From the depth of twisted fate,
Born is hope to free the realm.
Beings of light shall not divide,
The will of good, the will of life.
Brave is the King who discerns,
Path of truth from path of shame.
“I swear allegiance to the King Foretold,” the Queen of Sky says and takes Ethan’s hand. “We will fight at your side to save the Realm of Four Kingdoms.”
When he doesn’t reply to her for three long seconds, I glance at Ethan. He stands as still as a marble statue. He might have stopped breathing.Shit.He is freaking the hell out. Who wouldn’t freak out, seeing your destiny unfold in front of you? It is absolutely understandable, but I don’t know how to help him.
Jihun leans close to Ethan from his other side and whispers something I can’t make out. Ethan snaps out of his stupor with a long gasp, then gives his royal adviser a solemn nod. Then he takes a step closer to the monarchs.
“I swear to uphold the trust you have placed in me.” Ethan presses his fist against his heart. “I will protect and lead the Realm of Four Kingdoms as the fates have willed it.”
As the fates have willed it.
His words echo in my head, and my knees nearly buckle beneath me. How could I have forgotten? I avoided learning about the prophecy of the End of Days, but I have long guessed what it says. The fates have willed the King Foretold to kill me. And no amount of avoidance can change that fact.
What if that prophecy comes to pass as well?
But I refuse to withhold my love from Ethan because of a future that neither of us might live to see. Odds are much higher that I’ll die fighting the Amheuk before Ethan has to kill me. I suppose I should take comfort in that depressing reassurance.
“Shall I perform a song to celebrate this auspicious moment?” Jaeseok quips into the heavy silence. “I can do a K-pop medley.”
Minju claps a hand over her mouth to smother a snort, and thedokkaebibeams as though she just plucked a star from the heavens and handed it to him.
“Your Majesty?” Hailey says, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Yes,” the four majesties respond at once.
“Eeek.” Hailey turns into a tomato. “I-I meant Ethan.”
“We really have to dispose of the whole ‘Your Majesty’ thing.” One corner of Ethan’s mouth quirks up. “What is it, Hailey?”
“I just wanted to ask you to write it into law that Jaeseok can’t perform K-pop songs at random moments,” she mumbles. When laughter fills the room, she turns even redder and elbows thedokkaebiat her side. “Gods, I’m turning intoyou. I can’t believe I’m making ridiculous jokes at a time like this.”
“Turning into me is amarvelousthing.” Jaeseok pats the top of Hailey’s head, and she slaps his hand away with an affectionate scowl.
“Besides, it’s called comicrelieffor a reason,” Captain Seo says with a soft chuckle. “We all needed a good laugh.”
“Well said,” Jihun murmurs, and the captain’s surprised gaze shoots toward him. “The darker the times, the more we should cherish every moment of joy and laughter.”
Ethan takes my hand and meets my eyes, and I know what he is asking. I nod, my bottom lip quivering.
Yes, and yes again. Yes always and forever.
“Which is why Sunny and I would like to be wed as soon as possible,” Ethan says with a smile that lights up his whole face—his whole body. Even the life force around him shimmers like glitter raining down on him.
I did that. I made him happy.
“But Hyeok, my dear child.” The Queen of Sky’s eyes tighten with worry. “The prophecy of the End of Days—”
My heart turns to stone and drops to my feet. To hear my fears spoken out loud makes it all the more real.
