“…Alright.”

“Thank you.”

His low voice was as pleasant to hear as a waltz. He firmly grasped her hand and wrapped his other arm around Lesia’s waist.

The moment his fingertips touched her waist, Lesia experienced a dizzying sensation like being struck by lightning.

“Slowly… just follow my movements.”

The man moved his feet slowly, teaching her step by step like he knew Lesia couldn’t dance. Thanks to this, Lesia was able to roughly follow the waltz steps.

Joining the dancing crowd, Lesia held the man’s hand and spun around and around. Her dress spread wide, bringing an ecstatic feeling like stepping on the night sky.

Lesia moved as he led, stealing glances up at his face. His thick neck and sharp jawline, properly closed lips and a high nose bridge visible below the half-mask. And…

“…Ruby.”

At Lesia’s single word, the man’s movements stopped abruptly. Before Lesia could sense anything strange, she stared at his red eyes like someone bewitched.

The moment she saw those bright red pupils, Lesia recalled the beautiful red gem Grandma Lulu had spoken of. If she ever saw a ruby, it would look exactly like…

—I found the ruby.

—You mustn’t be bewitched by ruby’s beauty.

—Ruby isn’t as beautiful as you think, child. If ruby covets you, run away.

“Ugh…”

With the hallucination came a rushing headache, and Lesia clutched her head and staggered.

“Le… Lesia?”

Just as the man approached in surprise at Lesia’s condition…

Pop.

The lights went out and darkness fell around them. Lesia pushed away the approaching man and began running frantically off the stage.

“Lesia!”

She heard him shouting. How does that man know my name?

She didn’t even have the presence of mind to be suspicious. Lesia just ran blindly wherever her feet took her.

Unknown memories flooded endlessly into her mind like someone was forcing them in.

—The one who ordered the village burned, the villagers killed, and our mother murdered. That was the Grand Duke.

—I’ll curse you.

—I will help you get your revenge, Miss Lesia.

—Just like your existence became a curse to me, I hope my existence remains a curse to you.

—It seems my fiancée got lost trying to find me. I’ll speak with you again later.

—I’ll change my words. Lesia, go anywhere you want freely. If you want to leave, you can leave. If you want to meet someone, you can meet them.

—I love you.

—Cesar.

The memories that had rushed in chaotically and messily torn through her head finally arranged themselves in order.

“Huff, gasp…”

The moment she reached the end of her memories, Lesia’s steps also stopped abruptly. A beautiful lake spread before her eyes.

“This place…”

How was I able to come all the way here? That was the moment.

“…Lesia.”

At the low voice from behind her, Lesia whipped her head around. The man wearing the blue half-mask.

That man had followed Lesia. He approached her carefully.

The closer he came, the more vivid his red eyes behind the mask and his jet-black hair became. Finally, when he stood before her, Lesia struggled to raise her hand and removed his mask.

The moment she saw his fully revealed face, Lesia bit down hard.

“…Cesar.”

Why hadn’t she known? Who the owner of the voice that had circled around her from the moment she woke until now was.

Who the owner of those ruby-like beautiful red eyes was. Who she had been living while forgetting…

“How… do you remember me?”

“I never forgot you for even a moment, Lesia.”

His hand circled around Lesia’s ear and with a flick, removed her mask. Lesia’s tear-stained face was fully revealed before him.

Cesar flinched at the sight of crying Lesia and carefully wiped around her eyes.

“Until I could gain complete power to protect you, I’ve been waiting only for this day.”

Now all her questions were answered. Why he had been especially devoted to the Flora Village people, and how he had known about her.

How long had he been watching over her alone, keeping his memories intact? Imagining that loneliness made her heart ache terribly.

At the same time, guilt for having forgotten him washed over her.

“I forgot you…”

Then, like he knew what she would say, Cesar smiled faintly and shook his head.

“It’s okay. It’s okay, Lesia. I remember you. That’s enough.”

So please don’t cry. Cesar pulled Lesia into his arms and whispered desperately.

But those words only made Lesia’s tears pour out more.

“Oh no…”

He laughed like he was troubled and pulled something from his embrace.

“It’s late, but happy birthday, Lesia.”

Lesia looked at what he had taken out with eyes swollen and watery from tears. It was a small square box.

