Apocalypse Cheater

[: Daniel POV :]

Cecilia's eyes sparkled with wonder as she took in the breathtaking surroundings.

"Where are we? This place looks absolutely beautiful!"

She exclaimed, her gaze lingering on the lush, flower-filled scenery.

"We're in a city called the City of Rose,"

I answered with a fond smile.

"It's a place that represents the eternal love between a Knight and a Princess"

"It's a story of a knight that sacrificed himself to protect his lover"

"However, the Princess's love was so strong that she wanted to be with the Knight forever."

I couldn't help but be moved by the tale as I explained.

"And one day, when their graves were placed side by side, a rose grew and it quickly spread, and it became what the city has become."

The story of their undying love was both a symbol and a testament to the enduring power of love, something I respected and was deeply in awe of.

Cecilia, with a smile on her face, plucked a rose nearby.

"I see...then, I think this rose also represents my love for you,"

She said, presenting the delicate bloom to me.

I accepted it with a smile, touched by her gesture and the love it symbolized.

However, as Cecilia plucked the rose, an unnoticed wisp of energy entered her body, and she received an unexpected notification.

[: A certain Forgotten Princess has acknowledged the love you have for your lover, and you have met the requirement of receiving a unique class of 'Love Disease' :]

[:Love Disease:]

- The Love Disease stems from the love that the Forgotten Princess has for her Knight, and it empowered her in becoming one of the feared princesses that even the '*******' Feared -

- Do you wish to accept this class? -

I couldn't help but notice that Cecilia had suddenly come to a halt, and it left me wondering if something was amiss.

Concerned, I asked, "What's wrong, dear?"

With a reassuring smile, she responded, "Nothing, dear. Let's walk into the restaurant; I'm craving some noodles."

Her words were calming, but I couldn't help but sense a subtle change, something not immediately noticeable.

As we continued walking toward the restaurant to satisfy her craving for noodles, I remained unaware of the mark of love around her lower stomach.

A symbol and a sign that she had accepted the class.

My focus was on her, and I didn't realize that she had taken a quick glance at the notification.

The contents of which remained a mystery, potentially holding either concerns or benefits.

[: You have accepted the Unique Class of Love Disease and the ************* has taken an interest upon you :]

[: 3rd POV :]

Cecilia chose to disregard the notification and continued her day with Daniel.

Unbeknownst to the couple, their actions had set off a chain of events that reached far beyond their awareness.

In the heart of the Outer Land, a particular species native to the Demon Continent roamed with a palpable sense of horror and alarm.

Its voices trembled with confusion.

"W-Who in the world was that!? Am I too late!? Have I failed the mission!?"

The impact of what Daniel and Cecilia had done had clearly unnerved them.

Meanwhile, in a mysterious place existing beyond the comprehension of ordinary beings, an enigmatic entity observed the two individuals.

"Oh? How interesting"

"Someone has received a 'wisp' I long left behind. But...who is that man?"

The certain being contemplated, 'its' curiosity stirred by the unfolding events.

The consequences of the couple's choices were profound and cloaked in intrigue.

The mysterious entity, fixated its gaze upon a peculiar orb that displayed the images of the two figures - Daniel and Cecilia.

As it stared intensely, its eyes underwent a transformation, dilating and forming into shapes resembling hearts.

This surreal reaction was accompanied by droplets of tears cascading from it's eyes.

Moreover, the impact of its tears resonated through the cosmos, causing planets to explode in fiery bursts of celestial destruction.

"~I finally found my knight!~"

It exclaimed with a fervor that bordered on insanity and obsession.

The consequences of this revelation remained unknown, leaving a sense of unease about what might unfold in the wake of its profound discovery.

[: Daniel POV :]

As we explored the enchanting City of Rose, Cecilia couldn't help but express her love for the place.

"It's beautiful no matter where we go, and I never thought such cities would exist,"

She marveled.

We found a empty spot, a bench nestled within a park, and settled down to watch a mesmerizing sunset.

