Due to the sudden surge of monsters, one-fifth of the Alkedania Empire was utterly devastated. Within half a day, hundreds of thousands of monsters—large and small—poured forth. Fortunately, the entrance soon closed, preventing further damage, but cleanup took considerable time.

Due to the abrupt absence of the Emperor and Empress, Killian Dietrich naturally ascended to the throne.

He declared war against the monsters. The gifted individuals fought selflessly to protect the empire, exterminating monsters, while the temple pooled its stockpiled potions and the remaining Holy Maidens’ powers.

Three months later, a white tree never seen before sprouted in the temple’s garden. Growing overnight to over ten meters tall, the massive white tree bore thousands of small fruits shimmering with a pearly pink glow. These fruits contained tremendous healing power, enabling gifted individuals to be healed without further sacrifice from the Holy Maidens. According to mages who traced the tree’s roots, the phenomenon occurred because potent healing energy had seeped into the earth. Yet the precise cause remained unknown—a miracle without explanation.

The war lasted two and a half years. After fierce battles, the monsters vanished. Six months of recovery followed, and on the third year’s anniversary, Emperor Killian Dietrich, the Great Sun of the Alkedania Empire, declared the war’s end.

Unprecedented peace, unseen since the empire’s founding, settled over the land.

***

Ah….

“It’s warm.”

Sunlight and breeze… Huh? Sunlight? Breeze?

Flash! I opened my eyes, and blinding sunlight poured down, dizzying my vision.

“What… what is this?”

I sat up and looked around—I was atop a sloping hill. Below me lay the village; behind me, the castle. A very familiar scene. So this place is…

“The eastern hill!”

Didn’t I die inside the mirror? I was certain I had died.

Though I remember suffocating and eventually blacking out, I distinctly felt my entire body freezing and shattering into pieces—like my flesh was ground into dust and scattered away.

I rubbed my eyes repeatedly with my hands, but no matter how many times I opened them, I truly was on the eastern hill.

Frantically smoothing my wind-tousled hair, I touched my face, arms, legs, and every part of my body. Without a mirror, I couldn’t fully confirm, but everywhere my hands reached felt intact—nothing broken or missing.

Finally, I stared quietly at my open palms. Each finger joint moved perfectly—as if my body had never frozen solid. But…

“…It’s gone.”

My healing power no longer manifested. The soft pink healing energy I could summon naturally at will simply refused to appear, no matter how many times I tried.

I see. The magic circle absorbed all my power. Though I’d longed to be rid of that ability, somehow a hollow emptiness lingered in my heart—and yet, I also felt strangely relieved.

Anyway—I’m alive. I’m alive!

For a brief moment, overwhelmed with emotion, I lifted my head high and dashed across the hill.

I have to see Edan!

My stamina remained as pitiful as ever, but compared to the joy of being alive and the hope of seeing Edan again, exhaustion meant nothing.

Panting heavily, I reached the castle gates and pushed them open—they swung wide easily. Without hesitation, I stepped inside.

The castle interior was unchanged. No lavish flowers, but lush green leaves everywhere… Wait, was it slightly different? The garden looked exceptionally clean—as if meticulously maintained by servants.

“Ah!”

As I stepped through the front door, I suddenly realized something crucial: Edan couldn’t possibly be here. He should be fighting in the north. The village seemed peaceful, but conditions in the north were entirely different.

I headed straight to the second floor, planning to use the library’s portal to reach the north—but the portal had vanished.

Why was it closed? Was something disrupted due to the monsters? I’d expected to go directly to the north, so this disappointment stung.

But it’s fine! I’ll go to the village and use their portal! I’ll need money to buy a ticket—but I have money!

I rushed out to the garden and headed toward the pile of stones stacked in the corner.

“It’s here! My money!”

Thankfully, my hidden money bag remained untouched in the castle’s corner.

I’d originally saved this money through hard work, intending to escape from Edan—but now I’ll use it to find him.

The irony made me laugh out loud. Humming cheerfully, I set off toward the village.

“I can’t wait to see you, Edan.”

He must think I’m dead. I’ll have to tell him I’m alive—and laugh brightly so he won’t get angry.

Ah, but Edan’s the kind who can spit even while smiling… Still, he loves me now, so he won’t do that, right?

No—maybe he’s furious because I didn’t listen. He must’ve been deeply hurt. But if I apologize sincerely and profusely, surely it’ll be okay?

As I strolled beneath the clear blue sky, lost in such thoughts, I arrived at the village.

The lively village looked largely unchanged from always.

In fact, it felt almost alien—as if the moment of monster invasion had never occurred. But perhaps monsters had arrived later in the east…

Glancing around, I spotted a familiar face.

“Mr. Smith!”

