"I know… I know it's bad to even think like this now," she whispered, rubbing her fingers together anxiously. "But… what if… h-he gets… complicated… inside… and maybe… forgives me…?"

Celestia raised an eyebrow at her.

Her face clearly saying, Use proper words, woman.

Selena groaned and covered her face for a second before forcing herself to speak plainly.

"I mean.. what if I tell him everything? That I loved him. That the whole reason I did it was because of that." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Isn't that basically a confession…?"

She didn't dare look at Celestia now.

"Do you think… IF he decided to let the past be past… IF he forgave me… do you think there'd be a chance… that he would say yes…?"

Her voice cracked painfully at the end.

Celestia just stared at her with a completely deadpan expression.

"…I don't know," she said flatly. Then added, with a sudden coldness that sent a shiver down Selena's spine

"But I hope not."

Selena's head snapped up.

"What do you mean hope not?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously. Her tone sharp, defensive, offended.

Celestia folded her arms and looked away, annoyed.

"I said I don't know," she repeated. "But I don't think there's much hope. And honestly? First focus on getting him better. Think about these stupid ideas later."

She clicked her tongue softly.

"What could be better helping him… than him marrying me.. don't you think most of the stuff… and the situations even now going on with him… can get better?"

"And I'm sure I can… definitely make him the happiest man alive too…"

She tossed her golden hair lightly over her shoulder, regaining a bit of the pride she always carried as Saintess her hair shimmering like sunlight, her posture straightening, expression returning to her natural royal grace.

"Though I won't boast…" she added, even though she absolutely was, "But I am… one of the world's most desirable women. If not the most."

Her tone tried to sound confident, but there was insecurity trembling under every word.

Celestia stared at her quiet, serious, unreadable.

The silence stretched.

Selena looked into her eyes too, refusing to back down.

Then Celestia finally spoke, her tone low.

"You still love him?" she asked.

There was confusion there… real confusion.

"And are you sure it's not guilt?"

Selena froze for a second.

The question hit her unexpectedly too sharply, too honestly.

Her breath suddenly caught.

But then she slowly shook her head, eyes softening with something real.

"I know the difference between guilt and love, Celestia." Her voice was firm now, raw and sincere.

"And I'm very aware of it. Believe me."She held her gaze without turning away. "And yes… I love him. Even now. I always did…"

Celestia said nothing for a long moment.

Just…

"I see." No emotion. No reaction.

Just a simple reply cold.

Selena studied her face, frowning.

"What about you?" she suddenly asked.

"What are your feelings toward him now? Do you love him now?"

Celestia blinked slowly.

"What's the meaning of this question?" Her expression didn't change at all.

"I'm asking," Selena insisted, "because you left him. You left him because he wasn't strong enough. Because, as you said, he wasn't deserving of you."

Her tone sharpened. "But what if he… got strong enough? What then? Would you start?"

Celestia's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I asked… what's the meaning of that question?" Her voice was colder now, more firm.

Selena didn't back down.

"I just want to make sure…" she said, leaning a little forward, eyes holding Celestia's, "That you won't be my enemy… if I succeed in getting him back."

There.

She said it.

Direct.

Clear.

No more dancing around the topic.

Celestia's expression instantly changed sharpening, hardening.

Her eyes glowed faintly platinum, like a dormant storm waking up.

"Now you're challenging me?" she said slowly.

Her aura slowly rising, majestic, suffocating.

"Don't misunderstand me, Selena." She stepped closer, the air growing heavier with her presence. "If I truly like something… there is NOTHING in this world that can stop me from getting it."

She didn't blink or even faltered.

She just kept going, each word sharper than the last.

"And believe it or not whether I am right or wrong, justified or not whether I disliked him when he was weak or liked him when he might be strong.. I couldn't care less."

Her platinum hair fluttered as a small breeze brushed through the garden, but her stare never moved.

"I always do what I want," Celestia continued. "Not what others consider moral. Not what others think is right."

She leaned closer until their foreheads were almost touching.

