After Everything is Over

Lance woke up and his last memory flashed before his eyes.

"Fiona!" He quickly looks around, hoping to see her okay.

The door opens and a woman comes in bringing in a tray of food.

Lance quickly pretends to be asleep as he wants to check who is at the door.

The woman comes over and then sighs.

"He's still not up, it's my fault," she says with a twinge of guilt in her tone. 

She takes a spoonful of soup and gets ready to open his mouth to feed him and then Lance opens his eyes.

Fiona was shocked and almost lashed out but she realized that Lance woke up.

"Your Highness..." Fiona said with a smile.

"I didn't get a chance to thank you," She said with a grateful bow.

A bow of gratitude which is much different than her usual ones out of respect.

Lance smiled, "I should be thanking you. I wouldn't be here right now without your help. What happened?" He asked.

Fiona began to recount everything that happened after Lance passed out.

How the capital was in Chaos, the funerals of important figures, the death of Count Grenden, and how he avoided being labeled as the perpetrator. How Jason, the previous empress, and Selena stayed holed up in their city and finally, their engagement.

Lance heard everything and had so many different emotions. He couldn't even attend the funeral of his father and Duke Zenat. Selena never showed up even once throughout the process and it was only this woman next to him and her father that took the lead with Duke Mandeline to stabilize the situation and keep him protected.

He felt conflicted when he heard about the engagement but the more he thought of her figure when she saved him during the rebellion, the more he felt like it was okay.

He was very disheartened that Selena never visited even once but he was long prepared for the truth he had been avoiding. She may not ever be his enemy but she won't be his woman, that was very clear to him.

He looks again at Fiona. Fiona doesn't lose to any other woman in any way and he also remembers how well she performed in both the southern campaign and the Thorkell campaign.

He also remembered Damien and Allen whispering hints about Fiona in front of him, it was clear what they wanted to do.

He takes a deep sigh and after thinking about it carefully, his body and mind relax a lot.

A small smile crept to his lips, maybe, this is just how things are supposed to be.

Marquis Flamor broke into the room and realized that Lance had awoken. He quickly called everyone and they threw a mini celebration. 

They start preparing Lance for coming back into society and taking back the Royal Palace.

Lance was already a very popular figure, the only contender was Fiona. Once he was announced to be safe, the capital was in an uproar.

With the help of Marquis Flamor and Duke Mandeline, Lance slowly rose his political power among the nobles. There was not much many could say in opposition against the two young heroes of war, a duke and the new leader of the military/empress faction.

With his power now established, the coronation ceremony and the wedding were announced to take place.

Everything in the capital was going smoothly.

New Southern City

Jason looked over at Selena, sleeping in his arms.

Selena wakes up at his slight movement and looks at him with an affectionate gaze.

Jason smiles and tells her that Lance is getting married soon.

"Oh, he woke up? Who is he getting married to?" Fiona inquired.

"Fiona," Jason said.

Selena almost chuckled, "so it really happened, huh?"

"Their wedding will be in four months," Jason said.

He then walked over to his desk and grabbed a document and a small box.

"I was unsure when to tell you this but this gives me a great reason," Jason said slowly.

He then snaps his finger and then a huge illusion appears in the room.

Selena is aware that this type of magic needs to be prepared in advance and costs many weeks' worth of mana.

She looks around and she's flying in the sky with Jason, they are seeing beautiful sights she has never seen before. The night sky is beautiful and the stars are dazzling. As she was immersing herself in the illusion, fireworks started popping up in the sky. 

Their colors were beautiful and not a single one of them was the same.

Eventually, the fireworks start to spell out a phrase.

"Selena, will you marry me?"

Selena was shocked and her heart beat incredibly fast. 

She always fantasized about a proposal but she never thought it would be like this. 

She looks down and sees a beautiful ring. More beautiful than she had ever seen before.

She also looked over and saw the document, which is the property ownership of the magic tower.

Tears welled up in her eyes, she was far too touched.

She hugged him deeply and said, "I do!"

Jason takes a breath of relief and smiles heartily as he hugs her back.

The two enjoy a joyous romantic atmosphere.

The months pass by and both couples are getting ready for the wedding preparations. 

Jason is petty and puts his wedding date on the same day as Lance's.

Lance is more popular and the current emperor so naturally, most people went to his wedding but Jason just wanted an excuse to not go to Lance's wedding so this was perfect.

"You look beautiful", Ivory said as she looked at Selena in a wedding dress.

"Thank you, Ivory, I'm glad you made it," Selena said.

"Why wouldn't I come, My best friend and my cousin are getting married, I have to be here," Ivory said.

Mr. Jobaine and Mrs. Jobaine attended as well. The journey of research is never ending so Mrs. Jobaine never worries herself with anything outside of their territory. Mr. Jobaine supports her as well so the couple hardly ever shows their appearance but they wouldn't miss their daughter's wedding. 

After getting her parents, Selena continued to chat with Ivory.

Mr. Mandeline had to attend the emperor's wedding as his status did not allow him to miss such an important event but his daughter was free to do as she wished.

Fiona was walking down the alter.

She was also aware that Selena was getting married and despite their ups and downs, it seems like they will still stand on opposite sides in the future.

Now, she is not only fighting for herself and for her family but also for Lance.

The two weddings went smoothly without any issue and the couples enjoyed their honeymoon life.

As Lance got to know more about Fiona, he realized that there was almost nothing this woman can't do. She also won the support of so many people due to her talent alone whereas he knew that his support was won mainly by his eyes and lineage. He felt immense respect for her and his fearlessness. 

At one point in time, he wanted to make Selena his empress but looking at it in hindsight, he would most likely have to cover up all her flaws and ensuing problems that would come with her having the title but with Fiona, it's more like she is covering his flaws.

He always thought he would be the one to solely protect his partner and his partner just has to love him in return but he knows now that might not be the kind of love is wanted.

He looks at Fiona's eyes who just walked into the room and calls out to her.

"My empress, I may be a bit lacking but I can promise you that I will always be thankful for everything you have done for me and I will cherish you for as long as I live," Lance said with sincerity.

Fiona smiles, "You're quite lucky to have a woman like me, she says a bit seductively as she approaches him and lifts his chin up.

"I'm not a woman who gets married on a whim, I've already chosen you and I don't make bad choices. I hope you won't be my first" she said in a slightly cold but teasing tone.

Lance's body heats up as he nods frantically. Fiona smiles and the two continue to enjoy the warm atmosphere.

Many months pass by and the Kadence empire is getting more and more stable. The gap left behind by the previous emperor and empress was huge but thanks to the many nobles working together and not infighting as much, they were able to get everything back on track eventually. The lack of wars was also a huge reason, it gave them ample time to focus on restoring the eternal politics.

In the southern city, a baby's cry rang out.

Jason picked up the small child and coaxed him back to stop crying.

The child was a perfect mix of Jason and Selena's features. He was beloved by the people of the new southern city and of course, his parents.

The child opened his eyes and Jason was immediately shocked.

His smile grew wide and he said, "My dear child, it seems that you are going to accomplish something your father was not able to. I may have been abandoned by the heavens but you, you are the chosen one" 

"Selena, you truly are the light of my life," Jason said with a smile as he stared at his son's baby face.

The child looked up at his father with a confused look but when his eyes opened, you could see a crown-like symbol appear in his pupils.

The emperor's eye has chosen its new owner...