[THE BEGINNING OF SEASON TWO]

[Leif’s POV — Thorenvald Estate—Morning]

"...Huh? Who’s coming?" I asked, still half-asleep, squinting at Baron like he’d just told me dragons were doing ballet outside.

"Your family, My lord. And the Crown Prince and Princess Sirella," he said, far too calmly for what was clearly a declaration of chaos.

I blinked. Once. Twice. Then it hit me.

Wait. The Crown Prince? Princess Sirella? And the second prince is already here—the same siblings who can’t have dinner without throwing emotional daggers?

I froze, realization hitting like divine lightning. The whole Imperial sibling group will be here, which meant—

"Oh no," I whispered in horror. "My soon-to-be kingdom—currently a peaceful little territory—is about to turn into a live-action royal murder mystery."

Baron looked politely confused. I continued anyway. "Why is the entire Imperial family settling here? Do they think this place is some kind of... picnic spot for assassination attempts?"

He cleared his throat. "Because it’s that time of the year, my lord."

I frowned. "That time? You mean the annual Let’s-Torture-Leif-By-Bringing-The-Whole-Family festival?"

He didn’t even flinch. He is so used to it. "No, my lord. After winter ends in the Forjnholm territory, the creatures leave their burrows. They begin attacking the trade routes. And since most of them live near the borders, they wander into this region."

I sighed dramatically. "So basically, monsters are migrating, and the royals are too."

"...Yes, my lord."

"Great," I muttered. "A perfect combination—political predators inside the estate and actual predators outside it."

Baron hesitated. "Shall we... prepare rooms for them, my lord?"

"Obviously. Did the opposite building get repaired?"

"Yes, my lord. We could house the royal family there."

"Good idea. Move all the royals and their... emotional baggage into that building. Hire extra maids for my family."

He nodded. "Speaking of which, Grand Duke Alvar confirmed that Madam Regulfsson is also arriving."

"Alright, she is not the problem. Make her room comfortable. And politely escort the Second Prince to the opposite building. Preferably with complimentary pillows and an exit that says, ’For royal exiles only.’ "

Baron bowed with a straight face. "I shall... make the preparations."

"Do that," I said, waving a hand.

He nodded and left.

I stared at the sunlight filtering through the curtains, rubbing my temple. "The whole royal family... living here for months."

A beat of silence. Then I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. "I really hope we have fewer murder attempts this year. I just finished fixing the courtyard tiles, and bloodstains are murder on marble."

The door opened before Baron could reply.

"Are you okay?"

I turned—and blinked. "Alvar!"

I don’t even know how it happened. Maybe gravity gave up on me, or maybe my brain just decided "dignity" was optional—but the next thing I knew, I had somehow launched myself at him and slumped against his shoulder.

"Alvar..." I mumbled dramatically into his coat, "the royal siblings are coming. Do you think my peaceful, finally-organized territory is about to turn into... chaos territory?"

He gave a quiet laugh, low and warm, his arm naturally circling my waist as he steadied me. "I’m here, remember?" he murmured. "Nothing will happen."

I tilted my head up, cheek still pressed to his chest. "Should I say Thank you?"

He smiled faintly, his thumb brushing the back of my hand. "No, it’s my responsibility too."

I sighed in defeat. "Yes and if any assassination attempt ruins my new gardens, I’m letting the dwarves handle diplomacy."

That earned a quiet chuckle before he pulled back slightly, enough for our eyes to meet. "Speaking of which—the dwarves have settled in. The villagers welcomed them like family. The forge is already running, and the buildings and houses are almost repaired."

I blinked. "Like, properly? Not just with dirt and enthusiasm?"

"Yes," he said with a teasing glint. "Actual stone. And some of their apprentices are helping rebuild the eastern houses. The workers even went to Raventon to help repair the bridge there. The dwarves volunteered to reinforce it."

I grinned, leaning against him again. "Finally! My territory no longer looks like the tutorial village from a low-budget RPG."

He blinked. "RPG?"

"...Ignore it," I said quickly.

Alvar’s shoulders shook with quiet laughter, and his fingers traced lazy circles along my palm, sending a little spark of warmth up my arm. "It’s starting to look like a real domain now, Leif. You’ve done well."

I looked up, mock offended. " We’ve done well. You’re the one who dragged me out of bed every morning, reminding me of my ’responsibilities.’"

He raised a brow, the corner of his lips quirking. "You make it sound like I was torturing you."

"You were," I deadpanned. "Mentally. Emotionally. And... sometimes, physically—on the bed."

Alvar’s lips curved, eyes glinting. "That’s my right."

My face went hot instantly. "R-rights. Yes... your rights."

He laughed softly—low and warm—and leaned down to press a kiss to my forehead. His hand slid down, fingers brushing over mine until they rested against the silver engagement ring circling my finger. His thumb traced it once, slow and deliberate.

