No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find anything I was worse at than Dietrian.
I would have laid down my life for Leticia; I had done enough for that.
I had already proven it.
I had endured the pain of my oath all my life while waiting for my true master.
So there were times when I felt unfairly emotional.
…Now, what did that matter?
Callisto smirked.
The only thing he lacked compared to Dietrian was that he hadn’t met Leticia sooner.
Still, that divided their fates.
What could be done? If fate had prepared it that way, I had to accept it, even if it felt unfair.
Well, it didn’t trouble him that much.
His life was already a bonus.
The lovely happiness of having a younger sibling, something he had never expected, had also been added.
He was satisfied with his life and hoped that days like today would continue.
“How did you…?”
His voice turned cold without realizing it. A lady he had exchanged greetings with a few times at the banquet approached and said something absurd.
That she knew his heart.
That he must have Leticia in his heart.
“Um, Your Highness.”
Without gathering his composure, his pale skin turned even whiter.
Callisto’s smile stiffened at the sight of her trembling green eyes beneath her long brown eyelashes.
Of all things, green eyes. It made him feel worse as it reminded him of Leticia.
“The Saintess is the empress of Genos. You must know how great an insult your words are to her.”
Whether the other party was trembling or not, he retorted harshly.
“I don’t know what kind of courage makes you spout such nonsense. Do you not know who I am? Just because you’re a noble, did you think I would overlook your rudeness?”
In truth, it was forced. After all, Leticia didn’t know his heart.
It was better to deny it than to get angry.
Still, he couldn’t hide his discomfort. No, he couldn’t hide it.
An instinctive anger surged at the feeling of having something he had cherished so dearly intruded upon.
“If you want to live, you should be careful with your words. I have killed everyone I intended to kill.”
Grinding his teeth, he turned away.
He regretted coming back to the empire for no reason.
He should have quietly stayed at the tower. The result of rushing here after hearing news of his sister’s pregnancy was this.
“Wait, please just listen to my story.”
Annoyingly, he had to stop after just a few steps.
Callisto frowned at the white hand that had grasped his cloak.
“What are you doing right now?”
“Don’t you want to know why?”
The woman trembled but didn’t let go of his hand.
“I knew Your Highness would be displeased, yet I spoke such words. How I came to know your heart.”
“Stop with the nonsense.”
“I just… I knew. I had no choice but to know. I have always been watching over you.”
“I told you I’m not interested, so shut your mouth.”
“I’m in love with you.”
Callisto twisted his lips as if mocking her.
“I don’t even know your name.”
Her eyes widened, as if she had been hurt, and she lowered her quivering gaze.
As if making a resolution, she raised her head. Though her eyes were wet, a soft smile graced her lips.
“It’s alright, Your Highness. My name is Greta.”
“I told you I’m not interested.”
“I’ve loved you for quite some time. Just like my friends did. You were a shining star, Your Highness. Over time, most have given up, but not me. Thanks to that, as you can see, I’ve long passed my prime for marriage.”
Greta had fallen for Callisto years ago.
It was shortly after Leticia became the saintess, when the new empire began. To stabilize the chaos of the new era, Callisto had briefly stepped forward.
Though he hadn’t intended it, many women had been captivated by him during that time.
But that love didn’t last long.
Loving a star was both beautiful and painful. The sparkling star was incredibly beautiful, yet it wouldn’t return that love.
“So, am I supposed to take responsibility for this?”
“No, I just wanted to tell you why I haven’t given up on you all this time.”
Despite Callisto’s harsh words, Greta shook her head with a faint smile.
“It’s because I realized you share the same feelings as I do.”
During the long period of unrequited love, she hadn’t known how to express her feelings like her friends. She had only watched from afar, feeling sorrowful.
Then the moment came when she noticed his heart.
When news of Leticia spread throughout the empire.
A warmth like spring breeze flickered in his usually cold gray eyes.
It passed in an instant, but she was sure.
Callisto had feelings for Leticia.
At first, she was surprised.
She felt sadness.
The man she loved was in love with another woman.
But then, another feeling emerged.
“You’ve known all along that your feelings wouldn’t be returned, yet you haven’t let go of them for years. That’s why I couldn’t… give up on you.”
