The next day, as dawn broke, Emilia, sound asleep, was awakened by a soft knock on the door.
"Who is it?" she asked groggily.
"Liya, it's me," came Lucien's gentle voice from outside.
"Ann?" Emilia's previously dazed little face brightened immediately. She threw off the covers, slipped into her silk pajamas, opened the door, and blinked at Uranus standing in the hallway, his amethyst eyes calm and focused.
"Is there something you need me for so early?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her tone.
Through the hallway window, the first light of dawn was just beginning to paint the sky.
"Liya, come with me!" Uranus said, reaching out to gently take her slender hand. Together, they climbed the stairs and eventually arrived at the mansion's rooftop.
Emilia followed quietly, wordless, pulled along by his calm yet compelling presence.
"Uranus, why did you bring me here?" she asked, finally sitting down as instructed. The wind played with her long silver-white hair, brushing softly across her shoulders.
"It will be ready soon," Uranus replied with a soft smile, removing his tailcoat and draping it over Emilia's shoulders. The sky slowly turned a pearly white, and anticipation hung between them.
One minute passed, then two, then three, and finally five…
"Here it comes, here it comes," Uranus murmured, pointing to the horizon. A soft red glow emerged in the east and gradually expanded. The sun, as if a child gathering all its courage, blushed crimson, climbing slowly into the sky, dyeing the clouds in a rosy hue.
The world awakened with it.
Emilia covered her mouth in awe, completely absorbed by the beauty before her.
"So beautiful," she whispered. She had never imagined a sunrise could be so enchanting.
"You are more beautiful," came a shy remark from beside her. Emilia turned her head to meet Uranus's brilliant eyes, a reflection of the entire sky and world in that moment. At that instant, she felt as if she were the entire universe.
Her cheeks flushed crimson, delicate elven ears tinged red, and she quickly lowered her gaze. "I… I'm going down," she stammered, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze, and hurried off the rooftop.
Lucien did not follow, merely watching her flee with a faint smile.
Seeing that he didn't pursue her, Emilia exhaled a small sigh of relief, leaning against the wall in the hallway. Her heart thumped rapidly, an unfamiliar exhilaration coursing through her.
Emilia remained in her room all morning, reluctant to appear before anyone.
"What did you do to Liya?" Puck murmured to Uranus as he watched Emilia remain tucked under her covers, occasionally letting out soft, delighted giggles.
"Nothing, I just took her to watch the sunrise. I thought you knew," Uranus replied, momentarily pausing his work on a kite.
"Sunrise?" Puck's eyes widened, and a relieved smile crossed his face. "An, I'm rooting for you!"
"What's wrong with Liya?" Uranus asked.
"She's probably just shy," Puck chuckled softly. "Phew, you scared me. I thought she might be sick. Good thing she's fine."
Uranus exhaled in relief.
"What are you making?" Puck asked, plopping down on the grass beside him.
"This is a kite for Liya," Uranus said, concentrating as he tied the delicate frame.
"A kite? What's that?" Puck tilted his head, puzzled.
"I don't know how to explain it properly. You'll see once it's finished," Uranus replied with a faint grin.
"Alright!" Puck's curiosity was piqued.
Time passed slowly, and soon it was afternoon. Emilia, still absorbed in her studies, was interrupted by a knock on her door.
"Who is it?" she asked, surprised.
"Liya, it's me," came Uranus's familiar voice from outside.
Emilia's calm heart immediately fluttered. "Is… is something wrong?" she asked, voice tight with anticipation.
"I've finished the kite and I want to fly it with you," Uranus said warmly.
About ten seconds later, the door opened. Emilia peeked out, her face flushed with a rosy hue, eyes wide with curiosity.
"A kite?" she whispered.
"This." Uranus held it up, revealing a beautifully crafted kite adorned with a portrait of Emilia herself.
"This is—" Emilia began, speechless.
"Come with me," Uranus said gently, taking her slender hand once more. Emilia stiffened slightly but allowed herself to be led out of the mansion.
In the courtyard, Uranus released the kite, and it soared higher and higher into the sky. Emilia's eyes sparkled as she watched it dance with the wind.
"Liya, you try it too. Pull and release the string occasionally!" Uranus instructed, guiding her hand.
With his support, Emilia tried flying the kite herself from start to finish. Though she failed several times, her first successful flight made her face bloom with joy. From a distance, it looked as if she herself were flying, carried by the wind and string.
"What is this?" Emilia asked breathlessly, laughter bubbling in her chest.
Their cheerful commotion attracted attention. Beatrice, Ram, Rem, and Puck all appeared, drawn by the sight of the kite dancing above.
"Betty, Ram…" Emilia said, delighted, and then, as if discovering a treasured toy, she began teaching Ram and the others how to fly the kites Uranus had made in advance.
Uranus stood quietly to the side, watching Emilia with a tender smile. He caught a glimpse of Natsuki Subaru's distant, gloomy gaze and couldn't suppress a small, triumphant smirk.
By late afternoon, Uranus led Emilia and Puck to the back mountain.
"Ann, where are you taking us?" Puck asked, curiosity sparkling in his eyes as he watched Uranus carry a small package.
"To watch the sunset. We've already enjoyed the sunrise, so we cannot miss the sunset," Uranus replied confidently.
Even after an afternoon of play, Emilia's spirits remained high.
Reaching the mountain top, Uranus opened his package to reveal an assortment of snacks and drinks. The sun was still about half an hour from setting.
Time, however, passed quickly. Uranus began telling the story of The Legend of the White Snake. Emilia listened, utterly captivated. Even Puck, beside her, watched with fascination.
Slowly, the sun approached the horizon. The sky turned fiery red, as if set ablaze by the departing day. In moments, it appeared as a shy little girl playing hide-and-seek, retreating behind the Earth, slowly revealing and hiding parts of herself.
Eventually, the sun vanished, leaving only a lingering afterglow.
Emilia clasped her hands together, standing in awe, completely absorbed by the scene.
"Let's go! It's time to return," Uranus said softly, packing his things. He looked at Emilia, her face radiant with happiness and blissful smiles. Puck, already resting inside Emilia's chest-embedded magic crystal, purred contentedly.
"Ann, thank you," Emilia whispered as they walked back.
"I don't want to hear you say thank you, Liya; it makes us feel distant," Uranus said with gentle seriousness.
"All I want is for you to be happy every day. As long as you are happy, I am happy," he added, voice calm yet profound.
Uranus's gaze was so earnest that Emilia struggled to meet his eyes.
"Mm," she murmured, lowering her head. Her eyes curved into crescent moons, brighter and warmer than ever.
Upon returning to the mansion, Uranus took a bath, letting the water wash away the sweat and fatigue of the day.
These past two nights, he had been keeping an eye on Rem. According to the original timeline, she should have made her move against Natsuki Subaru by now. But so far, no indication of that had appeared.
Lucien knew he had to prevent Rem from harming Subaru, or after a reset, he would have to pursue Emilia all over again.
Honestly, he was exhausted—not from battle or cultivation, but from the delicate work of romance and vigilance. Pursuing a girl was far more exhausting than combat.
Once his bond with Emilia deepened, it would be time to strategically deal with Natsuki Subaru.
Scheming and innocent-looking yet manipulative women, Lucien reflected, were not easy to handle, and he was starting to understand the subtle challenges that came with guiding fate and hearts alike.
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