SS #36 Regina Bayer (8)

The Goddess’s Avatar.

Cordelia August Chase.

The earthly agent of Cordelia, the Goddess of the Sun, Magic, Love, and Beauty.

The great hero of salvation who protected Pleiades in the Disaster War and the Outer God War.

Before her name, all authority of the mortal world was meaningless.

Even that of the Sailun Kingdom and the Argon Empire, the two great powers of the continent.

As if on cue following the palace staff’s chorus, the doors to the great hall began to open.

The music had just ended, and those who had been dancing had stopped, so every single person in the hall, without exception, fixed their gaze on the slowly opening doors.

Regina was no different.

Feeling the frantic beat of her heart—pounding with excitement, longing, and anticipation—behind her hand on her chest, she swallowed dryly without realizing it.

‘The 300th Anniversary Ball.’

The legendary event held over a decade ago.

It had happened before she was born, but Regina knew all about the 300th Anniversary Ball.

Though it was a lifetime ago for Regina, for others, it was not so long. Many had attended or remembered the events of that day, just over ten years past, and there were countless fairy tales and plays based on it.

In fact, the Scripture of the Cordelia Church dedicated an entire chapter to it, complete with magnificent illustrations, detailing what had happened on the day of the 300th Anniversary Ball and just how beautiful Cordelia—the Goddess’s Avatar—had been.

‘The moment Cordelia-unnie entered, the music stopped.’

Cordelia’s beauty was so overwhelming it was almost violent.

It wasn’t just the nobles who attended the ball, but also the musicians playing and the servants waiting on them.

Not a single person could tear their eyes away from Cordelia, nor could they open their mouths to express the emotions churning within them.

Cordelia simply smiled and walked, and with that, the wall of people parted, creating a path for her.

Yuder, who had been staring at Cordelia, half in a daze like everyone else, suddenly realized that the woman before him was his fiancée and lifelong partner. Thankful for this fact, he went to greet her.

And so began their dance.

A fantastical time that, despite having no music or accompaniment, was deeply etched into the minds of all who attended the ball.

Recalling the passages from the Scripture one by one, Regina clenched her fists and took a deep breath.

In the next moment, she came to fully understand the emotions those people had felt over a decade ago.

Beyond the open doors, there was light.

The Goddess’s Avatar.

No, the Goddess herself.

The sun, descended to earth.

But she was not alone.

Unlike a decade ago, the moon now accompanied the sun.

Yuder August Bayer.

The Pope of the Cordelia Church.

King of the Holy Nation Yudelia, and the world’s strongest swordsman—the One Who Reached the Horizon.

Once again, people were at a loss for words.

It was difficult to even breathe properly.

A halo shone above Cordelia’s head as she spread her wings of light, clad in a pure white dress so natural it seemed both worn and not worn at all.

A sun-like smile graced her beautiful white face, nestled among her pink hair.

Yuder, like a God of Night, escorted such a Cordelia.

The two moved silently toward the center of the hall, and everyone stepped back to open a path, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

And their dance began.

Once again without any music, yet so beautiful it was heart-wrenching.

“It seems those two are the main characters again.”

The Queen of Lions—Daphne—said with a wry smile, having collected herself.

It had been the same at the 300th Anniversary Celebration, which had been her coming-of-age ceremony, and it was the same now at this celebration for her coronation.

The main characters were not Daphne herself, but the two people before her.

But she didn’t feel angry or wronged.

Because it was them.

Before being the Guardians of Pleiades, they were the fantastic couple who had saved the kingdom—and the lives of Daphne and her loved ones—time and time again.

Daphne wiggled her fingers, and Dion cast a spell. Thanks to this, the musicians, who had managed to retain some semblance of composure amidst their enchantment, began to play.

Regina watched the couple’s dance with feverish eyes, her cheeks flushed red.

Though they were dancing in front of more than a thousand people, Yuder and Cordelia paid no mind to their surroundings.

They were lost in a world of their own, gazing only at each other.

That made her heart pound even harder.

She felt as if her legs would give out from under her at any moment.

And then, at a certain point.

Yuder and Cordelia stopped in place.

They looked at each other and naturally pressed their lips together.

Regina truly thought her breath would stop.

The orchestra’s performance, which had barely managed to continue, faltered once more before ceasing completely.

But again, Yuder and Cordelia didn’t care.

After their passionate kiss, the two smiled and looked around. A small clapping sound spread through the silence, which had swelled as if about to burst.

It was the applause of the two angels who were so familiar to Yuder and Cordelia.

Soon, the applause was joined by Queen Daphne’s, and as the others slowly came to their senses, it quickly became a thunderous ovation that seemed to shake the entire hall.

“Your Majesty Daphne, congratulations.”

“Congratulations.”

The two, who had approached the dais at some point, spoke, and King Daphne personally rose from her seat to show them her respects.

“Thank you for coming.”

