old boxes, and when I opened one…
"…These are."
They were the old gold coins the Bottom Village had collected over centuries.
"These are worthless; they were just gathered to give our lives some semblance of purpose…"
"But if they can be used for the future of the country…"
"…"
Originally, these gold coins would have been used to fund their fresh start.
But after seeing Ariel's efforts, they were willing to pour all their resources and opportunities into the new future of their country.
"…Ariel is truly fortunate to have such good people as her subjects."
I smiled and nodded at the Sword Demon and the Spear Demon.
"In the name of the Duchy of Bringar and the Everblack Empire, we won't spare any humanitarian aid for the Lake Kingdom's reconstruction."
The Sword Demon and the Spear Demon smiled in return and slowly stepped back.
"It looks like the princess is coming. Well then, I'll leave you two to have your conversation."
"We'll be over there on a date."
As the Sword Demon and Spear Demon made their way out of sight, Ariel walked over from Crossroad.
"Ash!"
"Ariel."
Even now, when she was supposed to be leaving for the Lake Kingdom, Ariel had been in meetings with the kings. She looked tired, but her face still held a sense of satisfaction from the success of her efforts.
Ariel smiled brightly and asked,
"Did you enjoy yourself all night?"
"Thanks to you."
"Congratulations on your successful proposal. You make a lovely couple."
"Haha. I'll send you an invitation to the wedding. You have to come, alright?"
"Of course. How could I miss your wedding?"
After exchanging a few words about my wedding,
I took out what I had intended to give Ariel before she left and handed it to her carefully.
"Here, take this."
"This is…?"
Ariel looked surprised as she took it, and I nodded.
"It's the Lake Kingdom's royal scepter."
The symbol of the Lake Kingdom's royal authority, which the Night Bringer had left in Crossroad when he died.
Since then, the Demon King had retracted all his authority, and now that magic was gone, the scepter no longer held any power.
It was an ancient artifact, and having been tainted by nightmares for so long, once the darkness had drained away, the scepter had sustained considerable damage, with its body twisted and cracks forming…
Over the past few days, it had been newly repaired.
Since Ariel would be the one to use it, the craftsman had restored it with care and sincerity.
"…Thank you."
Ariel held the scepter and smiled faintly.
"This scepter is practically a national treasure for our country. I will use it well."
"I look forward to seeing you wield it with style."
"By the way… it looks almost new. I don't know who the craftsman is, but they did a remarkable job."
As she looked intently at the carefully restored staff,
"For some reason…"
Ariel lowered her lake-blue eyes.
"When I hold this scepter, my heart… starts aching again."
"…"
"Ash. Tell me."
Ariel looked at me with a desperate expression.
"Do you really not know what I've forgotten?"
"…"
"What could I have possibly forgotten that it makes my heart ache so much… that it feels like there's a hole there… Do you really not know?"
After a very brief hesitation,
"Yeah."
I replied.
"I'm sorry. I don't know either. The reason for your sense of loss…"
"…I see."
Ariel stared down at the scepter for a long while, her lips tightly pressed together, then closed her eyes and turned back to me with a soft smile.
"Thank you for fixing the scepter and giving it to me, Ash. And… I hope we can meet again soon."
Ariel, the Sword Demon, the Spear Demon, and the people of the Lake Kingdom left.
Watching them slowly disappear to the south, I turned around,
and carefully climbed the southern wall that had been destroyed during the final battle.
Taking cautious steps over the collapsed stairs, I headed toward the edge of the wall…
"…"
There was a gray figure sitting, collapsed as if leaning against the wall.
The hole in his chest had grown larger than before, and his body was scattering into white particles at its edges…
Aider was slowly dying.
Standing before the dying director, I took a deep breath.
"Ariel said thank you. She said it looked almost new. She said the craftsman had done a great job."
At this, Aider managed a faint, strained smile.
"Is that… so… That's… good…"
"…."
Originally, Aider had kept a part of his life to fulfill my 'wish.'
But that wish had been granted by Salome, extending Aider's life accordingly.
And he had used those last few days… to repair Ariel's scepter.
He was the only one left who remembered the scepter's original, intact form.
Just as he had once tied a new ribbon in her hair, with the same delicate care, he meticulously removed the nightmare and contamination, repaired the broken ornaments, and affixed the jewels.
And he hadn't even given it to her himself, asking me to do it in his place.
"Are you really going to end things like this?"
I asked out of pity, and Aider nodded.
"I don't want to make the rest of her life any more painful."
"…"
"Sometimes, just knowing that you shared your heart with someone can leave a painful scar…"
His fingertips and toes began slowly turning into particles of light.
"My life effectively ended the moment I betrayed the Outer Gods… The fact that I've lasted this long is a miracle in itself."
"…"
"I was happy to have the chance to repair the scepter she'll use for the rest of her life… and to see her, even from a distance, one last time."
After a moment's hesitation,
I asked cautiously.
"…Why did you go this far?"
I asked the question again to Aider, whose ashen eyes had lost focus.
"Turning back time so many times, continuing a fight you couldn't win, why did you go so far… to save Ariel?"
