In the epilogue of Chapter 90, a tear fell onto the palm of the hand...
Saint Laurent Palace.
Led by her attendants, Shi Jian entered the newly renovated palace and saw her brother, dressed in white.
"Have you visited your mother?" The young-looking new king stood in the central courtyard, watching the snowflakes fluttering outside the screen, and asked.
Time responded softly and stepped forward.
Cyril reached out his hand to her. He was over a hundred years old, but the vicissitudes of time seemed to have left no trace on him. Standing next to his sister, who was fifty years younger than him, they looked no different from ordinary siblings.
“Mommy said she wants to move out of the palace.” Time observed his brother’s expression and explained, “Although you are still all alone, who knows, I might have a sister-in-law someday. Mommy said it’s not appropriate to live in White Sandalwood Palace all the time.”
“Then we’ll talk about it after I get married.” Cyril patted his sister’s hand, indicating that she shouldn’t worry about it: “I’ve been very busy lately and haven’t been able to find time to visit your mother—she hasn’t shown it… but she’s still very sad. Why don’t you take a six-month leave from school and spend time with her?”
"Okay." Shi Jian agreed, then said carefully, "Mommy is just too sad. Actually, I don't want Mommy to move out either. Father is gone. If Mommy leaves too, there will only be the two of us left in this palace."
Cyril lowered his eyes and sighed, "Yes, Similan will never come back. It's just the two of us left."
When he turned forty, his father officially announced Cyril as the Crown Prince, thus bringing to an end the decades-long battle for the throne.
The news came as a complete surprise, catching everyone off guard. Similan had achieved remarkable results in recent years, and unable to accept the reality, he was furious and easily stripped of his power by his father, who then exiled him to a remote planet.
For the next twenty years, Similan never returned to the capital. Even on his birthday, he would only send someone to deliver a gift and never set foot on the capital planet.
The relationship between the father and son reached a freezing point, which did not thaw until the sudden death of Sklag II.
Time remembers the last time he saw Similan. He was said to be living a very decadent life in exile. Twenty years had passed, and he looked like he had aged seventy or eighty years. When he saw his father's body, he was so shocked—as bewildered as a child.
He even thought it was a false rumor spread by Cyril, after all, at that time, Sklag II had just turned 180 not long ago, and the two brothers fought again in front of their father's coffin.
"It's you?! Was it really you?" The frenzied Similan grabbed Cyril by the collar and cursed, "Father clearly delegated power to you, why did you do this? Couldn't you even wait a little longer?"
He stubbornly believed that Cyril was responsible for the death of Sklag II.
In fact, everyone knew that wasn't the case, and Cyril didn't need to: after determining the heir, Sklag II gradually handed over power to Cyril, while he himself spent most of his time on vacation with the Rose Queen, and it was common for him not to return to the capital for one or two years.
Finally, time couldn't stand it anymore and had Jiang Chuge pull Similan away.
At his peak, Similan could easily overpower Jiang Chuge, but over twenty years of decadent living had broken his body, and he was quickly subdued by Jiang Chuge.
Wearing a white dress, she knelt in front of him, suppressing him with her mental power, and slowly said, "I know you just can't accept it for a while. When I notified you, it was already too late... It's not that we intentionally prevented you from seeing your father, it's just that there wasn't enough time, it's... really, it was too late."
She lowered her head sadly and choked out, "It seems like Father knew this day would come, and Mother knew too. They kept it from us because they didn't want us to be sad."
Even she herself almost missed it. She received the news while she was at school, contacted the local garrison to open a superjump point, and then made more than ten consecutive jumps before finally making it back.
When he saw her, King Sklag II was quite surprised, then sighed and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? Can your body still hold up?"
Time took a small metal box out of his pocket, put it in Similan's hand, and said, "Your father left you some words in this box, but you can't open it for ten years."
Similan shook off her hand, threw the box in her hand away forcefully, and strode away.
Time slowly stood up, and Jiang Chuge beside him said to a servant, "Pick up the box and send it to the Second Prince in a few days. He's angry right now, but he'll calm down in a few days."
A few days later, at Sklag II's funeral, Similan appeared, carrying the coffin alongside Cyril, his face expressionless throughout.
Sklag II's mausoleum was chosen in Milan and was built like a garden, filled with his favorite roses, in all colors, with different varieties blooming throughout the year.
When they arrived, the snow-white variety was in full bloom. Countless white, delicate roses swayed in the December wind, as if weeping for them.
Cyril had just ascended the throne and had many things to deal with, while Shiwei was too heartbroken to show her face often, so Shiwei was the one handling these matters.
This first princess of Manla inherited her father's resilience. Even though she was only in her sixties, she was mature and rational enough to handle everything properly.
