Inside Ariadna's Diary

El joven fundador era de rasgos atractivos, pelo negro, ojos dorados característicos de su clan y porte elegante. Carsten era un caballero educado y capaz desde temprana edad para ocupar el puesto de la cabeza de la familia. Era un joven que a primera vista era reservado, diestro al hablar, inteligente, responsable y atractivo. Sin embargo, pocos realmente llegaban a conocerle ya que era conocido por ser difícil de tratar y frío con los extraños. Carsten también era un joven curioso que disfrutaba de enriquecer su intelecto y atender sus responsabilidades, pero que siempre tenía en claro lo que debía hacer para alcanzar a ser el digno heredero que se esperaba de él. Su familia no tenía necesidad de presionarlo más de lo necesario y durante toda su vida se rigió con responsabilidad y orden.

El tiempo pasó y Carsten se dedicaba únicamente a atender sus negocios y a pasar las horas encerrado en su estudio aprendiendo cuanto podía. Sin embargo, Carsten llegó a la edad ideal para casarse. Mientras los jóvenes de su edad ya estaban casados, comprometidos o buscando activamente casarse, asistiendo a todos los eventos sociales organizados por la aristocracia meramente para el beneficio de ambas familias. Carsten, en cambio, mostraba tan poco interés que su madre, Medea Kobayashi decidió hacer algo al respecto. Sucedió durante un baile, uno de muchos, en el que fue obligado Carsten a asistir por su madre, cansada de la falta de interés de su primogénito. 

–¡Carsten!– llamó su madre –Ven un momento por favor. Quiero presentarte a alguien–.

Carsten soltó un suspiro molesto y se levantó de la mesa para acercarse al grupo de mujeres donde se encontraba su madre. En el grupo, había otras dos mujeres. Una mujer adulta y otra más joven a la cual él le calculó que tenía alrededor de su misma edad.

–Hijo, te presento a la señora Gisemman y a su hija la señorita Elizabeth Gisemman– presentó su madre a las damas. –Señoritas, él es mi hijo, Carsten: el heredero a la familia Kobayashi–.

–Es un placer– saludó Carsten con una reverencia.

–Hijo mío, quisiera que acompañaras a la señorita Elizabeth por esta noche– dijo la madre de Carsten, quien no tuvo otra opción que aceptar.

–Como desees– respondió Carsten. 

Carsten ofreció su brazo a Elizabeth, quien lo tomó y la guió a dónde pudieran conversar. Elizabeth era una joven ciertamente bella, quien al igual que Carsten poseía los ojos dorados y el pelo rubio. Tal como Carsten, Elizabeth había recibido la más alta educación, sin embargo, no poseían los mismos intereses. Mientras más avanzaba la noche, los temas escaseaban, había más silencios y Carsten empezaba a hartarse de la compañía de la joven Elizabeth. Para su desagrado, ella no se apartaba de su lado y sentía que lo asfixiaba.

Carsten buscó una excusa y logró alejarse de Elizabeth. Sabía que si continuaba estando con ella, podría llegar a irritarse a tal grado que la podría lastimar sus sentimientos con su frialdad. Estaba harto de la búsqueda sin sentido para una mujer con la casarse. Todas las damas que había conocido eran iguales a la anterior. Todas tan aburridas, con los mismos intereses, interesadas solo en adquirir un hombre con recursos y estatus, únicamente concentradas en lucir hermosas. ¿Es que acaso no tenían una aspiración más allá de quedarse en casa y ser usadas como fábricas de bebés? 

Carsten estaba tan irritado y distraído que no se dio cuenta y chocó con una persona. Oyó un chillido y extendió el brazo rápidamente para estabilizar a la persona con la que había chocado.

–Discúlpeme, no he visto por dónde iba– se disculpó Carsten. Pero cuando bajó la mirada a su brazo, vio que se trataba de una joven.

–Sí, no se preocupe– respondió la chica mientras se alisaba el vestido. –Solo tenga más cuidado la próxima vez–.

Esto dejó a Carsten perplejo. La joven tenía actitud, pero clase también. La miró más detenidamente: era muy bella, tenía el pelo cobrizo, ojos dorados, estatura algo baja y una complexión delgada. 

 –¿Está segura?– insistió Carsten, en cierta forma quería retenerla un poco más de tiempo.

–Sí, insisto– dijo la chica dándose la vuelta y retirándose.

Carsten estaba hipnotizado. Aquella mujer no se había interesado en él en absoluto, podría incluso asegurar que ella no sabía quién era. Si hubiera sido otra dama, habría tomado la oportunidad para obligarlo a pasar el resto de la noche con ella o como mínimo sacarle un baile.

Esto lo intrigó por completo. Sin perder oportunidad la siguió y la encontró justo a tiempo para verla salir a un balcón. Entró y la encontró sola, viendo a lo lejos la luz que metía el extenso territorio de los Primera Sangre. Su rostro perdido en la inmensidad y en sus pensamientos. Carsten sintió la necesidad de acercarse y hablar con ella. Y así lo hizo: por primera vez en su larga vida, él se acercó por voluntad propia a una mujer que había capturado su interés. Curiosamente, la mujer era quien intentaba alejarlo de ella, intentando asustarlo con temas profundos y difíciles, que para su mala suerte, eran en realidad los de su interés y deleite.  

Aquella dama, sintió interés de vuelta: por fin un joven quien le seguía el ritmo y no parecía escandalizarle que fuera diestra al hablar de aquellos temas tan complejos y nada convencionales para una dama como ella. Las horas pasaban apresuradas cuando ambos comenzaron su plática. No fue sino cuando fueron a buscarla para partir, que Carsten no perdió la oportunidad para pedirle su nombre.

–Aura von Nelizah ¿quién pregunta?– respondió ella.

–Carsten Kobayashi– dijo él con una sonrisa de suficiencia al ver como la cara de ella perdía su fanfarronería y pasaba al pánico. 

–Lamento mucho mi imprudencia, mi señor– Aura se disculpó presurosa y se inclinó en muestra de respeto. 

Carsten estaba satisfecho, debía tomar esta oportunidad para poder verla otra vez.

–Una falta grave el no saber quién soy~– dijo, fingiendo ofenderse –Sin embargo, puede hacer algo para enmendar su error: permíteme verte una vez más y permítame que le escriba de igual forma–.

Aura alzó su cabeza y lo miró sorprendida. Su expresión cambió de miedo a feliz.

–Será un placer– contestó Aura. 

Desde aquella noche, Carsten y Aura hablaban con regularidad mediante cartas. En un principio, meramente amistosos intercambios de temas interesantes y ocasionales. Luego pasaron a ser temas más personales y a ser más regulares. Hasta terminar por ser casi diarias y ser motivo de dicha entre ambos jóvenes. Sin darse cuenta, ambos se habían enamorado y Carsten decidió entonces que haría de Aura su esposa. No le importaba en lo más mínimo que ella fuera de una familia más baja que la de él y que no le traída a su familia beneficio alguno, aunque eso no era del todo cierto: ¿qué mayor beneficio podría tener el hacerla su esposa y llenar de dicha todos sus días por toda su eterna vida?

Sin embargo, las cosas no siempre son fáciles. Y el matrimonio por amor es un lujo que la nobleza no se puede dar. Los padres de Carsten se negaron rotundamente al casamiento por esas mismas razones por las que Carsten era consciente. Y aunque él luchó y se negó, al final solo consiguió que le negaran volverse a ver o comunicarse con Aura y lo que fue peor aún: arreglaron su casamiento con la señorita Elizabeth Gisemman. Ella era de buena familia tanto en riqueza como posición y era además hija de la mejor amiga de su madre, el arreglo había sido concretado sin que él lo supiera o pudiera hacer algo al respecto. 

Carsten se vio con Aura por lo que sería la última vez. Ambos enamorados estaban destrozados, se amaban pero no podían estar juntos.  Carsten entonces decidió que endurecería su corazón y que si no podría amar a Aura, no amaría nunca a otra mujer.

El día de la boda, Carsten estaba destrozado y tristemente volcó todo su enojo y dolor en la pobre Elizabeth, evolucionando en rencor. 

–Carsten, ¡prometo hacerte el hombre más feliz del Makai!– dijo con una amplia sonrisa la joven Elizabeth. 

Carsten la miró con desdén.

–Ahórrate tus palabras– dijo con mucha frialdad –Escúchame muy bien: aunque estemos casados, pero es meramente en apariencia. No te fallaré en cuanto a proveerte y darte tu lugar como la matriarca de la familia. Serás ciertamente mi esposa, pero nunca te amaré–.

Elizabeth perdió su sonrisa y sus ojos se llenaron de lágrimas. Ese día supo que él era como los rumores decían: cruel y frío. Ella había quedado enamorada de él desde que lo vio aquella noche, y había rogado a sus padres para que lograran arreglar su casamiento con Carsten. Sus padres, quienes siempre le habían dado todo cuanto quería, no dudaron y con facilidad acordaron su casamiento. Sin embargo, aquel hombre tenía el corazón de hielo… al menos solo para ella. 

El casamiento se concretó y para el pesar de Elizabeth, Carsten ni siquiera se presentó a su alcoba en su primera noche como esposos. Humillada y derrotada, Elizabeth sabía que debía ser fuerte si quería ganarse el amor de aquel hombre tan frío a quien decidió tener por marido. Al mismo tiempo, Carsten sufría en silencio su propio dolor. Él hubiera querido pasar el resto de la eternidad con su amada Aura, quien por injusticias de las reglas y costumbres no pudo tomar por esposa. Pero lo hecho, hecho está y debía olvidarse de Aura. 

Carsten lo intentó y ¡sí que lo intentó! Pero no podía. Quería aprender a amar a su esposa, quien se desvivía por hacerlo enamorarse de ella y cumplía con sus responsabilidades como esposa y cabeza de la casa. Pero… era imposible. Carsten no podía sacarse de la cabeza a Aura y terminaba por siempre lastimar a Elizabeth. 

Y sucedió que Carsten se encontró con Aura un día que huyó de su casa para intentar respirar después de un pleito particularmente fuerte con Elizabeth. Y al ver a Aura otra vez… fue como si todas las preocupaciones se desvanecieran y su corazón latía nuevamente. 

Fue un encuentro fugaz, intentaron huir pero fue en balde. Se abrazaron ante el reencuentro. Intercambiaron palabras de amor. Le siguió un tierno beso, el cual se tornó en uno apasionado e inevitablemente terminaron entrelazando sus cuerpos con una pasión desenfrenada, resultado de amor que les prohibieron y deseando quedarse el uno dentro del otro y para tenerse por siempre. 

Este error, no vino sin consecuencias. Ciertamente, ambos se sintieron culpables y acordaron que no se repetiría. Sin embargo, al mes de ese encuentro, Aura le pidió que se encontraran. Y entre lágrimas Aura le anunció que había quedado embarazada. Ambos estaban metidos en problemas: el adulterio era penado con la misma muerte. Aún más considerando su posición como la cabeza de la familia Kobayashi y la mano derecha del rey Giesbach Tsukinami. Pero Carsten amaba a Aura y ahora al bebé que llevaba en su vientre que era el producto de su amor. 

Planearon entonces llevar una vida secreta. Aura huyó de su casa y Carsten se la llevó lejos, casi al límite del territorio de los fundadores. En su último mes, él le mintió a Elizabeth sobre un viaje y lo pasó junto a Aura y así estar presente en el parto. Fue duro hacerlo sin ayuda, pero valió la pena cuando ella dio a luz a un varón sano a quien dieron por nombre Kai. No podían estar más felices. Ahora empezaba el verdadero reto: criar a su hijo, mantenerlos a ambos en secreto y a salvo. Carsten entonces se dedicó a “viajar” constantemente para ver a quien consideraba su familia y estar en dónde consideraba su verdadero hogar. 

Las cosas se complicaron cuando 2 años después, Aura quedó encinta por segunda vez. Carsten estaba dichoso, pero sabía que el riesgo aumentaría nuevamente. Durante esos meses en los que Aura estaba esperando a su segundo bebé, Carsten hacía lo posible por no alzar las sospechas de Elizabeth. Tratándola mejor, dándole regalos con regularidad, pasando tiempo de calidad con ella e incluso se obligó a cumplir con sus responsabilidades maritales, lo cual le resultaba muy difícil. No sin asegurarse de no engendrar un hijo con Elizabeth, para decepción de ella. Nuevamente, el último mes emprendió su “viaje” de un mes para ayudar con el parto a Aura. Su segundo hijo igualmente un varón sano al cual dieron por nombre Daisuke. Tenía la familia que siempre quiso: una mujer que amaba siendo la madre de sus hijos a quienes amaba. No podía pedir más.

Sin embargo, no hay mentira que dure 100 años, aún si eres un inmortal. Además, de que uno no debe construir su felicidad a costa del sufrimiento ajeno.

Ciertamente Elizabeth empezó a perder la paciencia. Siendo víctima igualmente de la constante presión ejercida por su madre, suegra y mujeres aristocráticas de tener un heredero. Empezó a escuchar rumores sobre cómo ella era una mujer inútil que no podía engendrarle un hijo a Carsten o peor aún: se empezaba a sospechar sobre la relación de ambos.  Lo peor de todo, era que cuando Elizabeth le hablaba a Carsten al respecto, él la miraba con desagrado. 

–No pasará– le dijo Carsten secamente y procedió a realizar su trabajo.

–¡P-Pero! ¡Es nuestro deber engendrar un heredero para la familia Kobayashi!– ella insistía –¡Ya llevamos mucho tiempo casados y no hemos engendrado ni uno!–

Carsten no alzó la vista de los documentos. Elizabeth entonces enfureció.

–¡Carsten! ¡Es tu obligación! ¡Es lo mínimo que puedes hacer por mí después de como me has tratado todo este tiempo!–

Carsten golpeó la mesa enfurecido. 

–¡Silencio! Tú no entiendes ¿verdad?– gritó, después se levantó y se puso delante de ella amenazante –Te lo advertí ¿cierto? El día que nos casamos te dije que serías mi esposa solo para las apariencias, pero que yo nunca te amaría ¿¡no es así!?–

Elizabeth se encogió, pero tomando valor le contestó:

–¡Lo dijiste! ¡Sin embargo es parte de tu responsabilidad como mi esposo y líder de la familia! ¡Debes darme un hijo!–

–¿Mi responsabilidad? ¡No me hagas reír!–  dijo como si la idea le resultara repugnante –¿Yo teniendo un hijo contigo? ¡Prefería morir!–

–¡P-Pero! Tú dijiste que me darías mi lugar como tu esposa– dijo Elizabeth derrotada y con lágrimas en los ojos.