“It’s your coronation, Daphne-nim. It’s only natural.”

King Daphne smiled gently at Cordelia’s smile, and at that moment, another round of applause erupted.

It was a situation no different from the Goddess’s Avatar herself blessing the new king of the Sailun Kingdom.

‘Sometimes, it’s truly unbelievable.’

That those two are my older brother and sister-in-law.

Still staring at the dais with a half-dazed expression, Regina lightly pinched her cheek to snap out of it and shifted her gaze.

She saw Yuria, who had been standing some distance away, approaching Yuder and Cordelia.

“Yuria!”

“Mother!”

Her haughty steps instantly turned into a child’s skip, and a bright smile spread across her bewitching face.

Cordelia, hugging the leaping Yuria tightly, smiled with affection, while Yuder meticulously recorded the scene with a video recording device.

It seemed likely to become the main feature of next month’s Scripture.

After rubbing her cheek against Cordelia’s chest and indulging in all the affection she wanted, Yuria was next embraced by Yuder, who stroked her hair and spoke to her in a soft, murmuring voice.

What were they talking about?

I’m her aunt, couldn’t I just run over and join them?

As various thoughts ran through her mind, Regina’s gaze followed Yuria, who turned around after listening to Yuder’s words.

And since everyone in the hall who had been focused on Yuder and Cordelia did the same, more than a thousand pairs of eyes instantly converged on a single spot.

That spot.

A group of people stood there.

People who looked as if they had come from the far East.

A tall man, his entire body cloaked in a sharp aura, and next to him, a woman who was undeniably lovely to anyone who saw her.

Beside the two, who were dressed in a black suit and a pink dress, stood a blonde woman in a red dress. For some reason, Regina got the feeling that she was a mix of Maia and Dahlia.

‘An angel?’

Tilting her head unconsciously, Regina looked at the rest of the group behind them.

There were another man and woman, who also seemed to be from the East.

They wore stiff smiles, looking incredibly nervous; the man’s hands were even trembling.

Who were they?

Why were the Goddess’s Avatar and her consort showing interest in them?

The question did not last long.

Because the Goddess and her consort, leading the noblest child in the world, began to walk.

Once again, everyone held their breath and watched them.

The sharp-featured man gave Yuria a wry smile, while the lovely woman next to him wore a smile that looked as if it would melt away.

For some reason, the blonde angel giggled and glanced behind her.

The distance was considerable, but Regina awakened her Wild God’s blood to enhance her hearing.

It might be a bit rude, but she truly wanted to hear their conversation.

“Yuria, there’s someone I want you to meet.”

At Cordelia’s words, Yuria nodded with a haughty yet bewitching expression.

Yuder stroked Yuria’s head once before giving the sharp-featured man a look. The man chuckled and turned around.

“Yujin.”

At the lovely woman’s call, a boy who had been hiding behind the blonde angel revealed himself.

He was a boy who seemed to be from the East.

Black hair and a sturdy build, and a face that simply made one feel good just by looking at it—beyond just handsome, it was a face that energized those who saw it, like the sun.

The boy, who looked to be in his early to mid-teens, was extremely tense, and his cheeks, which must have originally been pale, were flushed red.

And for some reason, Yuria’s cheeks also turned a faint shade of pink.

“Hi, my name is Yuria.”

“Uh, hi. I’m Yujin. Kang Yujin.”

In response to the boy’s awkward greeting, Yuria, instead of her usual haughty smile, beamed brightly. At her smile, the boy’s face grew even redder, but he returned a sun-like smile of his own.

And Regina knew.

This was the very person Yuria had spoken of.

Her fated half, destined from birth.

‘The sun and the moon.’

The boy of the sun and the girl of the moon.

Yuria smiled and extended her hand, and Yujin took it with a stiff motion.

“Let’s dance, too. You know how, right?”

“Uh-huh, I do. I learned before coming.”

“You did? Then I’ll look forward to it.”

Smiling like a fox, Yuria led the boy and took a step. The adults, including Yuder and Cordelia, watched the boy and girl’s retreating figures, each with their own smile.

And back to Regina.

In the hall that had become bustling again with the start of Yuria and the boy’s dance, Regina eagerly looked around.

Since Yuria’s premonition had come true, she thought that the other things she had said would also come to pass.

“Aunt Regina? You haven’t had your first dance yet? Th-then, would you like to dance with me?”

Aiden asked for a dance, his tone somehow slightly nervous, but she apologized and refused.

Walter also offered a dance with a dependable smile, but she had to refuse this time as well.

Behind Walter, Vivian seemed to be fuming, muttering something like, “How dare you to our Walter~,” but it couldn’t be helped.

With eyes that had been green when she was younger but had at some point turned a golden hue like moonlight, Regina gazed at a spot far away.

Yuria and the boy were chatting with joyful faces.

Yuria let out a subtle smile amidst her haughtiness, while the boy, his face and neck still red, wore a shy yet refreshing smile.

