His appearance was slightly different.

“Elisa!”

When the man spread his arms wide, a woman appeared from somewhere and ran into his embrace, hugging him tightly. Soon she lifted her head and smiled at the man with her eyes.

“Luke.”

Pure white hair and blue eyes. A woman who suited the white flower field and brilliant sunlight perfectly.

Lesia could sense it instinctively. That woman was a Reilat.

It wasn’t just because of her appearance. It was because of the blue butterflies flying around her.

They were butterflies Lesia had already seen before.

‘Where exactly is this place?’

She still hadn’t fully grasped the situation when the woman called Elisa and the man called Luke moved closer together. At a distance close enough for their breaths to touch, the two shared intimate words.

“I missed you.”

“Me too.”

“Tsk, yet someone like that doesn’t even come to Callista?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Hmm, what should I do? Should I forgive you, or not…!”

The woman’s playfully murmuring lips were soon blocked by the man’s approaching lips. The woman, who had opened her eyes wide in surprise, soon lowered her eyelids gently like a butterfly’s wing beat and savored their time together.

The wind blew diagonally and pure white petals fluttered around the two like snow. Lesia’s face turned bright red, feeling like she had witnessed an intimate scene she shouldn’t have seen, and she quickly covered her eyes with both hands.

All the while, she kept repeating the name ‘Luke’ that the woman had called out.

Luke… Luke…

It was a name that seemed familiar somehow.

That’s when it happened.

“Luke Velius! You skipped the meeting again and came here…”

A man who appeared cutting through the white flower field passed by Lesia and reached the two people. He was a young man with striking golden hair like the sun.

He appeared with an annoyed expression, but later stiffened in surprise when he saw the woman with Luke. Elisa smiled brightly and greeted him.

“It’s been a while, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“Oh, yes. Elisa Reilat. I didn’t know you were here too…”

Then the golden-haired man seemed to remember something and narrowed his eyes at Luke.

“I wondered why you didn’t attend the meeting, and it was because of Elisa?”

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

When Luke simply bowed his head without much to say, the golden-haired man narrowed his eyes with displeasure.

“What’s with this ‘Your Majesty’ between us? If you keep doing that, should I start calling you Grand Duke Velius every time?”

At the man’s half-joking threat, Luke smiled lightly and nodded.

“Alright, Harn.”

Only then did the golden-haired man called Harn nod with satisfaction and change his expression.

“I don’t want to interrupt your reunion with Elisa, but I have something to discuss. Could you spare some time?”

At his serious demeanor, Luke also became serious and looked at Elisa. She smiled softly and spoke first.

“Don’t mind me and have your conversation.”

“Thank you, Elisa really is kind.”

“It won’t take long. You can be anywhere in the meantime. If you want something to drink or eat…”

“Oh my, Luke! Am I a child? I know Velius Castle better than you do. So don’t worry and go. I’ll wait here without going anywhere.”

When Elisa patted her chest confidently, a loving smile spread across Luke’s lips. And before she knew it, he left a light peck on her lips.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Mm…”

Because she was so pure white, her reddened lips and cheeks stood out even more. While Elisa touched her lips and savored the lingering feeling, Harn and Luke crossed the white flower field and entered the castle.

Elisa just stared blankly at the two men’s retreating figures.

Wondering which of the two she should follow, Lesia hurriedly followed Luke. All the while, she pondered the names that Elisa and Harn had mentioned.

‘Luke Velius…’

She had thought it was a familiar name somehow. Only after seeing the reception room door the two had entered did Lesia recall the identity of that name.

‘The first Grand Duke Velius.’

Even if she didn’t know all the names of the previous Grand Dukes of Velius, anyone living in Velius territory couldn’t not know the name of the first Grand Duke Velius. The figure who defeated the eastern continent barbarians alongside the Emperor and unified the western continent to establish the empire.

The founding hero, Luke Velius.

‘Then is the golden-haired man the first Emperor?’

From the circumstances, it seemed almost certain.

‘Where exactly is this place…’

Why was she seeing the first Grand Duke Velius and the Emperor? 

‘Elisa Reilat…’

The Reilat energy remaining on Velius’s divine sword might be related to Elisa Reilat.

‘Did Cesar see these memories too?’

She had a strange conviction that if she reached the end of these memories, she might be able to meet Cesar again.

