Chapter 1- Too attached

The room was filled with a soft, celestial glow as Anastasia channeled her magic through Nathan's body. Her hands rested gently on his back, parallel to the lungs, scanning for any lingering damage from the poison. Nathan sat at the edge of the bed, shirt off, his breathing steady but his fingers tapping restlessly on his knee. Though he was recovering well, his eagerness to return to his research was clear, a sense of impatience bubbling under the surface.

Roxanne stood a little to the side, quietly observing. There was a soft pride in her eyes, knowing she had played a part in her father's recovery. Her acid magic, guided by Anastasia, had helped destroy the poison in his body, and though she wasn't one for big displays, the knowledge that she had contributed was enough.

Jonna sat close by, her hands clasped in her lap. Her gaze flickered between Anastasia and Nathan, a quiet relief in her expression as she saw the progress her husband was making. She had always hoped for a full recovery, and now, seeing it firsthand, she allowed herself a moment of quiet joy.

After a few more moments, Anastasia let out a small breath of relief and withdrew her magic, the starlight fading as she opened her eyes. "The toxins are gone," she said softly, glancing at Nathan. "Your lungs are healing well. Just a little more rest and you'll be fully recovered."

He exhaled deeply, already shifting as if ready to stand. "Splendid! I can get back to work, right?" he asked, his fingers still tapping against his knee. "There's so much I've missed, and I've been itching to get back to my research."

"I'm sure you can jot down your data about your dance with death, but no experiments!" Anastasia said, offering a small, understanding smile. "It's good to be eager, but make sure you listen to your body."

Nathan gave a small grumble, but there was a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I'll try," he muttered, though his restlessness was clear. "But I'm not good at sitting still."

Roxanne's gaze softened slightly, though she remained quiet. She had always admired her father's passion for his work, even if it meant he could be a little stubborn about recovery. She glanced at Anastasia, her shyness keeping her from saying much, but there was a quiet appreciation for the cosmos mage's calm and steady demeanor.

Jonna chuckled softly at Nathan's impatience. "Stubborn as ever, aren't you?" she teased gently.

A smile tugged at Nathan's lips as he gave his wife a playful glare. "I know, I know. Alright, I'll take it easy for a bit longer." Then, turning his gaze to both Anastasia and Roxanne, he added, "I'm grateful to both of you. The combination of your magic is what pulled me through. Thank you."

Roxanne looked down for a moment, her cheeks tinged with a light blush at the praise. "I'm just... glad I could help," she said quietly, her voice soft but sincere.

Anastasia gave a modest smile, her gaze shifting between father and daughter. "It was a team effort. I can't wait to see what happens when you get your grimoire, Roxanne! And Nathan, I'm just happy to see you getting better."

Roxanne gave a small, shy smile, feeling a bit lighter now that her father was well on his way to recovery. She had always preferred to stay out of the spotlight, but knowing she had been a part of something so important filled her with quiet pride.

Gordon, who had been standing near the window, finally stepped forward, his gaze on Anastasia. "It's good to see everything turning out well," he said softly, a gentle warmth in his voice.

Anastasia looked over at him, her heart fluttering slightly. After everything they had been through, and after the intimacy of their stargazing date and his proposal, the weight of their connection seemed to grow stronger with every passing moment. She smiled back at him, feeling grounded by his presence.

The deep, resonant chime of the doorbell echoed unexpectedly through the Agrippa household, cutting through the tranquil air with a weighty presence. The family exchanged puzzled glances, curiosity etched across their faces. Jonna, in the midst of helping her husband ease into his shirt, voiced the question that lingered in everyone's mind.

"I don't think we were expecting any guests today," she remarked, her browbone furrowing slightly.

Anastasia's heart skipped a beat. That sound—it carried a certain gravity, one she couldn't ignore. A sharp pang resonated in her chest, as if her very soul recognized the visitor before her mind could catch up. Her hand instinctively gripped Gordon's sleeve, her wide violet eyes locking onto his, filled with a mix of surprise and apprehension.

