Chapter 270: Do They Still Remember Me?
Raegar blocked several sloppy swings from the nobles, only to knock them out when he countered using his speed advantage against them. His fist connected with so many jaws that it started to hurt. By the time he finished the last challenger, he was smiling victoriously, just as a white light washed over him thanks to Zahara.
He glanced at the blonde Half-Elf and nodded, thanks to feeling refreshed. ’’Thank you, Za.’’
’’No problem,’’ she replied.
Following that, Dahlia shouted to the surrounding soldiers who were watching the scene, wide-eyed, thanks to Arthur’s vanishing into nothingness after the fight. ’’Take these fools to the Healers, I don’t want their families complaining that we don’t look after our people.’’
With respectful nods, the Imperial Guards carried out her commands, their armor clinking softly as they dispersed. Afterward, the empress approached him, a big smile stretching across her pretty face. Her robes shimmered faintly in the torchlight, exuding an aura of wisdom and power.
As Dahlia got closer, she enveloped him in a cuddle, her arms coiling around his broad shoulders. The older woman’s robes clung to her curves like a second skin, shimmering under the sunlight, emphasizing the lines of her hourglass figure. She suddenly pulled his head into her cleavage.
An intoxicating fragrance surged into his senses, igniting a spark of desire that pulsed through him. Her touch sent shivers down his spine before her soft voice reached his ears. ’’Thank you for that, handsome. Now I don’t have ten dead noble children on my training grounds.’’
’’You’re welcome, Dahlia,’’ Raegar replied, enjoying the empress’s soft skin. ’’But wait until the chaos starts.’’
’’Maybe it won’t after leaving them alive?’’ she hoped.
’’You could be right,’’ he said, backing away as the other girls rushed toward him. ’’We’ll just have to wait and see.’’
After that, Zahara, Selene, Dominique, Drusilla, Alice, and Yuki hugged him as well, making sure to shove his head into their cleavages just like the older woman did. This amused Dahlia, causing her to speak. ’’Come inside and have some food, I believe Tracy is cooking something delicious for our husband.’’
Raegar’s eyes widened in surprise as memories from Earth flooded back, and his love for his aunt’s cooking. That’s when his stomach rumbled when he heard the older woman’s words, only to be dragged back toward the palace by an eager Selene. The Demoness’s yellow eyes were filled with excitement.
The group was ushered into a grand dining hall, ceilings decorated with fancy-looking chandeliers that cast a warm glow over the polished wooden table. At the head sat Dahlia, her presence softened by a smile. As she relaxed, a nearby door opened and several maids stepped out, pushing trolleys.
He noticed the plates brimmed with roasted meats, exotic fruits, steaming breads, and all kinds of desserts, each dish giving off delicious aromas, rich spices, warm honey, and savory herbs, filling the air. As the scents swirled around him, his stomach let out a loud rumble, betraying his hunger.
Giggles sounded from Alice and Yuki, seated next to him. The blonde’s laughter was light and teasing, her green eyes sparkling with mischief as she nudged him, while the catwoman’s soft chuckles carried warmth, her hand grabbing his. ’’Thank you for not forgetting about me, young master,’’ she whispered in a voice full of love.
’’How could I forget about the woman who’s always been at my side?’’ he replied, smirking. ’’And don’t think I haven’t seen you join in on my Devil killing.’’
When Yuki heard that, her face lit up before her cheeks went red. ’’I wanted to fight beside you, Rae. It’s a thrill I can’t stay away from.’’
’’Then you won’t,’’ Raegar reassured, squeezing her hand. ’’You can help me take on the nobles or monsters, whatever comes next.’’
Laughter rang through the hall, an escape from the chaos of his life, as Dahlia’s piercing amber gaze locked onto his, her lips curling into a sly smile that hinted at secrets beyond the banquet. A chill coursed through him just as the older woman’s voice cut in, warm but teasing. ’’Now, dig into the feast, everyone. I know some of you were... occupied last night. Summer break’s here, time to unwind.’’
