(Night — Velmoria Streets)
For one fragile moment—
Eyan just stood there.
After hours of searching… fear tightening around his chest like a vice…
She was finally in front of him.
"…Eva…" His voice came out rough, almost disbelieving.
But the moment their eyes met—
Eva's expression shook.
And she turned—
And ran.
"EVA!"
Eyan lunged forward immediately, boots striking hard against the stone as he chased after her.
"Eva, STOP! Listen to me first—!"
But she didn't slow down.
Her figure darted through the dimly lit street, her dress gathered in her hands, her steps quick—too quick.
Eyan's heart dropped.
"YOU'RE PREGNANT!" he shouted, panic rising in his voice. "Eva, don't run like this—you'll hurt yourself!"
Still—
She kept running.
Through narrow streets.
Past startled pedestrians.
Turning corners without hesitation.
Eyan followed, his breath growing heavier with each passing second.
"Eva, please!" he called again, his voice cracking slightly. "Just stop for a moment—let me talk to you!"
No response.
She didn't even look back.
Eyan pushed himself harder, trying to close the distance—
But failed.
Again.
"…How are you still faster than me?!" he muttered in disbelief, nearly losing his breath.
He couldn't catch her.
"Eva!" he called again, voice strained. "If you don't stop, I swear I'll—"
He cut himself off—
Then suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs—
"THE BABY—!"
Eva's steps faltered.
Eyan seized the moment, his voice breaking with urgency—
"I WANT THIS BABY!" he shouted, raw and desperate. "DO YOU HEAR ME?! WE'RE HAVING THIS CHILD—SO STOP RUNNING AWAY FROM ME!"
Silence fell.
Eva slowly stopped.
Her back still turned to him.
"…What did you say…?" her voice came out soft, trembling.
Eyan finally stopped too, chest rising and falling heavily.
He took a step closer—slowly, carefully.
"Eva… you misunderstood everything," he said, his tone gentler now, but still shaken. "I wasn't taking you to the physician to remove the child."
Another step.
"I was taking you there for a check-up… to make sure you and the baby are safe."
Eva turned slowly.
Her eyes searched his face—desperate, uncertain.
"…Really?"
Eyan nodded immediately.
"Yes," he said firmly. "I would never do that to you… or to our child."
His voice softened, almost pleading now.
"So please… don't run away from me anymore."
He stepped closer again.
"Stay with me… let me take care of you… both of you."
Eva's lips trembled. Her eyes filled—then overflowed.
"Honey…"
And suddenly—
She ran again.
But this time—
Straight into him.
She crashed into his chest, clinging to him tightly as if she might fall apart.
Eyan froze for a heartbeat—
Then wrapped his arms around her just as tightly.
"I thought…" Eva cried against him, her voice breaking. "I thought you were going to take my baby away from me…"
Eyan closed his eyes, holding her like she was something fragile.
"Never," he whispered, his voice low and certain. "I would never do that…."
Eyan's hand slid gently to the back of her head, he buried his face into her shoulder, his grip tightening for a moment—
All the tension… the fear… the panic that had been choking him the entire day—It slowly drained away.
His breath steadied.
"…I finally found you…" he whispered, almost to himself.
Eva held onto him just as tightly, her fingers clutching his clothes, afraid to let go.
From the shadows nearby—
A figure stood watching.
Leo.
A wide, satisfied smile spread across his face as he watched his parents.
"…I told you, didn't I, Mother?" he murmured softly to himself. "You'll be fine…."
He took a step forward, excitement flickering in his eyes.
"…Now then," he said under his breath, straightening slightly. "Time to greet Father."
But—
The moment he tried to move further his body froze.
"…Ah."
He blinked. Then tried again.
Nothing.
"…I can't move?" he muttered, then let out a small, resigned laugh. "Looks like… my time is up already."
He glanced once more at Eyan and Eva still holding each other.
Leo's smile softened.
"…I really wanted to meet you, Father," he said quietly, almost regretful. "…Well… it can't be helped."
A glowing teleportation circle appeared beneath his feet.
"…Take care, both of you," he whispered.
And the next moment—
He vanished.
(Different Timeline — Royal Palace of Velmoria)
A teleportation circle flared open in a quiet corridor—
And Leo stepped out.
He adjusted his posture casually, as if nothing unusual had happened.
A nearby servant spotted him and immediately bowed deeply.
"Y-Your Majest—"
"Shhhh."
Leo quickly placed a finger over his lips, eyes narrowing playfully.
"Not so loud," he whispered.
The servant froze, nodding nervously.
Leo grinned and tiptoed forward, clearly trying to sneak away.
But—
A voice echoed from behind him.
