Gael received the letter from Darrion stating Rauv's whereabouts so as the condition of Yui's memories and flowers
Thereupon receiving the letter that night, they quickly left to journey back to the imperial palace.
To make sure that no one recognizes Yui, Gael asked Julian for the item that he concocted for Yui to hide her eye color.
"It will be cold at night and hot during the day, however, please refrain from removing your robe."
Gael elucidated as both of them went under disguised dying both their hair using Maylene's potion and the contact lens to change their eye colors.
Yui nodded innocently while displaying her anxiety all over her round pale face.
Noticing her distress, Gael gently patted her head, "Don't worry, I'll protect you no matter what."
Still intrigued by the phoenix suggestion last night, Gael brushed off his worries for the future and decided to live in the present.
A time when he could have Yui in his arms. The time when he could stare at her beautiful eyes. The time that is only limited until the end of their journey.
Holding her hand, with the horse strap, in the other hand, Gael takes most of his time walking with Yui while leaving the village.
"Hey, Phoenix! Can't you just let us have a ride to get to the imperial palace quickly?"
Yui called, but Gael silently gave a death stare at the flame bird resting at the top of the horse's head.
The Phoenix rolled his eyes and turned his head away, "I can't bring two people with me."
"He said he can't bring two people in him."
Yui's dejected expression, lifted Gael's darkened face after she told him what the phoenix had replied to her.
Because the mana that the phoenix shared with him already tire up, Gael went back for not being able to understand the beast's words.
"But a month is too long, wouldn't the seal collapse before we could reach the palace?"
'That was the plan.'
With eyes closed, Gael comes up with the most crucial decision he made in his life because that is also what he expected Yui will choose.
He decided to let her go.
"How long the seal could hold on without Rauv's powers?" Gael asked the phoenix after a moment of tranquility.
The phoenix turned its head back to Gael, analyzing the young man's expression, and then answered him.
"Less than a month."
"Then that's enough."
"Are you planning to proceed with it? How about this child's opinion?"
Gael stared at Yui again leaning towards her, taking the strand of her long black hair and kiss it, "I'm sure that she will choose the same."
Still, Gael doesn't feel good about what he decided, finding himself desperately clinging to Yui.
'His face. that is so illegal.' Pressing her lips to close, and holding her breath, Yui can't sleep properly.
On a small sleeping bag, she and Gael had shared, she has no choice but to stick close to him to fit.
Gael embraced her nonchalantly but because she has no memories about her past yet, Yui can't help but get flustered.
"Can't sleep?"
"How can I sleep with that face close to me?"
Flabbergasted, Gael laughed after hearing Yui's honest response, "Does my handsome face bother you that much?"
Instantly Yui's cheeks turned like a tomato, pressing her eyes close and hits her forehead unto Gael's chest.
"Your heart is beating loudly."
After a few moments of silence, Yui can hear not just the thumping sounds from her chest but also Gael.
The awkwardness she felt immediately melted as she could feel the warm embrace wrapped around her.
"It's because you are here. I could feel I'm alive."
Bewildered by such a reply, Yui buried her face in her palms unable to look Gael in his face.
"How can you say such embarrassing words."
Gael tightly hold her, pulling her much closer, and whispered in her ears in his sweet soft voice, "Yui, I love you."
"W-what the hell!" Yui uttered but this time she isn't flustered rather she felt Gael's sincere confession.
He may not answer her question the first night if they are lovers, but his gaze and actions state otherwise.
Carrying such emotions, Yui wants to know more about her relationship with him, and that night she is much more eager to get her memories back.
"Ack! that's hot!" Julian complained after Sophia pushes a cup of hot cocoa on his shoulder.
"Oh, that's good. I thought you already lost all your sense." Sophia replied sarcastically and offered the hot cocoa to Julian.
Receiving the drink, Julian left an unbelievable sigh, "Ha, crazy."
"Indeed crazy, someone who is waiting every night at the palace gates. If not because of your robes people may think you are a beggar."
Although smiling, Sophia's remarks are somehow perceptible which annoyed Julian yet he avoided responding and just took a sip of his drink.
"Why are you so worried? I am sure no one in this world could ever protect her like a fragile glass, other than the commander."
"..."
"Or perhaps are you worried that if the plan proceeds in re-creating the seal you won't have any chance to see her again."
That's right, Julian thought all this time that the reason he has been waiting for Yui is that he misses her.
But that isn't the point at all, he just didn't want to miss meeting her by any chance.
He feared that the plan of re-creating the seal will result in Yui disappearing within the human realm as what also happened with Rauv a hundred years ago.
Julian's anxious pair of sky-blue eyes met Sophia's pair of sunset eyes which bewildered him because it exhibits the same sorrow he has.
"Aagh, I hate the gloomy night." Sophia blabbered lying her body on the grass of the front garden at the imperial palace.
"Hey, don't lie down there, it's cold."
"Ey are you worried for me now?"
"Hell no."
Sophia laughed and Julian smiled at the ridiculous conversation they have which they usually had.