Hate me, Miss Witch!-Chapter 535 - 248: The Tumultuous Journey Was All for the Moment You Put the Ring on My Finger

This is the pitch-black and boundless deep space of the universe.

The stars shimmer brilliantly, suspended in reverse.

And in the deepest part of the Abyss of Stars, there lies an ancient hall woven from shadows.

That hall undulates with the surge of starlight, aimlessly drifting through the deep space of the universe, as if it has existed since time immemorial.

Deep within the hall.

High heels made of crystal.

A black Gothic long dress, and a crown made of a rare dark red metal, entwined around a snow-white neck.

The Golden Elf adorned in such attire leans gently against a silent throne woven from dark thorns.

Her eyes are slightly closed.

A few strands of light golden hair fall from her forehead onto the armrest of the Silent Seat, as if she is taking a nap, or perhaps in a deep slumber.

Only in the slightly closed eyes, there appears now and then a slow flickering azure Secret Flame—

Bringing a touch of vitality to this place of deathly silence, where even time seems to stand still.

...

Hathaway could no longer remember how long she had wandered, exiled to the end of the Multiverse.

This is a place forgotten by heaven's laws, abandoned by the world.

Only the dim deep cosmos and the shimmering starlight accompany her.

Aside from the Star Realm Creatures that appear every few hundred or thousand years, there is no other living thing, let alone a sentient being to communicate with.

The concept of time... has lost its meaning here.

Perhaps it feels like a long time has passed, but in reality, it's only a few minutes.

Or maybe just an opening and closing of the eyes, and hundreds of years have slipped by.

Only in those fleeting moments—

When the palace happened to drift close to some Sub-space dimensions near the Main Material Plane, where the world barriers are thin.

The Golden Elf could project her consciousness across the Sea of Stars, traversing the immeasurable Abyss of Stars.

Through different boundaries, she briefly glimpses the Main Material Plane, the world called the Western Continent—

That fleeting, momentary glow.

Watching one flourishing Empire after another on the Western Continent rise to prominence, then decline to ruin, leaving only a few simple words inscribed in the history books of the future.

Watching heroes and kings rise in glory and then fade into legend, becoming poetic verses sung by wandering poets.

But that is merely witnessing the light through a small hole.

That world brightened by boundless light does not belong to the Golden Elf exiled to the end of the Multiverse.

She is the remnant of time.

A wanderer who has lost her place of solace and survival.

No matter how splendid that bright world is, it has nothing to do with her.

As if separated by two worlds.

Even though the world called the Western Continent was once her homeland.

Yet, like a traveler returning home after years, seeing the renewed landscape just feels strange and timid, only relaxing upon meeting an old friend from childhood.

The place of solace and survival belonging to the Golden Elf.

Will reappear only after encountering that familiar person again, and witnessing those unforgettable events.

Then it becomes warm and radiant.

Hathaway didn't know how much longer she would have to wait for that next encounter.

But many years ago, at the end of that glory, the boy made a pact with her.

"Someday, he will come to rescue her"

It was just an incredibly unreliable, ethereal spoken promise from the boy.

Yet the Golden Elf believed him, believed unconditionally.

So she would wait for him in the Astral Realm.

Letting the stars be born and die, time passing by.

...

The starlight flows.

At every moment in this boundless universe, new stars are born, and aged stars face their final explosion, then fall silent.

Tides rise and fall, ups and downs.

Who knows how long it has been.

Until, at a certain moment.

The long wait finally brought forth that.

Tiny miracle.

...

Clatter.

For the first time, a sound came from the Silent Palace.

It was the sound of footsteps stepping over the heavy stardust outside the hall.

And coming immediately after.

Was the figure emerging from the flowing starlight, getting closer and closer.

One step.

Two steps.

At this moment, the swaying starlight spilled onto that gradually approaching figure.

The boy's profile with gentle lines was bathed in starlight, his features distinct and profound.

On the throne woven from dark thorns.

The Golden Elf slowly opened her eyes, looking at the figure approaching the throne, walking slowly towards her.

She did not speak, nor did the newcomer.

The world remained silent and quiet.

Only the ever-closer footsteps, becoming clearer and more distinct.

Until a certain moment, the footsteps stopped.

The visitor stood in front of the Golden Elf.

The boy with black hair and black eyes slightly bent one knee, keeping the same height as the Golden Elf sitting on the Silent Throne.

Then, he took out a silver ring embedded with a sapphire.

His pale fingers stretched out.

And the boy gently lifted the Golden Elf's fair right hand.

Then, with very slow and careful movements.

He placed the azure ring on Hathaway's right ring finger.

"The wedding day is set, teacher."

The boy's voice broke the seemingly eternal silence in the hall.

"So—"

"Now I."

"Have become the male lead you were moved by?"

The soft words echoed in the vast hall.

At this moment, the stars reversed their flow.

Countless dim stars flickered at this instant.

The Golden Elf carefully observed the sapphire ring reflecting the starlight on her ring finger.

The falling starlight dispelled the darkness of the hall.

And it illuminated the Golden Elf's beautiful light golden eyes.

She nodded gently.

"Of course."

The hoarse voice seemed to come from long ago and far away, until it reached the distant starry sky.

The next moment.

On the Golden Elf's fair, pretty face.

Shiayar saw the most beautiful smile he's ever seen in his life.

...

This journey of hardship and turmoil, rise and fall.

Was all for—

The moment you put the ring on my finger.

(The End)

.....................

PS: Final thoughts will be published in a few days, additionally, there are expected to be three extra stories.

1. "First-Class Affair. Ceylon" — Enola

2. "I Want to Create a World Where Xaya Exists" — What if Hathaway obtained the Stars Chalice

3. "Pure White Valentine's Day" — Su Lun

Stay tuned.