"Th-then… what about me?" Nymeria murmured, her voice gradually rising with each word.

"No one at Frostbane Peak plays with me because of this stupid title as a goddess. Father also left for the frontlines, leaving Mother and me all alone!"

Aurelion—who was rarely shaken by anything—felt a shiver run through his entire body at Nymeria's words. He parted his lips to speak, but Nymeria continued before he could utter a sound.

"But I understand that he must fight there to keep everyone safe," she said, her voice trembling. "But what about you? You want to leave for what—glory?"

Her eyes shimmered as her voice cracked, rising into a shout directed at Taranis.

"Who will I play with? Who will I talk to freely? Why does everyone I care about always leave me?"

Before Taranis could answer even one of her questions, Nymeria pushed back her chair, left the table, and ran out through the royal gates toward the city below.

A heavy silence descended upon the dining hall as her sobs faded into the distance.

After a brief moment, Aurelion muttered coldly, his narrowed gaze fixed on Taranis,

"That's the second time you've made Nymeria cry today."

A chilling aura spread through the hall. The ground beneath Aurelion's feet turned into thick ice as he stared at Taranis as though he might strike him down on the spot.

"Wh-what should I do?" Taranis murmured, utterly torn.

"What else?" Lunaria said calmly, pushing Taranis toward the royal gates.

"Go and talk to her."

Giving a quick nod, Taranis hurried out.

Descending the long staircase, Taranis soon reached the grand city where the Thunderbane Sect was located—where young Thunderbanes trained.

Sensing Nymeria's presence beyond the city, near the waterfall, he quickly made his way there.

He found her sitting at the edge of the waterfall's bank, her feet dipped into the flowing water.

"It's a peaceful place," Taranis said softly as he sat beside her.

"I come here too whenever I feel sad."

Nymeria's eyes remained fixed on the cascading water, her chin resting on her knees.

"I'm sorry for showing such an embarrassing side of myself," Nymeria murmured, her expression blank and her voice steady.

"Aunt Aestra and Uncle Voltrex must think I lack manners. Mama and Father must be disappointed in my behavior as well."

Taranis was about to protest, but Nymeria continued, so he chose to listen.

"I shamelessly said what I wanted without considering what you wished for. We're friends, yet instead of respecting your decision, I tried to force you to stay with me."

With a faint smile, Nymeria turned her gaze toward Taranis and asked softly,

"I'm very selfish, aren't I?"

Taranis raised his hand, flicked her forehead lightly, and muttered,

"Stupid Nymeria."

"Ack!" Nymeria whimpered, rubbing her reddened forehead.

"Why did you hit me—"

Before she could complete her sentence, Taranis moved his hand to the back of Nymeria's head and pulled her face against his chest.

"See how fast my heart is beating because you were sad," Taranis said in a low voice. "Do you really think I could just leave you like this? I've already made my decision. I don't—"

"You must go!" Nymeria said firmly before Taranis could reach a clear decision point. "Become a real god like in the myths, put an end to this never-ending war, and bring dawn to the Western Continent."

"Huh! And what about Nymeria being left alone here?" Taranis asked, his voice carrying a teasing tone.

Nymeria slowly wrapped her arms around Taranis, her head still resting against his chest.

"I have Mama—and also the memories we spent together," Nymeria replied. Then, raising her head to meet Taranis' eyes, she warned in a sharp voice, "but that doesn't mean you can forget about me. I order you to miss me every hour, send me letters every day, and return every month."

"N-Nymeria, that's a bit—"

"What!? Can't you do even that much for me?" Nymeria hissed, her eyes narrowing.

"I-it would be difficult to return every month," Taranis replied nervously.

"Hmph, excuses. Fine. You must return every six months. No more than that, or I'll bite you to death!" Nymeria muttered, her teeth already digging into Taranis' shoulder.

"F-fine, fine! I understand!" Taranis blurted out, quickly tapping out in surrender.

While the duo sat in an obviously intimate position at the bank of the waterfall, their parents observed them quietly from afar in the sky.

"Hehehe~ my intuition was spot on," Aestra said, a smug smile on her face.

"The decision to have this dinner between the two families was completely worth it," Lunaria added, clearly amused.