Calm.
Knowing.
"You really think you can hide from me, Leo?"
Leo froze mid-step.
"…Ah."
Slowly—
Very slowly—
He turned around.
An awkward smile stretched across his face as he bowed politely.
"Greetings, Goddess Liora," he said, trying to sound composed. "What a pleasant surprise to see you here…"
Liora stared at him, unimpressed.
"Don't try to charm your way out of this," she said coolly. "After everything I told you… you still crossed the timeline again, didn't you?"
Leo scratched his cheek sheepishly.
"…I sincerely apologize, Goddess," he said with a small, guilty smile. "I just… wanted to check on Mother. I needed to see if she was alright."
Liora crossed her arms.
"And?" she asked. "You saw it for yourself, didn't you? Your mother is fine now. She has regained her memories… everything is as it should be."
Leo's expression softened.
"Yes," he said quietly, a genuine smile appearing.
Liora let out a breath.
"Then it's time for your punishment," she said firmly. "For the next six months… you will not be able to use any of your magic."
Leo didn't even flinch.
Instead—
He smiled.
"…Alright," he said simply. "I understand."
Liora narrowed her eyes at him.
"…You always accept it so easily," she muttered. "Tell me, child… why do you keep doing this? Every six months, the moment your powers return—you cross the timeline again… only to lose them once more."
Leo looked down for a moment.
Then answered softly—
"…Because she was alone," he said. "Mother had no one. I just wanted to be there for her."
Liora's expression softened slightly.
"…Leo…"
But before she could say more—
Leo suddenly looked up again, a hint of mischief returning to his eyes.
"…Actually, Goddess," he added casually, "I should probably tell you in advance."
Liora frowned.
"…Tell me what?"
Leo smiled brightly.
"I'm going to do it one more time."
Silence.
"…What?"
"I'll cross the timeline again," he said, as if announcing something completely normal. "Just once more."
Liora's eyes widened slightly.
"No," she said immediately. "Absolutely not. This was the last time. There will be no more chances."
Leo clasped his hands together slightly, almost pleading—but still smiling.
"Please, Goddess… just one last time," he said softly. "I want to see them… my younger siblings. Just once. I want to know what they look like."
Liora stared at him.
Silent.
Thinking.
Then—
She sighed deeply, rubbing her temple.
"…What am I supposed to do with you…" she muttered.
Leo's smile widened.
"You're going to let me go, aren't you?" he said confidently.
Liora shot him a look.
"…You're impossible," she said. "Even if I forbid you, you'll do it anyway."
Leo grinned. "…You know me too well."
Another sigh.
"…Fine," Liora said reluctantly. "But listen carefully—this is the last time. If you break the rules again after this… your punishment will be far worse."
Leo bowed his head respectfully.
"Thank you, Goddess," he said sincerely.
But as he straightened—
That same mischievous glint remained in his eyes.
__________________________________
(Velmoria Streets — On the way back to the Palace)
The night had grown quieter.
Under the dim glow of lanterns, two cloaked figures rode side by side on a single horse—both faces hidden beneath deep hoods.
But the silence between them?
Not peaceful.
Not at all.
Eyan held the reins, his arm firmly around Eva to keep her steady.
And he was not happy.
"Do you have any idea what you've done today?" Eyan started, his voice low but filled with restrained anger. "Running through the streets like that… jumping, turning corners, not even slowing down—while you're pregnant?"
Eva frowned under her hood.
"I was not jumping," she shot back. "I was just running."
Eyan scoffed.
"'Just running'?" he repeated incredulously. "Eva, you were practically flying! I could barely catch up to you!"
Eva crossed her arms slightly, annoyed.
"Well, maybe that says more about you than me," she muttered.
Eyan's grip on the reins tightened.
"That is not the point!" he snapped. "The point is—you are carrying a child! You cannot behave like that anymore!"
Eva turned her head slightly toward him.
"And whose fault is that?" she retorted. "If someone didn't scare me into thinking he was taking me to remove the child, maybe I wouldn't have run in the first place."
Eyan froze for a second.
"…You misunderstood that," he muttered.
Eva huffed.
"Well, whose words made me misunderstand, hmm?" she shot back. "You said 'the physician will take care of everything' in that tone—what was I supposed to think?"
Eyan opened his mouth—
Then closed it again.
"…Fine," he said after a moment, irritated. "Maybe I could have said it better."
Eva smirked slightly.
"Exactly."
"But that doesn't excuse you!" Eyan snapped immediately. "Hiding your pregnancy from me? Sneaking around? Running away like some fugitive?!"
Eva bristled.
"I wasn't sneaking around—I was protecting my child," she said firmly.