“Yuria, what about me?”

Regina muttered to herself, a mix of various emotions based on envy, and let her shoulders slump.

The music for the last dance was about to begin, and she still hadn’t met her person of destiny.

‘Should I just dance with Aiden?’

It would be too disappointing to go home without dancing at least one song.

‘Still…’

Shouldn’t the first dance be with one’s person of destiny?

But it was at that very moment.

Startled by a piercing gaze from behind her, Regina flinched and turned around. She shrank back once more at the sight of Luna’s face, who was standing against a wall far away, staring at her.

‘My lady! What are you doing!’

That was probably what she was saying with her eyes.

“Ah, I get it.”

Regina replied softly, though she knew she couldn’t be heard, then took a deep breath and turned back around.

Destiny be damned, she had to dance the last dance.

‘Aiden? Walter? Gale-oppa would be a bit weird, right?’

In truth, there were many other candidates.

This was a dance with none other than the youngest lady of the Bayer Count’s family.

If Regina just gave her permission, there were surely hundreds of men in this hall alone who would rush to dance with her.

‘Right, all I have to do is choose.’

Forcing a humph like Adelia would, Regina quickly scanned her surroundings.

And at some point, she found herself staring at one place.

Was it coincidence or fate?

Or was it just that her eyes were drawn to him because he was so enormous?

A giant stood in a corner of the hall.

A red-haired man who, despite being in a formal suit, looked as if he were wearing armor made of steel.

Beside him stood an incredibly beautiful blonde woman in a white dress.

A couple who, despite the several-fold difference in size, were clearly in love.

‘The Heroes of Paragon!’

Landius the Iron Man and Lena the Holy Angel.

It was definitely them.

Now that she looked, she saw that around them were Sword Demon Kamael, who was also Yuria’s master, as well as Druid Fran and Vampire Lord Belkian.

And one more person.

A giant boy whose eyes met Regina’s.

From his appearance alone, he was a large boy who looked to be in his late teens.

Vivid red hair and a smile that, in a slightly different way from Cordelia’s, was reminiscent of the sun.

And muscles as hard as rock.

She didn’t know why their eyes met.

Just a coincidence.

No, perhaps it was fate.

Regina blinked, and the boy suddenly nodded before striding forward with purpose.

The final song was about to begin.

As the slow prelude started, the boy arrived in front of Regina. He lightly knelt on one knee, lowering himself to meet her eye level.

Just as a knight in a love story would before a beautiful princess.

“I am Elwin S. Paragon.”

The boy, who had taken Regina’s hand at some point, said with an unwavering gaze. Regina, her face and even her neck flushed bright red, replied in a slightly trembling voice.

“I-I’m Regina Bayer.”

At Regina’s answer, the boy—Elwin—smiled gently and then kissed the back of her hand.

The motion was so natural that Regina could only open and close her mouth, unable to say a word. The onlookers who had gathered around showed various reactions.

Vivian, with her arms crossed, sent a knowing “Hmph” glance. Aiden was so excited he looked about to shout something, while Amber smiled and held him back.

And far in the distance, Yuria stood, giving a silent nod.

“May I have the honor of this dance?”

“P-Please, I’d like to ask you.”

She was supposed to reply, “I grant you permission,” but Regina, her mind overheating, answered by asking him instead. Elwin laughed heartily, rose to his feet, and naturally led her.

The final song began.

But it was not the true end.

A new meeting.

A new story.

Their story, which continued even after the perfect happy ending.

Feeling the firmness and heat of Elwin’s large hand on her waist, Regina looked up at him with a nervous face. Seeing Elwin looking down at her with a gentle smile, she couldn’t help but smile back.

‘My person of destiny.’

Regina nodded.

She smiled brightly.

fin

Two days after the ball.

The day before the Founding Anniversary Martial Arts Tournament.

“Regina!”

“Mom! Dad!”

At the sudden visit of the Grand Bayer Count and Countess to the capital, Regina jumped up and down with joy.

“Mom! Mom! I have something I have to tell you!”

“You do? So do Mom and Dad.”

Regina, who was about to talk about Elwin, blinked at the words of the Countess—Yuna.

Something they had to tell her?

Dad and Mom?

To me?

Regina tilted her head and looked back at Count Bayer with innocent eyes. For some reason, Count Bayer cleared his throat with a “Hmph, hmph,” and averted his gaze.

What on earth was going on?

And why was her father so embarrassed?

“Regina.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“You’re going to have a little sibling.”

“A little sibling?”

“Yes, a little sibling.”

Yuna gently caressed her own stomach, and only then did Regina realize that Yuna’s belly was slightly swollen.

“Regina, you’re going to be a big sister now.”

A big sister.

Regina blinked, and then a bright smile spread across her face.

She leaped up once more and threw herself into the arms of Count Bayer and Yuna.

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Translated By: Meher (RaidenTL)

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