Hearts Intertwined

The banquet concluded, and the evening transitioned into its latter half.

Long tables were moved to the sides, their previous feasts replaced by cakes and other post-dinner sweets.

The orchestra on the second floor began to play a lively waltz, drawing all the guests onto the central dance floor, where men and women gracefully paired up to dance.

Fú Nī Yà, too, finally found a moment to rest.

She ventured into the front courtyard, settling on the edge of the fountain, and gazed up at the sky.

The sky of the Iyetta Prime Material Plane was unlike that of Earth.

Three moons, each a different hue, hung suspended in the heavens, serving as the divine realms of the three Goddesses of Fate: Atropos, the Scarlet Moon; Clotho, the Azure Moon; and Lachesis, the Faded Moon.

Legend held that this world, like Earth, once possessed only a single moon, and but one Goddess of Fate, known as Luna, the Pure White Moon.

Regrettably, the power of fate proved too enigmatic, and the gods themselves wished not for their destinies to be spied upon, influenced, or altered.

Thus, the Godfall War erupted, and Goddess Luna perished, transforming into the three goddesses seen today, simultaneously dividing the moon into three.

The faint strains of music from indoors drifted into Fú Nī Yà’s ears, and within the maiden’s mind, certain dance-related memories subconsciously surfaced.

‘Elves are a race of artists, and half-elves, naturally, inherit such talents.’

In her memories, her past self often sang and danced with her companions.

“Speaking of companions…”

Fú Nī Yà’s brow furrowed in distress.

After days spent understanding this world, she had discovered that her former organization, Aethelina’s House, was located in the Kingdom of Zealand.

That kingdom was also a human nation, situated to the west of Lohiris, and perpetually at odds with Lohiris.

It had even actively allied with the lizardfolk to the southeast of the Empire to counter Lohiris, perfectly exemplifying what it meant to have ‘flexible kin’.

‘Only those under my rule are truly my kin; those not under my rule, what concern is it of mine if they all die?’

Consequently, finding her companions from Aethelina’s House presented an immense challenge for Fú Nī Yà in her current state.

“Alas… I suppose I’ll have to wait until I grow stronger…”

Fú Nī Yà sighed helplessly.

Once she became a legend, such endeavors would be far simpler.

The maiden listened to the music emanating from inside, appreciating the night sky.

Slowly, an idea began to blossom within her.

‘A little dance shouldn’t hurt, should it…’

Fú Nī Yà thought, then glanced around, and after confirming no one was peeking, she gracefully lifted her skirt, drawing upon the knowledge of music and dance stored in her mind, and began to twirl under the moonlight.

The maiden executed light, nimble steps, her long gown unfurling like a black lily blooming beneath the moon’s glow.

****

Meanwhile, Albert, having stepped out of the hall during a lull, intending to speak with Fú Nī Yà, happened to witness this very scene.

Watching the maiden dance so elegantly, he decided not to interrupt for the moment, choosing instead to wait until Fú Nī Yà had finished.

Time gradually passed, and as a piece of music concluded inside, Fú Nī Yà too ceased her steps, her gaze lowered, and offered a curtsy to the empty space before her.

Clap, clap—!

Then, Albert’s applause abruptly pulled Fú Nī Yà from her artistic reverie.

“Who’s there!?”

Fú Nī Yà exclaimed in alarm.

‘Someone saw me dancing… What kind of mortifying spectacle is this!?’

“It’s me.”

Albert replied, stepping out of the shadows while still clapping.

“That was quite good, Fú Nī Yà.”

Upon hearing this, Fú Nī Yà’s previously panicked face instantly flushed crimson—not only had someone seen her, but that someone was Albert, an acquaintance… The maiden suddenly felt like slitting her own throat.

After a long moment, Fú Nī Yà finally calmed down, stammering out a question.

“Y-y-you, what are you doing here, Albert?”

“Me?… I came to talk to you about some things.” Albert, clearly noticing the maiden’s embarrassment, grinned mischievously.

