[Are you satisfied?]

The voice was as dark and low as the deep sea. It roared as though water had gotten inside her ear. For some reason, her hands were sticky. However, it was so dark around that she couldn’t see anything.

[Are you moving toward the future that you desire?] 

Her eyes gradually became accustomed to the darkness. Only then did she start to see the shape of what was in front of her more clearly. She recognized the man who was lying there with blood around his mouth.

Laslo!

Agnes opened her mouth and yelled his name, but no sound came out. His skin was pale, and his eyes were tightly closed. She quickly listened to his heart with her ears. Sadly, there wasn’t any movement.

Laslo, Laslo!

[When you go against fate, you must pay a price.]

It wasn’t said in a mocking manner. It was said in a more subdued, worried manner.

[Please don’t regret it]

She abruptly came to her senses at the end.

“Ackk”

Agnes’ eyes widened. It took her some time to realize it was all a dream. Everything was so vivid. Since dawn had not yet broken, it was dark everywhere. She looked around hurriedly. After that, she placed her ears above Laslo’s heart. Her surprised heart gradually calmed down when she felt his warm body temperature and stable heart rate.

She carefully slipped out of bed and draped herself in a thick gown. She then went somewhere quiet and began to whisper softly.

“Eugene.”

“I assumed you had forgotten about me because you were so busy.”

She hasn’t seen Eugene in a while, and he appears to be upset. Agnes fixed her gaze on him.

“Is it you?”

“What? Who just showed up in my dream.”

“What nonsense is that? How long has it been since you last called me? I assumed you had forgotten all about me.”

Eugene stretched out his lips and grumbled.

“Is it not you?”

“Did I appear in your dream? Did you wake up and call me right away because you missed me?” He grinned sarcastically.

“But it was so vivid……”

“What kind of dream did you have?” 

“A dream in which Laslo dies.”

“But why did you call me? I did not do anything.”

“I clearly heard your voice in my dream. If you defy fate, you will have to pay a price.”

“That’s correct.”

Even so, Eugene reacted only minimally. Agnes didn’t understand anything.

Was it just a dream?

“Is the price not enough?”

“What were you thinking of?”

“My soul,”

Eugene shook her shoulders and then started laughing.

“Agnes, I see. Although I value your soul highly, it cannot satisfy all of my needs.”

“But.”

“The flow of fate is immense. You can use your hands to change the stream’s direction, but you can’t stop the river from flowing into the sea.”

The dawn is beginning. Through the big window, the sun was visible. Eugene’s face was also clearly visible as the surroundings got brighter.

“It can change its form, but it doesn’t alter its nature. You have no other options.”

Before she could speak the words of rebuttal, Eugene vanished. A buzz was heard behind her back.

“You’re already awake?”

“Laslo, oh. Did I wake you up?”

Laslo trudged in, his eyes half-awake. He naturally wrapped his arms around her waist.

“No, I needed to get up. You weren’t there when I woke up, so I came to find you”

“Hmm.”

Agnes made a vague smile. Eugene’s words and the voice from her dream lingered, complicating her mind. Laslo misread Agnes’s expression and gave her a tighter hug. He whispered in a gentle voice.

“Stop worrying so much. We’ve done everything we can to prepare for military training.”

“Yes.”

“I have acquired information from the Marquis of Sandor, I will win tomorrow.”

Agnes whirled around. She felt Laslo’s strong chest and arms. She noticed a gradual relief from all her concerns as soon as she looked into his deep green eyes. Tens of thousands of soldiers will be gathered tomorrow to battle Sebastian’s forces on the plains of Nofron.

Three years ago, she would not have dared to imagine it.

But she ended up here.

She is only a few steps away from beheading Sebastian and claiming the throne of Nirseg while wearing a crown.

“I understand your concern. However, you have put a lot of effort into this day.”

“Laslo. I’m…” Agnes bit her lip. She experienced nausea as well as a lump in her stomach. She is at a loss for words.

“I have faith in you.”

“…….”

“I’m confident we’ll succeed. I’ll award you a victory.”

He raised her left hand and gave her a kiss on the crest of the king.

“To my king,”

She became enthralled at that point and regained her composure.

King. 

She has worked tirelessly to become King of Nirseg to this day. From not understanding what that word meant to realizing how heavy it is. It is not possible to stop the river from flowing into the sea, but it is possible to predict which river will flow into the sea. In the sunlight, Agnes’ intensely blue eyes shone brilliantly.