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Chapter 1: The Confession

A few months had passed since the cataclysmic conclusion of the Apocalypse War. The sky, once choked by omens and crimson omens, now glimmered with starlight more clearly than ever before. The land had begun to breathe again. Though the scars remained, some visible, some hidden within hearts, the world had entered a new Epoch.

At the pinnacle of existence, within the eternal grandeur of the Sefirah Castle, sat Klein Moretti, the Fool, the Lord of the Mysteries.

He no longer had a heartbeat, yet he understood the rhythm of all things. He no longer needed sleep, yet he could drift through dreams with clarity unmatched. His throne loomed high above the material and spiritual worlds, where the prayers of his believers flowed into delicate rivers of light, weaving through the Castle's infinite corridors.

Despite his divinity, Klein still engaged actively with the members of the Tarot Club, orchestrating their efforts to stabilize the world, cleanse the residual pollution left by the Outer Deities, and uncover the anomalies lingering in the cracks of reality. Though his body had not yet fully recovered, and he could not yet descend avatars onto the physical plane for very long, his influence stretched far and wide.

But in moments between work, when the Castle grew quiet, and no prayers reached his ears, Klein would sit in silence with thoughts that belonged not to a deity, but to a man.

Occasionally, Stiano, eager and ever-curious, would intrude into the Fool's divine domain, requesting to continue his study from the dream world.

Klein found his persistence amusing. After entertaining him for some time, Klein gave him a task worthy of his ambition, to visit other planets, explore their civilizations, and learn their technology. It was a task far removed from simple lectures, and one that would hopefully buy Klein a little peace.

Stiano, of course, took the challenge with excitement and left in high spirits, eager to journey into the stars.

Finally alone again, Klein leaned back in his grand throne, fingers gently drumming against the mottled bronze table.

That was when he unexpectedly received a floating message in the form of a black butterfly. a soft, elegant voice tug at his attention. A call. Not a prayer, nor a cry for help.

An invitation

From Evernight.

---

Klein opened a gate in the space beside him, directly connecting him to the divine Kingdom of Eternal Darkness filled with night vanilla and slumber flowers.

There, under the unchanging night sky, sat Evernight, The Eternal Darkness.

A white porcelain tea set rested on a round table beside her, untouched. The second chair, though clearly prepared, remained empty, until now.

Klein approached with quiet steps, removing his hat and pressing it to his chest. He bowed with measured grace.

"Good evening, Goddess of The Eternal Darkness."

Evernight looked up. Her eyes glowed softly beneath the veil of shadows that always clung to her like a second skin. A smile touched her lips.

"Good evening, Lord of the mysteries. Please, take a seat."

Her voice was like distant calming music in the dark. They exchanged pleasantries, both of them aware of the formality, the routine, the calm surface of their interaction. But beneath it, there was something else, an undercurrent.

Finally, Klein placed his hat back atop his head and took a seat across of her, before asking, "Forgive me for asking directly… but what is it you wished to speak to me about?"

Evernight set her teacup down. Her expression grew softer, more vulnerable, though still poised.

"There is a secret I have kept," she said gently. "One I've carried for several epochs. It concerns you."

Klein's brow furrowed. Of all the things she could say, he hadn't expected this, not from someone who understood the balance of time and fate as deeply as Evernight did.

"In the waning years of the Second Epoch," she began, "Grisha made a prophecy."

Klein's eyes narrowed slightly.

"He spoke of a person who would come from outside the barrier in the fifth epoch. A man who would become a candidate for the Lord of the Mysteries. Someone who had once came from the same era as ours… someone I knew closely."

Klein's breath caught. "You mean… me?"

Evernight nodded solemnly. "Yes."

A chill passed over him, not the cold of death or power, but something far more human.

Someone she knew closely... We knew each other?

"Then… that means you…"

She gazed at him with something deep in her eyes. A sorrow, maybe. A memory long buried.

