"...And that's why I came back to the Capital after all this time. But... she said yes a bit later." Van sat on one of the benches inside the cathedral, his voice quieter now. Amoria sat beside him, her hands resting on her lap.

A moment passed before Van spoke again, almost too quickly. "Are you sure you don't want to talk somewhere else?"

Amoria slowly shook her head. "It's alright."

Van studied her expression. "Is it...?" His voice softened as he met her gaze.

Amoria turned toward him, her expression warm, a relieved smile crossing her face.

"As long as you're with me... we could be in a damp cave, and I'd be more than fine." A blush crept up her cheeks as her smile grew.

Van let out an awkward chuckle, looking to the side. "Some reference."

Amoria smirked. "I pride myself on it."

A quiet minute stretched between them.

Then—

"There's..." Amoria's voice wavered.

Van turned his head.

She wasn't looking at him anymore. Her gaze was fixed on the wooden bench ahead, her lips pressed together as though trying to swallow something down. Her hands clenched into fists in her lap.

"No chance I could seduce you, right...?" Her voice trembled.

Van felt something tighten in his chest.

"To... keep you with me?"

Her question lingered between them, fragile, desperate.

Van lowered his head, exhaling softly. His voice, when it came, was barely above a whisper.

"I'm sorry, Amoria."

There was nothing else to say.

He could feel it. They were compatible. They always had been.

But he had already chosen someone else.

Amoria let out a shaky breath, lifting her head toward the cathedral's ceiling. "I... I get it, you know?" She swallowed hard, forcing her voice to stay steady.

"She's beautiful... she's strong... and..." Amoria trailed off, her fingers curling slightly over her palms.

She took a deep breath, then turned to him with a gentle smile.

Van exhaled slowly, watching her.

'She... isn't the slightest bit angry, is she?'

He sighed, feeling the weight in his chest begin to lift.

'Right. It's Amoria, after all. Before everything... every time I came to that cave, I always felt at ease with her.'

A quiet realization settled in his mind.

'There was nothing to worry about in the first place.'

His armor began repairing itself.

The wound in his heart began to mend.

Amoria's smile didn't waver. "She can keep you company for many years. Much longer than I ever could. She's the obvious winner. As for me..."

She looked down at her smooth hands, studying them as though they already bore the signs of time.

"I'll just grow old. Used. Wrinkled, while she'll stay as beautiful as ever."

Van's chest tightened. "Amoria, it's not about that. I—"

"Van." She cut him off, placing her hand on his shoulder.

She looked into his eyes, her own shimmering with unshed tears.

"You... YOU, of all people, deserve to be a little superficial."

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Van stiffened, startled by the conviction in her voice.

She smiled, blinking back tears. "You appreciate beauty. That's natural. We all do."

A short pause. Then she laughed softly, though her voice trembled.

"I'm just happy that someone like you found me beautiful, even for a little while."

Her lips trembled, but she held her smile.

"I would never dare ask you to stay with me. Not when I know the truth." She took a shaky breath, her fingers tightening around his.

"Knowing you'll stay youthful while I... slowly fade into something I don't recognize anymore. I'll grow ugly... And unsightly. I won't let you take care of me in that state, when you should be having fun and living your life."

"Amoria, you will never be—"

"STOP." Her voice cracked.

She squeezed his hand, staring straight ahead. "Don't comfort me. Don't lie. We both know the truth."

A deep breath.

She intertwined her fingers with his, her grip firm—not clinging, but accepting.

And together, in the vast stillness of the cathedral, they simply sat.

Amoria swallowed, her gaze lifting toward the statue of the Goddess.

"Just..." Her voice was quiet, but steady. "If something happens... if you ever feel unwell, in any way... at ANY time..."

Her fingers grazed his palm as if sealing a silent vow.

"I'll wait for you. And accept you with all of me."

She turned to him, eyes filled with unwavering resolve.

Van exhaled, his throat tightening. "...."

Then, he cleared his throat. "Not enough. You need to include your roast, as well."

Amoria blinked, then pouted. "DUMMY. That's A PART OF ME, isn't it?"

With a huff, she playfully smacked his head, then leaned back against the bench, her hand naturally resting against his once more.

Her expression softened. "Still... that explains so much. You being married to her. That's why the demons were here. They wanted to get you back..." She let out with a relieved chuckle, "... So there's no reason not to trust them anymore."

