Could it be an illusion?

Perhaps, driven by the overwhelming longing he had felt, his mind was conjuring up a hallucination.

Alec removed his mask and blinked three times, hard.

But Louise’s figure didn’t disappear.

As people fleeing passed right through her, Alec was shocked.

It seemed she was visible only to him.

Suddenly, Louise staggered as if she were in shock, about to collapse.

His heart dropped, and he swiftly used his skill to rush to her side.

“L-Louise?”

That face, the silver hair, the violet eyes, the faint fragrance.

It couldn’t be anyone but Louise.

There was only one of her in the entire world.

She stood up shakily, seemingly as stunned to see him as he was to see her.

“A-Alec?”

“How… how are you here…?”

How was this possible?

Alec couldn’t believe that Louise had somehow appeared here.

Louise scanned him, seemingly just as confused, and put a hand to her forehead.

“I think I’m dreaming. I haven’t been able to sleep well lately, so I took some medication I don’t usually take.”

“…!”

“The truth is, I was trying to die. You already died several months ago.”

“What?”

“…”

“L-Louise, you… tried to kill yourself?”

Alec was horrified by what she said.

Louise tried to die? How could that be?

He had thought she would live well after he died.

If she were free from the misery of being tied to him, surely she would be much happier without him.

The reality that he could no longer do anything for her had made him give up on life.

If he was gone, then she wouldn’t suffer more because of him, right?

But now, hearing that Louise had tried to die—he couldn’t comprehend it.

Then, what she said next was even more shocking.

“And do you know what happened? You wouldn’t believe it if you heard. Another person’s soul entered your body.”

“…!”

“I almost believed it. I thought you had barely survived, and I even believed the part about you losing your memory.”

“…”

“For months, I thought that person was you. It was surprising how much your speech changed and the strange abilities you gained, but I thought it was just because you had suddenly awakened some magic. But no, it wasn’t.”

“…”

“That person wasn’t you. Why did you die and leave me behind?”

“…!”

His eyes shook with anguish.

She gazed up at him, her expression slightly sorrowful, yet still.

Before Alec could find words, Louise lowered her head and let out a soft sigh.

“I trusted you… and you left me. I felt like I was the only one left in the world… it was unbearable.”

“…”

This was unthinkable.

Her words were even harder to believe.

Louise had chosen death because after his death, another soul had taken over his body.

He thought she would move on and live her life, even if someone else had taken his place.

He had been a terrible husband, unable to provide her with anything.

Yet, for some reason, Louise had taken sleeping pills and appeared before him.

It was something Alec could never have imagined.

Had he been wrong all this time?

“Louise.”

Alec suddenly regained his senses and called her name.

“D-Did I… really have no memories?”

“…What?”

“This can’t be…”

He ran a hand over his troubled face.

The soul that had entered his body—it had to be him from the future.

He must have won the final battle in this world and returned to his original one.

The strange powers, the magic awakening…

It had to be him.

“Then why don’t I remember?!”

His heart pounded furiously in confusion.

Whatever the case, Alec tightly gripped Louise’s arms.

“Louise.”

“…”

“P-Please, listen carefully to what I’m about to say. I-I don’t have much time.”

“…What is it?”

“Th-that person…”

“…”

“The person you saw… was me.”

“…Alec…”

“This, this isn’t your dream. I, I died and came here… as I promised, I tried to return as the perfect husband.”

“…”

“I think something must have happened in the future that caused me to lose my memories.”

Louise stared at him, her expression blank.

It was as if she couldn’t comprehend the absurdity of what he was saying.

Alec knew his words must sound like nonsense, but she had to believe him.

Suddenly, a scream echoed from a distance.

Faintly, the sound of monsters crying out followed.

It seemed a dungeon break had occurred, and Alec hurriedly spoke again.

“L-Louise. I… I have to go.”

“…!”

Louise, startled, grabbed his arm and whimpered.

“Don’t go. I’ve missed you so much. Can’t we stay together a little longer? There’s something I really need to say to you.”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Why?

Had he been such an important person to her?

It felt unfamiliar and astonishing.

Her unexpected words, filled with emotion, made his own tears well up.

He never imagined that his absence had left her feeling so lonely that she wanted to end her life.

When had he become so important to her?

Yet, for now, the most pressing matter was getting Louise back to life.

“Louise. You’re not dead yet. You need to wake up.”

He didn’t know how her soul had ended up here, but he had to send her back.

Could his magic accomplish that?

Though he wasn’t yet confident in using his powers, Alec trusted in his strength.

Even in the moment he had given up on life, his magic had created a chance he had desperately wanted.

The potential of his power was vast, beyond what he could even comprehend.

“Alec!”

Louise suddenly threw her arms around him.

Her hair flowed like a radiant wave, filling the air with a soft fragrance.

It was a scent he had longed for, yet had never dared to indulge in, and now it surrounded him like a dream.

Cautiously, Alec lifted his hands to embrace her back.

Louise buried herself entirely in his arms, as if she would disappear into him.

It felt like a dream.

He had never imagined he would get to hold her again…

After a moment of silence, Louise raised her face to look at him, and he gazed down into her eyes from a close distance.

“Is that really you? Is that man really you?”

“…”

“Then… what are you doing here? Why are you in such a terrifying place like this?”

“…”

Alec didn’t know how to answer, opening and closing his mouth.

He couldn’t tell her that he was training to become stronger than ever before.

Instead, he asked her something else.

“Louise… what kind of person was I?”

“Huh?”

“Even if I didn’t have my memories, d-did I treat you well?”

“…”

“I wanted so badly to be the perfect husband for you…”

Had his future self failed to recognize her and protect her, or worse, treated her poorly?

He couldn’t forgive himself if that had happened.

Louise gripped the hem of his clothes, staying silent for a moment.

Then, with a soft laugh and teary eyes, she spoke.

“Is that what you’re worried about?”

“…”

“I’m not perfect either. You don’t need to be. I just…”

“…”

“I just want you to be with me for a long time. That’s all I want.”

“…”

What was he hearing right now?

It felt as though a massive wave of warmth surged into his chest.

This was a feeling he had never dared to hope for.

Louise wanted him.

She wanted to be with him.

Could it be that she felt the same way as he did?

He had never expected this…

Suddenly, his heart began to race.

It was the one thing he had always wished for in life.

But he had never believed he could attain it.

Yet now, that wish was coming true before his very eyes.

As Alec stood there, stunned, Louise spoke once more.

“It didn’t matter to me that we couldn’t have children, that we couldn’t ride horses together, or that people always laughed at us…”

“…”

“You were always my precious husband.”

“…”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

“…”

Louise smiled, her tear-streaked face radiant. For a moment, Alec was blinded by her brilliance.

But when he blinked, Louise had disappeared, leaving nothing behind but the love she had filled his heart with.

“What is all this…?”

Meanwhile, Alec, overwhelmed with astonishment, couldn’t hold back his sigh as he watched these memories unfold from within Alec’s body.

Experiencing Alec’s memories firsthand, he had gone through countless shocks and revelations.

He urgently wanted to leave the memory potion and find Louise.

He needed to know what had happened to her.

But he couldn’t escape the memories yet, and the potion dragged him into yet another shocking scene.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories