It was strange. Everyone acted and spoke as if they had lost their memories, as if Father and Jeongguk had always been alive.
"Father, this time, Sea is at the imperial meeting..."
"Not only did you attend the meeting in my place when I was sick, but you also accomplished such a great task... This father of mine is to you..."
"Ah, brother... stop talking lol"
Everything seemed to be flowing peacefully. My father, who was firmly holding onto his position as head of the household. My brother, Namjoon, who had become prime minister in my stead. My brother, Taehyung, who had secretly become the leader of the Knights. My daughter, who was studying hard at the Imperial Academy and living in the dormitory. Even Jungkook, who still treated me the same way.
It's as if everyone has returned to their original positions. Duke Park Jimin, though not often, still comes to see me from time to time. Sometimes he comes bearing wounds. Every time he does, I always nag him.
I was curious as to why he kept doing it despite his injuries, and what his exact purpose was, but he seemed to have no intention of telling me, so I gave up on asking.
Oh, and lastly...
"Hoseok!!"
"Are you running again?"
Ho-seok is alive. He has all his memories, just like me.
.
.
.
.
I couldn't believe it, and I spent several days in tears. For a while, everyone in the mansion was worried about me, and my family tried to cheer me up.
"Se-ah, did you have another nightmare...?"
"...sorry."
"What do you have to be sorry for? I'm just worried because the nightmares keep bothering you."
"Everyone keeps leaving me..."
"Where are you going with such a pretty daughter?"
Seokjin held Se-ah's hand, as if showing his strong determination not to leave her behind.
“I have nightmares like this. What should I do? Maybe I should seek help from Archmage Jeong Ho-seok.”
"Father... what did you just say...?"
I doubted my ears. Even Hoseok... No way...
Seokjin was flustered by Se-ah's trembling voice, but he answered all of her questions.
Archmage Jeong Ho-seok left for a very dangerous place to obtain precious medicinal herbs, and he returned to the empire not long ago, so I was finally able to see him.
"I have to go..."
"what...?"
"...I need to see Hoseok!"
Seah struggled to get up. Seeing her as if she might storm out at any moment, Seokjin grabbed her and persuaded her, saying, "Okay, let's get ready and go."
Sea, unable to hide her impatience, urged her maid to get ready. Then, she bit her fingernails, as if afraid of losing someone who was leaving far away.
"Your Majesty!!"
The maid stopped Se-ah, upset about her damaged fingernails. Still unsure if the saying, "Habits formed at age three last a lifetime," was true, she couldn't shake her nail-biting habit. The maid stopped the bleeding and applied a bandage. She quickly finished getting ready for the anxious Se-ah and led her to the carriage.
"Are you really going alone...?"
"Yes. I'll go and come back by myself."
"...Okay, I understand. Take care on your way."
"sure."
The coachman, urged by Sea, quickly drove the carriage. As they headed toward the horse tower, Sea took deep, slow breaths, her heart racing, and her trembling hands clenched tightly.
.
.
.
.
"Your Majesty, we have arrived."
Suddenly - !!
Sea jumped out of the carriage without even being escorted by the knight and headed straight for the entrance to the magic tower.
"...I came to see the Archmage."
"Why did the princess suddenly..."
The wizards guarding the magic tower could not hide their bewilderment, and even the emperor wanted to meet them, but the wizards were the ones who could not be told to come or go...
Even if you came here without a second thought, meeting a great wizard is incredibly difficult. For commoners, it's like trying to reach a star in the sky. The wizards refused and told her to turn back, but Sea refused to give in.
"Have you forgotten who I am?"
Witch. That one word should suffice. In this empire... no, in this world, no one can defeat the Arch-Witch, Sea.
"I feel sorry for the proud wizards, but I think we need to be lethal this time."
"It's not something we can do on our own, so we'll have to speak to the Archmage..."
Thud thud -
"How dare you keep the Arch-Witch waiting?"
“Aren’t you the one who has the right to tell me to come and go?”
"...Hoseok."
Sea's trembling pupils. Her heart pounding. I can't express my feelings right now. If it weren't for that person, I wouldn't be standing here right now.
He taught me so much and saved my life. I feel so guilty because I've received so much from him.
"Why are you crying..."
"Ugh..."
Se-ah immediately hugged Hoseok. She'd spent every day shedding tears, but it seemed there were still tears left to flow. She wept, pouring out all her sorrow.
"I don't want to make such pretty eyes shed tears."
"...!?"
Hoseok quickly picked up Seah and went inside, ignoring the gazes of those around him.
.
.
.
.
"N, put me down...!"
Hoseok gently put Sea down as she struggled. Sea looked up at Hoseok, sobbing.
"What could have made you so sad that you cried?"
"that is..."
"Are you so surprised I'm alive?"
Stop
Sea stopped wiping her tears for a moment. The words she blurted out with a sly expression caught me off guard.
"I'm obviously dead, but I can't help but be surprised that I'm still alive and well."
"How on earth...?"
"Those who are loved by God do not die easily."
When Se-ah made a face that said she didn't understand English, Hoseok stroked her head.
"I'm sorry. I showed you something I shouldn't have shown you back then. Was it hard for you?"
"That's ridiculous..."
Ho-seok was clearly dead, but he returned to the time before his death, panicking. And then he heard the voice of God. It was telling him, "Isn't it unfair that you died like this?"
After learning that he would use black magic, Ho-seok was able to deal with it and win the war without dying.
In order not to cause chaos in the world, Hoseok had left the empire while waiting for Sea to come find him, and he did not tell Sea how he had heard the voice of God and not lost his memories.
No other being may touch the realm of God.
"I'm just thankful that Ho-seok is alive... Really..."
"I will never let you shed tears again. It makes me sad when you cry."
"I will never lose anyone again."
Hoseok smiled at Sea's firm expression and gaze.
"...I missed you."
"Me too... hehe"
We embraced each other, sharing warmth. Feeling the touch of someone I'd longed for, I felt grateful for this moment and considered it an unforgettable one.
___
Sonting...🥲