Catch up: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

“In fact, Uncle is only a few years older than me,” CX confesses to SJ.

He contracted a disease and was sent to the estate as a child, rarely contacting people. CX only remembers one year he sent his diary here but afraid of the disease, her father burned it.

Last year, Uncle fell critically ill so she was brought back for a few days nearly dying in a fire. When she awoke, it was LS who had saved her.

Wait, that sounds far too familiar but also wrong.

SJ recalls a fire around the same time last year that he’d help someone escape. He’d been on a scouting mission and encountered a young woman inside a burning building. Pulling her outside, he’d vanished, fearing being discovered by people arriving at the scene.

“But why would LS save you?” he asks CX who ends the story with regret in not seeing the true nature of LS.

“LS often came to see CQ. Saving her might have been a coincidence or perhaps divine pity thinking that she shouldn’t die”.

She’d asked him about it later, he really did save her. CX feels compelled to make that last statement after seeing doubt in SJ’s face.

She’s not one to be ungrateful though SJ maintains there’s no reason to be that grateful!

CX smiles, is he jealous?

SJ pulls her into his embrace, each holding tightly onto the other while thinking very different things.

On his end, SJ wonders if she hadn’t mistaken LS as her savior and felt indebted to him, maybe things would’ve ended much better for CX.

For her part, CX can’t help but recall her thought that gratitude and grudges would all end so she could die without fear. But now fear arises from love and she’s afraid to die.

She’s even more afraid of losing him.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

SJ is hard at work trying to locate the real Uncle’s diary. His “brother” is not only suspecting SJ isn’t his brother, but he’s also somehow suspecting SJ’s ties with the annihilated family (SJ’s real murdered family).

He heads to find CX who’s in her room thinking of the encounter she’s just had with her father during which he’d given her a pretty bracelet that showed some sincerity on his end as a father.

She’d sought the man’s care as a child but now it’s too late, she’s grown up.

“If you’re unhappy, you don’t have to marry him,” SJ tells her.

“If I don’t marry him, then whom should I marry?” She interrupts SJ just as he starts to reply. “Think it over before you answer”.

“Marry anyone you like,” he says. CX let out a sigh, she’d honestly thought he’d name himself.

How can she marry anyone else? He’d thought it through when choosing to use her in this scheme, her marriage was the easiest way for their plans to work.

This marriage is both their choice.

SJ had told her once that compared to romance and love, there were far more important things to achieve.

Why’s he asking her if she has regrets and if she’s sure about his?

CX asks SJ if there’s anything else he’d like to tell her. It looks like there’s a lot inside of SJ but all he can get out is that he has two of his men arranged to protect her in LS’ home, five shops he owns are part of her dowry now, and he’ll make sure to prepare the wedding dress she likes. This way, she’ll have status and a fallback when entering LS’ family.

Taking a deep breath for that’s not what she wanted to hear, CX says “You’re a really generous ally”. She looks straight at SJ, eyes filled with disappointment and hurt.

SJ can’t bear seeing her like this, he gets up and leaves.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

CX is alone putting the finishing touches on her wedding makeup inside a room when someone approaches from behind.

She knows it’s CQ, they’ve finally come to this.

CQ reaches towards what she thinks is an unsuspecting CX to place something in her mouth when CX grabs her hand to stop her.

“Do you think that I wouldn’t know what you’re up to?” she quickly puts something in CQ’s mouth instead.

Does CQ think there are any parts of her plans that CX wouldn’t know about ever since Maid L left? Before she knows quite what happened, CQ faints into CX.

Even if their goals are the same, CQ must re-enact the drama of spouses turning on each other for CX. It’s the ultimate payback for what CX endured in the past because of CQ’s actions.

It’s not until after the wedding ceremony when the bride awaits her groom in their wedding suite that CX’s words make sense.

LS approaches his waiting bride with satisfaction at having finally married her. It wasn’t a simple process. He reaches out to raise the veil over her face when a hand goes up to stop him.

“What’s the matter? Feeling shy?” he good-naturedly asks.

There’s no reply, she hands him some wine that he drinks. However, a minute later, his senses dull and he can’t focus.

Barely able to see through a haze, a suddenly cautious LS raises the veil only to see a smiling CX under it.