"Mingrui… do you truly not remember me?"

He stared at her, stunned speechless. He couldn't come up with a name immediately.

Who...?

Evernight leaned forward. Her voice was quiet, but it broke through centuries of silence.

"Mingrui. It's me. Yujia."

The world stopped.

_____

Klein, no, Zhou Mingrui, froze in place. All his composure, all his divine detachment forged through fusion, unraveled. His eyes widened. He didn't even bother to use his Clown ability to disguise it.

"Yujia… Zhang Yujia?" he whispered, as if saying the name could summon back the years.

Evernight smiled softly and reached up to her veil. Slowly, she removed it.

Her face wasn't identical to the girl he once knew, but he saw it now, her features, though transformed by divinity, were still hers. The curve of her smile, the quiet wisdom in her eyes, the gentleness he remembered.

Zhang Yujia, his childhood friend, had once been his crush. He had wanted to confess his feelings to her during their teenage years, but failed. She left overseas with her father after her parents divorced. When they finally reconnected online, his feelings rekindled and he finally confessed, even offering to visit her. But she never replied.

And that was the end, just like that. The rest was history.

"I told you before, even after my long life, the days I spent in the past, the ones that nurtured me, are my most precious memories." She smiled in reminiscence. "And that past includes you… Mingrui."

Klein almost couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Yujia…"

She looked away slightly before continuing, "Back then, I wanted to say yes to your confession. But my father was pressuring me to marry the son of his business partner. I was torn between chasing my career and my feelings for you. I didn't know how to respond."

Klein nodded slowly, remembering.

"I bought a charm from a street vendor during a festival. It claimed to 'help me find my true self.' I didn't expect it to work. But when I woke up…" She looked up at the starry sky, her voice filled with aching nostalgia. "I was in the Second Epoch. And I never came back."

They sat in silence, the air thick with unspoken emotion. Klein's chest, divine or not, felt tight with something painfully familiar.

She continued softly, "I didn't tell you until now because I was afraid. The Celestial Worthy could have used our past against you. I thought… maybe it was better if you didn't remember. After all, I did ghost you before my death."

She let out a small, self-deprecating chuckle.

Klein shook his head and reached out to take her hand, cold, trembling, but real.

"No. I'm glad you told me. I'm grateful. All this time, you were there, watching over me, helping me… and I didn't even know."

She smiled ever so gently at him.

"It was truly fascinating to watch your journey. I wasn't sure it was really you at the beginning, but after watching you over time, I became certain." She chuckled lightly. "There were times I worried about your actions, but my limitations prevented me from descending freely. Not only did I need to maintain the barrier, but I also had to keep Lilith concealed from corruption. I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you…"

Klein couldn't help feeling awkward, remembering the days when he was still mortal, back when she had descended and smiled at him. He wondered if she had been watching him all the time without him knowing.

That would be… embarrassing.

"There's no need to apologize. You helped me more than enough." He laughed dryly. "Though… I hope I didn't display anything too unsightly in front of you."

Evernight smiled tenderly and shook her head, looking amused.

"You passed everything with flying colors."

Klein smiled in relief. He wanted to ask her more, but then noticed the change in her expression.

Evernight gazed at him with longing and unspeakable sorrow.

"Mingrui... I was very lonely," she whispered, placing his hand against her forehead. "After becoming Death, I forgot how to feel warmth. I've never felt so empty and cold before. It scares me…"

She looked up and met his gaze with pleading eyes.

"Help me… Mingrui…"

Her vulnerable plea struck him with painful clarity. She had endured loneliness far longer than his own suffering. And through all of it, she had waited for him.

He knew what he had to do. His voice was gentle, firm, filled with quiet determination.

"Yujia. You don't need to be alone anymore."

Klein rose from his seat and knelt before her, locking eyes with her without hesitation.

"Let's marry."

Her eyes widened.

"W-What?" she gasped.

