Arrival at the Kingdom of Omeron

We follow the same division as the previous vigil:

Shana and I stayed to the left of the forest;

Kairo and Cassandra remained in the center;

Koharu and Max, on the right.

Shana and I

We settled in silence. The fire crackled, casting golden reflections on her face.

— Who would have thought... just the two of us again. — he said Shana , smiling.

— Hey, don't try anything. — I replied , suspicious.

She arched an eyebrow.

"For fear that Koharu will find out? Like that time I kissed you?" he asked . Koharu ironically.

I turned my face away, embarrassed.

“How do you know she found out?” I asked.

Shana chuckled.

"I overheard your conversation that night. Sorry to intrude," Shana replied.

"The problem is, Koharu hates you so much that if you make the slightest mistake, she'll demand I kick you out of the group," I said.

She sighed.

— I see... — Shana said.

"Now, please, let's go to sleep. And stay on your futon , not mine," I said.

Shana smiled, closing her eyes.

Kairo and Cassandra

The central fire was almost out. Kairo looked at Cassandra with concern.

He took a deep breath.

"What made you feel like this… was it remembering everything or the fear of meeting Melissa?" Kairo asked.

Cassandra clenched her fist.

"I don't care about her. I hope she's dead, " Cassandra replied.

"I heard her father died of heart disease two years ago. After that, Melissa closed Magichool ," Kairo said calmly.

Cassandra let out a bitter laugh.

— Hah … so the punishment came. — Cassandra said with a smile.

— That's no laughing matter , Merechal Tostoff was a good man. He wouldn't laugh at someone's death like that. — he said Kairo .

She looked away.

"Let's go to sleep. This conversation is already giving me a headache," Cassandra said .

Kairo just nodded, sighing.

Koharu and Max

The wind swayed the leaves, drowning out low voices.

Max and Koharu sat close together, by the smaller fire. The silence between them was filled with unspoken intentions.

— Max... I still feel weird about all this. — she murmured Koharu .

He ran his hand through her hair, with a calculated smile.

—Then forget right and wrong for a moment, — Max said .

She closed her eyes.

( Fujimoto ... you should have listened to me. Now you're going to lose everything.) — thought Max, coldly.

The moonlight enveloped them in a silvery glow, and the rest was just the distant sound of the forest, the rustling of leaves, the crackling of the fire, and two shadows joining together in silence.

By sunrise, the group was back on the road. The horse trotted steadily, the cool wind blowing in our faces.

— Omeron is waiting for us — he said Kairo .

The morning sun reflected off the white walls of Omeron . The city was vast, vibrant, and filled with music , markets, fountains, and enchanted stone towers that seemed to touch the sky.

— We've finally arrived. Let's go straight to the gate of the kings' castle. — he said Kairo , guiding the cart to the main gate.

We got off, and as we walked through the streets, I realized how different that place was.

“ Everything seems so well cared for... it's as if the city itself breathes in peace.”

"The kings here must be really good," I commented , observing the flowers arranged on every corner.

We climbed the castle's grand marble staircase to the immense iron door adorned with gold crests. Kairo knocked three times.

Shortly after, a tall man in a dark suit and white gloves appeared.

"Good morning. I'm Sebastian, royal butler. What do you want?" he said in a deep voice.

"We wish to speak with the kings of Omeron ," Kairo stepped forward and said.

"And may I know why?" the butler asked impassively.

— We believe they might know someone here who knew about Ros . — he replied Kairo .

Hearing the name, Sebastian raised his eyebrows.

" Ros ? Of course I remember him. He was a great friend of the current kings. In fact, the castle dedicated a day of mourning in his honor when we learned of his death," Sebastian said .

Cassandra's eyes sparkled.

"So could we talk to them?" Cassandra said .

Sebastian made a slight gesture of regret.

"Unfortunately, I can only allow entry with the permission of the kings themselves," Sebastian explained.

Cassandra, irritated, stepped forward and grabbed the butler's collar.

"You're going to let us in now or I'll throw you down the stairs myself!" Cassandra said angrily.

— Cassandra! Stop it! — he shouted . Kairo .

Sebastian, surprised, just widened his eyes.

The guards approached quickly, and Cassandra released him angrily.

“Let’s go. This won’t help,” I said , trying to pull her away.

"I don't care. Nobles are all the same... they only open doors for those with gold." Cassandra snorted and said.

But before we turned our backs,

— Wait! — Sebastian spoke firmly.

We turned around.

"So you two are Kairo and Cassandra?" Sebastian asked.

Kairo turned pale.

