He heard her quietly swallowing her tears. He remembered hearing a similar sound somewhere. It resembled the sigh that a baron, who had been imprisoned on false charges, had let out after completing his long prison sentence and stepping outside.

“Though I don’t know if that bastard will accept this proposal.”

Even after saying it, he knew the possibility of him refusing was close to zero. Though it felt awful, Caesar Adrian was loving her with a patience that was on another level compared to his own.

Not having heard news of Estelle, he must be busy preparing for war right now. Let him worry a bit. He planned to keep her life or death secret until Estelle left the imperial palace. A petty spite for taking away the only person he had ever loved.

* * *

On the day Estelle left the imperial palace, there were no maids, servants, knights, or any attendants to escort her. All Lexion had prepared was a brown-haired horse, not even a carriage.

But for her, that was actually more comfortable. It meant there would be no watchers to serve as Lexion’s eyes and ears.

Complete freedom. There was truly no hidden meaning in what he had said.

However, Estelle rode her horse breathlessly. Though she knew better, she feared he might change his mind and send someone after her.

Gardens cultivated in various colors, fountains spraying sparkling water, people moving between them—everything looked peaceful. But Estelle kicked the horse’s sides to increase speed as if the place were a terrible battlefield.

As the crown princess, who had been secluded, passed by in simple attire, stares followed her as if they had seen a ghost, but Estelle, filled with longing for freedom, urged her horse roughly as if she saw nothing.

The imperial palace’s colorful scenery brushed past her, growing smaller. After passing the trees that stood along the road like natural boundaries, and leaving behind the row of goddess statues, the massive palace gates came into view.

Perhaps under Lexion’s orders, the guards opened the gates quickly even before Estelle arrived.

Only after completely leaving the imperial palace and riding for quite some time did Estelle stop her horse and look back.

“It’s really… true……”

Estelle murmured, brushing back her hair fluttering in the wind. She had truly escaped that insufferable place. What if this was a dream…… Estelle pinched her thigh hard. Who knew this pain could bring such joy.

From a distance, the imperial palace looked majestic and beautiful like a painting. The towering spires still reached toward the sky, and the gold-plated roofs gleamed brilliantly, reflecting the sunlight.

Once, she had looked at that place and dreamed. A dream full of hope and excitement.

There had been a woman who entered the imperial palace with blushing cheeks and a pounding heart. The image of herself, who had always worn a joyful smile because everything flowed according to her wishes through the goddess’s grace, appeared vividly.

Poor Estelle Arcis…… Estelle mourned her past life while recalling that time that would never return.

The land where the goddess’s energy had disappeared remained peaceful as if it had always been so. Estelle was grateful that she had become an ordinary human again now that all holy power had left her. The person she was now was completely different from her simple past.

What answer had God truly wanted from her?

Why, among so many people, had the saintess’s energy dwelled within her?

Why had she been thrown into such a life?

Though many questions arose, Estelle straightened the reins and stopped thinking. There was something more important than pondering these answers. She needed to meet him right away. The person so precious that she wouldn’t hesitate to throw away her life for him.

More valuable than anything else, a being that could not be replaced by anything.

Estelle left her position with a relieved expression.

Where she had momentarily paused, flower petals that had blown from somewhere fluttered down, taking her place, then danced away again on the gentle spring breeze.

* * *

Caesar, inside the tent, had his eyes fixed on the map. While preparations to attack the imperial palace were in full swing, key figures of the knights stood around him. The commander-in-chief added his gaze to the map his lord was examining with a serious expression. The strategy officer, holding a quill pen in one hand, pointed to specific locations while explaining tactics without pause.

After listening carefully, Caesar pointed to an important spot on the map with his finger.

“I think we need to make a frontal *ssault here.”

Despite facing forces several times larger, his tone was full of determination rather than intimidation.

“It may seem reckless, but we can handle it. We’ve fought countless battles against monsters daily, while they are merely frail rabble with only numbers on their side.”

“I also agree with Your Highness’s opinion. And it might be good to sound out the lords who have been dissatisfied with the imperial family. It won’t be tremendous help, but at least it could prevent major casualties during our advance.”

“As it happens, some lords have already sent letters saying they will follow Your Highness’s will. Though they can’t openly support Your Highness, they say they will secretly clear the way and surrender—”

“Your Highness—!”

At that moment, the tent door opened and a scout entered urgently. After hearing the news from the scout, Caesar hesitated momentarily, then left the tent with an incredulous expression, pushing aside the curtain. Looking around like a madman, he fixed his gaze in one direction with an expression as if his breath had stopped.

In the direction Caesar was looking, there was a woman dismounting from a horse with the help of a soldier. She looked exactly as she did in his memory. Softly fluttering silver hair, eyes more beautiful than any jewel, a smile that brightened everything around her.

Estelle…… Though the love he had searched for so desperately had arrived, Caesar only stared at her like a petrified man.

Was he dreaming…… Was what he was seeing now real…? His mind seemed to go blank and freeze. He was afraid to take a step, fearing this miraculous moment might shatter.

If this is just an illusion I’m seeing because I miss you so much…

Crushed by such fears, Caesar could only gaze endlessly at her as she approached him with elegant steps.

But as Estelle became clearer, as the sun illuminated her more brightly, it reminded him that this was reality.

“Caesar.”

When Estelle’s gentle voice rang out close by, Caesar finally realized that all of this wasn’t a dream. The image of her before his eyes blurred again. Tears that he couldn’t suppress due to joy, relief, and the overwhelming emotion after a long wait obscured his vision.

“Es…telle……”

Toward Caesar, who could barely speak, Estelle smiled as she gently took his hand.

“Why are you reacting like that, aren’t you happy to see me?”

As a tear streamed down his cheek and fell, Caesar embraced her with all his might.

Estelle, resting her face against his broad chest, finally regained complete peace. Though she had much to tell him, right now she just wanted to feel this warm temperature.

“I thought I was going crazy……”

Caesar whispered, sobbing. Unable to receive news of her from the imperial palace, he couldn’t live with a sound mind.

“This is… the first time I’ve been so scared.”

Had she left this world, had she become someone he could never see again—he had felt a fear that made his insides burn and his soul feel like it was being torn apart.

Caesar cradled Estelle’s cheeks with careful hands. Looking up at his wet eyes, Estelle smiled mischievously.

“I was worried about you.”

“Never… ever… think of leaving me like that again.”

Caesar said pleadingly, his face contorting as if overcome with sadness. The form didn’t matter. Any place without her was hell to him.

“Caesar……”

Though the man didn’t suit tears at all, Estelle couldn’t help but smile as he cried like a child. She stroked his trembling hand and looked at him with affectionate eyes.

Perhaps all the numerous regressions she had endured were God’s arrangement to meet this lovely lover.

That she had repeated countless deaths to meet this person. That her death was a blessing to embrace this complete love.

“I love you.”

What other language could express her current emotions instead of saying I love you?

Caesar let out a short groan and lowered his head. Estelle willingly accepted his breath and embraced his firm neck.

They shared a desperate and passionate kiss, equal to the time they had longed for each other.

It was a brilliant and warm spring day when she finally grasped the edge of happiness that had been beyond her reach.

(May My Death Be a Blessing to You FIN.)