Just then, Tracy put a plate in front of him that struck deep. It might have been a simple sandwich, but it brought back all the happy memories of his childhood on Earth, when she came around and forced his parents to show him some attention. It was one of the reasons he retreated into his books.
Raegar fell silent while everyone around him, only for Alice to notice. She leaned over and squeezed his arm. ’’You’re needed here, Rae. You finally have a home with people who cherish you.’’
’’I spent so many years alone,’’ he revealed as his emotions spiralled. ’’So many lonely nights, no parental love like my mother and father give me now, even my grandparents show their affection, even if their rough around the edges.’’
’’Arthur!’’ Tracy’s voice boomed.
Raegar’s head turned to the older woman, who revealed. ’’They loved you in their own way, but lost sight of how they were treating you. I’m sure after your death, the two of them were torn up.’’
She beamed. ’’Now let her in, it will put you at peace.’’
Darkness swallowed Raegar, plunging the hall into chaos as gasps and shouts erupted around him. Yet, he was unharmed. Moments later, he awoke in a stark white room, standing beside an older woman whose familiar features mirrored his mother’s from Earth. Her warm, knowing smile put him at ease.
’’At last, I meet the Chosen One,’’ she said, her voice gentle but weighty. ’’The one destined to reshape our world.’’
’’Huh?’’ he blinked, disoriented.
The woman chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. ’’Come, hero. See how your passing struck those you left behind.’’
Moments later, the scene shifted, and Raegar found himself in a familiar bedroom. The sound of hopeless sobs filled the air. Turning toward the sound, he saw his mother clutching a framed photo of him, her face streaked with tears as she wept uncontrollably. The door creaked open, and his father stepped in, his broad shoulders slouched, eyes heavy.
He carried a tray with a steaming mug of tea, his attempt at comfort. ’’Helen, you need to eat something,’’ he said softly, setting the tray on the nightstand.
His mother’s head snapped up, her tear-streaked face contorting with sudden fury. ’’Eat? Eat?’’ she spat, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. ’’You think I care about food when Arthur’s gone? You’re out there spoiling the twins, buying them whatever they want, acting like nothing’s wrong! Like he never existed!’’
His father flinched, the tray rattling as his hand brushed against it. ’’Helen, I’m not forgetting him,’’ he said, his tone strained. ’’I’m trying to keep things together for them, for us.’’
’’For us?’’ she interrupted, clutching the photo tighter. ’’You forgot Arthur just like I did, didn’t you? Always so busy with the twins, their games, their tantrums. We let him slip away, and now he’s gone!’’
Her words broke into a sob, and she sank back onto the bed, the picture pressed against her heart. Raegar’s throat tightened, trembling as he watched his father stand there, speechless, the weight of her words crushing the air between them. The older woman beside him placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, her voice a soft murmur. ’’This is their truth, Chosen One. Their grief shapes them, just as your path shapes you.’’
Raegar’s gaze lingered on his parents, the sight of his mother’s crumpled form and his father’s helpless silence searing into him. The bedroom, once a haven of warmth, now felt like a tomb.
The older woman continued. ’’You’re exactly where you’re meant to be. Your new world, new life is where you belong. Their pain is their own, born of love and loss. You’ve been called to a greater destiny, one that will ripple beyond this room, beyond their grief.’’
She gestured toward the white expanse around them, its boundaries shimmering faintly. "Trust that, hero. This is where your story starts anew.’’
Raegar was about to reply, but he woke up back in the dining hall, only to notice everyone was quiet, staring at him with worried expressions. That’s when Tracy started laughing as she spoke. ’’I’m sure you just met my goddess, did she show you them?’’
’’Yes,’’ he whispered. ’’They’re suffering from my loss, especially mom.’’
’’She’ll be fine now that she has little Arthur, whom she spoils rotten,’’ the older woman revealed. ’’What you saw was a few weeks after your death, but now it’s been many years and everyone has grown old, apart from you.’’
’’Do they still remember me?’’
’’Of course!’’ Tracy exclaimed. ’’Especially Maria, that girl loves you so fiercely. She thinks of you as her hero, Arthur. Now it’s time to move on from that life and focus on what’s in front of you now.’’