What Universe is This Again? [THWSLC 1: TCFxWMMAP]

XXXIII

[AYHAN'S POV]

Yhan rushed back to the capital after realizing that the enemy's target was Athanasia.

His heart, however, turned cold when he saw how she kneeled down with grace and dignity in front of a disgusted father.

He should not have felt anything toward that scene. He expected it to happen and was always willing to accept it.

But that instance, that moment—his heart with feelings that he killed—felt unbearable agony.

As if his world had been ripped apart; as if his souls were bound in hideous pain; his entire being screamed in rage as he entered the hall with dignity, denying the existence of the man in front of him.

He was not a father at all.

Remembering all the wonderful times.

Those promises.

Those words were filled with love.

He mocked himself for subconsciously thinking that this was his chance to be happy.

He held his sister's hand and gazed at the man who had broken them yet again.

I ought to despise him. I should have killed him at that moment.

However, his heart screamed otherwise, causing him to hesitate.

After all... Clade was the very first father who treated him with all that love and attention.

Can I really call that love?

Claude, the man who enticed them and provided them with everything they desired, was no more. He shouldn't have treated them that way if he's going to abandon them.

Nothing's fine.

Nothing will be fine.

What happened to your words? Are they just empty promises?

What happened to you? Are you just like any other people who abandoned us?

Why? Why? We were happy.

Why does it have to end everything this way?

Why is your love so cruel?

If he knew this was going to happen...

He would not give his heart out and allow him to enter.

The only thing he can do now is hold his crying sister in pain.

Selfishly thinking—everything will be fine.

[NO ONE'S POV]

"Welcome," Alver Crossman said to the Prince and Princess, who appeared in his room in the middle of his ablutions. He was relieved that there was a saving towel nearby, or his livelihood would have turned into mushy eggplant due to the traumatic experience.

Either this bastard Imperial Prince cuts his treasure or plain trauma.

But...

Seeing the bubbly princess's expression, it was clear why the Imperial Prince appeared ready to kill.

"Calm down. Everything is fine now. We are out of the palace."

Imperial Prince Ayhan attempted to console the princess, whose tears flowed uncontrollably.

"That man is not our father, Athanasia."

He continued to call out the name of the Imperial Princess.