But that’s what he sees. The wine he drank was spiked, the one he married sitting right next to him is in fact CQ.

So that is what CX meant when she told the unconscious CQ they shared the same goal!

Still thinking he’s with CX, LS takes his bride’s hands in his. “We’re finally husband and wife,” he says with a smile.

She seconds that sentiment actually happy herself. CQ has always loved LS in her way, this moment of happiness he’s showing is far more than she anticipated but all she’s ever dreamed about.

Meanwhile, the real CX still dressed in wedding finery is waiting in the alcove by the beach where SJ has taken her before, a place that can very well be termed as their place.

Hearing SJ approach, she turns with a genuine smile. He’d sent one of his men to get her back from the wedding only to find that she wasn’t the bride of that ceremony.

“You played the villain to get me back from the ceremony, how could I not come? I just escaped first. Every second you were late was tormenting me. Where have you been all this time?” a semi-angry CX demands.

“I’m here now to ask you for an answer,” SJ takes off his top robe to reveal red wedding clothes.

He wants to know if he’s in her heart. Is he merely a tool for her to achieve a means to an end or is he something more?

They both know the answer. But what about their plans, do they still seek revenge?

“I can’t bear to see you marry another nor can I see you frown out of helplessness. I’m so jealous that I want to become every burst of fireworks you like. We can’t just be friends, I want to win your heart. I want to be the only one in your heart,” SJ confesses.

He’d tantalized her so long, he’d better not think of escaping from her heart.

The two share a kiss devoid of doubt and insecurities, one that finally acknowledges their feelings and cannot be claimed as a mistake.

She vowed to marry another but he couldn’t bear to lose her despite their plans

It’s yet another wedding chamber with a bride and groom. Yet this one has CX and SJ seated side by side on the bed as SJ slowly removes her head ornament.

As slowly as he, CX removes her intricate earrings. SJ’s hands reach out pulling her dress off her shoulders enough to reveal the same butterfly tattoo on her chest he’d seen once before.

With a finger, he lightly traces the shape. CX reaches out to pull off his shirt in a similar fashion, revealing the self-inflicted scar on his chest that was borne out of necessity to maintain his false identity as Uncle.

The two smile at each other and slowly close the distance between them in a lovers’ kiss. The rest of the night is theirs.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

Sitting together in a tight embrace still in their wedding chamber, SJ vows when all this is over he’ll take CX across mountains and rivers to see the beautiful world.

If she wants a peaceful life, they can retire to the countryside. No matter what, he’ll stay by her side until death parts them.

CX lovingly smiles, it sounds like he’s thought about those words hundreds of times. She doesn’t know if the future he described will happen or if she fully believes in its possibility. However, she does know that as long as she’s alive, she’ll be his wife loving him.

Soon it’s time to go back and continue the charade, no matter how distasteful it may be. They need to carry this through to start their future.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

Arriving at LS’ residence that morning still wearing her wedding finery, CX storms through the courtyard.

A surprised servant comments on how she should be in the bridal chamber however CX shuts him up and instructs him to lead the way inside.

At CX’s father’s estate at the same time, SJ as Uncle is prepping to move back to his estate since his niece is now married. It would be wrong to continue bothering his “brother”.

The man tries to convince his “brother” to say since CQ isn’t married yet either, however, news interrupts him. Bad news.

CQ left a letter that says she’d marry LS and asked him to leave her be.

Back at LS’ residence, CX bursts through the door of the wedding chamber to find CQ seated next to LS whose hands are covering his face upon having discovered himself awake next to the wrong sister.

“So it’s true. Yesterday I was drugged and lost consciousness. I heard that the one getting married was CQ,” she plays the part of a wronged bride rather well.

Not that it takes a lot of effort, the past LS had divorced her to marry her sister after all. Afterward, he proceeded to burn her alive.

LS’ brother, drawn by the commotion of CX’s storming, comes into the room feigning shock at this misfortune.

Switching brides? Adultery without a wedding? How could LS commit such an indecent act?

With no explanation at hand for he also doesn’t know what the heck happened, LS turns to CQ to demand answers.

But CQ claims not to know, what should she do?

CX addresses LS again demanding he send a divorce letter to her father’s estate and vowing her family won’t cooperate with him anymore in business. He did them dirty after all.

