They smiled through their tears and said, "Father said he was going to find Mother. So it's our duty to take care of the empire until they come back."
From the adults around them, the children learned about the love their parents had shared—a love so strong it transcended death itself.
And they didn't feel burdened by being left behind, because they knew their parents had truly loved them.
And that was enough.
---
''[Epilogue - Years Later]''
Solene and Caelan grew up to be wise and capable rulers, guided by the Duchess and Secretary Chen.
They ruled jointly when they came of age, sharing power equally as their mother had taught them through her example.
The empire continued to flourish under their guidance.
Every year on the anniversary of their parents' deaths, they would travel to the Rolik River and leave flowers on the water, watching them float downstream.
"Traveling with you, Mother and Father," they would say. "Through the whole empire, just as you wished."