"It's... it's my brother," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Gordon blinked, tilting his head in confusion. Her brother? He couldn't help but wonder what the Wizard King, of all people, would be doing at his humble family home. Curiosity bubbling within, he led Anastasia toward the door, his mind racing with questions. His hand hesitated for a moment before gripping the handle, the old wood creaking as the door slowly swung open.

To Gordon's utter astonishment, standing on the doorstep was not the imposing figure of Julius Novachrono, but a small boy of about thirteen, dressed in simple blue overalls and a long-sleeved white shirt, carrying a basket of fresh bread like some humble peasant boy from a village bakery. After all of this time, he had forgotten that the king was stuck in this form while his magic replenished. The boy's face beamed with a wide, mischievous grin.

"Yo! I found you, Anase!" the boy chirped, his voice bright and full of energy. He then turned to Gordon, offering a playful salute. "And Gordon Agrippa, Nice to see you again!"

Gordon blinked, thoroughly taken aback by his enthusiasm. "W-Wizard King Jul—"

Before he could finish, Anastasia swiftly pushed him aside, cutting him off with an exaggerated grin plastered across her face. "Orion! Little brother! Wow! Great to see you!" she exclaimed, her voice carrying a forced enthusiasm that barely concealed her panic.

"Orion, huh?" Julius began before his neck was locked in his sister's elbow.

Anastasia, not missing a beat, pulled him into a headlock that might have looked playful to an outside observer, but there was a clear tension in her voice as she hissed in his ear. "They don't know you in this form, Julius! They'll freak out if they find out the Wizard King is visiting them. Now play along before we get in trouble!"

He sputtered, struggling against his sister's surprisingly firm grip. "you're the one that's gonna blow my cover!" he gasped, his small frame wriggling in a desperate attempt to escape her hold. "Now let go, you're choking me!"

Gordon, his eyes wide, glanced back and forth between the two. "W-welcome to my home, Your majesty-."

The cosmos mage attacked him next, placing Gordon in her headlock. "Don't say that," she hissed into his ear, tightening her grip just enough to make her point. "We have to keep this form a secret. Today, he's Orion!"

The poison-curse mage frowned, anxiety bubbling in his gut. Lying to his family wasn't his style, but he couldn't exactly blow the cover of the Wizard King in his mother's living room. He sighed and nodded, though the tension in his shoulders betrayed his discomfort.

"Who's at the door, son?" Jonna's voice carried from the hall as her footsteps echoed closer.

Gordon practically jumped out of Anastasia's hold, straightening his black bull's robe and rubbing his neck nervously. "Mother, this is… uh…" His voice cracked as he desperately searched for the right words. "Orion… Anastasia's younger brother."

Jonna's sharp eyes swept over the boy and squinted as if something didn't quite add up, but she smiled politely anyway. "Well, hello," she said, the warmth in her voice tempered by the curiosity in her gaze. "I apologize, we weren't expecting guests today, so I haven't prepared anything."

Julius darted forward and wrapped an arm around Anastasia's waist, hugging her with an exaggerated fondness. "It's a pleasure to be here! So good to see my dear sister again," he said, looking up at her with a grin that only a younger sibling could manage—mischievous and utterly shameless.

Anastasia stiffened under his touch, glancing down at him like she might swat him away. Her smile was strained, but she couldn't exactly push him off her without raising suspicion.

"Oh yes, I've missed you so much!" She squeezes him tightly in a hug, the boy grunting in pain as his neck nearly snaps by getting plastered against her chest.

"Oh, you must be starving after your journey" Jonna muttered, clasping her hands together. "I'll make you something to eat. A growing boy like you needs proper nourishment"

Before Anastasia could intervene, Julius piped up with enthusiasm. "I'd love that! I could stay all day, really. Maybe even spend the night!"