His brother reminds LS their fireworks business just won favor with the nobles, their families can’t give up on cooperation over this trifle!

Hearing that comment makes CX lash out in defense. What trifle? They used her as a stepping stone, shamelessly humiliating her. How can he expect her to work for them? They took everything from her yet won’t let her be.

While they argue, LS starts going around grabbing the incense burner and everything around to sniff because something must have happened, he must have been drugged.

Sure enough, the pot of wine smells funny thus confirming his suspicions.

“You drugged me and clouded my mind!” LS yells accusingly at the still-seated CQ who, for once, appears to be the only “wronged” party.

LS turns to CX begging for understanding since this wasn’t his doing. He’s only wanted to marry her, he’ll make CQ leave to ensure CX’s position.

“LS, how can you be so heartless? If you do this, you’ll humiliate their family,” his brother angrily exclaims. But LS knows what he’ll lose if CX leaves him, her talent is what he craves even though he’s twisted that desire into love.

CX departs in disgust, she doesn’t want to see any of them. Favor one but treat the other as trash. Despise one but treat the other like treasure.

It’s not that someone isn’t good enough but that they’re never worth it.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

“You want to cooperate with me? You’re his wife,” LS’ skeptical brother asks CX who has requested the meeting with him.

“He shared the bed with another woman on the wedding night. What use do I have for a marriage in name only?” CX throws at him convincingly.

Compared to being the wife of the imperial merchant, she’d rather take her compensation and return to her family.

For her plan to work, CX needs to convince LS’ brother that LS is bound to take control of the family and outdo him. The man is nothing but a selfish righteous imbecile, being a puppet is more than he deserves anyways.

When LS gets wind of potential cooperation between CX and his brother (thanks to CQ), he confronts CX.

“We’re married, we should act as one. Do you understand? Don’t forget that I rescued you from the fire. You promised me, swearing on your life, that you’d be devoted to me but what’s this now?” he angrily yells.

He forcefully reaches out but she butts his head with her own. Hard.

Way to use a past kindness to his advantage, this is the man she’d once thought was good and kind and thoughtful.

But CX isn’t fully disappointed by this lashing out. He’s finally showing his true face, it’s been a long time since she saw it.

He lost his loved ones because of her father, how can they continue being together?

CQ walks into the room where a seated CX is mixing different powders and working on one of her firework recipes. LS placed her under house arrest and she’s unable to go anywhere.

CQ has come to gloat. She’s not pretending anymore, showing her true colors. Though CX finds this detestable, it’s also interesting.

“There’s no need to pretend in front of a loser. Seeing you come to this point, I can’t help but feel happy. Uncle won’t be back in a short while, will he? How does it feel having no one to back you up? Is it unpleasant?” CQ’s watching for a reaction.

CX isn’t going to give her anything she desires. “I’m used to it, I’ve come this far over the years by myself”. She also points out to CQ that their family’s shops are now in LS’ control, and the staff changed to his people.

Does she understand what this means?

CQ’s right about one thing, CX is alone. SJ is sent out by his “brother” on an errant business meeting. During the trip, assassins ambush him.

However, SJ is skilled and prepared, he’s not easy to beat.

As the days progress, things are working out relatively well for CX and him. Different people fall into their intricate web one by one.

Even LS gets entangled well enough to warrant dropping their pretense about their romantic relationship in front of him.

Finally, SJ locates someone with insightful information regarding his family’s demise. Unexpectedly, the truth becomes the problem.

It turns out CX’s father colluded with LS’ family to eradicate his family in a united effort brought upon by pure greed.

Upon learning this, SJ resolves not to meet with CX any longer. For her part, she’s confused at his sudden change. They finally got what they wanted, why’s he distancing himself?

Ever since she’s known him, SJ’s always had a response for everything. He’s not an impulsive person, something serious must’ve happened to warrant this response.

She’s not someone who can’t shoulder responsibility, he can tell her what’s bothering him.

“Let’s just end this here, it’s better for you and me,” SJ decisively says rather coldly as he turns away from her.

CX tries to be understanding but SJ resolutely informs her their alliance is over, it’s time to part ways.