"And if you want to be my enemy…" her voice dropped dangerously low, "be my guest."

A pause.

"But remember this, Selena." Her tone became even heavier, dripping with royal dominance. "There is not a single person in this generation or even the older ones who has ever defeated me… except my mother."

Her lips curved into the faintest, coldest smirk.

"So if you want to take me on for him… that is YOUR problem. Not mine."

Selena clenched her jaw, golden eyes burning back at her.

Celestia continued relentlessly:

"Because here is the truth." Her voice resonated with absolute certainty, almost arrogant. "If I liked him… if I wanted him to be mine… I would even snatch him from GOD. So don't even think you can stop me."

The majesty in her aura pure Valentine bloodline shook the air itself. Even the pond's surface rippled.

"Behave yourself." Celestia finished firmly. "Do not try to judge or make decisions on my behalf."

But then

Her power slowly lowered. Her expression softened into seriousness again.

"But lucky for you…" she said quietly, "It's never going to happen."

Selena blinked, confused.

Celestia lifted her chin slightly, eyes distant now.

"I've already made my decision." Her voice was calm, but there was steel underneath.

"I will not like someone… nor accept a partner… unless they can stand against me truly withstand my serious attacks at very least."

She looked down at her hands as if she were remembering something painful.

"And I know… no one will ever reach me. Not in this world."

Her eyes hardened.

"But"

"At LEAST… they should be able to stand on their feet after one of my serious moves. But Razeal?"

She shook her head slowly. "I know he'll never reach that. Not even close."

She exhaled.

"So you can have him. Because even if I loved him the most…" Her voice lowered, trembling slightly at the edges, "My dignity would never accept it."

She placed one hand on her chest.

"I would rather choose my principles… my future… my throne… over my feelings."

Her eyes grew distant cold and lonely.

"Feelings aren't things for people born for greatness," she whispered. "I cannot accept that."

Selena stared at her… silent… as if trying to understand how someone could be so divided between love, pride, and destiny.

Then she finally spoke.

"Very well then…" Her voice lowered, firm, golden eyes shining bright.

"I hope you don't. Because if it's for him…"

She stepped forward, her aura pouring out, "I'll take you any day."

Golden radiance burst behind her, the divine pressure of a Saintess awakened challenging the royal majesty of a Valentine head-on.

"And I hope it doesn't…" Celestia replied, her voice dipping lower, calmer, but sharp with hidden edge. "I wouldn't want to show my childhood lovely friend her place. I would feel really bad about it."

Their auras collided instantly.

Selena's divine golden radiance burst outward, lighting the entire garden like dawn breaking through clouds.

Celestia's platinum aura surged upward like a silent, merciless storm, sharp and regal, shaking the air with raw dominance.

Two forces.

Two natures.

Two destinies crashing against each other like waves and steel.

For a moment, the flowers around them trembled, their petals quivering under the intense pressure. Even the pond rippled violently, reacting to energies far beyond what it was meant to withstand.

But then

"…Alright. Whatever." Selena suddenly exhaled, letting her golden hair fall lightly behind her shoulders as her aura pulled back into her body.

The radiance dimmed… tension softening… And the air slowly stabilizing.

She turned around, shifting her weight, her steps steady but carrying exhaustion, her emotions clearly drained.

" Though I'll still be going to talk to Aunt Merisa," she said while walking away, voice firm, serious, determined. "So… please prepare the empire for it. I wouldn't want innocents dragged into this. Though I'll try to handle it myself."

Her fists were clenched barely trembling.

"I know… well, I hope Aunt Merisa will understand me… and won't take her anger out only on me. Because I'm the only one deserving of it."

She didn't hesitated or look back.

She simply informed Celestia and kept walking, each step slow but filled with a resolve she had not shown in years.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Celestia's calm voice broke through the air behind her.

Selena stopped.

Then turned around, frustration forming on her face.

"Don't worry," Selena said, irritation clear, "as I said, I won't pull your name into this. So you don't need to be so concerned about it."