Faced with her heartbroken mother, she inherited her mother's gentleness and comforted her, "Mommy, people always leave. One day we will all go our separate ways, but we will all hope that each other will not be sad. Father is the same way. So for the past few decades, he has tried his best to accompany you, take you to all eight star systems, and leave everything to your brother, just hoping not to leave you with any regrets."
“I know.” Shi Wei leaned against her daughter’s chest, looking into her daughter’s eyes. A bit of color returned to her pale face. She murmured, “I understand every decision your father made. I also know that he made this deal with Asta not only for Cyril, but also for us.”
Time slowly released its spiritual power, soothing the mother's nearly broken heart. She heard her mother say, "I knew this day would come, so this year I haven't dared to leave his side for even a moment, nor dared to let him know I was afraid. Actually, I'm much better now; I don't wake up in terror every night anymore... Little Time, will you stay with me tonight...?"
"Okay." Time turned off her constantly flashing communicator. Even if her mother hadn't said anything, she would have stayed. She had to watch over her fragile mother herself to feel at ease.
Under her spiritual influence, her mother gradually closed her eyes, as if she were about to fall asleep. She slowly said to her, "Cyril has never dared to come to see me, afraid that I would be angry if I saw him. Actually, I don't blame him. He is also your father's child. I have always known that your father gave him his lifespan... Your father's love for you is far more than all his brothers combined, so you shouldn't blame him."
Hearing such a secret, Shi Jian didn't have much of an emotional fluctuation. When her father decided on the heir, she noticed that his mental strength had suddenly weakened a lot, while Cyril's health gradually began to improve.
She guessed what it was back then because of her strong mental power and the fact that she shared the same origin as Sklag II, which allowed her to discover it, while no one else could—she had always thought that her mother was unaware, but it turned out that she had kept it a secret.
It was late at night, and she couldn't sleep. Looking at her mother's face, she was worried about her mother's health.
Then she saw specks of blue light appear on her mother's body.
Time reached out its hand; it was a familiar spiritual force, and she couldn't help but shed tears.
A translucent, blue bird appeared before her.
The bird hopped onto her shoulder, and time brushed against the last trace left by her father. Although it was only a spiritual entity, it felt the warmth of her father's embrace.
A tear fell onto Shi Wei's palm, blooming into a water droplet.
As if sensing something, the blue bird landed on her pillow again, quietly watching her and enveloping her with its large wings.
Time watched them silently, feeling that this was a scene they would never see again in their lives.
After a long time, the bird's body became increasingly transparent, and just as it was about to turn into specks of light and disappear—
A phantom figure appeared beside Shi Wei's bed. Shi Wei was startled, and when she saw the person's face, she was even more astonished.
Asta reached out and collected the blue specks of light in the world, and a blue bird appeared in her hand.
Time heard her say to herself, "I'll take him away. In a few decades, I'll come back for your mother."
"Okay." Time understood her meaning and sincerely said, "Thank you."
Asta walked over. Although they looked completely different, they had similar eyes. She touched Time's ear and sighed, "You didn't inherit any of your mother's personality. You're too much like your father, even better than him."
"Isn't this good?" Time asked.
“Well, it’s certainly good for Manra.” Asta looked at the bird in his hand and finally said, “It’s interesting to pursue a career, but you also have to cherish the person in front of you.”
"Oh." Time seemed to freeze. Looking at her mother's sleeping face, she asked worriedly, "Is there any way to make Mother less sad?"
Asta looked at her and asked, "You want her to forget your father?"
Time nodded: "Her feelings for her father are too deep. I've seen her medical report. She can live for at least another forty years. If she has to suffer like this for the rest of her life, I would rather she forget everything."
Asta sighed deeply: "Do you know that your father also talked to me about the same thing?"
Time paused for a moment, then said, "Like what he would do."
Asta simply said, "At the time, I told him that even if it's painful, not everyone wants to forget it—Shi Wei had already thought about this day when she chose him, and in the long life ahead, the beautiful memories will heal this pain."
"Are you talking about yourself?" Time said calmly.
Asta took a deep breath and said helplessly, "You're really not as cute as your mother at all. If you didn't look like her, I would definitely beat you up."
Time offered a half-hearted apology, then said, "But my mother isn't you. She doesn't have your strong heart. My father gave her boundless and unrestrained love, and she couldn't handle it."
Asta shook his head: "She wouldn't agree. I only follow the person's opinion in these matters."
Time didn't speak again. As Asta leaned down and touched Shi Wei's cheek, he said, "Don't be sad. When you want to leave this world, I will make sure you are together forever."
...