–¿¡Acaso no he cumplido mi palabra!? ¡No te falta nada! ¡Tienes todo cuanto deseas! ¡Tienes la libertad de hacer e ir donde desees! ¿¡Y te atreves a decir que no he cumplido!?–

Elizabeth se soltó a llorar y Carsten le dio la espalda: 

–Retírate. La única razón por la que te daría un hijo es si te amara o fuera un error, lo cual nunca pasará. ¡Ahora largo! ¡Y no vuelvas a insistir!–

Elizabeth huyó en un mar de lágrimas. No podía soportar la presión ni ser blanco de burlas o rumores por culpa de Carsten. Y después de un tiempo ideó un plan. En una ocasión que Carsten se fue “de viaje”, ella fingió creerle y en cuanto se fue, mandó a un familiar a que lo siguiera en secreto. Después de unas horas, este volvió y le informó del paradero de Carsten. Sin dudarlo, llegó al destino solo para encontrar una sencilla cabaña en un bosque al límite del territorio del clan fundador. Y al asomarse, el mundo se le quebró en un instante: Ahí estaba Carsten, sentado en una simple sala y con él una mujer. Ambos estaban abrazados y se daban caricias, se veían muy enamorados. Elizabeth rompió a llorar y cuando creía que no podría ser peor: de una habitación adjunta entraron dos pequeños niños. Ellos se lanzaron a los brazos de Carsten y de aquella mujer, quienes los tomaron en brazos. Carsten se veía muy feliz y enamorado… un lado de él que ella jamás habría podido ver sino fuera por haberlo seguido hasta ahí.

Elizabeth estaba destrozada: no solo Carsten la había engañado con otra mujer, sino que había optado por criar a los hijos de aquella mujer como suyos cuando se había negado rotundamente a tener hijos propios con ella, su mujer. Elizabeth no podía con el dolor y decidió regresar a casa, debía afrontar esto tarde o temprano. A los días, Carsten volvió y se encontró con Elizabeth quien lo esperaba. Carsten se veía molesto con solo verla y Elizabeth tuvo que respirar profundamente para poder enfrentarlo:

–¿Cómo ha estado tu viaje?– le preguntó fingiendo ignorancia.

–Bien– respondió secamente, estaba claro que no quería continuar hablando con ella.

–Me alegra, supongo que todo salió bien–. 

–En efecto– Carsten volteó molesto –¿Por qué lo dices?– 

–Me interesa saber cómo te fue en tu viaje, es todo–. 

–¿Desde cuándo?–

–Desde hoy– le dijo –Solo déjame hacerte una pregunta–.

–Qué molesto…–  Carsten resopló –¿Cuál es?–

–¿No tienes nada que decirme?–

–¿De qué hablas?–

–Sí, ya sabes: con relación a tu viaje–.

–Ya te dije que todo bien ¿no es así? Realmente eres molesta…–

Elizabeth se mordió el labio, pero finalmente le dijo molesta:

–Bien, déjame reformular mi pregunta: ¿qué tienes que decir sobre aquella mujer con esos niños a los que fuiste a visitar en tu viaje?–

Carsten se paralizó y volteó por fin a verla. La mirada de Elizabeth emanaba furia, como si deseara abalanzarse directamente a él. Carsten supo lo que Elizabeth había querido decir: lo sabía, pero quería confirmarlo. ¿Así iban a ser las cosas? Bien, no había sentido ocultarlo por más tiempo.

–¡Ah~! ¿Así que es eso~?– dijo burlonamente. 

Elizabeth abrió los ojos sorprendida.

–¿Así que no lo niegas?–

–Si ya lo sabes ¿qué sentido tiene hacerlo?– dijo él encogiéndose de hombros. Elizabeth encontró increíble su cinismo e indiferencia, eso hizo que el corazón se le hiciera añicos. 

–No puedo creerlo…– dijo con el aliento entrecortado, sentía que le faltaba el aire – ¿por qué? ¿¡CÓMO ES POSIBLE QUE LO HAYAS HECHO!? ¿¡CÓMO PUDISTE!?

Elizabeth fue hacia él y lo tomó de su ropa con furia.

– ¿¡POR QUÉ ES QUE VAS CON ELLA!? ¿¡DESDE CUÁNDO!?–

Carsten ni se inmutó, permitió que ella descargara su ira contra él. No había sentido negarlo, estaba harto de todo esto.

–No es asunto tuyo–.

–¡SÍ QUE LO ES! ¡YO SOY TU ESPOSA!–

–¿Otra vez con eso? Oh, Elizabeth~–

Carsten la tomó de sus manos con fuerza y la miró directamente a los ojos:

–No lo entiendes ¿verdad? Cierto, eres mi esposa, pero yo no te amo– dijo, y con un tono cruel continuó – Es más: te aborrezco~–

Elizabeth emitió un gemido de dolor, no ante la fuerza con la que la agarraba, sino por sus palabras. Eran frías, cargadas de odio y repugnancia… y eran dirigidas a ella. Elizabeth agachó la mirada, no podía soportar tales palabras provenientes del hombre al que ella tanto amaba irónicamente. 

-Esto es una pérdida de tiempo– espetó Carsten y la soltó. Se disponía a irse cuando Elizabeth soltó:

–¿Cómo es posible? ¿¡Cómo es posible que prefieras a esa mujerzuela antes que a mí!?–

Carsten volteó furioso y le abofeteó para asombro de Elizabeth. Ciertamente, no importaba cuanto Carsten la aborreciera, jamás le había alzado la mano… hasta ahora.

–¡No te permitiré que hables de mi Aura así!–

¿“Su Aura”? Un momento… ¿Aura?

Elizabeth sabía quien era Aura perfectamente. Antes de casarse, su suegra le dijo que había sido una mujer con la que se había encaprichado Carsten antes de concretar su matrimonio. Sin embargo, su suegra le había asegurado que había sido algo fugaz y que ya no tenía contacto con ella. Ahora le hacía sentido: porque él había sido tan cruel con ella desde el primer día, porque la veía con odio y rencor cuando ella no le había hecho nada. Porque no importaba cuánto se esforzará, él se mantenía firme en no amarla… ¡y todo por esa mujer!

Elizabeth alzó la mirada y sin más le regresó la bofetada, desconcertando a Carsten.

–¿¡Aura!? ¿¡TU AURA!? ¡Desgraciado! ¿¡Cómo pudiste!?– dijo totalmente destrozada –¿¡Cómo te atreves a golpearme!? ¡YO ANTES QUE NADA SOY TU ESPOSA! ¿¡TE ATREVES A ALZARME LA MANO POR ESA MUJER!?–

Carsten temblaba de furia ¿Por qué tenía que aguantar a tal mujer?  

–¿¡Qué tiene ella que yo no!?– preguntó Elizabeth totalmente despechada, llorando en este punto sin poder evitarlo.

Él sonrió sarcásticamente: 

–¿Qué te hace pensar que tú siquiera tienes algo que me interese?–

Elizabeth soltaba lágrimas cargadas de un inmenso dolor. Todos estos años perdidos en un amor no correspondido, solo para que él la apuñalara por la espalda.

–Tú… ¿Realmente nunca me amaste? ¿Ni un poco?– dijo con voz débil. 

Él la miró con frialdad: 

–Desde que te conocí deseé mantenerte lo más lejos de mí… realmente me desagradas–.

Elizabeth no podía más, pero debía saber.

–Todo este tiempo… solo quise que me amaras y ser la mujer que querías ¿por qué las cosas fueron así?–

–¿Realmente crees que fuiste la única que sufrió? Mis padres me prohibieron casarme con quién yo quería y en parte fue tu culpa. ¿Crees que no sé que tuviste que ver? ¿Qué hiciste todo lo posible por arreglar nuestro matrimonio? Bueno, he aquí las consecuencias de tu codicia y egoísmo~– dijo él con una sonrisa burlona. 

Elizabeth decidió que no podía más, quería salir de la habitación.

Pero Carsten aún tenía mucho más que decir, después de callarse mucho tiempo: 

–Entiende de una vez: ¡Aura es mucho mejor que tú! ¡Nunca te amé ni amaré! ¿Puedes creerlo? ¡qué hasta me dio herederos mucho antes que tú! ¡Y sin esfuerzo! ¡a la primera incluso! ¡dos veces que es mejor aún!–

Elizabeth volvió la vista con furia en su rostro y lágrimas de rabia cayendo aún por sus ojos. Para su sorpresa, Carsten también abrió los ojos con sorpresa ante lo que él mismo dijo y el pánico inundó su rostro.

–¿¡QUÉ HAS DICHO!? ¿¡ESOS NIÑOS SON TUYOS!? ¿¡TE DAS CUENTA DE LO QUE ACABAS DE DECIR!?–

–No… Elizabeth–.

–¡NO SOLO ME TRAICIONASTE SINO QUE TUVISTE HIJOS CON TU AMANTE! ¡CUANDO TÚ SABÍAS QUE ERA LO QUE MÁS QUERÍA! ¡Y CUÁNTO NO TE ROGUÉ! ¡HARÉ QUE LO PAGUES Y MUY CARO! ¡CON TU VIDA LO PAGARÁS! ¡LO PROMETO CARSTEN!–

–¡Elizabeth espera!–

–¡HAS CAVADO TU PROPIA TUMBA CARSTEN! ¡GUARDIAS!” Elizabeth llamó y ellos vinieron inmediatamente –¡ENCIERRENLO! ¡ACUSO A CARSTEN KOBAYASHI POR EL CRIMEN DE ADULTERIO Y ENGENDRAR HIJOS ILEGÍTIMOS CON UNA CONCUBINA! ¡LLÉVENSELO!–  

–¡ELIZABETH! ¡DETÉNTE!– Carsten intentó zafarse, pero fue inútil. 

–¡LLÉVENSELO! ¡AL CALABOZO HASTA QUE SEA SU JUICIO!–

–¡NO! ¡ELIZABETH!–

Era el fin. Carsten sabía que esto podría llegar a pasar. Una vez que se supiera la verdad sería no solo su fin, sino el de Aura y sus hijos. Debía intentar protegerlos a toda costa. Llamó rápidamente a un familiar suyo y le dio instrucciones precisas que debía llevar a su familia cuanto antes.

Aura estaba arropando a sus hijos en la cama cuando oyó el aullido de un lobo. Salió y cuando vio que era el familiar de Carsten supo que algo no iba bien. Y no se equivocó.

El mensaje decía: Nos descubrieron. No queda mucho tiempo hasta que se lleve a cabo el juicio y la verdad salga a la luz. Tienes que huir con los niños, empaca lo básico, abandona la casa y dirígete al norte, ahí hay una entrada al mundo humano. Debes ir allá y haz lo que sea necesario para perder tu rastro y el de los niños, huye lo más lejos que puedas. Aura, huye y no mires atrás, ya no queda nada que hacer. Sabemos cuál será el castigo de ambos y no es justo que paguen nuestros hijos por nuestros errores.  Aura, amada mía, deben irse. Cría y cuida de nuestros hijos en un lugar lejos, donde nadie los conozca, donde no haya posibilidad de ser descubiertos, donde crezcan sanos, libres y felices. Y por mí no te preocupes: ya había aceptado cualquier cosa que pudiera pasar conmigo desde hace mucho tiempo… estoy listo. Pero no me perdonaría que ustedes perecieran conmigo. Aunque ten por seguro que si tengo la posibilidad de verte nuevamente… iré a tu encuentro. No me arrepiento de nada de lo que hice, nuestro amor dio frutos y son mi más grandes tesoros. Me hubiera gustado que las cosas fueran diferentes… estaría dispuesto a dar lo que fuera por que así fuera. Antes de irme, nunca olvides cuanto los amo. Huye y sé libre.  — Por siempre y únicamente tuyo, Carsten.

A Aura se le llenaron los ojos de lágrimas. Habían sido descubiertos y debía actuar rápido por el bien de sus hijos. Tomó una simple valija y la llenó con lo meramente indispensable, despertó a sus hijos y, con un último vistazo al que había sido un hogar lleno de amor y paz por varios años, cerró la puerta y huyó. 

Lograron llegar a aquella puerta al mundo humano en lo profundo del bosque del norte y al cruzar empezó el desafío. 

Los miembros de la corte y el rey estuvieron presentes en el juicio. Debido a su puesto de mano derecha del rey, esto debía ser manejado con discreción y delicadeza. 

–Se abre la sesión– ordenó el juez al cargo –Que entren tanto la demandante como el acusado–.

Elizabeth entró a la sala y por el lado contrario Carsten entró esposado y escoltado por guardias.

–La demandante en esta ocasión se trata de la Señora Elizabeth Kobayashi quien demanda al señor Carsten Kobayashi quien…– mencionó el juez, pero fue interrumpido por una risa burlona que resonó en la sala.

–¿Realmente esto es necesario?–

Todo el mundo susurraba temerosa, porque quien acababa de hablar era el rey fundador Giesbach Tsukinami y primo segundo de Carsten. Nadie se atrevía a siquiera mirarlo a los ojos, pero Elizabeth se armó de valor antes de hablar: 

–¡S-Su majestad! ¡P-Por favor! ¡Vengo a usted para pedirle su ayuda!–

–¿Hm~? Y ¿cómo es que me pides ayuda cuando estás acusando a mi mano derecha y el segundo al mando del reino?– preguntó sarcásticamente Giesbach.

–¡L-Lo acusó con buena razón, su majestad!– replicó Elizabeth.

–¿Con buena razón? ¿Estás consciente que acusas a la cabeza de la familia Kobayashi?–.

–N-No lo acuso como la cabeza de la familia Kobayashi… sino como mi m-marido– dijo Elizabeth –Él… m-me hizo mucho daño–.

El rey no dijo nada y justo Elizabeth alzó la mirada. Tenía los ojos llenos de lágrimas, cuando prosiguió a hablar:

–C-Cometió el peor de los crímenes…– dijo con la voz entrecortada.

–¿El cuál es?–

Elizabeth apretó con fuerza su vestido:

–¡Él me engañó con otra mujer!– dijo, sin poder evitar alzar la voz –¡No solo eso! ¡Además tuvo hijos con ella!–.

Toda la sala estalló en murmullos de asombro. 

El rey abrió sus ojos con asombro, y posteriormente aterrizó sus ojos en Carsten. Él no había cruzado mirada con nadie ni articulado palabra desde que se había alzado la sesión. Giesbach conocía a Carsten de casi toda la vida: sus acciones y palabras eran coherentes, había sido responsable, capaz, brillante, leal y honesto a su servicio y al del reino. O bueno, eso creía, porque ahora mismo estaba siendo acusado por el contrario de las últimas dos virtudes en las que pensó. Giesbach notó que Carsten adoptó esta actitud ejerciendo su derecho a guardar silencio, tal vez estaba ideando un plan, pero sabía que eso no le serviría. Tal vez su orgullo como fundador y saber que es miembro de la segunda familia más importante del reino.

–Eso es una acusación muy severa, señora Kobayashi– Giesbach dijo con voz autoritaria –Ante estas acusaciones, supongo que vino preparada con algún tipo de prueba ¿no es así?–.

–¡L-La verdad es que…!– pero Aura no terminó cuando la interrumpieron.

–¡Infeliz!– se escuchó la voz de Medea, la madre de Carsten –¿¡Cómo te atreves a venir y acusar a mi hijo!?  ¡a tu marido de tal crimen! ¡Después de todo lo que mi hijo y familia ha hecho por ti! ¿¡Cómo te atreves!?–.

Elizabeth se mordió sus labios temblorosos, todos confiaban y estaban del lado de Carsten aún cuando ella lo había llevado a la corte.

–¡S-Su majestad!– empezó a relatar Elizabeth –desde un inicio nuestra relación no fue buena. Intenté de muchas maneras acercarme a él e intentar aunque sea llevarnos bien… pero fue inútil. Desde hace un tiempo, he notado que Carsten ha tenido actitudes inusuales, pero decidí ignorarlas. Sin embargo, Carsten se ha negado a cumplir con su deber de procrear a un heredero. Por lo que, el día de ayer mandé a un familiar a seguirlo y ahí es dónde descubrí la verdad–.