They’re so wrapped in their parting and hurt feelings that neither notices CQ’s figure loitering in the dark overhearing SJ’s real name.

She rushes back to her father to ask if he knows this “SJ”. It rings a bell but she can’t place the name.

Her father is surprised to hear of SJ being alive and vows to eradicate the threat he poses to the family.

CQ, on the other hand, can’t wait to gloat in front of CX who loses it entirely for a moment once CQ confirms she knows SJ’s true identity.

In a fit of madness, fear, and desperation, CX grabs CQ by the throat holding her up against a wall nearly choking her before she crushes back onto reality.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

Sure enough, SJ is called into a meeting by his “brother” all the time hyperaware that this won’t be yet another of their fake meetings.

CX interrupts claiming that CQ is slandering their Uncle because of the grudge she bears against her. How could she betray her imperial merchant husband’s family to be with a descendant of a ruined family?

“She slandered me for having an affair to force me to give up my title. Who stands to benefit? Father, you surely know”.

In fact, she and Uncle met SJ at the estate before the day it caught fire. Her father is astonished to hear this.

CX assures him SJ is now dead, killed accidentally by Uncle. She and SJ lead her father to the grave where Uncle buried the alleged SJ.

It seems the man believes them, at least for now. After he leaves, CX turns to SJ to ask if her father’s involvement is why he wants to end their relationship.

He confirms her father was the mastermind, he was the one who insisted on extermination.

CX pulls out a paper, “This is the formula given by LS as promised. And embedded in this floral jasper pendant is my own salt-pepper formula that originally held our future”.

Meetings lead to partings, this is as far as they can go.

Maybe there’s redemption in the next life, maybe one or two lives aren’t enough

LS pays CX a visit to her room. He’s back to his amicable self now that he’s had some profit so he tries to convey to her they’re on the same boat, and they can team up.

“I read the letters between CQ and your father. They still have doubts about Uncle’s identity. So who is he exactly?” But CX isn’t forthcoming, she gets up to leave.

Stopping her departure, LS once more tries to appeal to their shared woe. As younger children, neither of them had any hope of inheriting the family business. They were subjected to neglect and grievance, having to get used to it.

Without plans to profit, LS would have nothing to his name. He’d thought she of all people would understand this struggle to prove oneself.

“Don’t lump me together with you. You always pretend to be forced in business as well as in marriage and inheritance. Why should I be considerate towards you?” CX replies.

When she was truly considerate of him, how did he treat her?

But LS doesn’t fully understand, even though CX is drawing from his behavior in the past, he has no recollection of what his past self did. Of course, the present version isn’t too far from the past one.

He threatens CX she’ll never see SJ again. He’s given her his all and, yet, for SJ she acts recklessly, truly inconsiderate of consequences. Has she fallen in love with him?

It’s none of his business. CX finally departs leaving a disappointed LS wondering how she can be so heartless.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

As soon as CX heads out, LS not too far behind, she’s greeted at the doors by her father, CQ, and a bunch of their men.

“Where is SJ now? Take us to him,” her father commands. Seeing her silent, he attempts to appeal to her as a father.

“CX, it’s hard to tell right from wrong, but I’m closer to you than him. You should know what is more important!”

He’s right, there’s no absolute good or bad but there is good and evil.

It’s impossible for him to use her to find SJ.

“Is he that important to you?” LS wonders.

“He’s not important to me at all,” CX resolutely denies. “It’s more important for me to prevent you from getting what you want”.

CQ taunts her by revealing their father doesn’t only want SJ’s whereabouts. Doesn’t her sister want to know if he’d risk his life for her?

“I’m afraid your calculations will come to nothing. He will not surrender himself for me. He will do what he intends to do, no matter what,” CX calmly informs them.

CQ, however, isn’t convinced her sister is easily abandoned. Once there’s a soft spot, there are some things one is willing to give up.

The men grab CX taking her inside to set up the trap for SJ. For his part, SJ quickly heads to where he’s informed CX is kept despite also being told it’s purely a trap.

“Let her go, I’ve come alone. To kill or to maim, I’m yours to do as you please,” hands raised, he slowly approaches CX’s father who’s standing next to a man holding a sword at CX’s neck. Her face is covered with a black clothe.