Thinking of how lonely he must have felt pained her heart.
Though she couldn’t support his love, she sincerely wished for his happiness.
It didn’t have to be her; she just prayed someone would stay by his side.
While she nurtured her feelings alone, those around her were in an uproar.
Despite having long passed the age for marriage, she deliberately ignored her parents’ insistence on finding a partner.
She didn’t reveal her heart for fear of becoming a burden to Callisto.
All she needed was to confirm from a distance that he was doing well.
But this time, it was different.
The way he watched his happily married sister and brother-in-law seemed a little lonely.
“It’s alright if you don’t love me, Your Highness. Of course, it would hurt, but it’s my choice.”
Greta took a deep breath.
“If you ever need comfort, I just want you to remember that I’ll always be there…”
“Stop wasting my time.”
Callisto coldly interrupted Greta’s words and began to walk away.
Suppressing the turmoil inside him, he paused outside the building.
Through the glass window, Greta stood exactly where he had left her.
Amid the revelry of the banquet, her profile stood out sharply.
Greta gazed longingly at the door he had exited, her hands clasped as if in prayer.
With a deeply earnest expression, she closed her eyes and murmured something.
Callisto’s expression hardened as he unconsciously read her lips.
「Wishing for His Highness’s happiness.」
“Stop talking nonsense.”
Under the unwavering gaze of the earth spirit, a magic circle was quickly drawn.
Light erupted from the circle, enveloping his body in an instant.
* * *
“Are you saying you’ll leave Lehir to me?”
Even after returning to the tower and meeting Sigmund, Callisto still felt uneasy.
This was because Greta’s profile, earnestly watching the banquet hall door, kept replaying in his mind.
It would have been good if he could just shake off the unpleasantness, but he couldn’t help but remember her tearful grip that had held onto him.
Whether it was truly because he felt sorry for Greta or because it reminded him of his own unrequited love, he couldn’t tell.
Maintaining a composed demeanor, Callisto spoke to Sigmund.
“Is there anything specific you wish for? I will proceed as you command, Sir Sigmund.”
Since becoming the tower master, Callisto had met with Sigmund on several occasions.
More precisely, Sigmund had come to see Callisto.
He would arrive like the wind, state his business, and vanish just as quickly.
He wasn’t particularly friendly, but there was no reason to refuse.
On the contrary, it was only right to welcome the visit of Sigmund, the greatest magician in the world, as tower master.
But this time, managing his expression proved difficult.
Even when Sigmund offered to entrust Lehir’s soul to him, he struggled to maintain composure.
Callisto gazed at the stone containing Lehir’s soul with downcast eyes.
Surprisingly, fear seemed to emanate from the light that burst forth from the stone.
It was not Callisto’s emotion, but Lehir’s.
He could fully understand how Sigmund might have treated Lehir in his absence.
On the other hand, Callisto felt nothing particular upon seeing Lehir.
In the past, he would have cursed Lehir for ruining his life, but now it was different.
A long time had already passed, and he was satisfied with his life now.
Though the past had been painful, without it, he would not be the person he was today.
…In fact, there was a bigger reason he couldn’t concentrate on Lehir.
It was because of Greta.
Ultimately, Callisto could not overcome his agitation and wiped his dry face.
Sigmund suddenly asked.
“Are you going to refuse?”
“…What?”
“The confession you just heard. Are you going to refuse it?”
Sigmund’s golden eyes sparkled with interest.
Looking at Sigmund in bewilderment, Callisto hardened his expression.
“How could you…?”
Callisto, who had asked reflexively, let out a helpless laugh.
Sigmund was the greatest transcendent being in the world.
If he set his mind to it, he could find out anything about anyone.
He didn’t even think to question why he was prying into his private life.
After all, Sigmund was a being comparable to a god.
It was not his place to question why a god looked down upon humans.
“It seems your feelings run quite deep. Will you accept it?”
While asking playfully, Sigmund carefully observed Callisto’s expression.
But soon he realized his true feelings and clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘So, it’s a rejection.’
Indeed, it seemed that the stubbornness of the wings was unavoidable.
‘Dinute, why are all your children like this?’