“You dance very well, Fú Nī Yà.”

“Forget about it!”

Fú Nī Yà cried out, losing her composure.

“Alright, alright~ I’ll forget about it.”

Albert shrugged, then, looking at Fú Nī Yà, he added with genuine sentiment.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve spoken like this, hasn’t it, since that day?”

Fú Nī Yà stiffened at his words, then mumbled.

“There’s nothing for us to talk about…”

“No, there’s much we need to discuss.”

“Like what!?”

“First, I want to apologize for my thoughtless actions that day.”

Albert spoke with earnest sincerity, causing Fú Nī Yà to widen her eyes in surprise.

“A-apologize…?”

“Yes, apologize. I spoke without considering your feelings that day, making you feel insulted, and that was my fault. Secondly, I harbored thoughts of killing you that day, and for that, I also owe you an apology.”

“Oh, that… I’ve never blamed you for your actions that day.” Fú Nī Yà offered a helpless, faint smile, shaking her head as she spoke.

“You’ve received such an education since childhood; it’s only natural to have discriminatory attitudes towards other races. As for wanting to kill me… since I knew your secret, I can understand your reasoning.”

“Then why have you been so cold towards me, and towards Aila, these past few days?”

Albert asked, puzzled.

“Because we are fundamentally different; the more familiar we become, the deeper our feelings, the more painful it will be when we inevitably have to part ways.” Fú Nī Yà then offered an example.

“Just like your attitude towards barbarians, Albert; I can understand it, but that doesn’t mean I will accept it. The world in my heart is not the same as the one you perceive.”

“Not the same… Then, what kind of world is in your heart, Fú Nī Yà?”

“The world in my heart, you ask…”

Fú Nī Yà mused, suddenly feeling a little ache in her legs from standing, so she took a few steps to a nearby patch of grass and sat down with her knees together, then beckoned to Albert.

Albert joined her on the grass, sitting cross-legged beside Fú Nī Yà.

The maiden then spoke.

“The world in my heart should be fair, filled with love, and one where everyone can find happiness.”

“That’s impossible.” Albert shook his head, stating definitively.

Society, by its very nature, was a construct built upon the suffering of the vast majority.

The strong thrived within it, while the weak could only cower in the gutters, awaiting death.

“Impossible… is it?” Fú Nī Yà lowered her head, her golden hair obscuring her profile, her voice tinged with bitterness.

“But Albert, if society is so useless, why did people initially need it?”

“Why?”

This question caught Albert off guard; he had never considered such a thing before.

However, Fú Nī Yà hadn’t expected Albert to grasp it instantly, so she continued.

“I have a thought about it—before society existed, humans faced nature alone. And nature at that time presented harsh environments, savage beasts, and profound loneliness… So, to resist the suffering inflicted by nature, people began to spontaneously gather, forming societies to help each other. What do you think of this explanation, Albert?”

After mentally reviewing Fú Nī Yà’s explanation, Albert nodded.

“Logically speaking, I believe what you’ve said is sound.”

“So, setting aside how society came to cause suffering, it was initially established to bring happiness to people, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was.”

Seeing Albert’s honesty, Fú Nī Yà couldn’t help but reveal a faint smile, her gaze at Albert filled with cunning.

“So, if I want society to return to its original form, is there a problem with that?”

“This…”

Albert wanted to retort, but facing the maiden’s smile, he found himself unable to utter such words.

Ultimately, he could only shrug helplessly.

“Then, I suppose you’re right.”

“What do you mean, ‘I suppose I’m right’!?” Fú Nī Yà puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction.

“I *am* right!”

“Alright, alright, you are indeed right…” Faced with the maiden’s displeasure, Albert quickly raised his hands in surrender.

“Then, what exactly is this happy world you speak of?”

