Roman lay down quietly on the cool grass beside the gentle flow of the Solara River. The night sky stretched endlessly above him, filled with countless stars that shimmered softly like silent witnesses to his thoughts. The distant sounds of celebration carried through the night breeze, but here by the riverbank, everything felt calm.

  He slowly closed his eyes.

  His mind, however, refused to be quiet.

  A lot has changed…

  Roman exhaled slowly and spoke to himself in silence.

  I used to be the most powerful king of my world…

  Memories from another lifetime surfaced.

  Back then, as Ronald Reagan, he ruled an empire feared by many. Kingdoms trembled at his name. No one dared challenge his authority. Through war, strategy, and sheer willpower, he had turned a small struggling kingdom into one of the most powerful empires the world had ever seen.

  He had everything.

  Power.

  Authority.

  Victory.

  But with those victories came something darker.

  Another memory suddenly forced its way into his mind.

  Allen’s sword.

  The cold steel piercing through his ribs.

  Roman’s fingers tightened slightly against the grass as if he could still feel that pain again.

  He slowly opened his eyes for a moment before closing them again.

  Allen was right…

  A bitter realization lingered in his heart.

  In his previous life, he had crushed everything in his path. Kingdoms that resisted him were conquered. Merchants who opposed him were forced into submission. Whether through law or through brute force, he had taken whatever he desired without caring about the consequences.

  Power had blinded him.

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  And that blindness had cost him the one person who mattered the most.

  Ruth Admor.

  His chest tightened.

  She had been the only light in his dark world.

  Because of his ambition, she had paid the ultimate price.

  His enemies had framed her. They had twisted the truth and manipulated the court. Even though Roman knew she was innocent, the wheels of power and politics moved too quickly.

  He still remembered that moment clearly.

  Ruth standing in front of him.

  Her gentle smile.

  Those calm eyes that held no hatred.

  Even at the moment of her death, she had looked at him as if everything would be alright.

  Roman clenched his fist against the grass.

  I let that happen…

  The memory stabbed deeper than any sword ever could.

  For a long moment, Roman remained silent.

  Then he slowly whispered to himself.

  “Ruth… I will achieve the dream we once saw together.”

  His gaze turned toward the night sky.

  “A world of peace.”

  His voice hardened slightly.

  “And if I must destroy everything standing in the way… whether it be the twelve fallen angels… or even the gods themselves…”

  His eyes sharpened.

  “I will not repeat the mistakes of my past life.”

  A soft voice suddenly broke the silence.

  “Hey… isn’t that our youngest master Roman?”

  Roman slightly opened one eye.

  A group of children stood nearby, whispering among themselves.

  A small girl looked at him curiously.

  “Yes, it is him,” she replied. “But why is he sleeping here? Did his father remove him from his home?”

  Another child gasped.

  “Maybe he got kicked out!”

  The children slowly approached.

  “Should we wake him up?”

  “Yes, we should!”

  Roman kept his eyes closed, pretending to remain asleep.

  As the children leaned closer, Roman suddenly let out a loud barking sound.

  “GRRRAAH!”

  The children screamed in terror.

  “AHHH!”

  They stumbled backward in panic.

  Roman burst into laughter as he sat up.

  “Sorry, sorry!” he said with a playful grin. “I was just joking.”

  One of the girls looked as if she was about to cry.

  Roman quickly noticed and stood up, gently patting her head.

  “Hey now,” he said softly. “A strong girl shouldn’t cry. Are you weak?”

  The girl sniffed and shook her head firmly.

  “No! My mother says I’m a strong kid!”

  Roman smiled warmly.

  “That’s good.”

  At that moment, a woman hurried toward them.

  When she noticed Roman, she immediately bowed her head respectfully.

  “Greetings, young master,” she said nervously. “Did my child disturb you?”

  Roman shook his head.

  “No, not at all. We were just playing.”

  The woman relaxed slightly.

  “We’re having a celebration for the dawn of Great Presia tonight,” she explained. “All the villagers are gathering nearby. Would you like to join us, young master?”

  Roman was about to politely refuse.

  But suddenly, a small hand grabbed his sleeve.

  It was the same little girl.

  “You have to come!” she insisted, trying to drag him along.

  Her mother looked embarrassed.

  Roman sighed softly.

  Then he chuckled.

  “Alright, alright,” he said. “I’m coming.”

  Together with the woman and the children, Roman walked toward the celebration area.

  As they approached, warm lights illuminated the night. Lanterns hung from wooden poles, music filled the air, and villagers laughed and danced together in joy.

  The moment people noticed Roman arriving, they quickly stood up.

  “Young Master Roman!”

  They bowed respectfully.

  Some villagers hurried forward carrying drinks and snacks.

  “We know this may not suit the taste of nobility,” one man said nervously, offering him a cup. “But we would be honored if you accepted.”

  Roman looked at the drink for a moment.

  Then he took the cup.

  He drank it in one gulp.

  Afterward, he grabbed a small snack and ate it casually.

  The villagers watched him in surprise.

  Roman wiped his mouth and smiled.

  “Today,” he said lightly, “I’m not a noble.”

  The villagers looked confused.

  Roman suddenly jumped onto the small wooden stage in the center of the gathering.

  “Tonight,” he declared with a grin, “I want to enjoy the celebration as one of you!”

  The children cheered.

  Music started again.

  Roman began dancing clumsily along with them, spinning around while the children laughed loudly. Someone handed him another drink while others clapped rhythmically to the music.

  The tension that had weighed heavily on his heart slowly faded.

  For a moment, he forgot about the fallen angels.

  For a moment, he forgot about the prophecy.

  He simply laughed.

  He played with the children, letting them climb on his shoulders. He sang along with the villagers even though he barely knew the lyrics. He joined their dances, spinning awkwardly until everyone burst into laughter.

  The night was filled with warmth.

  And for the first time in a long while, Roman allowed himself to simply enjoy the happiness of the people he had sworn to protect.