Anastasia's eyes widened, her smile freezing in place. She gripped Julius' shoulder firmly. "Actually, Orion won't be staying long—"

"Oh, but I'd be honored to stay longer." Julius interjected with gleeful defiance, glancing up at her with that same impish smile. "How could I resist such hospitality?"

Gordon, standing awkwardly off to the side, felt his stomach twist into knots. He cleared his throat, his voice shaky. "Mother, maybe, uh… something small to eat? Orion doesn't need anything… too elaborate, right?"

Jonna's face lit up. "Nonsense! He's family! We'll make something special." She bustled toward the kitchen, leaving no room for protest.

Gordon shot Anastasia a sympathetic look, though he himself was visibly wilting under the pressure of the charade. He knew Julius was enjoying this a bit too much—perhaps a little more than the situation called for. And as much as Gordon admired the Wizard King, lying to his own mother like this made his insides squirm.

"Wonderful, right, Gordon?" Julius added, turning his mischievous gaze toward him.

Caught off guard, Gordon fumbled with his words. "Uh—yes! Wonderful. Truly." He gave an awkward, forced smile, feeling the sweat bead on his forehead. The lie felt like a weight pressing on his chest, but he couldn't exactly spill the truth now. Not with Anastasia glaring daggers at him from the corner of her eye.

Anastasia crossed her arms, leaning down slightly to meet Julius' gaze, her voice a sharp whisper. "You are enjoying this way too much."

Julius grinned up at her, completely unfazed by her withering stare. "Oh, I'm absolutely loving it," he whispered back, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

As they gathered around the table, Julius could feel that under her carefully composed exterior, her usual confidence mixed with a faint ripple of discomfort. She wasn't quite ready to see Julius and discuss their research so informally, but alongside her hesitation was something else: a subtle warmth. She was, despite it all, genuinely happy to see him.

Julius offered a soft smile, keeping his amusement in check. "So," he began, his voice gentle yet curious, "what have you two been up to?"

Anastasia exhaled slowly, clearly unprepared to dive into the details. She had meant to present this information to Julius in a more formal setting—perhaps at the Healing Tower or Clover Castle, not over an impromptu kitchen table meeting. Still, the Synastry spell made it impossible to hide her emotions, and Julius' genuine interest nudged her into sharing.

"We've been studying the medicinal properties of toxins," she said, folding her hands neatly in front of her. Her white hair shimmered faintly under the dim light, her violet eyes meeting her brother's. "It's part of a larger project that Nathan Agrippa- Gordon's father has been conducting here."

Gordon, seated stiffly beside her, offered a small nod. His dark attire seemed to absorb the light, giving him an almost spectral appearance, in contrast to Anastasia's celestial glow. Julius had always thought the Agrippa family had a slightly eerie elegance about them, but it suited their mastery over poisons and curses.

"We've successfully created heart medications," Anastasia continued, her voice steady. "Using controlled doses of certain poisons, carefully refined, we can regulate heart rhythms and improve circulation in patients with chronic conditions."

Julius' violet eyes flickered with interest. "That's quite impressive, Anastasia. You've all managed to turn something deadly into something life-saving." There was genuine admiration in his voice, but his tone was measured, reflecting both his wisdom as Wizard King and his connection to her as a sibling. "It's good to see your work extending beyond the Healing Tower. The kingdom needs more breakthroughs like this."

Anastasia dipped her head slightly in acknowledgment, the tension in her shoulders easing. She could feel his pride in her work, which, despite her earlier reluctance, gave her a sense of validation.

Gordon cleared his throat softly, as though gathering the courage to speak in front of the Wizard King, even if he was in a boy's body. "We've also been working on antidotes for some of the most common poisons," he muttered, his tone cautious but sincere. "The goal is to create solutions that don't require magic to use, so they're accessible to everyone—even in remote areas where healers aren't readily available."

