Extra 15: Croix's Predicament
The starry sky was dazzling, and the bright moon hung high in the sky. The surrounding buildings were gently illuminated by the moonlight, casting hazy shadows and making the street appear even more tranquil and mysterious.
The carriages heading to the Lord's Mansion drove along the cobblestone road, making a dull, rhythmic sound on the stones, like a melodious ancient tune.
The vehicle travels through quiet alleyways, sometimes crossing ancient stone bridges, sometimes skimming over peaceful squares, moving forward under this dreamlike starry sky, like an eternal fairy tale unfolding endlessly in the night.
Inside the carriage, Zestera had already fallen asleep, nestled on Cornelia's lap.
Dekan, however, still gazed at the moon outside the window with a sorrowful expression.
Without anyone noticing, Cornelia had moved closer to Dekan.
"Go help Croix, you used to have so many good ideas, didn't you?"
Cornelia whispered in Dekan's ear.
Even though Dekan later unknowingly became more comedic, she would never forget that Dekan was initially her brain.
"... Stop torturing me."
Dekan covered his face, now looking back on all the crazy things he did in Norton 'Royal Capital, it all seemed like he had shot himself in the foot.
He even fantasized about dragging Clay into causing trouble.
He feels a lingering fear whenever he thinks about it.
I almost got myself killed.
"But I believe you can definitely help Croix."
Cornelia stated definitively.
From the first time he met Croix, Dekan was helping him.
It has to be said.
If Delois and Lunn hadn't started out as enemies, but instead met like two ordinary teenagers at the academy...
It's likely that we can improve our relationship.
"But this time... I really can't help him."
Dekan shook his head helplessly.
This time is different from the past.
When Dekan learned that Croix was now caught in a dilemma involving three women, he probably understood.
This predicament is not a romantic comedy by Croix.
Rather, it was Croix's own inescapable fate.
His love life will be trapped by an inescapable guilt, just like that of Holy Emperor Lunn.
It all started with some stories about Lunn that Dekan had heard from Talomati.
Dekan wasn't sure whether he should tell Croix about this.
So far, he hasn't told Croix anything.
It should be noted that in his previous life, Lunn was a nobleman from the northern border territory of the Holy Kingdom.
His exceptional talent made him a formidable foe to the demons from a young age.
The demons naturally knew that Lunn was not easy to deal with... so they would keep an eye on any possibility that might defeat Lunn.
During his youth, Lunn faced the greatest upheaval in his life when the territory of his fiancée's family was invaded by demons.
His childhood friends all perished tragically in the battle against the demons before they could even see him.
Without a doubt.
Lunn's fiancée corresponds to Claire's older sister, the eldest daughter of the Marquis Prin family in the present-day Norton Kingdom.
According to Talomati, Lunn later learned that his fiancée, who was also his childhood sweetheart, chose to commit suicide when the demons attacked the town so as not to be captured by the demons and become a burden to him.
The reason this story circulated among demons and humans was that Irenos of Ruin destroyed that town, deliberately let some survivors go.
Irenos wanted these desperate people to tell Lunn the truth and the whole story, in order to shake and torment Lunn's will.
Therefore, Talomati could hardly imagine Lunn when Delois set a trap, giving him the opportunity to torture Irenos with his own hands.
However, Talomati said this, "Lunn would never have allowed you to build an energy station on the northern border using living organisms as energy, but you happened to capture Irenos... Of course, this may all have been part of your plan."
Dekan couldn't help but sigh, "Fortunately, in this life, we nipped Bishop of Ruin Evans in the bud before he could fully develop."
Talomati felt that something was off after listening to him.
It seems you were at Tier 3 back in Tristin City, while Evans was already Tier 8?
I can only say he truly lives up to his older brother's reputation.
But regardless of whether the great revenge has been taken or not.
The pain in Lunn's heart can never be erased.
Even after becoming the Holy Emperor, he ultimately did not choose to be with the female knight who had accompanied him.
Even though fate has changed this time.
Neither of the two sisters from the betrothed family died in the war, and they grew up happily.
Croix is still mired in guilt in another form—
Because of the hurt and emotional damage.
The female knight who was the city-state Captain of the Knights of the previous Lunn, who was always by his side in the Clantes City, has now become the Saint Knight Captain of the Sun God Church, and has been replaced by Croix who fell in love with her at first sight.
Croix, however, was still burdened by her guilt, fearing she might miss out on her again.
As for Delois during the Holy Kingdom era, he could only help Lunn destroy Irenos, but he couldn't offer any advice or even interfere with Lunn's life trajectory.
According to Delois's mind, whatever kind of life she wanted Lunn to live, she could find a way to secretly interfere and make it happen.
But Delois also knew that even the Goddess herself could not decide or judge these matters.
He could not define what constituted happiness in Lunn's life, nor could he interfere in Lunn's life based on his own opinion of what was "good" or "bad" for Lunn.
So even though Dekan now knows the trajectory of Lunn's life during the Holy Kingdom era, he still doesn't know how to advise Croix.
More than life advice, Croix might need a love fortune telling...
"By the way, where's Da Zhan? Could Da Zhan help me with a divination?"
Dekan suddenly remembered someone.
It seems there really is someone who can offer some useful help.
Although Teacher Da Zhan's illness is usually stable, he is absolutely not reliable in any way.
But when faced with truly perplexing troubles, she's still very reliable!
Author's Note:
A sneak peek at the Holy Kingdom side story~ Here's a draft~