Elizabeth hizo a su familiar aparecer, y con su magia logró transmitir los hechos. La audiencia estaba pasmada y el bullicio tuvo que ser acallado por el juez.

–¡Como pueden ver se trata de Aura, su majestad! ¡La supuesta hija desaparecida del barón Nelizah!–

Giesbach entrecerró los ojos y por primera vez se dirigió a Carsten.

–¿Es eso cierto?–

Carsten dirigió la mirada y sus ojos dorados carecían de brillo, eran impenetrables y fríos. Entonces habló:

–Es justo como dice–.

Toda la audiencia nuevamente estaba asombrada y la voz de su madre se destacó por encima de las demás.

–¡Carsten! ¿¡Cómo es posible!?– le recriminó su madre molesta –¡Yo no te crié así! ¿¡Por qué harías algo así!? ¡y de todas las mujeres tenía que ser Aura!–

Carsten dirigió su mirada hacia su madre, la estaba llena de rencor.

–¿¡TIENES LA OSADÍA DE PREGUNTARLO!? ¿¡QUIÉN FUE QUIEN ME OBLIGÓ A CASARME CON ESTA MUJER Y NO CON QUIEN YO AMABA!?– gritó Carsten. –¡Y NO TE ATREVAS A HABLAR DE ESA MANERA DE AURA! ADEMÁS DE SER A QUIEN AMO ¡ES LA MADRE DE MIS HIJOS! ¡NO TE PERMITIRÉ PRONUNCIAR SU NOMBRE! ¡NO LO PERMITIRÉ AUNQUE SEAS MI MADRE!–

Medea se calló al instante y no dijo nada, solo pudo bajar la cabeza. En cierta forma, era como si entendiera por fin que la razón por la que su amado hijo hubiera terminado así fue igualmente por su culpa. 

Elizabeth, al escuchar como Carsten defendía a Aura, se le escaparon lágrimas de sus ojos, como hubiera deseado que Carsten la hubiese defendido como él lo había hecho ahora mismo siendo ella su esposa…

Giesbach suspiró y le asintió al juez para que continuara con el mando de la corte.

–Entonces, ¿cómo se declara Lord Carsten?– preguntó el juez.

Carsten miró a Giesbach y al juez y asintió.

–Me declaro culpable su señoría–.

La audiencia era un caos: Medea se desmayó y sus damas de compañía intentaban reanimarla, mientras Elizabeth veía a Carsten con sumo dolor. Al final, ni siquiera lo negó y no dio batalla. Elizabeth entonces, de cierta forma, lo comprendió: Carsten quería estar con aquella mujer Aura, quería estar con quien amaba y formar una familia… como ella había querido. Le hubiera gustado tanto ocupar el lugar de Aura en el corazón de Carsten. En cambio, quiso tomarlo por la fuerza y como resultado todos resultaron dañados. Elizabeth se enamoró de Carsten desde aquella noche que lo conoció y egoístamente lo forzó a estar a su lado en un matrimonio infeliz y sin amor… 

¿Cómo es que alguna vez esperó que Carsten llegará a amarla si en su corazón nunca tuvo un lugar? ¿cómo llegaría a amarla cuando fue ella quien se interpuso entre ambos? Todos tuvieron la culpa en algún punto… Todo resultó en una cadena de sucesos trágicos a consecuencia de las malas decisiones de todos los involucrados.

–No hay nada más que discutir– Giesbach rompió con el alboroto –¿Cuál es la sentencia, jurado?–

El jurado debatió rápidamente y un representante se puso de pie y sentenció lo siguiente:

–Ante todo lo expuesto en el juicio de hoy y la misma declaración del acusado, Lord Carsten. El jurado dictamina la siguiente sentencia: Lord Carsten Kobayashi, es sentenciado a la pena de muerte ante el crimen de adulterio. No solo Lord Carsten será sentenciado a muerte, también se le extiende el castigo a Lady Aura de Nelizah y sus hijos ilegítimos–.

Carsten solo cerró fuertemente los ojos derrotado. Aunque sabía que ese era el castigo, no dejaba de ser duro. Sobre todo teniendo en cuenta que el castigo fue extendido a su familia. 

–Que así sea entonces– concluyó Giesbach –Sin embargo, no permitiré que parte de mi familia caiga en desgracia por un eslabón débil: Carsten, te despojó a ti y a tu descendencia del título de duque y posición de noble, así como te despojo de tu cargo y del nombre Kobayashi. Se borrará tu nombre y registro alguno de tu existencia en los registros familiares. Tu ejecución será mañana mismo a primera hora del día y no será abierta al público, ya ha sido suficiente espectáculo por hoy–.

Giesbach entonces se dirigió al resto de la corte y presentes:

–Prohibo que salga a la luz cualquier cosa que hoy se vio o escuchó en esta sala. Nada de lo que pasó hoy saldrá de aquí. A quien se atreva, le cortaré la lengua, despojaré de su título a esa persona, toda su familia y descendencia y será exiliado a las tierras malditas del Makai ¿entendido?–

Todos asintieron con terror. 

–¡Se cierra la sesión! ¡Guardias! – dijo indiferente y frío Giesbach –Retirenlo de mi vista–.

Los guardias hicieron como se les ordenó y Carsten, fue retirado de la sala. Elizabeth vio como lo hacían e intentó detenerlo, pero otro guardia se lo impidió. Ella entonces gritó:

–¡CARSTEN!– dijo cayéndole más lágrimas por sus ojos –¡LO LAMENTO POR TODO! ¡DESEARÍA QUE LAS COSAS HUBIERAN SIDO DIFERENTES! ¡PERDÓNAME!–

Pero Carsten no se volvió y fue llevado fuera de la sala. Elizabeth se derrumbó en el piso y lloró fuertemente. Oficialmente… lo había perdido y de paso le hizo perderlo todo. 

Mientras tanto, Aura había logrado llegar con muchos esfuerzos al puerto de Yokohama. Sus pobres hijos de 3 y 5 años exhaustos, cayeron dormidos a mitad del trayecto. Sin embargo, Aura se mantuvo despierta toda la noche. Ya en el puerto, descubrió que había un reloj que marcaba las 3 am, pero no había tiempo de descansar aún y mucho menos de bajar la guardia. No sabía cuándo podría aparecer algún miembro de los guardias para atraparla y a sus hijos para hacerles quien sabe que. Sacó a sus hijos del carruaje que les había traído hasta el puerto y se apresuró con sus hijos a la taquilla. Debía alejarse lo más lejos que pudiera y no había mejor alternativa que salir de Japón. Después de todo: entre las sombras había demonios que controlaban el mundo de los humanos de alguna forma u otra, tomando en cuenta que todos los portales al Makai estaban en Japón. 

–Buenas noches– saludó Aura al taquillero –Me gustaría comprar 3 boletos para el siguiente barco que zarpe–.

El taquillero alzó su mirada del periódico que leía, la miró y continuó leyendo:

–¿Destino?– preguntó.

–¿Cuál es el destino más lejano que tiene?– preguntó Aura.

–Hmm… China– dijo el señor. 

(Sigue siendo muy cerca) pensó Aura (Bueno, primero debo salir de este país).

–Ese está bien– dijo Aura y se disponía a sacar dinero, cuando el taquillero la detuvo.

–Documentos– dijo extendiendo su mano.

–Aquí– Aura los entregó, por suerte Carsten siempre había sido precavido y logró sacarle unos permisos, ante una emergencia.

(Nunca creyó usarlos…pero así resultaron las cosas) pensó con pesar Aura. 

El taquillero los vio y con un refunfuño se los regresó.

–La información está incompleta–.

–¿C-Cómo? ¿Dónde?–

El taquillero le señaló sus nombres, los cuales no tenían apellidos escritos.

–No pueden salir del país si no demuestra el parentesco entre usted y los niños– le dijo –Además, necesito un permiso específicamente de su marido que le autorice que saque a sus hijos del país–.

Claro… siendo una mujer no tenía autoridad sobre sus propios hijos. Pero ¿cómo explicarle al señor que estaba huyendo de la familia del padre de sus hijos? Además… ¿cómo le explicaría que ellos nunca llegaron a casarse ni que sus hijos fueron reconocidos por su familia? Seguramente si se lo dijera, llamaría a las autoridades por presunto robo de niños o por ser algún tipo de fugitiva… sin mencionar que posiblemente haya gente del Makai entre ellos.

Aura se preguntaba qué debía hacer cuando sintió una mano cálida en su hombro.

–Lamento la tardanza querida– Aura oyó detrás de ella una voz masculina gentil.

Aura volteó con la esperanza que fuera Carsten, pero para su decepción era un hombre humano que nunca había visto en su vida.

–Y-Yo– intentó decir Aura, pero el señor le guiñó el ojo y continuó dirigiéndose al taquillero.

–Disculpe a mi esposa, la mandé a adelantarse para comprar los boletos a unas merecidas vacaciones pero no la mandé preparada– dijo el señor.

–¿Usted es su marido?– preguntó escéptico el taquillero.

–Así es– dijo el señor.

–¿Está al tanto de que su esposa desea comprar boletos a China?– 

–¿Qué puedo decir? Le prometí vacaciones para toda la familia al destino que ella deseará– continuó el hombre –Mi mujer tiene gustos muy exóticos~–.

Ambos hombres se rieron, pero Aura estaba confundida. ¿Quién era ese hombre? ¿Por qué la ayudaba? ¿Debía confiar en él? Por su olor, sabía que se trataba de un humano, pero ¿y si trabajaba para la familia real o algún alto rango de cualquier clan del Makai?

–¡Bueno, buen hombre!– dijo el taquillero, ahora con mejor humor –Les daré los boletos, solo le pido que llene la documentación de su familia. ¿Asumo que serán 4 y no 3 boletos?–

–¡Oh no! Solo 3, yo me quedaré porque alguien debe quedarse a trabajar, ya después los alcanzaré ¡después de todo los negocios no se atienden solos! ¿no cree?–

–¡Claro que no! ¡Como usted diga entonces!– y entonces el taquillero dio media vuelta y se internó en la oficina. Ya a solas, el hombre se dirigió con voz baja a Aura:

–Lamento si la asusté señora– se disculpó –No pude evitar entrometerme, pero parecía que tenía problemas–.

–En realidad… sí que los tenía. Le agradezco que me ayudará–.

–Es un placer– le sonrió el hombre –ahora, llene su documentación antes de que vuelva–.

Aura asintió pero al abrir los documentos de sus hijos, no sabía qué hacer: eran ilegítimos después de todo ¿y si ponía Kobayashi y venía tras ellos? ¿Y si alguien daba la señal de alerta?

El señor notaba como Aura temblaba y le volvió a hablar:

–¿Sucede algo? ¿No puede poner esa información faltante?– preguntó preocupado.

–N-No…– dijo ella, al borde del llanto –S-Sucede que… mi m-marido…–

¿Qué podía decir? ¡Ella no estaba casada! No podía poner ni su apellido de soltera ni el que le correspondía a sus hijos por eso mismo… ¿Qué debía hacer?

–Entiendo…– dijo el hombre –¿Me permite?–.

Tomó la pluma y la llenó de tinta, después tomó los documentos y empezó a escribir en ellos. Aura veía con asombro cómo el señor ponía: Kai Koizumi, Daisuke Koizumi y Aura Koizumi.

Justo llegó el taquillero con los boletos, revisó los documentos asintiendo y selló los documentos para validarlos. 

–¡Muy bien todo está en orden! Señor y Señora Koizumi, ¡les deseo buen viaje y buena noche!–

Le dieron las gracias y se retiraron. Ninguno de los dos habló, pero el señor los acompañó hasta la entrada del barco y ayudó a Aura y a los niños con su poco equipaje. Justo a tiempo, el encargado del barco anunció que debían abordar para partir. Aura se volteó y sin poder evitarlo le preguntó:

–¿Por qué nos ayudó buen señor? No gana nada haciéndolo, entonces…–

El señor le sonrió con gentileza y sin más le respondió:

–Los buenos actos no se hacen esperando algo a cambio señora–.

–P-Pero…–

–Puedo suponer que no ha llevado una vida fácil hasta ahora ¿no es así?–

–¿Por qué piensa eso?–

–Que una mujer viaje sola a estas horas con dos pequeños debe ser por dos razones según mi experiencia: porque es una roba niños o porque está desesperada y busca salvarse y salvarlos–.

Aura se quedó sin habla, el señor había acertado.

–No me tiene que decir la razón, pero sepa esto señora: la vida no será fácil ni ahora ni en adelante. Tome en cuenta que es una señora con dos hijos y sin ningún hombre que la proteja: está sola. Sin embargo, usted ya dio el primer paso… y fue el más difícil, se lo aseguro–.

Aura casi se rompe a llorar: era la única que había dicho y hecho algo lindo por ella en mucho tiempo… a parte de Carsten, claro. 

–Pero respondiendo a su pregunta: por ninguna razón en especial, se lo aseguro. Tuve la oportunidad de ayudarla y con eso me basta–.

–E-Entonces, ¡permítame darle algo a cambio!– Aura rebuscó en sus bolsillos por alguna moneda de oro o algo de valor, pero el señor alzó la mano deteniéndola. 

–Insisto, no es necesario– dijo el señor –Ande ya, el barco está por zarpar, su nueva vida la espera–.

Aura sonrió y apresuró a sus pequeños a abordar y antes de entrar, se volvió hacia el señor:

–¡De verdad muchas gracias!– y dando una profunda reverencia, se adentró al barco. El señor los despidió y en cuanto arrancó se dio media vuelta y desapareció entre la neblina mañanera del puerto. Fuera quien fuera, aquel señor la había salvado a ella y a sus hijos con solo prestarles lo que dedujo era su apellido. 

–¡Es verdad! No le pregunté su nombre…– pero ya era muy tarde, tal vez la única manera de agradecer y honrar su memoria, sería conservar su apellido. Además tal vez lo necesitaría, porque definitivamente… China no sería su último destino.

A primera hora de la mañana y en el patio central de la prisión real, para evitar algún problema, se llevó a cabo la ejecución de Carsten. Giesbach, acompañado por su esposa la reina Krone y sus hijos Carla y Shin, fueron testigos de la ejecución de Carsten. Elizabeth y Medea también estaban presentes. Medea fue atada a su silla y mandaron a acallarla con un pañuelo en la boca de tanto que gritó intentando pedir clemencia por su hijo. Elizabeth estaba en estado de shock ¿realmente las cosas iban a terminar así? ¿Esto era lo que quería? No podía saberlo.

–Será una gran pérdida para el reino– mencionó Krone lo suficientemente alto para que lo escuchará solo su esposo.

–Sí que lo es–  Giesbach concordó.

–Es triste seguir perdiendo a miembros de la familia… lo mismo fue con Lord Felsen– comentó Krone.

Felsen… un día simplemente desapareció. Cuando aún estaba con ellos, de un momento a otro se apartaba de la familia, aparentemente se encontraba enfermo y luego deliraba sobre el fin de la especie por su enfermedad incurable…que sólo les afectaba a ellos como Fundadores. 

–Ahora que lo pienso, Carsten sugirió investigar sobre el paradero de Felsen y los rumores de la supuesta enfermedad que le aquejaba– Giesbach comentó –pero con todo esto, no creo que sea posible–. 