Julius turned to Gordon, a respectful smile gracing his face. "Antidotes for mages with low magic? That could save countless lives. You're contributing to something truly important, Gordon."

Gordon's pale cheeks flushed slightly under the praise. "Thank you, Your-… Orion," he said, catching himself awkwardly. He sat back, trying not to fidget with the cuff of his sleeve, though his scarlet eyes flickered with a sense of pride.

Julius nodded, pleased with their work, but before the conversation could continue, he caught a flicker of movement from the corner of his eye. A small figure lingered near the edge of the room, half-hidden behind the wall—Roxanne. Her striking resemblance to Wednesday Addams, with her pale complexion, black braids, and dark makeup around her eyes and lips, would've been almost unsettling if not for the fact that she looked more bashful than brooding. She peered out with wide, curious eyes, her gaze focused on Julius.

Anastasia noticed too, and through their shared bond, Julius felt a ripple of amused exasperation from her. She leaned slightly toward him and whispered, "That's Roxanne. Gordon's younger sister. She's fourteen."

Julius' lips twitched into a soft smile. "I see," he whispered back. "And she's… hiding from me?"

Anastasia sighed, rolling her eyes. "She's shy around new people. And apparently, you qualify as 'new.'"

Julius stifled a chuckle, keeping his expression composed. He turned to Gordon with a raised eyebrow. "Does your sister normally lurk in the shadows, or is that a special occasion for me?"

Gordon winced, shifting uncomfortably. "She's, um… not used to having boys around the house," he said quietly, glancing in Roxanne's direction. "She gets nervous."

"Nervous?" Julius repeated, looking over at the girl who had now tucked herself further behind the wall, her cheeks visibly flushed.

Anastasia's lips twitched with a suppressed smile. "You are in the body of a thirteen-year-old boy. You look close to her age."

"Right," Julius said, leaning back thoughtfully, his eyes twinkling with faint amusement.

Anastasia couldn't help but grin, though she shook her head slightly. "You'd better watch yourself."

Julius raised his hands in mock innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about."

At that moment, Roxanne peeked out again, clutching a small, leather-bound book to her chest. This time, she summoned the courage to step out from behind the wall, though she still hovered near the door, her black-polished fingers fidgeting nervously with the book's corner.

"Hi," she mumbled, not quite meeting Julius' eyes. "I'm Roxanne."

"Hello, Roxanne," Julius said softly, his tone gentle and kind. He gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I'm Orion."

Roxanne's eyes darted up to meet his briefly before she looked away again, her cheeks pink against her pale skin. "I—I like your hair."

Julius blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "My hair?" He ran a hand through his blonde locks, surprised by the compliment. "Thanks. I don't get that one often."

Roxanne's face grew even redder, and she ducked her head with a shy smile. Gordon, meanwhile, looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor.

"Roxanne, why don't you, uh… help Mother in the kitchen?" Gordon suggested, his voice strained as he tried to save his sister from further embarrassment. "We're…just finishing up here."

Roxanne hesitated, glancing between Gordon and Julius, before giving a small nod and retreating back toward the kitchen, still clutching her book tightly. She cast one last glance over her shoulder at Julius before disappearing behind the door frame.

Julius leaned back in his chair, casting a sidelong glance at Anastasia. "She seems nice."

Anastasia smirked, her expression softening as she looked at her brother. "Just wait until she finds out you're the Wizard King."

Julius' lips curved into a wry smile. "Let's keep that a secret for now, shall we?"

Through their bond, Anastasia could feel his amusement, tempered by the responsibility he carried. It was moments like these—simple, unguarded—where she saw her brother less as the Wizard King and more as Julius. Despite her earlier discomfort, this was something she truly appreciated.

He placed his basket in the center of the table and Anastasia swiped a croissant. She savored the familiar taste of baked goods from her friend- Lola's bakery. It made her miss the Healing Tower greatly, yet the progress they were making there had been nothing short of astounding. Jonna entered the room from the kitchen carrying a pot of meat and vegetables, slathered with a red sauce that almost resembled blood.

