Unraveling

The night air is frigid, accompanied by ominous rumblings of thunder. In the grand duke's dimly lit office, the occasional flash of lightning casts an eerie glow, revealing Kaizer's stern countenance reflecting in the expansive window. His eyes, dark and profound, evoke a sense of dread, causing Lancelotte to lower his head in contemplation. He can't help but reflect on how Kaizer, the son, surpasses his father in terms of heartlessness and cruelty.

"Did you finish my order?"

Lancelotte swallowed hard and replied, "Yes, Your Excellency."

"I have personally visited the Rozan Household to meet the young master and finalize the deal. He assured me that, as long as you keep your promise, he won't take any retaliatory actions against young master Eugene for the alleged kidnapping of his younger brother and the subsequent marriage to the eldest Shradinza."

Kaizer continued to gaze at the night sky.

"It's too bothersome when the cat you tame can have another master."

Lancelotted straightened his back, "Young master Eugene might act recklessly but he is strong. Your excellency should rest assured that he won't be put in any danger he had no chance of winning."

Kaizer chuckled.

"That's not what I mean Lancelotte."

Turning around a little and leaning on the window, Kaizer with crossed arms pursed his lips and said dangerously, "I have never once liked it, whenever he turn his head away."

"Because that is the eyes I've given to him, I give it to him to only look at me."

Lancelotte shivered, thinking that Kaizer might be even more eccentric than Katnier. Though he didn't fully comprehend the metaphor Kaizer used, he was certain it couldn't be taken literally. He just knew the statement implied that everything young master Eugene possessed was owed to and owned by Kaizer.

But how? How can Kaizer say that?

"You will probably not understand."

After all, no one knew Kaizer's ability and Even Eugene couldn't fully assess it.

If there is someone who knew it, it's probably the person who made him exist.

At the same time at the annex palace of the Dela Vallier Dukedome.

"Husband?"

Katnier shifted his gaze to find Keerto approaching, his bare feet silently padding across the ground. A subtle frown creased Katnier's brow as he moved purposefully toward his wife, gently lifting and enveloping him in a warm embrace.

"Why did you leave the bed?"

Seeking solace, Keerto buried her face in Katnier's chest, whimpering, "I-I had a nightmare. I'm scared," her grip on Katnier's clothes betraying the lingering tremors of fear.

Katnier chuckled at the maneuver, making his way to the bed and settling at its edge. He tenderly traced his fingers along Keerto's face, a gesture filled with a gentle reassurance.

"I'm here, I'll accompany you to sleep."

"Hmmm."

Katnier gently persuaded his beloved and absentmindedly glanced out of the mirror. Observing the unrelenting cascade of thunder, his gaze intensified. The world appeared unsettled, as if it were issuing a forewarning. Those unaware might enjoy a tranquil slumber, but for them, this night marked the inception of turmoil, and he was certain that even Catharis was not at ease.

And it was right...

"The heavens are giving a warning, this time the saint would have a big role in the country."

Seated along the expansive table, the Catharis family, including the younger members, wore solemn expressions, their collective demeanor mirroring the gravity of the moment. The persistent rumble of thunder reverberated in the background, accompanied by an intensifying downpour that showed no signs of relenting.

Today, the cede ceremony just ended but this is happening.

"Where is Yittiel?"

As the query hung in the air, the resounding clank of chains echoed through the hallways, prompting every head to swivel in unison toward the source at the door.

The knight stationed outside quivers with anticipation as he heralds the arrival of the young master, his voice trembling in reverence.

As the massive doors of the grand dining hall swung open with an ominous creak. All eyes glued towards the entrance, where a figure emerged, his every step echoing with a faint jingle of long, thin chains that adorned his fair skin like a captive's ornament.

The man, an exquisite masterpiece of divine craftsmanship, walked with an ethereal grace, his moonstone-gray eyes capturing the attention of everyone present. Cascading down his shoulders like a regal cloak, his long and vibrant purple hair seemed to defy the somber atmosphere of the castle. He bore the markings of beauty so profound that it bordered on the surreal, his existence a living contradiction to the confines of the looming fortress.

The chains, a stark contrast against his flawless skin, suggested a hidden narrative, a story untold. Despite his striking beauty, there was an air of vulnerability about him, as if his presence in the grandeur of the dining hall was an anomaly, a paradox that begged to be unraveled.

As he made his way through the room, the man's every movement seemed to command attention. This made the man beside him look at the people in the dining hall with a sharp gaze, giving a warning to keep those eyes away.

The man besides the beautiful man possesses an enigmatic aura that sends shivers down the spines of those who cross his path. His most striking feature is his deep, dark blue hair that falls in disheveled waves, creating an otherworldly contrast against his wheat complexion. The intense gaze of his piercing red eyes is the stuff of legends, seemingly capable of seeing through the veils of secrecy and deceit.

The man carries himself with an air of indifference, his movements slow and deliberate, as if time itself were subject to his whims. His demeanor exudes a chilling calmness, earning him the reputation of being cold and lazy, though his apparent lethargy may be a deceptive facade for the calculating mind beneath the surface. 

"Yittiel."

Daimon looked at the wife of his grandson and nodded, "It's been a while Zevi."

That's right, Zevi Shilomst Del Viltaria; the eldest son of Arkiton Del Viltaria, who was given to the Catharis family as a child bride back then. 

He has now grown to be a beautiful man, looking exactly like the Duchess.

"Greetings, Grandfather."

Zevi gave a courtesy and was about to walk towards the current Duke to greet but Yittiel grabbed his arms and sneered, saying, "Did I tell you to speak?"