Supporting the box with one hand, the moment he opened the lid, Lesia burst out in admiration. Inside was a ring set with sapphire and ruby.

Lesia, seeing both sapphire and ruby for the first time, just blinked and stared at the ring. The ruby was especially beautiful.

And finally she could be certain. Cesar’s eyes really were like rubies.

“Would you extend your hand, my lady?”

He requested in the polite tone tinged with slight amusement, like when he wore the half-mask and pretended not to know her. Lesia stared blankly at the ring and Cesar, then extended her right hand like someone bewitched.

Her white, slender hand was placed on top of Cesar’s large hand. Cesar, who had taken the ring from the box, knelt on one knee and very carefully slipped the ring onto her ring finger.

Like it had been made to measure, the ring fit her hand perfectly. The moment the ring slid into place, Lesia’s heart thumped.

“Thank goodness, it suits you well.”

Cesar looked up at her with a smile in his eyes.

Thump thump. Looking at that face, Lesia felt her heart racing wildly.

Whether he knew Lesia’s condition or not, Cesar still met her eyes directly and spoke.

“Lesia.”

“…”

“I’ll make you happier than anyone in the world, even if I have to stake everything I have.”

“…”

His gentle voice rode the wind across the lake and wrapped around Lesia. Lesia felt somehow like she was dreaming, looking at Cesar with hazy eyes.

Lesia carefully etched Cesar’s appearance into her eyes. This was the first face she was meeting in this changed world.

She didn’t want to miss even a single strand of hair.

“If your hatred toward me hasn’t disappeared yet.”

“…Cesar.”

“I’ll accept even that hatred gladly, Lesia.”

“…”

“Stay by my side.”

What masqueraded as a confession was above all else a desperate longing. His pupils were shaking unsteadily like a sea meeting a storm.

What if Lesia rejected him? What if she tried to run away from him?

Even so, since he couldn’t let her go, all he could do was cling to her.

“Cesar…”

She looked at such a Cesar with a strange expression and moved her lips.

“…The Reilat power is the power to achieve what you desperately wish for.”

“…”

“Remember? What I said to you in the Tower of Atonement.”

“…Yeah, I remember.”

How could he not?

—Just like your existence became a curse to me, I hope my existence remains a curse to you.

It was a moment he couldn’t forget until the day he died, even after death. He had no intention of resenting that moment.

It was only natural for Lesia to resent him for destroying everything she had. But…

“In the end, my wish didn’t come true.”

Lesia’s gaze gradually lowered. Lesia, who had bent her knees to meet his eyes, smiled brightly.

“In the end, I couldn’t even hate you.”

“…”

“Cesar.”

“…Yeah.”

“I love you.”

“…”

“I should hate you, but I love you so much I can’t even hate you.”

“…Lesia.”

“So…”

Lesia gradually drew closer. When she embraced him, Cesar’s arms wrapped around her back and waist.

Without either taking the lead, their lips met. Lesia’s tears overflowed again and dripped down.

Cesar, who had briefly parted their lips, pressed his lips against her eyes. Lesia reflexively closed her eyes.

Soon, at the tickling sensation that approached, Lesia let out soft laughter, and Cesar smiled back at her. However, the moment Cesar’s hand cradled Lesia’s head, the two came together again like catching fire.

This moment was so happy it brought tears, making her wish this night would never end. Finally, Lesia pulled away and spoke with heated breath.

“So… thank you for not forgetting me.”

At those shy words filled with moisture, Cesar smiled faintly.

“Well, that’s only natural.”

How could I forget you? At those words, Lesia also smiled back at him.

Burying her head in Cesar’s embrace, Lesia murmured.

“We’ve come full circle back here after all.”

They had truly come a long way back. It hadn’t been an easy path.

Most of the moments had been filled with hatred, anger, and pain. But if this was the conclusion of those moments, she could repeat it several more times.

Lesia thought so. Cesar, who held her tightly afraid of losing her, whispered.

“I’ll never let you go again, Lesia.”

At those words that even felt somewhat obsessive, Lesia smiled softly and wrapped her arms around his neck. Naturally, Cesar’s head lowered, and Lesia closed her eyes.

“Me too…”

If she were to express this ecstatic moment in words. It was both an ending and a beginning.

fin.