Y'all know where this chapter set. Anyway just read it! I hope you don't get mad at me :D

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For the love of Nifl she is mad. Very, very mad. Her normally calm composure just went out on window when he did that! His father's order is clear: stay away from Hel. She has warned the Commander and him not to dug deeper yet they keep doing it.

If only she got long hair she will pulled it just for the sake of venting her frustration.

She impatienly stomp her way to the courtyard where the said man stand and began to give him very angry look. Alfonse suddenly shrinking from her glare.

"Fjorm, why are you looking like me that?"

"You damm fool!"

Alfonse take a step back with a dumbfounded expression whick further raise Fjorm's ire.

Others around them just giggling or just plain don't care. Kiran and Sharena covers their mouth to hide their laughter while they take their leave, the Commander and Princess Eir already leave the scene.

"Er, Fjorm, why the sudden-"

"Are you daft?! You just put yourself a death sentence!"

"I know, which is why I'm determined to find a way to break the curse," Alfonse said nonchalantly. "I have nine days, which is plenty. We have faced many threats before, and I won't let death herself stop me from overcoming it."

Fjorm sighed. Mentally screaming from Alfonse's statement. But she settles with giving him very, very simple question.

"If you run out of time?"

"Well, it's obvious, isn't it? It's up to you to continue the-"

Fjorm facepalmed. "Listen to what you said, did you ever consider *cough* how worried everyone-"

"It's the risk I take Fjorm!" he suddenly yelled. "I know how foolish my choice is, but I have to live with it. If I'm dead because of it then it's my fault. You have to move on-"

"I AM supposed to be the dead one here!" Fjorm yelled back.

Both fell silence. Fjorm immediately regretted what she said. She know Alfonse mean well, but she dislike how he chose to go through with this. Nine days with the consequences either free or die. It's like a sick joke to downplay her worsened condition. Wait! Did she just said...

"Fjorm, what do you mean by that?"

"Um, er, it means that I-I... it's not what *cough* it looks like, I swear."

"No, you're hiding something."

Fjorm sighed. What a way to blow her secret. It wasn't supposed to be like this. She knows her life is short after sacrificing her soul for the rite of frost. But she doesn't want it revealed during times like this. The Order is fighting Hel herself. Nobody has to worry of her condition, nobody until the time is right.

"I lied, Alfonse." she simply said. "My time is short, Alfonse. I will die before all of you."

"H-How?! Did Hel-"

"No, it was the rite of frost."

"Why didn't you say anything about this?"

Gods, Fjorm doesn't like seeing him like this. It almost make her felt more guilt by making him more worried to her than the bigger concern.

"Because... I want to spend the rest of my life with everyone here. I am grateful to Kiran for being the one introduce me here, I like being friends with Sharena and her heroes friends, and I like spending time watching Commander fooled herself for being greedy." she grimly chuckled. "And most importantly..."

"I want to spend the rest of my life beside you."

There, she spit it out. Everything she kept secret until now. She feel relieved and free, but it wasn't enough to drown all her worries.

"If that is the case," Alfonse muttered. "I will find a way to cure your illness."

"Wha- Alfonse, this isn't just an illness. This is literal God absorbing my life force until I died," she forlornly said. "There is no stopping it and I have made peace with it."

"During one of recent tempest we faced, I made a promise to Zacharias that I will slain Embla itself to free him and Princess Veronica from their curse," Alfonse solemmly stated. "And I'm serious. If it means to defy gods itself to free their torment, I will do it. If there is a way cure you even if we have to defy Nifl's decision, I will do it. That extends to my curse."

'By the gods, why I fell in love with this man again?'

"Do you really mean it?"

"Yes."

That answer was enough to convince Fjorm. Maybe there is a way for her to live the way she pleased, or maybe not. Either way, she has hope that will flicker enough for her future.

"Prince Alfonse, promise me..." she paused. "Promise me that should either of us dies first, one should live and find happiness and never be saddened of each other's loss. No matter *cough* how close we are. This is our oath, and ours only."

"I... promise." Alfonse reluctantly said. Fjorm grows worried of his tone. Perhaps she went too far when she said it. She doesn't to force him to easily move on.

"You can take back what your words *cough* if you can't handle it. I'm sorry if I went too-"

"No, absolutely not. I made a promise to slain a God. I don't want to broke one promise just because my fear. I will try my best grow and be a better man. I know how hard it is to be attached and losing those attachment, but eventually I have to accept everything that happened."

"And yes, Princess Fjorm, I accept. Our oath, right."

Fjorm raises her pinky finger, perhaps a little childish, but a simple show of affection is enough.

Alfonse smiled and return the gesture.