Not even a pine tree, yet how could humans be so consistent?
It was endearing, yet frustrating as well.
That proud Callisto had to engage in unrequited love for his entire life.
From the perspective of someone who mourned his deceased wife forever, it was hard to accept.
He might be a great transcendent, able to mourn his wife alone.
But Callisto was just a fragile human. Surely, he would blame Sigmund for not persuading him when he grew old.
Thus, he decided to show some compassion.
He would reveal the truth between himself and his wife that humans did not know.
“Don’t just think of refusal; try to think positively. Human life is very short. There’s not enough time to enjoy every moment.”
“You’re a great transcendent. Of course, that would be obvious to you, Sigmund.”
“Right. I am a transcendent being. But that’s not all.”
Sigmund shook his head and quietly looked at Callisto.
“It’s something I can say because I’ve watched the life of a loved one from the side. Human life is incredibly short. Sweetness passes in the blink of an eye. No matter how hard you try in every moment, there’s still regret. Just like I’ve regretted all this time.”
* * *
According to the founding myth of Genos, Sigmund’s appearance in the human realm was due to the plea of a woman.
When the corruption of the priests pierced the heavens, the suffering people knelt before the sea where Sigmund was known to be asleep.
They begged, vowing to give everything they had, to please save us.
Hearing the woman’s desperate call, Sigmund decided to intervene in the human realm and helped her.
After eradicating the corrupt priests and saving the lives of the oppressed people, he said to the woman,
“I have come to love you. Become my wife.”
The woman accepted Sigmund’s proposal, and he established a nation by the seaside where she had called him.
That nation was Genos.
…or so it was said, but in reality, it wasn’t like that. When Sigmund first set foot in the human realm, many humans indeed suffered.
It was true that humans blinded by self-interest made slaves of other humans and exploited them.
It was also true that many living in that era desperately longed for a savior.
However, Sigmund did not set foot in the human realm because of anyone’s call.
At that time, there were several awake dragons in the world.
They possessed such great power that they could burn a city to ashes with a single breath, so they had to hide their existence.
They knew that their intervention could cause great chaos in the human world if something went wrong.
They intended to wait until the self-correcting action occurred, but unfortunately, the world continued to decay.
“Go to the human realm, Sigmund. Correct the twisted human world.”
Ultimately, the dragons decided to intervene in the human realm.
However, the elders did not step forward.
Having lived through eternity, they possessed powers that rivaled those of the gods, making it difficult for them to act.
The greedy laws of causality wouldn’t allow it either.
Thus, they decided to send the youngest, Sigmund, into the human world. So it was that Sigmund set foot in the human realm and made a decision.
“I need to find a guide.”
Though he was transcendent, he was ignorant of the human realm. To intervene effectively, he needed human assistance.
After much searching, he hired the most competent guide nearby.
At that time, he never imagined.
He would come to love her.
At first, he didn’t quite get along with her. Sigmund was overly ignorant of human grammar. Looking back now, he realizes he said a lot of nonsense. If it had been another guide, he might have given up on her.
The woman Sigmund loved felt the same way.
During their first meeting, she was nervous to be with a great dragon, but within weeks, she treated him like a troublemaker.
“Wow, are you really a dragon? Why can’t you understand something this simple?”
At first, her attitude baffled him, but over time, he came to realize.
The guide he met was the wisest person in the world and the only one who could fill his deficiencies in the human realm.
When creating the founding myth, it was the same.
The little woman nestled in his arms had her words still ringing in his ears.
“The founding myth has to be great. That way, people will see the nation Sigmund established as extraordinary.”
“…Are you saying we should deceive people with the founding myth?”
“Everyone does that. So let’s make our love story as elegant as possible.”
At the time, it seemed absurd, but as time passed, it all became a bittersweet memory.
He was grateful that her traces remained throughout the land.
And on the other hand, he felt a pang of regret. Why hadn’t he realized then?
That human life was so short.
That he should have loved more, even if just for one more day.
* * *
To persuade Callisto, Sigmund made a great decision and shared his wife’s story.
After hearing Sigmund’s tale, Callisto fell silent for a moment.
Then, he slightly furrowed his brows and asked,
“So you’re telling me that the Genos founding myth was a deception?”
