Weeks passed, and life in the Empire slowly returned to normal. The palace began to recover, and so did the people, little by little. The heavy tension that once filled the air dissipated, leaving a newfound sense of relief and peace. The Empire was finally free, yet here I was, standing at the edge of uncertainty, feeling as if I was suspended between two worlds. An unshakable insecurity had taken hold of me. Do I truly belong here? Everyone saw me as Empress Celestia, but in truth, I was not her. I was Adil-a woman from a different world, trapped in this body and life that never felt like my own.

What am I supposed to do now? Should I go on living this life, pretending to be someone I'm not? I let out a soft sigh, unable to silence the whirlwind of thoughts swirling inside me. Everyone around me was moving on, finding peace, yet I felt like I was bound by invisible chains, weighed down by my own emotions and memories. Thoughts of my former life haunted me, filling me with an unsettling confusion. Should I slip away from this world, leave without a trace, and return to my true self, even if no one noticed? I bit my lip, feeling a pang in my heart. And then, the ache deepened as my mind drifted to Isaac.

Isaac. The very thought of him made my chest tighten with sorrow. I wiped away the tears that had begun to spill down my cheeks, but they continued to fall. I loved him, and the thought of choosing between him and my past life left me torn in two. If I decided to stay here, to embrace this life as Celestia... what would happen to the person I once was? Could I simply let my past self fade away, as though it never existed? I had cherished that life, valued it so deeply. How could I let it go?

I had once thought this choice would be easy, that my heart would lead me to an answer without hesitation. But I was mistaken. This decision felt impossibly hard, like trying to move a mountain with bare hands.

"Wife?" the soft sound of my husband's voice broke through my turmoil, pulling me back to the present. I quickly composed myself, wiping away the last of my tears. But a shiver ran through me as I felt his warm hand resting gently on my waist, grounding me in that single touch. "What's wrong?" he asked, his tone filled with concern as he reached up to tilt my face toward him, his fingers gentle against my chin. I bit my lip as my gaze met his, struggling to hide the sadness in my eyes. His brow furrowed as he noticed the traces of tears. "Did you... cry?" he asked, his voice softer, filled with worry. There was a warmth in his eyes that I could no longer ignore-a tenderness I hadn't allowed myself to fully believe in before. Would he understand?

I parted my lips, the words fighting to escape, but they felt too heavy to say. I took a shaky breath, trying to gather the courage to speak, and finally, I whispered, "I... I am not Celestia," the confession barely escaped my lips, each word trembling, laced with a sorrow I could no longer hide. His brow relaxed, the initial shock fading, replaced by a gentle, understanding smile. He cupped my face, his thumbs brushing softly along my cheeks.

"I know," he murmured, his voice calm and assured.

I blinked in surprise, my brows knitting together in confusion as his words registered. Had he truly said that? He... knew?

My eyes widened, my heart pounding as realization sank in. "Y-you knew?" I stammered, my voice cracking with emotion, disbelief coating every word. How long had he known? And... how could he possibly have known all this time?

Tumango siya, naalarma ako nang umalis siya sa aking harapan. I watched him closely as he walked over to his desk, opening a drawer and retrieving a small, worn book. He looked back at me, his expression unreadable, before returning to stand in front of me, extending the book towards me. My brows furrowed in confusion as I took it. As I opened it, I discovered... nothing. The pages were completely blank. I looked at him, my confusion deepening, and he smiled gently.

"There's nothing for you to see," he said, his voice calm, "but I see everything. That book... it holds your life story, Adil," his gaze held mine, unwavering and filled with a depth that made my heart pound faster. "I've known about you from the very beginning," he revealed, his voice soft but certain. "You are not Celestia... you are Adil."

I gasped, instinctively glancing back at the book, flipping through its empty pages. No matter how hard I looked, nothing appeared. My fingers trembled as I closed the book, raising my gaze to meet Isaac's once more.

"You know who I am... and yet, you accepted me?" I asked, my voice a mixture of bewilderment and vulnerability. How could he welcome someone he knew wasn't truly his wife? He looked at me quietly for a moment, a hint of sadness lingering in his eyes. Gently, he took the book from my hands and set it aside on a nearby chair before facing me again.

"When I was a child, I admired Celestia," he began, his tone soft, as if recalling a distant memory. "I made a promise to myself that one day, I would marry her," he confessed, his voice calm yet weighted. His words tugged at my heart, a pang of guilt settling deep within me. He had truly cared for her.

