The Royal Academy – Strategy Hall
Two days after the Echo Garden incident, Selene stood in the Royal Academy's Strategy Hall, crimson cloak draped over her shoulders.
Her crimson eyes scanned the war maps, but the lines blurred.
She barely remembered how she got there.
Lucien Aurelian entered the hall quietly.
No guards. No courtiers.Just him, golden cloak trailing behind.
Their eyes met across the cold marble room.
Selene's chest tightened, but she masked it well.
The Political Situation
The Kingdom of Aerthrial stood at the brink of civil war.
The Valeburne and Aurelian houses—once bonded by prophecy and love—were now standing on opposite sides.
And the Eastern Council?They were pulling the strings, feeding lies into both camps.
A Dangerous Meeting
Lucien spoke first, voice low but steady.
"We need to talk."
Selene's lips curved coldly.
"Do we?"
His golden eyes darkened.
"You may not trust me anymore, Selene—but the war won't wait for your memory to come back."
Forced Cooperation
Despite her new distrust, Selene knew the truth:
If she let go of all ties to Lucien, Aerthrial would fall into chaos.
So she agreed to meet him in secret.
No advisors. No witnesses.
Just the two of them.
A Private Room – Late Night
Selene and Lucien sat across from each other, a single candle between them.
Their hands did not touch.
Their hearts ached to.
Selene's thoughts:
Why do I still feel something for him?
If he's my enemy, why does it hurt to breathe when I look at him?
Lucien's thoughts:
She's still in there.
I just have to find her again.
Lucien's Proposal
"I want you to remember me properly," Lucien said softly.
Selene's gaze narrowed.
"Manipulation won't work."
Lucien shook his head.
"No manipulation."
He slid a small glass vial across the table.
Inside was Mirror Lotus nectar—a rare elixir that allowed two people to share memories directly for one night.
It was risky.
If the bond between them wasn't stable enough, it could backfire, shattering the mind completely.
Selene's hand hovered over the vial.
"And if this kills me?"
Lucien's golden eyes gleamed in the candlelight.
"Then I'll die too."
A Dangerous Choice
Selene stared at the vial for a long time.
Her heart wanted to believe him.
Her mind screamed don't.
But in the end, she whispered:
"…Give me your hand."
The Memory Sharing
They drank the elixir together.
The room spun.
Their souls merged for a moment, their minds crashing into shared visions.
Selene Saw:
Lucien as a child, crying alone in the cold.
Lucien standing by her bedside after the assassination attempt, whispering, "Don't die on me."
Lucien in another life, on his knees in the snow, holding her dead body.
Lucien Saw:
Selene as a little girl, staring at the stars, wishing for a life without duty.
Selene in this life, hiding her tears from everyone except Lira.
Selene in another cycle, bleeding on a throne she never wanted.
Back to the Present
Selene gasped, tears slipping down her cheeks.
Lucien reached for her hand—but hesitated.
This time, she didn't pull away.
Her fingers curled around his softly.
"Lucien," she whispered.
He swallowed hard.
"Do you remember me now?"
Selene's crimson eyes met his.
"…Not fully."
Her voice cracked.
"But I remember enough to know this hurts."
The New Pact
They sat in silence, hands entwined.
Selene whispered the first fragile step:
"Start over with me."
Lucien's throat tightened.
"I will."
This wasn't love rekindled.
It was love rebuilt from ashes.
And both of them knew—starting over wouldn't erase the tragedy that still waited for them.
But for tonight, they would try.
In the Shadows
Far away, Evelyne watched her spell threads shift.
Her smile faded slightly.
So… they're choosing to fight back again.
Her emerald eyes narrowed.
Let's see how long they last this time.