Chapter 304: Epilogue: The Cherry Blossoms Shall Bloom Forever (I)

Kael had been busy in the throne room for a while. Ever since he lost his beloved, all the workload returned to him once again, and he realized how much of a help Sisi truly was despite not wanting to take any credit for it.

However, he went to the morning court every day without fail, because he wanted to earn the reward from his wife. He wanted to meet her again, even if he had to wait years for it.

Once he was done with his duty, he went straight to the Queen’s courtyard. He had been doing the same thing for the past three months:

Wake up, have breakfast with his children, do his duty as the Beast King, and return to his children.

He was planning to have lunch with his children, but Diane, the head maid, rushed towards him with a worried look.

Kael sensed something was wrong and went on full alert immediately. "What’s wrong?"

"T-the Crown Prince and Princess, My King—!"

"What’s wrong with them?!"

Diane opened her mouth, but nothing came out, as if she herself found it difficult to describe what was happening to Jojo and Vivi.

Kael couldn’t wait any longer. He leaped high and jumped from the rooftop to reach the garden quickly.

However, once he landed in the garden, he was stunned by the sight of a beautiful cherry blossom tree that bloomed in all its glory even though spring had just passed.

On top of that, cherry blossom petals continuously rained down, covering the ground with pink petals, as if it were an entirely different realm from where he was standing.

Thus, he also saw what Diane and the rest of the beastmen had been worried about but did not dare approach.

Jojo and Vivi were suspended midair, as if they were sitting on chairs made of air. They nestled comfortably as if they were... with their mother.

Kael’s heart skipped a beat before he rushed towards the cherry blossom tree. However, right when he was about to step into the field of pink petals, an invisible force knocked him several feet away.

He stared at the cherry blossom in disbelief before ramming himself against the flower field under the tree with all his strength, but the invisible barrier knocked him away even further.

This wall seemed to react according to his strength—the more he tried to push through, the stronger the force repelled him.

Kael grew desperate because he knew that his beloved must be inside the barrier. She was invisible to his eyes, probably just like the other faeries.

He was on the brink of breaking down, knowing that his beloved was so close, yet still unreachable.

He was also envious, because Jojo and Vivi could embrace their mother, while he couldn’t even see his own wife.

Jojo opened his eyes after a while and seemed to be listening to what his mother said before slowly getting up, leaving Vivi to spend more time with her.

He looked at his father, who was staring back at them in anguish, and then walked out of the cherry blossom field without a problem.

Jojo was smiling brightly, as if his heart had been filled with love, while Kael felt like his heart had been plunged into ice-cold water.

Then, Jojo delivered the news:

"Daddy, Mommy said that the moment of reunion between you two has yet to come. You cannot see her because she has been reborn as Mother Nature, like Grandma Tree now. So she can only be seen by toddlers, fellow faeries like Vivi, or by someone who has drunk the water from the Origin Spring, like me."

"She said that you should fulfill your promise first before that reunion happens. Until then, she will not leave this place," Jojo continued, his golden eyes brightening. "And Mommy said that she loves you very, very much!"

That last sentence sounded so innocent and simple coming from a six-year-old boy, but to Kael, it was like water in a desert.

Tears began to fall from the corners of his eyes as he quickly lowered his head and muttered, "Then help Daddy this time, Jojo. Return to your Mommy and tell her that Daddy will do his best to watch over you and Vivi until we can finally reunite."

"Okay!"

Jojo rushed back inside, sat on his mother’s lap, and told her about his father’s message.

Sisi giggled and patted Jojo’s head. "That’s good. I can’t wait for us to reunite once more. I know it is hard for him, but it is a test from the Moon Goddess, just as it is a test for you, Jojo."

"For me?"

"Mhm, you need to be a good kid, remember? You have to grow up and become a great king, replacing your father and protecting your little sister."

Jojo nodded without hesitation. "Un! I will be great! Mommy should watch over me, okay?"

"Of course, my cute boy."

Kael watched as Jojo and Vivi played with their invisible mother. His heart ached, but at the same time, he felt relieved that Sisi had given him peace of mind in the end.

It might take a while, but as long as he broke the cycle of the cursed Dusk Star and Dawn Star and lived without sowing senseless destruction, then their reunion was guaranteed.

Kael also felt relieved because he had feared that Vivi wouldn’t be able to feel the warmth of her mother. After all, no matter how good he was in taking care of his daughter, the warmth of a mother was irreplaceable.

But now, he knew that Vivi wouldn’t forget her roots as a half-faerie and grew up knowing her mother.

Everyone in the Queen’s courtyard also witnessed the scene. Though they didn’t fully understand it, they saw their Crown Prince and Faerie Princess sitting on an invisible seat while their father stared at them.

Thus, everyone collectively agreed to leave them alone, knowing that whatever had happened to the magical cherry blossom tree must have been done by their late Queen Sisi.