CHAPTER 886: ’LIAR’

"Oh my! And here you kept rejecting the gifts I sent you before. Yet in private you wear something like this?" A woman wearing a long flowing dress gasped.

"Argh! That’s..." A man wearing a pink apron covered his face in embarrassment.

"Aw look at him~ Seems like he’s a little embarrassed ahaha." She chuckled softly, nudging the man next to her.

In the house, a tall woman could be seen sitting on the sofa.

"Pft, why wouldn’t he be? He spent all this time building up a serious and calm image for his subordinates. And now you just saw him wearing... that." She laughed.

"Why are you talking like this isn’t your fault to begin with... You’re the one who bought that apron..." Kaden groaned.

"And did you ever reject it?" Allura rolled her eyes.

"Urg..."

"Ahahah~ Lua’s right you know? A part of you must enjoy it too right? Hmm~ What to do~ Perhaps I should introduce a dash of pink to your wardrobe~" Velouria smiled, walking in with her hands behind her back.

"Please don’t. How would the others think if they saw the Apostle of Corruption wearing pink." Kaden practically begged, causing Velouria to act shocked.

"Boo hoo~ Lua~ Kaden doesn’t want to wear my clothes anymore *sob*"

"Huh! That’s not- That’s... I didn’t mean..."

"Stop teasing him your highness. I might get jealous if you get more reactions out of him than I do." Allura chuckled, shuffling over so that Velouria could take a seat.

"Aww I don’t mean to. He’ll dress up in pink if you ask but look at his rejection when I ask. Isn’t it clear that he treasures you more?" Velouria hugged Allura while patting her head.

"Honestly despite being my apostle, if someone were to ask him to save a person between me and you, he’ll probably pick you." She laughed while Kaden scratched his cheek.

"That’s..."

"I’m not blaming you Kaden, don’t worry. If anything, I’ll be more annoying if you picked me over cutie Lua over here." Velouria shook her head.

"But..." Allura furrowed her brows.

"I know I know. I’m the queen~ I’m the Goddess~ I’ve heard that too many times now. But you guys are my family. If it means your survival, giving up my life is the most romantic and lovely thing I can do for you, don’t you agree?" Velouria laughed.

"I’m afraid this topic is a little heavy for the situation." The man behind Velouria smiled helplessly.

"Hmm~ I suppose it is. Alright, let’s cheer up the mood with a little picnic then! Did you know a new place appeared in the Abyss recently? The sight is gorgeous!" Velouria suggested as Kaden chuckled.

"I’ll prepare a few meals for us to enjoy on the outing then.

"Fufu~ And a picnic means you have to change right? Lua~ Let’s go upstairs and spend some girl time together. Let the boys do their thing downstairs." Velouria grinned, dragging Allura up the stairs.

Looking at each other, Nyer and Kaden shrugged with a laugh.

"Need any help?" Nyer offered but Kaden shook his head.

"The Lord Commander need not step into the kitchen don’t worry. I have it covered." Kaden reassured while grabbing the tools that he needed.

Sitting down, Nyer looked at the house that Kaden and Allura lived in.

His own place was... rather baren compared to this as he spends most of his time outside the house.

There were no memories to speak of.

Yet this place was filled with memories for the two of them.

Then he thought back to Velouria’s question from earlier.

If someone was to ask them who to save between Velouria and Allura... Nyer would choose Velouria 10 times out of 10.

No matter how romantic or lovely Velouria may think it is... Nyer couldn’t let Velouria sacrifice herself in such a manner.

"Quite a serious expression you got on there Lord Commander." Kaden spoke as Nyer glanced over.

"Hm? Ah my apologies. I was just thinking about something." Nyer apologised as Kaden smiled.

"Are you perhaps thinking about what her highness spoke about a moment ago?"

"Was it that obvious?" Nyer scratched his cheek as Kaden nodded.

"Thankfully these are just hypotheticals so we can joke about it. But if the situation does indeed arise, we will naturally strive for the best result we can achieve, don’t you agree?" Kaden asked as Nyer nodded his head.

Indeed...

The best result they can achieve...

Closing his eyes, Nyer felt the gentle breeze brush against his face.

"You know, when I took in Kaden and Allura, I didn’t think they would have such affinity for one another. It’s cute to look at." Velouria chuckled as they watched the two enjoy the view.

