Zhia Xiang wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep. Viscente stood next to the window looking at the moon, lonely.
A part of him knew something was off with Aria's sudden affection for him. Everyone knew she's after Ian, even Viscente.
But he let the though go and enjoyed his time with her, the woman he loved since childhood. He couldn't help but think about the past days.
âZhia Xiang... â he murmured as if he called for her.
The next day a commotion was created, as wrote by Zhia Xiang, Ian's trusted subordonate betrayed him by exposing his intentions to take the crown by marrying Aria and killing the King.
He brought evidence so Ian was convicted for treason and locked in the dungeons, waiting to be executed.
Zhia Xiang entered the dungeon and looked at the chained man. Ian noticed her as well.
âYou know... I had a dream last night. I married you and carried my plan to take the crown. I had to kill you because you wanted to expose me. Weird, right? âIan asked looking at Zhia Xiang.
âWeird indeed. âZhia Xiang said in a dull tone.
âYou're not Aria... You're nothing like her so that dream must be true. A memory from past? â
âYou're right. I am not Aria, I'm here to fulfill her wish. âZhia Xiang said looking in his black eyes.
âWhat's her wish? To see me dead? â
âYes. â
âI see. âIan said and laughed.
His laugh sounded... broken.
âIf I have another life... I wish to meet Aria again. â Ian said sobbing.
Zhia Xiang looked at him puzzled.
âShocked, right? You know... I liked Aria. Her naive and air head self was so different from me... I wanted to have someone so unaware of this world's evil by my side, but she had to get smart and try to ruin my plans. If she didn't tried to expose me, I wouldn't have killed her. âIan said looking at the ceiling with a bitter smile on his face.
Zhia Xiang looked at him in silence. The image of the red haired sweet man appeared in her mind.
âDo you think she'll forgive me? âIan asked looking at Zhia Xiang.
âI don't know. â Zhia Xiang replied.
âI see. â
âWhy did you wanted to be king so bad? âZhia Xiang couldn't help but ask.
Ian sighed as memories he wished to forget entering his mind.
âTo have the power to protect the one's I love. As long as there is someone stronger than me I won't be able to protect anyone... You know, my mother was a commoner woman. The Marquis got her eyes on her so he forced her to marry him and that's how I was born. Soon he found a new woman and neglected my mother who was already in a bad mental state... she killed herself when I was 5...I still remember that scene. That day I decided to become the strongest. â Ian spoke choking on his tears.
Zhia Xiang's eyes stung her.
âYou pity me? Haha... âIan said laughing.
Zhia Xiang took a deep breath to calm herself and got closer to his cell.
âDo you want me... to kill him for you? âZhia Xiang asked.
Ian's eyes widened for a second.
âWhy would do that? âIan asked.
âBecause I want to. â Zhia Xiang replied.
Ian could feel that's she isn't lying to him. He fell on his ass laughing like a mad man.
âYou'll kill a man to made me feel better? You'll commit a sin for someone you don't know? You... you're â Ian tried to find his words, but couldn't.
Zhia Xiang looked at him and felt pity. The Ian in front of her reminded her of herself.
She too could only rely on herself to survive. She too found it hard to believe in someone's else's kindness. She too suffered a lot.
âWill you really do it? âIan asked after he put his thought in place.
âYes. âZhia Xiang said.
âThen fulfill my wish... and kill my father for what he's done to my mother. So she can have a little peace. â
âAlright, I, Zhia Xiang, will fulfill your wish. I'll leave now. â
âCan you do another thing for me, please? âIan asked.
âWhat? â
âIn my room... there's a necklace with my mother's picture in it. I hide it behind my portrait, can you take it and give it to me? Tomorrow I will be executed... I want to die having it with me. â
âI will find it. âZhia Xiang nodded her head and walked to the door.
âThank you... âIan whispered.
She left, changed her clothes in assassin attire and sneaking in Alderlo's mansion. The Marquis was sleeping peaceful.
âSleeping like this when your son locked up...a few hours away from death.âZhia Xiang said and scoffed.
