"No," Melina replied without expression, then quickly turned her head aside, as if she wanted to avoid any further eye contact with Nolan.
"Huh. That's a strange attitude. It almost feels like you don't care much about your own memories anymore."
Nolan's lips curved into a teasing smile. Propping his chin on one hand, he watched Melina with open interest.
The girl had changed so much compared to before. That sense of mission, the insistence that she had to go to Leyndell, no longer felt so heavy to Nolan. Right now, she seemed more like an ordinary girl from next door.
There was no visible change in the reserved girl's expression, but he could clearly tell she was unhappy.
Was she angry at her mother's heartlessness in sacrificing her own children? Was it distrust born from having her memories tampered with? Or did she simply hate the man in front of her for ruining the course her life was meant to take?
Nolan had no way of knowing, and Melina clearly had no intention of telling him.
This taciturn girl always liked to keep everything buried in her heart, like a sealed box. If no one asked, she might never say it out loud in her entire life.
As Nolan watched her, Melina suddenly said softly, "Nolan."
Her voice was very quiet, like a breeze brushing past, faint enough to seem almost unreal.
Nolan came back to himself and looked at Melina, waiting for her to continue.
"Which do you think is more important, the past or the future?"
"A philosophical question. I really didn't expect that little head of yours to think about things like this," Nolan said in surprise.
"If this were back when we first met, I'd probably tell you the future was more important, because I would have lured you to my side and talked you into handing your future over to me."
"But now, I'd tell you they're equally important. Every moment, we're moving toward the future, but even so, I still don't want to forget a single memory from the past."
"Actually, the past is one of the things pushing me forward. You may not believe me, but right now, it's the past and the future together that are driving me onward."
Nolan smiled, and Melina was caught off guard by it. It was a beautiful smile, one that made it clear he was looking at something precious.
"I don't care whether people call me a butcher or a bandit. I'm going to take those Great Runes no matter what. I'm going to get my past back!" Nolan said.
"The past really is important, isn't it..." Melina asked softly.
"Yeah. I don't know what other people think, but that's how I feel." Nolan nodded.
"I knew it... I still want to go to Leyndell," Melina said in a small voice. "Even though I don't know what I'll do there, I still want to go."
"Then let's go together. Didn't we already agree on that? And if I ever sit on Leyndell's throne, I hope Melina will be there to see it."
Nolan suddenly crossed over the balcony, softly calling Melina's name as he reached his hand out toward her, as if... he wanted to pull her up from somewhere.
"So let's go together, my collaborator. To Leyndell."
Melina stared up blankly. The one standing before her was still the man she had spent every day with.
That familiar face, familiar presence, familiar smile. Nothing had changed. And yet the hand reaching toward her did not seem like an ordinary hand.
It was like a straw she could grasp, something that might pull her up. She had held that hand countless times before. Even if she might have been deceived all along, that hand was indeed warm.
The man's invitation echoed in her ears. It was the Covenant they had made long ago. Melina placed her hand in his.
"Collaborator, this was what you were supposed to do from the beginning. You must fulfill your Covenant and come with me to Leyndell."
Inside the room, a gentle knock at the door drifted through the air like a soft melody.
From the rhythm alone, Melina knew who it was. Yet at that moment, she wished that person had come a little later.
Melina wanted to cover her ears, but she had no free hand. There was no blocking out the sound. In the end, she realized the man in front of her had let go first.
The air cooled helplessly. The moment the girl withdrew her hand, she lowered her head and turned toward the door.
Just then, the door slowly opened, and a tall red-haired figure appeared in the doorway.
"Melina, we should go invite Father to breakfast... Hm, Lord?" Messmer, who had been greeting his sister, froze when he saw the figure behind Melina.
"Good morning, Messmer. Coming to see Melina this early? She really is a troublesome little sister. You're a good big brother." Nolan waved.
Messmer had been wondering why Nolan was in Melina's room so early in the morning, but after hearing his father's praise, he was immediately flattered. He took the chance to finish the invitation that had been interrupted.
Having breakfast together was an essential ritual for a family to strengthen their bonds. What they ate did not matter. What mattered was having the chance to gather together.
The three of them left the room. Nolan and Melina's rooms were on the left side of the Empyrean's residence, while Malenia's chambers were on the right. The Empyrean's own quarters were in the center.
Even a Lord could only stay in a side room, which showed how much the people here favored the Empyrean.
Of course, as the Promised Consort, Nolan should have moved in to live with Her Divine Majesty. Unfortunately, that young Goddess and the young Empyrean seemed to be busy with important matters, so it had to be put aside for now.
...
"The war between Leyndell and Volcano Manor is still going?"
At the dining table, Nolan took a sip of fruit wine and looked at Messmer in surprise. He had thought this war would end much sooner.
"That's right. But I'm afraid it's almost over. Volcano Manor's outer defenses have completely collapsed. Leyndell's next move should be a full assault on the manor itself."
Sitting to Nolan's left, Messmer reported the latest developments to his father. The Haligtree had hidden almost nothing from the prince regarding the war.
"There's one more thing. It may be the reason Leyndell is in such a hurry to end the war."
"What is it?"
"Radahn has recovered from the effects of the Scarlet Rot. Rumor has it he's preparing to raise his forces again!" Messmer said with a frown.
"The strongest Demigod is still a threat to Leyndell, after all," Nolan said helplessly. "Though it seems I'll be the first one to face Starscourge General's army."
The Land of Shadow was still sealed. If Radahn marched on Leyndell again, then Nolan's territory of Limgrave would naturally become the Redmane Army's necessary route north.
"Is Father worried?"
"Yes. War is always accompanied by death." Nolan sighed softly, but soon raised his head again, his gaze firm. "But in the end, it will also bring peace."
Messmer could not help pausing in surprise. He had thought his father was worried about the Demigod known as the strongest, but now it seemed that was not the case at all.
"Messmer."
Hearing his father call him, Messmer looked up in confusion. "Hm?"
"Let's end this war together," Nolan said softly.
Messmer froze for a moment, then nodded firmly.
"Yes."