...
"And also, Ida!"
Harald's voice unconsciously softened, carrying a trembling anticipation: "Once everything settles down and Elbaf truly becomes stable…
Just like when we were young, we'll sail the seas together, then go see the cherry blossoms in your hometown, watch the auroras in North Blue, visit all those places we only ever heard about in stories…"
After finishing, Harald brought up the unfulfilled promise: "I've already convinced most of the elders… Once this matter is handled properly!
I'll officially announce that you'll become my legitimate wife. Just wait a little longer, okay?"
Ida listened, a gentle and contented smile always on her face.
"You've always wanted to make me your proper wife, how cute~!"
Ida laughed. With Harald by her side now, the pain in her body didn't seem so bad anymore.
She wanted to say more, but her strength had clearly reached its limit.
Ida managed to nod with effort, her voice growing even fainter and blurrier: "Still have to… wait a bit more… right…?"
She seemed to want to say something more about that "future," but Ida no longer had the energy.
It was as if she used up her last bit of strength to lean her head back against the pillow, her gaze somewhat unfocused as she looked toward the gray sky outside the window.
Yet the corner of Ida's mouth still held that heart-wrenching smile.
"Listening to it… sounds so wonderful…"
She was practically whispering with her breath: "I'm really… looking forward to it…"
"Me too!"
Harald immediately responded, his voice choked. He could no longer hold back and finally, ever so carefully, placed his rough, massive hand gently over Ida's thin, ice-cold one.
However, the instant his fingertips touched Ida's skin…
That hand lost its last trace of supporting strength and softly, silently fell away.
The smile on Ida's face froze, her eyes gently closed as if she had merely fallen asleep.
But the faint rise and fall of her chest completely stopped.
The forced smile on Harald's face instantly stiffened. Then, an immense, world-collapsing emptiness swept over him.
He stared blankly at Ida's peaceful features. A few seconds later, he suddenly realized what had happened.
"I… Ida?" He called tentatively, softly.
No response.
"Ida!" He raised his volume, panic creeping in.
Still silence.
Harald suddenly covered his face with both hands. His towering body hunched over, scalding tears pouring out like a bursting dam from between his fingers, dripping onto Ida's already cold hand.
Hearing his father's anguished cry, Hajrudin—who had been waiting outside the door—rushed in.
This young giant, now grown into a brave warrior, froze like he had been struck by lightning the moment he saw his mother's smiling yet lifeless face. Then, scalding tears poured from his reddened eyes like broken strings of beads…
He threw himself to the bedside, knelt on the ground, and let out suppressed, heart-rending sobs.
The others in the room—the doctors, the maids—all shed silent tears.
This kind, cheerful outsider woman who had warmed so many corners of Elbaf in her own way quietly passed away while dreaming of the most beautiful future.
And at that very moment, without any warning, the sky over Elbaf began to fill with swirling, pure white goose-feather snow.
The snowflakes fell silently, blanketing the mountains, forests, and villages, as if heaven and earth were also donning plain white robes in silent mourning for this woman's passing.
The light curtain switched scenes.
Deep within the royal castle, in the cold stone chamber used for "confinement and reflection."
Loki leaned against the rough stone wall, arms crossed over his chest, eyes closed.
There was no expression on his face, but his tightly pressed lips and slightly furrowed brows revealed the unrest in his heart.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, Loki lifted his head. It was as though he could feel through the thick stone walls that something vitally important outside… had vanished.
He pressed his lips together even harder, his jawline taut…
He knew.
Though no one came to tell him, though high walls and prohibitions separated them.
He just knew—that person who would smile and call him "Loki-kun," who would quietly prepare meals for him, who cared for him in a motherly way, whom he awkwardly called "outsider old lady"…
His only mother…
Was gone.
From now on, the last flicker of warmth supporting his heart had been extinguished.
The light curtain slowly faded on the image of Loki's straight back in the cold prison cell.
The shadow of the light curtain had not yet fully dissipated, and the oppressive, sorrowful atmosphere in God Valley continued to spread.
Harald remained immersed in Ida's passing and the painful future of Loki, his massive body slightly hunched as if crushed by an invisible weight.
And just then…
"Dad!!"
A clear, youthful voice filled with urgent concern rang out from the direction of the forest at the edge of the battlefield.
Immediately after came a gentle yet equally anxious female voice: "Harald!"
These two voices cut through the thick dark clouds like sunlight, causing Harald—who had been sunk in grief—to shudder violently!
He turned his head slowly, as if unable to believe his ears, tears still glistening in his enormous eyes.
The pirates and Marines in God Valley all turned to look as well. When they saw the three figures emerging from the forest edge, time seemed to freeze in that moment.
In the middle walked Ida, a gentle smile on her face but her eyes filled with worry!
She now looked far healthier than in the light curtain when she was gravely ill—rosy complexion, bright eyes.
On her left was Hajrudin, already showing the early form of a young giant, his expression steady yet tinged with tension.
On her right was the purple-haired boy who filled Harald with both heartache and guilt—shouldering a warhammer, his face carrying a bit of stubbornness and awkwardness… Loki!
His family right before his eyes! Not memories beside a cold future tombstone, not a dying illusion on a sickbed!
"I… Ida? Hajrudin? Loki?!"
Harald's voice trembled uncontrollably. The figures of the three were reflected in his enormous pupils, filled with incredulous ecstasy and immense confusion.
After a few seconds of stunned silence, an explosive surge of joy erupted like a volcano!
Harald let out a low roar mixed with sobs and relief, striding forward—practically charging!
He stretched out his massive arms, carefully yet with incredible force pulling his wife and two sons into his broad embrace…
Burying his face among them, Harald's scalding tears surged again—but this time, they were tears of overwhelming joy!
"That's great… that's great!"
Harald repeated incoherently, his huge body trembling slightly from excitement.
This sudden family reunion scene left everyone inside and outside God Valley dumbfounded.
The audience who had just been sighing over the future tragedy now stared wide-eyed, filled with confusion.
How could Ida and the others be here? Weren't they supposed to be in distant Elbaf?
Just then, another tall and burly figure emerged from the forest, wearing a Marine justice cloak.
His expression was serious, his gaze sharp, each step carrying the steadiness and power of a soldier.
...