The road back north was quieter than she had expected. As if heralding the arrival of autumn, a cool breeze blew through trees displaying every shade of color.

Traces of the war were still evident in the villages they passed through, but thankfully, far more towns had opened their gates to the Northern Army of their own accord than had been devastated by the Imperial Forces. Those who had suffered through the conflict were already beginning to reclaim their daily routines.

Inside the ducal carriage, which sped onward without pause, Selonia stared out of the window in silence, lost in thought.

Only a few days earlier, alongside Elina’s declaration recognizing the North’s independence, a flood of complex diplomatic documents and agreements had been exchanged. The ducal territory had now been formally elevated to a grand duchy.

There would be countless matters demanding her attention the moment they returned to Serdin Castle, but the thought of the northern people’s joy at finally seeing their long-held wish fulfilled made even the mountain of work ahead worthwhile.

She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the feel of the wind brushing softly against her cheek.

Trying to remember what she had been doing at this time in her previous life, Selonia narrowed her eyes for a moment before giving a soft, sheepish smile. The memories from before her regression already felt distant, as though they belonged to a past life.

The realization that everything was finally over filled her with a strange, gentle calm. She was certain that the version of herself bound to that former life had ended here.

Still lost in thought, she turned her head abruptly when the man sitting next to her brushed her hand gently and spoke.

“We can see Serdin Castle now.”

As the majestic grey walls of the castle came into view in the distance, Selonia felt her lips curl upwards of their own accord. It felt as though she had returned home.

Come to think of it, Muneme’s prophecy had come true after all.

“One shall appear who will save the persecuted clan. Granted time turned back, she will reclaim her power and advance against the flow, returning to the origin. Awakened sisters will help her, and at last, by the sword of a knight who has repented, evil shall be destroyed.”

Having travelled back in time, she could now use magic freely. She had arrived in the North, the birthplace of witches. There, she had received their aid and, together with Kailos, overthrown the imperial family and the Grand Temple that had once killed her.

Letting out a soft sound of wonder at the thought, Selonia felt Kailos gently turn her face until their eyes met.

“What are you thinking about so intently, Selonia?”

“Muneme’s prophecy—the one I mentioned before. It all came true.”

“…Ah.”

Only then did Kailos recall it as well, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. He cupped Selonia’s cheek, kissed her softly, and whispered,

“I think there was one thing missing from that prophecy.”

“Something missing?”

“That it didn’t just save the persecuted clan—it saved me, too.”

“….”

Whenever he spoke to her in that teasing, intimate tone, she never knew where to look. Seeing Selonia’s ears turn red, Kailos let out a low chuckle and kissed her again.

They didn’t stop kissing until the carriage arrived at Serdin Castle.

***

Just as she had expected, the busy days continued without pause.

Post-war arrangements had to be made throughout the former ducal territory; rewards had to be granted to those who had distinguished themselves; titles had to be revised to suit the newly independent Grand Duchy; and Serdin Castle itself had to be restored. The work seemed endless.

Selonia, too, found herself completely overwhelmed. With the castle’s renovations to oversee, internal administration to manage and a newly established institute of magical education to take charge of, she barely had time to catch her breath. By the time she finally reached her bedroom at the end of each long day, she was so exhausted that she would often fall asleep without realizing when Kailos had come in.

Aside from the brief moments just after waking or during meals, there was little opportunity for them to talk. This was regrettable, but she comforted herself with the thought that once the frantic pace finally slowed, they would be able to spend time together again, just as they had before.

“I don’t know how much longer I’m supposed to keep calling you Lady Selonia.”

“What do you mean by that, Joanna?”

Selonia looked at Joanna, having heard her grievance-filled voice, while she was in the middle of choosing fabric for the curtains that would be hung along the walls in preparation for winter.

“I mean—His Grace has already become Your Grace, and I’ve even been promoted to a maid of the grand ducal castle! But you’re still just Lady Selonia.”

“……”

“I want to call you Her Highness already! Why on earth is His Grace being so unbearably slow about it?!”

Selonia could only roll her eyes helplessly; she was unable to find an answer. She was afraid of what Joanna might say if she admitted that it had been her who suggested postponing the engagement ceremony.

