"People write their wishes on paper and attach them to these hot air balloons. Then they send the balloons up to the sky. It symbolizes hoping our wishes reach the Supreme God."
"Ah, what a meaningful event."
"Even for those who cannot write, the officials here help them, so there's no problem."
Indeed, people seemed to be gathering in one place to ask officials to write for them. Each held a piece of colored paper in their hands.
"Liv, do you have a wish you'd like to make?"
As Emmett, who had already gotten paper and a quill, asked this, Liv thought for a moment before answering.
"I used to have so many wishes..."
To be able to leave Abgrund, to see what green looks like, for Emmett to remember her, to be able to be with him, for people not to hate her, to live like a normal human, to defeat August... There was a time when Liv made wishes every day.
But now Liv had only one wish remaining. She took the quill from Emmett and began writing her wish on the paper.
May I be as happy as today
A smile settled on Liv's face as she looked down at the wish she wrote. She wondered if wishing for this much happiness was greedy, but then thought it might be okay to be a bit greedy while making a wish. Emmett's neck turned somewhat red after reading Liv's wish.
"Were you that happy today?"
"Yes, of course."
"Then I'm glad. That makes me truly happy..."
Liv quickly reached for the paper in Emmett's hand to read it. She was curious what wish he had made. But what met her eyes was...
May Liv be as happy as her happiest day, every day.
"Haha!"
Tears welled up in Liv's eyes as she laughed out loud. Oh my, it feels like she's had many occasions to cry lately.
"We ended up making the same wish."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, because I think today is my happiest."
It seemed like Liv had been encountering greater happiness every day since reclaiming her place. Holding a paper in each hand, Liv continued with a smile.
"And this wish contains your happiness too."
"Why is that?"
"Because for me to be happy, you need to be happy too. In the end, we're both wishing for both our happiness."
Those words brought another tender atmosphere. Emmett took the papers from Liv's hands and went to give them to the officials. Soon, they could see their written papers being attached to the hot air balloon on the right. Liv felt excited just like when she first received flowers from Emmett, when they first went on a picnic, when she first saw him in Abgrund.
"But what's that hot air balloon on the left?"
Both hot air balloons were colorful, but looking closely, their main colors were different. The balloon on the right, where they attached their wish papers, had red, green, and yellow as its main colors. Colors reminiscent of the Holy Hilysid Empire's flag. In contrast, the balloon on the left had white and gold as its main colors.
"Liv, does white and gold remind you of anything?"
"Oh, the imperial family..."
Though once the imperial family meant Steinberg, white and gold were the symbolic colors of the Gracia family. Seeing these two colors, everyone thought of Gracia.
"Shall we go see what's written there?"
Emmett put his arm around Liv and began moving forward through the crowd. Though it wasn't easy breaking through the bustling crowd, Emmett kept his arm firm to prevent Liv from bumping into people.
Soon, they arrived in front of the balloon on the left. They were close enough to see the writing on the papers attached there.
"Would you like to read?"
"Yes."
As Liv slowly read the writing, her eyes soon turned red. Moisture welled up in her eyes, and finally began rolling down her cheeks.
"Ah..."
-Wishing for the health of our new Emperor.
-May this become a country where everyone can live well.
-Since one beloved by the Supreme God has become Emperor, I believe blessings will dwell in this country.
-Now that darkness has passed and morning has dawned, everyone will be happy.
-Making a wish with trust in our new Emperor.
-For Emperor!
-Dreaming of a country where everyone can live well.
What was written there were people's wishes for this country and the new Emperor. It touched her so deeply that Liv felt her heart stop for a moment.
"My goodness..."
Of course, since officials were writing the letters, they couldn't write anything negative. But if people truly disliked Liv, they wouldn't have bothered attaching wish papers to this balloon. Yet the balloon was completely filled with people's wishes.
People's hearts for this country, their hearts for Liv, filled the balloon completely. The gentle light shining beneath the balloon illuminated the wish papers. As if the wishes themselves were glowing, as though they would naturally come true.
Seeing this, Liv stood there for a long while, unable to speak as her throat choked up. After barely holding back tears threatening to burst forth, she finally asked Emmett in a trembling voice.
"Did you know?"
"I prepared it, but I didn't know the response would be this good. Liv, you are loved by the people because you love them too."
At those words, Liv had no choice but to embrace Emmett tightly once again. She felt like she might burst from being so full of love. Each time people's hearts were conveyed through the wish papers, the love filling Liv grew even larger in volume.
"Now, we'll release them!"
The officials cut the ropes holding the hot air balloons, and the two balloons slowly began flying toward the night sky. As the colorful balloons rose as if cutting through the night sky, people below cheered and applauded. Children began spinning in circles holding hands as if playing a game, while adults closed their eyes and made their wishes with clasped hands. Soon the balloons became tiny dots and disappeared into the high sky.
"You know, sometimes I can't bear the love inside me. It was like that before too, when I loved you alone. Even though I should have stayed quiet if you didn't know me, my body was so full of love that I couldn't bear it without letting it out."
Though Liv's sudden confession continued, Emmett didn't interrupt and quietly waited for her to speak.
"It's the same now. I'm so full of love, I can't bear it..."
"Now you will be loved by people, and can give as much love as you want. You don't need to hold back."
The love filling Liv wasn't just love for Emmett. Though she was tearfully grateful to Emmett for preparing such an event for her, right now Liv...
"I love everyone so much."
Soon the most sincere confession ever flowed from Liv's lips.
She had certainly been hurt by humans many times. When she became the lowest being in social circles and was ignored by everyone, when she was coldly rejected by Emmett, when Walter looked at her like a monster, when Greta who came as a maid tried to use her...
But despite all that, Liv ultimately loved humans.
"Now I know. The reason I came to this place was because I loved humans."
If Liv had closed her heart after being hurt by humans, she wouldn't have become Emperor. Whether Laga died, or the Hamelsvoort couple died, she would have lived thinking it had nothing to do with her. Even if August harmed those around her.
But in the end, Liv came to this place because she loved everyone.
"No matter what happens from now on, I'll continue to love humans. I don't care if they hurt me again. Because I know what great power this love I hold has."
When Liv finished speaking, Emmett squeezed their clasped hands.
"Don't worry, Liv, in the end, everyone will come to love you too."
The girl who was born in the lowest place and received the love of gods...
Finally came to the highest place and came to love humans.
At the place she reached through love, Liv Gracia kissed her love.
( THE END )