Chapter 66: Missing Him

Xilonem

I sighed as I sat in my throne. My eyes looked at the vast array of ships coming in and out of the city from various parts of my vast empire.

But material things didn't bring happiness. All I wanted was to see Ret again. I still had gotten no word on his whereabouts. Had he perhaps gotten eaten by the wildlife of Edesia? No, I shouldn't think like that. Ret had to be alive.

I clenched my necklace.

The delicate pendant was a memento of our time together, a small trinket he'd given me before he left for his mission on Edesia. It was a simple piece, nothing flashy or extravagant, but it held a world of meaning to me.

As I held it in my hand, my mind was filled with memories of him - his awkward smile, his strong hands, his voice. It only made the pain of his absence even more unbearable.

I missed him. More than I'd ever thought possible. The throne room, once a place of joy and laughter, felt cold and empty without him. The empire I ruled felt hollow, meaningless.

I longed to see him, to hear his voice, to feel his arms around me. But all I had were memories and the agonizing wait for news of his return.

I was a queen, a ruler of a vast empire. But without Ret, I felt like a ship lost at sea, drifting aimlessly without a compass to guide me.

My heart ached with the weight of my longing. I missed him, more than words could express. But I had to stay strong, for my people, for my empire. And for Ret.

He had left to maintain our empire, to ensure the future of my dream. The least I could do was to stay strong and continue doing my duties.

I released the necklace, letting it fall back against my chest. The cool metal was a stark reminder of the reality I was facing.

Ret was gone, and I was alone. But I had to hope, to believe, that he would return. For now, that was all I could do. Even if many of my court subjects found me to be useless, I still had a job to do. Not for their sake, but for the common people of Titania and the rest of Titanos. And not just for them, but the residents of Uto and Soleon too.

"Feeling down still, Lady Xilonem?" Azorasa said, stepping into the throne room.

I sighed. "I-I have a lot of things on my mind."

"Mostly my brother, right?"

My cheeks warmed up.

She chuckled. "You know, when he returns, you should confess your feelings to him. I mean, it's pretty obvious you both like each other."

"Azorasa," I mumbled, getting even more bashful.

She waved off my embarrassment with a casual flick of her hand. "Oh come now, Lady Xilonem. You can't deny it. You two are always giving each other looks whenever you're together. I also know you like his strong arms."

I sighed, letting my gaze drift to the floor. "That's not the point. He's... he's not here. And I don't know if... if he'll ever come back."

The words hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the uncertainty we were all facing. Azorasa was silent for a moment before she spoke again.

"He will come back," she said, her voice firm. "Ret is strong, and he's stubborn. He won't let anything keep him from coming back to us. And especially not you."

I looked up at her, surprised by the intensity of her words. But all I saw in her eyes was a fierce determination. The same determination I'd seen in Ret so many times.

For a moment, I felt a flicker of hope, a small spark in the overwhelming darkness. Maybe Azorasa was right. Maybe Ret would come back.

I clutched the pendant tighter, drawing strength from the memories it held. "You're right," I murmured, letting out a shaky breath. "I need to believe that he'll come back. I need to stay strong, for him and for our people."

Azorasa smiled at me, a soft, comforting smile. "That's the spirit, Lady Xilonem. We'll get through this, together."

I smiled at her encouraging words. "Thank you so much, Azorasa."

"No need to thank me. We might be queen and servant, but we're still friends at the end of the day, aren't we?"

I nodded. "So, how are things between you and Naso?"

She blushed. "L-Lady Xilonem, why are you asking me?"

"Well, you were teasing me earlier, so I thought I would do the same."

Azorasa squirmed, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of red. "I-I don't know what you're talking about, Lady Xilonem."

I smiled, enjoying the sight of her flustered. "Oh really? I seem to recall seeing you two exchanging quite a few glances. And don't think I didn't notice how you always seem to be in the same place at the same time."

She stuttered, clearly caught off guard. "We're just... we're just friends. Nothing more."

"Friends, huh?" I mused, leaning back in my throne. "Well, all I'm saying is, you might want to consider taking your own advice. Life is too short to hide your feelings, after all."

I watched as Azorasa gaped at me, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. It was a rare sight to see her speechless, and I relished the moment of victory. But more than that, I hoped she would take my words to heart.

After all, love was a precious thing, a rare gem that shone brightest in the darkest times. And in the midst of our struggles, our battles, our fears, we could all use a little more love.

With that thought in mind, I turned my gaze back to the ships, my heart heavy but hopeful. 'Ret, wherever you are, come back to me. We have a lot of catching up to do.'

I closed my eyes and put my hands together. Oh great Titans, please bring Ret back to me.