Eternal Night: Building an Empire from Scratch

Hera quietly walked through the familiar corridor before finally reaching her old room.

She pushed the wooden door open, and a thin layer of dust immediately became visible beneath the faint light entering through the windows.

Almost everything remained exactly as she remembered it, from the old bookshelf beside the wall to the small wooden table near the bed.

Only the dust covering the furniture reminded her that nobody had lived here for a long time.

Hera slowly walked around the room, her fingers brushing over several familiar objects as countless memories returned to her.

She eventually sat on the edge of the bed before quietly lying down and staring at the ceiling.

For a few moments, she simply enjoyed the familiar feeling of being back home.

Then a gentle voice suddenly came from the side of the room.

"Are you happy?"

Hera’s eyes immediately widened as she quickly sat upright and looked toward the corner of the room.

A woman stood there with a gentle smile on her face.

Her mature appearance and crimson eyes immediately made Hera recognize her.

"...Semele?"

The woman smiled and walked out of the shadows.

Hera slowly got off the bed and looked at her with confusion.

"What are you doing here?" she asked quietly. "Aren’t you supposed to be at the Fortress?"

Semele casually walked toward the window. "It isn’t particularly difficult for me to move between places."

She glanced outside before turning her attention back toward Hera.

"But that’s not what I wanted to ask."

Hera remained silent as Semele’s smile became slightly wider.

"Do you like what Edgar did?"

Hera’s expression softened. She lowered her head and turned toward the window.

Even after hours of announcements, she could still hear the cheering of the people in the Bazaar.

Without looking at her, Hera replied gently. "...Yes."

Semele walked closer as she continued.

"He gave you the entire city and used your name to make sure the people accepted the new ruler."

Hera slowly nodded as she agreed with the mature woman.

"He did it because he wanted me to be safe." She lowered her gaze. "And because he knew I wanted to come back here."

Semele continued staring at her. "And what have you done for him?"

Hera’s expression hardened as she looked up. "...What?"

Semele slowly walked even closer.

"Think about it."

Her voice remained gentle, but every word carried noticeable weight.

"Since the day Edgar saved you, what have you done for him?"

Hera lowered her head, unable to say anything.

"He fought an established faction because of you."

Semele stopped a few steps away from her.

"He risked his life, allowed himself to become an enemy of people far more powerful than ordinary people, and repeatedly placed himself in danger just to keep you alive."

Hera’s hands slowly tightened together.

Semele continued. "He even brought you back to the place you loved most."

The silver-haired girl remained completely silent. Her eyes stayed fixed on her hands.

Semele’s expression softened slightly. "And what have you given him in return?"

Hera opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She didn’t have an answer.

Semele sighed softly. "I know about your problem, Hera."

The girl’s body stiffened, and Hera slowly raised her head.

"I know that something powerful is hunting you."

Semele’s crimson eyes remained fixed on her. "You know that Nightmare isn’t going to simply disappear."

She took another step forward. "And despite knowing that, Edgar continues helping you."

Hera’s lips trembled slightly. She remembered the day Edgar had found her.

She remembered the Fortress that made her feel like home once again.

The internal struggle that he helped her with and the way Edgar had stood between her and danger countless times.

She lowered her head again. "...What can I give him?"

Semele smiled. "Now that’s the question you should be asking."

She slowly walked toward the bed before sitting beside Hera. "I happen to have something that could make Edgar very happy."

Hera looked at her with confusion. "What?"

Semele didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she reached into the air and placed a beautifully decorated wooden box beside Hera.

The box landed softly on the bed. "There is a dress inside."

Hera stared at it. "A dress?"

Semele nodded. "You can decide what to do with it."

She stood up and walked toward the door.

Hera continued staring at the box with a mixture of confusion and uncertainty.

"Semele..."

The woman stopped.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Semele looked back over her shoulder.

A mysterious smile appeared on her face.

"Because sometimes, people need a little push before they realize what they already want."

Hera didn’t understand what she meant, but before she could ask anything else, Semele opened the door.

"You can do whatever you want with the dress."

With those words, she quietly walked away.

The door closed behind her.

Hera remained sitting on the bed as her gaze slowly returned to the wooden box.

For several seconds, she didn’t move.

Then she carefully reached toward it and placed her hand on the lid.

"...What did she mean?"

Her heart began beating slightly faster.

Hera hesitated before finally opening the box.

Inside was a beautifully crafted white dress, far more elegant than anything she had ever owned.

She gently lifted the fabric with both hands.

The material was incredibly soft, while faint silver patterns had been embroidered across its surface.

Hera stared at it for a long time, her cheeks slowly becoming red.

"...Edgar."

She quickly lowered her gaze.

Hera gently got up from the bed when she noticed there was something else in the box as well.

With a confused look, she picked it up and brought it out.

"..."

It was another piece of clothing that was white like the gown but much shorter, with a design that left much of her body uncovered.

The silver-haired girl kept staring at the dress for a long time.

Her cheeks kept turning a deeper shade of pink as her thoughts began to run wild.

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