–Supongo que no– Krone se encogió de hombros –sin embargo, con la muerte de Carsten habrá asuntos e investigaciones que se irán con él–.

Giesbach solo asintió y fijó su mirada al estrado de ejecución. 

Carsten había sido despojado de su fina ropa, vistiendo harapos y se le veía sucio, algo que no creían que fuera posible para un noble como él. Pero eso a él no le importaba: estaba en paz, porque había logrado poner a salvo a su familia. Desde su celda, la noche anterior escuchó cómo los guardias decían que no había rastros de Aura y sus hijos y por ende, podía morir en paz. 

Y aún en sus últimos momentos, Carsten se negó a ver a Elizabeth: se negaba a que fuera ella lo último que viera antes de morir. Si hubiera podido escoger… hubiera preferido ver a Aura y a sus hijos una última vez. Cerró los ojos y se imaginó con ellos en su pequeña casita en lo profundo del bosque donde nadie los molestaba y por unos momentos podían olvidarse de sus preocupaciones… había por lo menos sabido lo que era la felicidad y sonrió con este último pensamiento.

Fue un corte limpio y rápido, Giesbach había movido unos cuantos hilos para conseguir que el ejecutor fuera certero y que su primo segundo, quien al menos a él y a su familia sí les había mostrado lealtad, no sufriera mucho. 

Y en unos segundos todo había terminado. Carsten se había ido, mostrando una pacífica expresión en su rostro. 

En su casa, Elizabeth se quedó pensativa. De esa terrible noche, ya había pasado 1 mes y se encontraba completamente sola. Si tan solo hubiera podido ser madre, no la aquejaría tanto dolor como ahora. Entonces pensó: ¿qué tal si ella criaba a los hijos de Carsten? A Aura no la quería ni ver, es más cuando la hallaran no evitaría que la ejecutaran, pero ¿a sus hijos? Podría hacer que se los dieran a ella ¡apelaría la decisión del juez! 

Elizabeth entonces llamó a un sirviente y le pidió justo eso: que buscara por su cuenta a Aura y a los hijos de Carsten. Entregaría a Aura a las autoridades ¡y se quedaría a sus hijos y los criaría como suyos! No le importaría lo que dijeran los demás, además limpiaría sus culpas al criar a los hijos de su difunto esposo! 

Pero las cosas no serían tan fáciles: la búsqueda pasó de días a meses… y a los meses cayó la tragedia. 

Le llamaban Endzeit y le quedaba bien el nombre: marcó el fin del reinado de los fundadores. Ni uno se salvó… incluida Elizabeth. Aún moribunda en cama y únicamente rodeada por sus sirvientes… solo podía pensar en ello.

–¿Encontraron… a los niños?– preguntó agonizando Elizabeth.

–No señora, no hay rastros– le respondió una mucama.

–Después de todo… Carsten se negó y aseguró… de hacerme sufrir hasta el final… ¿no es así?–  dijo con una risa amarga Elizabeth –Se encargó… de negarme mi deseo… de ser madre… incluso de unos hijos que… no serían míos. Yo… los habría criado bien… para que llegaran a ser dignos… y tomarán el puesto… de su padre… ¡te lo aseguro! Pero… Carsten siempre… fue tan cruel conmigo…–

–Mi señora…– dijo la mucama triste.

–Mi tiempo ha… llegado. Al final… viví una vida tan… solitaria… y sin amor…¡yo que tenía… tanto que dar! Carsten… solo quise amarte… ¡estaba dispuesta… a perdonarte… y cuidar a tus hijos! ¡De verdad! Yo… no era tu enemiga… Carsten…¿por qué… fuiste así conmigo? Solo… quería…que me amaras…y amarte…mi amado… Carsten– con esas últimas palabras Elizabeth cerró sus ojos, no sin que antes resbalaran de ellos las últimas lágrimas por su triste amor no correspondido. 

De China, pasaron a India. De India a lo que se conoce como la actual Turquía. Descansaron en la actual Hungría y de ahí pasaron a Francia. Posteriormente a España, donde salían barcos al nuevo mundo: nuevo mundo, nuevo comienzo. Aura decidió emprender su viaje y después de meses, por fin lograron llegar a lo que se conoció como Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz o la actual Veracruz en México. 

Iniciar no fue fácil, pero no había otra opción: estaba sola con hijos y aunque no morirían de hambre por ser fundadores, quería que fueran felices y vivieran dignamente. Aura logró entonces ganarse la vida como podía una mujer extranjera y con hijos en esa época. Aprendieron el idioma y años después, cuando era evidente que no pasaba el tiempo por ellos, se trasladaron de estado en estado hasta que por fin llegaron a la capital: la Ciudad de México. Donde había mayores oportunidades de empleo y mejor calidad de vida. Sus hijos crecieron y Aura se aseguró de que supieran su origen y estuvieran orgullosos de su linaje. Siempre conscientes de que eran diferentes y siempre orgullosos. Eso hubiera querido Carsten…

Aura esperó todos los días de su vida a que Carsten los encontrara. Los inmortales pueden darse ese lujo después de todo. Dicen que la esperanza es lo último que se pierde, después de todo… aunque la espera puede llegar a ser cruel. Sus hijos no tenían corazón para hacerla entrar en razón: cuando ellos crecieron sabían que esa esperanza era lo único que la mantenía con vida. No había forma que entendiera que, por más que lo esperara… no podría reencontrarse con él. 

Mientras tanto…sus hijos crecieron. Se independizaron y siguieron con su vida. Fue duro, pero así debían ser las cosas. 

En ese transcurso de tiempo, Kai tuvo una colega, por ahí de los años 80-90s, a quien no dudó en presentarle a su hermano menor.

–Morena, te presento a mi hermano: Daisuke– presentó a ambos Kai.

–Encantado– dijo Daisuke.

–Ah… un gusto– respondió Morena con desinterés.

Kai miró a su hermano y vio como se le formaba una sonrisa. 

Lo sabía: a Daisuke siempre le han gustado los retos y lo difícil lo disfruta aún más. 

Estaba más que claro que ya había decidido: haría de Morena, su esposa.

Y no se equivocó: 4 años después, ambos se casaron.

Aunque Aura no estaba contenta: ¡debían preservar la valiosa sangre fundadora! ¡No debían mezclarla con la de una humana!

Pero Daisuke hizo oídos sordos y decidió seguir a su corazón y casarse con Morena. Aura lo entendió: estaba en riesgo de repetir su propia historia… y eso no se lo podría perdonar. Así que con todo y su pesar, se lo permitió. 

El día de la boda, Aura paseaba por los jardines del salón donde se llevó a cabo la celebración y mirando al cielo dijo:

–Carsten… no importan los años que pasen, te sigo esperando y echando mucho de menos– dijo afligida –Tus hijos ya no son unos niños, sino unos hombres dignos y honorables… como desearía que los vieras ahora mismo…–

Aura lloró en silencio.

–Carsten… si te compadeces de mí, por favor… ¡ya ven por mi!–

Del cielo pasó una estrella fugaz, y Aura simplemente se quedó viendo el cielo. 

–Entiendo…– dijo Aura –Aún no es tiempo ¿verdad? ¡Qué remedio entonces! Que espere un poco más no hace la diferencia ¿no es así?–

Aura suspiró resignada y dio media vuelta, no sin antes decir:

–Solo recuerda Carsten: aún te amo, eso no cambió antes, ni ahora, ni nunca… hasta pronto amor mío–.

Y sin más regresó a la fiesta de su hijo, preparada a enfrentar otro día más en su vida sin su amado Carsten. Porque sabía que tarde o temprano se encontraría con él: si no en esta vida, tal vez en la siguiente…

Fin.

He was a young founder, with attractive features, black hair, golden eyes characteristic from his race and an elegant demeanor. Carsten was a capable and educated gentleman, trained from an early age to be the next head of the family. He was a young founder that at first sight was reserved, skillful in conversations, intelligent, responsible and attractive. However, only a few were able to get to know him as was known for being hard to approach and cold with strangers. Carsten was also a curious man who enjoyed learning and attending to his responsibilities, but always had clear what he had to do to be the dignified heir that was expected from him. His family had no necessity to pressure him more than necessary and all his life he governed himself with responsibility and order.

Time went by and Carsten only dedicated himself to attend his businesses and spent hours locked in his office learning everything he could. However, Carsten reached the ideal age to marry. While most gentlemen his age were already married, engaged or seeking actively to marry, by assisting to every social event held in the aristocracy with the mere purpose of benefiting both families. Carsten, on the other hand, showed so little interest that his mother, Medea Kobayashi, decided to do something about it. It happened during a ball, one of many, where Carsten was forced to attend by his mother, tired of the lack of interest from her eldest son.

“Carsten!” his mother called him “Come for a moment, please. There’s someone I would like to introduce to you”.

Carsten left an annoyed sigh, he stood up from his table and approached the group where his mother was accompanied by other two women. He saw an older one and the other younger who he calculated was around his same age. 

“My son, I present to you Mrs. Gisemman and her daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Gisemman” his mother presented them to him. “Ladies, he’s my son Carsten: heir to the Kobayashi family”.

“Nice to meet you” Carsten greeted with a bow. 

“Dear, I would like you to accompany Mrs. Elizabeth for the night,” his mother asked him, and he had no choice but to accept. 

“As you wish,” Carsten replied. 

Carsten offered Elizabeth his arm and she took it, he guided her to a place where they could talk. Elizabeth surely was a beautiful lady, who just like Carsten possessed golden eyes and blond hair so blond it almost seemed white. Just like Carsten, she was highly educated, however they didn’t share any interests. As the night went on, the topics were running out, there were more periods of silence and Carsten was getting annoyed for the young Elizabeth’s company. For his displeasure, she wouldn’t leave his side and he was feeling suffocated. 

Carsten looked for an excuse to get away from Elizabeth and with success he did. He knew that if he had stayed any longer with her, he'd get so irritated that could hurt her feelings with his coldness. He had enough with the meaningless search for a woman to marry. All the ladies he had met were just like the one before. All were boring, with the same interests, only interested in finding a man with resources and status, only concerned to look pretty. Didn’t they have any aspirations beyond staying home and being used as baby factories?

Carsten was so irritated and distracted that he accidentally stumbled with someone. He heard a squeal and he extended his arm in time to stabilize the person which he had stumbled with. 

“I beg your pardon! I wasn’t looking where I was going” Carsten apologized. Yet when he looked at the person in his arms, he realized it was a young lady. 

“Yes, don’t worry” she answered while she fixed her dress “Just be more careful next time”.

This left Carsten perplexed. The lady had attitude, but class as well. He looked at her in more detail: she was very pretty, a beautiful copper hair, golden almond eyes, was of short height and had a thin complexion. 

“Are you sure?” Carsten insisted, trying to hold her back for a while longer.

“Yes, I insist” she said as she turned around and left.

Carsten was hypnotized. That woman wasn't interested in him at all, he could assure she didn't know who he was. If it were another lady, she wouldn't have miss the opportunity to force him to spend the rest of the night with her or at least to invite her for a dance.

That intrigued him. Without losing the opportunity he followed her and found her just in time to see her going out to a balcony. At the balcony, he found her alone, looking out in the distance to all the lights from the extensive territory of the Founders. Her expression was lost in thought and in the immensity. Carsten felt the need to approach her and talk to her. And he did: for the first time in his long existence, he approached a lady on his own will that had caught his interest.  Curious enough, it was the lady that was trying to push him away by trying to scare him with deep and difficult topics. But for her bad luck, those topics were exactly of Carsten's interest and delight. 

The lady then felt interest back: she had finally encountered a man that could follow her rhythm and didn't seem to mind that she dominated those complex and nothing conventional topics for a lady like her. The hours went by fast as they were talking. It wasn't until someone was sent to look for her to leave that they realized the time had run out, of course Carsten didn't waste the opportunity to ask for her name.

“Aura von Nelizah, who ask?” she answered.

“Carsten Kobayashi” answered back with a sufficient smile as he saw Aura's expression lost all trace of boastfulness and change to one of panic.

“I'm so sorry for my imprudence, my lord” Aura apologized quickly and bowed as a sign of respect. 

Carsten was satisfied, he needed to take advantage to be able to see her once again. 

“It’s a serious offense not knowing who I am~ he said, faking feeling offended “However, you can amend your mistake: allow me to see you once more and allow me to write to you as well”.

Auro raised her head and looked at him surprised. Her expression changed from fear to that of happiness. 

“It would be my pleasure,” she replied.

From that night on, Carsten and Aura talked regularly through letters. At the begging, they were merely friendly exchanges of various topics they found interesting and this letters were occasional. Later, the letters became more personal and regular. Finally, becoming almost daily and being the source of their joy. Without realizing it, both soon fell in love and so Carsten decided to turn Aura into his wife. He didn’t care in the slightest that she belonged to a lower family than his and that their alliance wouldn’t bring any benefit, which wasn’t entirely true: what greater benefit it could provide to his family than that of filling his eternal life with joy by making her his wife?

However, not everything is that easy. And marriage by love is a luxury that not even the nobility could afford. Carsten’s parents refused their union for those exact reasons he didn’t mind but was conscious about. Although he fought and refused their decision, in the end he only caused them to forbid him to see or even write to Aura anymore, not only that: their arranged his marriage with none other than Mrs. Elizabeth Gisemman. She came from a good family both in wealth and position, besides she was the daughter of his mother’s best friend, the arrangement was made and without him knowing or being able to do something about it.

Carsten saw Aura for what it was supposed to be the last time. Both lovers were heartbroken, they loved each other but couldn’t be together. Carsten then decided to harden his heart and that if he couldn’t love Aura, then he wouldn’t love any other woman. 

On the day of their wedding, Carsten was torn apart and sadly pour down all his anger and pain on the poor Elizabeth, evolving into resentment. 

“Carsten, I promise you to make you the happiest man in the Makai!” Elizabeth said with a huge smile on her face.

Carsten looked at her with disdain.

“Save your words” he said coldly “Listen to me very carefully: we may be married, but that’s only an illusion. I won’t fail to provide you and give you your place as the head of the family. You may be my wife, but I’ll never love you”.

Elizabeth lost her smile and heer eyes filled with tears. That day she knew that he was just like the rumors she had heard about him: that he was cruel and cold. She had fallen in love with him since the night she had first met him, and she begged her parents to arrange her marriage with him.  Her parents, who always gave her whatever she wanted, didn’t hesitate and easily made the arrangements. However, that man had a heart as cold as ice… at least only for her. 

The marriage was done and for Elizabeth’s sorrow, Carsten didn’t show up to her room on their first night as newlyweds. Humiliated and defeated, Elizabeth knew she had to be strong if she wanted to win the love of the cold-hearted man she had decided to make her husband. At the same time, Carsten suffered in silence his own sorrow. Hee would have wanted to spend the rest of his life with his beloved Aura, who due to the unfairness of rules and customs couldn’t take as his wife. But what was done, was done and he had to forget Aura.

Carsten tried, he really tried! But he couldn’t. He wanted to learn to love his wife, who devoted herself to make him fall for her and carried out her responsibilities as wife and head of the family. But… it was impossible. Carsten couldn’t take Aura out of his head and always ended up hurting Elizabeth. 