CX’s father proposes an exchange, a life for a life. Yet SJ is highly observant and suspects foul play.

He’s right to suspect since the one dressed as CX is but a decoy assassin. Once this is revealed, all assassins attack the single SJ.

Though skilled and strong, SJ is still one man against many and gets injured. Just as they round upon him, CX rides straight at them on a horse.

She sets off explosives towards the group of assassins and then rescues SJ.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

CX had been kept in a room by herself while her father planned his trap for SJ the night before but LS had paid an impromptu visit.

“Ever since I met you, I’ve become increasingly greedy because no one ever told me before they’d give their all for me. After that, I wanted even more. I can’t do more without you, however, I don’t know when you became a different person,” he starts as he crouches next to where she’s tied.

It’s like she can predict every thought of his. Every step tells him what he wants is what he shouldn’t have. Even the affection she once had for him, he couldn’t attain.

“What you can obtain or should have is up to your hands,” CX tells him, “But the deceit and exploitation you employ to satisfy your desires make some things beyond your reach even in death. Your greatest weakness is loving yourself so much that it surpasses everything. If every step is left in your discretion, it’ll make the one giving her heart to you doomed to destruction and buried in a sea of flames”.

Can his consciousness bear such satisfaction?

LS knew from the moment she was willing to risk her life to save him, that she was in love with him. He also knew that he could no longer have her love. Having decided on his actions, he reaches over to untie her.

He discloses the location where they plan to trap and kill SJ. As thanks for this small mercy, CX hands him the salt-pepper containing the formula he’d desired enough to kill her in their past life to attain.

This is the first time she’s smiled at LS without mockery or scoffing, a true smile from the heart. LS can’t stop thinking of the moment, at least until CQ shows up to inform him that his act of mercy was him sending CX to her death.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

Sure enough, CX and JS ended up at the bottom of a cliff somewhat injured but alive.

They were hunted by the assassins from every direction, jumping down the cliff was a means to survival.

SJ is concerned about her since withstanding the fall wasn’t too difficult for him. However, CX ensures him she’s fine.

“When you were exiled in the past, where you hunted time after time? You’ve survived before by jumping off like this?” CX looks down in sorrow.

Besides “sorry” what else can she say? What else can she do? It’s because of her father that he lived like this.

But SJ assures her she’s got nothing to apologize for, it wasn’t her fault.

It’s so dangerous being around him yet he still wants to keep her by his side. Now he’s thought it through, even if she’s his enemy’s daughter, he wants to grow old with her.

CX suddenly faints, and SJ discovers she’s poisoned.

“I just know that if it were me dying, you’d do the same. I’ve lived twice but hatred and unwillingness drove me forward. Your concern and warmth made me stop,” she tries to reach for his hand. “With this love, I’m so happy. My life hasn’t been in vain”.

Those are her last words before a veil of darkness engulfs her.

He reveals the role he’s played in her life and promises to always be her fallback

Two strangers are standing beside her, wordlessly looking at her with concern in a world devoid of color.

She asks who they are but they leave the room without an answer. CX follows them suddenly needing to know their identity.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

Meanwhile, an unconscious CX is lying on a bed, SJ by her side lovingly holding her hand telling her some things about her past she never knew.

She’s not her father’s daughter. Her real parents were skilled fireworks artists who originally worked for the man.

When disaster befell SJ’s family, they witnessed the evil deeds of her “father” and were brutally murdered. At the time, she was still a child with no memories so the man kept her by his side for his benefit.

She was never an unloved and abandoned child. Her real parents had loved her very much and he’s always going to be there for her.

It wasn’t LS who saved her from the fire in the estate a few years back. That was the event that made her grateful to the man, a gratefulness that turned into admiration and love before becoming deep-rooted hatred.

SJ was the one who pulled her out that day.

After the second and last fire that ended her past life, there was something she didn’t know. She wasn’t aware of what happened after she died.

SJ was the one who avenged her, the one who rushed to the scene and confronted LS right outside the burning building.

“I’ve another niece. I hear she married you but you killed her. Is that true?” He’d posed that question while holding a bloody sword by LS’ neck. SJ killed him the moment the cowardly man denied it.

He was still acting as Uncle during that time in the past life but he’d felt comradeship with his fake niece for the injustices they both suffered in that isolated estate.