The scenery, with its blooming roses and the setting sun, made it abundantly clear why this city was so popular.

"Yeah, I agree,"

I replied with a warm smile, my fingers gently interlocking with hers.

"I'm glad we're both here to appreciate such moments."

In this serene moment, memories of a similar situation from an alternate future crossed my mind.

But this time, it felt different.

Holding her hand, Cecilia looked at me with a sweet smile and said, "Me too."

She then leaned against my shoulder, and together, we watched the sun descend below the horizon, cherishing the beauty of the City of Rose and the preciousness of the moment we shared.

In that silent, serene moment, no words were exchanged between us as the beauty of the sunset left us both momentarily speechless.

As the sun's radiant glow began to dim, I couldn't contain my emotions any longer, and I whispered, "You know, dear, I would always love you from the bottom of my heart."

It was a phrase I'd said countless times, but each utterance held the same depth of feeling, and I was determined to express my love for her as freely as I could.

Regrets from the alternate future when I hadn't spoken these words haunted me.

So this time, I vowed to convey my love as often as my heart desired.

Cecilia's response came with a sweet smile.

"I would always love you too, Daniel,"

She replied.

But then, her voice wavered as she added, "But..."

The moment she said 'but,' my heart skipped a beat.

I wasn't panicked, but there was a nervous flutter in my chest.

What was it that she was about to say?

Was there something she found negative about me or a flaw she needed to address?

A wave of questions and uncertainties filled my thoughts.

"Dear, why do I always feel like you know me more than I know about myself?"

Cecilia looked at me with genuine curiosity in her eyes.

I attempted to steer the conversation away from the topic, but deep down, I knew exactly why she had asked that question.

It was because of the time I had spent with her in an alternate future.

In that future, I had learned so much about her, more than she knew about herself, and perhaps that was starting to show in the way I treated her, making her suspicious.

"Why do you say that, dear?"

I countered, my heart heavy with a mixture of emotions.

I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for concealing the truth from her, but I was also genuinely perplexed about why she might felt this way.

Cecilia's eyes reflected her confusion as she responded.

"I mean, I can't help but question it because all this time, it feels like we had met before, and it just feels so strange to me."

She voiced her inexplicable feelings, making it impossible for her to ignore the sensation that something unusual was happening.

I pondered in silence, my thoughts racing.

Was there a side effect from my time traveling?

Had something changed within the timeline?

It was a possibility I hadn't previously considered.

I mulled over the idea but couldn't recall anyone else gaining memories from the future.

Then a more disconcerting thought crossed my mind.

Could it be that the people I was close to might also acquire future memories?

It was a question I couldn't confidently dismiss.

While Cecilia's feelings might seem instinctual, I couldn't deny the small, nagging possibility that she, too, might be on the path to gaining her own future memories.

Emotions swirled within me as I contemplated the possibility of my loved ones gaining their future memories.

On one hand, I felt a profound sense of contentment at the thought of them sharing in the knowledge and understanding of why I had done so much for them.

Their happiness and safety in this timeline were paramount, and it brought me immense joy.

"I think you're just imagining it, my dear,"

I said with a chuckle, attempting to brush off the idea.

But it was clear that Cecilia wasn't convinced.

She sulked and puffed out her cheeks, displaying her disagreement with my dismissal.

"You're not believing me, are you, my dear?"

She spoke with a sulky tone, and in response, I chuckled once more, which seemed to intensify her pout.

"You don't believe me? Then explain why I would always dream of you,"

She declared.

Her words piqued my curiosity.

"Dreaming of me? Isn't that because of how much you love me?"

I teased, but it was evident that she was serious.

"I'm not kidding! Sometimes, I dream of us in a world where the environment seems so different...and I can't help but recall a place that seems special to us...what was it called again...was it...Memoir of Stars...?"

Cecilia struggled to remember a particular detail.

However, when she mentioned 'The Memoir of Stars,' I froze, and my eyes widened.

The name of that place held a deep significance in my memories, and her mentioning it had stirred something within me that I couldn't ignore.