Asta withdrew Sklag II's spiritual body and arrived in the Chaotic Starfield.
At the highest point of the Grasshopper Fortress, an Omega in uniform stood there; seeing her was not surprising at all.
“I knew you’d come here,” Hela said. Many years ago, she dropped the “acting” title from “acting commander,” and now, most forces in the Chaotic Starfield listen to her.
Upon seeing them arrive, the lazy little red wolf, who had been lying on the ground, didn't move. He glanced at Asta and looked curiously at the ball of light in her palm.
"Are you really not coming with me?" Asta was also helpless in the face of this stubborn person.
Yi Lan died more than 20 years ago. His injuries back then were too severe. The fact that he could stay behind the scenes for 40 years was already the limit.
More than twenty years ago, on that night, only Hela and a few confidants accompanied him. After his death, his spirit remained stubbornly in the world. After the demise of the □□, his spirit stayed at the highest point of the Grasshopper Fortress, never going anywhere else, lying there motionless every day.
Asta spoke to it in a coaxing tone, as if to a child: "I asked you to come with me back then, but you refused. Now I'm giving you one last chance. Will you come with me or not?"
The little red wolf flicked its tail and looked into the distance.
Asta rolled his eyes, looking like he wanted to kick it, but Hela quickly stepped in front of him, saying awkwardly, "It...it's just a spirit, it doesn't understand anything...never mind, please don't be angry."
Asta roared, "I used to think you were the most obedient, but now I realize you're not obedient at all! I'm doing this for your own good. Even if you lie here motionless, you can only last for a little longer. In a few years, you'll completely disappear from this world! Come with me, and I'll give you and him a fair chance to compete. Wouldn't it be better to gamble in the new world? Why do you insist on staying in this world that has caused you decades of suffering?"
The little red wolf still ignored them, perhaps because it was too weak to think.
Asta walked over, intending to forcibly take it away.
Hela suddenly said, "Lord Asta, let it stay here, perhaps..."
She turned her face away, paused for a long time, and then said, "Perhaps, one day it will get what it deserves."
All around was silent.
Hela gazed into the distance, in the direction of Manra, her voice low and somber: "Although I also think Miss Shi won't come here, but..."
“But maybe he can wait?” Hela’s voice was choked with emotion as she tried to speak. “After I brought him back, he was in a lot of pain. Even if he had the best prosthetic body, the physical disability couldn’t make up for the pain in his heart. You know, he was such a confident person, but he had to rely on machines to keep him alive.”
"In his last few decades, he could have met Miss Shi if he wanted to, but he didn't dare. He felt like a useless person, that he had almost killed her, and that his repeated willful and reckless actions had caused Miss Shi so much trouble. So he didn't dare to disturb Miss Shi. He devoted all his energy to the task of revitalizing the Chaotic Starfield. But my abilities are limited. I am not as powerful as you. I can't control those people. I can't even help him fulfill his last wish."
"When he left, he said he felt relieved and didn't care anymore. He couldn't control what would happen to the mercenaries in the future. At that time, I wanted to send a message to Miss Shi, even just to say a few words to him, but the commander said never mind."
Hela sobbed uncontrollably, covering her face as she said, "He said he had been hiding like a rat in a gutter for decades, and rather than linger and cry out in front of her, he would rather die in her memory on Xiaoyao Star, at least then he would be like a hero."
Shi Wei did ask Yi Lan whether he was alive or dead, but Hela, under Yi Lan's orders, never replied even once.
Asta remained silent, recalling many years ago when she had asked Sklag I if he wished for immortality.
Hela wiped away her tears and continued, "So, I think, since the commander's obsession is to wait here, let him continue to wait... You asked why he would stay in this world even though it is so painful. Perhaps it's because this world holds everything he truly possessed."
He had his most glorious moments, countless followers, and the people he deeply loved.
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Author's note: I used half a pack of tissues to write this chapter [crying emoji]
So I really don't want to put these things in the main text. Although Shi Wei and His Majesty had a happy ending, at least they were happy together for decades, the endings of the others were very sad.
At first, I considered whether to put Yi Lan in the youth section, but when I was writing this chapter, I felt that Yi Lan would be the kind of person who would stubbornly live in reality no matter how painful it is, and whose obsession would continue even if there was no hope.
In this book's world, His Majesty and Lanbao are actually twins. Asta favors Lanbao a little more, while I prefer the male lead. Lanbao, may you be reborn with a loving mother in your next life! [crying emoji]
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As for His Majesty's choice, Shi Wei understands it, but there are some things that are different when you know them and when you experience them firsthand.
I've always regretted not being able to fully capture His Majesty's charm and not giving him the finishing touch. I hope the later side stories can expand on that.
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