And it happened that Carsten encountered Aura one day when he had left his house in an attempt to have some fresh air after a particularly harsh fight with Elizabeth. And when he saw Aura again… it was like all his preoccupations vanished and his heart beat once again. 

It was a fleeting encounter, they tried to escape, but with no avail. They hugged in that reunion. They exchanged sweet nothings. Followed by sweet kisses, which then became passionate and inevitably ended in them joining their bodies in an unrestrained passion, resulting in a love that was forbidden for them and had wished to remain one inside the other and had each other forever. 

This mistake didn’t come without consequences. Truth is, both felt terrible and both agreed for it not to be repeated. However, a month later, Aura asked Carsten to meet her and in tears Aura announced to him she became pregnant. Both were in trouble: adultery was punished with death. Even more considering Carsten’s position as head of the Kobayashi family and right hand of the king himself Giesbach Tsukinami. But Carsten loved Aura, and now loved the baby growing inside her product of their love. 

They then planned to live a secret life. Aura fled her home and Carsten took here far away,  almost in the very limits of the Founder’s territory. By Aura’s last pregnancy month, Casryen lied to Elizabeth about taking a ‘business trip’ and spent it by Aura’s side and being present when she gave birth. It was hard to do it without any help, but fortunately she gave birth to a healthy baby boy who they gave the name of Kai. They couldn’t be any happier. But the real challenge was just starting: raising their child, keeping his existence a secret and keeping them both safe. Carsten dedicated himself to ‘travel’ constantly to visit who he considered his real family and the place he truly considered his real home. 

Things complicated once again when 2 years later, Aura became pregnant again. Carsten couldn’t be any happier, but knew the danger had increased once again. During those months of Aura’s pregnancy, Carsten did his best to not raise Elizabeth’s suspicion. He would treat her better, giving her gifts regularly, spending time with her and even fulfilling his marital responsibilities, which wasn’t easy for him. Not without precaution as he didn’t want to produce heirs with Elizabeth, for her deception. Once again, by Aura’s last month of pregnancy, he left to help her with her delivery. She gave birth to a second healthy boy who they gave the name of Daisuke. He had the family he always wanted: a woman he loved, being the mother of his children who he loved as well. He couldn’t ask for anything else. 

However, they say there isn't a lie that lasts 100 years, even though you’re an immortal. Besides, you shouldn’t build your happiness at the expense of others suffering.

Certainly Elizabeth started to lose patience. She was being victim of the constant pressure placed on her by the aristocratic ladies, her mother and mother-in-law to conceive an heir. She started listening to insulting rumors about her being a useless wife who couldn’t conceive Carsten a child or worse: she started to raise suspicions regarding their relationship. 

“It won’t happen,” Carsten said dryly and continued working. 

“B-But! It's our duty to produce an heir for the Kobayashi family!” she insisted “We have some time married and we haven't produced one!”

Carsten didn't raise his eyes from his documents. She got angry. 

“Carsten! It’s your obligation! Is the least you could do for me after how you’ve been treating me all this time!”

Carsten hit the table enraged. 

“Silence! You don’t understand, do you?" he shouted, then he stood up and stood in front of her menacing “I warned you, right? The day we married I told you that you would only be my wife only for appearances, but I would never love you, didn’t I!?”

Elizabeth shrinked, but gathering courage she answered him: 

“You did say it! However, it is part of your responsibility as my husband and leader of the family! You must give me a child!”

“My responsibility? Don’t make me laugh!” he scoffed as if the mere thought of it made him sick “Having a child with you? I would rather die!”

“B-But! You said you’ll give me my place as your wife” Elizabeth said defeated and with tears in her eyes.

“And I haven’t been true to my word!? You don’t lack anything! You have everything you wish for! You have freedom to do and go as you wish! And you dare to say I haven’t keep my word!?”

Elizabeth burst out crying and Carsten simply turned around: 

“Leave. The only reason I would ever give you a child would be if I ever loved you or by mistake, which will never happen. Now leave at once! And stop insisting!”

Elizabeth left crying. She couldn’t stand the pressure placed upon her, be the subject of rumors or being made fun of due to Carsten’s fault. After a while, she made a plan.

In one occasion that Carsten went “on a trip”, she faked believing him and once he left, she sent a familiar to follow after him in secret. After some hours it came back and informed her about Carsten’s location. Without hesitation, she went there only to find a simple cottage in a forest in the limit of the Founder’s territory. However, when she looked inside her whole world crumbled in an instant: there it was Carsten, seated in a simple living room with another woman. They hugged and pampered each other, they seemed so in love.  Elizabeth broke in tears and when she thought it couldn’t be worse: from another room two children entered. They threw themselves into Carsten’s and that woman’s arms, who took them into their arms. Carsten looked so happy and in love… it was a side of him that Elizabeth had never seen if she hadn’t followed after him.

She was heartbroken: not only had Carsten cheated on her with another woman, he also had chosen to raise her children as his when he had strongly refused to have children of his own with her, his wife.

Elizabeth couldn’t bear the pain and decided to go back home, she had to confront him sooner or later. After some days, Carsten came back and found Elizabeth who was waiting for him. Carsten looked annoyed just by looking at her and Elizabeth had to take a deep breath to be able to confront him: 

“How was your trip?” she asked him, faking ignorance. 

“Good” he replied dryly, it was clear he didn’t want to continue talking to her. 

“I’m glad, I supposed everything went well”.

“Indeed” Carsten looked at her annoyed “Why you ask?”

“I just want to know how your trip went, that’s all”.

“Since when?” 

“Starting today”  she said “I would like to ask you a question”.

“Honestly…” he sighed “What is it?” 

“You don't have anything to tell me?” 

“What are you talking about?” 

“Yes, you know: regarding your trip”. 

“I’ve told you that everything went well, didn’t I? You’re really a bother…”.

Elizabeth bit her lip, so she finally speated:

“Well then, let me reformulate my question: don’t you have anything to tell me regarding that woman with those children you went to visit on your trip?”. 

Carsten froze and turned around to finally look at her. Elizabeth's gaze exuded fury, like she wished to throw herself directly to him. Carsten knew what Elizabeth meant: she knew and wanted to confirm it. So that’s how things turned out? Well, there was no point in hiding it anymore.

“Ah~ So that was it?” Carsten said mockingly. 

Elizabeth opened her eyes, surprised.

“You won't deny it?”

“If you already know, what's the point in doing so? he shrugged. Elizabeth found incredible his cynicism and indifference, which shrinked her heart. 

“I can't believe it…” she said, feeling like she lacked air “why? HOW COULD YOU THAT TO ME!? HOW COULD YOU!?”

Elizabeth took him by his clothes. 

“WHY YOU GO WITH HER!? SINCE WHEN!?”

Carsten didn't faze, he allowed her to direct all her anger against him. It made no sense denying it, he had enough with everything. 

“That's none of your business”.

“YES IT IS! I'M YOUR WIFE!”

“Again with that? Oh, Elizabeth~”

Carsten took her arms with force and looked at her straight into her eyes:

“You don’t understand, do you? True, your my wife, but I don’t love you” he told her with a cruel tone “In fact, I loathe you~”

Elizabeth whined in pain, not from Carsten’s grasp rather from his words. They were cold, filled with hatred and disgust… and directed towards her. Elizabeth broke the eye contact, she couldn’t stand such words coming from the man that she, ironically, loved.

“This is a waste of time,” Carsten said and let her go. He was about to leave when Elizabeth said:

“How is it possible? How could you prefer a prostitute before me!?”

Carsten turned around furious and slapped her to Elizabeth’s shock. Truth is, no matter how Carsten hated her, he had never raised his hand against her… until now.

“I won't allow you to talk about my Aura that way!” 

‘His Aura’? Wait a minute… Aura?

Elizabeth knew perfectly who Aura was. Before getting married, her mother-in-law told her she was a woman Carsten had liked in the past. However, her mother-in-law had assured her that it was something fugal and that he no longer had contact with her. Now, everything made sense: why he was so cruel to her from the beginning, why he looked at her with hatred and resentment when she hadn’t done anything to him. Because, no matter how much she tried, he refused to love her… and all thanks to that woman!

Elizabeth raised her sight and slapped him back, confusing Carsten.

“Aura!? ‘YOUR AURA’!? You jerk! How could you!?” she replied to him heartbroken “How could you dare slap me!? BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE I’M YOUR WIFE! AND YOU DARE RAISING YOUR HAND AGAINST ME!?”

Carsten trembled with fury, why did he have to stand that woman?!

“What does she have that I don’t!?” she asked, offended and crying without being able to help it. 

Carsten laughed sarcastically:

“What makes you think that you have anything that interests me?”

Elizabeth kept crying deeply hurt. All those years lost in an unrequited love, only for him to stab her in the back.

“You… never loved me? Not even a bit?” she asked in a weak voice.

He looked at her coldly:

“Since the day I met you, I have wished to keep you as far as possible for me… I really dislike you”.

Elizabeth couldn’t stand it anymore, yet she had to know.

“All this time… I only wanted you to love me and be the woman you loved, why did things go this way?”

“You really think that you were the only one that suffered? My parents forbade me from marrying the woman I loved and it was partly your fault. Do you think I don’t know you had to do with it? That you made sure our marriage was arranged? Well, here are the consequences of your greed and selfishness~" he mocked her.

Elizabeth decided she couldn’t stand it anymore, she wanted to head out the room.

Yet Carsten still had many thing to say, after bottling up many things for a long time:

“Understand it already: Aura is much better than you! I never loved you! Can you believe it? She even gave me heirs before you could! And with no effort! On the first try even! And even better, it happened twice!”

Elizabeth turned around, pissed and furious tears falling down her eyes. Carsten opened his eyes in realization and panic soon invaded him.

“WHAT DID YOU SAID!? THOSE CHILDREN ARE YOURS!? DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU JUST SAID!?”

“No… Elizabeth”.

“NOT ONLY YOU BETRAYED ME! YOU ALSO HAD CHILDREN WITH YOUR LOVER! EVEN WHEN YOU KNEW HOW MUCH I WANTED THAT! EVEN AFTER HOW MUCH I BEGGED YOU! I’LL MAKE YOU PAY! YOU’LL PAY IT WITH YOUR LIFE! I PROMISE YOU CARSTEN!” 

“Elizabeth, wait!”

“YOU HAVE DUG YOUR OWN GRAVE CARSTEN! GUARDS!” Elizabeth called for her guards and they came immediately “LOCK HIM UP! I FORMALLY ACCUSE CARSTEN KOBAYASHI FROM THE CRIME OF ADULTERY AND CONCEIVED ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN WITH HIS CONCUBINE! TAKE HIM AWAY!”

“ELIZABETH! STOP IT!” Carsten tried to free himself, but it was in vain.

“TAKE HIM AWAY! THROW HIM INTO THE DUNGEON UNTIL HE’S TAKEN TO COURT!”

“NO! ELIZABETH!”

It was the end. Carsten knew it could happen. Once the truth came into the light it wouldn’t be the end only for him, but for Aura and his children as well. He had to try to protect them at all costs. He called for his familiar and gave precise instructions to deliver a message for his family as soon as possible. And it did as so, Aura was tugging her children into bed when she heard the howl of a wolf. When she looked outside and saw it was Carsten’s familiar she knew something was wrong. And she wasn’t wrong. The message said:

We were caught. There’s not much time left before the trial takes place and the truth comes to the light. You have to run away with the children, pack the essentials, leave the house and go north, there you’ll find an entrance to the human world. You have to go there and do what you have to do to lose your trace and our children’s, run away as far away as you can. Aura, you have to flee and don’t look back, there's nothing left to do. We know what’s the punishment for both of us and it’s not fair that our children suffer from our mistakes. Aura, my love, you have to leave. Raise and take care of our children in a very far away place, where you are not known, where there’s no possibility to be discovered, where they can grow healthy, free and happy. Don’t worry about me: I’ve accepted anything that could happen to me for a while now… I’m ready. But I wouldn’t forgive myself if you were to perish with me. Be certain that if I have the slight possibility to see you once again… I’ll go to your encounter. I don’t regret anything that I’ve done, our love blossomed and it resulted in my biggest treasures. I wish things were different… I would have given anything for it to be another way. Before I go, never forget how much I love you all. Run away and be free.  –Forever and only yours, Carsten.

Aura’s eyes filled with tears. They were discovered and had to act quickly for their children’s good. She packed a very simple luggagged and filled it with just the bare necessities, she woke her children up and looking back one last time to the place that was their home filled with love and peace for the past years, she closed the door and fled. They managed to arrive at the human’s world portal in the deepness of the north’s forest and crossed it, and there the true challenge began. 

The members of the court and the king himself were present in the trial. Due to Carsten’s position as the king’s right hand, the matter had to be managed with discretion and care.

“The session is up” the judge in charge stated “Let both the plaintiff and the defendant enter”.

Elizabeth entered the hall and on the other side Carsten entered handcuffed as well as escorted by guards. 

“The plaintiff in this case is Mrs. Elizabeth Kobayashi who accuses Mr. Carsten Kobayashi who…” the judge read but was interrupted by a mocking laugh that resonated across the hall. 

“Is this really necessary?”

Everyone in the hall whispered in fear, since the one that spoke was no other than the Founder’s king Giesbach himself and Carsten’s second cousin. No one dared to look at him in the eye, but Elizabeth gathered courage before speaking: 

“Y-Your majesty! P-Please! I came to ask for your help!”

“Hm~? How is it that you ask for my help when you’re accusing my right hand and the second in common of this kingdom?” Giesbach asked sarcastically.

“I-I accuse him for a good reason, your majesty!” Elizabeth replied.

“With a good reason? Are you aware that you’re accusing the head of the Kobayashi family?”

“I-I’m not accusing him as the head of the Kobayashi family… rather as my h-husband” she said “He… h-hurt me deeply”.

The king didn’t say anything and then Elizabeth raised her eyes, filled with tears as she continued:

“H-He committed the worst of the crimes…” she said with a broken voice.

“And that is?”

Elizabeth hold tightly the skirt of her dress:

“He cheated on me with another woman!” she said wouldn’t be able to control her voice tone “Not only that! He also had children with her!”

All present burst in mumblings of disbelief.

The king opened his eyes surprised, and laid his eyes on Carsten. Carsten had not looked at anybody nor spoken since the trial began. Giesbach knew Carsten from almost all his life: his actions were coherent, he was responsible, capable, brilliant, loyal and honest with his services to the kingdom. Or well that’s what they thought, because he was being accused for exactly the opposite of the last two traits he had thought of. Giesbach noticed that Carsten adopted that attitude by practicing his right to remain silent, maybe he was trying to come up with a plan, but he knew that that would be in vain. Maybe it was his founder’s pride and the fact he knew he belonged to the second most important family in the kingdom.  

“That's a very severe accusation Mrs. Kobayashi” Giesbach said in a low tone “with such accusations, I assume you came prepared with proof, right?”

“T-The truth is…!” Aura couldn’t finish when she was interrupted.

“You wretch!” She heard Medea's voice “How dare you come here and accuse my son! Your husband committed such a crime! After all my son and family have done for you! How dare you!?”

Elizabeth bit her trembling lips, everyone trusted Carsten and were on his side even now that she had taken him to court.

