I Became Crown Prince's Wife
The Journey to the Palace (4)

After two years passed, everyone started talking about the possibility of Ancia's death.

By the time he got inside the door of darkness, he might have been eaten by Macul. There were also rumors about how Ancia was offered in exchange for lifting the goddess' curse. Everyone makes their own speculations.

Ancia was gradually forgotten from everyone's memories, but even after a long time, the Crown Prince still remembered her.

"I'll look for him."

“...Your Majesty, you are the Crown Prince of this empire.you have many tasks to take care of.quickly or later you will forget about his existence. ”

“No, I won't forget it.”

“You say that now, but in the end, you will. That's reality. I'm the only one who won't forget it and will keep looking for it.”

“She's also my family.”

“Yes, but only until you remarry.”

“I will not marry anyone else. Ancia is my only wife.”

She did not want to marry anyone other than Ancia.

Blake's world only has Ancia in it. Her heart was so full of Ancia that there was no room for anyone else to fill her heart.

“When Ancia comes back and finds out about you, she will be sad to know that her younger sister will be expelled from the academy.”

“……”

“I don't want to see it sad. Back to the academy. I'll look for him instead.”

"You really won't forget my brother?"

“Have you forgotten? I love Ancia.” the most

“I disagree with that.”

Diana laughed at his words. It was the first smile Blake saw from her after Ancia disappeared.

Diana eventually returns to the academy and Blake continues to search for Ancia as he promised.

Even if Blake did not promise Diana, she would not stop looking for Ancia.

Tenstheon opposed Blake going to the valley of chaos. He felt very guilty for failing to protect Ancia, but he couldn't lose his son either. However, in the end, Tenstheon succumbed to Blake's stubbornness.

When Blake first went to the valley of chaos, Tenstheon also went with him. Tenstheon was afraid of monsters attacking Blake. Just like how he lost Ancia. But the monster was just an unfounded rumor.

Monsters don't attack Blake. Instead, they avoid it. It was because he had the power of a goddess.

The spectators were amazed by the Crown Prince's ability. Rumors about his abilities quickly spread, and further increased the number of people who worshipped Blake.

People gradually forget that he was once cursed and ugly. Now, they only knew of his handsome appearance and Blake's dazzling strength.

Many women want him as their husband. Many women try to seduce her, including foreign princesses, and beautiful nobles with stunning backgrounds, but Blake turns a blind eye to all of them.

It had been a long time since the curse had been lifted, but he had only become even more unhappy back then.

His life had fallen into darkness again. He stops being around people and spends his days in the valley of chaos to find Ancia. He also occasionally visited the capital to search for traces of Ancia.

One day, Diana visits Blake.

"Your Majesty, long time no see."

"For a long time no see, sister-in-law."

This was the first time she had met Diana after she returned from the academy. Diana was 18 years old and a capable knight.

“We are adults now.”

"Frightly so."

“I want to apologize to you.I said rude things to you earlier because I was not in the right state of mind. I know it's not your fault but I just need someone to blame.I'm sorry."

“No, it's my fault.”

It was all the goddess's fault that Ancia was lost. Seven years later, Blake's mind remains unchanged.

Diana looked at Blake while still feeling guilty.

Blake used to smile. He was cursed but his smile was enough to brighten one's mood.

But now, it's different. His curse was lifted but his eyes did not show the same innocence and happiness as those years ago. It was as if he was deliberately blocking people from entering his heart.

Diana looked at Blake, who was very different from how she was in their childhood.

"I came to get my brother's stuff today."

"…What?"

“I opened my sister's letter after a long time. I couldn't force myself to open it again before. He talks about you a lot. He's always worried about you.”

“……”

“Every time I read that letter, I was always jealous because he was always talking about you. But it turns out that she was very worried about you.I don't know why she kept talking about you back then, but now I understand, ” Diana said calmly.

Now he was strong enough to talk about Ancia without crying. Anyway, years have passed.

“My brother is like the wind. He always acted like someone was about to leave. That was especially the case when it came to His Majesty's matters. He used to mention things like looking after you when he wasn't around. Maybe he knew he was going to disappear like that. “

“Your Majesty, thank you for remembering my brother. But now you have to let go. I'll bring all her things and memories with me, so you should live happily now. I'm sure he wants that too.”

Blake's heart sank.

Everyone thought that Ancia was dead. Tenstheon was also almost certain of that. The servants who were with him in the Amoria Palace also slowly accepted his death.

Now only she and Diana believe that Ancia is still alive. But Diana was also trying to move on.

"Go back, brother-in-law."

“Your Majesty, you are the one my brother chose. Now you have to move on. I'm sure he wants that too.”

“He's the only one for me. Don't say that again. I can't forget it.”

Ancia must live. He had promised her that they would go to the festival together.

Diana tries to retrieve Ancia's belongings, but Blake refuses. He didn't give up.

But the world gave him no hope either. The door of darkness completely collapsed.

But the people in the country were happy.

"The door of darkness has disappeared after 1000 years of the Empire" they said.

“This signifies the blessing of the goddess and the prosperity of the Asteri Empire.”

But Blake is desperate. Compared to the prosperity of the empire, Ancia was more valuable to him.

'The door of darkness has been completely shut and the possibility of him still alive has been lost as well.'

That's what everyone thinks.

Blake ignored what they said and headed straight for the valley of chaos. The door of darkness has collapsed.

Even when his last hope was lost, Blake still could not give up.

“Ancia..”.

He dreams of it every night. In his dream, he was able to meet Ancia. He takes Blake's nightmare, and simply leaves himself in his dream instead.

“Blake.”

In her dreams, Ancia always smiled broadly. She never blamed him for everything that happened and just smiled at him the whole time.

"Don't worry. I'll be right back."

But he doesn't live there either. Even in his dream, he let go of Blake's hand and left.

“Don't go, Ancia. Don't go.”

Blake is growing up. The curse was lifted and he grew into a good young man. He was no longer weak, but he still had not found Ancia.

“Do not go..”

As Blake grabs Ancia's hand desperately, he catches her. He opened his eyes in amazement.

He hugged the woman in front of him before he realized it was not a dream.

“Ancia! Where Have You Been? I've been looking for you for a long time.I miss you so much…"

He finally found Angie. For the first time in seven years. But he had white hair, and it wasn't Ancia.

After coming to his senses, he looked at the woman in front of him again. It was Rose.

"Who are you?"

Blake mistook Rose for Ancia. No matter what, he had never mistaken the other woman as Ancia.

Blake looked at Rose.

Whenever Blake begged her not to leave, Ancia would always have such an expression on her face.

"Are you really not Ancia?"

He looked at her again expectantly, but he shook his head.

"No, I'm sorry."

If Rose really was Ancia, there was no reason to deny it like this.

Not Ancia? He slowly loosened his grip on his hand.

'I'm sorry.'

He apologized again, but even that expression made him look more like Ancia.

Blake took his hand again. The hand was damaged by the burn scar and it was so thin that he felt it would break if he exerted a little more strength.

How could he be hurt like this? How did he become so thin?

"It's okay. Don't be sad.”

Blake comforted. He didn't know who Rose was, but he couldn't just trust her and give up like this.

He would never let Ancia go this time.