164. Eirin and Lilia

“Something feels strange. Sitting side-by-side like this, taking a bath together.”

Lilia smiled at Aylin’s words.

Having been recognized for her contributions, Aylin’s status rose from commoner to noble of Essenmund.

Also, though her kingdom was destroyed, Aylin was also from the Gloria Kingdom’s royalty.

Lilia shook her head, replying, “Aylin Gloria, as a descendant of a great and distinguished family, there’s nothing awkward about bathing with me.”

Lilia, now aware of this fact, pointed it out. She continued, “And truthfully, each other’s status isn’t important. We two are united in purpose, having been together here.”

These weren’t words mixed with pretense.

Like Aylin, Lilia knew very well.

Whichever of them became pregnant with Yulian’s first child…

That very act was crucial to preventing the end of Iseland.

No matter how competitive the two were.

They wouldn’t prioritize their selfish desires when the fate of humanity was at stake.

‘Right. Even if Lilia becomes the first wife… she’s more than qualified.’

And the reverse was also true.

No matter that Lilia had just acknowledged her status.

The Aschterk family of Lilia couldn’t compare to the Gloria family of Aylin.

A great bloodline from the ancient empire era.

The families that continued that blood were only the Aschterk Imperial Family, the Reinhardt Family, and the Orhein Family.

Lilia, who ascended to the throne of emperor even among those great families.

Yet, she allowed Aylin to bathe with her, naked, just the two of them.

Lilia had also acknowledged that Aylin was qualified to be the first wife.

She, who had been Yulian’s only fiancée for a long time.

Aylin, who had been lost in thought for a moment, opened her lips.

“It would be a lie to say there isn’t any regret. But I understand now, Lilia also isn’t just wanting to be the Young Master’s first person…”

“But wanting to be the first person to give everything?”

Aylin nodded at those words.

The reason both of them wanted to become Yulian’s first wife.

Wasn’t to be the first to receive, but the desire to be the first to give.

In reality, Lilia was already planning to give her empire to Yulian.

For her, the emperor, the empire was everything Lilia possessed.

Aylin was the same.

The reason Aylin had thoroughly maintained the mindset of a maid until now.

Was because she wanted to give her entire life as a maid to Yulian.

“Surely those two also had the same feelings.”

Lilia quickly realized who Aylin was referring to.

“Are you talking about the Great Saintess Agnes-nim and the Cold-Hearted Demon King Lucifer-nim?”

“Yes. I’m talking about the Young Master’s parents.”

Lilia was silent for a moment at those words.

She already knew the story of the two through the Pantheon’s musical.

And Yulian had told her more details about the two.

Agnes and Lucifer.

The period when the two met, confirmed their love, and lived as a couple was extremely short.

One was the only daughter of a margrave and a future saintess candidate.

And the other had even cast aside his identity as a Demon King, and the two fell deeply in love.

And knowing the future that was to come, the two willingly sacrificed their lives for their child, Yulian.

The three who would leave this place today.

Also, Yulian’s legion waiting in the primeval forest, their final destination was the old Imperial Capital.

“Agnes-nim and Lucifer-nim sealed the fifth Chaotic Gate with their lives. All for Yulian-nim…”

And the people who deeply empathized with the feelings of those two more than anyone were the two here now.

The two of them could also dedicate their lives not only to Yulian, but also to the newborn child.

“……”

“……”

Silence flowed between the two again.

But their hearts were the same.

Aylin and Lilia gently held each other’s hands, as if shaking hands.

Only the World Tree knew who was pregnant.

That meant one of them was definitely pregnant.

Lilia spoke again first.

“Whichever of us becomes pregnant, that child is Yulian-nim’s child. So, the child of the harem. Our child.”

“That’s right. Whether it’s me or Lilia… both of us are that child’s mother.”

The two who had been so competitive.

Through the events of the past six days.

And the last night, they had confirmed more clearly than anyone else.

That all three of them were sincere with each other.

So, the hearts of Aylin and Lilia.

Were now one.

Aylin said with a smile.

“Then let’s congratulate each other, Lilia!”

“Yes. Aylin. Let’s do that.”

Lilia also smiled back at her.

The two, having washed their bodies completely and left the bath.

They dressed in the priestly robes prepared in this place, the World Tree’s temple.

“They’ve arrived.”

And the two moved to the center of the temple with Yulian.

---

I stood between the obelisks with the two of them.

Black and white. The obelisks of Jedin and Yunir.

