Chapter 90

6. Born as Irreplaceable Copies “Valt, did you fell asleep?” someone asked, shaking his shoulder and jostling him awake from his position slumped over the table. The girl who roused him was gazing down with concern in her green eyes. Her gaze finally brought him back to reality, and he reached out to stroke her soft cheek. “Morning.” When Miralys heard that, she pursed her lips. “You dozed off, which must mean you’re exhausted. We should postpone things.” “I’m perfectly fine. I was just having a little dream of a time long in the past,” he said before rising to his feet. He had only meant to contemplate a few things, but he must have drifted off, wasting precious time. Still, what he’d dreamed of, that memory of the far distant past, was noteworthy. Those events no longer existed; no memory of them lingered anywhere. Seeing them now must have carried some significance. Valt observed the girl before him—her lustrous silver hair, her pale green eyes. In a few years, she would be a glamorous beauty. For the time being, she seemed the sort who counted on him. He reached out and took this girl who was once his wife into his arms. “Miralys, thank you for everything you’ve done.” “Where is this coming from? You are exhausted, aren’t you?” “Never mind that, just let me say this. We’re at an important juncture.” “Don’t make it sound like we’re going to be torn apart forever. Come on. Dinner is waiting,” she replied exasperatedly. Valt’s eyes fell shut, and he smiled. This did need to be said now. He hugged her tighter. “I love you. No matter the life or timeline, I’m always so happy with you.” None of that was fabricated. It was a truth that wouldn’t change, regardless of how many traumas he suffered. She had kept him going this entire time. But this Miralys, who had no memory of any timeline but the present, only frowned. “Are you sure you phrased that right? Anyway, I don’t intend to leave you. What about dinner?” “Right. Sorry.” “You’re going to be here at the dining table with me, tomorrow and every day after that. Always.” “Yes,” Valt responded, keeping his voice cheerful as he buried his face in her hair. He wished that could be so. One of their lives had been like that. It had only happened once, but they’d enjoyed a peaceful existence growing old together until death had them part ways. Once was enough. The love he’d known then was plenty. He’d sat down at the dining table with her countless times. He’d been so happy, and at the same time, just as sad. Amid all the lifetimes, so many it made his head spin, Valt could never return the love she constantly lavished on him. It was far too great. So in exchange, he gave her something else—undeniable proof of his feelings, though that, too, would fade from her memory eventually. Now he would take to the stage to bring this interminable comedy to a close. The day dawned bright and sunny. Oscar had come to Tuldarr via his personal transportation array. He gazed up at the sky from the passage leading to the cathedral. Clear water fell from a colonnade he spied in the distance, flowing into the gardens. Farther back past that was the tower where the ruler dwelled…though Tinasha no longer lived there. She’d abdicated yesterday. Today was Legis’s coronation. In just half a year, the reins of the kingdom had traded hands. Two days after stepping down from the throne, the sovereign queen would become Oscar’s wife. As Oscar reflected on the year that had passed so quickly, he mused that his younger self from before Tinasha would be stunned to see what had transpired. That version of himself believed that, curse or no curse, he would choose the safest possible option for his bride. That or he would marry no one at all and adopt an heir instead. As he’d grown to understand her, he’d fallen in love. She was reckless and unmanageable, and he knew freedom when he was with her. That was something he would have never felt in his life had things progressed normally. Her somewhat clingy and entirely peerless love for him had opened a new door. It brought such tremendous joy that it felt like a miracle. For that reason, he wanted to give her just as much freedom. Perhaps even more. Even if it took his whole life, he wouldn’t regret it. “I thought that with so many ceremonies taking place day after day, some of the guests would go home, but the crowd hasn’t diminished,” Oscar remarked. “Don’t tell me that’s why you put your wedding on the last day.” Doan hissed. “That was just a coincidence,” Oscar replied. Naturally, he’d checked with Tuldarr’s schedule in advance, but he hadn’t selected a date hoping for a lower attendance. His only request was to make it as soon as possible after Tinasha’s abdication. In return, both