Ophelia's POV
I ran.
The world blurred around me, the wind whipping against my face as my feet barely touched the cobblestone streets. My cloak billowed behind me like a restless shadow, but I didn't care. I pushed forward, past the startled glances of villagers, past the murmurs of market-goers who turned in confusion at the sight of a mage—an immortal—running as though she had something to lose.
I had to reach him.
I had to tell him.
I had changed my mind.
The ring on my finger, the one I had once thought was nothing but a simple trinket, now burned against my skin, as though reminding me of its significance with every heartbeat. Samuel had given it to me. He had fought for it. And I, in my ignorance, had accepted it without understanding what it meant.
Now, I knew.
And for the first time in my long existence, something inside me ached—not for myself, but for him.
I reached the grand gates of the estate, barely slowing as I rushed past the guards who had grown accustomed to my presence. The stone paths of the courtyard were familiar beneath my steps, but I barely registered them. My breath was uneven, my pulse thrumming in my ears.
Then—
I saw him.
Samuel stood near the garden terrace, sunlight casting a golden hue over his dark hair, his posture relaxed in a way I had never seen before. There was no tension in his shoulders, no weight of the crown pressing down on him. He looked… at ease.
And he was not alone.
I stopped.
Standing beside him was a woman, her golden hair cascading down her back, her soft features glowing with familiarity. Even from this distance, I knew her.
Amy.
The name formed in my mind like an unspoken whisper, an echo of a past I had long left behind.
I thought I wouldn't see her again as I already left her behind. The life I had before was already in the ruins that I would not dare return to so why must I be reminded of it? The only good thing there was Rosalia… nothing more, nothing less.
Amy had grown. She was beautiful, her smile warm and genuine as she spoke to Samuel. And Samuel…
He was smiling, too.
Not the strained, weary smile of a king burdened by duty.
But a real one.
The kind I had never seen on him before.
Something in my chest tightened.
A soft murmur of voices reached my ears, the whispers of passing noblewomen and servants lingering nearby.
"The King seems fond of her."
"They would make a fine match."
"I heard he might marry her soon."
I just left for a couple of minutes and now, the King had already found someone whom he will build a family with. For just a small amount of time, he had finally found the woman who will give him son, the heir to the throne that shall continue his bloodline.
I stared at them, at him, and felt the urgency that had driven me here slowly slip through my fingers like sand.
Had I misunderstood?
Had I been foolish to run back, thinking he would want to hear my change of heart?
I stepped back instinctively, my fingers grazing over the ring on my hand. It felt heavier now, as though its meaning had changed in mere moments.
Samuel turned then, his sharp eyes catching mine almost instantly.
For a fleeting second, surprise flickered across his face, quickly replaced by something softer.
"Ophelia," he called, his voice warm in a way that made the tightness in my chest worse. "Come here."
I hesitated.
I had come all this way.
Had nearly thrown away everything I had known just to say that I would stay.
But now, standing here, watching him with her, I wasn't sure I had the right to.
Still, I forced my feet forward.
Amy turned at the sound of my name, her face lighting up with recognition. "Ophelia?"
She stepped toward me before I could react, wrapping her arms around me in a familiar embrace. I stiffened, unaccustomed to the warmth of such gestures. My arms hovered awkwardly before I finally raised a hand and patted her back, unsure of what else to do.
She pulled away, her smile as radiant as I remembered. "It's been so long! I never thought I'd see you here!"
I exhaled a quiet chuckle, tilting my head toward Samuel. "You and me both."
Since when did she became so kind towards me? As far as I could remember, we literally fought before I left the mansion. She drove me to the edge just so she can get rid of me and now, she seemed excited that she saw me?
Amy turned back to him, her laughter light. "Samuel was just telling me about his duties as king. It's impressive, really. You always had a way with words, Your Majesty."
Samuel shook his head with a soft chuckle. "I wouldn't say that."
I watched them, my gaze unreadable.
They spoke so easily.
The conversation flowed between them with a familiarity I couldn't place.
I wasn't sure what I was supposed to feel.
But before I could think too deeply about it, the words slipped from my lips. "You two look good together."
Samuel's head snapped toward me.
Amy laughed, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Oh, don't tease, Ophelia."
I didn't laugh.
I didn't even smile.
