---
Eva's heart lurched. "You… you made Eyan kill me in my first life?" Her voice cracked under the weight of the question.
Leo didn't flinch. "Yes."
The silence between them burned. "But why?" she whispered, trembling.
His eyes lowered. "Mother… do you know what was the first thing I thought of when I read my mother's diary?" His hands shook as he spoke. "My first thought was—if my mother had never met my father, maybe she wouldn't have had to go through everything."
Eva's lips parted, but no words came.
"So I went back in time," Leo continued, his tone hollow. "And before your and Father's marriage, I revealed Grandfather's (Eva's father) illegal activities. That's how you and your whole family received the punishment for treason. That's when Father killed you."
"And that's how your second life began," he said softly.
"I… still don't understand. Why did you do that?" Her voice was a trembling plea.
"I wanted you to be afraid of Father," Leo confessed. "So that you would never meet him. And you did you left your family, living as a commoner far from Father. But all my effort was in vain."
He drew a shaky breath. "Because everything I did to keep you two apart… in the end you met Father as Kyel. And you both fell in love. You married him." His smile was weak and pained.
"I guess it's your destiny to meet Father and marry him. I couldn't change it."
A tear slid down his cheek. "That's when I changed my plan. In place of keeping you apart, I decided to do everything I could to save Father this time. I started speaking to you through dreams."
He closed his eyes. "Mother… I only made Father kill you because I wanted you to be happy. I'm sorry."
Eva stepped closer. "Don't apologise, Leo." Her voice softened. "I understand why you did it. But let me tell you one thing for sure…" She lifted his face with trembling fingers. "I can never find happiness without your father."
Leo's eyes filled. "I know now, Mother."
A faint smile curved her lips.
After a long minute of silence, Leo said quietly, "Mother… now this dream will end, and you will wake."
"Oh… right." Her voice was barely a breath.
"One more thing." His tone grew urgent. "I don't know at what moment in time you'll wake back, but after you wake, go to Uncle Luca. Tell him everything."
She frowned. "Tell Brother? But why?"
"So Uncle Luca can help you. You won't be alone," he said.
"Alright then. I'll go to him."
Leo nodded once, like a vow. "Mother… this is our last talk in a dream. I won't be coming to meet you in your dreams anymore."
Her heart clenched. "You won't?"
"No." Tears glimmered in his eyes. "So Mother, let me hug you one last time."
She was already crying as she threw her arms around him. "I'll miss you, Leo."
"I'll miss you too, Mother." His voice broke against her hair.
He held her tighter. "Mother… live happily with Father this time."
"I will," she whispered.
They parted slowly, like two shadows tearing apart.
"Then… Mother, goodbye."
The dream began to blur, its edges unraveling like mist scattered by the wind. Leo's words dissolved into silence, and with a sharp breath, Eva's eyes flew open. She lay in her bed, drenched in cold sweat, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Her trembling hand pressed against her belly as a broken whisper escaped her lips.
"Leo… my child…"
Her sobs came softly at first, then deepened, shaking her shoulders as grief clawed at her heart. She buried her face in her hands, crying until the ache dulled into fragile resolve.
Slowly, Eva rose from her bed, wiping the tears from her swollen eyes. Her voice, though fragile, carried determination.
"I have to go meet Brother Luca first."
With that, she straightened her gown and stepped out, her footsteps unsteady yet driven, carrying her toward Luca.
---
The white spires of the Magic Tower rose like frozen lightning into the clouds, glinting under the pale sun. Eva stood at the base, her lips parted in awe.
"The Magic Tower is so big… and beautiful," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper as her eyes traced the runes carved along its surface. "But how do I even get inside this thing?"
The massive gates opened with a soft creak as if in answer to her. Heart hammering, Eva stepped cautiously into the marble hall where thousands of floating crystals hovered like stars suspended midair.
"Hello? Is anyone here?"
Her call echoed, swallowed by the silence. Then, from between the pillars, a young magician emerged, robes fluttering around his ankles.
"What brings you here, lady? How can I help you?"
Eva clasped her hands before her.
"I came here to meet the Master of the Magic Tower."
The young magician tilted his head.
"You came here to meet Master?"
"Yes," she said firmly.
"Very well. I'll go and let Master know about you first."
He disappeared into a swirl of blue light.
-----
Moments later, outside a tall oak door, the young magician knocked on the door.
"Master, are you inside?"
The door swung open, revealing Luca.
"What do you want?" his voice was cool.
"Master, a lady came to the tower to meet you."
"A lady?" Luca's brow rose.
"Yes, Master."
"Go and bring her here."
"At once, Master."
Back in the hall, the young magician approached Eva again.
"Lady, Master called you to his room. Please come with me."
Eva followed him through winding staircases lined with glowing runes until they reached Luca's chamber. The magician knocked lightly.
"Master, I brought the lady."
The door opened. Luca stood there, taller up close, his robe stitched with silver constellations.
"Come inside," he said.
Eva stepped into the room, her eyes darting over shelves crammed with tomes, bottled storms, and floating quills.
"Wow… there are so many things."
Luca crossed his arms.
"Now tell me, lady—what brings you here?"
Eva dipped her head slightly.
"Hello, brother-in-law. My name is Eva."
Luca blinked, expression tightening.
"Brother-in-law? Lady, are you out of your mind? Why are you calling me that?"
"Because you are my brother-in-law."
A sharp laugh escaped him.
"You must be crazy. I don't even have a brother. From which relation are you calling me 'brother-in-law'?"
Eva's gaze didn't waver.
"We do have a relation, brother."
"How?"
"I'm Eyan's wife."
Luca's eyes widened, disbelief cracking across his face.
"What did you just say? You are Eyan's wife?"
"Yes."
His voice rose, edged with anger.
"Lady, do you think I'm a fool? Eyan hasn't even got married—how can he have a wife?"
Eva stepped closer, her tone soft but steady.
"Brother, I know it's hard to believe, but I'm telling the truth."
"How can I even believe that?"
"Brother," she whispered, "I'll tell you everything."
Eva sat across from Luca, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as she recounted everything—about Kyel, Zeradros, Leo, and, most painfully, Eyan's sacrifice. She told him how she had come back in time, the weight of it pressing on her chest with every word.
Luca's eyes widened, disbelief flashing across his features. "Eyan… died?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Eva nodded, tears threatening to spill. "Yes. He sacrificed himself… for me."
Luca leaned back, running a hand through his hair, a mixture of grief and anger in his eyes. "Sister-in-law… you went through so much."
He paused, letting his words sink in, then added more softly, "I'm happy… that you came back in time."
Eva looked at him, a faint flicker of hope in her tear-streaked face.
Luca's tone turned resolute, protective. "Sister-in-law, don't worry. This time… you are not alone. I'll help you."
"Thank you, brother," Eva murmured, her voice barely audible, but steady.
He gave a small nod. "So… sister, what are you planning to do next?"
Eva's mind raced, the enormity of everything pressing on her. She hesitated before asking, "Brother… first, tell me… what day is it today? I don't even know where in time I've returned."
Luca glanced at a small clock on the wall. "Today is Friday. And tomorrow… it's Eyan's birthday."
Eva's breath caught. "Eyan's birthday…"
"Yes," Luca confirmed.
Realization settled over her. "Oh… so I came back the day before Eyan's birthday."
Luca's eyes softened, filled with understanding and concern. "Sister… now tell me—what do you want to do next? I'll help you."
Eva's hands trembled as she whispered, her heart aching yet determined.
"Brother… I want to get married to Eyan."