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In the quiet Royal Garden of the Heaven Realm, the air carried a weight heavier than words. Irin stood beneath a blooming silver tree, her fingers brushing the petals absently. Her heart pounded—not from love, but from a truth she could no longer deny.
Fiona stood across from her, eyes narrowed in quiet confrontation.
"Irin," Fiona said calmly, "you love him, don't you?"
Irin inhaled shakily. "Yes," she admitted softly. "I… loved Ren."
Behind the garden walls, hidden in shadows, Lia froze.
Tears welled in Lia's eyes as she pressed a hand against her chest, the sharpness of unspoken feelings cutting through her like a blade. She turned silently, walking away, her steps light but heavy with sorrow.
Back in the garden, Fiona's gaze hardened. "So you admit it."
Irin nodded slowly. "But not anymore. I don't think it was love—it was probably admiration... maybe attraction. Ren never loved me back. He didn't even know I had those feelings."
She looked up, her voice firmer. "But love, real love... it's mutual. Like mine and Dylan's."
Fiona's voice turned sharp. "Irin, come out of your fairy tale. You can't marry a demon king!"
Irin's eyes glistened, but her tone was resolute. "Because I'm a goddess, right? I know what I am, Fiona. But my love for Dylan is pure. I can't give his place to anyone—not even Ren."
Fiona stepped forward, desperate now. "Irin, try to understand. If you marry Dylan, it will bring disaster to both the Demon and Heaven Realms."
Irin closed her eyes briefly, then looked away. "I never said I'll marry Dylan. But whether I marry him or not... I can't marry anyone else."
With that, she turned and walked away, the soft flutter of her gown brushing the grass behind her.
---
Elsewhere in the Heaven Realm, Lia walked tearfully along the grand corridors. Her heart felt like it was crumbling with each step. So Irin loved Ren... then what about Ren? Did he... too?
Lost in thought, she wandered unknowingly toward a forbidden area—Mariano's Chamber. A large door carved with celestial runes loomed ahead.
Suddenly, a stern voice rang out. "What are you doing here?"
It was one of the Heaven Ancestors, his gaze furious.
"You are a low-ranking fairy. Outsiders are not allowed here!"
Lia bowed instantly. "I-I'm sorry. It was a mistake."
The ancestor scoffed and turned away.
But as Lia walked back, something stirred in her. Why... why don't they allow outsiders here ? What are they hiding?
---
In Ren's chamber, the warrior prince stood near his desk. A small box sat neatly on the table. Frowning, he called to his guard.
"Sebastien, who placed this here?"
Sebastien blinked. "I... I don't know, my lord. I just noticed it now."
Ren opened the box slowly—and inside was a small, bound diary.
He opened the first page—and his breath caught.
It was Irin's diary. Her neat handwriting spoke of her thoughts, feelings... and her hidden affection for him.
Ren froze. "She… liked me?"
He shut the diary quickly, overwhelmed.
"Maybe one of the servants placed it here mistakenly," Sebastien said, picking up the diary and quietly exiting.
Ren stood in stunned silence.
---
Far away, in Xander's royal chamber, the king smiled while adjusting his robe.
He asked his servants, "Did you place the box in Ren's chamber?"
"Yes, my lord."
Xander chuckled darkly. "Good. Now, Ren will not refuse the marriage."
---
Meanwhile, in the BlueMoon Kingdom, Dylan sat upon his obsidian throne, skimming over scrolls with complaints from border villages. His face was pale, shadows under his eyes revealing his exhaustion.
Suddenly, he winced and clutched his chest.
"My lord!" Ruther stepped forward. "Please rest. You are still recovering."
Dylan waved him off. "Did you get any news about Irin?"
Ruther hesitated. "…The Heaven Realm is planning a marriage… between Ren and Irin."
Dylan's body tensed. "What?!"
"But…" Ruther quickly added, "Irin rejected it."
A sigh of relief passed Dylan's lips, but his worry deepened.
"I want to see her. I need to know... why she's still in the Heaven Realm."
Ruther looked uncertain. "My lord, maybe they're forcing her—"
Dylan stood abruptly.
"I'm bringing her back."
"But your body—"
"I said I'm going." His eyes were sharp like storm clouds.
Ruther sighed. "Fine. Then I'm coming with you."
---
Later that evening, the Ancient Clouds Sect held a banquet far from the Heaven capital. Irin stood beside Ren, the ceremonial hall filled with nobles and divine sect leaders.
Ren looked at her. "Irin , I need to clarify something."
She turned to him, confused.
"I could've attended this banquet alone. There was no need for you to come. But the Ancestors insisted. Don't get me wrong."
Irin gave a faint smile. "I didn't."
She paused, her expression serious. "Can I ask something?"
Ren nodded.
"Why did you destroy that fairy village near the BlueMoon Kingdom?"
Ren froze. "What?"
"Did you forgot it ? When Dylan pushed King Xander into the Great Lava Underworld... you got angry and destroyed that village."
Ren looked away. "I used a destroy spell—yes—but it was aimed at the BlueMoon Kingdom. I never intended for it to affect that villages."
"But it did," Irin said coldly. "You may not have meant to—but people died."
Ren said nothing.
"I know how it feels to lose someone," she continued. "But you turned that grief into rage... and hurt innocents. That's not justice."
She turned and walked away.
Ren followed. "Irin, wait!"
But as she neared the entrance of the hall, a sudden chill swept in—
And Dylan appeared.
His presence halted everything.
Dylan's eyes met Irin's, and in that moment, her composure cracked. She was about to cry—but she turned away.
Dylan gently grabbed her hand.
"Irin…"
She stood frozen.
Ren quickly stepped forward, placing himself between them and unsheathing his sword. The room gasped.
"Don't touch her," Ren said coldly.
Dylan growled. "Don't interfere."
"I'm here for the goddess's protection."
Dylan's voice trembled. "She doesn't need protection... not when I'm here."
Irin didn't move. Her eyes remained on the ground, tears silently streaming.
Ren smirked. "She doesn't want to see you. Look at her—she won't even face you."
Dylan looked toward her.
"Irin, tell him. Tell this fool that you love me!"
Gasps echoed through the hall.
Ruther entered, alarmed.
Irin was trembling. Then, suddenly, she snapped.
"…Yes," she said. "I don't like you!"
Dylan stood motionless, as if stabbed.
"Irin…" he whispered.
She turned, face wet with tears. "Forget everything, Dylan. As if it were just... a dream."
Dylan stepped forward, pushing Ren's sword aside and grabbing her hand again.
"What are you saying? Are you afraid of them? Did you lie to me?"
She looked away. "Believe what you want. If I truly loved you, I would've never chosen the Heaven Realm."
She turned fully and said clearly, "I will marry Ren."
The words sliced the air.
Ren's mouth fell open in shock.
Dylan's eyes widened in disbelief. "No... You're lying."
Blood burst from Dylan's lips—his body had not yet healed. He stumbled.
"Dylan!" Irin moved instinctively toward him, but stopped herself.
Ruther rushed forward, catching Dylan.
Dylan looked up, pale and broken. "If you loved me... then why are you crying?"
Irin gasped.
She turned away. "Whether you believe me or not, it doesn't matter. This is the end."
Dylan stood shakily. "Then I'll forget too."
He turned, his voice hollow. "I'll forget that I ever loved you."
With that, he walked away.
Ruther followed after him, leaving the hall in stunned silence.
And Irin… fell to her knees. Tears streamed as she sobbed quietly into her palms, the weight of her sacrifice pressing on her soul.
The banquet had ended—but not the heartbreak.
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