“What kind, you ask… A world where everyone can live without want through their labor, where everyone has enough time to rest after their work, where everyone can freely express their opinions to others, where all races treat members of other races as siblings, where all children receive an education, and all elders receive care. I believe a happy society should be like this.”

“You said *all*?”

“All.”

Albert couldn’t help but frown.

“The standard of living you’re describing alone is comparable to that of minor nobles, let alone everything else.”

In an instant, Albert had mentally labeled Fú Nī Yà’s idea as ‘impossible’.

“But I believe it can be achieved.”

“How?”

“For example… what if everyone could use battle aura and magic?” Fú Nī Yà tapped her finger lightly on her lips, pondering.

“Albert, consider this: if everyone possessed battle aura, wouldn’t people be able to accomplish more work in a given time? If everyone could use magic—even just the simplest zero- and first-circle spells—wouldn’t everything be much more convenient?”

“You’d use battle aura and magic for *that*?”

Albert retorted, exasperated.

The thought of dock porters, surging with battle aura, moving cargo in the future filled him with an immense sense of absurdity.

“It’s better than now, isn’t it?” Fú Nī Yà said, pouting.

“Currently, battle aura and magic are purely tools for creating suffering. If things continue like this, then it would be better if this world had no battle aura or magic at all! At least the wars in your previous life wouldn’t have caused so many casualties!”

“…”

Albert fell silent at her words.

Indeed, the reason for the massive casualties among the various nations on the continent in his previous life was entirely due to the overwhelmingly destructive power of the gods.

Before the Godfall War, national armies would at most sack a city after conquering it.

During the Godfall War and the subsequent religious wars, the gods descending from the divine realm could level an entire city with a single attack.

That bleak future, compared to the vision Fú Nī Yà painted, was simply too dark.

After his rebirth, Albert had considered many ways to avert that dark future, but his limit was merely to unify Lohiris as quickly as possible and then use his past life’s experience to strengthen their forces.

He simply couldn’t do more.

He couldn’t even guarantee Lohiris’s prosperity with absolute certainty.

Because Lohiris was located in the center of the continent, it was difficult for it not to become a battleground for various factions.

He looked at Fú Nī Yà, who was now gazing earnestly at him; through her clear eyes, Albert seemed to catch a glimpse of that happy future.

His breath quickened involuntarily.

Should he grasp the future the maiden described?

…Why not?

It couldn’t be worse than the future he had already experienced, could it?

After a long silence, Albert sighed.

“Fú Nī Yà, you once said you hoped that one day, I would save others for a more compassionate reason, didn’t you?”

“Yes…”

Fú Nī Yà nodded in affirmation.

She had indeed thought so.

It was just a pity that Albert had not broken free from the gravitational pull of his noble upbringing.

He was a peculiar noble, but a noble nonetheless.

However, in the next second, Albert’s words completely took the maiden by surprise.

“Let’s reconcile.”

Albert extended his right hand to Fú Nī Yà, a smile gracing his face.

“You don’t need to worry that we’ll part ways one day, because I also want to see how far this path you speak of can lead… So, Fú Nī Yà, will you take me with you?”

“…Why?”

“Because no future could be worse than the one I’ve already lived through, so I want to try the future you envision, if I may?”

“…”

Fú Nī Yà first looked at Albert in astonishment, and after somewhat comprehending his words, she too couldn’t help but break into a smile.

She didn’t understand why Albert would make such a decision.

Yet, she found she simply couldn’t refuse Albert’s request.

Thus, the maiden tightly clasped Albert’s outstretched hand.

“Of course I will.” As she spoke, Fú Nī Yà’s face uncontrollably took on a blush.

“In fact, it would be wonderful to walk towards that future with you, Albert.”

“I too wish to see that future you speak of, Fú Nī Yà, together with you.”

Albert said, speaking from the heart.

Then, he scratched his cheek with a hint of self-doubt.

“If there are any areas where I fall short, please, Fú Nī Yà, help me correct them.”

“That goes without saying.”

The maiden nodded.