At that, a faint smile crossed Aider's parched lips.
"Because her simple words… allowed me to live as a human."
As if recalling a single, shining moment deeply engraved in his life,
Aider's eyes grew distant.
"Because she gave me a name. I was finally able to live as myself, neither as a nameless slave nor as a false prince."
"…"
"The brilliant memories she gave me… kept me alive all this time…"
Aider took a labored breath.
"That's all there is to it."
"…"
"By the way, my lord, since no one will remember me once I'm gone, and there won't be a funeral…"
My co-conspirator managed his trademark shameless smile.
"If you were to recite something for me… What poem would you choose?"
"…"
Standing straight before the fading Aider,
a line of poetry suddenly came to mind, one that overlapped with his life. I recited it slowly.
The one whom I loved so dearly
I could never forget you in my lifetime
Though I know it's a love that can never be mine
I will steadfastly think of you alone
Then, may you forever remain beautiful
As I finished reciting,
"…Haha. That's beautiful."
Aider laughed with shallow breaths.
"But a little sad…"
I stayed by his side as he slowly scattered into particles of light.
"…"
Here, there once was a man.
A man so foolishly pure that he was saved by a single kind word someone had given him.
A man who defied fate and rebelled against the world, fighting forever to repay that one word.
Even if no one remembered him,
in the end, he sacrificed his very soul to save his unrequited love and his world. Such a man.
He was here.
"May you forever remain beautiful, my princess…"
Aider whispered in a fading voice.
His clouded eyes slowly closed.
And then…
…
Was it just an illusion?
I hear footsteps.
Footsteps of someone running desperately up the wall.
Aider slowly opened his eyes and looked to his side.
"Haa, haa, haa…"
At the end of the wall—a woman stood, out of breath from running.
Her dress was disheveled, the red ribbon in her long silver hair had come undone, and her breathing was ragged, lacking any sense of propriety…
The Princess of the Lake Kingdom.
"I… can't remember…!"
Aider blinked in disbelief as Ariel clutched her chest and spoke.
"But my heart hurts so much… It's like there's a hole in it; it aches and stings so much…"
"…"
"It feels like someone precious to me was forcibly ripped from my heart, so…!"
She struggled to catch her breath, which had risen to her throat.
Raising her head, Ariel smiled.
"So I came… in the direction that hurt my heart the most."
Tears fell endlessly from her large lake-blue eyes, but she somehow managed to smile.
"I came to find you, the one who makes me cry just by looking at you."
Under Aider's gray eyes, tears began to flow as well.
"I don't know your name. I don't even know what you meant to me…"
Slowly approaching, Ariel sat down to be at eye level with Aider.
"But for some reason, I feel like I must make this request to you."
Ariel reached out her trembling hand to gently brush back Aider's ashen hair, gazing at his face with tenderness.
"A picnic."
Smiling through her tears, Ariel made a heartfelt request to Aider.
"Will you go on a picnic with me?"
Even on Aider's face, which had lost all its vitality and was slowly dying,
"…Yes."
a radiant smile flickered as if it was a lie.
"Let's go."
Bright fragments scattered.
"I've always, always… wanted to go on a picnic with you…"
Ariel embraced Aider with all her might as he transformed into particles of light and began to disappear.
"Outside, it's the height of spring."
Unable to keep his eyes open any longer, Aider heard Ariel whisper, her voice choked with sobs.
"We'll hold hands and go to the hill in the countryside."
As if he could see the scene unfolding before his eyes, Aider smiled happily.
"There's a big zelkova tree in the distance, and the summer flowers planted around it have already started to bud in the sunny weather."
Ariel stammered, her throat tightening, but
"Look. It rained yesterday, but today it's so clear."
she smiled brightly.
"And in the sky, there's a rainbow."
The fragments of light breaking off from Aider
swirled around Ariel as if dancing before soaring into the sky…
"In the clear sky after the rain, there's a rainbow as beautiful as you…"
Under the brightening sky, the fragments sparkled brilliantly in all colors.
"It's blooming… so beautifully…"
When I looked down after quietly gazing at that beautiful sky,
Aider was completely gone.
Amidst the scattering particles of light, only Ariel remained, weeping.
"Ash."
After crying for a long time,
Ariel finally stopped and spoke to me.
"I have a favor to ask."
When I nodded, Ariel asked earnestly.
"The next time we meet… will you tell me about this person?"
"…"
"I don't remember, but I know I must have loved him… Will you tell me about him?"
I nodded deeply once more.
"I will."
I smiled faintly.
"It's a long story, one that would take many days and nights to tell… but I'll definitely share it with you."
Standing amidst the particles of light, Ariel, still with a tear-streaked face, held the scepter in her hands close to her chest.
As if trying to keep the warmth of the man who had touched it alive in her heart.
Watching her, I thought of the story of a man.
A man who, in the end, sacrificed his very soul to save his unrequited love and his world.
And at the very last moment, went on a picnic with his beloved to the rainy zelkova tree hill.
Surely, his last wish had come true.
The story of a happy fool.