4: SWEET DREAM AT QOSTRAVER PALACE

Empaler Aegaeus could barely speak as he stared in front of him. "Who are you?" he asked calmly here.

"I am you—you are me," was Prince Cacao's only reply.

"I am you—you are me—" he was cut off when he saw the mermaid girl "She is the girl of my dreams," he whispered to himself. "Sanda—" he stopped the siren because it slowly disappeared.

"Empaler Aegaeus, who are you talking to?" Hotham asked and looked around.

"What do you mean? You didn't see them?"

"Who are they, Empaler Aegaeus?"

"No, no." And he turned away.

"Empaler, here we are," said Filia Matsya.

"All right." And they followed into the kingdom hall.

"Basileus Kousuke, Empaler Aegaeus is here," said the famulus.

"I am coming," replied the king.

When Basileus Kousuke came out and saw Empaler Aegaeus was stunned and stared. "Prince Cacao..." he said here.

"I am Aegaeus, the emperor of the South Acsese Mizrasic Sea."

"I'm sorry, Empaler Aegaeus. Please sit down."

Empaler Aegaeus was about to sit down when he saw the engraving of one or two mermaids, it was a bit blurry so he approached it. "He?" he whispered and suddenly he seemed to feel a sense of longing for her, as if they had known each other for a long time.

"Who is she?" he asked Basileus Kousuke.

"She is my only daughter, Princess Katsumi."

"Where is she now?"

"Four hundred years ago, Katsumi and his vir died on their wedding day."

"Then they are the ones I saw outside earlier. That man looks like me, and he said, 'I am you— you are me'."

"You look just like Prince Cao."

"Is that so?"

And later the officials of the kingdom came and Basileus Kousuke seated Empaler Aegaeus on his throne. And the meeting was ordered to begin.

"He has returned," said the babylan when he saw Emperor Aegaeus sitting on the throne.

When the meeting was over, the empaler was approached and met by the babaylan. When he noticed that he was the target of the old female babaylan, he approached her.

"Empaler," greeted the babaylan and bowed.

"Stand up." And he supports it.

"Thank you, empaler."

"Do you need anything?" Empaler Aegaeus asked calmly her.

"I know you don't know me, but I know you in your first person."

"What do you mean? Do you also believe in reincarnation?" asked the empaler to the babaylan.

"Yes. Did you notice anything unusual before you entered this palace hall?"

Empaler Aegaeus quieted down a bit and his imagination returned again. 'I am you—you are me'. And are you referring to my imagination earlier?"

“What you saw earlier was not imagination. That was what really happened in your first life."

"What do you mean?" asked Empaler Aegaeus in confusion.

"Do you want to know what really happened in your first life?" asked the babaylan. 

"Yes."

They sat down and the babaylan began to tell stories about her first life as Princes Cao. He listened seriously because he wanted to be clear from all his dreams. 

"Then what happened to Prince Fiske?" the emperor asked seriously.

"He died too."

"Where can I find Princess Katsumi?" He suddenly became interested.

"I don't know that yet, but I am confident that the day will come when your two paths will meet. And your love for each other will be renewed," said the babaylan.

Their conversation was interrupted when Filia Matsya approached them. "Empaler Aegaeus, the occasion is ready," she said.

"Good." he replied simply, and he and Hotham followed.

When they entered the banquet, he was immediately seated in the front. While the mermaid maidens who came from the royal lineage sat on each side, both waiting to be noticed or chosen by Empaler Aegeus. The banquet manager clapped and the ten dancers entered. The young emperor was entertained as he watched the beautiful dancers. Even though he feels like that in those moments, he seems to be missing something in his heart, as if he is looking for something. He sipped wine as he thought deeply.

"Empaler Aegaeus," Filia Matsya called him. 

Because Empaler Aegaeus was deep in thought, he didn't notice Filia Matsya called him.

"Empaler Aegaeus..." Hotham said and patted him on the shoulder.

"Hmm?" he replied shortly. 

Hotham said nothing and just looked in front of him. Suddenly, the emperor's face became serious because Filia Matsya was staring at him. This is what he does not want in a woman who seduces the man.

"I'm tired, and I want to rest," he said to the princess in front of him.

Empaler Aegaeus stood up to rest, and the princess took him to his room. She brought him to Qostraver Palace. This palace is the former home of Filia Katsumi.

When he opened the door, he immediately felt strange.

He came inside, and Filia Matsya was also there, who had no intention of leaving the emperor's side. While Hotham was outside the door waiting for a call from his servant. The emperor looked around as if checking the whole area, until he realized that Filia Matsya had no intention of leaving.

"Why haven't you left yet?" he asked the mermaid princess.

"Maybe because-----you need something else, empaler," she said.

"It's fine, and you can leave now," he replied without looking at the two mermaids.

"Alright, em—" she couldn't continue what she was going to say because he was turned away.

"Hotham..." he called to his right hand.

"Why, Empaler Aegaeus?" 

"I want to rest, and I would rather not be disturbed!" At the same time, he turned off the light. Because he noticed that Filia Matsya was still in the hall.

"I understand, emperor."

And because of tiredness, Emperor Aegaeus immediately fell asleep.

"Amicus, do I really need to learn this?" At the same time, he held the long sword.

"Etiam, amica. Because I'm not by your side all the time, so you can somehow defend yourself," Prince Cao explained.

And they started rehearsing, Prince Cao was behind, And he was holding Filia Katsumi's hand, and he taught them how to move their hands and feet. As if they were dancing, Prince Cao later left his girlfriend alone. As he sat and happily watched Princess Katsumi. When his girlfriend got tired, he stopped and sat beside her. He quickly took the sudarium and wiped the sweat from her face. "Are you tired?" The Emperor asked, hugging his girlfriend.

"How can I be tired? Well… I'm with my amicus." she replied, as she kissed him on the lips.

"Iterum amare," Prince Cao said almost in a whisper.

"Te quoque amo," replied her girlfriend and kissed his lips again.

"Donec mors nos ex parte," declared Prince Cao, as he hugged his girlfriend tightly.

"Until death," she responded harshly and clasped amicus' chest.