"Leif," he murmured.

"Hmm?" I mumbled, snuggling deeper into his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my ear.

"Can you promise me one thing?"

"Sure," I said without thinking.

"Never sacrifice yourself for anyone. No matter what happens."

I blinked, tilting my head up at him. His expression was calm... but his eyes weren’t. They were too soft, too careful, as if he was trying to memorize me.

"What kind of promise is that?" I asked, brow furrowing. "Why would I sacrifice myself for someone?"

He smiled faintly and reached up, brushing his thumb along my cheek. "You never know," he whispered, his gaze drifting downward—to the red marble pendant resting against my collarbone. The same marble that had begun to glow faintly warmer these days.

"Many things are happening around you, Leif," he murmured. "Things you might not yet see."

I followed his gaze, staring at the crimson stone, then back at him. There was something in his eyes—something that looked like fear. As if he already knew what awaited us.

Still, I smiled, threading my fingers through his. "Alright," I whispered. "I promise."

His expression softened instantly. Relief flickered through his eyes as he leaned forward, wrapping me in his arms again, the faintest tremor in his hold.

"Good," he murmured against my hair. "Let’s grow old together, Leif. We have a wedding to plan, a kingdom to build, and a child to adopt—and one day, we’ll watch them fall in love too. So don’t you dare forget that."

I smiled, closing my eyes as I melted into his warmth. "I won’t," I whispered. "I promise... I’ll be there with you until the end."

Outside, the morning light spilled across the estate, golden and calm. But beneath that peaceful glow, the red marble at my throat shimmered—just once—like a heartbeat that didn’t belong to me.

***

[Alvar’s POV — Continuation]

I tightened my hold around him, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against mine. Warm. Alive. Human.

But I knew better now.

After opening that book... after learning the truth—that Leif wasn’t a mere saint blessed with divine power but the Bearer of Seraph

—the world hasn’t felt the same since. Because along with that truth came a terror I couldn’t shake.

The Seraph King had once sacrificed himself to seal the Devil. Burned his own heart to forge the Chains of Eternity. And now, that same power... that same fate... rests inside him .

Leif.

My Leif.

The Devil has awakened. I can feel it in the winds—the same unnatural tremor in the air, the same whisper of darkness spreading quietly across kingdoms. Someone, somewhere, has broken the seal.

And everything that was written in that cursed prophecy...is happening again.

The dragons have revealed themselves. The elves have come out of hiding. The dwarves stand at his side.

Each race is drawn to him as if heaven itself is calling them home. It’s unfolding exactly as the book foretold. And yet... I refuse to let history repeat itself.

I will not let Leif walk the same path as the Seraph King. I will not let him burn for a world that never deserved his light. There has to be another way—another way to kill the Devil without sacrificing him.

Even if I have to rewrite fate itself...

...I’ll find it.

Because this time, the Seraph won’t die. Not while I’m still breathing.

"Alright," Leif’s voice broke through my thoughts, light and familiar. "I’ll go now. I need to meet the villagers of Raventon—discuss their traditional way of brewing wine and beer."

I turned toward him, arching a brow. "That’s fine. But no more beer for you."

He blinked. "...What?"

"You heard me," I said, trying not to smirk. "It took me two months to help you lose that winter belly, and I’m not doing it again."

His jaw dropped in pure betrayal. "That’s offensive, Alvar."

"Consider it motivation," I said mildly.

He huffed—actually huffed —crossing his arms like a sulking cat before muttering, "Fine... I get it."

I chuckled, watching him march toward the door. "Behave yourself, my love."

He threw me a mock glare over his shoulder, then left, the sound of his boots fading down the hall. And just like that, the warmth he carried with him vanished too.

Silence settled. Then—

"Do you truly think," a smooth voice cut through the quiet, "that you can change the destiny of the Seraph, Grand Duke?"

I exhaled sharply, eyes closing for a moment before turning toward the doorway. The Second Prince stood there.

He stepped forward, his boots clicking against the floor, his tone low and cold. "You can try to run from it, deny it, rewrite it—but destiny is written in divine blood. He is the Seraph Bearer, Alvar. His fate is sealed."

"And what fate would that be, Your Highness?"

"The same as the Seraph King before him," the prince said, almost softly. "To defeat the Devil... he must offer his heart once more."

A heavy silence fell between us. Then I spoke, my voice dropping to a growl. "No."

I stepped closer, every word a vow. "I don’t care what’s written in that damn prophecy. I don’t care what gods or devils decree. Leif will live. I’ll change destiny itself if I must—but I will not let him die for anyone."

The prince’s smile faded, his expression unreadable. For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

Because prophecy or not...I will not lose him.