What Universe is This Again?

XLV

It's time for Ayhan's coming-of-age ceremony.

Athanasia and Claude had been busy with things as they are now. Not because of official duties but because of Ayhan's birthday ceremony.

The father and daughter had been bonding around, keeping things in the shadow because Yhannie might refuse and run away if he wanted.

"It's grander than a normal coronation," Claude hums in contentment. "I'll just make your coronation ceremony even grander."

"Just how much of the national budget are you going to spend?" Athy frowned and handed Claude the official document for her coronation. Ayhan already expressed his refusal of taking the throne and declared he'd be pretty much chilling while enjoying life.

"As if he can have that slacker life," Claude comments, earning one bright laugh from his daughter.

"Don't let Yhannie hear you. He'd be crying." Athanasia chuckled lightly and looked outside. Yan was walking with Ezekiel and Roger Alpheus. He had been working the father and son to the bones, but resilience is Alpheus's middle name.

"Shall we have some tea?" Athy said, waving outside when Yhan waved at her.

Claude was already standing beside her and saw Yhan smiling at them.

In a serious tone, Claude said, "I wonder if that smile is his real smile."

Athanasia looked at him.

"There are times when I couldn't understand him. Times when I couldn't tell whether he's honest or not." In a serious tone, Claude smiled while watching Ayhan make a face at him. "To the point, I don't understand his heart and mind."

Athanasia remained silent.

Evening came with Athy visiting the Zircon Palace. She saw Ayhan sleeping soundly on the couch. She silently approached him, carefully tucked him with a blanket, and had his head pillowed on her lap. She couldn't help but brush his brother's long hair, combing the gold strands with her fingers.

She remembered when Ayhan first came with her. How this man told her to just smear some paint on her face and slam them on the paper.

"What are you laughing?" The cold, stern voice reprimands.

She smiled at her brother and said, "Nothing; you're just too cute."

There was a moment of comforting silence between them. Athy continued to stroke his hair and let him sleep, though Yhan's clearly wide awake.

"Yhannie."

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

Yhan opened his eyes and gazed at her. "What for?"

"Hm-mh. Just feel like it," Athy said, smiling at him.

Now that she thought about it, Ayhan—no—Kim Roksu changed this world so much. Even though he's an outsider in this world, he came to be one of them.

If it were only her, she would surely suffer so much and may not have this happy ending at all.

"Are you happy?" Yhan asked.

"How about you?" Athy asked back.

Yhan gazed at her, caressing her cheek with the back of his hand.

"I wonder."

Ayhan came here to stop the Sealed God from ruining another world. He came here to stop that bastard and went on with his slacker life.

"I do hope I became a good sister to you."

Ayhan sat up, his back facing his sister. "I don't deserve any happiness at all."