As Aria's body grew weaker, Xerxes halted his experiments to focus on studying her condition. In her room, during a check-up, he and Valentine realized that an ordinary doctor couldn't identify her condition.
Xerxes, feeling Aria's energy, paused.
"Is there a problem?" Aria asked.
Xerxes, looking away, recognized that Aria's energy was fading, her core slowly breaking. He exchanged a glance with Valentine, who had noticed it too.
"This is serious, but don't worry. We'll leave now to discuss our findings," Valentine assured Aria, as Xerxes couldn't bring himself to speak to her.
Leaving her room, they headed to Xerxes's lab.
"You noticed it too, right?" Valentine inquired.
Xerxes sighed. "I can't believe this is happening."
"If her core breaks, you know what will happen to her," Valentine pointed out.
"She will die... And I won't let that happen! I'll do everything to save her!" Xerxes declared, his frustration evident. The thought of her death drove him to the edge.
"She's not originally from this world. What if..." Valentine hesitated. "The original Aria died long ago, and her body has been alive because Kaye's soul was inside it. It's a borrowed body, and now, maybe the God has decided to return her to her original world."
"No! She can't. She belongs here now," Xerxes insisted.
"I understand what you feel, but it's a fact," Valentine said.
Xerxes sighed again. "I'll study everything and create a spell to prevent her from leaving this world, to stop her body from fading. I don't care; I'll defy even God's will, even if it means upsetting the balance of the world." I'll do everything for her.
Valentine saw his frustration; Xerxes loved her deeply.
"Then I will help you," Valentine said. "Let's do everything so that she will stay by our side forever."
.
.
....
"Cancel all the meetings; let the aide handle all the reports today. I'll be by my wife's side," Mikhail ordered.
"As you wish, Your Majesty," said his secretary.
"No, you don't have to do this. The empire's matters are more important," Aria insisted.
"But you are more important," Mikhail countered.
Aria cupped his face. "Please, I don't want you to neglect your duties because of me."
"But... what if something bad happens to you again?" he looked genuinely worried.
She smiled. "I'll be fine."
He sighed.
"They say sunlight can help the body get better. I'll stroll in the garden for a while," she added.
Mikhail had no choice but to nod.
.
.
Aria strolled in the garden, embracing the warmth of the sunlight on her skin. "The weather today is so nice, perfect for a picnic with my children," she mused.
"Would you like me to prepare for a picnic, Your Majesty?" Cedrik asked.
She smiled at him. "Certainly. Instruct the servants to dress up the princes and princesses."
"As you wish, Your Majesty." Cedrik bowed and departed.
William assisted her in sitting beneath the massive oak tree. She closed her eyes, savoring the fresh air. However, pain surged through her, and she covered her mouth.
"Your Majesty!" William panicked as blood spilled from her mouth.
He trembled, eager to carry her back inside, but she halted him. "Don't... It's alright," she said, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief.
"But you're not alright!" Frustration and worry etched his face.
Aria wiped her hands and replied, "This always happens. Nothing to worry about. I'm used to it."
"But..."
She locked eyes with him. "William... Please."
He sighed.
It won't change. No one will cure her. She knew it already. Her time in this world was running out. The pain returned, and she vomited blood again. William, unable to bear her condition, was about to call for the servants, but she stopped him.
"W-William... Will you promise me?" she asked.
"What is it, Your Majesty?" he inquired.
Tears welled in her eyes. "Promise me you won't tell anyone what happened today."
Though hesitating, he nodded. "I promise, Your Majesty."
She forced a smile, resting her head on William's shoulder, gazing at the clouds. "They were all beautiful."
Trying to hold back tears, William said, "You are more beautiful, Your Majesty."
She smiled again. "I still remember when you confessed to me; the weather that time was so nice. The wind felt great, the flowers bloomed beautifully."
Tears flowed from William's eyes. His love for her never wavered.
"Thank you for loving and protecting me, William. I'm sorry if I can't reciprocate your feelings," she said with a weak voice.
"You don't have to reciprocate, Your Majesty. Staying by your side is enough for me, and I will always love and protect you," he replied, closing his eyes and tightening his embrace.
"In another life... If we cross our paths again, maybe in that timeline, I will love you too." With those words, she fell asleep.
William couldn't help but cry. "I will always love you, even in another life, another timeline, another world."
.
.
....
Aria's condition deteriorated, preventing her from walking for extended periods due to dizziness and the risk of vomiting blood. She spent her days confined to her bed, reading stories to her children, while her husbands expressed deep concern.
"Kaye... Doctors and mages from Targaryan will arrive today. They'll help you," reassured Rasheen, holding her hand.
Despite numerous examinations, no doctor had succeeded in finding a cure.
