Even If Everyone Hates You 144

Since it wasn’t far from the capital, thanks to Lulu’s abilities, they managed to reach the western lands under Bridehit’s jurisdiction within just half a day. They had set out at the break of dawn, and now the sun was already showing signs of setting. It was earlier than usual—a sign that winter was creeping over the entire kingdom. If late autumn in the west was akin to winter in the north, then by the time they returned with Ressas, it would be the height of winter.

As soon as they crossed into the western border, Seiyad bent down to meet Lyley’s eye level. The child looked up at him with clear, sharp eyes, and Seiyad asked urgently.

“Where do we go from here?”

“Hmm…”

A foreboding feeling crept over him. Unlike the confident tone Lyley had used to urge them this far, the child now scanned the surroundings with an uncertain expression.

“I was taught from the moment I was born that I’d know it once I reached the land where the golden star shines brightest, but… I haven’t felt anything yet. I think we need to go a little farther west for now.”

“You’re telling me we came all the way here, and you don’t even know where we’re supposed to go?”

Seiyad’s expression darkened, and Lyley puffed out his cheeks in protest.

“Normally, I would have followed the call of the heavens after death, so there was no need to know the exact location. And now you’re scolding me, even though I’ve personally taken it upon myself to escort you?”

Lulu, who had been curiously watching Lyley speak with the air of an old man despite his childlike appearance, interjected.

“Could it be you’re referring to the ‘Path of the Gods’? The name might be different, but I think there’s a place called that in the west. I remember hearing about it when I was little—Nina used to love old stories.”

Nina. The name rang a bell. Seiyad recalled Tiaki mentioning her once before and asked Lulu for confirmation.

“You mean the former leader of Desertus?”

“That’s right! I’m glad you know of her. Fortunately, she doesn’t live far from here, so why don’t we stop by and ask her?”

There was no time for hesitation. Seiyad had resolved to check anything that might be helpful. Without another word, he acted—scooping Lyley up by the nape and pulling him into his arms. The child burst into delighted laughter.

“How insolent! Daring to lift a god so easily! Do it again, do it again!”

Though the spirit inside him was a centuries-old god, having taken residence in a child’s body made the sun god seem to genuinely enjoy being hoisted up like that. Granting the god’s gleeful request to be carried on his shoulders, Seiyad followed Lulu’s lead.

The sky was already dimming, and twilight had begun to settle across the roadside when they finally arrived at a small village on the westernmost edge of Bridehit’s territory.

For Seiyad, whose memories of leaving the north were few and far between, it was a place he had never seen before. Though it bore the name Chiffer, it was so remote from any city that there likely wasn’t much trade. That might be why Desertus had raised their orphans here, away from prying eyes, he thought, trailing behind Lulu.

“Oh, Nina!”

Lulu, excited as one returning to their hometown, spotted someone and waved enthusiastically. Despite the title of “grandmother,” the woman standing at the village’s edge was surprisingly tall and robust, with long hair pinned high atop her head. As they approached, her face came into view—brimming with vitality, her golden eyes sparkling. Her amber gaze was unlike anything Seiyad had seen before, and he studied it intently. When their eyes met, Nina bowed deeply.

“Greetings, Your Grace. You’ve come here with someone precious. I’ve been expecting you.”

Lyley, still clinging to Seiyad’s neck, tapped his shoulder insistently, asking to be let down. When Seiyad bent to release him, Lyley ran straight to Nina with a wide grin.

“So you’re the child bearing a shard of the golden star. That’s why you’ve settled in this place.”

“Yes, and thanks to that, I often see the hidden tales of the world with my own eyes.”

“Then you must know where we need to go.”

“I had a feeling ever since last night’s restless dreams. A few weeks ago, I happened to witness the procession of the moon god, so I know the location.”

A wistful smile lit up Lyley’s face. Nina returned the gaze with her own wrinkled, warm smile. After a moment of silent comfort passed between them, she turned to Lulu, who looked a bit bewildered.

