>> I ran as fast as I could. The muffled voice keeps telling me what I’ve eaten, over and over again. The aftertaste remains in my palate.

“No! Please, let me go home! Let me go back to my world!” I screamed out. This place is void. All I see is darkness. How should I go home? How should I forget what happened?

I never imagine this life of mine would become like this. I never wished to be a King. I only wanted to live peacefully and normal like any other people.

“Please, let me go back to my world! Help me! Help me!”

I continued screaming and running to the void place. I don’t know how long this will take me. All I want is to leave this place. I want to leave here.

“...You’re that mortal from the prophecy.”

A voice of a woman came from nowhere suddenly spoke, vanishing all the muffled and eerie voices lurking through my ears. I stopped from running and listens to that voice.

“Huh?” I utter out of wonder. “...You’re that mortal the mage thought about. The one who is entangled on the fate of my daughter.”

What’s that? She said... “Daughter?”

“Uhm... Who are you? Can you help me? Please, let me go back to my world. I don’t want to stay here.”

She didn’t reply to my plea. Only since engulfed once more, but then... “Follow my voice.”

That made me think, if I follow... will that be the key for me to go back? I wonder? But there’s no other choice right now. All I need to do is to follow where that comes from.

I did follow, though its muffled and waned. From somewhere, a sliver of light narrowed. I run through it, and as my body engulfed over, throughout the end of the beam, a peaceful place entwines my view.

A greenery, broad place full of flowers in bloom. Gentle gust of wind caresses my cheeks, and scented of mountain dews stuck in my nostrils.

From the distance, a woman standing over wearing same outfit as Astarte. She also has the same golden blonde hair in upturned design and pair of horns plucked out.

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“Over here... come forth.” Her voice beckons me to come over. I was stunned by it, but my body intends to follow up. I did what she said and walked forward to where she is.

As our distance gets closer, I noticed that she’s Astarte... but a mature one. “Uhm...” I utter as our distance got close. “...You really resembled my dear husband and King, my Mephistopheles.”

What’s this woman talking about? “Uhm... May I ask, where am I?”

“You’re safe from harm now, mortal.” The woman smiles as she touches my face. “...If only I lived for a while longer, I may see you coming forth to be the King.”

“Huh?” I asked. “Oh...” she giggled at me. “I’m Juno, Astarte’s mother and the former Queen of the Kingdom.”

The woman named Juno introduces herself. “And I believe your name’s Justine?”

“Huh? Ah... yeah. That’s my name—-wait, Your Excellency!”

I quickly move aback from her, as she chuckles. “You don’t need to be formal to me, lad. I am here to chase away the demonic thoughts possessing you.”

Juno walk towards me and grab both of my hands. “I’ve been waiting for this day to meet you, my son-in-law.”

“Ah...? Huh?”

“You’re my son-in-law, right?” Juno quizzically asked. What’s with that? I never accepted Astarte’s condition to be her husband and King of the Kingdom... yet.

“Uh... Your Excellency... I... I haven’t accepted the proposal your daughter asked.” I replied awkwardly.

“Really now?” Juno showed disappointment from my word. “Yeah, uhm... It’s just sudden, but I got here by accident.”

“Accident, you say?” her brows fuzzed over. I nod and let go from her hold. “And I don’t have any feelings for your daughter, so I can’t accept it.”

“Yet.” Juno rebuts. “Yeah... yet—-huh?"

Her lips form a grin right after. “You haven’t got any feelings for her, ‘yet’.”

“Wha—-what’s that supposed to mean?! I know she’s beautiful, but I am not capable of loving anyone.”

I got flushed, thinking ‘bout Astarte’s looks right now. I know she’s gorgeous and an impeccable woman I can never compare to anyone. “You don’t need to rush anything; everything will fall into the right place.”

Her voice full of assurance made me wondered. “You two are still young. There are lots of time you two can spend together. Let that be your stepping stone to realize your true feelings for her.”

But how...? How am I supposed to realized my true feelings if I never had an idea if I’m really in love at all?

“Don’t overthink about it, lad. I understand if you’re confused right now. However, don’t let yourself hinder over the thought of not capable of loving.”

“...It’s the reason why I came here to this world. It’s the reason why I am here. Because I am not capable of reciprocating the feelings of someone.”

Remembering the happenings between me and Catherine, it made me feel awful. The sting sensation stabs my chest like a knife. “Love is a broad statement. It doesn’t just end through the feelings you show to your partner. It also goes with the people around you; your friends and family.”

Though I know all about it, yet it’s because of that feeling that I’m here.

“I know somewhere inside you will bloom eventually for my daughter’s feelings. I haven’t said this to her before I passed on. I want her to understand that being in love isn’t a rush thing. It’s something she must fully grasped.”

Somewhere in her eyes show the melancholy, as the ray of sunbeam entangles on the pair of emerald hue. “She’s still a child who needs guidance. I’m not there for her, as well Mephistopheles.”

Juno then smiles at me, but it has a bit of sadness. “I believe in you, Justine. Right now, you’re the only one who can make her realize ‘bout it.”

“Huh? But how...?” I asked with wonder. “Because I know from the start, before you met her... the gears of fate have been moved since time you two were born.”

“I don’t comprehend what’re you saying, Your Excellency—-”

“—-Be her guide, and let the two of you see the beauty of everything. Together, you two will fulfill the fate bestows upon you. You have my gratitude to be with my daughter. Say “I love you” on her for me."

Slowly, she disappears right in my sight. I left alone here on this place while gazing at the corner where she was standing awhile ago.

Holding the words she said, my hands clenched out. “I don’t know if I can do this, but...”

Yeah, I don’t have an idea if I can make it through. My life has been through ups and down, since this happens. My fear to live in this world is still.

Right now, I must find a way to go back to my world.