Chapter 155: Before Things Get Hectic

The Return Ring activated, and a familiar distortion spread through the air as Reinhard and Emily stepped back into Elyndor.

It was already night.

The city stretched beneath the dark sky. Countless lights shone between the buildings, and the noise of the streets had softened compared to the daytime. After everything they had experienced in the Old Garden, the quiet felt almost strange.

Reinhard glanced at the city before turning toward Emily. "We’re finally back."

Emily smiled faintly. "It feels like we’ve been gone for much longer than we actually were."

"That’s what happens when you spend your time fighting for your life," Reinhard replied. "It makes an ordinary evening feel like a luxury."

Emily chuckled. "You make it sound like we went through a hundred years of suffering."

"Didn’t we?"

She shook her head with an amused smile as they made their way toward the hotel.

The familiar building soon came into view.

The moment they entered, several members of the staff recognized them and immediately offered their greetings. Reinhard returned them with a nod before leading Emily toward the private elevator.

Their suite was exactly as they had left it.

However, the moment the doors opened, Lily looked up from the sofa.

Her eyes immediately landed on the couple standing together in the doorway. A mischievous smile slowly spread across her face.

"Well, well. Look who’s finally back."

Reinhard raised an eyebrow. "We were gone for a little while."

Lily leaned forward, looking between him and Emily. "A little while? You two disappeared together, and now you’re returning at night. Should we be asking questions?"

Emily’s cheeks warmed slightly. "Lily!"

"What?" Lily asked innocently. "I’m just curious about what you two were doing."

Maki glanced up from where she was sitting. "Considering how close they’re standing, I doubt they were discussing the weather."

Yuna covered her mouth to hide her laughter. "You should leave them alone, Maki."

She paused, then added with a knowing smile, "Although I am curious about how long they spent together."

Emily stared at the three of them. "You’ve all become terrible."

"That’s what happens when you leave us with Lily for too long," Maki replied.

"Hey!" Lily protested. "I’m perfectly well-behaved."

Maki gave her a flat look. "You were trying to sneak into the kitchen five minutes ago."

"I was hungry!"

"You ate an hour ago."

"Being hungry again is perfectly normal!"

Reinhard laughed as the familiar argument unfolded. Emily shook her head, but the smile on her face made it clear that she wasn’t truly upset.

The teasing made their return feel even more comfortable.

After everything they had experienced in the Old Garden, being back in the suite with everyone waiting for them was a welcome change.

Reinhard stepped inside and closed the door behind them. Then he remembered something and reached into his storage space, bringing out the various resources he had received from the completed investment.

"We should distribute these before everyone goes to sleep," he announced.

The others immediately gathered around him.

Reinhard had no intention of handing everything out randomly. He had already considered which resources suited each person, and he began sorting them accordingly.

Emily received several resources that were especially compatible with her Bloodkin transformation, Aeon, and future growth. She looked at the amount in her hands before glancing back at Reinhard. "Reinhard, this is too much."

He smiled casually. "You’re my wife."

Emily stared at him for a moment before a small smile appeared on her face. "I suppose that’s your answer to everything."

"It’s a very good answer," Reinhard replied.

Yuna received resources intended to help her approach the next major threshold. She examined them carefully before turning toward Reinhard. "You’re planning something."

Reinhard smiled. "Always."

Yuna narrowed her eyes slightly, but she didn’t press him.

Maki and Lily received resources that would help push them toward B-Rank as well. Lily immediately brightened as she examined what she had received. "Do I get more if I become stronger?"

"Probably," Reinhard replied.

Maki immediately turned toward him. "Don’t encourage her."

Lily grinned. "See? Reinhard agrees with me."

"That’s not what he said," Maki corrected.

"Close enough," Lily insisted.

Reinhard laughed as Maki tried to explain the difference between what he had actually said and what Lily wanted to hear.

Once everything had been distributed, the family slowly settled down for the night.

Lily continued talking even after Maki reminded her that she needed to sleep. Yuna wished everyone goodnight before heading to her room, while Archon disappeared without saying much.

Eventually, Reinhard and Emily were the only ones left in the common area.

The suite gradually became quiet.

Reinhard turned toward Emily. "Come outside with me."

Emily nodded, and they stepped through the doors leading to the private patio.

The night air was cool, and Elyndor stretched out beneath them like a sea of lights. Above the city, the sky was unusually clear, allowing countless stars to shine overhead.

A small table stood near the railing. Two glasses and a bottle of wine had been placed on it.

Emily sat down while Reinhard poured them both a glass.

For a while, neither of them spoke. They simply sat beneath the stars and looked out over the city.

After several minutes, Reinhard finally turned toward her. "How are you holding up?"

Emily looked at him. "With what?"

Reinhard lifted his glass slightly and gestured toward the city. "Being a legend."

Emily’s smile disappeared.

She turned back toward the sky and remained quiet for several seconds before finally speaking. "It’s a bit hard."

Reinhard didn’t interrupt.

Emily lowered her eyes. "I hate hearing that we killed him."

Her words were quiet.

She didn’t regret fighting Vlad. She knew why they had fought him, and she understood what would have happened if they had failed.

That wasn’t what hurt her.

