"Are you going to lecture me, too? That's enough."
Westheid brushed the topic aside and took out a card box.
"I say, instead of dwelling on such depressing matters, why don't we play a round of Endless War Chess? I just so happened to bring my deck."
"It's a decent way to pass the time," Westheid proposed. "If you've never played before, you simply have to give it a try."
"I still think..."
Westheid simply turned to leave. "If you don't want to play, then there's no point in me staying. I'm off."
"...Alright. Let's play."
Reiya was finding it increasingly difficult to refuse Westheid's requests.
And so, the two of them sat down in the study of her chambers. As a grandmaster of the war chess Domain, Westheid patiently began to teach Reiya the rules of Endless War Chess.
The Silver-haired Princess was remarkably clever and a quick study. After familiarizing herself with the rules, she could play a respectable tutorial match against him.
Although Reiya found Endless War Chess only mildly interesting, she had never cared about *what* she was doing—only *who* she was doing it with.
Any interaction with Westheid felt relaxing and pleasant, no matter what it was.
Reiya played absentmindedly, resting her cheek on the table. She quietly gazed at Duke Qinghui's handsome face, illuminated by the lamplight. Her delicately furrowed brows, however, betrayed her true feelings, revealing that she was still troubled.
The pleasant afternoon flew by. When the light streaming through the window turned a dusky gold, Westheid stood up, looking as if he hadn't quite had his fill.
"It looks like we'll have to stop here for today. Your strategy in a few of those rounds was quite impressive. It's a shame you still have something weighing on your mind."
Reiya's long, curved lashes fluttered. She clenched her fists. "I just realized... how much misfortune I've brought upon West."
Westheid immediately cut her off. "This has nothing to do with you. You've done nothing wrong. This was my decision."
"I chose to ignore the judgment and criticism of others. I chose to forsake the aid and support for reclaiming my homeland. I chose to be close to you and to bear all the consequences. This decision isn't even about you, regardless of whether you accept it or not."
It was the same unhesitating answer as always.
This time, however, Reiya was no longer satisfied with Westheid's resolute answer.
She looked up and said flatly,
"You fool."
"Say what you will. I don't care."
The Silver-haired Princess shook her head.
"Why? West, why must you be so stubborn about this?"
'Even if Westheid was a madman who showed no respect for the Divine Ancestor, a degenerate who cared nothing for his family... to abandon power, status, and wealth that were all within his grasp for a worthless person like me... what kind of insanity is that?'
'Although she was certain he wasn't faking it, there's no such thing as love or hate without reason. And when Reiya searched her own heart, she couldn't find a single thing about herself that Westheid could possibly be attracted to.'
"Must you have a reason?"
Westheid gave a faint smile, then paused as if in thought before fixing the Silver-haired Princess with an intensely sincere gaze.
"The moment I met you, I thought to myself how wonderful it would be if I could share my life with you."
The silver-haired Dragon Girl's pupils constricted. "Share... a life?"
Westheid took Reiya's left hand, his voice filled with earnest passion.
"Your tenacity, your uniqueness, your beauty... if you would share them with me, I could ask for nothing more. I hope to share in them. I *crave* to share in them."
'He meant her tenacious template, her unique mechanics, and her beautiful stats—in that sense, his words were absolutely true.'
Reiya looked up, her eyes—a mixture of pale blue and navy violet—staring dazedly into his.
The unyielding will in his gaze was like tangible steel, making it impossible for anyone to doubt him.
'Such resolution.'
"Is a nightmarish life like mine... really worth sharing?"
Her face was expressionless, but her voice trembled uncontrollably.
Westheid answered without a second thought, "I would relish it!"
After a moment of stunned silence, emotion finally touched the Silver-haired Princess's cold, exquisite features. She lowered her gaze, and the corners of her lips curved upward,
blooming into a radiant smile that seemed as if it should never have appeared on Reiya's face.
'So that's how it is... I see. I finally see.'
Reiya squeezed Westheid's hand in return, then lowered her head to press her unmarred cheek against the back of it, soaking in the warmth from his palm.
"Sorry... I couldn't help myself. May I... stay like this for a moment?"
"Of course. Stay as long as you like. And whenever you need them, my arms and my embrace are yours to lean on."
'Westheid certainly wasn't going to complain about Reiya's affection points skyrocketing,' he thought, replying at once.
"...Thank you. But this is enough. I'm not trying to rely on anything."
Reiya murmured, her head still bowed.
In that moment, the hard ice in her magnificent eyes melted, shattering into a soft mist that moistened their rims.
But Westheid didn't notice this small detail, because in the next instant, Reiya closed her eyes.
She said nothing more, simply taking in the feeling in silence.
Though Westheid didn't know what Reiya was thinking, he played along, gently patting the Silver-haired Princess on the back.
[The web of love you have woven has borne fruit.]
[You have now shared "Reiya Gleamleaf's" Talent: Withered Glory Sun.]
[Withered Glory Sun]
[The embodiment of the power held by the Radiant Holy Tree, manifested through the will of its finest Holy Tree Descendant. Cleansed by the withering and glory of ages, hailed by thousands of Radiant Lights, blessed by billions of living souls. Their elder, our symbiosis.]
[Acquire the traits of extreme regeneration and adaptation. Gain immense immunity to negative Status effects such as poison, weakness, curses, suppression... ]
"...Huh?"
The sudden notifications made Westheid's mind freeze for several seconds, followed immediately by an unexpected surge of ecstasy.
'Withered Glory Sun! It was one of the Tier T0 Talents I've been dying to get from Reiya!'
'All the effort I put in, all the schemes I used—none of it was a waste.'
'A prize well-earned for my many campaigns!'
Westheid's body trembled slightly as he fought to suppress the urge to roar with elation, careful not to startle the Silver-haired Princess.
After a long, silent moment, Reiya reluctantly pulled away and looked at Westheid.
"So... until next time?"
Seeing that Reiya was just gazing at him without a word, Westheid offered a tentative farewell.
'I can't wait to test out this shared Talent,' he thought.
"Mm. Tomorrow... will you come again?"
The Silver-haired Princess nodded lightly, her tone calm and gentle.
"...I will. As long as I am permitted, I will always come."
Westheid met Reiya's magnificent, gentle gaze. He saw that in her crystalline eye, the one mixing pale blue and navy violet, the icy shell of indifference had vanished.
All that remained was a shining, radiant affection.
'Since Heart and Soul's Gift had taken effect, it meant Reiya now felt an unmistakable love for him.'
'How should I put this... toying with a young woman's pure and precious emotions... I almost feel a little ashamed.'
But Westheid quickly suppressed this guilt, steeling his resolve as he glanced at Reiya one more time.
'My dear girl, don't blame me for being despicable.'
'These are all necessary steps to ascend to the throne of the ultimate Powerhouse.'
'Rest assured, since you have paved my path to godhood, I will naturally not treat you poorly in the future.'
'After it's all done, you can take your pick of any position among the Five Elders and Five Commissioners!'