What Universe is This Again?

XLIV

Ayhan stared at the pebble on Raon's hand.

"This is the Sealed God?" he asked.

"It is. Just a fragment, though," Raon said, placing the black pebble in Ayhan's hands. Ayhan used Embrace, an innate skill he possessed with record.

Claude watched as he sealed the fragment into a page of the book of death in his possession. Athanasia also observed calmly. A brilliant white light shone. At times like this, Ayhan resembled a holy man, even though he is a demon incarnate by nature.

"It's done."

The awkwardness among the family members was immense. Raon and Lucas decided not to interfere and dragged everyone outside. Ayhan does not hesitate to punch Claude right in the face when it is just the three of them.

"YOU BASTARD!"

There was no nagging, just a crying session. The twins ran to him and hugged him tightly. Claude said nothing; he held them close and patted their heads. He kissed the top of their heads.

His cheeks hurt, but he did not say anything.

"You fucking bastard, you are such a dirtbag."

Ayhan continued to curse at him and cry.

Claude knew who this child was, but he simply nodded and accepted all of the curses directed at him.

This child does indeed treat him as his father.

Just...

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have treated you that way."

They were all broken people who sought love and comfort from other broken people. Just like these children treated him as their first father, for him, they were also his first family.

Claude couldn't help but hold them tightly and cry as well.

He didn't know how to apologize. He didn't know how to be honest, even towards himself. He didn't know how to treat them, for he lived indifferently.

He lived without love, not even knowing how to love.

That's the kind of life Claude lived before he met Diana.

His world was complete and colorful when she came. He felt he was the happiest man alive.

It was love at first sight.

It was a love he couldn't live without.

But...

Just as his mother did, the woman he loved must die for his children.

A child with imperial family blood was either born pure or imperfect. Anastacius had weak mana, which allowed his mother to live a longer and healthier life than Claude's mother did. His mother has to compensate for his powerful mana, to the point where the child she is carrying is eating her life away.

He lived in pure happiness, pure bliss, but what did he receive? A heartbreak.

Diana chose the children who were eating her life away.

She chose to die to save them.

And he couldn't accept it.

He couldn't think of the future without her.

He loved her so much—too much—that the thought of his future without her drove him insane.

Love drove him insane.

They could have been happier—they could have lived together indefinitely.

However, she passed away, leaving behind these two.