"Our child," Eyan corrected instantly.
Eva went quiet for a second.
Then looked away.
"…Still," she muttered.
Eyan sighed, his tone softening just a little.
"And what if something had happened to you?" he said more quietly. "What if you fell… or got hurt…?"
Eva's expression softened slightly.
"…Nothing happened," she said.
"That's not the point," Eyan replied immediately. "Something could have happened."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
Eva mumbled under her breath,
"…You're nagging."
Eyan's eye twitched.
"I am not nagging," he said flatly.
"You are," she insisted. "You've been scolding me since we got on the horse."
"Because you deserve it," he shot back.
Eva let out a small huff.
"…You're so annoying."
Eyan gave a dry laugh.
"And you're impossible."
Eva let out a long, exhausted sigh, her head dropping slightly forward.
"…If you are finally done scolding me," she said, her tone tired but calm, "then there's something I want to tell you."
Eyan glanced at her from under his hood, still holding the reins tightly.
"…What is it?" he asked, his voice still edged with leftover irritation.
Eva turned her head toward him, a small smile forming.
"…Honey," she said softly, almost teasing, "I met Leo."
Eyan frowned instantly.
"Leo? What do you mean?" he said. "He's at the palace."
Eva shook her head lightly.
"Not that Leo," she replied. "I mean… Leo from that world."
Eyan stiffened.
"…What?" His voice sharpened in shock. "Leo was here? And you are telling me now?"
Eva gave him an unimpressed look.
"I was going to tell you," she said, raising an eyebrow, "but someone wouldn't stop scolding me for even a moment."
Eyan paused.
"…That's—"
He stopped, then turned his head away slightly.
"…Where did you meet him?" he asked quickly. "I'll turn the horse around. I want to see him too. It's been so long…"
Eva's expression softened.
"…He's already gone," she said quietly.
Eyan's grip on the reins tightened.
"…Gone?" he repeated, disappointment clear in his voice.
Eva nodded.
"Yes… he told me there's a time limit for him to stay here," she explained gently. "Once that time ends… he has to return to his own world."
Eyan lowered his gaze slightly.
"…I see…" he murmured.
A small silence fell between them.
Then Eva smiled faintly, her eyes warm.
"…But, Eyan," she added softly, "our son… he's grown so much."
Eyan glanced at her again.
"…Has he?"
Eva nodded, a hint of pride in her voice.
"He's taller than me now," she said. "And… he looks so much like you."
Eyan immediately frowned.
"…Stop bragging," he muttered, looking away. "I don't want to hear it."
Eva blinked—
Then smiled wider.
"Oh?" she teased. "Are you pouting now?"
Eyan didn't answer.
"…I'm not pouting."
"You are," she insisted lightly. "Don't worry… I'm sure he'll come again. Then you can see him yourself."
Eyan's expression softened just a little.
"…Hmph."
Then—
Eva suddenly remembered something.
"Oh—wait."
She reached for her neck, pulling out the chain hidden beneath her clothes.
A ring dangled from it.
She held it up in front of him.
"Here," she said, her voice softening. "Your ring… Leo gave it to me."
Eyan's eyes widened slightly.
"…That…"
His gaze fixed on it.
The old wedding ring.
The one he had placed on her… long ago.
After he lost her.
Eva smiled gently.
"Yes," she said. "The same ring you put on me… he kept it all this time."
Slowly, she slipped it off the chain.
Then she took Eyan's hand.
Without warning—She removed the ring he was currently wearing—And tossed it away.
Eyan blinked.
"…Eva?"
But before he could react—She slid the old ring onto his finger.
Then she placed her hand beside his. Both rings glimmered softly in the moonlight.
Eva smiled, satisfied.
"…Now we both have our rings."
Eyan looked at their hands for a moment—Then smiled faintly.
He leaned closer to her ear, his voice low.
"…Princess," he murmured, "the ring you just threw away… was worth an entire piece of land."
Eva froze.
"…What?"
Eyan nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Eva's eyes widened in horror.
"You should have told me that before!" she snapped.
Without thinking—
She shifted her body, trying to jump off the horse.
Eyan immediately tightened his arm around her, pulling her back firmly.
"Where do you think you're going?" he said sharply.
"To pick up the ring!" Eva insisted. "Do you know how much land that is?!"
"There is no need," Eyan replied flatly. "Just leave it."
"But—"
"Eva." His tone dropped—firm, final. "…Just leave it."
Eva hesitated. Then slowly slumped back in place.
"…Fine," she muttered reluctantly.
A small pause—
Then she added under her breath,
"…Such a waste…"
Eyan sighed. And tightened his hold around her again—Not letting her jump anywhere this time.