“It’s about reminding you that life is short. There isn’t enough time to love freely. Why linger in the past?”
Callisto shut his mouth like a clam. His resolute expression seemed impenetrable. It was evidence of the stubborn affection he had harbored for years.
Sigmund chuckled and got up from his seat.
He threw the stone containing Lehir’s soul toward Callisto.
Callisto instinctively caught the stone and looked at Sigmund.
Sigmund shrugged.
“If you’re going to think, do it productively. You should be pondering how to deal with Lehir. Oh, and don’t get lost in just torturing him. Reflect on what I just said. Life is short. There isn’t enough time to love freely.”
Without waiting for Callisto’s reply, Sigmund ambled out of the tower.
In an instant, the space tore open, and he found himself back in the desert.
Would Callisto be able to find an answer?
It was uncertain.
Even if he found an answer, he might ultimately reject Greta.
But he didn’t intend to stay there until a conclusion was reached.
He thought it unnecessary to remain.
After all, Callisto was human.
He believed in the strength of humans. Being human, he would somehow overcome it.
It would be best if he could let go of his long-held unrequited love and accept Greta.
But even if that didn’t happen, he figured she would find her own path.
“Sigmund! You have to take me with you!”
Even after leaving the tower, Heinz continued to follow Sigmund.
Due to their soul bond from the contract with the dragon, he couldn’t move separately even if he wanted to.
As always, Heinz grumbled the entire time he followed Sigmund.
When would they rest? His legs were hurting.
Thanks to the magical power, Heinz hardly felt fatigue.
His grumbling seemed habitual, so Sigmund scoffed and continued walking.
Daylight broke, darkness fell, the sun rose, and the sky turned black again.
In the midst of all this, the powerful magic of the dragon showed Sigmund the faces of his beloved humans.
“Sister, when are you going to confess to His Highness?”
“Irene! Keep your voice down!”
“Oh, come on! His Highness is far away. You don’t have to worry. Anyway, hurry up and tell me. When will you confess to His Highness? You’ve just been watching him for years!”
“How could someone like me ever…?”
“Stop saying that. If His Highness offered to help with the hospital work, it means something, you know? He might be more interested in you than you think.”
“Don’t say that. He’s just being kind. He’s such a good person that he can’t ignore those in pain.”
“Still, why would the Wing of Prophecy come to a hospital that has nothing to do with prophecies? Plus, he’s especially kind to you!”
“That’s just because I treated Lady Mano…”
“Ugh! This is so frustrating! I might just confess for you!”
“Kailas, do you like Uncle?”
“Gah! Princess!”
“No wonder. You showed up in my dream last night. You know I’m Gilead, right? Don’t try to change the subject; just tell me honestly. Do you really like Uncle?”
“Well, it’s just that…”
“Kailas, why are you so shy all of a sudden? I saw you stepping on that troublesome patient’s foot yesterday.”
“That patient had a broken metatarsal.”
“What? Really? Did Irene see it herself?”
“Not me. Father treated him.”
“As expected, Kailas is so reliable! So stop holding back and spill it. You know I’m an expert in these matters!”
Lehira’s sparkling eyes shimmered like waves before fading into the distance.
Above her, her twin brother Abel appeared.
As Abel glanced down, Latil, who had been walking beside him, lowered her head.
Seeing Latil’s reddening ears, Abel turned away and cleared his throat.
He struggled to suppress a grin while walking, but Latil stopped in her tracks.
With a puzzled expression, Latil tightly grabbed the hem of Abel’s clothing.
“Latil? What’s wrong?”
“…Brother, I have something to say.”
“What is it?”
Abel asked with a kind smile.
Latil, her face as red as a tomato, looked up.
“Mother always told me something.”
“The Empress? What did she say?”
“If you have something you want, you must… muster the courage. That way, you won’t have regrets.”
Latil took a deep breath and looked directly at Abel.
“I was told that my birth was thanks to that.”
“Why are you bringing that up suddenly…?”
“And one more thing. Life has its timing, and you mustn’t miss it.”
Latil grasped Abel’s collar with trembling hands.
Abel tilted his head in confusion but soon softened his gaze. To him, Latil was a timid child he wanted to protect even more.