"Gulasch" Gordon says with his German accent "This should be comforting after such a journey."

The siblings look at the dish. Anastasia's mouth was already watering, as she was already accustomed to Gordon's mother's foreign cooking. Julius stared at the goulash; eyes slightly wider than normal as he tried to maintain his composure. Underneath the mask of his childlike form, the Wizard King was calculating the odds of surviving this meal. His keen sense of diplomacy urged him to say something polite, but his internal monologue screamed at the blood-like sauce coating the dish.

"Oh, thank you so much, Mrs. Agrippa!" he said brightly, a nervous chuckle escaping before he could stop it. "It looks… quite... hearty."

Anastasia, noticing his hesitation, gave him a playful nudge under the table. "Come on, Orion," she teased, leaning closer. "Looks delicious, doesn't it? Be brave."

Julius narrowed his eyes at her for a brief moment before flashing his typical grin. "Of course! Brave as ever!" He grabbed his spoon with exaggerated enthusiasm and took a deep breath, silently preparing himself for a bite.

Gordon, catching the exchange, raised an eyebrow. "You've never had gulasch before?"

"Never!" Julius replied, maybe a bit too cheerfully, before adding in a quieter tone as he watched a bowl being placed in front of him, "And I'm beginning to wonder why…"

Jonna smiled warmly, oblivious to Julius's inner turmoil. "Don't worry, it's an old family recipe. I hope you enjoy it."

Julius shot a glance at Anastasia as if to say 'What have you gotten me into?', but took a spoonful of the dish anyway, his face scrunching slightly as the sauce hit his tongue.

"Mmm," he hummed, his expression unreadable as he forced down the bite. "It's… interesting."

Anastasia stifled a laugh, unable to resist the mischievous urge to watch her brother squirm, while Gordon observed Julius' struggle with a mix of confusion and amusement.

"Thanks for the food!" the cosmos mage said, dabbing the corners of her mouth with a napkin, her lips tinted with the deep red of the sauce.

"Yes, thank you for your hospitality," Julius added, his tone light but his eyes betraying his relief. "It's certainly been... a unique experience."

He glanced toward Anastasia, noticing the sly glint in her eyes that told him she wasn't done teasing him just yet. The sight made him act quicker than he intended. "Might I borrow my sister for a moment?" he blurted, almost too eagerly.

Jonna, clearing the dishes, raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Yes?" she replied slowly, her tone caught between curiosity and concern.

Anastasia gave Gordon's hand a light squeeze beneath the table, their eyes meeting in silent understanding before she stood. "Excuse me for a moment," she said softly, and followed her brother outside.

As they stepped into the front yard, the crisp air greeted them, the dead trees surrounding the property casting long, eerie shadows across the ground. The dark branches, twisted and bare, seemed to stretch toward them, leaning in as though they, too, were curious about what would be said next. Julius stopped in his tracks, his expression shifting from playful to serious as he glanced back at his sister. The weight of the looming conversation was already settling between them, and the quiet of the night made the air feel heavy, thick with unspoken words.

"Anastasia," Julius' tone shifted to something more somber, "you were right. I am feeling strange things in the bond… and it's been really hard. Figuratively and literally."

"OH GOD, JU—Orion!" the cosmos mage shrieked, her face flushing red in mortification.

Julius chuckled, allowing himself a brief moment of amusement before his expression returned to seriousness. "Tell me about that." He pointed directly at the dark tattoo circling her finger.

Anastasia followed his gaze down to the black ring on her finger, her lips pressing together. 'Of course, he'd feel it through Synastry,' she thought.

"It was an accidental curse…" she began, her voice softer as she searched her brother's face for any sign of judgment. "The Curse of Eternal Bond."

"Eternal Bond?" His face remained composed, though the slight raise of his eyebrow betrayed his growing concern.