Tuldarr and Farsas were receiving and hosting guests who would be present at all the events. Once Legis’s coronation concluded, Tinasha planned to go to Farsas. “You know, I haven’t seen her wedding gown yet. I’m really looking forward to it,” Oscar said to Doan. “Really? That’s a surprise.” “But I did have her dresses for all the other events made to my tastes.” “There it is,” Doan quipped dryly, as he so often did. Oscar burst out laughing. Until the day of Tinasha’s coronation, when she announced she would be abdicating, Oscar had never dreamed of such a future for himself. He’d decided to gift her a new gown every year, since he couldn’t spend his life with her. It made him starkly happy that they had wound up together after so many twists and turns. That was why he had to carry out the duty he had assigned himself. Pausing before the entrance to the cathedral, Oscar glanced at the royal sword belted at his waist. “I’m praying we keep making it out alive…” He hoped they would eliminate all plots against them and never give enemies an opening. They would live together, and he would protect his country. Clouds occasionally streamed past the blue sky out the window. It had to be windy higher up. Tinasha felt a curious longing for the past as she watched. A door in the back of the room opened, and a young man in formal attire entered. She bowed to him. “All is secure, Your Majesty.” “I’m not king yet,” answered the man she had called “Your Majesty” with an exasperated smile. At present, Tuldarr had no ruler. The queen, who had abdicated the day before, flashed a mischievous grin and waved a hand dismissively at the soon-to-be-crowned ruler. “You may as well be. I believe the guests have all arrived.” “I appreciate them for coming, but it does make me nervous to undergo a coronation ceremony before all the other nations,” Legis admitted. “You’re lying to me. You’re not nervous at all, are you?” “You can tell?” Legis said with a laugh, passing some papers to Tinasha. Legis’s impending royal inauguration didn’t involve inheriting the mystical spirits, instead emphasizing integrity over formality. For the following six months, Tuldarr would remain a monarchy. After that came the shift to the two-pillar system of monarch and parliament. Legis followed Tinasha’s gaze up to the sky. “I’m glad we have fine weather today. Everyone’s worked so hard to make this come together.” “Had it been stormy, I would have changed the weather.” Chuckling, Legis replied, “Spoken like a true spirit sorcerer.” His placid gaze turned remote as he regarded the city streets in the distance. “I love this country. I am prepared to devote my entire life to it.” His tone was full of conviction. Once Legis was king, he’d give all of himself to Tuldarr for as long as he reigned. Such was the path he’d chosen. However, it would make his life a lonely one. Legis was prepared for that, though. As he had always done, he intended to listen to the opinions of those around him, entertain discussions, and pave the way for a new reign. That was how a king ought to live his life in this era. Tinasha smiled at the young man who had inherited her country, four hundred years later. “I am sure you will be a much better ruler than I was.” The praise came in a clear, ringing tone. Legis’s cheeks were pink as he grinned at her, but a serious look stole back over his face. “I am very glad that I was able to meet you. You’ve saved the country more times than I can count.” “I feel like I’ve caused nothing but trouble for you over the past several months, though,” she answered, sighing. Legis had helped Tinasha just as much. It was because of him that her reign was half as long as she’d originally planned. His assistance with royal duties had also permitted her to indulge in selfish things on occasion. None of that would have been possible in the Dark Age. Safety for mages and peace for all citizens were not mutually exclusive, yet were rarely found together. Moved almost to tears, Tinasha bowed to Legis. “I should be the one offering you my gratitude. You’ve taught me so much.” “Not at all. I’ve learned from you. Come back and visit whenever you feel like it.” “Now that you’ve offered, I definitely will. I know Oscar’s going to waste no time teasing me once we’re married.” “Please do. I’ll keep your rooms open. You can confide in me anytime,” Legis assured her. “I’ll admit to feeling hesitant about the prospect of wasting a king’s time with my personal gripes and grievances…” After four centuries, Tinasha no longer had a home to go back to. Once she married into Farsas, she would have a new place as its queen consort. It meant the world to her that Legis and Tuldarr would still be a home for whenever she had trouble.