"I waited... held onto that hope as we both grew up. But the Celestia I knew as a child changed; she became someone different from what I had expected," he continued, his gaze distant. "Still, I tried to convince myself, determined to keep my promise. But then... everything changed. She died, and somehow, you brought her back to life without anyone realizing it-except me. I noticed the subtle differences, the way you carried yourself, the details of your life." He paused, as if grappling with his own emotions. "At first, I struggled to accept you, knowing you were not Celestia but a different soul inhabiting her body. Yet, as time went on, you became someone... irreplaceable. You breathed life back into my world. Gradually, I learned to accept you, and eventually, I came to love you." His words pierced through me, filling my chest with a raw, overwhelming ache. Tears welled in my eyes, spilling over before I could stop them. He had every reason to turn me away, yet he chose not to.

"Hush, my love. Please don't cry," he murmured, gently brushing his fingers along my cheek, wiping away the tears. His touch was tender, soothing. I pressed my lips together, trying to hold back my sobs. "So... you knew I could go back to my former life?" I asked, meeting his gaze, seeking answers in his steady eyes.

He looked back at me, his expression resolute. "Whatever decision you make, I will support you," he whispered, his words like a balm to my heart. Unable to contain my emotions, I broke into uncontrollable sobs, overwhelmed by his kindness, his willingness to let me go.

He pulled me close, wrapping me tightly in his arms, and I clung to him, my heart breaking beneath the weight of his selflessness. I looked up at him, only to see his own eyes reddening, glistening with unshed tears. The sight of his sorrow pierced through me, twisting my heart in ways I couldn't bear. What should I do? Should I stay, even if it meant denying a part of myself? Or should I choose my former life, selfishly leaving him behind to fulfill my own desires?

I pressed my lips together, swallowing down my despair. "What should I do?" I asked, my voice trembling with desperation, pleading for guidance. He offered me a soft, reassuring smile. "It isn't wrong to choose yourself," he said gently. "Be free, my love."

Those words broke something within me, and I found myself sobbing all over again. Closing the distance between us, I cupped his face and pressed my lips to his in a deep, desperate kiss. If this world was truly beyond my understanding, if I would never belong... I knew one thing for certain-I would never forget him. Not Isaac, not his love.

"Thank you..." I whispered between our kisses. He responded tenderly, his lips soft and gentle, pouring all his unspoken feelings into that embrace. If this was truly our last day together, I would cherish every moment, holding each second close to my heart.

We spent those hours together, wrapped in each other's arms, feeling the warmth and love we shared, imprinting every touch, every whispered word into memory.

Then, the day came when I had to say goodbye. I stood before him, my heart breaking with each step I took away. I turned back once, just in time to see the tears streaming down his face. He didn't try to stop me-he let me go, honoring my choice.

I finally boarded the carriage bound for the Vassal Kingdom, wanting to spend my remaining days with them. Although we don't see each other often, they've become precious to me over time. The journey was quiet, and I watched the landscape pass by, feeling the weight of each mile bringing me closer to a bittersweet farewell.

The day before we arrived, my parents were already waiting for me at the gates. They welcomed me with open arms, embracing me tightly, their warmth seeping into my soul. I knew I would miss this more than anything.

"Why do you look sad, sweetheart?" my mother asked, her voice soft with concern. I gave her a reassuring smile and shook my head, hugging her tightly. I could hear my father and brother chuckling in the background, teasing me for being like a child again, seeking my mother's comfort. Their laughter filled the air, and the palace seemed to come alive with the love and joy that only family could bring.

The atmosphere was so warm, so full of life. Their love was boundless, and for a moment, I was wrapped in a sense of peace. Yet, in the depths of my heart, I felt a pang of guilt for hiding the truth from them. I knew they wouldn't understand-they were ordinary people, untouched by the complexities of fate that had tangled my life. Isaac, at least, had been given the privilege to see my true life's story, a rare gift from the God of Destiny. How fortunate he was... how fortunate we both were to have had each other.

When things settled back into routine, I made my decision to leave. Quietly, in the early morning hours, I slipped away from the kingdom, my footsteps light and my heart heavy. I prayed they would one day accept my disappearance, that they would find peace even in my absence. I hoped for their happiness, silently begging for forgiveness.

As I stood on the edge of a cliff, I took a deep, trembling breath. The wind whipped through my hair, carrying with it the scent of the earth and sky, the world I was about to leave behind. I closed my eyes, letting the air fill my lungs, grounding me as I clenched my fists. I smiled faintly, and in my mind, Isaac's face appeared, his eyes soft, filled with the love I would carry forever. The ache in my chest deepened, but I swallowed back the tears, breathing in deeply once more.

"Goodbye, my love," I whispered, feeling the words hang in the air, a final farewell carried by the wind. I opened my arms, stretching them out as if to embrace the sky, and took a small step forward.

In that final moment, with my heart beating fiercely, I whispered once more into the open air, "I love you, Isaac," and with that, I let go, surrendering myself to the pull of destiny, knowing that I would carry him within me, always.

A/N: AcckeddddGoodbyeTvT