Luke and Harn sat facing each other with serious expressions. Without Elisa, Luke exuded a more ruthless and intimidating atmosphere than anyone.

Harn was the first to speak.

“The eastern continent’s momentum is unusual. News came from spies that they’re gathering troops.”

“…They must be very displeased with the western continent’s unification.”

Luke’s expression darkened.

Even Lesia, who lacked education, knew what the era was like then. The first Emperor and the first Grand Duke Velius had unified the separate western continent nations into one country, binding them together under the name Aker Empire.

However, the eastern continent’s unification had occurred before the western continent’s unification. In the eyes of the eastern continent empire, which enjoyed tremendous power as a unified massive nation, the newly unified western continent couldn’t help but look displeasing.

‘That’s why the eastern and western continents still don’t get along well…’

Flora Village in Velius territory was at the northernmost tip of Velius territory, close to the eastern continent border, so she had heard many stories from adults since childhood. When she only heard about it, it seemed like just an old tale, but seeing it directly made the seriousness more apparent.

“At this rate, war will break out. But Luke, as you know…”

At Harn’s words, Luke let out a heavy voice.

“If continental war breaks out when we haven’t even fully solidified our internal foundation, the nation we worked so hard to unify will completely scatter.”

Harn and Luke had unified the nation through the force of conquest wars and promises of feudal positions. That meant not everyone had sworn loyalty to the Emperor.

Anyone could strike from behind at any time, so they had to be extremely careful. If continental war occurred at such a time, there was a very high possibility of internal attacks taking advantage of military forces being concentrated externally.

Therefore, war must not occur until the empire stabilized.

“The eastern continent is probably targeting that and coming forward confidently.”

Harn, who was muttering while holding his forehead, looked at Luke with a strange gaze.

“That’s why…”

Harn carefully opened his mouth.

“The eastern continent empire proposed alliance negotiations.”

“Alliance negotiations? This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

Luke’s expression hardened openly. An alliance negotiation proposal from the eastern continent.

Such a major matter not being conveyed to him was not something to simply overlook. Then Harn quickly waved his hands, telling him not to misunderstand.

“Don’t misunderstand. The reason I couldn’t tell you is… phew.”

When Harn couldn’t speak and only let out a deep sigh, Luke’s expression changed strangely. Eventually, Harn revealed the hidden story like a sigh.

“The alliance the eastern continent proposed. It’s a marriage alliance. They want to send their princess.”

“The princess…?”

“But more than anything, the partner the eastern continent wanted was the Grand Duke Velius. That’s you.”

At his words, shock spread across Luke’s face.

“Why, why me?”

“You’re the second most powerful person after the imperial family, and the princess apparently wanted you. We tried negotiating other options, but they wouldn’t budge an inch.”

“…”

“But you have Elisa. How could I tell you this fact?”

Luke’s expression became so pale that even Lesia watching felt her heart sink.

“…I understand. I need time to think.”

“Yes, of course. I’ll be going now, so think it over carefully. I’ll respect my one and only friend’s choice.”

Even after Harn left after finishing his business, Luke remained frozen like a statue, unable to move. Perhaps because his appearance was particularly similar to Cesar’s.

Even Lesia’s heart ached.

Lesia tried reaching toward his shoulder, but her translucent body just passed through Luke. After sitting for a long while, Luke suddenly jumped up and quickly left the reception room.

Lesia hurriedly followed him, afraid she might lose him.

The place he headed to was a glass greenhouse prepared inside Velius Castle. Through the transparent glass greenhouse where sunlight shattered, she could see Elisa taking a nap.

“…”

Luke looked at her with an unreadable gaze, then soon entered the greenhouse and knelt before her. He left a deep kiss on her drooping pure white hand.

“Mm.”

At the tickling sensation on her skin, Elisa slowly opened her eyes.

“Ah… Luke?”

“Yes, did I wake you?”

“That’s right, you woke me up.”

She smiled like a child and suddenly lowered her head.

“This is punishment for waking me from my sweet sleep.”

Her lips met Luke’s lips. It seemed like she planned to lightly touch and pull away, but Luke soon trapped her in his arms and pressed their bodies together.

“Mm…”

The lovers’ deep kiss continued.

But Lesia, watching from the side, could tell. Unlike Elisa, who was sharing body warmth and smiling, how sad an expression Luke was making.

And Lesia, who knew the future, finally squeezed her eyes shut.

She hated stories like this.