lia'

ra

lowed behind me like a restless shadow, but I didn't care. I pushed forward, past the startled glances of villagers, past the

to rea

to tel

hanged

st my skin, as though reminding me of its significance with every heartbeat. Samuel had given it to

I k

existence, something inside me a

d grown accustomed to my presence. The stone paths of the courtyard were familiar beneath

h

aw

hair, his posture relaxed in a way I had never seen before. There was no tension i

was not

top

scading down her back, her soft features glowing wi

m

an unspoken whisper, an echo o

efore was already in the ruins that I would not dare return to so why must I be r

, her smile warm and genuine as

smili

eary smile of a kin

real

d never seen

in my ches

ears, the whispers of passing noble

seems fo

d make a f

might marr

e will build a family with. For just a small amount of time, he had finally found the

e urgency that had driven me here slo

misund

ack, thinking he would want

over the ring on my hand. It felt heavier now,

s sharp eyes catching

flickered across his face, quick

arm in a way that made the tightn

sita

me all t

erything I had known just

tching him with her, I was

orced my f

y name, her face lighting up

embrace. I stiffened, unaccustomed to the warmth of such gestures. My arms hovered a

t as I remembered. "It's been so lon

, tilting my head toward

we literally fought before I left the mansion. She drove me to the edge

just telling me about his duties as king. It's impressiv

with a soft chuckle.

hem, my gaz

oke so

between them with a fami

what I was sup

about it, the words slipped from m

ead snappe

slightly flushed. "Oh,

n't l

't eve

plied, my voice unnervi

ching mine as if trying to find someth

s nothin

tire existence mastering

till heavy on my hand, the weight of

I wondered if that

a past I had long since buried. I glanced at Samuel, and for a moment, I could see a faint hint of nos

nd the ring on my hand. The gold burned against my skin, remin

l. "You know, Amy and I... we met when we were children. A long time ago, actually. She visited the Kingdom of the East once when her

then, following my mother around like I always did. I didn't understand t

spoke of her as though they shared some sort of history that was mo

, before continuing. "But Amy... she was always full of life. She didn't care for the burdens that I had to carry. She just saw the world with such wonder

, affectionate expression that

she met my eyes. "You don't know that, Ophelia," she said, her voice

woman who had shaped my abilities, honing my magic in ways I barely understood. But I had never truly known the wor

se. That he had memories that didn't involve the crown, the

know wh

tood there, listeni

Samuel. "I didn't understand the weight of it then, but looking back, I see how difficult it must have been

ldn't

expression flicker as he looked at Amy

ect, or even a prince toward a childhood friend. It was something deeper, someth

ing belittled. I hate everything about this.

't bee

een part o

olation, the unshakable truth that I

ard. His hand brushed against mine, just lightly enough that I could fe

e began, his v

t want to hear him say anything that

e you again," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos inside me. "I'

s always had a lot of people around him, Ophelia. But...

looking at Samuel again. He wasn't smiling now. His expression w

ng to give him.

," I said, my voice quieter than I inte

, leaving them standing t

their laughter faded, and the t

that... why do I care so