"They were rather confrontational at the start." Nyer chuckled.

"Yep. But once they got past their differences, turns out they were more like minded than they thought." She chuckled, resting her chin on her palm.

"So... About my question from earlier. What’s your response?" She asked, glancing at Nyer with a side eye.

"Pardon?"

"Between me and Allura, who would you choose? Well... Let me adjust it a little. Between me and those who will come in the future, who will you choose?" Velouria asked, surprising Nyer.

"As the one closest to me, you know that with each expansion, my body grows weaker. Soon... I might not even be able to leave that tower of mine." She smiled sadly.

"At that point, a successor will have to be appointed, even if I want to spend more time with everyone. And... Well. I suppose I won’t be around anymore." Velouria shrugged her shoulders.

Nyer was silent.

"So what’s your decision?" Velouria asked once more as Nyer opened his mouth.

"I suppose... I’ll look to the future." Nyer scratched his hair.

But Velouria flashed a sad smile.

"Is that your answer? Or is that an answer you think I want to hear?"

"..."

"I’m not blaming you. It’s just, I hope you can learn how to love the world as much as I do. Everyone has their hardships yet they still fight for tomorrow. Don’t you think that’s simply beautiful?

"And I love that beauty with every fibre of my being." Velouria dusted herself lightly and stood up.

"So I want to share that love with those close to me. I want you to love this world as much as I do so that when... when the time comes, the hole I leave in your heart can be filled with the love of this world." She leaned forward, placing her hand against his chest.

"It’ll be hard, it’ll be difficult. But... I hope you can do it. For me."

Glancing down, Nyer placed his hand over Veloruia’s hand.

Contemplating for a moment, he nodded.

"I will do as you command. I’ll... try to love the world as much as you do."

Velouria wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug.

"That’s all I ask..."

Even though he couldn’t see her expression, Nyer knew.

There was sadness on her face.

She had probably realised it then...

That he couldn’t do what she had requested.

He couldn’t love the world as she did.

This gaping hole in his heart...

No matter what the world gave him, it refused to fill. A bottomless chasm that swallowed anything and everything yet still left him as empty as the day before.

"Nyer..." Her voice echoed out weakly as Nyer lifted his head.

In his arms, a bloodied Velouria could be seen.

Despite her wounds, she maintained a smile on her face.

With what little of her strength she had left, she lifted her hand and caressed his cheek.

He couldn’t say anything.

All he felt was the chilling understanding that this was her last moment.

The emptiness in his chest that began to expand.

"I’m sorry..."

He held her hand as the world burned around them.

She opened her mouth but no more words came out. She simply looked at the man with sadness and grief in her eyes.

The man who will embark on a path of insanity and obsession.

A man who could not bring himself to love the world.

He who is stuck in the past and cannot move to the future.

"Nyer!"

A pair of hands grabbed his shoulder and began to shake.

Opening his eyes, Nyer found himself back in reality. Beside him... His latest project.

That familiar face, that familiar voice.

Yet it was still lacking.

"Did you have a bad dream again?" She asked with worry as he smiled and shook his head.

"Just thinking about the past. I had a little visit with an old friend." He patted her hair, causing her to pout.

"It’s not fair. You get to see all of your friends but I can’t even see my sister. When am I allowed to go out? It’s boring stuck in here." She huffed, sitting on the armrest in annoyance.

"Every day I eat, I sleep and I watch you do all these fun stuff but I can’t do any of it."

Smiling helplessly, Nyer stood up and lifted the girl.

"A little longer."

"That’s what you always say." She frowned.

"Liar."

Nyer flinched slightly.

A bitter smile appeared on his face.

Hearing the word liar coming from Velouria’s voice... Perhaps it’s deserved.

When the end was approaching, how many lies had he spoken to her? Lies spoken despite knowing the truth inside his heart. Knowing that he would go against everything she pursued because of his own selfish desire.

"Sorry. Why don’t we work on a new experiment? I think you’ll be able to meet your sister if the experiment is a success." He suggested as she glanced back with sparkles in her eyes.

"Really?"

"Mnm. It won’t be in person though. Your body isn’t fit for that yet. You can meet her in the dream."

Nodding her head, she smiled happily thinking about the moment she could finally meet her sister.