What hurt was hearing people speak about him as though he had been nothing more than a monster.

A Calamity.

The Bloody Massacre.

A legend who had nearly destroyed everything.

None of those words described the father she remembered.

Emily took a small sip of wine before releasing a quiet breath. "But..."

Reinhard looked at her.

Emily’s expression softened. "Every time I start feeling down, an image of him acting like a weird clown appears in my mind."

Reinhard couldn’t help chuckling.

Emily smiled as well. "It actually cheers me up."

"I can imagine him scolding you for not enjoying your return," Reinhard said with a growing smile. "Especially if he knew this whole mess gave you the chance to prove so many people wrong."

Emily laughed quietly. "He would."

She looked down at her glass before adding, "And then Maria would scold him for neglecting himself again."

Reinhard smiled. "I can see that happening."

The image of Vlad and Maria together brought a strange warmth to the quiet night.

Despite everything that had happened, Emily could still remember them as her family rather than as the tragedy surrounding their final moments.

Reinhard reached over and gently touched Emily’s cheek. "Speaking of that, I’m sure Maria would also scold you for trying to sacrifice yourself back there and abandoning your most handsome husband."

Emily rolled her eyes before reaching over and pinching his cheek. "I’m sure she would forgive me for not wanting my lovely husband to die."

Reinhard let her pinch him without resisting.

Emily’s smile faded slightly as she looked at him. "Honestly, how did you expect me to react after seeing you die in all five futures?"

Reinhard’s expression softened.

He remembered those futures.

Five different possibilities.

Five different endings.

And in every one of them, Emily had seen him die.

He gave her a reassuring smile. "Obviously, my devilishly handsome husband will break those destined endings. It’s not like my devilishly handsome husband hasn’t surpassed impossible odds before."

Emily giggled. "You’re right, but I still never want to take a chance."

Reinhard’s expression grew gentler. "I agree."

He stood from his chair and carefully lifted Emily from her seat, settling her onto his lap.

Emily didn’t resist. Instead, she leaned against him as Reinhard wrapped his arms around her and held her a little tighter.

For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

Emily rested her head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat.

Then she quietly broke the silence. "Lily and Maki told me about you abandoning destroying the Heart to come to me."

Reinhard smiled.

Emily lightly pressed her forehead against him. "You silly idiot."

"Your husband’s biggest flaw is worrying about his cute wife," Reinhard replied.

Emily’s smile grew. "That’s the best flaw to me."

Reinhard looked down at her, and her answer made him smile.

Emily remained against his chest for a while before growing quiet again. Eventually, she lifted her head and looked toward the stars. "Why do I have this odd feeling?"

Reinhard glanced at her. "What feeling?"

Emily hesitated. "Once we reach S-Rank..."

She looked toward the distant lights of Elyndor. "Things will get hectic."

Reinhard let out a quiet sigh. "Because it will."

Emily turned toward him.

His expression had become more serious. "I think the Baal Family has been targeting us for longer than we realized."

Emily’s eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"

"I found information suggesting they were behind some of your sponsors and others dropping you or cutting you off," Reinhard explained.

Emily fell silent.

After a moment, she slowly exhaled. "No wonder..."

Reinhard looked at her. "You had suspicions?"

"Not about them specifically," Emily replied. "But I always felt there was an external force behind some of the sponsors abruptly cutting me off."

She lowered her gaze. "With my state back then, there wasn’t much point in investigating it. I couldn’t exactly force people to support someone whose Gnosis had been destroyed."

Reinhard gently rested his hand against her back. "But now it’s different."

Emily looked at him.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then she nodded. "Yes."

There was something different in her voice this time.

Two years ago, Emily had needed people to believe in her.

Now, she was one of the strongest Awakeners in Elyndor, ranked among the Top Five and surrounded by people who had chosen to stand beside her.

She no longer needed the organizations that had abandoned her.

And Reinhard knew the people who had once ignored Emily were going to face a very different problem now.

He smiled. "Then let’s hurry up and become S-Rank."

Emily blinked.

Reinhard stood, keeping her comfortably in his arms. "Or more specifically, I’ll become S-Rank, and you reach A-Rank."

Emily huffed. "You really had to ruin the moment."

Reinhard laughed. "I’m just being realistic."

"You’re being annoying," Emily retorted.

"Those things aren’t mutually exclusive," Reinhard replied.

Emily stared at him before finally smiling. "Just shut up and let’s go."

Reinhard laughed again as he carried her toward the doors.

Then he suddenly paused. "We should hurry up and do it before the festival."

Emily blinked. "The festival?"

"The Glittering Lights Festival," Reinhard clarified.

Emily’s eyes widened slightly before her expression softened. "Right..."

She looked toward the city. "I forgot about the Glittering Lights Festival."

Reinhard smiled.

Emily had wanted to attend one for years.

"I always wanted to go to one with Lily, Maki, and Yuna," Emily admitted.

"Then we will," Reinhard promised.

Emily looked back at him. "All of us?"

"Everyone," Reinhard confirmed.

Her eyes brightened. "I can’t wait."

Reinhard carried her inside, and the doors closed behind them, leaving the night sky and the glittering lights of Elyndor outside.