So he never imagined what his younger sister might say.
“Let’s get married.”
“…Huh?”
“If it’s too early for marriage, then at least let’s get engaged.”
Abel blinked in surprise, momentarily dazed. As his astonishment faded, Ahwin and Noel appeared.
Noel, having learned of Julios’s dream and confirmed her pregnancy, was in tears of joy.
“I have to tell the Saintess!”
“I already informed her. She was very pleased.”
“I need to tell Banessa too. He’s been quite worried about us.”
“I’ve already spoken to him as well. He’s a bit out of sorts right now. The Emperor of the Holy Empire is expecting a child. Maybe it’s because we’re having children around the same time, but he had some amusing stories.”
“Amusing stories?”
Ahwin grinned playfully.
He whispered in Noel’s ear, causing her to gasp in shock. Then she quickly shook her head.
“That’s… a bit much.”
“Huh?”
“Becoming in-laws with Banessa… I can’t handle it…”
“Haha, I feel the same way. That was probably just a joke.”
The scenes of humans continued to pass by. The humans Sigmund loved remained happy.
Their happiness stacked up like stone towers, becoming something that could never be toppled.
Sigmund smiled gently and gazed at the sky.
As dawn slowly broke, a sense of longing glimmered in his eyes.
“I miss you today too.”
That longing felt like a precious jewel. The more he reminisced, the more it sparkled and solidified.
Once, that longing had pained him, but not anymore.
To him, it was a gift left by his wife as he lived a long life as a transcendent being.
If he were to reflect on it, he could say that it was thanks to his wife that he changed the fates of humans.
Because of her, he learned to love humans, and it was her traces he longed for that led him to intervene in the human realm.
“Should I go visit Leticia?”
Suddenly, he wanted to see Leticia, who had succeeded in her own intervention.
Without hesitation, Sigmund tore through the fabric of space.
Wanting to go quietly, he closed the space before Heinz could follow.
The moment he stepped onto the lush green grass, he heard Heinz’s voice bellowing behind him.
It became quiet in no time.
“Sir Sigmund?”
Since it was quite early, I thought I would have to wait until Leticia woke up, but that wasn’t the case.
Leticia, who had been sitting on the bench, was surprised and quickly got up.
She ran to him, clutching the shawl wrapped around her shoulders.
Although she was the mother of two children, she still felt infinitely young in front of Sigmund. Seeing his beloved granddaughter brought a gentle smile to his lips.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“I’ve had many joyful things happen these past few days. I woke up early.”
Even though it was a sudden visit, Leticia smiled brightly with delight.
She then began to talk about recent events. Though he already knew, he pretended not to and listened to Leticia’s story.
Watching Leticia’s happiness made him feel that the efforts of himself and his wife had borne fruit.
There was a time when he felt sorry for Leticia.
He was grateful for her boldly changing her fate, yet he felt regret for the excessively harsh life she had lived in her previous life.
Even if it wasn’t intentional, it was a fact that he had some influence on Josephina’s downfall.
As if sensing his thoughts, Leticia shook her head and smiled brightly.
“Past lives are precious to me, Sir Sigmund. It’s because of that life that I can be who I am now.”
Though Leticia might have said it casually, those words provided significant comfort to Sigmund.
Every past life has meaning.
Thinking that way, even the time spent longing for his wife seemed to shine.
Since then, Leticia often repeated the same story.
Even though he had heard it many times, Sigmund often visited Leticia just to hear those words again.
Today was no different.
“It’s all thanks to you, Sir Sigmund. Everyone I love can be happy because of you.”
Looking into her sparkling green eyes, Sigmund shook his head with a gentle smile.
“It’s not me. It’s you.”
Through Leticia’s strength, through human strength.
In the end, they changed the world.
Wounds may hurt humans, but they cannot break them. Ultimately, humans will rise again and move forward.
Creating a radiant future.
A profound sense of emotion filled his heart. He was once again glad for his choice to love humanity. He felt excited about the future of watching those humans.
No matter what future approaches, they would ultimately transform it into shining moments.
Thank you for joining me until the end of the epilogue of <A Way to Protect the Lovable You>.
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