Of all the things she expected him to say, she did not expect that.

He smiled, his voice full of conviction.

"You need a strong anchor to restore your humanity. And what better anchor than a pillar?"

He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them gently.

"You've fought for so long. There's no way I'll let you keep bearing this burden alone. Let me share it with you, be your other half."

He looked at her, eyes shining with sincerity.

"Will you allow me?"

---

For a moment, Yujia, Evernight, stared at him, stunned. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came. Her divine composure, the poise of a Goddess who had watched over life and death for epochs, cracked. Her shoulders trembled.

Tears gathered in her eyes, slow, glistening drops that slipped down her cheeks, as if centuries of isolation were finally washing away. She raised a hand to her mouth, trying to stifle a sob, but failed.

Then, with the grace of someone shedding a lifetime of loneliness, she knelt down beside him. Her hands found his, and she held them tightly, as if afraid he might vanish like a dream.

She leaned forward, her forehead resting against his shoulder, her voice trembling with emotion that she thought she had lost.

"Yes. I would," she whispered, barely audible, but the words rang louder in his heart than any divine decree.

Klein laughed, a soft, breathless laugh, light and unburdened. A sound not heard from him in centuries. It was the laugh of Zhou Mingrui, the man beneath a deity, breaking free from time's bindings.

He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close, holding her as if anchoring her to the present. For a long moment, they simply stayed like that, two immortals who had once been children, lovers-that-could-have-been, now finally reunited.

Evernight, Yujia, closed her eyes against his chest. "Mingrui… I'm so glad it's you," she whispered. "So glad you're the one who came out of the Sefirah Castle… So glad it's you who became the Lord of the Mysteries. I prayed… even though I should be the one answering prayers."

Klein rested his cheek against her hair, his own eyes damp. "That should be my line."

He gently cupped her face, brushing his thumb against her tears. "Thank you… Yujia. For surviving. For waiting. For remembering."

He leaned forward and kissed her, soft and slow, as if sealing a vow made across lifetimes. It wasn't the kiss of deities or of fate, it was of two souls, lost and found.

And in that moment, as their foreheads touched and their hands intertwined, Klein felt something he had not felt in all his ascent through chaos and stars.

He finally felt like he was home.

In the vast, eternal space of the Sefirah Castle, the Tarot Club members gathered once again at the long, bronze table under the illusory sky filled with drifting stars.

The discussion was drawing to a close. Miss Magician, Fors, had just finished sharing her latest journey through the cosmos, her tale full of wonder and danger. A quiet lull followed her story, until Franca, the Empress, shifted in her seat. Her vibrant eyes glimmered with curiosity as she fixed her gaze on the figure enshrouded in fog at the head of the table.

Gathering her courage, she asked the question that had haunted her since the Dream World collapsed.

"Honorable Mr. Fool… if it's not too bold to ask… Who was the first Transmigrator? It's not the one the Aurora Order believes in, is it?"

A rare and profound stillness settled over the table.

The Fool tilted his head ever so slightly, the mist around him swirling with unseen tides. When he spoke, his voice echoed with ancient calm, as though transcending the boundaries of time.

"It wasn't Grisha," he began. "Grisha, also known as Adam, emerged from the Chaos Sea. He was chosen by his predecessor, not randomly selected like the Celestial Worthy's method for resurrection. The Almighty preferred to select someone whose personality aligned closely with his own, to maintain stability in the fusion."

His voice reverberated like truth itself, and the club members slowly absorbed the information.

"As for the first one to emerge from the Sefirah... that was Evernight."

Silence enveloped the hall. Surprise, disbelief, and awe rippled through the group like a mental shockwave.

Even Alger and Cattleya, ever the cautious observers, stirred in their seats. They had harbored suspicions, anyone paying close attention to the strange synchronicity between The Fool and the Evernight Church would, but none of them were prepared for what came next.

