Emily’s hands trembled.
She swallowed hard and said in a hoarse voice, "I killed you. I killed both of you. You were crying when I—when I did it. How could you not hate me for that?"
Diana only smiled.
She cupped Emily’s cheeks with both hands and made her look up.
"We weren’t crying of our death," she said. "We were sad because we wouldn’t get to see you grow up. As for our deaths, that is nothing to be sad about."
Emily blinked, stunned, while her mother continued.
Her thumbs brushed Emily’s damp skin as she spoke,
"Your father and I... we lived long lives, Emily. We saw more than enough of what this world could give us. We had each other, and then we had a daughter. What else could we have asked for?"
She leaned forward and pinched Emily’s cheek with the same gentle playfulness she had shown when Emily was little.
"Even at the end, we found a way to protect you. That was enough. More than enough. There is nothing in that to regret."
Emily’s shoulders shook again, the tears still streaming.
She shook her head and whispered, "But countless people died because of me. Because of what I did."
"That wasn’t your fault. That was the monster’s fault," James spoke up.
He crossed his arms.
"As for the people, it might be harsh to say this, but they would have perished when the System descended and the Apocalypse began. That much was inevitable.
"But because of you, they lived longer.
"They had years they wouldn’t have had. That is because you brought them into the Netherworld."
Emily’s lips trembled as if she wanted to argue, but no words came.
Finally she managed a weak, "But—"
"That’s enough crying. We’ve heard enough apologies for things that were never yours to carry," James said firmly, and kindly.
Diana used her sleeve to wipe at the tears still clinging to Emily’s cheeks.
"We’ve met again after so long. Why waste this time on sadness? Let’s talk about happy things instead."
She tapped her fingers lightly against the ground.
The emptiness around them shimmered and shifted, as though the world itself obeyed her will.
The endless void was gone, replaced by a beautiful garden.
The three of them now sat beneath a shaded pavilion at the center of the garden.
Sunlight streamed gently through the leaves overhead.
Birds chirped to each other from the trees.
A pond rippled nearby where fish swam lazily beneath the surface. It was a peaceful scene, and almost unreal in its beauty.
Emily clung tightly to her mother, refusing to let go even as Diana guided her to one of the seats.
James settled onto the other side, and for a moment the family looked as though nothing had ever separated them.
A short distance away, Isaac stood quietly, unsure if he should intrude.
Diana looked at him. She tilted her head with a small smile.
"Young man, there’s no need to stand like that. Come and sit with us."
Isaac bowed his head. "Thank you."
He crossed the space and took a seat near them.
Emily finally loosened her grip on her mother just enough to start speaking. Her voice steadied little by little as she told them about her life.
"I’m... I’m living happily. I have friends now, and a big family. Aunty is always there to teach me when I don’t understand something.
"The vice principal keeps doting on me even when I don’t deserve it.
"Alice doesn’t talk much, but she’s always watching out for me, and protecting me.
"And Isaac..."
Her lips curved into a shy smile, and she turned her head toward Isaac.
"Isaac is my husband. He’s the best thing I have in my life."
For a moment silence stretched.
Diana raised an eyebrow.
James, however, froze midway through pouring the tea.
It was only after several seconds that he cleared his throat, straightened, and resumed. He poured neatly into three cups—one for himself, one for Diana, and one for Emily.
Isaac’s lips twitched when he realized a fourth cup that had been set aside but ignored after Emily revealed he was her husband.
Diana noticed immediately.
She continued listening to Emily’s words but flicked her fingers almost lazily.
The untouched cup rose into the air, filled with tea, and floated over to Isaac. It landed before him with practiced ease. She gave him a small nod.
Isaac inclined his head in return. "Thank you."
James clicked his tongue in irritation, not bothering to hide it.
His gaze kept drifting toward Isaac, sharp and cold, only softening whenever Emily spoke again.
Each time she smiled at him, the anger faded for a while, though it always returned once Isaac reentered the picture.
Still, the afternoon passed peacefully enough.
The three of them—mother, father, daughter—spoke for hours, sharing fragments of their lives, their memories, and the little details that made conversation flow.
Occasionally Isaac joined in, offering a comment or answering when Diana asked him something directly.
It became clear to him that Diana made the effort deliberately.
She always steered the conversation in a way that left room for him to be involved.
Emily’s joy filled the garden, and even James eventually stopped glaring quite so often, though the hostility never fully disappeared.
Time passed almost without them realizing.
The sunlight shifted, softening into a golden glow.
Finally, after speaking so much, Emily’s words slowed, and her eyelids began to droop.
She rested her head against her mother’s shoulder and drifted off.
Diana held her close, one arm wrapped around her daughter while the other hand brushed strands of hair away from Emily’s face.
Her touch was tender. She was careful not to wake her.
Then she looked up, and her eyes met Isaac’s across the table.
"Thank you," she said simply. "For treating Emily so well. From the way she talks, we can tell she’s truly happy with you."
Isaac sat straighter, surprised by the weight in her words. He shook his head quickly, almost embarrassed.
"It’s Emily who takes care of me. She’s the one who makes things easier, not the other way around. I’m just grateful she’s stayed with me."
Diana’s lips curved in a quiet smile. She stroked Emily’s hair again, thoughtful.
James suddenly slammed his palm down on the table.
The sharp sound echoed through the calm garden.
His face darkened as he leaned forward and glared directly at Isaac.
"Brat. Have you slept with my little flower already?"
"Huh?" Isaac froze, blinking in confusion.
James narrowed his eyes further.
"You haven’t, right? She’s too young for that. Don’t you dare tell me you’ve already done it."
Isaac’s lips twitched as he struggled to find words.
In his head he was already groaning.
First Chairman Lucius, then Vale, and now Emily’s father.
Why did they all turn their wrath toward him, as though he were some kind of thief stealing their daughters/sister from them?
Alright... maybe he did do that.
But it wasn’t a crime to do that!
James’s face turned red with anger.
He pushed against the table again and started to rise.
"You bastard...! You actually—"
"That’s enough," Diana cut in sharply, placing her hand on his arm. Her expression remained calm but firm. "We have more important matters to talk about than your temper."
James spun toward her, incredulous.
"More important? Diana, this guy might be playing with our daughter! You know how innocent she is.
"Do you expect me to just sit here and let it happen? If he’s toying with her feelings, then killing him right here is the most important thing to me!" he roared.
Diana sighed, making her annoyance clear. "James. If he were just playing with her, he wouldn’t have come here knowing he’d face both of us. Think for a moment before you shout."