“Hey, give it back…” We’ve reached the gardens at the back of the church. He still didn’t let go of my hand.

“Later.”

“I’m not running away if that’s what you're thinking.” It was already dark. The only light we had were the lamp-posts in our path. 

He lifted the hand he was grasping and noticed the ring. “I see that you’re wearing my gift. Do you like it?”

“It’s pretty. Thanks...”

What if I light his hand with a spell? What will he do? No. Stop with the intrusive thoughts, Lilivienne.

“I heard you were almost kidnapped.” He mentioned. Perhaps Alasdair informed him about it.

“Oh, it was nothing. How are you doing these days?” I felt like I had to ask him back. 

“Been busy with work. I’d probably stay here longer than I had planned so you’ll see me quite often. We’re going to work on a project together soon. By then Lilivienne, I hope you can treat me better.”

I sneered at him. “Hey, we’re not friends. I’ll treat you the way I want.”

“I’m still a prince from a foreign country. Is this how a lady from Evermore should treat their guests?” He acted hurt.

“To be fair, you weren’t nice to me at the tavern either. So consider this as an equal treatment.” 

He sighed. “Alright, I apologize for that. I was not at my best that day. But…” He stopped in his tracks and looked me straight in the eye. “Lilivienne, tell me the truth. What do you know about me?”

“I know nothing, personally.” I firmly lied. “I only know what you look like and how you’re pretty popular among the daughters of aristocrats. That was it.”

He squinted his eyes in suspicion. “You’re friends with those girls? How come I’ve never seen you before…”

“I-I kept my circle smaller when I got into a coma.” I lied again. I don’t know the girls he was talking about.

His eyes widened. “What?”

“From a poisoning attempt. Don’t worry, it happened a long time ago.”

“Now you’re making me feel worse.”

Zathrian suddenly grabbed me by the shoulders and put the brim hat back on my head. “I’m genuinely sorry for my actions, Lilivienne. I shall live with guilt for what I’ve done and die a horrible death if it means atoning for my sins. I promise not to hurt you anymore. Will I be forgiven?” 

He didn’t even have to say all that!

His face was only inches away as he tied my chinstrap, it was closer than when we danced at the party. I felt it again, the familiar fluttering in my chest. I never like it one bit, not when he’s the reason for it.

I looked to the side, avoiding his gaze. “I-I forgive you! So can you please let go of me now?”

“But you’ll run away—“

“I’m not running away. Where should I go?”

His hands kept fixing my hat, but his eyes were fixed on meeting mine. “Somewhere you think I can’t find you?”

I stepped back and dragged him to where we came from. He willingly complied like a light feather. “It’s getting cold, Your Highness. If you want to make sure I’m not going anywhere, you can walk me to my carriage. It’s your fault why I’ll be getting home late, anyway.” 

“I’m planning to do that even without you asking. I’m not the kind to leave a lady alone in the dark, you know?”

We returned to the front of the church where the coachman was waiting for me.

“Please get home safe. See you at the mass.” He said.

The Grand Mass. I hope it goes well for both of us, Zathrian…

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

The day of the Grand Mass…

In Remembering World, the Grand Mass was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Diabolos Apocalypsis. It caused thousands of civilian casualties including Lilivienne, the year’s Chosen Maiden. That time, Maximilian the Hero had just arrived in Evermore. He slayed the awakened demon god with the help of everyone. 

But that will not happen anymore.

The Grand Mass was an annual tradition of Evermore held during the first week of the month before the Spring Festival. It was to thank Saint Adrian, the founder of the land where Evermore was built. The mass traditionally happens at the front of the largest temple in Regalopolis viewing the plaza, where both the citizens and the royal family can listen to the sermon. 

“Best of luck,” says Miss Smith. The choir entered the circular stage with me at the front and center. Our objective was to sing before and after the mass. From where I stood, there were thousands of people watching us, ten times more than the audience in our rehearsals. My knees trembled profusely. I turned my head around to seek moral support.

In the right wing of the temple was the royal family. The crown prince stood beside the king and the queen consort. The young princess sat in the opposite direction. Celios met my eyes and delivered a soft smile. Alasdair and another paladin were standing guard around them.

He was very handsome! His game model didn’t give him enough justice! 

I turned to the left wing—where the family and friends of the Chosen Maiden shall be. I saw the duke, a few relatives and—Zathrian? 

Since when was he part of the family?

Perhaps he felt me staring that he looked back at me, flashed me a grin and winked!

I rolled my eyes and chose to face the crowd. I will not let him ruin our performance.

The orchestra began playing the symphony, following it with our harmonious sound. The whole choir sang together. When the middle verses came on, they made their way for the Chosen Maiden to stand out.

It was a song to thank Saint Adrian for finding Evermore. Thanking him for finding a land where there were four seasons, a perfect climate, rich waters and healthy soils to plough their harvests. 

The last part was about asking Evermore's god to look after Saint Adrian in heaven—and to the people of Evermore from above. Thanking him for guiding Saint Adrian in finding a land where there were four seasons, a perfect climate, rich waters and healthy soils to plough their harvests. 

By the end of the song, the original Lilivienne was tasked to chant a holy prayer to bless Evermore in the name of their god, yet she didn’t finish it as Diabolos Apocalypsis emerged from below. But because I changed my fate and everyone involved in that occurrence, it will not happen anymore.

At that moment, it was my turn. I was about to finish the holy prayer when the ground began rumbling violently. The choir stopped humming and the crowd murmured in curiosity.

I was frozen right where I stood. 

No. This can't be. I did what I knew was right. Zathrian! 

I turned to the left wing. He wasn’t there. Father was looking at me with a horrified expression. I turned to the right wing and saw Alasdair yelling something at me that I couldn’t understand. The shaking was getting worse and my legs remained glued to the marbled floor.

Did I really not change anything?

“LILIVIENNE!!!”

It happened in a flash. Zathrian dived in front of me!

As soon as he took me in his arms out of that stage, the nightmare that I had been fearing to happen since waking up in this world—did happen.

Diabolos Apocalypsis arose from the stage with a thunderous roar, destroying the part of the temple and the very stage where I stood seconds ago. 

“Z-Zathrian?”

If this was Zathrian who saved me, then who was Diabolos Apocalypsis?!

Several choir members were either left killed or injured by the sudden attack. The citizens fled in panic, the royal family were surely evacuated by the paladins and the rest of the knights came forward to take action from the unforeseen terrorism. 

It was happening, the exact scenario from Remembering World. It turned out I may have changed it a bit, but the general outcome will remain the same…

No matter whether I saved Zathrian or not, the course of the story will keep finding its way to the original plot. I might meet my awaited death in the process as Lilivienne was never meant to survive in this situation. For me to witness the protagonist reach the end of the story would be nothing but a distant dream.