Finding Stardust

Emma felt everything flashed before her eyes, like a dream. Haoran was lying in a glass casket. He looked very handsome with long hair that went down to his shoulders.

Emma never had enough of looking at him. The Akkadian sun was shining brightly and all around her was breathtakingly beautiful, yet, her heart was cold, and her countenance was dark.

Emma felt like her heart and mind were covered with ice. She had promised herself that she would not cry again. So, she was not crying. Nothing would make her shed another tear.

She realized that Haoran had finished his race. Now it's time for him to rest. Emma knew how much Haoran loved her and how he was willing to do anything for her.

She sadly realized, Haoran would be very sad if his death made Emma suffer. That's why Emma tried to steel herself and not let herself be drowned in sadness.

From now on, she would take her revenge. She would make people who had hurt her family suffer terribly. She would make them regret ever being born into this world.

"I want to be alone," said Emma softly without looking.

Therius nodded. He squeezed her shoulder gently, then walked backward. The prince signaled for Nathan to follow his steps. The doctor nodded and walked with him. Before they had gone too far, he looked back one last time.

'Ah, poor young man,' thought Natan sadly. Even though from the first time he met Haoran, the young man's condition had been very bad and could not be helped, his death still affected Natan as his doctor. As a dedicated doctor, all his patients were important to him.

After Therius and Nathan left, Emma went over to the glass casket and knelt down. Next to it, a hole had been dug to bury the casket.

Natan explained that the material used to make casket in Akkadia was a special transparent material that looked like glass but, unlike glass, it would dissolve with the ground when the body inside started to decompose. 

Emma hugged the casket and pondered for a moment. She looked at Haoran to her heart's content. 

'Ah .. my love Haoran, my handsome Haoran, I love you so much.'

"I have to let you go now ...." Emma whispered. "Until we meet again, my love."

She closed her eyes and rose from the ground. With a sweep of her hand, Emma lifted the casket using aeromancy and gently lowered it into the hole. She did everything with great care and gentleness.

Once the casket was inside the hole, she used the same method to fill the hole with soil. Biting her lip, Emma waved her right hand again and slowly, various small plants with very pretty flowers grew over Haoran's grave.

This place was stunningly beautiful, thought Emma. This was a resting place fit for someone like Haoran. She felt content to have his grave there.

After making sure everything was neatly arranged, Emma took a deep breath. It was time for her to go. She would come back here whenever she missed Haoran.

Emma didn't shed a single tear when she walked down the hill and found Therius waiting for her.

The man looked amazed at Emma's determination. He had thought that Emma would be devastated, but it seemed that grief after grief had hardened her heart. Now it seemed like Emma didn't cry at all.

"Are you okay?" asked Therius softly.

"I'm not okay," the girl replied curtly. "But I don't have time to mourn. We must return to the capital."

Therius was amazed to see Emma's countenance. Day by day, his love for the girl grew. He knew he made the right choice by anchoring his heart to Emma.

This girl would be an awesome queen of Akkadia.

Therius couldn't wait to give the world to her.

"I will order my men to finalize Haoran's funeral," said Therius.

Emma shook her head. "No need. I've finished everything. We better just go now."

"Okay." Therius grabbed Emma's waist gently and they immediately walked towards the row of travs that would take them back to the capital.

The two-hour journey to go back to the capital took place in silence. Emma didn't say anything along the way, but she didn't refuse when Therius handed her drinks and some fruit.

"Eat this fruit. It's very good for restoring your stamina," said Therius.

Emma didn't argue. She only nodded and accepted the fruits from Therius hand. She slowly chewed on the small fruit that looked like grape in bright red, while looking out the window.

***

After they arrived back at the crown prince's palace, Therius immediately left Emma to rest and calm her mind. He went to see King Cassius and quietly discussed his wish to marry Emma as soon as possible.

He would give the excuse that there was a possibility that Princess Arreya would oppose his relationship with Emma because she still held a deep grudge against the Akkadian royal family.

To prevent that from happening, Therius asked his grandfather's permission to change plans and immediately formalized his marriage to Emma. After he obtained the king's permission, Therius would immediately prepare for a private wedding ceremony, which only his grandfather and best friend would attend, along with the priests.

Therius had already stated to Emma that he did not believe in any gods, but that the royal family took faith in the seven main gods. Because of this, he had to pretend to be following Akkadian traditions until he would later take the throne and rule the empire.

After he became the king, Therius would be able to firmly declare that he did not believe in any gods. However, until then, he had to pretend and follow in the traditions.

For him, it was really no big deal. He was used to taking one step back to take several steps forward. His patience was second to none, and he was never in a hurry to do anything.

This was what made Therius always got what he wanted, sooner ... or later.