Gawain, standing in a corner, couldn't hold back tears. His attempts to study medicine and create remedies for her had all ended in failure. Xerxes and Valentine were immersed in research, devising spells to aid her. Maximilian's search in neighboring lands for doctors or cures yielded no success. Claudius, resorting to paying mages to create a cure, faced repeated failures. Napoleon sought Arthur's aid, embarking on a journey to every country and exploring black markets for a cure, yet their efforts proved futile. Hachi ventured into the forbidden forest, seeking assistance from beast tribes, but like the others, he met with failure. Ryu, persistently searching and paying merchants, found no cures.
The harsh reality lingered—no one could cure her, and acceptance of this grim fate remained elusive among them.
Mikhail, in particular, bore the weight of frustration and stress. Every night, he drowned his sorrows in alcohol, feeling utterly useless. As emperor, he questioned why he couldn't save his wife despite his efforts. Desperate, he issued rewards to anyone within the empire who could find a cure, offering titles, lands, and gold. Yet, all endeavors met with failure.
One night, Matias observed his father crying in the corner of his office. Matias, too young to assist, shared the burden of worry for his parents. He could sense his father's deep love for his mother, wishing he could do more to help but feeling helpless.
.
.
....
Months passed, and Aria's pallor deepened. In the garden with Cedrik and William, she sat on a bench, carried there to enjoy the weather and flowers.
"Thank you, everyone," she expressed.
"Your Majesty," Cedrik kneeled, holding her hand. "You will get better soon."
Forcing a smile, she shook her head. "I've accepted it, Ced. My time is running out."
"No!" Cedrik cried. "You will be fine, Your Majesty! Please don't lose hope!"
She patted his head, wiping away his tears. "Don't cry."
"Please... Don't lose hope," he sobbed.
Trying to shift the focus, she inquired, "By the way, how are the kids?"
"They're attending their lessons now, Your Majesty," William replied.
"That's great. I hope they'll become successful in the future." Regrettably, she wouldn't witness their growth.
Closing her eyes as pain surged again, she could see clearly—her body was slowly fading.
"Y-Your Majesty!" Cedrik panicked.
.
.
Mikhail was in his office when Cedrik rushed in, panting and in tears. "Y-Your Majesty..."
His heart raced with nervous. "W-What happened?"
"H-Her Majesty!!!" Cedrik cried.
Mikhail swiftly left his office and hurried to see his wife.
"Kaye!" he called out.
His eyes widened at the sight of her body slowly fading.
"N-No..." he ran to her, embracing her tightly.
"Mikhail..." she whispered.
"P-Please... You promised me. You said you would never leave me!" Mikhail cried.
She caressed his face. "P-Please don't cry..."
"Kaye... Why? Why do you have to leave? Please... Don't leave me!" he begged, kneeling before her while holding her hand. "Please... Don't leave me!"
"I... I'm sorry... I don't want to leave too... But..." she burst into tears, sitting on the ground. "I don't want to leave..." tears streamed down her cheeks.
Mikhail hugged her again, pleading for her not to leave, but Kaye had no control over her body and soul.
"Please take care of yourself and our children," she said.
"KAYE!!!" her consorts and friends arrived.
"Kaye, what's happening?" Gawain asked.
"Kaye, please don't leave us!" Rasheen begged.
Her other husbands ran to her, embracing her as well.
"Why do you have to leave?" Claudius said while crying.
"Kaye, please..." Xerxes begged.
She forced a smile. "I'm sorry... Please remember that I always love you... You will always be in my heart." she kissed them.
They were all crying and sobbing. Valentine closed his eyes, unable to witness her slow disappearance. Napoleon knelt and punched the ground.
"Master!" Hachi cried.
Ryu tried to calm Hachi down, unable to accept that she was leaving. William and Cedrik cried while watching.
Gawain, Xerxes, Rasheen, Claudius, and Maximilian stood up when they saw her body slowly disappearing.
Mikhail refused to let go. "I promise... I will find you. I will follow you to your world, whatever it takes. Please wait for me."
She continued to cry and kissed him until she completely disappeared from their sight.
Mikhail cried out loudly. "KAYE!!!!"
.
.
Kiel...
Izekiel, seated in the corner of his room, heard Kaye's voice. "K-Kaye?"
Please take care of yourself...
"Kaye... W-Where are you?" he stood up.
However, her voice didn't reach him again, and tears flowed from his eyes. What's going on?
.
.
.
Kaye awoke with tears in her eyes, finding herself on the floor in her bedroom in her original world. The realization hit her—she was back.
She cried as the memories flooded back. "I-I'm sorry..." she sobbed. "I'm sorry for leaving."
.
.
.
End of Season 1