The World Tree, created from the roots and stems that grew from those obelisks.

Guuuuuuuuuu-

The obelisks were trembling as if conversing with the three of us.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

‘Could this be the old Imperial Capital?’

The World Tree was sharing its vision with the group.

The World Tree’s perception known to the empire was that of a giant tree existing only in the primeval forest.

And in an era when the perception of demons had become extremely negative, it was known as the source of corruption.

In fact, only a very few people knew its true identity.

The roots of the World Tree extended far beyond the primeval forest, influencing the entire Iseland.

So, the roots of the World Tree that extended to the old Imperial Capital were showing the current scenery.

The old Imperial Capital had already turned into a demonic realm that could not be called Iseland.

Demonic beasts everywhere.

And not just ordinary demonic beasts disguised as monsters, but transcendent demonic beasts close to apostles with extreme demonic power.

And in the center of that old Imperial Capital, a giant barrier came into view.

Already on the verge of destruction with numerous cracks, barely maintaining its shape.

It was the first time seeing that barrier directly.

But I could clearly know what it was just by its existence.

‘Is that the barrier that my parents created by sacrificing their lives?’

And the roots that had extended to that old Imperial Capital were felt to be withering away in an instant.

It wasn’t just the old Imperial Capital.

Knoia, who had been resurrected, existed inside that barrier.

That Knoia was imitating the World Tree, endlessly covering Iseland with roots of demonic power.

And at that moment, I felt it.

Knoia was also watching me.

• Kukukuk. Are you still dreaming vain dreams?

That will of ridicule was conveyed to me.

I opened my eyes again.

“It’s not a dream. It’s the future I will create anew.”

The moment I said that, the World Tree took back the shared vision.

I grabbed both of their hands at the same time.

“A future where all of humanity can sincerely understand each other, instead of futile hatred and anger.”

Aylin and Lilia also held my hands tightly at those words.

The World Tree shared again.

I said to the two.

“No matter what decision is made, I love both of you.”

Both of them smiled a beautiful smile that I had never seen before at those words.

The two moved forward.

The World Tree’s soft branches created a special throne for the two of them.

The two sat on that throne.

The World Tree conveyed its will.

A crown made of golden leaves of the World Tree would appear on the head of the lover who was pregnant with my child.

Aylin and Lilia closed their eyes.

After a short silence that felt like an eternity, though it was very short.

A crown was summoned above one person’s head and shone brightly.

The owner of that crown was Aylin.

---

All three of them couldn’t stop their surprise for a moment.

The mother of the chosen child.

And the World Tree’s crown confirming my first wife.

The meaning was clear.

My subconscious and instincts had chosen Aylin as the wife to share the eternal future with.

‘So that’s how it was. The person I loved the most was Aylin.’

Yulian von Reinhardt.

Not only would she become the mistress of the Reinhardt family, but also the person who would be with me forever, who would later ascend as the god of the new era.

That person was Aylin.

‘Then Lilia…’

At that moment, I met Lilia’s eyes.

My fiancée with the gentle eyes of a puppy-like face.

I saw her pupils trembling.

But Lilia soon wore the bright smile I knew and held Aylin’s hands tightly.

“Aylin! Congratulations! Aylin has finally… the sacred child to stop the end… our precious child…”

I was surprised at the words “our child.”

Since everyone would be my wife.

It wasn’t wrong to say that Aylin’s child was also Lilia’s child in the end.

But it wasn’t a child she would give birth to.

Considering that countless power struggles would take place in a noble bloodline.

The sincerity and congratulations that Lilia was sending to Aylin now were unbelievable actions.

‘Lilia is sincere.’

I clearly read the sadness of not becoming the first wife.

But soon, that sadness was all covered up by Lilia’s genuine congratulations.

Since the World Tree’s will was now conveying that her feelings were true.

I was so grateful to such Lilia, and on the other hand, I felt sorry.

‘Lilia…’

Aylin seemed to have the same feelings as me.

Unable to be simply happy, she held Lilia’s hand tightly.

She kept making a face as if she was worried about Lilia.

Both of them were full of qualifications to be the first wife.

So, I suddenly felt the joy of becoming a father and the feeling of being sorry at the same time.

But it was right then.

“Lilia? Wait a minute! On Lilia’s head too…”

Aylin shouted in surprise.

I hurriedly looked at Lilia at those words.

At that moment, I couldn’t help but be surprised too.

The same crown of the World Tree as Aylin’s was being summoned above Lilia’s head.