Klein chuckled softly, a rare warmth in his tone. "I'm sure you've heard her real name before. Her true name… was Zhang Yujia."

A collective gasp escaped from the gathered members.

Every member froze.

Of course they all recognized the name.

Zhang Yujia!

It was the name of the childhood friend of Zhou Mingrui in the Dream World. The woman who never actually appeared, except in the form of letters sent towards Zhou Mingrui. Many had thought she was just a figment, perhaps one of the many identities that Adam weaved in the dream, not considering her to be real.

"Wait! Zhang Yujia?" Franca asked, eyes wide. "That name... it's from the Dream World. Isn't she your… um, childhood friend?"

Klein gave a simple nod. "That's true."

A mix of awe and realization passed among the members like an invisible current.

Audrey felt a strange sense of clarity dawn upon her. It explained so much. The subtle closeness between The Fool and the Evernight Church, the reason why The Goddess would unspeakably aid them from time to time.

So that's their relationship…' Audrey thought, chewing her lower lip. 'Did the Goddess already know Mr Fool's identity from the beginning? What kind of reunion did they have…?'

Her heart fluttered with wonder, excitement and something else, something she didn't wish to name just yet.

Alger exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. Everything made sense now. The Fool's rapid ascension. Their relationship turned out to be deeper than he expected. He didn't know whether to be impressed or exasperated.

Derrick, the Sun, gazed at Klein with wide-eyed reverence. Emlyn the Moon furrowed his brows, sceptical but shaken.

Leonard, meanwhile, gawked.

"Huh? Wait, how come I didn't know any of this?" he blurted, unable to contain his shock.

Klein glanced at his dear poet friend with a smile. "That's because… I only learned it recently."

Leonard blinked dumbfoundedly. "H-how so?"

The other members were similarly curious and paid serious attention to their conversation.

"During the second epoch, Grisha made a prophecy. He claimed that in the fifth epoch, a new Lord of the Mysteries candidate will come out from outside the barrier. And that candidate is someone that Evernight particularly close with." He stopped for a while, letting his words sink, before continuing, "It was since then, they have been anticipating me."

As he gazed the stunned expressions of the other Tarot Club members, Klein's voice once again reverberated in the air, "Evernight feared that Celestial Worthy would exploit our past and used it against me in the future, so she had been keeping this a secret, until the time was right."

The other members slowly accepted his explanation, which gave them understanding of The Fool and The Evernight Goddess' past. They murmured softly, the air filled with astonished questions they didn't dare ask.

But not Fors.

The Magician had one question bubbling inside her, and unfortunately, it came out.

"Really just… a friend?" she blurted, before clapping her hands over her mouth in horror.

All heads turned toward her.

Xio gave her a look that could curdle blood.

Seriously? her gaze seemed to scream. You're always terrified of him, and yet you kept on digging your own grave like this!

Fors tried to laugh it off, her voice cracking under the pressure. "Ah, eh, haha… of course, just friends! Hahaha…"

Xio facepalmed.

But Klein, The Fool, simply chuckled, the mist around him trembling with the sound. Light and easy, as though it truly didn't bother him.

And what he said next shattered the table's composure like glass under a hammer.

"Actually… there is something else I should inform you all of," he said casually. "Evernight and I will be entering a marriage alliance soon."

The words fell like a meteor.

For a moment, no one moved.

Then—

"WHAT?!"

Leonard nearly fell off his chair. He stared at Klein as if he'd been struck by lightning.

"Y-You're joking, right?" he croaked.

Klein shook his head, wearing an amused expression. "No, I'm quite serious. This is actually quite a good opportunity to enrich our humanity." He said solemnly. "With this, the cooperation with Church of Eternal Darkness will strengthen as well."

Leonard mouth opened as if to speak, then closed again.

'Unbelievable… this guy transmigrated, died, became a deity, and now he's marrying the goddess who is actually his childhood friend?' he thought, numb with disbelief. 'How the hell is this my life?'