“Y-Your majesty!” She started explaining “our relationship wasn't good since the beginning. I tried everything on my behalf to approach him and try to at least get along… but it was in vain. For some time, I've noticed that Carsten had unusual behavior, but I decided to ignore them. However, Carsten had refused to fulfill his duty to procreate an heir. As such, I decided to send a familiar to follow him and that’s how I found out the truth”.

Elizabeth made her familiar appear and with magic she showed what the familiar had seen. The audience was shocked and soon mumbles were heard, so the judge had to silence them. 

“As you can see it's no other than Aura, your majesty! The supposedly lost daughter of baron Nelizah!”

Giesbach narrowed his eyes and for the first time he spoke to Carsten.

“Is this true?”

Carsten looked at him and his golden eyes lacked any light, they were impregnable and cold. He then spoke:

“It is as she said”.

The audience broke again in shock and his mother’s voice stood above the rest. 

“Carsten! How is that possible!?” She reproached him angrily “I did not raise you like that! Why would you do such a thing!? And out of all women it had to be Aura!”

Carsten looked at his mother with resentment.

“YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO EVEN ASK IT!? WHO WAS THE ONE THAT FORCED ME TO MARRY WITH THIS WOMAN WHO I DIDN'T LOVE!?” Carsten shouted at her “AND DON’T YOU DARE TALK THAT WAY ABOUT AURA! SHE'S NOT JUST THE WOMAN I LOVE BUT THE MOTHER OF MY CHILDREN! I WON'T ALLOW YOU TO EVEN SAY HER NAME! I WON'T ALLOW YOU EVEN IF YOU'RE MY MOTHER!”

Medea went silent instantly and didn't reply back, she could just lower her head. In a way, it was like she understood that the reason why her beloved son had ended this way was fault.

When Elizabeth heard how Carsten had defended Aura, more tears escaped her eyes, how much she had wished Carsten would have defended her like he had just did when she was his wife…

Giesbach sighed and nodded to the judge for him to continue with the trail.

“Then, Lord Carsten, how do you declare yourself?– the judge asked.

Carsten looked at Giesbach and the judge and nodded. 

“I declare myself guilty, your honor”.

The audience broke in chaos: Medea fainted and her ladies-in-waiting tried to revive her, while E lizabeth looked at Carsten with a pained expression. In the end, he didn’t deny it nor tried to fight it. Elizabeth then, in a certain way, understood it: Carsten wanted to be with that woman Aura, he wanted to be the one he loved and start a family… like she wanted. She would have loved to be in Aura’s place in Carsten’s heart. Instead, she tried to take him by force and as a result they both ended up hurt. Elizabeth fell in love with Carsten since that night they first met and selfishly forced him to be by her side in an unhappy and loveless marriage…

How did she ever expect Carsten to ever love her when there was never a space in his heart for her? How would he be able to love her, the one that interposed between them? Everyone was guilty one way or another… which resulted in a series of tragic events as consequence of the bad decisions everyone involved took.

“There’s nothing left to discuss” Giesbach stopped with the commotion “What’s the sentence?”

The juror debated briefly and then a representative stood up and dictated the sentence:

“After everything exposed here today and the statement of the accused himself, Lord Carsten. The juror states the next sentence: Lord Carsten Kobayashi is sentenced to death penalty for the crime of adultery. Not only Lord Carsten, the sentence will be extended to Lady Aura of Nelizah and their illegitimate children”.

Carsten only closed his eyes, defeated. Although he was aware of the punishment, it was still hard. Even more considering that the punishment was extended to his family. 

“So be it then” Giesbach concluded “However, I won’t allow that a part of my family fall in disgrace for a weak link like him: Carsten, I strip you and your descendants from your title of duke and status of noble, as well as stripping you from your charge and the name of Kobayashi. Your name will be erased as well as all types of records in our family. Your execution will be first thing tomorrow morning, but it won’t be opened to the public, it has been enough show for today”.

Giesbach then directed his words to the rest of the court and audience:

“I forbid that anything seen or heard today here comes to the light. Nothing will come out. Whoever dares to leak anything from today, I’ll cut their tongues and I’ll strip your title and status to the person and family in question, they’ll be exiled to the cursed lands on the Makai, understood?” 

Everyone nodded in fear.

“Guards! The session is closed!” Giesbach said indifferent and cold “Take him out of my sight”.

The guards did as they were ordered and Carsten was taken out of the room. Elizabeth saw how they took him away and tried to go after him, but another guard stopped her. She then screamed:

“CARSTEN!” she said as she cried “I’M SORRY! I’M SORRY FOR EVERYTHING! I WISH THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!”

But Carsten didn’t turn around and was taken away. Elizabeth fell to the floor and sobbed. It was official… she had lost him and lost everything as well in the process.

Meanwhile, Aura managed to reach Yokohama's port with a lot of effort. Her poor children of 5 and 3 years fell asleep due to exhaustion. In the port, she saw the clock and marked 3 am, but there wasn’t time to rest yet and even less to lower her guard. She didn’t know when the guards could capture them and made them who knows what. She took her children out the carriage they had taken to get there and hurried her poor children to the ticket window. She had to get away as far as she could and there was no better alternative than to get out of Japan. After all: in the shadows there were demons that controlled the human world one way or another, taking into account that Japan was filled with portals to the Makai.

“Goodnight” Aura greeted the ticket clerk “I would like to buy 3 tickets for the next ship that sails”.

The ticket clerk raised his eyes from the newspaper that was reading, looked at her and looked at the newspaper again: 

“Destination?” he asked her.

“Which is the furthest destination you've got?” Aura asked.

“Hmm… China” he replied.

(It's still very close by) Aura thought (Well, I first need to get out of this country).

“Very well” she said, when she was about to take out some money, when the ticket clerk stopped her.

“Documents” he said, extending his hand towards her.

“Here” Aura gave them to him, luckily Carsten was always cautious and managed to get them documents if any emergency were to arise. 

(He never thought we'd ever use them… but things turned out this way ) she thought with sorrow.

The ticket clerk checked the documents and gave then back with a grumble.

“The information is incomplete”.

“H-How? Where?”

The ticket clerk pointed out the spaces on the names, which hadn’t any last names written on them. 

“You can’t leave the country if you don’t prove the relationship between you and those children” he said “Besides, you have the permission from your husband that authorized you to take your children out of the country”.

Sure… being a woman she had no authority over her own children. But, how would she explain to the ticket clerk that she was in fact running away from the family of the father of her children? Besides… how would she explain to him that they never got married and his family never recognized them? If she were to tell him all that, he’ll call the authorities accusing her for kidnapping her own children or for being a fugitive… not to mention that people from the Makai could be among them. 

Aura was thinking what she could do, when she felt a warm hand placed on her shoulder.

“Sorry for the wait dear” Aura heard a gentle male’s voice behind her. Aura turned around hoping to find Carsten, but to her disappointment it was a man she had never seen in her life.

“I-I” Aura tried to say something, but the man winked at her and continued talking to the ticket clerk. 

“Please forgive my wife, I sent her to go ahead and buy the tickets to a well deserved vacation, but I sent her unprepared” the man said. 

“Are you her husband?” the ticket clerk asked him skeptically.

“That’s right,” he said.

“Are you aware that your wife wanted to buy tickets to China?”

“What can I say? I promised my wife for the family to any destinations she wanted” he continued “My wife has an exotic taste”.

Both men laughed, but Aura was confused. Who was this man? Why would he help her? Could she trust him? For his smell, she knew it was a human, but what if he worked for the royal family or to a high rank aristocrat from any clan in the Makai?

“Well, good man!” the ticket clerk said now in a better mood “I’ll give you the tickets, I only ask you to fill in the missing information on the documents of your family, I assume you’ll acquire 4 instead of 3 tickets? 

“Oh no! Only 3 tickets, I’ll stay behind, because someone needs to stay to work. I’ll catch up on them later, after all businesses won’t tend to themselves, don’t you think?”

“Of course not! Then, it’ll be as you said!” then the ticket clerk turned around and entered the office. Once alone, the man talked to Aura in a low voice:

“I’m sorry if I scared you ma’am” he apologized “I couldn’t help myself to get involved, since you looked like you were in trouble”.

“I was in fact in trouble… I’m thankful for your help”.

“The pleasure is all mine” the man smiled at her “Now, fill the missing information before he comes back”.

Aura nodded, but when she saw her children’s documents, she didn’t know what to do: they were illegitimate after all: what if she wrote Kobayashi as their last name and they came after them? What if someone alerted them?

The man noticed how Aura trembled and spoke to her once again:

“Is something the matter? You can’t write down the missing information?” he asked worried.

“N-No…” she said, almost tearing down “T-The thing is… my h-husband…”

What could she say? She wasn’t even married! She couldn’t write down her own family last name nor the last name that corresponded to her children by right… What could she do?

“I understand…” the man said “May I?”

He took the pen and covered the tip with ink, then took the documents and wrote down on them. Aura looked in awe at how the man wrote down: Kai Koizumi, Daisuke Koizumi and Aura Koizumi. 

Just then the ticket clever came back, inspected the documents and nodded and stamped them with a seal to validate them.

“Very well, everything’s in order! Mr. and Mrs. Koizumi, I wish you a good trip and a good night!”

They thanked him and left. None of them spoke, but the man accompanied them to the boat’s entrance and helped Aura and her children with the little luggage they had. They arrived just in time, when they announced for the passengers to get on board to leave. Aura turned around and without being able to help it, she asked him:

“Why would you help us, kind sir? You wouldn’t earn anything by doing so, so…”

The man smiled with kindness and answered her:

“Good actions shouldn’t be made hoping to receive something in return ma’am”.

“B-But…”

“I suppose you haven’t lived an easy life until now, have you?”

“Why would you think so?”

“If a lady travels by herself this late at night with two young children is only for two reasons according to my experience: either she’s stealing children or she’s desperate and is trying to save them and herself”.

Aura went speechless, the man had guessed correctly.

“You don’t have to tell the reason, but you should know this ma’am: life won’t be easy not now, not from now on. Take into consideration that you are a woman with two children and that doesn’t have a man by her side to protect her: you’re on your own. However, you’ve already taken the first step… and it was the hardest, I assure you”.

Aura almost burst into tears: it was the first one to ever tell and done something nice for her in a while… besides Carsten, that is. 

“But answering your question: I had no reason to help you, I assure you. I had the opportunity to help you and that was it”.

“T-Then, allow me to give you something in return!” Aura searched in her pockets for a gold coin or something of value, but the man raised his hand to stop her. 

“I insist, it’s not necessary” the man said “Now go, the ship is about to sail, your new life awaits you”.

Aura smiled at him and hurried her children to get inside, but she turned around to look at the man:

“Thank you very much! I mean it!” she bowed to him and got on the ship. The man bid them farewell and when the ship started moving he turned around and left, disappearing within the morning fog of the port. Whoever that man was, he had saved the life of her children and herself just by lending her what she deduced was his last name.

“That’s right! I didn’t ask for his name…” but it was too late, maybe the only way to thank him and honor his memory was to keep his last name. Besides, she’ll probably need it, because definitely China wouldn’t be their last destination.

First thing in the morning, in the central courtyard from the royal prison, in order to avoid any disturbance, Carsten’s execution took place. Giesbach, accompanied with his wife queen Krone and the young princes Carla and Shin, were witnesses of the execution. Elizabeth and Medea also attended. Medea was tied to her chair and silenced with a handkerchief in her mouth as she kept shouting and begging for mercy for her son. Elizabeth was in a state of shock, is this how things were going to end? Is this really what she wanted? She couldn’t know for sure. 

“It will be a great loss for the kingdom” Krone mentioned, only loud enough for her husband to hear her. 

“Yes, it will” Giesbach agreed.

“It’s a shame that we keep losing members of the family… just like Lord Felsen” she said.

Felsen… one day he simply vanished. When he was still among them, from one moment to another he isolated himself from the family, apparently he had fallen ill and raved about the end of the specie by an incurable disease… apparently it only affected them as Founders.  

“Now that I think about it, Carsten suggested investigating this supposedly illness that had affected him” Giesgach commented “but with this, I don’t think it will be possible”.

“I suppose not,” Krone shrugged “However, with Carsten’s death a lot of matters and investigations will die with him”.

Giesbach only nodded and focused his eyes on the execution. 

Carsten was stripped from his fine clothes, wearing rags and looking dirty, something they didn’t know was possible for a noble like him. But he didn’t care: he was at peace, because he had managed to save his family. From his cell, the night before he had heard how the guards mentioned that they still weren’t able to find trails of Aura and the children and therefore he could die in peace.  

And even in his last moments, Carsten refused to look at Elizabeth: he refused for her to be the last person he’ll see before dying. If he had been given the option… he would have preferred seeing Aura and his children one last time. He closed his eyes and imagined himself in the cottage that he had considered his home, where nobody bothered them and for some moments all his preoccupations vanished…at least he had known what happiness was and smiled at that last thought. 

It was a clean and fast cut, Giesbach had moved some threads for the executor to be precise and for his second degree cousin, who at least had shown to him and his family real loyalty, wouldn’t suffer much. 

 And just in a matter of seconds everything was over. Carsten was gone, showing a peaceful expression on his face. 

Back at home, Elizabeth was lost in thought. From that terrible night, a month had already passed and was now all by herself. If she could have become a mother, she wouldn’t be in such pain like she was then. Then a thought came to her mind: what if she rais Carsten’s children? She didn’t want to see Aura, in fact if she was found she wouldn’t interfere with her execution, but the children’s? She could convince the judge to be given to her!

Elizabeth called a servant and asked him exactly that: to look on his own for Aura and Carsten’s children. She’ll turn Aura over to the authorities and she’ll keep the children and she will raise them as her own! She wouldn’t care what others thought, besides she would calm her consciousness by taking care of the children of her deceased husband!

However, things wouldn’t be that easy: the search extended from days to months… and some months later the tragedy came. 

They called it Endzeit and the name fit it perfectly: it marked the end of the founder’s realm.No Founder was saved… Elizabeth included. Even on her dead bed, surrounded by only her servants…she could only think about them.

“Did you find the children?” Elizabeth asked in agony.

“No my lady, we couldn’t find any trails” her maid answered her.

“After all… Carsten refused and made sure… to make me suffer till the end… didn’t he?” Elizabeth said with a bitter smile “he made sure…to deny my wish… to become a mother… even if the children… weren’t mine. I… would have raised them right… so they could be worthy… and took over the position… of their father… I assure you! But… Carsten was always… so cruel to me…”

“My lady…” the maid said sadly.

“My time… has come. In the end… I lived such a… lonely life…and without love… I had so much love… to give! Carsten… I only… wanted to love you… I was even willing… to forgive you… and even take care of your children! Really! I… wasn’t your enemy… Carsten… why… you were… that way to me? I just… wanted… for you… to love me… and for you… to love me… my beloved… Carsten” those were her last words before closing her eyes, not before some tears fell from her eyes over her sorrowful, not corresponded love. 

From China, they travel to India. From India they went to what’s known as the actual Turkey. They rested in the modern Hungary and then they went to France. Subsequently, they went to Spain and took a ship to the new world: new world, new beginning. Aura decided to take that journey and after months, they finally arrived at Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz or currently known as Veracruz in Mexico. 

