Move On

Jinny stood by the window, staring blankly outside. She still couldn't believe Yehuda was gone. He had died without fulfilling his promise. Fresh tears welled up in her already swollen eyes as she struggled to hold back her sorrow.

"Jinny… it's time for the emperor's tea," Thomas said gently.

Snapping back to reality, she quickly wiped her tears and picked up the tray. The tea and snacks were ready for serving. With careful steps, she carried the tray to the garden, where Emperor Matias was resting, engaged in conversation with his generals.

"I understand," Matias said solemnly. "I'm sorry for the loss. Tomorrow, we will hold a ceremony to honor the fallen soldiers. I will assign my secretary and Princess Beatrice to oversee the arrangements in my stead."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Please take care of yourself. Your health is of utmost importance now," one of the generals urged.

Matias nodded in response. As the generals bowed and took their leave, Jinny quietly placed the snacks before him and poured his tea.

Matias lifted his cup, taking a slow sip, his gaze settling on her. He had already heard the reports—Sir Yehuda was among those who perished protecting the border. It was clear that Jinny had developed feelings for him, and quickly at that.

"Crying won't bring him back," Matias said bluntly. "He's gone, and no one can change that. You have to move on."

Jinny lowered her head, biting her lower lip as she clenched her skirt tightly. If only she had never come to this world, she would have never felt this pain.

Matias set down his teacup and observed her for a moment before speaking again. "Is this your first time falling in love?"

Jinny's eyes widened in shock. The question was so unexpected that her cheeks flushed instantly.

"T-That's…" she stammered, struggling for words. She quickly knelt, lowering her head even more. "M-My apologies, Your Majesty, if I have done something to displease you."

Matias remained unmoved, his voice cold and unwavering.

"Listen to me. Love is a luxury we cannot afford right now. What matters most is survival. Dying on the battlefield only proves that Sir Yehuda was weak. You should not waste your tears on the weak." His sharp gaze bore into her. "Focus on your own safety. The enemy will strike again, and next time, they will be stronger. You need someone who can protect you."

Jinny swallowed hard as a bead of sweat trickled down her forehead.

"Will you be alright when that time comes, Your Majesty?" she asked hesitantly.

Matias was ill. Would he truly be able to protect her? Would she only become a burden to him?

A smirk crossed Matias's lips. "Are you doubting me?"

Jinny's heart pounded, and she quickly shook her head. "N-No, Your Majesty! I would never dare!"

"Even in sickness, I am still capable of protecting myself… and you," he said firmly. Then, with an unexpected gesture, he picked up a small cookie and held it out to her. "So… will you accept me as your protector?"

Jinny looked at him in awe, her emotions swirling within her. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded.

"I… I will, Your Majesty," she whispered, taking the cookie from his hand.

For the first time that day, Matias smiled. But just as quickly, a sudden pain struck him. He coughed violently, blood staining his palm as he covered his mouth.

"Your Majesty!" Jinny gasped in panic, rushing to his side.

She called for the guards, her heart racing as she watched him struggle.

"Don't worry about me," Matias muttered, his voice weaker than before.

Two knights hurried over and supported him, helping him to his feet. They guided him back to his chamber, where Jinny stayed by his bedside, gently covering him with a blanket.

"Please rest, Your Majesty," she whispered softly.

Matias closed his eyes, exhaustion evident on his face. Jinny remained beside him until sleep finally claimed him, her worry far from fading.

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Shuu stood in the shadows of a dark alley, waiting for his brother, Tohru. It had been weeks since they arrived in this strange world. When they first woke up, they found themselves in the ruins of the capital—devastated by a past enemy attack. With nowhere to go and no home to return to, the streets became their new reality.

Once, they had been wealthy kids in their own world. Now, they were nothing more than vagrants in an unfamiliar land.

With the war raging on, no one was willing to hire them. So, they had no choice but to lurk in the city's backstreets, searching for a way to survive. That was when they discovered the black market. It was a place filled with corruption, where dirty deals and underhanded trades were the norm. Desperate to live, they took on dangerous jobs—even resorting to stealing. However, they chose their targets carefully, preying mostly on criminals, thugs, and burglars—those who wouldn't dare report them.

Their survival wasn't just luck. Both Shuu and Tohru had been well-trained by their fathers, making them more than capable of handling themselves in a fight.

Shuu was the son of Shin and Kaye—a carefree troublemaker with a thirst for excitement. He got bored easily, always searching for something to entertain himself. If nothing interesting happened, he would make trouble just to stir up some chaos. He often teased his siblings, picked fights with street gangs, and even begged his uncles to let him join their missions just to relieve his boredom. But his reckless love for fighting often led to destruction, and he rarely considered the consequences of his actions. If something broke, if a place got wrecked, he hardly cared—so long as he had fun.

His behavior constantly earned him scoldings from Shin, who often grounded him. At one point, his troublemaking became so extreme that he was nearly sent to Spain as punishment.

Tohru, on the other hand, was the son of Troy and Kaye. He, too, had once been a cheerful prankster, always teasing his siblings. But everything changed after the accident ten years ago.

Since then, blood became his greatest fear.

If he saw a little, he would freeze. If he saw too much, his mind would snap. He would lose all sense of reality, screaming and attacking anything in sight—completely out of control. In those moments, he could neither hear nor recognize anyone. Only two people could calm him down—his mother and Jinny.

Though he had slowly started returning to his old self, becoming more provocative again, he still had to be careful. Too much blood, and he would relapse into madness.

Shuu's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps.

He turned just in time to see Tohru sprinting toward him, a bag clutched in his arms.

Behind him, a man was in pursuit.

Tohru tossed the bag at Shuu, who caught it effortlessly, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Hurry!" Tohru urged.

Without hesitation, they ran.

"Who's that fool?" Shuu asked, glancing back at the man chasing them.

"Dunno. I stole his bag, and now he won't give up," Tohru replied between breaths.

They quickened their pace, weaving through the alleys. But before they could escape, the man suddenly vanished from sight.

A heartbeat later—he was in front of them.

Shuu and Tohru skidded to a halt, eyes widening in shock.

The man stood there, blocking their path.

Swift. Too swift.

They had underestimated him.

For the first time in a long while, Shuu felt a rush of something other than boredom.

Excitement.