The great bronze doors of the courtyard opened with a soft, melodic hum — a sound produced only by divine-class artifacts. A warm breeze floated in, carrying the scent of lilies and holy incense.
And then she stepped through.
A woman wrapped in white and gold robes, her silver hair flowing like moonlit silk, her eyes shimmering with gentle blue light. Every step she took made the ground bloom with faint, radiant petals.
Saintess Seraphiel Lumeria —
the highest authority of the Primordial Church on the continent, and the one the entire empire revered as a living miracle.
Velra tensed.
Aethria lowered her head.
Lysandra whispered,
"She's… even more beautiful than the rumors."
But Sohag simply froze.
Because Seraphiel was looking only at him.
Not at the empire.
Not at the demon princess.
Not at the shadow assassin.
Just him.
Her smile bloomed softly — like she'd waited years for this moment.
"Sohag…"
Her voice trembled, though she tried to hide it.
"It has been too long."
Sohag blinked.
"…One week."
She laughed lightly — a sound so gentle even Aethria's shadows paused in reverence.
"To me, one week without seeing you feels like a season."
Velra choked.
Lysandra nearly dropped her sword.
Aethria's golden eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Seraphiel continued forward, stopping just an arm's reach away from Sohag. She lightly lifted her hands, then hesitated — knowing his shyness.
Instead of touching him, she clasped her hands in front of her heart.
"I sensed danger in the north… and I came immediately."
Lysandra cleared her throat.
"Saintess, the empire appreciates your—"
But Seraphiel didn't even hear her.
Her gaze was still on Sohag.
"I heard your power fluctuated yesterday. I… worried."
She exhaled slowly.
"You must tell me next time. My heart can't take the anxiety."
Sohag looked away, flustered.
"…Sorry."
Seraphiel nearly melted.
Aethria stepped forward, placing herself between them ever so subtly.
"Saintess. State the true reason for your visit."
Seraphiel smiled calmly.
"You already know."
Aethria's eyes darkened.
"…You intend to confess."
Velra burst out,
"WHAT?!"
Lysandra:
"Already?!"
Seraphiel folded her hands, expression serene like a goddess.
"For eighteen years," she said softly, "I have watched over him. I saw him take his first steps. I saw him sleeping in the cradle with the artifact I gifted him. I saw him shyly thank the gardeners. I saw him try to talk to a cat and then apologize when the cat ran away."
Sohag covered his face.
"…Stop."
She continued anyway, smiling warmly.
"I love every little thing he does. Whether he becomes the ruler of the universe or stays a lazy prince forever… I would still choose him."
The courtyard fell silent.
Seraphiel took a breath — deeper now, gathering courage.
"I came today… to tell him the truth."
Aethria's shadow rippled.
Velra bit her lip nervously.
Lysandra watched, heart pounding.
Seraphiel stepped closer.
"Sohag."
Her voice was gentle — yet carried the weight of destiny.
"You are not merely special. You are the chosen heir of Aurelion Tenebris, Primordial God of All Existence."
Lysandra gasped.
Velra clenched her fists.
Aethria quietly nodded — confirming it.
Seraphiel looked directly into Sohag's eyes, full of love.
"I have known this since the day you were born."
Sohag's heart skipped.
She continued, her voice cracking slightly.
"I wanted to tell you earlier, but… I feared overwhelming you. You were so shy… so gentle… and I didn't want to burden you with cosmic expectations."
Velra whispered,
"So she knew everything all along…"
Seraphiel's cheeks turned faintly pink.
"And… because I was afraid you would think I loved you only because of your destiny."
She shook her head, tears forming.
"But no. I loved you long before I ever learned of your heritage."
She stepped back, unable to hold her emotions steady.
"I can no longer hide my heart."
Then, before any of them could breathe—
she knelt before Sohag.
A saintess.
The purest woman in the realm.
On her knees.
"For as long as I've known you… I have loved you.
Let me stay by your side — not as a saintess, not as a follower of your father — but as a woman who chooses you."
Lysandra's eyes widened.
Velra squeaked.
Aethria's expression remained still… but her shadow trembled faintly.
Sohag swallowed hard, stepping back, his ears red.
"…T-Too many people watching…"
Seraphiel smiled through her tears.
"I will wait. Even if it takes a hundred years."
Before anyone could react—
A booming voice echoed across the courtyard.
Ancient. Cosmic.
Warm… yet overwhelming.
"My son."
The sky turned gold.
Everyone fell to their knees — except Sohag, who simply blinked.
Velra trembled.
Aethria bowed deeply.
Seraphiel gasped, tears falling anew.
Because appearing in the sky, in a form vast and radiant, was—
Aurelion Tenebris, the Primordial God.
---