“Lulu, once Tiaki arrives, take him to the Sky Lake. I’ll be protecting these guests there.”

“Yes, Nina. Please be careful.”

Lulu replied obediently to Nina’s instructions. Sensing a farewell, she waved at Lyley.

“Then, safe travels. I hope your journey is a peaceful one.”

“As expected of star-born children—so well-mannered, every one of you. You’ve come a long way. But from now on, there’ll be no need to hide anymore. You’ll live in a world that accepts you just as you are. Be happy.”

Lyley’s blessing made Lulu beam. Watching her glowing smile, Lyley happily grabbed Nina’s hand and urged her to hurry. Nina, leaving a gesture for them to follow, began walking hand-in-hand with him like a doting grandmother heading out with her grandchild, their steps gentle and in sync as they headed toward the forest outside the village.

Just witnessing that warmth made Seiyad miss Ressas so much it drove him mad. Without hesitation, he followed quickly.

Above their heads, Venus shimmered into view. The brightest red star guarding the western sky glowed with a pulsing violet hue if one looked closely.

***

As they walked on under Nina’s guidance, the landscape gradually began to change. The forest, once filled with broad-leaved trees in autumn colors, wasn’t very large, but following the trail, they started encountering more and more flooded patches of ground. It looked like a forest built over water—an otherworldly sight. Just as the puddles became more frequent, the path ahead suddenly opened up.

Then, a truly wondrous sight unfolded before them—a round lake that looked as if it had swallowed the navy-blue night sky appeared in front of them. The lake reflected the twinkling stars and the perfectly round full moon as if the heavens themselves were mirrored on its surface. The name Sky Lake felt entirely fitting.

“It may look deep, but it’s actually just a shallow pool. The two of you can walk straight ahead and reach the top just fine,” said Nina, stopping at the edge of the lake, as if this were as far as she could go.

To confirm her words, they stepped onto the water—and sure enough, it was barely deep enough to soak the soles of their shoes. It was a rather vague, cloud-like explanation, but Lyley nodded solemnly.

“You’ve done well. Now, I must go. Please watch over their way back.”

“Yes. Rest peacefully.”

Without hesitation, Lyley stepped into the water, heading toward the place where his beloved awaited him. As Seiyad followed, he glanced back at Nina. While Lyley’s spirit would be leaving, his physical body would become vulnerable—Seiyad understood this was why the child had asked for protection.

“You needn’t worry. Thanks to Your Grace’s sacrifice, this world is now safe. I will do all I can to protect your way back.”

Whether tales of the world had reached even this far, or whether she, like the sun god had hinted, truly knew more than she let on, Seiyad could sense the respect in her words. Brushing off the slightly embarrassing flattery, he nodded.

“…I leave it to you.”

With Nina waving a gentle farewell behind him, Seiyad followed Lyley. With each step, he could feel the soft bed of earth and water beneath him. But nothing seemed to change—and just as suspicion began to rise within him, Lyley turned back and smiled brightly.

“I’m here, Sior. I’m coming to your side now.”

As he whispered, filled with joy, Lyley began to transform. The massive sun deity emerged from the child’s body, its radiant form far too blinding to look upon directly, and descended beneath the lake’s surface. At the same time, Seiyad felt his body begin to float—and he, too, plunged beneath the lake.

The world flipped. He could no longer tell if he was above or below the earth. The sky spun dozens of times over, and eventually, Seiyad found himself buried in the night sky. Countless stars twinkled like golden sand, and a pleasant breeze swept past him from every direction. Wisps of cloud scattered below his feet like threads of silk.

After what felt like a long walk, a gate glowing like the Milky Way appeared. It was made entirely of enormous lilies. As the shining figure of the sun god approached, the gate slowly opened.