Starting wasn’t easy, but there wasn’t another choice: she was alone with her children and even if they wouldn’t die of hunger, she wanted her children to be happy and live with dignity. Aura managed to earn a living as a foreigner woman with children in those times. They learnt the language and years later it was evident that time didn’t pass on them, so they had to move to another state until with time they arrived in the capital: Mexico City. They had better work opportunities and better life quality. Aura made sure they knew their lineage as her children grew up. She wanted them to be conscious that they were different and always prideful. That’s what Carsten would have wanted…

Aura waited everyday her whole life for Carsten to come and find them. Immortals like them can afford that luxury after all. They say hope is the last thing to be lost after all… even if the wait can be cruel. Her children didn’t have the heart to make her leave that thought: after all they knew that hope was what kept her alive. There was no way for her to understand, yet no matter how much she would wait for him… they wouldn't reunite.

Meanwhile… her children grew up. They became independent and continued with their life. It was hard, but that’s how life should be. 

As time went by, Kai met a colleague, around the 80-90’s, who didn’t hesitate to present her to his younger brother Daisuke.

“Morena, I present to you my brother: Daisuke” Kai presented them. 

“Please to meet you,” said Daisuke.

“Ah… nice to meet you” replied Morena uninterested. 

Kai looked at his brother and saw how he started smiling.

Kai knew it: Daisuke always enjoyed challenges and those hard ones he enjoyed them the most. It was clear that he had already made up their mind: he’ll make Morena his wife. And Kai wasn’t wrong: after 4 years, they both married.  

However, Aura wasn’t happy about his son’s choice: they had to protect their precious founder’s blood! They shouldn’t mix it with human blood!

But Daisuke didn’t care and decided to follow his heart and marry Morena. Aura then understood: there was going to be a risk to repeat their story… and she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself if that were to happen. So she accepted it, even if she wasn’t satisfied with his choice. 

The day of Daisuke’s wedding, Aura took a walk in the salon’s gardens where the wedding took place, she look up to the sky and said:

“Carsten… no matter how many years have passed, I’m still waiting for you and I miss you tremendously” she said with grief “Your sons are now dignified grown men… I wish you could see them right now…”

Aura cried in silence.

“Carsten… if you have sympathy for me, come and get me soon. Please… just come for me!

Suddenly, a shooting star crossed the sky and Aura simply looked at it. 

“I understand…” she said “It’s still not time yet, is it? It can’t be helped then! It won’t make a difference if I wait longer, does it?”

Aura sighed resigned and turned around, not before saying:

“Just remember Carsten: I love you, that hasn’t changed, not then, not now, not ever… until we see each other again my love”.

And just like that, she went back to her son’s wedding, ready to confront another day of her life without her beloved Carsten. Because, she knew that sooner or later she’ll meet again: if it wasn’t in this life, then maybe it’ll be in the next one… 

The end. 

“I’m so happy you made it Naomi!” Ari said cheerfully “It’s been a while since we could hang out together!”

“I agree, it’s such a shame…” Naomi sighed.

Ari felt guilty, after all she couldn’t keep in touch as much as she could due to her new “social life”. Yet, she hoped Naomi wouldn’t know about that. 

“I would like to offer you an apology regarding this” Naomi interrupted Ari’s thoughts.

“You? Why?” Ari questioned her.  

Naomi left a tired sigh. 

“The truth is I’ve been very busy within my responsibilities to be able to send you letters” Naomi replied. 

“Is that so… then it couldn’t be helped. Please don’t worry about it” Ari tried to comfort her. 

“Still, I would like to apologize. Please accept them” Naomi insisted.

“Very well~”.

There was a tiny pause between them. 

“You won’t ask about the things that have kept me busy?” Naomi inquired.

“I mean… I suppose that they are confidential topics that I shouldn’t know” Ari replied, confused.

“You’re right but, aren’t you curious?” 

“I-I would be lying if I said I wasn’t” Ari admitted “But I think it is not correct for me to ask”.

Naomi smiled.

“You’re so honest and correct~” Noami praised Ari “Yet, it could help me to sort out my thoughts by talking it out with you”.

“Why me?”

“You’re my friend and I trust you”.

Ari felt touched by Naomi’s words and simply smiled. 

Naomi left a tired sigh and soon started talking.

“Remember what I told you about the Eagle clan job regarding the barrier? Also regarding the towers that surround our kingdom so that the barrier reaches every place in our empire?”

"Yes, I remember," Ari said. 

“However, the situation hasn’t been ideal. Just recently, the fluctuations have been more recurrent and are becoming a serious matter for us”.

(Wait! If the barrier comes from KarlHeinz, then…!) Ari’s eyes opened in realization. (Doesn’t this mean that these fluctuations means that his health is deteriorating!?). 

“We have no way to know what exactly is causing this, but I hope it gets fixed soon. In the meantime, we have already asked for reinforcements” Naomi concluded.

(Then no one must be aware of this fact!!) Ari got worried.

Naomi noticed that Ari’s expression on her face. Naomi smiled, as she spoke.

“Don’t worry Ari. I assure you that with some more magicians the barrier will be restored in no time. We are fully prepared to whatever emergency that may arise in the future, so worry not~”

Ari smiled, but deep down she knew better that that wouldn’t be true. 

(Now that I think about it, in the novel no one spoke about these incidents) Ari thought (These were subtable signs from KarlHeinz’s health slowly declining and no one seemed to notice or link these fluctuations with him. The barriers will cease to exist when KarlHeinz dies in Autumn… as well as Iberitia and everyone living there… even myself). 

But she knew better than she had no way to tell Naomi that as she had no proof and probably thought of her as some lunatic.

“I hope so too Naomi” Ari finally stated.

“Let’s change to a more pleasant subject, shall we~?” Naomi said cheerfully “How have you been? Is there anything you’d like to tell me?”

“Not really. I’m doing well” Ari said as she took a sip of her tea.

“Really~? Is there really anything you’d like to tell me~?” Naomi said while taking her tea as well “Then I must have heard wrong since I heard you were having quite a social life~”

Ari shrugged.

“Oh, that? They’re exaggerating~” she lied “Just a couple of parties or reunions here and there~” Ari then took another sip.

“Really~? Then, how is it that I heard you have been accompanying certain young man to these ‘occasional’ gatherings~?”

Ari almost choked on her tea. She coughed and cleaned her mouth as she tried to recover. 

“Y-You knew!?” Ari asked. “I thought you d-didn’t care about listening to rumors”.

“I usually don’t care about them as I believe they are a waste of time” Naomi agreed. “However… when my friend’s name was mentioned I couldn’t ignore them”.

Ari tensed.

“I had really hoped you hadn’t listened to them… at least this time” Ari admitted.

“Rumors fly and it was a matter of time before I knew” Naomi shrugged.

Ari gulped discreetly, she had to come up with an excuse for Naomi to lose interest and let it be.

“The duke Kino from Rottisen, huh?” Naomi said and after a brief pause she spoke again “I don’t like him”.

Ari opened her eyes in awe. Naomi had never openly expressed a dislike towards someone. She could guess so by the way she interacted with them, but everything kept being respectful. 

“H-How so? Do you know him by any chance?” Ari asked.

(If Naomi knew something, maybe I can use that to my advantage!).

“That’s my point: I have never heard of him before” Naomi replied “And that makes me doubt him. Ari, due to my position, I know every single member of the nobility. They are part of my responsibilities as I have to interact with them at some point, therefore I have to know about them to maintain diplomatic relationships. Not just nobles here in the Makai, but I also know the most important members of the foreign nobility. Yet, I’ve never heard of the existence of the duke of Rottissen”. 

Ari didn’t know what to say. If she dared to say something wrong, Naomi could know about Kino’s secret identity and complicate things more. She had to cover up for Kino.

“Is he your lover by any chance?” Naomi interrupted Ari’s thoughts.

“I-I! W-Well! I-I mean! We are still getting to know each other!” Ari said blushing.

(I wish I could explain to her the type of situation I’m stuck in…) Ari thought ashamed.

(For what I learnt, here in the world of the novel something as ‘boyfriend’ doesn’t exist. Apparently, the closest to it would be ‘lover’, but having that title means a step closer to becoming a fiance!).

Naomi looked at Ari and left her tea cup on the table. 

“I don’t like it…” she repeated.

“Y-You don’t have to worry about it Naomi!”

Naomi sighed.

“I would have preferred you to go out with someone I knew. That way I could have given you useful advice in order for you to make a good decision. For example, if you had chosen Sir Tersul… Sure, he looks like a gentleman, but he’s addicted to gambling. Or maybe if you had chosen his highness the fifth prince, I would have warned you about his famous whereabouts with various ladies. Something as fidelity isn’t in his vocabulary…”

Ari giggled, yet Naomi went serious.

“Yet his grace… I know nothing. It makes me feel uneasy”.

Ari felt moved, having such a great friend like Naomi moved her heart deeply. Naomi was never mentioned in the novel, so Ari suspected she wasn’t someone of importance and most likely ended up as Kino’s victim at some point in the novel. Although she greatly appreciated her, she had to keep her as far as she could from all this issue… to keep her safe.

“Don’t worry Naomi… I mean it when I tell you I’m fine” Ari smiled at her.

Naomi sighed once again.

“I trust your intuition, so I’ll respect your decision and won’t push it further. Still, I would like to advise you to be careful with his grace. Since no one seems to know about him, I can only offer you this much advice”.

Ari nodded and so they changed the topic. 

Some time later, they finally said their goodbyes and parted in different directions. 

As Naomi had just entered her carriage, it started moving. Naomi was deep in thought regarding the conversation she had today with Ariadna. 

(Duke Kino from Rottisen, huh? Sounds fishy…) Naomi thought seriously (Besides… Why does that land’s name sound familiar? I’ll have to look into this further…)

Soon she heard a light knock by her window. She opened it and one of her soldiers looked at her with urgency.

“I’m sorry ma’am, but your presence is urgently required back to the Eagle territory” the soldier said “The barrier is going through a new fluctuation right now”.

Naomi opened her eyes, surprised. 

“What? But it stabilized just hours ago!” Naomi exclaimed.

“The messenger just came to inform us ma’am” the soldier replied.

“Very well. Then let us hurry back, we’ll use a magic portal to arrive as soon as possible. Hurry everyone!” Naomi ordered and all her soldiers went back to work.

Naomi sighed.

(This can’t be normal. If this continues there’s no way we can keep it a secret much longer. And we haven’t received any reply yet from the imperial palace. Just what is going on?) Naomi thought as her carriage hurried. (I need to take care of this before anything else. I’ll need to put Ari's situation on hold. I hope I’m wrong about it and not to worry Ari unnecessary).

Naomi’s carriage took the magic portal and soon vanished, taking their preoccupations with them. 

As Ari was getting ready for the party she was heading out to, she kept thinking about her conversation with Naomi the previous day. 

(There’s no doubt that these fluctuations are signs that KarlHeinz’s weakening by the day. At this point, the story will follow its original curse) Ari thought as Mia was styling her hair by her mirror (We are just 2 months away from the Star’s festival and therefore the prediction of the oracle…).

“All done my lady! You look stunning!” Mia exclaimed.

“Thank you Mia,” Ari said as she rose. 

She headed to the carriage waiting for her by the entrance of her home. Once inside, it made its way to her already designated encounter point with Kino. When she arrived and both made their way to the party, silence always prevailed. It was clear that they took the ‘business only’ by heart. Ari sighed at the uncomfortable atmosphere between them. She had tried to start a conversation with him several times before, but they had died soon after they had started. It was clear that Kino refused to speak beyond the necessary… not to mention he wouldn’t speak about his plans at all with her. 

(He’s unapproachable. He’s also very cautions around me and he doesn’t trust me at all) Ari thought gazing at him from across her seat, while he was looking out the window (If I could only know what he’s looking for at the moment and I managed to get it for him…. then I could have some chance to get him to trust me).

The carriage stopped and both descended.

(I need to find out what: it can be information or maybe an object or maybe getting closer to a specific noble… if I manage to get it for him first! He might think of me as useful!).

They entered as they were announced. Soon Ari felt the guest’s stares and somehow she had gotten used to them at some point. They walked together and slowly they were greeted by various guests.

(I guess I have to start by sticking with him at all times to find it out) Ari thought.

Yet, at some point, as she was greeting some ladies that greeted her, she lost sight of Kino. Ari made her best effort to be by his side, yet he sneaked somehow every time. At some point, Ari ended up by herself by the dance floor.

(I can’t believe it! Is he doing it on purpose!? Why can't I remain by his side!?) Ari thought frustrated, looking everywhere for Kino. (He’s a sneaky jerk! Like a hummingbird flying at high speed from flower to flower! I can’t keep up with him!).

Ari’s eyes couldn’t find him anywhere. In late parties, he would leave her by herself and disappear not to be found by her until the end of the party or after some hours if she was lucky. 

(If this keeps happening! I won’t make any progress at this rate!) Ari groaned, still looking around. Suddenly, she felt someone touch her shoulder making her go back to her senses. 

“Lady Ariadna! It’s been a while!” a group of young ladies she had met at Lady Mindel’s party, Lady Shabel being one of them.

“Oh my~! You’re right! How have you all been?” Ari asked them.

(Oh dear, what a bad timing…) Ari thought as she smiled at them.

“It’s a pleasure to have encountered my lady!” lady Shabel exclaimed.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Ari said, and started talking about meaningless things. 

Although Ari was secretly looking around for Kino and as soon as she would spot him she’ll excuse herself to go directly to him. 

At a certain point, the music changed and all the ladies started leaving in search of a partner to dance or being asked to dance by a brave gentleman. In the end, lady Shabel, a lady called Linda and Ari remained with no one asking them to join them for a dance.  

“Where is his grace, my lady?” Lady Linda asked curiously “I thought he would come to take you for a dance by now”.

“A-Ah! His Grace had some business to attend with other guests at the party and had to retire for a while” Ari invented an excuse.

“Oh! If it was for work, it can’t be helped~” Lady Shabel replied understandingly. 

“I agree. Sometimes my father would take the opportunity to make business at gatherings such as this one” Lady Linda agreed.

Ari thanked they believed her lie, while she kept looking around for him. Yet when she laid her eyes on the dance floor, she forgot her search for Kino as she focused on the dancing couples. They swung around in sync with the music, somehow they were so coordinated that Ari thought of those movies back on her world replicating a ball like the one she was seeing herself. They all danced like they were professional dancers with a lot of practice for the big event. Ari always felt her heart beating fast with emotion at those scenes, but seeing it with her own eyes felt surreal. Since she was little, things like balls, dresses, princesses and anything related made her wish she was there. Even in the tight situation she found herself in, she wished she could join them… everytime. 

(Even if I was asked to dance I don’t know how to do it. Maybe the original Ariadna knew as she was a noble since birth, but not me. I can’t risk making a fool of myself) Ari thought, yet her eyes never left the dance floor. (Besides, if I happen to dance with someone else, I can make Kino angry with me).

The dance piece came to an end and a round of applause followed. Ari resumed looking for Kino, but got distracted by a sudden commotion on her surroundings.

“Oh my! Could it be…?” someone said.

“I don’t believe it!” someone else said.

“What is she doing here?” Lady Linda asked incredulously.

“I never thought someone like her would attend an event like this,” Lady Shabel added.

Ari followed their direction and by the entrance she saw that a new guest arrived at the party.