"Hmph! What's worth it? That cheeky brat is swaying my daughter with honeyed words," Aurelion muttered, his fists clenched and brows furrowed.

"There's nothing wrong with saying comforting words," Lunaria replied, then continued with a saddened expression and an exaggerated sigh. "When was the last time my dear husband said something sweet to me?"

Releasing a groan of annoyance, Aurelion decided to keep his mouth shut.

"So none of us are against the proposal Aestra gave, right?" Voltrex asked, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

"I'm not, considering I was the one who proposed it," Aestra chuckled.

"I agree with Aestra's proposal," Lunaria nodded, while Aurelion remained silent, knowing it wouldn't matter since Lunaria had already given the green light.

"Alright then," Voltrex said, moving downward to where Nymeria and Taranis were sitting.

"Kids, come back. An announcement needs to be made," Voltrex said from behind, startling the duo with his sudden arrival.

They gave an aggressive nod in unison and followed Voltrex with quick steps.

Once they reached the hall again, Aestra, Lunaria, and Aurelion were already there, seated at the table as if they had never left at all.

"Please forgive me for my behavior, everyone," Nymeria said with a slight bow, her face flushed with embarrassment as memories of her earlier outburst resurfaced.

"You don't need to apologize, Nymeria," Aestra said gently before turning her sharp gaze toward Taranis. "It should be this brat who asks for forgiveness—but given the smile on your face, I assume you've already forgiven him."

The duo could only lower their eyes in embarrassment at Aestra's teasing.

Once everyone settled again, Voltrex turned to Nymeria and asked, "Little angel, what do you think about Taranis?"

"Taranis?" Nymeria raised an eyebrow at the strange question but answered anyway. "He is the most important person to me, aside from Mama and Father."

Her innocent confession drew gasps from Lunaria and Aestra, while Aurelion merely observed in silence, his expression unreadable.

Meanwhile, the man in question—Taranis—had turned utterly crimson at Nymeria's nonchalant confession.

"Haha~ great!" Voltrex laughed before turning to Taranis. "It's pointless to ask you since your blushing face already gives it away, but how do you feel about Nymeria?"

"Why should I tell you!?" Taranis stammered, flustered.

"Just give the damn answer, brat," Voltrex muttered, annoyance lacing his voice.

"I don't want to!" Taranis refused. Unlike Nymeria, whose mental age was around eight or nine, Taranis' mental age had already grown closer to thirteen. Though not fully mature, the young prince had begun to understand his feelings toward Nymeria—the very reason for his firm refusal.

"Why won't you answer Uncle Voltrex's question?" Nymeria asked, oblivious to the reason. "Am I not important to you?"

"N-no, that's not it… N-Nymeria."

"Then answer his question. I want to know too!"

"I… I li-lik-I don't want to say!!!" Taranis shouted, his eyes trembling as the words nearly slipped out.

"So it means I'm the only one who considers you important," Nymeria murmured, her expression dimming.

"Be a man and say it, Taranis," Voltrex insisted.

"Say it, Taranis," Aestra and Lunaria echoed in unison.

"Brat, I swear—if you make Nymeria cry again…" Aurelion growled, his gaze sharpening.

Pressured by everyone—and with Nymeria on the verge of tears—Taranis shut his eyes and shouted in a loud, clear voice,

"I love Nymeria!"

The sudden declaration plunged the hall into silence. Lunaria and Aestra screamed inwardly in excitement, Voltrex smiled broadly, and Aurelion simply nodded in acknowledgment.

As for Nymeria—the poor goddess was nearly dying from shyness.

"H-he… l-l-l-loves… me?" she murmured, her face burning as it turned a rosy hue.

Even Nymeria clearly understood what Taranis meant by those words.

"Hahahaha! I didn't expect you to be that direct, Taranis!" Voltrex laughed.

"It's decided then! Since you two like each other, Aurelion and I have decided to turn our friendship into an unbreakable bond.

I, Voltrex El Thunderbane, ruler of the Seven Banes and king of the Hundred Sky Mountains, with the acceptance of both the Snowbane and Thunderbane families, hereby declare the marriage between my son, Taranis El Thunderbane, and my closest friend's daughter, Nymeria El Snowbane—twenty-two years from now."

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