Chapter 3

"Caera, listen, I want to tell you about my past. I want to share who I really am. But please, don't hate me or leave after you learn the truth," Grey said, his voice shaking slightly. He buried his face in his knees, hugging them tightly.

Caera felt a mix of confusion and happiness. It was clear that Grey trusted her enough to open up about his past, but she couldn't help wondering what could have hurt him so deeply.

"It's okay, Grey. I'm curious, but if your past brings up bad memories, I'd rather not know. You're my friend, and I don't want to see you hurt," she replied gently.

"No, you deserve to know, Caera. It's not that sharing my past will hurt me too much. I'm just afraid of how you might see me after I tell you," he said.

Caera made a silent promise to herself. No matter what Grey revealed, she wouldn't treat him differently. "It doesn't matter to me, Grey. I promise I won't see you as a stranger after I learn the truth. You're my friend, and that's all that counts," she assured him.

"Thank you, Caera. That means a lot," he replied. "My real name is Arthur Leywin. Yes, the same Arthur Leywin who wields the title 'Lance Godspell'. But let's start from the beginning. I was a test subject of Agrona, but not in the way you might think. I'm a reincarnate; Agrona brought me back to this world."

Caera was taken aback. He was THE Arthur Leywin? She had so many questions, but she decided to wait until he finished.

He began to explain his life in a place called Earth. He spoke about his happy childhood, his friends, and how everything changed after the headmaster of his orphanage died. He shared how he became a king, but that success led him to lock away his emotions and grow distant.

Next, he talked about his reincarnation, his childhood in Ashber, and his life in the Elf Kingdom of Dicathen. He told her about his adventures, becoming a professor at Xyrus Academy, and how he was trained by the Asuras to join the war.

Then he recounted his battles with Scythe Nico and Scythe Cadell, sharing how he nearly died protecting people he cared for. He explained how his daughter saved him from death and how he ended up in Alacrya, gaining his Aether core and Regis.

As he finished his story, Caera noticed tears welling in his eyes. Without thinking, she hugged him tightly. "Let it all out," she whispered. He cried for what felt like hours, resting on her chest. Eventually, he fell asleep, and she gently laid his head on her lap, running her fingers through his hair.

Caera was shocked by what she had learned. Instead of fear, she felt deep sadness for Grey—no, Arthur. He had lost everything he cared about, not once but twice. She loved him, and that would never change, no matter his past.

But she felt conflicted. Arthur had a lover and a daughter. The thought of him with someone else hurt her deeply. What if he saw her as a threat or an enemy? She wanted to be by his side, but she was from the continent that had been at war with his. Could he see her as a monster? Deep down, she wanted to believe he wouldn't view her that way since he had trusted her with his past.

As she mulled over her thoughts, she sensed Arthur waking up. In a hurry, she grabbed the necklace Scythe Seris had given her to hide her horns and began chanting a spell to create an illusion. She didn't want him to see that part of her... not after everything he had just shared.

Arthur/Grey:

When Arthur woke, he felt like he was lying on something soft and fluffy. He realized it was Caera's lap, and she was playing with his hair. The memories of sharing his past flooded back, and he hoped she wouldn't look at him like his parents had when he revealed his history.

As he opened his eyes, he saw Caera looking down at him, her navy blue hair framing her face and her beautiful crimson eyes shining. She smiled warmly, and he felt a wave of relief wash over him.

"Do you hate me now?" he asked, still unsure. "I mean, I'm a spy from the enemy continent. You might think I used you for information."

"Why would I hate you, Arthur? You're the only person I can truly be myself around. You're my only friend. Instead, I should be the one asking you if you see me as an enemy. I know I was born in Alacrya and have Vritra blood, but I want to be by your side. I want to be someone you can depend on. It doesn't matter to me that you're reincarnated or that you were a king. Because… because I love you, Arthur. I didn't want to say anything after I found out you had a lover, so I tried to hide my feelings."

"Can I follow you, Arthur?" Caera asked.

Without thinking, Arthur hugged her tightly. She yelped in surprise but didn't push him away. "First of all, Caera, I don't see you as an enemy. And yes, you can follow me. You don't need to hide your feelings for me," he said, pulling back to look at her.

Confusion crossed her face as he explained his relationship with Tessia, something he hadn't gone into detail about before. He also confessed his feelings for her, and he could see her relax and smile at his words.

But then he noticed she had used the illusion again to hide her horns.

"Why did you hide your horns?" he asked.

"Because they might bring back bad memories for you," she replied sadly.

"You don't have to hide them. I accept you for who you are. Your horns are a part of you, and I think they're beautiful," he said with a gentle smile.

Caera's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. He wiped them away and gently lifted her chin, making her meet his gaze.

"Does me being a reincarnated king bother you?" he asked.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "You're Arthur Leywin, the person who shows emotions, not some cold king consumed by revenge. I love you for who you are now, and that's enough for me to follow you." As she spoke, she removed the illusion hiding her horns.

"I can't ignore that you had a girlfriend before me. But since you've sorted out your feelings for her, will you accept me?" she asked.

Arthur was taken aback by her question, but he knew the answer. "Yes, I will. I promise to sort things out with Sylvie and Tessia when I see them again. But I can say that my feelings for you are genuine."

"Let me rephrase that. Caera Denoir, would you like to be my queen in this life?" he asked, heat flooding his cheeks as he realized what he had just said. He looked at her and saw her face turning as red as a ripe tomato. She looked like she might faint but managed to keep her composure and nodded.

Joy surged through him, but then Caera pulled him closer, and their lips met. Her lips were soft and tender, and he didn't resist. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into a hug as they kissed. It was a kiss that showed they accepted each other, a promise of love and affection.

After what felt like five minutes, they broke apart, both breathless. Arthur wanted the moment to last forever, but he noticed Caera looked tired. "You should rest for a bit. After that, you can ask me anything, and I'll answer," he said, getting up to set up a tent for them.

"And please, call me Art. That's what my family and friends call me," he added with a smile.

"Okay, Art. But you have to promise me something. As your grandma Sylvia said, you need to start enjoying your life. I know the war makes things hard, but promise me you won't revert back to Grey. I want you to live your life to the fullest and experience everything you couldn't as King Grey," Caera said earnestly.

He felt happy that she cared so much. "I promise, Caera. I'll make you the happiest person and won't let you regret choosing me," he replied.

"Good, you better keep that promise, Art," she said with a joyful tone.

Just then, Regis chimed in, "Now that you two lovebirds have confessed and told the truth, you should take a rest."

Both Caera and Arthur felt their faces heat up, realizing Regis had overheard everything.

Arthur quickly set up the tent, letting Caera rest inside. He turned to Regis to change the subject. "What are you going to do now?"

"I sensed something hidden in this zone, probably a relic. I'm going to check it out," Regis replied.

Arthur nodded and went inside the tent, watching as Caera fell asleep.