"It's similar to Synastry," she continued cautiously, "but… the terms are different. The person who bears the ring," she held up her hand slightly, "takes on the brunt of its negative effects."

The weight of her words seemed to thicken the air between them, and Julius' eyes flickered with concern. He nodded slowly, taking a deep breath as if carefully choosing his next words.

"Anase," he began, his voice low and thick with emotion, "I know how much you love him. Believe me, I do. But I can't say I approve of this."

Anastasia swallowed, guilt flashing across her face, but before she could respond, Julius' eyes flicked back to the ring. His brow furrowed slightly as something else dawned on him. "Wait… That ring… did he—"

She inhaled sharply and nodded, her face flushing slightly. "Gordon proposed."

There was a pause. Julius blinked, his violet eyes widening slightly, then narrowing again as he processed her words. For a moment, his serious expression faltered, and something warmer, almost amused, surfaced. A wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Oh," he said, chuckling softly as if the gravity of the moment had just flipped on its head. "Well… congratulations, I suppose."

Anastasia blinked, surprised by his sudden shift in tone. His smile lingered, though it didn't quite reach his eyes, and there was something almost bittersweet behind it.

"Thank you," she said, half-smiling, though a nervous edge remained.

Julius' amusement faded, replaced with the quiet tension that had been building. He cradled her hand gently, his fingers brushing the cursed ring. His tone grew serious again. "But this bond, Anase... it seems more than just a ring."

Anastasia met his gaze, her chest tightening as guilt welled up inside her. There was no anger in his eyes—just worry, and it made the truth feel all the heavier.

"W-well," Anastasia stammered, trying to force a smile through her nerves. "It's not without its perks. It's a blessing in disguise even! I have a huge resistance to poisons and toxins now, thanks to it. A-and because his attribute is mostly offensive, I get a boost for my Zodiac Infusions. Our research has been amazing, and our training sessions—"

She cut herself off as Julius' small hand closed over hers, her rush of words. Their violet eyes locked, and the seriousness in his gaze pierced through her attempts to justify the curse.

"There was one night," Julius began, his voice low but firm, "when you woke up with chest pain and were coughing blood." His words hung in the air like a heavy weight, and Anastasia's heart sank. "Did you think I wouldn't feel that?"

"I… I…" Her voice faltered, caught in her throat.

"It's strange enough not having you in the castle," he continued, his tone growing sharper, more urgent. "Not only do I miss you, but when things like that happen—when you're in pain—you make me worry."

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling, guilt clawing at her chest.

Julius' grip on her hand tightened slightly, not out of anger, but out of the overwhelming concern he couldn't hide. "There may come a time," he said, voice steady but filled with gravity, "where you'll have to choose where you'll suffer the least. Remember this, Anase—when you suffer, I suffer too. So, choose wisely."

His words struck her harder than she expected, and her throat tightened as she tried to respond. The reality of the curse—the eternal bond that now seemed to link them all—was suddenly crushing. It wasn't just her and Gordon. It was Julius too.

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she whispered, "I never meant for you to feel that…"

Julius' expression softened slightly, but the intensity remained. "I know you didn't," he said quietly, "but it doesn't change the fact that I do."

Anastasia took a deep breath, her chest tightening as she nodded slowly. "You're right, Julius," she murmured, her voice barely audible, laden with the weight of her guilt.

In the shadows of the yard, Gordon lurked behind a twisted tree, his eyes fixed on the siblings. He understood their bond—the worry and affection between them—more than he ever expected to. But as he watched Anastasia's hand in Julius', something unexpected stirred inside him, gnawing at the edges of his heart. Her guilt weighed on him, the curse making it feel as if it was his own burden, but there was something else too.

Envy.

It crept in, unbidden and foreign. The sight of her hand in her brother's—a touch so simple, yet brimming with love and trust—made his chest tighten in a way that had nothing to do with the curse.

