>>Lyal

"Father, are you afraid of losing Hael?" I looked at him in shock

"He's the strongest magician we've had! And only he knows what is going on in Hollow woods. I would be a fool to not listen to him!"

"We can send someone else to Hollow woods!"

"No..." His expressions were grim, "Eldias didn't make it back and Hael was as good as dead when he came back too. Whatever happened there might be far worse than we currently understand. For something to mutilate the Tower Master like that, do you think we have time for petty games?"

Right The High Priest didn't make it make

"Daddy," Ophelia ascended the stairs, "Hael is just being silly, right? He won't actually take Amber and leave?"

Father looked at her, "That's all you're worried about?"

She got flustered, "I-I mean, the kingdom is in danger too. But Hael won't actually take the saint and leave the country. He won't actually burn anything, right?"

"Oh, he will." Father replied, 'But like he said, he won't need to. He's not the type to give empty threats."

Hael...

Why is he so attached to Corvina? Does he know her from before? Did he know her as a noble?

The only thing I remember is that Corvina didn't have any men around her, except that slave she had

...

Wait ... Corvina had a personal slave she was attached to...

I frowned.

I saw him, didn't I? I... Saw him a number of times... But why can't I recall his face?

My engagement with her ended because his slave was in her room, getting his hands on her while she was naked

He was a rumored beauty

So why can't I remember??? I frowned. I tried to recall his face but I couldn't. I remember the meetings, but his face is blurry in all my memories.

What the hell?

I put so much pressure on my brain that it began to hurt.

I looked at the door. It's almost like someone had tampered with my memory...

My suspicion grew

Can it be?

I clenched my jaw

He's the only one capable of something like this. Magic like this should be a game to him.

I grew anxious.

Was it him? Was Hael the slave Corvina was with?

On that note, father held the event when Hael wasn't here and deliberately put me in charge of Illaris and Corvina.

I looked at him

Does he know Amber is Corvina? Or was he playing around because he only knew that Amber looks like Corvina?

Is everyone trying to play games here?

***

>>Amber

I heard footsteps coming my way and with how bored I was in here, I've been playing a game. It's to see if I can recognize if the footsteps are coming my way and if I can make the right assumption of who it might be.

Hmmm

I think the footsteps are coming my way

But seriously, who is it gonna be?

The guard?

I doubt it's going to be any of the royals.

Could it be Hael?

Hmmm

Has he even woken up?

The footsteps neared and I put more pressure on my brain. Could it be Serena? No, I don't hear heels, I hear the sound of boots.

Hmm

It should be a guard. Only the guards wear boots.

The person approached the cell, appearing from the side and then he turned to look at me.

Oh?

"Ahin?" I was sitting near the bars this time and I wanted to get up when I saw him, but instead he crouched down to my level.

"Hey," He stood his place on the dirty damp floor, "Are you okay?" He asked.

I relaxed my body back down that was ready to get up, "Well," I placed a hand on the bar, "It's not so bad. It just stinks a lot and is hella dirty."

"Yea, nobody really cares about the dungeon." He replied.

"They should at least clean the place," I looked around and then rolled my eyes.

He chuckled, "They should," He then looked at me, "You are amazing, Amber" He smiled at me,

I looked back at him in surprise, "Hmm?" I am amazing? "What? That came out of nowhere, what do you mean?"

"I'm talking about your power, you were able to bring back missing parts of the body too. The way you healed the Tower Master, it left everyone dumbstruck." I felt a little guilty, knowing that all of it was fake. But it was astonishing, that for something fake, I held so much power in me...

"I had no idea I held so much power either..." I looked down as I recalled it. When I saw Hael in that condition and his life slipping out of my hands, I felt something wake up inside of me.

I couldn't let someone else I could save die. Especially not Hael

Not him,

"I saw Master Hael, he went to see the king." He said and I raised my head in surprise.

So he's up!

Thank god!!

"I came here to talk to you while he talked to the King. I couldn't do anything for you but I have this strong feeling that he will be able to do something." His voice was low and I could sense a tingle of sorrow behind it.

"Oh, Ahin!" I felt bad, "You don't need to feel bad! No one can do anything against the royal family!" Can't say anything about Hael though. The Tower of Magic works independently after all and magicians are known as rebels.

Hael on the other hand is on another level.

"No," He shook his head, "It's fine, I understand," His gaze didn't meet mine, "I came here for another reason."

"Yes?" I had a feeling where this was going.

"You asked me to meet you, but the circumstances didn't allow it." He said

"Oh! Yea," I nodded, "The whole game and then the accusation and then me ending up here, our meeting got skipped because of it."

"Yes," He nodded softly, "But I would like to have it here, if you don't mind."

I nodded, "It's fine, it's just the two of us here." I've been wanting to talk to him for quite a while now, so this place is actually good. We won't have anyone disturbing us.

"It's been quite some time," He didn't meet my gaze, his eyes lingered on the floor beneath me, "Since I asked you to consider me," And that's when he finally raised his head and his eyes met mine, "Can I get my answer now?"

There was a pang in my heart.

I nodded at him and then paused, "Give me a moment."

He paused when he heard that, then a subtle smile appeared on his face, "Okay." There was silence around us.