Smith, who was lifting a wooden crate of vegetables, turned toward me. It had been so long, and I was overjoyed to see him alive again—I sprinted toward him and beamed brightly in front of him.

“Have you been well?”

“…Huh?”

That’s strange.

“Mr. Smith, why are you like this?”

“M-me? Are you talking to me?”

Smith’s eyes darted nervously—he looked genuinely flustered.

What’s going on? Ah! Is it because Edan always showed up to scold me? Is he worried that’ll happen again?

“Don’t tell me you’re acting this way because of Edan?”

“No? It’s not that…”

“Don’t worry. No one’s here right now, and you don’t need to be so guarded a—”

I trailed off. Smith’s expression truly seemed as if he didn’t recognize me at all.

“W-who are you?”

“I’m Latieana Merigold. Don’t you know me?”

“Ah… so… have we met somewhere before?”

“….”

“I’m sorry. I really don’t remember….”

“….”

This can’t be real. You don’t know me?

Smith’s bewildered gaze, even as sweat trickled down his face, showed no hint of lying or joking.

“Hey, Smith! What’re you doing? Chatting up some pretty lady…?”

I quickly turned my head toward the man approaching from the right—it was the postman.

“Uncle!”

“Yes?”

“It’s me! Don’t you recognize me? I’m Latieana Merigold! I lived in the castle!”

“Ah….”

The uncle exchanged a flustered glance with Smith. Smith’s eyes widened as he shook his head vigorously; the uncle shrugged helplessly.

As if asking, “Who exactly is this person?”

“The castle? I haven’t been there even once since then…”

“Since then?”

“Since the monsters invaded. I went to check if it was still standing—since it’s perched on a hill, if the walls collapsed and rolled into the village, that’d be trouble. Come to think of it, it’s already been three years.”

…This truly can’t be real.

“But you and I used to know each o—”

My lips trembled, frozen mid-sentence, before I spun around and ran.

Why? What on earth is happening…?

After using the village portal to reach the northern town center, I was engulfed by shock. The monsters had shrouded this place in darkness mere hours ago—or so I thought. Everything was eerily peaceful. I never wished for the north to remain plunged in darkness, of course I longed for peace—but how on earth did this happen?

Neat buildings, orderly streets, children’s laughter ringing out as they chased each other playfully—it was the very picture of everyday tranquility.

“Has it really… been three years?”

***

Afterward, I went to the Grand Duke’s castle and pleaded with a knight for a long while.

“Just tell him ‘Latieana Merigold’! Just say those words, please!”

“You’re being awfully bothersome. I already told you no!”

From afternoon until sunset, I begged persistently, shouted in frustration, even tried bribing with money—but the knight remained cold.

“How many times must I say it? I’d love to relay your message, but His Grace is incredibly busy—and ladies like you aren’t exactly rare. It’s meaningless. Ah! Look, here they come.”

I turned toward where the knight pointed—several carts laden with cargo were entering.

“What are those?”

“Gifts and love letters sent to His Grace from young ladies across the empire.”

“What?”

“Ever since His Majesty revealed his face at the coronation, it’s been like this every single day.”

“….”

“We even have to handle those as part of our duties. Our job. His Grace doesn’t even glance at them—why do they keep sending them? So stop wasting your time and go home.”

As the knights guarding the bridge lowered their spears, the carts filed into the castle. Frowning as I watched the cargo carts, I suddenly yelled at the knight.

“You could at least pass along one more sentence from me! How petty can you be!”

Grumbling, I turned and stomped away. But after only a few long strides, I stopped and turned back again.

It’s me who’s left feeling regretful, after all.

Was meeting Edan always this difficult? Until recently, I could be beside him anytime I wanted—or even when I didn’t want to.

I stood frozen, blankly staring at the Grand Duke’s castle long after the sunset had completely faded.

When night fell, brilliant lights illuminated the castle, sparkling beautifully. Everything had returned to its rightful place—except me, still stranded in darkness. Though this was my own choice, my heart ached. I knew I should turn away, but my feet refused to move—only when the cold wind stung my skin did I finally trudge away.

Truthfully, the knight wasn’t wrong. Smith, the postman, everyone had forgotten me. Before traveling from east to north, I briefly encountered the fabric shop auntie and the grandmothers—but none remembered me. With everyone having forgotten me, seeking him out might truly be a waste of time.

Without healing power, without status or standing—what could I possibly accomplish by meeting him? Tell him we were once lovers? Tell him I actually possessed powerful healing abilities? I’d be lucky if they didn’t treat me like a lunatic.

In my mind, everything remains as vivid as yesterday—I remember every single detail…

People who don’t know me. Time that slipped helplessly away, unknown to me. Within it, I was left utterly alone in the world.

Would Edan… remember me?