She stared at him, as if asking why he came to her early in the morning.
Orcus found it hard to say she could now return to her kingdom.
They had been together for almost a year.
Orcus would be lying if he said he did not have any feeling for Vanessa.
He did not want her to leave.
'Sigh, what am I thinking? She hasn't even told me her name. It's pretty obvious how she feels about me.'
Orcus told her he could help her sneak back into Hazriel kingdom since they reopened the path.
Vanessa was not as happy as he expected her to be.
A few weeks later, Orcus met an illegal smuggler and ensured the safe passage for Vanessa's return.
He felt melancholic when she left without even revealing her name to him.
"Why do you look so down?" Anna asked him. "Is it because that witch left?"
"Huh? What do you mean by witch—"
"She was a foreigner. Did you really think I wouldn't realize it after spending a year with her?"
He finally understood why his mother suddenly stopped pushing him to start a relationship with Vanessa.
"Stop thinking about that witch. Today is your big day. You are being promoted to Emperor's Personal Surgeon and…"
Anna stretched her words as if to create a sense of anticipation.
"I'm receiving an award too!"
"It's for being a patriotic citizen."
A smile bloomed on his face.
"Yes, let's celebrate after we return from the ceremony."
Orcus and Anna visited the royal palace.
Today was the recrowning of the Emperor after they won the war.
The young Emperor started with the ceremonial speech.
Neo did not pay much attention until the Emperor presented a small silver cube to the audience.
"We have triumphed at last in capturing the spawns of the devils!
"Behold, this is the undeniable proof of their treachery! Before you stands the demonic tool they worship!"
With a sweeping gesture, the Emperor pointed towards Orcus.
"For helping us bring these devils to justice, I, Lysander Kingsley, the Emperor of Pangea Empire, will be awarding the patriotic citizen, Anna Hargraves."
Orcus' heart froze when he saw his mother walk towards the stage.
The silver cube in Emperor's hand belonged to Vanessa.
His mind connected the dots even though he did not want to do so.
He remained seated in a daze until the end of the ceremony.
After its end, the Emperor came to meet him and thank him for his contribution in the war.
Orcus' mind failed to register the words.
His feet moved after the Emperor left.
"Orcus where are you going? Orcus!" Anna shouted.
His feet brought him to the gallows of the royal palace.
The soldiers did not stop him when they recognized him as the Emperor's personal surgeon.
Among the dozens of headless corpses of Hazriel Kingdom's higher-ups, Orcus easily recognized the corpse of a familiar figure.
He crouched next to it.
Orcus' voice was unnervingly calm.
After receiving the confirmation, Orcus returned to his home.
He did not know what he was doing.
His body continued to do the daily chores like always.
Anna could not watch Orcus like that for long.
"Why are you acting like the world has ended?!
"Do you even know the witch's true identity!?"
She grabbed him by his shoulders when he remained silent.
"She was the princess of that kingdom!
"You found her while she was escaping the rebels!"
Vanessa's kingdom was defeated due to betrayal of spies of Pangea hidden among them.
She had to hide among the soldiers since her whole kingdom was searching for her, and the frontlines were the last place they expected the princess to visit.
Anna's face contorted when she noticed the listless expression on Orcus' face.
"What kind of black magic did that witch do on my child?"
She broke into tears.
Orcus returned to his room.
He lay on his bed, staring at the roof.
He didn't cry or feel sad.
In the morning, he was folding his blanket when suddenly he noticed a paper beneath his bed.
Thank you for saving me and sorry for leaving without a word.
Are you angry now that you realize I can speak your language?
To be honest, when we first met, I was ready to embrace death, which is why I spoke only in my kingdom's native tongue.
But fate works in mysterious ways.
I survived, thanks to you.
As we spent time together, the distance between us shrank.
Did you feel the same?
You must wonder why I never expressed these feelings aloud.
If I grew too close to you, I feared I would abandon everything to stay by your side.
I had to return to avenge my family.
But as I write this letter tonight, I find myself torn between choices.
I don't want to leave you.
This may sound selfish, but please wait for me. I promise I will return to you, even if it takes years.
Orcus' tears stained the letter.
"If you could talk, you should've done that."
He was back in the hall with Sphinx.
"You did not spend more than five years in that vision. Was it easier than the first one?"
The Sphinx was having fun.
"How are you feeling? Angry at Anna?"
Neo stared at the Sphinx silently.
He opened his mouth after a few minutes.
"What is the question?"
"My question is will you forgive Anna?"
"What if I told you Anna did everything to save Orcus?
"If Vanessa — or Proserpina if we use her true name — was caught Orcus would've been beheaded.
"Even if Vanessa returned after a few years, she could've not been with Orcus because she was the enemy kingdom's princess.
"Anna knew Orcus would've been heartbroken no matter how their story played.
"She became the villain, serving as a convenient outlet to Orcus' pain.
"After all, isn't it easier to cope with sadness when you have someone to blame for it?"
The Sphinx took a step and appeared before Neo.
"Now tell me, are you angry at Anna?
"Will you kill her and then kill yourself like the original Orcus?"