"Why didn't you say so right away? You don't need permission to enter. The king and queen left orders to receive you at any time," Sebastian said , smiling.

We were surprised. Cassandra looked confused.

—Really...? — Cassandra asked.

— Yes. Please follow me. — he said , opening the doors.

The Castle of Omeron

The interior was stunning, with polished crystal floors, gilded tapestries, and windows that let in shafts of blue light. We walked in silence to a large throne room.

— Your Majesty Grinn , Kairo and Cassandra have finally come to visit you, — Sebastian announced.

A tall man with black hair and serene eyes turned toward us. King Grinn .

—Ros said you would come ... but only after her death. — he said with a slight, sad smile .

"He has an impressive presence. Even standing still, he seems to dominate the room."

“And… yes, he is quite young to be king.”

— Handsome too. — he whispered . Shana .

— (I'm going to stay with his wife.) — Max murmured , almost inaudibly.

Cassandra turned around furiously.

— Put an end to this nonsense! — said Cassandra.

Grinn laughed softly.

— She's right. — he said . Grinn .

Cassandra took a deep breath.

— You know very well why I'm here, — Cassandra said seriously.

"I know. But, Cassandra, venting hatred on your friends is not the best way to get rid of it," the king replied .

She lowered her head, embarrassed.

— I… I'm sorry, guys. — Cassandra apologized.

— It's okay. We know what you carry. — I replied .

She sighed in relief.

— Thank you. — Cassandra thanked.

Then he turned to the king again.

"Your Majesty, could you tell me what you know about my past?" Cassandra asked more calmly.

Grinn nodded, but his expression turned serious.

— I was friends with Ros , yes, but he never told me the details about his past. However… my wife, the queen, knows everything. — he replied Grinn .

Cassandra straightened her posture.

“Can I talk to her?” Cassandra asked .

The king looked at Sebastian.

"Has the queen returned yet, Sebastian?" Grinn asked.

"Not yet, Your Majesty. She went out to help the townspeople. Apparently, two farmers were fighting, and she wanted to settle it personally," the butler replied .

We were all surprised.

“A queen… personally helping commoners?” I asked , astonished.

Grinn smiled.

— She believes that to govern is to serve. I simply share her philosophy. — he replied Grinn .

Sebastian completed:

"Since Her Majesty joined the queen, the city has prospered. I've never seen anyone with such dedication," Sebastian said .

Cassandra smiled, delighted.

"Now I want to know you even more," Cassandra said with a sparkle in her eyes.

But suddenly a guard rushed in.

"Your Majesty! The queen has just returned! She… jumped over the garden wall again!" said the guard.

Koharu widened her eyes.

(This woman looks like she came out of an anime...) I thought, somewhat incredulous.

Kairo scratched his head.

Grinn covered his face with his hand.

Cassandra, however, was radiant.

"She's amazing! She helps people, she ignores protocols... I need to see her!" Cassandra said excitedly.

— Cassandra, wait! — he tried Kairo , but she was already running through the corridors.

The wind made the flowers sway gently. In the center of the garden, a woman crouched with her back turned, picking lavender petals.

Cassandra stopped, her heart racing.

"Queen of Omeron ? I'm Dolberg Cassandra. Ros 's friend . I believe you know about my past." she called hesitantly.

The woman slowly stood up and turned around.

Cassandra stood frozen. Time seemed to stand still.

— I- it can't be… — he whispered.

The woman smiled softly.

— Cassandra… it's been a while. Five years, right? I'm glad to see you.

Cassandra took a step back, horrified.

— Merechal … Melissa?!

The woman smiled sadly.

— Yes. I am the Queen of Omeron . — replied the Queen of Omeron .

The air seemed to disappear from the garden. Cassandra's gaze turned to pure hatred.

"Happy to see me? While you're a queen, I've become a thief!" she shouted .

—It's not like that, Cassandra. I want… to ask for your forgiveness. — Melissa said .

Cassandra let out a bitter laugh.

"Pardon? You, Marshal Melissa, asking a commoner for forgiveness? Are you kidding me? You think you can trick the king and steal this throne too?" Cassandra asked with hatred and irony.

Melissa sighed, her eyes welling up.

—Maybe I deserve your words. But I'm not lying, — Melissa said .

Cassandra looked at the necklace that shone around the queen's neck.

"That pendant... just like the one my mother gave me. Are you still imitating me, even in this?" Cassandra said with hatred.

Melissa started to cry.

"Enough! I can't stand to watch you pretend to be good!" Cassandra shouted .

She turned and ran out of the garden, tears streaming down her face.