299 An Illusionary Peaceful World [3]
"Mhmm~"
Stretching out my arms, I opened my sleepy eyes and looked around with a blurry gaze.
Ah, I slept out on my lawn today.
Well, I couldn't blame myself. I was way too exhausted for it to be comfortable at my age.
Wait, why am I sounding like an old man? I am just 45! Yes, I'm way too handsome and young to be old right now.
Grinning at my own narcissism, I got up from my lawn chair and headed inside the mansion.
The servants bowed their heads as I made my way to the hallway. In the lavishly large and opulent drawing room, I saw a beautiful black-haired girl sitting on a luxurious sofa.
In her slender hands nestled a fictional novel, her shiny emerald eyes fixated on its open pages.
My wife had always liked reading novels but I never understood the appeal. I don't even know how people can read something with no pictures in it.
Sneaking around the sofa, I arrived behind her and hugged her tightly.
My wife was a bit startled as she gently grabbed my arm and said, "Good morning, sleeping beauty."
"Isn't it evening?" I planted a kiss on the top of her head.
"It is," she said as I let her go and sat beside her. As I poured myself some tea from the pot settled on top of the center table, she said, "Isn't this great?"
She didn't have to elaborate further since I knew exactly what she meant. The long war ended a few years ago.
The world was now at peace.
The chaos and destruction that the war had wrought was slowly starting to heal and we could finally enjoy some tranquility.
My wife and I were back at my family mansion. Since my father named me his heir before perishing in war, the whole Western Continent now belonged to me.
My sister was ruling the Southern Continent since the Netyoive, the former rulers of the South, were all exterminated for their treason against the Government during the War of Union.
My brother, may he rest in peace, had valiantly sacrificed himself during the Final War to give the heroes a shot at finishing the long war.
Along with my father, he held back five Vampire Kings while the heroes and their allies were battling the Vampire Monarch.
Although my brother never liked me, and I very much reciprocated his feelings, he was still my brother.
I would miss him.
I turned to my wife and said, "It's all thanks to you."
She chuckled as she replied, "I didn't do it alone. Those two played a major role in defeating the Monarch. Also, without you all there, we would never have won."
I knew she was just being modest. I and all the other soldiers there didn't do much to help the heroes fight the Monarch.
History will remember those two and my wife as the three heroes who heroically vanquished the Vampire Monarch.
Us? We would merely be remembered as their allies.
In fact, sometimes I couldn't even believe how I got her, one of the three prophesied heroes, to be my wife.
She could definitely do better than me. I mean, let's be honest, I may be the most handsome man in the world, but she is not only the smartest but also the strongest, only second to one.
She could have anyone she would want in the entire world. In fact, one of the other three heroes was trying to court her.
But she still chose me. Heh, I won't lie, it does boost my ego significantly.
"Why are you smiling creepily again?"
"I was thinking about you."
At my response, she blushed a little before bursting into a heartfelt chortle. "What will I do about you?"
Ahh, yes, life is peaceful.
Sometimes, I just wonder if this all is a dream. Do I really deserve this much happiness?
Haa, even if it's a dream, please never let me wake up.
Wake up… huh? I… I could almost swear someone asked me to wake up very, very recently. But… who?
Did I dream it when I was sleeping on the lawn? Huh, that's weird.
"So, how do you want to celebrate our first anniversary next week?"
That question from my wife shook me out of my daze and I flashed her a bright smile before replying:
"Right, it's next week. I don't know, you tell me. Where do you want to go and what do you want to do?"
"Oh, so anything I say goes?"
"You bet."
After that, it took us around five hours to plan out our anniversary vacation. We both still had our jobs to do—I was the overlord of the West and she was one of the leaders of the world—so, planning the perfect trip was a bit challenging.
However, the two of us made it possible. I mean, to be honest, she did most of the work, I just finalized her decisions.
†
There were a few hiccups, but we made it to our trip. We decided to visit the Eastern Continent since this place had the best tourist spots.
I mean, technically, Western and Central Continents had the best tourist spots but we were familiar with these two places very much already.
After all, we both were from the West and during most of our time in the military, we were posted in the Central Continent.
It would be nice someday to go to the Central Continent and not have PTSD flashbacks about our deployment there.
Anyway, since we were finally here, it was time to enjoy our vacation.
†
After coming back from our vacation, we both were ensnared in our work. Her duty was even more difficult than mine. That's to be expected from her kind of work.
There was a secret I had been keeping from her, however. Since that day, I have been very uncomfortable. It feels like there is something that urgently needs my attention.
This sense of urgency won't settle no matter how hard I may try to divert my focus elsewhere.
I couldn't even remember what's the source of this unsettling feeling. No, it's more like I don't want to remember.
It feels like if I try to remember too hard, I will lose this tranquil life I have. I… I don't want that.