SJ’s last words to her in that terrible scene were an honest wish that in her next life, she wouldn’t suffer again and be born into a good family.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

In that world of no color, CX finally catches up to the couple in the woods. She somehow can hear SJ’s words from the other side, she knows the strangers in front of her are her forgotten parents.

They urge her to go back. Regretfully and amidst tears, CX promises she’ll live well.

She originally thought her life would be tiring and short. She’d never expected that this life would be so beautiful and long.

Crying, she waves goodbye to them as the colorless world fades away.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

CX wakes up calling SJ’s name. She reaches for him, “It’s really you! Turns out the lifesaving gratitude I held was misdirected, and the person who saved me and cherished me in the past and present lives has always been you”.

He’d been gathering information the day he saved her from the fire when he heard someone calling for help and couldn’t bear leaving them to perish.

SJ confesses it wasn’t until the day they met at the estate that he realized the person he’d saved was CX. But she hadn’t remembered him, attributing his kindness to someone else.

“How could I have willingly given up my whole life for misdirected gratitude?” a teary CX wonders at her foolishness.

“It’s not too late to realize now,” SJ assures her.

She’s so afraid of losing him. His kindness told her not to drown in regret and resentment. It awakened her and kept her alive.

Perhaps it’s divine mercy that enabled them to end together, their sufferings testament to being wronged.

“If all the heartbreaking agony can bring you to me, then I’ll happily endure,” CX lovingly tells him.

The two share a kiss and embrace. So many obstacles yet they promise to be together for life, never to betray.

It’s time to bring things to an end for better or for worse

Despite making it through the last near-death experience, CX still fears another calamity.

There’s only a month left until the date when she died in her past life. Accidents keep happening and she doesn’t know if she can get through this safely.

“What’s on your mind?” SJ asks as he approaches CX’s pensive figure.

Her injury has healed, it’s time to head back and finish what they started. There’s no way she’s letting him go by himself, how could she live alone if he died?

SJ tries to make CX understand that ever since she entered his heart, the sword has become heavier with his hesitation.

He’s no longer alone and ready to throw his life away to complete his mission because he wants to protect himself and their future.

“Though I can’t be compared with a sword and my frame may be small, I have strong muscles. I can be your human shield,” she takes SJ’s hand.

“If you need a hand, I’ll be your assistant. If you need my heart, I’ll give you my true heart,” SJ guides her hand to his chest over his heart.

How can he bear to lose a hand and be heartbroken?

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

Justice is finally at hand. The man who once acted as CX’s father is found guilty and set to be executed with his properties confiscated.

LS is to be exiled three thousand miles away. SJ’s family has suffered but given their unwavering dedication, their position as the imperial merchant and mansion will be restored.

Somewhere in a dark cell inside the prison, a cloaked figure is placing something inside the cell where CX’s fake father is wrapped in a ball. Recognizing the figure to be CX, the man calls out in desperation.

“I beg you, let me out. I can give you treasure and banknotes, I beg you to let me out!”

“Do you think you can cover up the evidence and truth every time? Everything leaves a trace, your crimes are unforgivable,” she coldly replies.

“If I hadn’t taken you in back then, you’d have died. You owe me your life you ungrateful wretch! You owe me! You should pay it back,” he yells.

CX looked down at what she was placing inside the cell. It’s a memorial tablet bearing the names of the man’s victims.

Looking around, he realizes all the things inside the cell are memorial tablets, all with names of those who died by his hand. He yells out in fear and falls back.

“You’re not CX are you?” he whispers looking at the woman in front of him as though she’s a phantasm.

“The CX you manipulated has long been dead,” she replies. “I’ve avenged all grudges and resentment. From now on, I won’t take orders from anyone nor do I want to lose anyone again”.

He should go to the netherworld to atone for his sins. She departs, leaving the evil men surrounded by the memorial tablets of the ghosts he created.

ꕤ • ꕤ ◦ ꕤ • ꕤ

SJ’s family’s home is finally open and available to him. Today is his and CX’s official wedding day.

The two have been through two lifetimes, plenty of danger, and tragic deaths. They relied on each other and found peace together.

A sweet and painful forbidden love turned into a lifetime of happiness.

The end.