Ahin, this is probably the worst place to do this but I've been wanting to give you an answer for a while now. When Ahin was going to kiss me that day in the cafe, I had a thought go through my mind in urgency.

It was that I didn't want him to kiss me. I felt guilty and was about to turn my face away when Hael used his magic to teleport me.

It was wrong of me.

To want a happy life while I couldn't stop thinking about the one I had fallen for. It simply meant I never stopped liking him.

"About your confession. I thought about it alot. But I can not return your feelings. I'm sorry." My voice was soft and as low as I could make it without turning it into a whisper.

"Does this mean you will never consider me as a potential life partner?"

I shook my head, "You're a wonderful person. And I hope you find an equally wonderful partner too. But that person is not going to be me."

He looked down, "I see," He looked heartbroken

Perhaps, if I had never met Hael again.

Perhaps if our paths were destined to never cross again.

He would have slowly faded from my mind and my heart.

Perhaps then, I could loved Ahin,

And we could have been something but- I shook my head

I can not lead such a sweet person on. Give him false hope. Or even delude myself that I like him and I want a peaceful life with him, which in the end I'll end up destroying.

I wish Ahin to be happy.

To fall in love with a person who loves him back with all her heart. Someone who's sincere, someone lovely

Someone who isn't me

Because I can't give him all that.

I heard more footsteps coming our way. They were rushing in. I felt like there were many, like two or three people there.

"I'm sorry Ahin," I gave him an apologetic smile,

His smile faltered and his gaze fell, "I had a feeling this would happen," His voice cracked, "I saw the way you panicked when the Tower Master was dying and what it did to you,"

"Ahin, I-" I moved towards him, I couldn't reach him because of the bars between us, but I extended my hand out to reach him but he avoided it.

"Don't," He cut me off as he lifted his hand to stop me, "Please," His voice was soft and it made me stop instantly.

I withdrew my hand back and then there was a moment of silence between us.

We saw three guards make their way to my cell. Ahin and I both stood up. He moved out of their way while I watched a guard open my cell.

"Saint Amber, you are free," A guard said

"I am?" I asked, "How?"

"Princess Ophelia's maid was caught." Another one answered.

"Caught?" I was surprised, "For what?"

"Her room was searched in suspicion for having narcotics and it turns out she was taking natural drugs."

???

What the hell!?

"She was taking what?" They opened the gate for me.

"Mushrooms." The third guard said, "They get you high."

They made space for me and I got out of the cell, "No one was suspicious of her before though. There was no mention of anything about drugs before. What happened? Out of the blue she was taking drugs?" I was very confused with this turn of events.

I have seen Lena. She looked perfectly fine and sane. And I doubt Ophelia would keep a druggie near her

"Master Hael made the assumption. Saying the maid, Lena, did not look like she was in her right mind. So an immediate search took place and we found the shrooms hidden under her bed." The guard with the keys answered

"Hidden under the bed?" I raised my brows at them.

"To be precise, there was a layer under her bed, on the roof, where the mushrooms were growing."

What the heck!? That sounds so ridiculous.

"A herbalist was called who checked the shrooms and affirmed that they do get people high and make them hallucinate."

"Oh wow," It just came out of my mouth.

"The royal physician was called too and Lena went through a blood test, it showed that she had taken them and was high at the moment. All of this happened because the Tower Master asked for a search."

Oh Holy Hell, Hael

You son of a-

I heard a subtle chuckle behind me and I turned to look at Ahin, "See?" He looked back at me, with a rather sad expression, "I told you he'd be able to do something." He shook his head lightly, "This was something only he could have pulled."

"Ahin," I moved towards him but he stepped back

"It's fine." He smiled, "I'm just glad you're safe.'

"But,"

"Please," He insisted, "Leave."

I felt like it was cruel. Why would someone like him fall for me? For I am such a sinner, I broke such a pure heart.

"Alright," I stepped back as well, "Can you all leave first?" I looked at the guards and they nodded. They immediately left and I looked back at Ahiin, "I want you to know this,"

"Amber-"

"You're a wonderful person," I had to tell him this, "You are everything a good girl would dream of," He stared at me with a frown, "And Ahin, you're too good for me."

"What is that even supposed to mean?" He was frustrated.

"You deserve someone who will love you the same way you love them. Not someone like me, who already has someone in their heart. I want you to be happy, and I want you to be loved." He shook his head in denial. He just got his heart broken so I know my words would only annoy him, "I know my words may seem meaningless to you. But you deserve the world Ahin."

"What's the point if I don't get someone I want?"

I smiled at him, "You will get someone you want. Someone who is meant for you."

"What even-"

"Trust me," I cut him off, "I know one day, you'll fall for the right person. A person who is ready to give the world to you. And at this moment it may feel like the world is crumbing, but when the right person comes along, you'll feel like everything is perfect, and I am not that person, not for you."

"...." He didn't answer me, he simply looked away.

"Don't close out your heart for other people because of me. I know a wonderful life, filled with love, is waiting for you." I pursed my lips, then turned around and left. After walking a few steps away, I looked back, "Goodbye, Ahin," I spared him a glance, then looked ahead again and walked away.

Me the author : Oh Ahin, you fool. You just had to go and fall for Corvina...