Chapter 21 : Love Rival

I then hear drops falling heavily on the ground. Turning around, I see her. A girl with red hair, crying her heart out.

'I didn't think... that you hated me that much,' she says, sobbing. I had made her cry. My action had been a disaster.

'I'm sorry, Elvaria, that wasn't my intention...' I tried to make amends, but the words seemed meaningless.

'So you're not denying that you hate me... I'm sorry for bothering you so much, Aley...' she murmurs, collapsing to her knees, heartbroken.

She's wrong. She's completely wrong.

'Elvaria, I don't hate you, in fact, I l- I lo...' The words choke in my throat, unable to fully come out.

'You what?' she asks, drying her tears, a slight smile on her lips. She already knew what I was going to say. Maybe she was trying to force me to say it. She's clever, that much is clear.

'I love you, Elvaria. Happy now?' I finally say, almost frustrated by the tension. At my words, her green eyes gleamed with a light I had never seen before, and a radiant smile spread across her lips.

'That's good, I'm satisfied,' she says proudly, clearly pleased with what she had just gotten. 'I knew marrying us at our first mee—' She abruptly stops herself.

'Pardon?' I say, stunned, staring at her.

'Finally, he said it!' exclaims a voice behind us. The townspeople, who had found my hiding spot at an abnormal speed, approach the place where I had just confessed my feelings to Elvie. This moment was going to follow me for a long time.

For several days, a celebration erupted in Orthosomo, celebrating both our conquest of the Aqualida dungeon and the official start of my relationship with Elvaria. The whole kingdom partied so hard that the news even crossed the borders of Aqualida. It became a tradition: every year, a national festival would be held to celebrate both the victory over the dungeon and my confession to Elvaria. What a story...

And so, the whole world heard the news: Novus Obris, 'the S-ranked adventurer group whose two members are a couple.' In just a few days, we were on the cover of most newspapers. Our return to Iveralmn was going to be particularly special...

-Aleystria, don't forget: your reincarnation here has only one purpose. Start the project that bears your name. You are no longer who you were. You are the tool of total destruction. Burn this world. Kill the gods, every one of them. Recreate the universe in your name. That's why we sacrificed all our power to recreate your original body.-

The voice echoed in my head, as it did every night during the festivities. An obsessive whisper, always repeating the same words.

Today, as the celebrations come to an end, Elvaria and I board a ship to return to Iveralmn. The guild master of Orthosomo spoke to me about a tournament in the capital of Iveralmn. I'm looking forward to attending. After so many battles, I plan to take this opportunity to rest and watch other adventurers fight. It will also allow me to gauge the strength of S-rank adventurers in general. Perhaps it will help me understand whether Elvie and I are just anomalies or if our strength is comparable to others...

But deep down, that persistent voice and the mystery of my reincarnation remain anchored in my mind. Is that really why I'm here?

In Iveralmn, a few days later:

In the vast throne room of Iveralmn Castle, a girl of striking beauty stood tall. She had long blonde hair, a white dress, and sparkling blue eyes. Her rare beauty was undeniable. Behind her, the castle's towers rose high into the sky, imposing and majestic.

"Father, we have confirmed that the ship from Novus Obris has just arrived at the port city of Shulaz," she said in a soft yet confident voice, addressing her father, King Almus Si Iveralmn. Almus was an imposing figure, sitting on his throne with a long mustache and a devious smile. His piercing eyes and battle-scarred face made him even more formidable.

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The king smirked mockingly, his voice betraying his indifference.

"My beloved daughter, Alfira Si Iveralmn. You may bear the name of our great kingdom, but let's be honest, you are not fit for this throne. So, rest and abandon your pursuit of succession. Your older brothers are much better suited." A slight chuckle escaped his lips.

Alfira knew her father held little regard for her. Seventeenth in line for the throne, she was nothing more than an insignificant obstacle. However, the king of Iveralmn cared little for his children who weren't promised the throne. What mattered to him at that moment was Novus Obris, a group of adventurers who had recently conquered the primordial dungeon of Aqualida. If he could convince them to work for him, they would be an invaluable military asset, especially with a looming war on the horizon.

"Alfira," he resumed in a colder tone, fixing her with his piercing gaze, "do you know why I summoned you to this room today?"

