Chapter 53 Words aren’t Enough

“And what will you do, Rein? March into the throne room and demand he surrender himself? He’s the King. His word is the truth in this kingdom—ours is nothing but empty words. If you go to him now, all you’ll find is death.”

Her gaze shifted, troubled. 

“But I don’t know everything, Rein. Arthur never trusted me with the full picture. Only Hans—his right hand. For years now, the two of them have been working on something. Something they’ve kept buried in secret. Whatever it is… It’s big enough that he’s willing to kill anyone who even hear whispers about it.”

“Then what can we do, Liora? Brute force isn’t an option… I know, it’s not some monster hunt but the King himself… If we move against him, the whole kingdom will turn on us. People don’t see what we see—they’ll believe his words, not ours. To them, we’ll be the traitors. The monsters. 

So, what then? Do we just sit here and do nothing while he poisons everything?”

Aura spoke next.

“I have a plan. I’ve been building toward it for a long time. Raiding Arthur’s castle. Over the years I’ve gathered people… men and women from town who refuse to bow to him. A resistance, small but loyal. While I lived as Mira, I placed teleportation circles across the city, hidden routes for my people to move through quickly. When the time comes, they’ll create distractions in the main streets that will draw Arthur’s attention.”

Her tone lowered as she turned to Rein.

 “That day you met me, Rein. In the alley. You thought I was cornered by thugs. But I wasn’t. I was with my companions, placing one of the circles. The thugs were just an act—something to keep suspicion away when I felt your presence nearby. And this café… It’s mine now. The former owner handed it over. It serves as our base. Even some of the generals hide in plain sight, disguised as humans, working among the staff. Everything I’ve done, every lie I told as Mira, every smile I wore—it was all to prepare for the day we take Arthur down.”

Rein opened his mouth to speak, but Liora’s voice cut across.

“That won’t work. Arthur already suspects something. I overheard him, speaking with Hans in secret. I couldn’t catch everything, only fragments, whispers… but enough to know they were investigating suspicious activity in the city. Most likely, they were onto you. He’s already issued orders to the sector guards. Demon-detection crystals are being installed across the town. At this point, walking into the castle without being discovered is nearly impossible. Even if, by some miracle, you slipped through and reached the throne… do you honestly believe you alone would be enough to bring him down?"

“I see… So, he was onto me after all. Everything I built… all the circles, the lies, the faces I wore… wasted. Of course he knew. Arthur always knows.”

Liora's gaze moved from Rein to Aura.

“Listen, you two. Don’t do anything hasty. Charging in blind will only hand Arthur what he wants. I’ll have a plan by tomorrow—I’ve been working through the pieces since yesterday. But for now… you need rest. Both of you.”

She rose to her feet, her cloak brushing against the chair. 

“Tomorrow, we meet here again. Until then, keep your heads down. Be careful when you leave. The last thing we need is one of Arthur’s spies sniffing us out. One mistake is all it takes.”

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The door shut softly behind Liora, leaving the café. For a long while, neither of them spoke. 

Her voice finally came, “Rein… I’m sorry. Sorry for pretending to be Mira, for lying to you every day we spent together. But you hated Demon Lord so much—I could see it in your eyes. I… I couldn’t force myself to tell you the truth. Not then.”

“I understand, Aura. I don’t blame you. After everything I’ve said and done, I get why you kept it from me. If I were you… I’d probably have done the same.”

Rein let out a slow breath, his eyes lingering on Aura’s face. 

“There’s something I need to know, Aura. That day you left for the expedition… you wanted to tell me something. I remember it. You said you knew me. That you remembered me from another world. You said you were the girl I saved. Was it true? Back then… was that what you wanted to tell me?”

“Yes… that. And… to confess something else. That I… I love you. I have… even before I was born again in this world.”

Her gaze faltered, and a faint, sad smile curved her lips. 

“I watched you in school. You were… always so brave, always helping anyone who needed it. Popular with everyone. And me… I was nothing like that. Just a quiet, shy girl, invisible, with no friends. I never thought I could ever approach someone like you. But I love you. I always have. Even before all of this… even before this world, I carried that feeling with me.”

Rein leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair.

"Hearing you say that—after everything—I don’t even know what to do with it. I mean, you loved me back then, in that world, and I was too damn blind to see it. And here? I just kept running my mouth, making things worse. Guess I’m not the sharpest blade in the armory. Took two lives and a hell of a lot of pain to finally figure it out. But Aura… don’t think for a second I don’t feel it too. I might be late to the party, but I’m here. And I’m not running from it anymore. I didn’t get the pleasure of taking you out on a date in my last life. Didn’t get to know you back then. But in this one… I’m not missing that chance. Not again. Aura… I love you too. Not as Mira. Not as some illusion. But as you. Always you.”

Aura reached across the table and took Rein’s hand into hers. 

“Rein… I’ve told you how I feel. But words… words aren’t enough. Not for what’s in here.” 

She pressed his hand gently against her chest, her heartbeat quick beneath his palm.

She stood, tugging him up with her. The faintest smile curved her lips.

 “Come upstairs with me. Let me show you… just how much I love you.”

Rein froze for a moment, breath caught in his throat, before he slowly nodded.

Aura led him toward the staircase as they held hands. The candlelight flickered against the walls as they disappeared together, the silence filled only with the sound of their footsteps fading into the upper floor.

And there, the door shut softly behind them.