I just wish to rest now… I had fought enough.
†
It's been around seven years since our marriage. Seven years of peace… It still feels almost unreal.
However, that unsettling feeling had subsided now. I guess it was just me overthinking things again.
Rationally, I had nothing to fear now. That unsettling feeling was completely baseless.
I mean, aside from being married to one of the strongest and smartest humans in the world, I know that all the threats to our world have been exterminated.
Yes, I could finally let myself feel safe.
Maybe, back then, the alien feeling of peace and tranquility was too strange for me to process.
Yeah, that must be it. That must be why I was feeling uncomfortable.
"What are you thinking?"
I turned to my left and saw a pair of shiny emerald-like eyes staring back at me. For a second, I held my breath before shaking my head.
"It's nothing," I answered, not wanting to trouble her with my useless worries.
She was sitting right beside me, reading novels like usual. A captivating smile was adorning her beautiful face.
Scooting a little closer to me on the sofa, she put aside her novel and hugged my arm and I continued to drink my coffee.
We talked about this and that, enjoying each other's company. Even after all these years together, we always have something to tell one another.
"Papa! Papa, pick me up!"
Just as we were talking, our little princess entered the drawing room and jumped at me.
Smiling, I caught her, picked her up, and pinched her cheek with one hand. "Woah, you are getting heavy, Princess."
"Are you sure it's not just papa getting old?" She replied with a pout.
My wife and I laughed at her antics.
Our daughter had my red eyes and silver hair with some strands of red mixed in. I could tell that even though she inherited my looks, she possessed her mother's sassy personality.
I am already sulking over the day I would have to marry her off. No! I won't! I won't ever marry her off. Her husband can just live in our mansion. He shouldn't have a problem with that.
Why would he have a problem? I could already tell that our daughter would grow up to be a jade beauty with exceptional strength.
Right, any man would be lucky to have her let alone fulfill all his father-in-
law's demands.
Heh, that's right.
"Papa, why are you smiling like that again?"
"Princess, your papa is beyond help. Please forgive him if you could."
Frowning, I turned to my wife. "Excuse me!"
"You're excused."
"...Wh-What?!"
As my daughter and wife broke into a loud, heartfelt laughter, I couldn't help but also smile like an idiot.
I love this. I love these two and my life.
If given a chance, I wouldn't wish for anything else but to stay like this forever.
Yes, my own and my wife's work could be a bit stressful at times, but that just makes it all the more exciting when we get to spend time with each other and our daughter during weekends.
Truly, all of my dreams have come true in this life. This… Maybe this is what peace is really like.
Dreams… huh?
A frown appeared on my face and the surreal feeling I had been experiencing until now completely vanished.
All that remained was the rabid beating of my heart and a surge of familiar, unsettling emotion washing over me.
I clenched my fists as my eyes began to tear up. The realization that I had been running from until now, finally dawned upon me.
Letting out a shaky breath, I put down my daughter and clenched my fists. A single tear coursed down my cheek as I tried to calm myself.
"Darling? What's wrong? Hey!"
"P… Papa? Why are you crying?"
The concerned voices of my wife and daughter reached my ears but I paid no mind to them.
After what felt like an eternity, I managed to choke out a single sentence in a low, grating tone.
"This world… All of this, it's a dream, isn't it? An illusion?"
"Wha… Darling, what on earth are you saying?" My wife's voice was laced with concern as she firmly clutched my shoulders, while our daughter started crying in the background.
Amidst her echoing wails, our daughter tugged at my shirt sleeve, her tiny fingers desperately seeking my attention. "Papa! Papa, please don't cry!"
It was hard, but once again I ignored their desperate presence and ironed my resolve.
Summoning all my strength, I roared, "I know who I am! I am Lucas Morningstar, second-born of Reynold and Yennefer Morningstar!"
After a pause, I added, "So enough of these games. Show yourself right this instance, you foolish bloodsucker!"
In an instant, the world around me turned still.
The whimpering cries of my daughter and the worry etched on my wife's face froze, as though they were lifeless mannequins.
Time itself appeared to have come to an abrupt halt as a thunderous voice echoed throughout the world, almost shattering my eardrums, saying:
"Why?! Why couldn't you simply accept the peace I offered?! Seven long years! You've spent seven years in this life, and still you refuse to let go?! Surrender, and I shall grant your every wish! This world can become your utopia! Your paradise!"
Clamping my teeth together, I responded with a sardonic smirk.
My eyes were devoid of any emotions and looked like two dark pools. "This world is not real. Your so-called peace is nothing but an illusion. Your utopia, your paradise is fake!"
Silence hung in the air before the voice rang out once more, "Very well. I gave you peace, and you rejected it. Brace yourself, for now, you've incurred my wrath. Only nightmares shall haunt you now."
