The Ancient Imperial Calendar, Year 1819
"Haaaaa"
Ricardo let out a deep breath.
"What else is there? How much longer will this go on?"
Just at that moment, he heard a very familiar voice.
"What's wrong, Harloumen?"
Ricardo's eyes widened in shock.
"That voice... it can't be..."
When he turned his face, he was stunned.
"Aherlenna?"
Aherlenna answered in a loving voice.
"Yes, my love."
Ricardo didn't know how to react.
Aherlenna was the only true love of his previous life, the only wife he married out of love, without any political motive.
Ricardo had so many things he wanted to say, but no words would leave his lips.
His hands and feet were trembling.
Seeing Ricardo in this state, Aherlenna became flustered with worry.
"Harloumen, what happened? Why are you like this? Is something wrong?"
Ricardo couldn't speak. He just lunged forward, tightly embraced Aherlenna, and burst into tears.
"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me that giving birth could kill you?"
Aherlenna tried to make sense of Ricardo's behavior.
"Harloumen, why are you acting like this? And how do you know? I never told you."
Ricardo went mad with anger.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH WE SUFFERED AFTER YOU DIED?"
Aherlenna gently cupped Ricardo's cheeks. Using her Light energy, she calmed him down.
"Are you alright now? Will you explain it to me?"
Ricardo surrendered himself to Aherlenna and began to tell her everything.
He started with Aherlenna's desire to have a child with Harloumen.
Aherlenna's death during childbirth.
Ahamenna's attack on the palace for revenge.
The wars that took place in the following years.
He told her everything, up to his death and reincarnation.
Aherlenna listened quietly and with great attention until the very end.
When Ricardo finished speaking, she gently took his hand.
"You've been through so much, Harloumen. I didn't expect my wish for a child to cause all these events."
Ricardo answered with his head bowed.
"Can you forgive me?"
Aherlenna rested her head on Ricardo's shoulder.
"You haven't done anything that needs forgiving. I was the one who wanted the child, and I knew I would die. I'm the one who should ask for forgiveness. Will you forgive me, my love?"
Ricardo rested his head on Aherlenna's.
"I forgive you. If I had known you would die, I would have never—"
Aherlenna placed her hand over Ricardo's mouth, cutting him off.
"Never say those words. I have never regretted wanting a child. I accepted my death."
Aherlenna held Ricardo's face and looked deep into his eyes.
"Listen to me carefully, my love. Don't you dare be sad. Don't you dare feel guilt. Because in these events, you were never at fault. I was selfish. My sister was looking for someone to blame. And my father, that so-called Soul King who never interfered in anything—it's all our fault."
Ricardo was stunned by her last words.
"The Soul King? You're the Soul King's daughter? The Soul King is real? Tell me!"
Suddenly, a white light swept everything away. Ricardo went mad with rage.
"HAAAAAAAA! DAMN YOU! LEAVE ME ALONE ALREADY!"