Following the knights into the castle, we took a moment to look around.
"…It definitely looks medieval," Anathasia muttered. "Very isekai-ish."
We continued down the hall. The knights from earlier remained at the entrance, while another man took over guiding us.
He wore a tall white hat marked with a cross, a purple robe draped over a white tunic.
"Hm…" I glanced down at the polished marble floors.
"The architecture is… something."
"Middle Ages or whatever…" Anathasia chimed in, arms crossed as she stared out the arched windows to our left.
"Politics is tiring no matter what era…"
She let out a quiet sigh.
I paused for a moment.
Seeing her sigh even once was rare enough. But now…
She just looked done with it.
"Huh…" I hummed lightly.
She drifted closer as we walked, until she was leaning against me completely.
"I wanted today to be just us…" she mumbled, resting her head against my arm as we approached a set of large doors.
Another sigh.
"What a pain…"
I reached up, gently stroking her hair.
"It won't take long," I murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head.
"Hopefully…"
The man ahead of us pushed the doors open.
Inside was an opulent room filled with ornaments and furnishings that looked more expensive than practical. Even the frames of the chairs seemed to be forged from gold.
"…This doesn't look practical at all," Anathasia commented, narrowing her eyes at one of them.
"A wooden chair would've worked just fine."
Her arm remained looped around mine as the man quietly excused himself and left.
"I wonder how much all of this costs…"
"Definitely a fortune," I replied.
She tugged me along, pulling me down beside her onto one of the chairs.
"Isn't that right…"
Her gaze shifted.
Settling on the woman seated at the far end of the room.
Platinum-blonde hair.
Blue eyes.
Dressed in an elaborate gown, structured tightly at the waist before flowing outward.
"Dragon Emperor of Conflagration…"
A brief pause.
"…Euphilla Belle Kazar."
The woman stepped forward, lowering her head slightly as she pinched the edge of her skirt.
"Greetings."
She slowly lifted her gaze to meet ours.
"Supreme Being…"
"And the Foundation."
Silence followed.
Then Anathasia waved her hand dismissively.
"Drop the formalities."
She gestured toward the chair across from us.
Euphilla nodded lightly before making her way over and taking a seat.
"So, regarding Roselia…" Anathasia continued, resting her chin on her finger.
"She's on house arrest, right?"
"Or at least, that's what Rania told us."
The Emperor inclined her head, her gaze briefly drifting toward a vase of tulips resting atop a cabinet in the corner.
"She requested it herself."
A pause.
"Or rather… it was the only punishment we could agree on."
She lifted her eyes to meet ours once more.
"Lady Roselia… originally requested exile," she exhaled softly.
"But the Senate—and the nobles themselves—refused to accept such a punishment. They argued that her actions were done for the sake of the Empire."
"They would not allow her to be thrown into the dungeons either."
A brief pause.
"As such… house arrest was the only outcome we could all agree upon."
Her hands tightened around her skirt, the fabric crumpling beneath her grip.
"She is an irreplaceable figure within the Empire…"
"The only one who stands equal to Lady Rania within the Theocracy."
Her breath faltered.
"I don't understand what goes on inside her mind…"
"…She never lets anyone in."
Slowly—
She lowered her head completely.
Our eyes widened slightly as she bowed deeply.
"Which is why… I requested this audience."
Her voice softened.
"With the one who knows her best."
A pause.
"Her teacher…"
"…The Supreme Being herself."
A heavy silence settled in the room.
Anathasia's gaze gradually softened. She regarded Euphilla quietly before glancing toward the tall arched windows, her eyes drifting to the clouds passing by outside.
Then—
She spoke.
"That's not something I can simply tell anyone."
Euphilla lifted her head instantly, her eyes locking onto Anathasia before shifting to me.
I shook my head lightly and looked away.
From the corner of my eye, I saw her expression fall.
"Whether Roselia wants to open up… ultimately depends on her," Anathasia continued, her voice gentler now.
"She's my student, yes. But she's not something I manage… even if I clean up after her sometimes."
Her gaze returned to Euphilla.
"The only advice I can give right now…"
She straightened slightly, resting her hands on her lap.
"…is to trust her. And trust Rania's decision."
Euphilla's eyes widened at her words.
"No one has the right to 'fix' what someone else is going through," Anathasia continued.
"Not when we don't understand how deep it runs."
"And especially not when we've never been in their place."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"You were expecting me to say something useful, weren't you?"
"Something you could use to break through Roselia's walls."
Her gaze lowered briefly to the table between them.
"But Roselia… is still a person."
"Not just a Duchess. Not just a God."
"She has her own wants. Her own choices."
"She's not some emotionless concept that simply exists… like how the scriptures try to paint me and my husband."
Her hand slowly drifted toward mine, fingers lacing gently with my own as she glanced at me with a soft smile before looking back at Euphilla.
I froze for a moment, but held her hand all the same.
"And most of all…"
"Roselia is an adult."
A brief silence followed.
"And she already has someone."
"Even if she doesn't realize it yet."
Another pause.
"So… my deepest apologies."
"But I'd like to respect her space for now."
Her gaze remained steady.
"I hope you can understand that."
"…Euphilla Belle Kazar."
Euphilla's expression fell completely, her shoulders slumping as her gaze dropped.
She didn't reply.
But her silence was answer enough.
With a small nod, Anathasia stood, still holding my hand as we turned to leave.
"Just trust them," she added. "They've spent more than enough time keeping Aegea in order to break now."
She took a step—
Then paused.
"My students aren't that fragile."
As soon as the words left her lips, our forms began to fade.
I glanced back one last time.
The Emperor had lifted her head slightly—
Watching us disappear.
—
When I opened my eyes again, we were back by the beach where we had first appeared earlier that day.
Night had already taken the sky, stars stretching endlessly above us.
The sound of waves rolling against the shore filled the quiet between us.
"In the end…"
I glanced at Anathasia beside me, her fingers still intertwined with mine.
"…our date got ruined by someone trying a little too hard to take responsibility," she muttered, clicking her tongue softly.
I let out a quiet laugh, reaching over to pinch her cheek.
"There's always tomorrow, remember?"
Her puffed cheeks slowly deflated as she turned to me.
"…Fine. It's not like Aegea's Continuum runs the same as Earth's anyway."
She sighed softly before leaning into my chest. My arms wrapped around her as hers circled me.
"I guess we can stay a few more days…"
"…maybe pretend to be adventurers."
I nuzzled into her hair slightly, resting my chin atop her head.
"That too… but adventurers?"
She nodded against my chest, the water beginning to soak our feet.
"We could switch roles… I could use a sword or something," Anathasia said, lifting her head to meet my gaze with a small smile.
"Maybe even join others… parties are usually three or more, but—"
"'We're already a complete overkill just by ourselves'… is it?"
She didn't answer, just nodded again, letting out a soft laugh as she pulled away.
Her hands slid to my arms, her feet lightly splashing the water with each step.
Moonlight reflected across her hair, each strand falling in soft waves that framed her face—making her seem even more ethereal than she already was.
She gently tucked a strand behind her ear, crimson eyes faintly glowing as she tilted her head.
And in that moment—
I noticed it.
The endless presence behind her.
But instead of a writhing mass of countless eyes—
It simply stretched outward.
Far beyond what my sight could reach.
Slowly, it extended toward me—
At the same time Anathasia lifted her hand in my direction.
And then—
It wrapped around me.
Not suffocating.
Not crushing.
But warm.
Like a blanket.
I shook my head lightly and met her gaze again, a quiet laugh slipping from my lips.
"You really are terrifying," I murmured, reaching out to hold her hand.
"And still…"
"…more beautiful than anything."