“For now, we should focus on the upcoming coronation. Joanna, how about this fabric?”

She hastily changed the subject to divert Joanna’s attention. Fortunately, it worked. Joanna soon began rummaging through the fabrics and launched into an animated discussion about which materials would provide the best insulation against the cold.

After selecting curtains and tapestries, reviewing the tableware and furnishings for the coronation, and going over the construction plans for the mage tower to be built in the former ducal territory, Selonia was exhausted. When she finally glanced out of the window, she saw that the sun was already sinking low, staining the sky with a deep crimson glow.

Sitting all day had left her body feeling stiff. She laced her fingers together and stretched her arms forward with a soft groan. Just then, she heard a knock on the door and turned her head.

When Kailos opened the door and stepped inside, Selonia broke into a bright smile and rose from her seat.

“You’re done early today.”

Kailos nodded, the corners of his mouth curving upwards. He extended a hand towards her and gestured towards the door with a tilt of his head.

“It’s been a while since we took a walk together.”

“Sure.”

Her body already felt heavy, so the timing was perfect. Selonia readily agreed, took his hand, and followed him out into the garden.

Bathed in the fading glow of the sunset, the garden was tinted a deep shade of red. The air, warmed throughout the day, was slowly cooling, carrying with it the crisp scent of grass. Kailos and Selonia walked side by side beneath the long shadows cast by the evening light.

“I’m starting to worry you’re pushing yourself too hard. I’d hate for your health to suffer.”

Kailos, who had been quietly listening as Selonia chattered about her day, wrapped an arm around her waist as he spoke.

“Helga and Joanna take good care of me. Compared to you, I’m hardly that busy.”

Selonia shrugged and smiled as if she meant it. Once the coronation was over next month, they would have far more time to spend together.

Still, Kailos seemed unusually quiet today. He had never been especially talkative to begin with, but Selonia noticed that he looked almost tense and a flicker of concern crossed her face.

‘Nothing’s wrong… right?’

She stole a sideways glance at him as they took a few more steps forward. Just as they reached the center of the hedge maze, Kailos stopped suddenly.

Had these beautiful, magical lights always been here, illuminating the air?

As Selonia tried to remember, her breath caught in her throat when Kailos dropped abruptly to one knee. She clapped a hand over her mouth in shock.

“Kailos?”

Without saying a word, Kailos looked up at Selonia and held out a small box. As she slowly opened it, Selonia saw what was inside and her eyes widened further still.

A ring set with a blue sapphire, identical in color to her eyes, caught the glow of the magical lights and shimmered brilliantly.

“Come to think of it, I realized I’ve never truly proposed to you.”

Despite the casual tone of his voice, his violet eyes shone with unmistakable earnestness as he looked up at her.

“Selonia. From the moment we first met, there has never been a single day when I did not love you.”

“Kailos…”

“At the coronation, I want you by my side as my consort. Please become my first—and my forever.”

She had never expected him to propose so suddenly. She was left speechless by the shock for a moment. But as the surprise faded, another emotion swiftly took its place.

Tears welled in her sky-blue eyes.

With trembling fingers, she slowly held out her hand. The blue sapphire ring, which matched her eyes perfectly, slid onto her slender finger.

Overwhelmed, she reached for him, almost leaping into his arms. Her voice quivered as she finally spoke the words she had only ever repeated in her heart, never daring to say them aloud.

“I love you.”

Tears spilled from her eyes, curving into deep crescents. In response to her confession, Kailos’s face lit up with a radiant smile, as though he had gained the whole world.

“What did you say…? Selonia. Please say it one more time.”

“I love you, Kailos.”

She answered clearly, cupping his cheek as he lifted her effortlessly into his arms. His violet eyes trembled for a moment and then tears of joy escaped him.

Beneath the softly glowing magic lights, the lips of the lovers — who had endured every trial to finally find love — met in a gentle, shining kiss.

Only once he had carried them to this future did the remnants of the time that had been turned back finally vanish without a trace.

The story had come to an end, but their time together had only just begun.

— The End —