To Leonard, a servant of the Evernight Church, it felt as though his best friend had just casually announced he was marrying his divine superior.

This is madness!

Across the table, Emlyn gawked as if someone had just told him all his dolls had been turned into real girls.

Even today, he still find it hard to believe that The Fool and Sherlock were the same person. And this Sherlock will marry the Goddess!

Franca looked just as shocked.

'M-Marriage?! To the Goddess herself?!'

Xio's hands gripped the edge of her chair tightly. Her heart was still hammering from the barrage of revelations. She glanced at Fors beside her, only to find her friend pale and blinking, lips slightly parted.

"…You okay?" Xio whispered.

Fors shook her head slowly, hands trembling just a little.

"…No," she admitted, barely above a whisper.

How could she be?

She swallowed the lump in her throat.

"I don't know how to process this."

Who would have imagined that Mr. Fool's love life would be more romantic, more dramatic, than any plot she'd ever written!

Audrey, though equally shaken, found her breath hitching not from shock, but from something far more delicate. More painful.

Mr. Fool is getting married.

To the Goddess.

Not just an alliance, not a convenient pact, but love? Affection? A bond forged across epochs?

Her heart thudded in her chest. She pressed a hand against it, willing it to calm. It didn't.

What's wrong with me?

I should be happy for him… and yet…

Her eyes blank, realization finally hit her.

I see... So I... towards Mr. Fool...

She thought she knew him, truly. His kind smile. His gentle guidance during her younger, more naïve days. That moment of sorrow he once shared with her, fleeting but honest.

She thought she was someone special to him. If not like Mr. Star, then at least…

It was foolish, wasn't it? Arrogant, even.

What am I, compared to the Goddess? She's walked with him since his original life. She waited for him. Protected him. Loved him, perhaps, long before we ever met.

A sharp pang of jealousy twisted in her chest, followed swiftly by shame.

So this is heartbreak....

It ended before it even starts...

No. No, this isn't about me. It never was.

Her cheeks flushed faintly, but she didn't look away. Instead, she looked at him, really looked. And in the depths of the fog, beyond the divinity and mystery, she saw him.

Not just The Fool.

Not just the deity who saved the world.

But the man who had once walked the world alone, before ascending to divinity, and who, for reasons she might never fully understand, had chosen to bring her along his path.

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Not of sorrow, but of quiet, aching yearning.

Even if it's impossible... At the very least... I still wish to follow him, to return his kindness...

Across of her, Alger, although surprised at first, quickly regained his calm. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Of course. Of course it's a marriage alliance with the Goddess. They are both deities now. What else was I expecting from Mr. Fool?

Derrick on the other hand was pleasantly surprised. After all, to him who grew up among the myths of the old deities, marriage between deities was something common and worth celebration. "Congratulation Mr. Fool!" He beamed like a morning sun.

Cattleya merely blinked behind her glasses then sighed. "I suppose this is a holy union. Congratulation, Mr. Fool." She expressed sincerely.

However, deep inside, she couldn't contain her excitement. After all, she was about to witness a living myth unfold before her. A holy union that will soon be recorded in history!

Sharron conjured a paper with a single word saying, "Congratulation."

She was genuinely happy for him. This dear friend who seemed to have been shouldering a heavy burden had finally found someone precious to share his life with.

The others soon followed suit in congratulating The Fool, breaking Audrey from her thoughts.

She quickly placated herself, bringing her composure back and giving out her blessings,

"Congratulation Mr Fool, this is a joyous occasion!" She said with a convincing smile.

Inwardly, she scolded herself, 'Get a hold of yourself, Audrey! This isn't the time to think of something… something blasphemous!'

Leonard had gone completely silent, staring down at the mottled bronze table. He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples.

He felt conflicted, as though every new revelation about his friend only deepened the realization of how little he had ever truly known him.