She let out a deep sigh, tilting her head against the back of the bench. "With the Bishop gone, there's no one left to handle the church. And thousands of priestesses and emissaries are suddenly... free."

Her gaze swept over the grand hall. "Speaking of which, the cathedral should be flooded with an angry mob any moment now."

Van glanced at her. "Then, let me take you away from here."

She blinked, then laughed. "Hah, how bold." A sly smile tugged at her lips.

Van's expression remained firm. "You don't need the rest?" His concern was clear.

Amoria smiled, but her exhaustion was evident. "Oh, I DO. But that can't come at the expense of everyone who suffered under the Bishop."

Her fingers curled slightly around his.

Her choice had already been made.

"I'll take his place. I'll lead them. As for you..." She turned to him, her expression firm, her gaze unwavering.

"Before you rest... you know what you need to do, right?"

Van's expression hardened. He met her gaze with equal resolve.

"Yeah. I'll stop the Dragon King and—"

"Obviously." She cut him off with a slight smirk. Then, her voice softened as she leaned in. "But more importantly..."

Her expression grew somber. "You need to find Magus, and stop him from influencing ANYONE ELSE, of course after removing his influence from all the girls. And then, find out why the Goddess harbors ill will toward you."

She hesitated, her fingers tightening into a fist.

"Despite everything... I..." Her voice wavered.

She swallowed hard before finishing. "I'm sure that once she gets to know you, she'll change her mind... if it's possible."

Her gaze drifted toward the towering statue of the Goddess, now cracked—damaged by Van's own sword.

A deep breath.

Amoria straightened her posture and stood. "Now... I'll leave. Van, you can escape undetected. I'll quell the angry mob and—"

She stopped mid-sentence.

Van had stood up beside her, his hand gently taking hers.

His grip was firm, steady.

"At least," Van spoke, his voice quiet but unyielding, "let me go out there with you."

Amoria blinked, momentarily startled by the gesture.

Then, she smiled.

A genuine, grateful smile.

She squeezed his hand, returning his strength in her own. "Then... let's go together."

With that, they marched forward, stepping into the unknown.

Van, once again, donned the display helmet from the Von Brayle estate.

Together, they pushed open the massive cathedral doors, stepping into the cool night air.

Van braced himself, expecting an angry mob, fists raised, voices shouting in outrage. He steeled his nerves, preparing for whatever threats came their way.

But instead—

Something astonishing lay before them.

A sea of people, stretching far into the distance.

Not rioting.

Not screaming.

Kneeling.

Van's breath hitched as thousands of voices boomed in unison—

"ALL HAIL VAN HELLIX!"

Amoria let out a quiet chuckle, turning to him with a smirk. "Huh... I guess that explains why the mob never arrived."

Van remained frozen, his mind struggling to process the sheer scale of the moment.

Then, stepping forward from the kneeling masses, Nickelson emerged, his expression resolute. With deliberate movements, he drove his sword into the ground and bowed deeply.

"FOR FREEING ALL OF THE HOLY-CHURCH'S BELIEVERS FROM THE BISHOP'S CONTROL, I, SIR ALISTAIR EALDRED IGNATIUS NICKELSON, THE KING'S HAND—THANK YOU FROM THE DEPTHS OF MY HEART!!"

Beside him, Cerille stepped forward, mirroring the gesture, her sword lowered in deep reverence.

Van's heart pounded violently against his ribs. Sweat beaded along his skin.

'That fucking Bishop... How the hell am I supposed to deal with this now!?'

A sudden squeeze on his palm pulled him from his spiraling thoughts.

"Van."

Amoria's voice was calm, grounding.

He turned to her, her gentle yet knowing gaze bringing him back to reality.

"...."

Van cleared his throat, exhaling sharply. He looked over the countless expectant faces staring up at him.

Waiting.

Expecting a speech.

A long moment stretched between them.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, Van finally muttered—

"You're welcome."

The words hung in the air.

Silence. Shortly followed by a quiet chuckle from Amoria.

She looked at him with a mix of admiration and playfulness, her eyes glinting with amusement.

Meanwhile, Nickelson let out a deep sigh in his mind.

'Haah... Meaty, meaty, meaty...'

He immediately shook the thought away.

'No.' He corrected himself, forcing his gaze to settle on his daughter. 'Van Hellix is your name.'

His resolve hardened.

With a booming voice, he declared—

"THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS!!"

The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers.