Golden leaves drifted lazily through the quiet garden.
The soft sound of water from the small stream continued to flow beside the stone table, carrying with it a calm that felt older than the heavens themselves.
Arin sat quietly.
Solmireth's last words still lingered in the air.
"No one dares approach her… and she herself has never shown interest in approaching anyone."
For a few seconds, no one spoke.
Arin scratched the side of his head awkwardly, glancing at the former sovereign whose gaze had drifted toward the sky.
He wasn't sure what one was supposed to say after hearing something like that.
After an awkward pause, Arin cleared his throat.
"Well… I suppose…"
He offered a hesitant smile.
"…good luck with that, my lord."
Solmireth slowly turned his eyes toward him.
His expression remained completely flat.
"…Yes."
He sighed lightly.
"Yes… good luck indeed."
The tone carried a quiet resignation, as though he had already accepted the outcome long ago.
For a moment, silence returned.
Then Solmireth suddenly spoke again.
"So tell me, human."
Arin straightened slightly.
Solmireth leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he studied Arin carefully.
"What do you think?"
Arin blinked.
"My lord?"
Solmireth continued calmly.
"Do you think she will ever fall in love with someone?"
Arin froze.
His brain instantly began screaming.
Why would you ask me that?!
This was the Goddess of Time they were talking about.
Not some random person.
He forced an awkward smile onto his face.
"Ah… well… yes! Of course, my lord."
He nodded quickly.
"The Goddess of Time is the most perfect being in existence. Naturally someone equally perfect will appear for her someday."
He straightened proudly as if he had delivered an extremely wise statement.
Solmireth stared at him silently.
Then he asked one word.
"Really?"
Arin nodded immediately.
"Yes. Of course."
Solmireth kept staring.
His gaze slowly narrowed.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Drop the act."
Arin's smile twitched.
"Tell me honestly."
Arin blinked innocently.
"What do you mean, my lord? I'm telling you the truth."
Solmireth sighed.
"Human."
His voice softened slightly.
"I will not be angry."
"I will not harm you."
"You may speak honestly."
The moment those words were spoken, Arin's polite smile vanished instantly.
His expression became completely flat.
Then he said casually,
"Hell nah."
Solmireth blinked.
Arin leaned back slightly in his chair.
"I don't think she'll ever fall in love."
Behind him, Caelum closed his eyes slowly.
The human had returned to his natural state.
Solmireth, however, simply sighed.
It was not a surprised sigh.
It was the sigh of someone who had expected that answer all along.
"Ah… I see."
He rubbed his beard thoughtfully.
"Well… I suppose there is nothing I can do."
He stood up slowly from the table.
"At the end of the day…"
"…it is her choice."
The former sovereign stretched his shoulders slightly as if preparing to leave.
"Well then," he said casually.
"I believe I should be going."
He yawned lightly.
"I am rather sleepy."
Arin blinked.
Sleepy?
Gods needed sleep?
Solmireth began walking away slowly before pausing after a few steps.
He turned his head slightly toward Arin.
"Human."
Arin straightened immediately.
Solmireth's expression had changed slightly.
The warmth in his face remained, but his voice now carried the quiet authority of someone who had once ruled heaven itself.
"You may speak freely with me."
"But not all gods will tolerate such… honesty."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"So be careful with your words."
Then his gaze shifted toward both Arin and Caelum.
"And the conversation we had today…"
"…should remain private."
Both of them bowed immediately.
"Yes, my lord."
Solmireth nodded once.
Then—
His body dissolved into particles of golden light.
And he vanished.
The garden returned to silence.
For several seconds, Arin remained completely still.
Then he slowly exhaled a long breath.
"…I thought I was going to die like ten times."
Behind him, Caelum suddenly spoke.
"…Human."
Arin turned.
Caelum looked at him with an expression that was difficult to describe.
Part disbelief.
Part admiration.
Part horror.
"I must say…"
"…your courage is truly astonishing."
Arin blinked.
"Courage?"
Caelum nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"You casually told the former sovereign that the Goddess of Time will never fall in love."
Arin shrugged.
"Well… he asked."
Caelum stared at him.
"You also asked him about the Goddess of Time's marriage."
"…Yeah."
"And earlier you complained that he sent you to her palace unfairly."
"…Yeah."
Caelum closed his eyes slowly.
"…I see."
Arin tilted his head.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Caelum opened his eyes again.
"…Because I cannot decide whether you are the bravest human I have ever met…"
He paused.
"…or the most reckless."
Arin grinned slightly.
"I'm leaning toward brave."
Caelum did not respond.
Just as the conversation began to relax—
The air suddenly changed.
The garden temperature seemed to drop.
A faint ripple of power spread through the surroundings.
Both Arin and Caelum froze.
They knew that presence.
Instantly, both of them turned and bowed.
The Goddess of Time had appeared.
She stood silently a few steps away.
Her silver hair moved gently in the wind while her calm eyes looked directly at Arin.
Arin could feel cold sweat forming at his temples.
I'm dead.
Solmireth lied.
She spoke calmly.
"Human."
Arin's voice trembled slightly.
"Yes… my lady."
Her gaze remained fixed on him.
"Tell me."
"What did my father and you discuss?"
Arin felt his soul leave his body.
His throat suddenly felt dry.
"A-ah…"
His voice cracked slightly.
"We… we only spoke about my wish, my lady."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Explain."
Arin swallowed nervously.
"H-he asked why I made such a wish…"
"And I explained that it was… spontaneous."
He quickly repeated the same explanation he had given Solmireth earlier.
About the tournament.
About seeing couples.
About wondering if he had a soulmate.
When he finished speaking, She watched him silently.
Then she asked quietly,
"Is that all?"
Arin nodded rapidly.
"Yes, my lady!"
She slowly turned her gaze toward Caelum.
The moment her eyes met his, Caelum felt a heavy pressure settle around him.
"Caelum."
"Yes, my lady."
"Is the human telling the truth?"
For the first time since becoming her attendant…
Caelum had to lie.
Inside, his mind was screaming.
Forgive me, my lady.
But if I reveal everything… both of us will die.
His expression remained calm.
"Yes, my lady."
"What the human said is correct."
She stared at him for a moment.
She knew her father.
Solmireth had a habit of saying unusual things.
And the tension she had sensed earlier suggested that something had indeed been discussed.
But after a moment—
She looked away.
"Hm."
"Very well."
Then she spoke again.
"Human."
Arin straightened.
"Yes, my lady."
"Prepare yourself."
His heart skipped.
"Your long-awaited wish…"
"…is about to be fulfilled."
Arin blinked.
Then he quickly bowed.
"Thank you, my lady!"
She turned and began walking toward the palace.
"Follow."
Moments later, they entered the palace halls.
Goddess led them through several corridors before stopping in front of a large white door.
She turned toward them.
"Wait here."
Then she stepped inside.
Inside the room—
A beautiful woman with long golden hair sat comfortably near a window.
The moment she saw Goddess, her eyes lit up.
"Sis!"
Seraphielle jumped up instantly and rushed toward her.
"Aaaah! Sister!"
She wrapped her arms around hers in a warm hug.
"I missed you!"
"If only we could have spoken during the tournament without all those formalities."
Goddess gently returned the embrace.
"Well…"
She spoke calmly.
"Now we can."
Seraphielle smiled brightly.
"I suppose so."
She then spoke again.
"I need your help with something."
Seraphielle tilted her head.
"What kind of help?"
Chrona briefly explained Arin's wish.
Seraphielle's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Oh!"
"A human wishing to know his soulmate?"
"That sounds interesting."
She smiled.
"Of course I'll help."
Moments later, both sisters stepped outside.
The moment they appeared, Arin and Caelum bowed instantly.
Seraphielle looked at Arin curiously.
"So you are the human."
Arin remained bowed.
"Yes, my lady."
Seraphielle smiled warmly.
"You may stand."
Arin slowly straightened.
The moment he saw her face clearly—
He froze.
Her beauty was overwhelming.
Different from Goddess cold perfection.
Seraphielle radiated warmth and charm.
For a brief moment, Arin simply stared.
Seraphielle noticed and giggled softly.
Then she stepped closer.
"Look into my eyes."
Arin blinked.
"…Yes, my lady."
As their eyes met, a gentle golden glow appeared around Seraphielle.
Her divine power began searching through Arin's soul.
She looked deeper.
And deeper.
And deeper.
Then—
Her expression changed.
Confusion appeared in her eyes.
"…Strange."
The glow faded.
Arin blinked.
"…My lady?"
Seraphielle frowned slightly.
"I cannot see your soulmate."
Arin froze.
"…What?"
Seraphielle shook her head slowly.
"That should not be possible."
"Every soul has a connection."
"Every being has someone they are fated to meet."
Her brows furrowed.
"But your soul…"
"…has no visible bond."
She turned toward Goddess.
"Perhaps Myrathiel could see it."
"The Goddess of Fate can perceive destiny itself."
Arin felt a strange unease growing in his chest.
Even the Goddess of Love could not see it.
He forced a small smile.
"Ah… it's okay."
"You don't have to try so hard for my sake."
Seraphielle blinked.
But beside her—
Goddess eyes slowly narrowed.
To her…
This was no longer simply a wish.
A task given to her had not been completed.
And worse—
The human was now suggesting abandoning the attempt.
A faint spark of determination appeared in the Goddess of Time's eyes.
To Arin, it was just a casual remark.
To Her—
It was now a challenge.