"I'm not saying it because of that." Celestia walked a few steps closer, arms loosely at her sides now. "I'm telling you because Lady Merisa isn't here."

Selena blinked.

"…What?"

"She went to look for Razeal," Celestia said. "In Atlantis. She already left. So there's no need for you to go to the Virelan mansion. The only person you'll find there is Nova."

"What?? She… Aunt Merisa really went to look for him?" Selena's eyes widened. A breath she had been holding for days escaped her chest in a long, shaky sigh of relief.

She whispered, almost to herself, "Thank God… I thought she wouldn't go… still stubborn thinking she was right…"

Her shoulders relaxed. A fragile, relieved smile appeared like a dying ember slowly reigniting.

"The relief… I can't tell you… it's big, Celestia. Thank you." Selena said sincerely, placing a hand over her heart.

Celestia only nodded silently.

"Alright then… I'll go talk to Nova," Selena said as she turned around again, preparing to walk away once more.

"Wait what?? Don't do that!" Celestia almost choked on air.

Selena stopped again, eyebrows twitching.

"What now?" she asked, genuinely irritated.

"Don't go to her," Celestia insisted, raising both hands, shaking her head dramatically. "It's literally the worst idea you can have. And the worst thing you could possibly do."

"And why not?" Selena asked, crossing her arms.

Celestia stared at her as if Selena had grown two heads.

"You need me to tell you the reason?" Celestia's literally looked at her as.. is she an idiot. "I mean she's CRAZY."

Selena blinked… then sighed deeply, placing one hand on her forehead.

"Ah… right… yeah. I forgot…" She dragged the words out like her brain was finally catching up with reality.

Nova.

Of course.

Selena looked back at Celestia again and exhaled heavily.

"I'll think about it. But I still need to talk to her."

Her voice softened, even though irritation still lingered. "I must talk to her."

She turned around again, her golden hair flicking behind her as she began walking away.

Celestia threw her arms up in the air, completely baffled.

"What is even happening…" she mouthed under her breath, looking at Selena like she was walking straight into the den of a idiots without armor or common sense.

But she didn't call after her again.

She just rubbed her temples, annoyance mixing with disbelief.

The garden fell quiet once more.

A silence returned….

but it wasn't peaceful.

Because…

Neither of them noticed the presence standing quietly behind one of the tall willow trees

a presence that shouldn't have been able to enter at all.

High above.. right on the very tree Celestia and Selena were fighting under just a little behind the old stone bench, on a thick, sturdy branch that swayed softly with the breeze,

a man sat silently.

Pure white hairs and puee white eyes.

Riven.

His long legs hung lazily over the branch edge, one hand braced on the bark, the other pressed tightly to his forehead as if physically holding back the headache blooming there. His face twisted with exasperation as he stared down at the scene below.

"…This is just ridiculous," he muttered, voice dry and filled with disbelief.

His fingers dragged down over his face, obscuring his eyes for a moment, before he spread them apart and peeked through, watching Selena crying her heart out and Celestia arguing like a storm disguised in royal silk.

He clicked his tongue loudly.

"These two idiotic creatures… Destiny and fate have deemed them soooo important. Chosen. Blessed. Protected. Ah yes..'central figures of the era '—" he mocked sarcastically, waving one hand dismissively. "And here they are.. Just destroying everyone around."

He leaned back against the trunk, head thumping lightly against the bark.

"What is even happening…" A deep, long, soul-tired sigh escaped him. "This wasn't supposed to happen at ALL."

"Now that I think about it… I need to meet that bastard," he murmured. "He's disturbing too much now… bending things he shouldn't even be ABLE to bend."

"And how the hell did he even DO it…?"

A decision flashed in his eyes.

He straightened, body tensing with resolve as he sighed.

"I need to talk to Razeal," he said finally. "Before this spirals even further."

And with that, Riven vanished from the branch..

silent as a ghost.

Meanwhile, below, Celestia and Selena had absolutely no idea that someone had been eavesdropping on every word.

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