'So this is the power of love,' Gordon thought to himself, his expression hidden by the shadows. 'It's... a little scary.'

The way they held each other, the way they could share that warmth so easily—it stirred something deep inside him. He clenched his grip on the tree, feeling the subtle thrum of their bond pulsing through him, the undercurrent of Anastasia's guilt rippling across his own emotions. But he couldn't tear his eyes away from them. 'Can I ever... be that for her?'

For the first time, he wasn't just afraid of the curse. He was afraid of the answer to that question.

Julius stormed into his office, the door slamming shut behind him, reverberating through the still room. He collapsed into his chair, hands trembling as they raked through his hair. His mind raced, consumed by a whirlwind of thoughts—frustration, fear, and a gnawing sense of helplessness. Anastasia's words about the curse, the ring, and the bond she now shared with Gordon played on repeat in his head.

Marx entered moments later, his expression stern, prepared to reprimand his king for vanishing and neglecting his duties. But as soon as he laid eyes on Julius, visibly shaken, he softened. His brow furrowed with concern, yet after his years of serving Julius, he learned that only one thing could shake his composure so much.

"It's your sister, isn't it?" Marx's tone was gentle, betraying his usual stoic professionalism.

Julius remained silent, his gaze distant as he turned toward the large windows behind him, staring at the rising moon. The cool glow did little to ease the tension building in his chest. His throat tightened as he replayed the conversation with Anastasia. He had always protected her, but now… now she was beyond his reach, tethered to someone else by a curse. The memory mage approached the desk quietly, watching Julius carefully, his shoes tapping softly against the floor. He stopped just in front of his king, studying his troubled expression. After a long pause, he spoke again.

"Do you want me to make her forget him?"

Julius' body went rigid. His breath caught in his throat as he snapped his head toward Marx, eyes wide in disbelief. Had he truly heard that right? His heart pounded in his chest as the words sunk in. This wasn't a joke. There was no illusion or trickery. Marx had seriously suggested wiping Anastasia's memories, erasing Gordon from her life completely.

"You... what?" The boy's voice shook, a mix of shock and outrage.

Marx's expression remained calm, though something flickered in his eyes—a desire, a protective instinct. "I could make her forget him, Julius. She wouldn't suffer anymore, and you wouldn't have to worry."

The Wizard King's breath hitched. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He rose from his chair, facing Marx fully now, his fists clenched at his sides. "Do you even realize what you're proposing?"

But deep down, Marx did. He knew exactly what he was suggesting. He wanted to do it. He wanted to reset her memory, to fix her—so that she would never suffer, and he would be the one to protect her from every pain, every hardship. He would keep her safe. Surely, that would make Julius happy.

For a moment, the idea gnawed at Julius. His sister, free from the curse, free from Gordon. It would keep her close—safe. And yet… he couldn't deny the impact Anastasia and her fiancé's work could have, not just for the Clover Kingdom but for the entire world. What they were building together—research, discoveries, combined magic—it was bigger than any personal attachment. Suppose he allowed Marx to go through with it... what if Anastasia found out? What if she hated him for it, severing the bond they had shared for so long? The very thought made his blood run cold.

That would be a suffering far greater than death.

Julius' shoulders sagged, the weight of it all crashing down on him. His voice softened, filled with resignation. "No, Marx… we won't do that."

But the realization struck Julius hard. He was too attached—too used to their Synastry. He had never expected to feel this way toward another man having her heart. And yet, the thought of anyone taking her away felt like a slow-burning agony. Marx, for a fleeting moment, lowered his gaze, swallowing the desire that lingered just beneath the surface. His king's command stood, but inside him, the unspoken wish remained: he could've made her forget, reshaped her reality, and kept her close... kept her his.

Julius' eyes narrowed as he watched the moon's light flood the room. "I won't be the reason she suffers more. I won't take away her choice."

Marx said nothing more, merely nodding. But the tension between them was palpable, a heavy silence filled with emotions too tangled to unravel.