I inhale sharply, but I don’t pull away. Instead, I let my hand settle on his shoulder, my fingers brushing against the fabric of his jacket.
The crowd fades into the background as we begin to move, our steps perfectly synchronized. The dance is slow and deliberate, each movement flowing seamlessly into the next. For a moment, it feels almost natural.
His hand tightens slightly on my waist as he guides me through a turn, and I glance up at him, surprised by the intensity in his midnight eyes.
1/3
16:27 Mon, 21 Apr H
Chapter 45
“You’ve lost weight,” he murmurs, his voice low enough that only I can hear.
The comment catches me off–guard. I falter for half a step, but he adjusts effortlessly, keeping us in sync.
“I’ve been busy,” I reply, my tone clipped. I don’t want to talk about this, not here, not now,
But he doesn’t let it go “Busy eisigh to forget to eat?”
* 51%
I glance away, focusing on the rhythm of the dance, the steady cadence of the drums. “It’s not your concern,” I say quietly, though the words lack conviction
His hand tightens again, just enough to make me look up at him. There’s something in his expression that I can’t quite place -concern, maybe, or regret. It’s unsettling.
“Tve been thinking about your father,” he says, his voice softer now. “What happened. I should have been there.”
The admission stops me cold.
My steps falter, but Raiden steadies me, keeping us moving as if nothing has happened.
My chest tightens, a mix of anger and something dangerously close to hope rising within me.
“Why now?” I whisper, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to keep it steady. “Why are you saying this now?”
He doesn’t answer right away. His gaze flickers, as if he’s searching for the right words but can’t quite find them.
“Because I was wrong,” he says finally, his tone heavy with something I can’t name. “I should have listened to you. I should have
The drums crescendo, signaling the final movement of the dance. I can feel the eyes of the crowd on us, their attention sharp and unrelenting, but in this moment, it doesn’t matter.
All I can focus on is the man in front of me, the weight of his words hanging between us like a fragile thread.
We spin together, our movements perfectly in sync, but my mind is reeling. For years, I’ve told myself that Raiden doesn’t That he never cared. But now, with his hand on my waist and his voice soft with regret, I find myself questioning everything
care.
The final notes of the music fade, and we come
e to a stop, facing each other in the center of the arena.
His hand lingers on my waist for a moment longer than necessary before he lets it drop.
The crowd erupts into applause, their cheers loud and enthusiastic, but I barely hear them. My heart is pounding, my thoughts a chaotic swirl of confusion and emotion.
As we step back, putting distance between us, I can’t stop myself from asking the question that’s been buried deep inside me for years.
“Did you ever care for me at all?”
The words come out softer than I intend, but they hang in the air like a challenge, impossible to ignore.
Raiden’s eyes widen slightly, the carefully constructed mask he always wears slipping for just a moment, I see something flicker there–regret, maybe, or guilt. Something raw and unguarded.
But then it’s gone, replaced by his usual neutrality. He straightens, his expression unreadable as he answers.
“Our arrangement served both our purposes,” he says evenly, his tone detached. “Until the appropriate time, it will continue to do so. It is what’s best for the kingdom. Nothing more.”
2/3
16:27 Mon, 21 Apr N
Chapter 55
Nothing more.
* $51
The words hit me violenly, the fragile hope that had dared to emerge crumbling under the weight of his indifference.
He’s caught me off gaun.
I nod, swallowing hard against the hump forming in my throat, “Of course, I say, forcing a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. “How practical of you.”
Never again.
He flinches, just barely, but it’s enough to give me a small, hitter sense of satisfaction.
Without another word, I turn and walk away, my steps purposeful even as my chest feels like it’s caving in.
The applause continues around me, but it feels distant, like I’m hearing it through a thick pane of glass
By the time I reach the edge of the arena, the tears are already threatening to spill. I blink them back furiously, refusing to let anyone see me break.
I don’t stop until I’m back in my quarters, the door clicking shut behind me. Only then do I allow myself to crumble, sinking to the floor as the weight of everything crashes down on me.
I’d thought I was past this.
Past him.
Past the pain of his rejection
But tonight, as his words replay in my mind–Our arrangement served both our purposes–I realize that some wounds never truly heal. They just scab over, waiting for the right moment to reopen and bleed all over again.
And once again. I’m left wondering if I’ll ever be enough for anyone.