"I'm not teasing," I replied, my voice unnervingly even. "I mean it."
Samuel's brows furrowed, his gaze searching mine as if trying to find something beneath my expressionless exterior.
There was nothing to find.
Because I had spent my entire existence mastering the art of feeling nothing.
And yet, as I stood there, the ring still heavy on my hand, the weight of my own foolishness pressing down on me—
For the first time, I wondered if that was truly the case.
Amy smiled brightly at me. Her presence was warm, comforting, but to me, it felt like a distant memory, a past I had long since buried. I glanced at Samuel, and for a moment, I could see a faint hint of nostalgia in his eyes, as though something from his past was alive again in the woman standing beside him.
I wasn't sure why, but my fingers instinctively tightened around the ring on my hand. The gold burned against my skin, reminding me of my rash decision to wear it—of the weight of it all.
Samuel, sensing the sudden quiet between us, cleared his throat and turned to me. His voice was softer now, less kingly, more personal. "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 mother brought her along. I had just started learning about my future, and Amy… well, she was always so carefree, even back then."
Amy's eyes softened at his words, and she nodded. "Yes. I was just a child then, following my mother around like I always did. I didn't understand the magnitude of your position back then, Samuel. You were still the prince."
I listened quietly, my gaze flicking between the two of them. Samuel spoke of her as though they shared some sort of history that was more than just friendly, but Amy's smile was as innocent as her words.
Samuel's eyes met mine for a moment, and there was a hint of something unspoken in the way he looked at me. "We were children," he said, almost to himself, 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." His smile faltered, his expression turning serious, but his tone remained warm. "I think that's what drew me to her. She made everything seem lighter."
Amy smiled back at him, a soft, affectionate expression that made my chest feel tight again.
Before I could respond, Amy turned toward me, her gaze softening as she met my eyes. "You don't know that, Ophelia," she said, her voice carrying a light tease. "You were too busy practicing your powers."
For a moment, I felt disoriented, as if something in me had been shattered. I had spent so many years with the one woman who had shaped my abilities, honing my magic in ways I barely understood. But I had never truly known the world beyond that. I had never paid attention to the connections and lives that existed outside of my own narrow focus.
I had never considered that Samuel had a past like anyone else. That he had memories that didn't involve the crown, the burden of responsibility, or the cold corridors of the palace.
I didn't know what to say.
Instead, I simply stood there, listening as Amy continued.
"We spent a lot of time together when we were children," Amy said, her voice growing softer as she looked at Samuel. "I didn't understand the weight of it then, but looking back, I see how difficult it must have been for you. Always having to be the one in charge. But even then, you had a way of making it all seem bearable."
I couldn't speak.
I only stared at Samuel, watching his expression flicker as he looked at Amy with a fondness I hadn't seen before.
It wasn't just affection. It wasn't merely the affection of a king toward a subject, or even a prince toward a childhood friend. It was something deeper, something that felt like a promise unspoken. Something more than I had ever understood.
I felt like I was shrinking, like I was getting belittled. I hate everything about this… I hate their small interaction, I hate it.
I hadn't been there.
I hadn't been part of that past.
For a moment, I felt the sting of isolation, the unshakable truth that I didn't belong in this world with him.
Samuel, noticing the shift in the air, his gaze softening, stepped forward. His hand brushed against mine, just lightly enough that I could feel the warmth of his touch, but it didn't change the distance between us.
"Ophelia…" he began, his voice cautious.
I didn't want him to finish. I didn't want to hear him say anything that would pull me further away from him.
So I smiled, as calmly as I could, and turned to Amy. "It's good to see you again," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos inside me. "I'm glad to know Samuel had a friend who helped him through everything."
Amy tilted her head, a small frown on her lips. "Samuel's always had a lot of people around him, Ophelia. But… I think you're more important to him than you realize."
The words sent a strange shiver down my spine, and I found myself looking at Samuel again. He wasn't smiling now. His expression was unreadable, his eyes searching mine as if waiting for something.
But I had nothing to give him. Not right now.
"I think I'll leave you two to catch up," I said, my voice quieter than I intended. "I've had my fill of old memories."
With that, I stepped back, leaving them standing there. I didn't look back.
As I walked away, the sound of their laughter faded, and the tightness in my chest only grew.
What I don't understand is that… why do I care so much for "just" a stranger?