"What do you think I'm going to do?"
Uranus An glanced subtly toward the end of the corridor, where the door to Subaru's room was slowly opening. A faint smile curved his lips; his deliberate commotion had not been in vain.
"I… I need to go back to my room."
Emilia lowered her gaze, hoping to escape, but with a gentle yet firm press from Uranus An against the wall, her retreat was cut off.
"Still trying to run? Why have you been avoiding me from yesterday afternoon until this evening?" Uranus An's voice was soft, teasing, but carried an undeniable intent. He leaned closer, forehead resting lightly against hers.
"I… I wasn't hiding," Emilia murmured, her wide eyes fluttering as she looked up at him, the depth of his amethyst eyes reflecting her own nervous anticipation.
Uranus An said nothing further. He lowered his head and kissed her gently. Emilia stiffened initially, then relaxed, surrendering to the warmth and closeness, her eyelids closing instinctively.
Slowly, Uranus An's movements grew more deliberate, sensing her hesitation. Emilia tried to push back, but he held her tightly, glancing momentarily toward the corridor. With a quick motion, he pushed the door open fully, carrying her inside the room.
Once the door clicked shut, he released her. Emilia's resistance had been strong, and Uranus An recognized it was time to stop. Discussing the complexities of life could wait; this moment was simply for connection, trust, and affection.
"Liya, I won't force you. I'll wait until you're ready," Uranus An whispered, stroking her silken hair, easing her tension.
Emilia, though not ready, felt a subtle warmth in his restraint, a quiet respect for her boundaries, which filled her with a gentle sense of relief and a touch of loss.
"You won't be angry, will you?" she asked softly, glancing at him cautiously.
"No," he replied simply.
He guided her to the bed, carefully removing her boots, helping her lie down, and gently pulling up the covers. Uranus An then sat beside her, eyes full of affection.
"Good girl. I'll tell you a new story," he said softly.
"Mm," Emilia replied, nodding lightly, her gaze completely devoted to him.
Time drifted gently, Emilia's breathing grew steady, and she eventually fell asleep. Lucien's gaze moved to the moon hanging high outside the window. He had no plans to leave; he would stay here for the night. He knew Natsuki Subaru might still be watching, but that was of no consequence. Closing his eyes, he entered a state of meditation, his presence calm yet vigilant.
Just as Lucien had anticipated, Natsuki Subaru had indeed been watching. The hours dragged on, and as morning light crept over the horizon, his bloodshot eyes were twisted with frustration and helplessness.
At dawn, Emilia stirred, opening her eyes to see Uranus An asleep beside her, gently holding her hand.
"Ann… Ann…" she murmured softly.
"Good morning, Gorgeous," he replied groggily, stretching and rubbing his eyes, his voice still thick with sleep.
"Ann, why are you sleeping here?" Emilia's voice was full of tenderness, a mixture of exasperation and affection.
"I don't know. I was watching over you last night, and I fell asleep," he confessed, yawning.
"You must be exhausted staying here all night," Emilia said, a trace of annoyance in her voice, though her heart warmed at his care.
"Not tired. Didn't you stay by my side for days before?" he asked, standing and stretching before leaning down, their eyes locking.
"It's truly wonderful to have met you in this life," he whispered. Without waiting for her reply, Uranus kissed her, tenderly and deliberately. Emilia closed her eyes, embracing him in return.
After a moment, they held hands and walked out of the room together. Unbeknownst to them, Natsuki Subaru had spent the entire night watching, and now, witnessing their happiness, he clutched his chest in agony. His heart ached at the sight of them together—indistinguishable from a perfect union.
They had succeeded. Uranus An had achieved his goal. Subaru's Return by Death held no sway here; Uranus An remained unaffected, rendering Subaru powerless.
---
By the afternoon, Subaru wandered through the courtyard like a ghost, watering the flowerbeds with a vacant, broken expression. Nearby, Uranus An and Emilia shared quiet intimacy, completely oblivious to Subaru's presence. Emilia's gaze and heart were entirely consumed by Uranus An; Subaru no longer existed in her world. His mind blank, he didn't know where to turn.
Suddenly, Uranus An appeared behind him.
"Mr. Natsuki Subaru," he called softly, his voice measured and calm. Subaru turned, expression numb, drained of all previous fury.
Previously, seeing Lucien would have ignited fury, yet now, facing him, Subaru felt only emptiness. Uranus An's serene demeanor conveyed one message: Subaru had been hit hard; he was on the verge of giving up.
"There are plenty of beautiful women in this world. You have no reason to fixate on just one. Don't say I didn't give you a chance. You can approach Emilia properly now and see who she chooses," Lucien continued, voice gentle yet firm.
"If she chooses you, I will leave immediately and never interfere again. But if she chooses me, then you should explore the world. There is so much to see beyond here."
For a brief moment, a flicker of hope sparked in Subaru's once-lifeless eyes. Uranus An had presented him a choice, a path forward, yet with clear boundaries.
"Don't think you can use Return by Death to undo all this. As far as I know, your ability only goes back a week at most. You must have noticed I am immune to your power. Besides, you are too weak; it would be far too easy for me to stop you," Lucien added, his voice calm but cutting.
"Go! Express your feelings. Even if you are rejected, it won't matter. At least you tried!"
Without giving Subaru time to respond, Lucien returned back to his 'Uranus' personality as he turned to Emilia, smiling warmly. Subaru hesitated, powerless. He could do nothing; his Return by Death could not alter reality here. Any hope he clung to was utterly shattered.
"Emilia-chan, I like you. From the moment I saw you, I knew you were the heroine. Do I still have a chance?" Subaru's voice trembled with desperate anticipation.
"Natsuki Subaru, I'm sorry," Emilia said firmly, brushing her hair behind her ear before glancing at Uranus An, who stood silently nearby.
"I've never liked you, and I never will. Please, don't hurt Ann again, and don't bother me anymore."
Subaru's chest tightened painfully; Emilia's cold, decisive words crushed the last fragment of hope he had. She didn't wait for a reply. Turning to Uranus An, she walked toward him with absolute certainty.
A sudden, desperate impulse made Subaru speak once more. "That guy isn't a good person, he has other motives—"
"Enough. I don't want to see you again," Emilia snapped, her voice ice-cold. She didn't allow him to continue, her eyes flashing a final, dismissive glance before fully committing to Uranus An.
Subaru clutched his chest, feeling as if his heart had been torn apart. Emilia's final, unwavering gaze plunged him into an abyss of despair, leaving him powerless and broken, while Uranus An quietly held Emilia's hand, a protective and unwavering anchor in her world.
---