A beautiful lady was slowly descending the long stair by the entrance. Her long straight hair looked like strands of gold fluttering behind her. She was wearing a deep wine dress, richly decorated with details in black. When she arrived at the bottom of the stairs, she made a little bow with her head to viscount and viscountess Weiter, the hosts of the party, that were there. They reciprocated as they thanked her for joining them. She nodded and focused once again to the rest of the party and slowly made her way through them. They moved aside as she walked, somehow intimidated by her mere presence. 

“I’m shocked she’s here” Lady Linda commented, her voice almost a whisper.

“I agree. This isn’t the type of party she would attend” Lady Shabel agreed with lady Linda as well in a whisper.

“Who is she?” Ari said, realizing late that she thought it out loud.

“You don’t know who she is, Lady Ariadna!?” both ladies exclaimed looking at Ari surprised.

Before allowing her to answer, Lady Linda spoke.

“She’s her Grace Sabine Tachihara! The heiress from the Vibora clan!”

“Not to mention she’s currently the one that leads all trends in the empire. Whatever she wears or says is for sure turning into the next trend in the coming days”. Lady Shabel added.

“Everyone wishes to be part of her group or at least be on her good side. If someone dares to offend her or making her angry, it will be a social suicide! She can turn everyone against that person and it would be almost impossible to recover from it”.

Ari looked at Sabine as she kept walking. She passed exactly in front of Ari and the ladies and for a fraction of a second, Sabine seemed to look towards her direction and Ari could have sworn her eyes seemed cold and almost hateful. Was she looking at her? Did she imagine it?

Sabine kept walking across the center of the ballroom. 

“Oh dear…” Ari heard Lady Shabel mutter and Ari looked towards the direction she was looking. 

As people were moving away from her, someone didn’t move. Ari opened her eyes, surprised that that somebody was Kino. He was distracted by a conversation he was having with a man Ari didn’t recognize. Ari also saw that man looked behind Kino and closed his mouth in astonishment. Kino must have wondered the reason for that behavior and finally turned around to find himself face to face with Sabine that was forced to stop by this. They both look at each other, like analyzing each other. They looked like two beasts measuring their strengths. Everyone at the ball seemed to stop breathing, Ari could hear some worried whisperings around her wondering what would happen next. Some whispers claimed that Kino was being reckless by not moving aside on time, while others wondered what yould be Sabine’s next move. 

After what seemed like an eternity, they simply smiled at each other and bowed at each other. 

“Your grace” she greeted him.

“Your grace” he reciprocated.

Everyone was astonished and Ari could guess Kino achieved something big. 

“I finally have the pleasure to make your acquaintance your grace” Sabine continued.

“The pleasure is all mine” Kino gave her a charming smile.

“I look forward to having a conversation with your grace in the near future” with another bow Sabine walked past Kino and continued her way.

As soon as Sabine disappeared, everyone seemed like they were holding their breath and finally were allowed to breathe. Soon whispers could be heard everywhere, but Kino was unbothered and resumed his conversation with the gentlemen around him that joined him once again, but Ari could tell they were somehow more lively after what had happened, most likely proud from Kino’s achievement. 

“Her mere presence is intimidating” Lady Linda commented.

“I can see that…” Ari said, but was more impressed as to how Kino handled it. (It felt like a scene from Mean girls if you ask me) Ari laughed internally.

“I still can’t think of a good reason as to why her grace would attend a party like this one” Lady Shabel said.

“Whatever the reason she might have had… I’m so glad I came as well! Is it better to experience it than to hear about it, don’t you think?” Lady Linda replied excitedly. 

“I agree! The rest of the ladies will be so jealous when they hear about~! I can't wait for our next gathering!” Lady Shabel agreed.

Yet Ari remembered that stare Sabine had given her. She also wasn’t quite sure if she had to admire Kino’s nerves of steel or question Kino’s sanity. In any case, she had to find him, she couldn’t go home like she always had with no progress on her plan… or any plan she had made anyway.

She excused herself and went to find Kino, only to spot him just in time taking some stairs open to the guests to the second floor. She hurried after him and when she arrived to the second floor, she lost sight of him. The second floor merely consisted of a huge corridor with an incredible set of large window-like doors that led to small balconies for guests to use for a brief pause to have some fresh air. Something that just made sense since Ari well knew that viscount and viscountess Weiter enjoyed hosting various parties every couple of weeks. As an introvert herself, she thanked having somewhere to escape to when she felt like charging her “social battery”. As Ari walked looking for Kino, she heard some noises coming from the last of the balconies on the right side of the hall. She peaked and found Kino, but she discovered Kino wasn’t alone: Sabine was with him.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, your grace, I’m glad to have encountered you this evening” Ari heard Sabine said.

“Heh? And what is that I perhaps owe the pleasure for her grace to look forward to have a word with me?” Kino replied.

“Rumors spread fast and wide in this empire, it was a matter of time for me to hear about you. I must say that what I heard has picked my interest”.

(Then what the ladies said is true!) Ari thought surprised (If she’s aware of Kino’s existence our rumors have made it to the higher circles). 

“I have to say that it is quite an honor to have caught the interest of a lady such as her grace,” Kino replied, clearly satisfied. 

“Is not something easy to achieve, considering that I’m hard to impress”.

“I wonder what I can do for her grace to keep her interest longer”.

(Could it be that Sabine is interested in Kino in a flirty way?) Ari wondered (I mean, she isn’t really the first, but a duchess as Sabine!? Was this a thing in the novel? I can’t remember–).

“Lady Koizumi?” a nearby voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Y-Yes!?” Ari jumped and turned to look around to find Viscount Weiter in front of her.

“I’m terribly sorry to startle you my lady” he apologized with a sympathetic chuckle for Ari’s reaction.

“N-Not at all my lord!” Ari quickly composed herself and bowed to greet him “I was simply distracted”.

“I see” the Viscount replied “Are you enjoying the party my lady?”

“Oh! Definitely! The selection of music and the decorations are wonderful! It’s clear that everything was planned with the utmost care!” Ari praised.

“I’ll let my wife know your thoughts, my lady. I’m glad it was of your liking”

“Please do, my lord. Plus your hospitality has played a great part as well!”

“You’re so very kind, my lady” Viscount Weiter said with a pleased smile “I was actually looking for his Grace, have you perhaps seen it?”

Ari paid extra attention to his words.

“Did something happen?”

“Nothing to worry, at least not as far as I'm concerned” he said “Is simply that he asked for a moment to have a word with me and is just until now that I’m finished greeting all guests that I can spare him some time”.

“I see!”

(This is my chance!) Ari thought.

“I thought you might know as his partner where could he be”

“As a matter of fact, I do know where to find him, my lord!” she answered “I’ll go and tell him myself, so if you'd like you can wait for him in one of the balconies and I tell him to go and find you”. Ari replied.

“Wonderful! Then, tell his grace I’ll be waiting on the last balcony on the other end of the hall for more privacy”.

“Sure! Meanwhile, my lord should use this time to have some fresh air himself while waiting!”

“What a great idea! You’re so kind, my lady” Viscount Weiter said and turned around and left.

Ari turned around as well and, after a deep breath, lightly knocked on the balcony’s door where they kept talking. After a brief pause, she entered.

“Excuse me…Oh! Your graces! I hope I’m not interrupting!” Ari faked surprise as she entered. 

“Not at all~” Kino replied, but Ari had a glimpse of Sabine’s face to notice she wasn’t happy with her interruption “Were you looking for me?”

“I was, thankfully a servant saw you coming here and I was able to find you” Ari replied.

“Did you need something?” Kino asked.

“Actually, I came to tell you that Viscount Weiter is free now and is waiting for you in the balcony by the end of the hall”

“Ah~, then I can’t keep him waiting. If you’ll excuse me~”.

Kino left, leaving Ari and Sabine. Ari looked at her and felt the sudden change of the atmosphere. Sabine opened a fan to cover her face, not allowing Ari to read her expressions any longer.

(Kino you jerk, you didn’t introduce me to her!) Ari thought annoyed.

“Allow me to introduce myself with your grace: my name is Lady Ariadna Koizumi, youngest member of the Koizumi family” Ari introduced herself as she was of lower rank between them.

Sabine nodded. Ari felt uncomfortable in the awkward situation before her. After what felt like a long time, she spoke:

“I’ve heard about you”.

(You could have said so sooner!) Ari thought. (Ugh… This is so awkward! I want to leave!).

“It’s an honor, I hope only good things!” Ari tried to joke.

“Maybe…” Sabine answered coldly “but that doesn’t change the fact that is… annoying”.

Ari opened her eyes in surprise, taken aback by her words.

(Did I hear right?)

Ari could only look at her confused, but Sabine simply started walking towards the entrance behind her.

“If you’ll excuse me” and with that Sabine left.

Ari stayed there even after a couple of minutes trying to process what had happened.

(What was that!? Did I do something wrong? What did she mean by that?) Ari then felt angry (So the look she gave me before wasn’t my imagination!)

Ari took a deep breath and let it go. 

(You won’t always be liked by other people… maybe she was just not in a good mood?) Ari said as she shrugged (Besides, I have other things to worry about).

Ari then entered the mansion and went directly to the other end of the hall where some gentlemen were having a private conversation.

(I have to find out what Kino is after. I need to try to be a step ahead of him!) Ari thought as she hurried. 

As she approached the balcony silently, she listened as both gentlemen chatted. 

“I’m afraid that as much as I would like to help his grace, I’m unable to do so” she heard viscount Weiter said.

“It’s hard for me to believe it, as you are well informed in all the affairs regarding the internal market,” Kino said. 

Ari really didn’t have the background of their conversation, but kept listening.  

“Is true, but what his grace is asking is beyond my capabilities. Rather than involving the market, I think that’s a topic more fitable for politics'’.

“Not even if I double the current offer?” 

There was a brief pause, clearly Viscount Weiter was contemplating the offer.

“Something as offering such a large supply of magical weapons… enough to fully equip the Imperial Army: Are you saying that your land has a higher production capacity than the North Kingdom?”

Ari gulped. 

(If Viscount Weiter knew that, in fact, Kino does have that capacity…) Ari thought, remembering the events of the novel.

Viscount Weiter sighed and the sound of footsteps was heard closer to the entrance.

“I seriously can’t help you, your Grace” Viscount said “You have great talent, I’ve heard of it and I’ve seen proof of it just now. If you continue like that you’ll have a bright future ahead. However, I don’t possess the resources or contacts to provide you with the information you need. My sincere apologies, I hope you find what you’re looking for”.

“It can’t be helped then” Kino concluded “Thank you for your time then”.

“We can sign the contract another day,” Viscount said. “However, with the original offer only”.

“You can keep the second offer, it doesn’t make a difference anyway”.

“There’s no need, the double offer was in case I could be of any help. I won’t rest if I take advantage of his grace. Now if you’ll excuse me”.

Ari heard those footsteps again, so she hid behind some curtains and waited until she was sure the Viscount was gone. 

As she left her hideout, she heard Kino grunted, clearly angry that things didn’t go as we wanted.

“What a waste of time” Kino dropped the kind act “How is it possible for a business man like him not to know anything regarding the north border?”

(The north border? Could it be…?) 

Kino took a deep breath and spoke in a serious tone:

“I know you’re there”.

(Dammit!) she thought, entering the balcony.

“Well, if it isn’t you~” Kino spoke mockingly “Bad habits die hard, I see~”.

“It wasn’t my intention” Ari replied apologetically.

“May I remind you that this habit of yours got you in this situation to begin with~?”

“I know”.

Standing next to each other, they saw far in the distance.

“So, how much did you listen?” Kino inquired.

“J-Just the last part” Ari replied.

“Great, just great” Kino sighed exasperated. “Just forget you heard anything”.

“I-Is there any way I can help?” Ari dared to ask.

“Another bad habit of yours: minding in other’s business. No, you can’t help” Kino turned around with the intention to leave.

Ari grasped on the balcony concrete trying to calm herself.

(I have to try something! I need to try to cross that line he’s putting between us, otherwise I won’t be able to make it!) Ari thought desperately (Those that don’t risk, don’t win!)

“I-Is pretty hard to introduce products into the Makai right?” Ari finally said nervously “Let alone cross the border… Well, or so I-I heard”.

She heard Kino’s footsteps stop. Ari dared to turn her head and saw he had turned his head around.

“What?”

“Y-Yes, after all the Makai is p-protected from external t-threats” she proceeded carefully “Is specially though in the northern barrier”.

“And that is…?” he inquired.

Ari was a nervous wreck, she had to keep going.

“T-The magic barrier of course” she declared. “It was made purely with the purpose to protect our empire”.

“You are telling me nothing new” Kino finally said and was about to leave when Ari once again said.

“Security these days has increased considerably, don’t you think?”

“Security has always been strong”.

“But you know the reason behind it?”

Kino squinted his eyes, not really answering which Ari could dare to think she had guessed it.  

“Are you suggesting you know it?” Kino said in a mocking way.

“I do, in fact, know” Ari answered to his remark, sarcasm in her tone.

“I doubt it~” Kino shrugged, “so far, I have eyes and ears set on the north barrier, the reason behind it is confidential, someone as you knowing is…”

“Then, I suppose you already know about the fluctuations of the barrier” Ari finally said, somehow annoyed that Kino kept underestimating her.

Kino’s eyes opened so slightly.

“Fluctuations? In the barrier? That’s impossible” Kino said “That would mean the Makai is vulnerable to an attack any time a fluctuation lasts long enough for an army to invade”.

“Why do you think it has been kept as a secret or at least to just a few?” Ari questioned.

Kino went silent for a minute.

(Bingo! So there was something Kino didn’t know!) Ari thought satisfied.

“Fluctuations can be fixed sooner or later, even if what you said sure is interesting… doesn't make any much of a difference to me" Kino concluded to which Ari felt disappointed. 

But backing off… wasn't an option anymore.

"That’s a shame really, you seem to go after big things"

"Which I deduce you can’t provide. Such a shame, better luck next time~"

"But, what if the fluctuations meant something bigger?"

Ari had his full attention and Ari had to place everything on the bet if she wanted to make a change.

"Bigger as?"

"Do you know where exactly the barrier comes from?"

"The towers" Kino answered with no hesitation "they are spread wide in the Makai"

"True, but not quite" Ari said "they amplify the magic so it covers the Makai as a whole”. 

“I can hardly believe that” Kino replied “The towers must have a source of its own to produce enough magic to cover just a fraction of the land and where that ends the other tower close by would cover the next part and so on”.

“I understand your logic, but here in the Empire it is possible” Ari answered calmly. “The source is what really matters".

“Are you suggesting that something so powerful exists that is only required one of its kind to sustain the whole Empire and even better to be kept in only one place?” 

"Actually, rather than imagining something… you should be thinking of someone".

"The source comes from someone and not something?" 

Ari could tell Kino was confused, she had nailed what kind of information he was really after. It was understandable that it was something hard to believe, it was hard for her as well at first. However, everything made sense… at least for her with what she knew from the novel. She was given an advantage and she had to use it wisely.

"Magic reflects the state in which the porter is at. Can you imagine the severity of the situation?"

Kino was silent, Ari was expectantly waiting.

After what felt like forever, Kino spoke in a serious tone.

"Who is it? Who is producing all the magic enough to protect an empire and for it to only be distributed by the towers?" 

Ari looked calmly at him, although she was a nervous wreck on the inside. It was time to use what she knew in her favor and assume the consequences that would come with them.

"No other than his Majesty the Emperor KarlHeinz".