She took the dagger out and stabbed the Marquis multiple times.
The Marquis tried to scream for help, but Zhia Xiang covered his face with a pillow.
After seeing the man give his last breath, Zhia Xiang went in Ian's room and took down the portrait.
She opened the chest and looked at the simple, old necklace.
It was dawn when Zhia Xiang returned to the Palace.
âAria! â Viscente's voice startled Zhia Xiang who wanted to change the bloody clothes.
She didn't turned around and continued to walk. Viscente didn't gave up and grabbed her arm.
âDon't run away from me. âHe said hugging Zhia Xiang from behind.
She stood silent.
âI thought about it... a lot. A part of me knew something was off when you began to be affectionate towards me. But even so, I was happy together with you. Aria or not... I don't want to lose you. âViscente spoke and tightened his hug.
Zhia Xiang's eyes were wide open and her body frozen.
âYou can't... Stop loving me. âZhia Xiang said.
She knew she'll have to leave this world and didn't want him to wait for her.
âYou're thinking of leaving? â
âYes. â
âI'll come with you... even if it's the end of the world you take me to. â
âI can't. Please find someone else to love. Neither me or Aria can give you a happy ending. â
âI don't need a happy ending, I need you! â
Zhia Xiang felt like the worst person, maybe she shouldn't have got close to him. Why didn't she though about this more?
Now she's hurting him even more.
âI have to finish a task, wait for me in the garden, alright? âZhia Xiang asked looking into his green eyes.
âPromise me you'll come to meet me. âViscente demanded cupping her face.
âI promise. âZhia Xiang said and smiled.
âAlright, I'll wait for you. â Viscente said and freed her.
Zhia Xiang left.
______________________
Ian was walked to the platform to be executed.
He was at peace with dying now.
âWait. âZhia Xiang ordered and the men carrying Ian stopped.
âYou came... âIan said looking at the brown haired woman in front of him.
Zhia Xiang took out the necklace, took Ian's arm in placed it in his palm.
Ian smiled at her, a grateful smile.
âIf you do have a second life... be happy. âZhia Xiang said looking in Ian's eyes and left.
âYou too, miss Zhia Xiang. âIan said and continued to walk to his death.
âThe tasks have been completed. âAgent 0 said.
âYes...âZhia Xiang said biting her bottom lip.
âAre you going to see him? âagent 0 asked.
âHe...he'll be better if he forgets about me. Agent 0...I've never asked, what happens after I finish a mission and leave the world? â
âThe person disappears... since the owners of the bodies are dead, they can't go back. So when you leave they just disappear. â
âLike they've ran away? âZhia Xiang asked.
âYes, like that. People remember about them and the consequences of what you've done here remain. âagent 0 explained.
âI see... âZhia Xiang said.
Saddened filled her. Aria's parents were good people... their daughter is dead and now she'll vanish without trace.
Her previous worlds as well...Tanaka, Okita, Seo Hyun's mother...
âI never thought choosing transmigration will made me so depressed. The world truly is unfair. âZhia Xiang said and looked at the sky.
Zhia Xiang made a decision and took her journal out. She hesitantly wrote one sentence.
Everyone that knew Aria will forget about her existence. â
âAre you sure that's the right choice? âAgent 0 asked.
âI don't know. It's better to forget about her than spend their life searching for her and suffer. â
âThat's what you think. Let's go then. âAgent 0 said.
Zhia Xiang nodded her head and involuntary looked toward the garden's direction.
âI'm sorry Viscente... please find your happiness. â Zhia Xiang said and the bright light surrounded her.
When she opened her eyes she was back at the base.
âI need a break. â she said and walked to the bed.
She took her phone and clicked a random playing, music heals as people say.
She put her face in the pillow as the music started to play.
__________________
Viscente stood on the bench looking at the flowers.
âHuh? Why am I here? Was I waiting for someone? But who? â Viscente asked feeling like there's something missing.
Maybe in another life, he'll meet her again.