“From here on, you must go alone. I’ll send you to where that child is. In paradise, a soul experiences what it desires most, in the place it yearns for most. It is a place that fills all that was lacking. So you must persuade him to come with you.”

“Understood.”

The sun god’s radiant form, woven of long and short beams of light, began to step through the gate. Seiyad had never relied on a god, nor given thanks to one, but now he realized that, in their own way, they had done everything they could.

“…Thank you for your help.”

At his brief words of gratitude, the light shimmered. He couldn’t see its true form—just a faint impression of a person—but he could feel the sun god smiling.

“I failed to protect him, and my shortcomings brought him sadness. But I hope you’ll rely on each other and find happiness. After all you’ve endured, the time ahead will only be filled with joy. That child… he’s still trapped in the day he first died. Unlike you, who overcame your pain long ago.”

“Then don’t worry.”

Seiyad fully intended to make Ressas happy. Now that he had finally reached the place he’d longed for, there was no room left for hesitation. Without fear or doubt, he walked beside the sun god—and passed through the gate before the god could even usher him in. Seiyad had always been someone who stepped forward first, even in the face of the unknown.

Behind him rang hearty, booming laughter. A burst of white light blinded his eyes as though he’d stared directly into the sun—and then, a breathtaking sight spread before him. Yet, oddly, it also felt familiar.

Snow was falling everywhere. The sky above shimmered beautifully. Snow blanketed the ground under the blue sky, yet flowers bloomed in every corner. Snow flowers bloomed in such abundance they formed a river of violet, and a castle stood tall—carved of ice and the very image of Axid Castle in the north.

But that wasn’t the only miraculous thing. Though it was clearly winter, massive apple trees full of ripe fruit spread across the area surrounding the castle. It was as if the beauty of the north and the warmth of the capital had been merged into one.

It was a truly beautiful sight—and yet, seeing it made his heart ache strangely. Slowly, Seiyad walked deeper into the scene. Despite the falling snow, the air that touched his cheek was warm. It truly felt like a paradise on earth.

Then, he heard voices in the distance. A child’s laughter—so similar to Lyley’s—and the soft, easy chuckles of a middle-aged man and woman. Drawn to the sound as if under a spell, Seiyad followed it and came to an abrupt stop.

There they were: Queen Leana and King Cyfrid, smiling in a way they never had in life. Sitting at a garden table, they were drinking tea like an affectionate couple. Lyley, frolicking happily in front of them, suddenly looked up as if spotting something—then ran off with a bright, white smile.

“Hyung!”

Seiyad’s eyes followed the child’s outstretched arms—and there stood the one he had longed for with every part of his soul. His heart, which had been frozen for so long, began to beat painfully. Warmth flooded into his limbs, and joy exploded inside him. He wanted to run forward and grab him immediately.

Beneath his flowing black hair, soft violet eyes curved gently. Joy lit up his fair skin like fresh snow. He stretched out his long arms and embraced Lyley.

“Lyley, you’ll get hurt if you run like that. You should come carefully.”

Ressas said, genuinely happy, as he held his younger brother tightly. The king and queen stood and approached them, and in a voice Seiyad had never heard from Ressas before—a voice full of tender affection—Leana spoke.

“Ressas, we’ve been waiting for you. Let’s go have lunch together.”

Leana’s expression was warm beyond words. It was a mother’s smile Ressas had never once seen in life. And the prince, like a flower in bloom, smiled with her.

“Yes, Mother.”

Hearing Ressas speak that word—one he had never been able to say aloud—was enough to make Seiyad stop dead in his tracks. He had never seen Ressas smile without worry before. And suddenly, the sun god’s words resurfaced in his mind.

“In paradise, a soul experiences what it desires most, in the place it yearns for most.”

That child, who had never truly known love from his parents, had been yearning for the warmth of a real family down to his soul. The realization shattered Seiyad. A wave of guilt washed over him—was it right to take Ressas away from this place, where he looked so happy?

Author: Levia