"I do not, father," she replied, keeping a neutral expression despite the palpable tension.

The king's smile widened, taking on a malicious glint. "It seems you have recently met the famous Aley Vrodwil from Novus Obris, haven't you?"

"It is true that I met him not long ago. H-he defended me... and he is quite handsome, I must say," she replied, blushing slightly, before adding in a nostalgic tone, "but I am happy he is in a loving relationship with the charming Elvaria. I remember her mother did much for us."

Almus frowned, but his malicious smile remained. "All the better if you like him, Alfira Si Iveralmn, because as soon as Sir Vrodwil enters the capital, your mission will be to seduce him and marry him... within a day."

Alfira was left speechless. "What are you saying, father? Sir Aley is already in a splendid relationship with Elvaria! I cannot permit such an affront."

Almus's face hardened, revealing his annoyance. "Who do you think you are to dare question my orders? You are nothing but a political tool, Alfira. If you marry Aley, he will protect you, and by extension, he will protect the kingdom out of duty. Do you not see the asset he represents for us? This boy rose to S-rank as quickly as the hero Valentin. And Novus Obris is the first group to conquer the primordial dungeon of Aqualida. Their power is unmatched, and you must take advantage of it."

Under the weight of her father's expectations and the information he had just revealed, Alfira lowered her head, defeated. "Understood, father. I-I will do everything I can to ensure he marries me, I promise," she responded, her voice trembling, her face flushed with shame and nervousness.

At the port of Shulaz:

'We're finally back!' I shouted as I set foot on land. For me, Iveralmn has become home. This is where I first opened my eyes when I arrived in this world. The guild members have become good friends, and I know the streets of the capital better and better. Nothing bad can happen to me here, I'm sure of it.

— Aleystria... focus on me — or rather on Elvaria.

The voice in my head speaks to me more and more often. It even seems that Elvaria hears it sometimes, as she called me Aleystria in the Aqualida dungeon. But for now, we're peacefully walking through the streets of Shulaz.

'Aley. I love you.' Elvaria clings to me, closer than ever. During our boat trip, I had mentioned, without really thinking, the idea of a date. Just a simple idea from my old world. Since then, she hasn't let it go, insisting we go on one. So instead of rushing to the capital, we decided to spend the day together, just the two of us, by the sea in this quaint little town.

'Elvaria, I confessed, you confessed, and now everyone knows. That's good. The only problem is that we're attracting way too much attention...' I said, noticing the crowd discreetly following us. We may not be famous by our faces, but our hair and our "Lovey-Dovey" behavior give us away.

'Aley, stop paying attention to others,' she says, tightening her arm around mine. 'Look at only me, just this once,' she adds, pressing herself against me.

She's become incredibly confident. Sure, with her newfound strength, she can afford to be, but still...

For several hours, we toured the town, stopping for lunch at a seaside restaurant with a beautiful view of the ocean. The medieval charm of the place made it almost magical, like something out of a fairy tale.

The more I look at her, the more beautiful she seems to me. She exudes a kind of divine grace, almost supernatural. Sometimes, I feel like I have a real goddess in front of me. And to think she's my girlfriend now... or rather my wife, if what she said is true. She claims we're already married, but I'll have to check that at the church. Either way, I'm proud to have her by my side.

The sun begins to set, painting the sky with golden and reddish hues. The time has come to head back to the capital. I must meet Elvaria's father. If I want to date her or even marry her, it's only right that I ask her father's permission.

'Aley, shall we go? We'll spend the night at my dad's house' she says with an innocent smile. The sunset light makes her red hair shine in an almost magical way. We stand on the street leading to the exit of Shulaz, and the scene is so peaceful that I feel like I'm in a dream. Elvaria is incredibly cute, almost irresistible. Everything about her makes me want to hold her in my arms.

Suddenly, a slight laugh escapes her lips. 'Aley, you little rascal,' she says, smiling softly, before opening her arms wide. She's clearly inviting me to hug her.

'Come here,' she adds to convince me further.

I throw myself into her arms without hesitation, savoring this little intimate moment with the one I love so much. There's no one else I want by my side. Even if a suitor happened to be a princess... ah, as if that could happen, something as cliché as a fantasy novel...