So much happened, and I...

He stopped himself.

No, I don't have the right to feel bitter. Klein's not just Klein anymore. He's the Fool, a supreme deity. But still… it's hard. To realize how little I knew, even when we were close.

He felt the distance between them growing, expanding into something vast and painful. The sharp sting of being left behind.

I can't even tell if we're still friends anymore…

"…You idiot," he muttered under his breath, low and barely audible to anyone. But still, his eyes were warm. "You should've told me sooner... But still, I'm happy for you. Congratulation, Kle-I mean, Mr. Fool." He said awkwardly,

Klein chuckled softly, genuinely touched. His mist, shrouded form flickered with warmth.

Franca sat back, exhaling long and slow, a stunned grin spreading across her face. Who would have thought that a simple question of hers would turn into something like this?

Marriage, huh?

She found herself reflecting on her own tangled web of relationships, with Jenna, Lumian, and now Aurore. None of them had defined what they were to each other, and truthfully, none of them seemed to know. It was complicated. Messy. Uncertain.

'Could we even marry?' She helplessly wondered. 'Who's marrying who? Wait, would that even matter?'

But before the thought could deepen, Mr. Fool's voice gently pulled her back to the present.

"Thank you all, for your support thus far. I look forward to continued cooperation in the future. Now, let us end today's gathering."

His gaze swept across them, one by one, calm and resolute.

They all rose from their seats and bowed their heads in unison.

"By your will."

-------

Their figures soon faded one by one, swallowed by the swirling fog, until silence once again claimed the vast Sefirah Castle. The red starlit firmament above shimmered faintly, casting a soft glow over the bronze table and the towering throne at its head.

Klein leaned back on his throne, deep in thought. But the quiet was gently broken by a familiar, melodic voice.

"Oh? Has it ended already?"

Evernight stepped into view, her long, starry gown flowing like the night sky itself. Each step she took seemed to ripple with quiet brilliance as she approached him.

"I thought you were going to introduce them to me," she said with a soft smile.

Klein's expression melted into something warm and unguarded. He chuckled, his tone light.

"I figured we've given them enough to digest for now," He said with a soft laugh, extending his hand toward her to help her settle on the seat beside him "Any more surprises, and someone might actually lose control."

Evernight took his hand, but instead of taking the offered seat beside him, Evernight slid effortlessly onto his lap, resting against him with playful ease. She tilted her head, lips curled in a teasing smile, as if silently asking, Do you mind?

Klein blinked, just slightly startled, before his smile deepened. He knew how much she needed this direct connection. He wrapped one arm around her waist as she rested her head against his shoulder, her starry hair brushing against his cheek.

They sat in silence for a moment, the kind of silence only possible between two souls who had traversed lifetimes together. Her fingers intertwined with his, and he squeezed them gently.

"How's your condition?" she asked softly, her breath warm against his neck.

"Improving," he answered. "But I still need to grant more wishes. It's the fastest way to hasten my recovery."

"Slumbering again isn't an option?"

He shook his head lightly. "Not for long. The Outer Deities are patient, but I can't give them that kind of opportunity. While I'm asleep, even a slight misstep could cost the entire timeline."

Her hold around him tightened.

"But if it's just a travel, it shouldn't take too much longer," he added reassuringly, gazing at her. "When everything settles, let's go somewhere. Anywhere you want."

Evernight closed her eyes, considering his offer like a wish made under starlight. After a few moments, she smiled.

"The Western Continent," she said. "I want to see what it looks like now."

Klein chuckled. "Then that's where we'll go. Your wish shall be granted."

She tapped a finger against his chest lightly. "I have another wish."

"Oh?" His brows lifted, amused. "What would it be?"

She grinned. "Let's open a shop."

Klein blinked. "A… shop?"

"Mm-hmm," she hummed playfully. "I miss those simpler times in your dream world."

He was quiet for a while, stunned, not by the idea, but by the memory it invoked.

And then, he laughed, a real, heartfelt laugh that echoed through the castle and stirred the sleeping stars above. It wasn't often he felt this light, this warm.

"Alright," he said at last, eyes gleaming. "Let's open a Star Dream Provision Shop there."

Evernight giggled, the sound silvery and rare. "We'll probably have customers lined up from every plane of existence."

"Good. We can stock up on miracles," Klein replied with mock seriousness.

The two exchanged mischievous smirks, eyes gleaming with unspoken plans.

A wish granting shop run by deities in disguise.

It should be fun, right?

A few days after the Revelation in Sefirah Castle...

Audrey sat by the window of her family's estate. A book open on her lap but long forgotten. Her thoughts drifted restlessly, her eyes tracing the rain outside as it patterned softly against the glass. Her recent emotions, distant but persistent, lingered in the corners of her mind like a bittersweet perfume.

Then came the knock at the door.

She composed herself, brushing down the hem of her gown before opening it.

"Xio?" Audrey blinked. "This is a surprise."

The petite, blonde-haired woman looked worn but serious. She hesitated before speaking.

"It's about Fors," Xio said. "She needs help. And I… don't know who else to turn to."

Audrey's smile faded into concern. "Did something happen? Is she injured? Is it divine backlash?"

Xio shook her head, almost guiltily. "No. Not physically. It's… mental. Emotional. She's not herself."

Without another word, Audrey grabbed her cloak and followed.

---

They arrived at Fors' home not long after.

The scent of wine and whiskey hit Audrey before they even entered the living room. Bottles, empty and half-drained, littered the floor. Books were strewn about, parchment crumpled and forgotten. Fors lay curled on a sofa, her cheeks flushed with alcohol, her eyes red from crying.

Audrey's breath caught. She had never seen Miss Magician like this before.

"Fors?" she called gently, stepping closer.

The woman turned her head and groaned. "Miss Audrey…?"

She struggled to sit upright, blinking blearily. "Oh… you're really here. Both of you… huh…"

Xio folded her arms, looking torn between worry and exasperation. "She's been like this for three days. Won't tell me why."

Fors laughed bitterly. "Of course I didn't. How could I tell you that I… fell for Mr. Fool?"

Audrey blinked. "You… what?"

Xio couldn't believe her ears. "W-what?! What did you just say!?"

Fors hiccupped a small laugh, eyes glassy. "You heard me…"

Xio's brows shot up, her voice pitching in disbelief. "Since when!? Since when this happened?!"

Fors flopped back against the sofa, draping her arm over her eyes. "I don't even know… maybe since Dwayne Dantès. Or maybe before. Maybe always."

Xio stared at her, utterly dumbfounded, her mouth opening and closing like she couldn't decide which emotion to go with first, shock, outrage, or concern.

Audrey sat down slowly, stunned.

Fors sniffed, her voice slurring slightly. "I should've known," Fors continued, laughing at herself. "I had a crush on Dwayne Dantès before I even knew who he was. Had weird dreams about him too. You know, the kind you don't tell your best friend about."

Xio coughed into her fist.

Fors pressed on, drunkenly unaware. "Then I found out Dwayne Dantès and Gehrman Sparrow were the same person! …Scared the hell out of me! But… I couldn't stop thinking about him. It was like… like some weird emotional dependence. Maybe it was like what Emperor Roselle said, Stockholm syndrome or something."

Audrey was silent, her heart twisting.

"And now… now I know he's Mr. Fool. And that he's… getting married to The Goddess, no less." Fors's voice cracked. "He's the kindest, scariest, gentlest… person I've ever met. And I just… I can't stop feeling things I shouldn't."

She looked up at Audrey with trembling eyes, then reached forward to grasp the hem of her dress like a desperate child.

"Please, Miss Justice… Miss Audrey… help me forget. Use your powers. Take it away. I-I don't want to feel this way anymore!"

Audrey froze.

The scene before her reverberated painfully in her own chest.

How could she help Fors when she was barely holding herself together?

Her instincts surged, to activate Placate, to suppress her own ache and hers as well, to restore emotional balance. Her aura stirred faintly, but she stopped herself.

This pain… it was part of something real. Something precious.

Slowly, she knelt beside the sofa, taking Fors' hands into her own.

"…I can't do that," Audrey said softly. "Because… I understand you far too well."

Fors blinked. "What?"

Audrey looked away for a moment, gathering herself. Then, with a faint, sorrowful smile, she whispered:

"I love him too."

The room instantly fell into a hush.

Fors gaped, her mind struggling to catch up. Audrey's words had slapped her sober. Had she heard that right?

Xio's eyes widened further. That was the last thing she'd expected to hear.

What's going on…? Where am I? Is this a dream? An enemy attack?

Since when did the Tarot Club become Mr. Fool's Appreciation Club?

Her head swirling with headache.

Noticing the awkward silence, Audrey took a deep breath before finally continuing.

"I realized it after the last Tarot Meeting. I've admired him for so long… not because he was 'Him'. But because he was just… him. I thought I knew the real him very well. And when I learned the truth… it felt like my heart cracked open."

Fors's lips parted in shock. "You… too?"

Audrey nodded.

"When I heard how deeply the Goddess loved him, how she waited three epochs for him, stood by him even in silence..." her voice trembled, "...I felt awe. But also, despair. Because I knew then that my feelings were… not just admiration. They were something more, but not one that I could ever compare."

Fors looked down, her lip quivering. "It feels wrong, doesn't it? Like… we're intruding on something sacred. I fear the Goddess will strike me down."

Audrey's gaze softened and laughed awkwardly. "Perhaps. But feelings aren't something we can command. They bloom, quietly, without asking permission. And no deity, not even The Goddess, has condemned us for it."

Fors trembled. Her eyes welled up again.

"I just… I feel guilty. Like I betrayed the Goddess."

Audrey gently brushed Fors's hair back from her face.

"But you didn't," she said gently. "You saw the same man she loved. And you loved him for who he is, not what he is. That's not betrayal. That's… human, this is our humanity."

She looked Fors in the eyes, her voice steady now.

"Do you truly want to get rid of this side of you, Fors? Don't you want to cherish it? Even if it aches?"

Fors swallowed, her hands tightening around Audrey's.

"…I-I don't know," she whispered. "Of course I want to accept it too... after all, he did help me even though he had no reason to…"

I would have lost control and died early if not for his help….

She let out an exasperated sigh. "…but still, it hurts."

Audrey squeezed her hands. "It's okay. Let's face it together."

Fors grimaced at her gentle smile but managed a watery laugh. "You make it sound so noble…"

"It is," Audrey said, tilting her head. "If there is something I learned from all of this, it is that there's beauty in unrequited love. It makes us kinder, stronger. It teaches us to love without expecting anything in return."

Fors sighed and gave out a helpless smile with her puffy face, "Sure enough, that's noble."

Both girls were staring at each other, smiling in understanding.

"Ugh," Xio groaned, rubbing her temple. "You two are impossible."

The two women turned toward her, startled.

Xio let out a long-defeated sigh. "Alright…alright, I get it. I really do. Just… don't drown yourselves in alcohol for it, alright?"

She walked over and patted both their shoulders with a mix of awkward comfort and unspoken solidarity.

"I'm treating you two to dinner. And real drinks. Something that doesn't end with tears and a hangover."

Fors hiccupped a laugh. Audrey giggled through her misty eyes.

The air in the room shifted, lighter, warmer, like the sun breaking through clouds.

That day, the three Angels of The Fool shared a secret not even the stars above could hear.

A quiet truth, born from heartache and loyalty.

And in that quiet understanding, they found something like peace.