Leon Waldemar never wanted anything from the political marriage.

The daughter of the Sinclair family was supposed to be a hostage, just as he was.

A symbol of peace between two families that had spent generations hating each other.

Then he met Celia.

Saving her should have been simple.

Instead, it became forty-four lifetimes of desperate choices, repeated tragedies, and countless endings only he could remember.

By the time he finally succeeded, there was almost nothing left of him.

So when the cycle begins again and Celia looks at him with eyes that know far too much, Leon can only offer a weary greeting.

"...Hello."

Because this time, he isn't the only one carrying the memories.