Zevi trembled and lowered his gaze.

"H-Husband..."

"Good, you know I'm your husband but you still go around looking at other men when I told you to keep your sight on the ground."

Yittiel grabs Zevi's chin and pinch it.

"This is why you shouldn't be let out. You keep seducing people."

Daimon's palm crashes against the table, a thunderous reverberation filling the room, as he fixes a stern gaze upon his grandson. "Yittiel, how dare you level accusations against us? Zevi is the bride I bestow upon you. Should you persist in this disrespectful attitude, I would not hesitate to return him to the Del Viltaria Household, rendering your marriage null and void."

The young men of the Catharis family retracted their eyes.

Yittiel chuckles and glances at his grandfather lazily, then at his father.

"Grandpa, can you bear to make your grandson crazy? You know that it's not hard to burn the Del Viltaria Household if I want."

Daimon frown.

Among his grandsons, Yittiel is the most dangerous because this grandson of his is someone who receives the blessing of God Devon. The intensity of his pair of crimson eyes serves as a clear indicator of the profound destructive prowess he wields. This is also the reason why he always accommodates to Yittiel. To avoid the tragedy of the empire.

"Your brothers have their own person, you don't need to feel threatened."

Yittiel snorts dismissively, striding purposefully toward the vacant seat beside his father.

Zevi prepares to take his seat beside his husband, but Yittiel swiftly claims him by the waist, gently placing him on his lap. With a possessive yet tender touch, Yittiel runs his fingers along Zevi's legs, all the while fixing an intense gaze upon the men seated across the table.

Sanvielle didn't bother with his brother's hostility and turned to his grandfather.

"Grandpa, since Brother Yittiel is here, we should start the meeting."

Daimon nodded in acknowledgment, casting a concerned glance at his son, Yittieo, who had maintained a silence throughout the interaction. Yittieo's demeanor stood in stark contrast to that of his grandsons, possessing a gentle nature that fueled his anxiety. It's so worrisome that he found his son a marriage partner with a strong character for protection but he didn't expect that his grandson would take so much after that man which made him feel hateful since he's expecting a cute grandson who will sweetly call him grandfather. 

Fortunately, he found solace in his adopted son, Katnier, who blessed him with the cute and endearing grandson he had yearned for. Otherwise, the prospect of succumbing to the frustration might have been too much to bear.

"We've gathered here to announce the prophecy that God Devon has bestowed."

A collective furrowing of brows ensued as the topic reached their ears.

Daimon signals his aid to read the oracle.

"In the tapestry of existence, there shall arise a profound hour, cloaked in shadows, where the sins concealed within the hearts of mortals will unfurl. The heavens, in their divine decree, shall descend to pass judgment, an inevitable reckoning poised to usher forth the world's demise. As the deity of your choosing, those who venerate the obscurity and refute the purity within all things shall be granted a peculiar boon—an afterlife gift, bestowed upon the worshipers of the shadows."

A hush fell over the room as each person listened intently, collectively descending into a contemplative silence.

Alone in the office, Kaizer found solitude, his eyes gradually ablaze with a crimson intensity, a subtle smile curving his lips.

"...and when the moment arrives, each of you shall be liberated from the shackles of despair."

Artha, a forsaken realm, should have long faded into oblivion. Yet, sustained by the tenacious grip of a singular existence, it persists, weaving its influence over the lives of all who inhabit it. Thus, those who devoutly venerate the correct deity shall be granted a blessing beyond the reach of heaven—a sacred entitlement to the afterlife they fervently desire.

Mad laughter echoed through the room, a cacophony of unrestrained lunacy.

Kaizer's typically frigid countenance softened imperceptibly at the fleeting memory of Eugene's face. He turned towards the door, a thoughtful hum escaping his lips.

Exiting the room, Kaizer navigated the dim corridors with deliberate steps, his imposing presence casting a palpable weight. Each footfall echoed through the shadows, accompanied by an ethereal shroud of dark aura emanating from his form.

"Oh, Eugene, my beloved Eugene."

Positioned before Eugene's chamber door, Kaizer gradually turns the doorknob, ushering himself inside. He approached the bed with purpose, standing in unwavering silence, his gaze fixated obsessively upon Eugene's slumbering countenance

Though he never regretted helping Eugene to become strong, sometimes when Eugene fought with him, he couldn't help but break his [Eugene] wings again.

An angelic deity bereft of wings—an intriguing paradox, isn't it?

Leaning in with gentle intent, Kaizer tenderly brushed his fingertips against Eugene's cheeks.

The time is running out.

Despite having awakened, Eugene remains ensnared in confusion regarding the unfolding events. Unaware that, regardless of his actions, a fulfilling life in Artha eludes him unless he stands by his side. Furthermore, Eugene remains oblivious to the inevitable departure that awaits him, beckoning him to return to the realm where their true existence is destined to thrive.

The Interstellar Era, the world he created.

Coming all the way here after a billion years have passed. If it weren't for that incident, Eugene and he would have been happily spending their time with their children.

The kids must have been waiting.

But it doesn't matter.

Having alone time with Eugene in this world is meaningful too.

After all, he is not sure if he can come back with Eugene in the future.

Perhaps, in order for Eugene to go back this time, he might disappear forever, for this is the last chance given to him and he had given. So no matter what, he mustn't let heaven get a hold of Eugene's soul in this world. He must protect Eugene, even if it means trapping his beloved beside him and destroying the world.

Eugene can go back.

Only...

If he wakes up.