The horses wheezed as they reached the gates of Dragereth Kingdom.
Their legs trembled. Foam at their mouths. They had given everything.
We had arrived.
> But I…
I couldn't even lift my head.
The Phoenix Veil had vanished hours ago. The fire that once fueled me was now only ashes inside my bones. Every step burned. Every breath scraped.
> "Hold on, Your Highness," Captain Reinhart said, gripping my arm to keep me upright.
> "You're almost there."
---
The gates of Duke Zuel's Mansion opened like a tomb.
Maids stood in silence.
Knights didn't bow.
No one said anything.
Only sorrow filled their eyes.
And the sound…
There was no crying.
Just stillness.
---
> "Something's wrong," I muttered, barely able to walk as we stepped inside.
The halls were lit, but cold.
Candles flickered.
Every shadow felt heavier than it should.
---
And then—
We reached the room.
The heavy oak doors were already open.
A soft breeze from the window blew white curtains like a farewell hand.
Inside—
Duke Zuel sat beside a bed, head low, hands wrapped tightly around his daughter's fragile left hand.
Her fingers were pale.
Her breathing…
> Was gone.
---
> "No…" I whispered, stumbling forward.
"No—Seraphina…"
Captain Reinhart reached out—but I broke from his grip and fell to my knees beside the bed.
> "You said you'd wait… I promised I'd return…"
I touched her hand—still warm from the blankets, but there was no spark.
No fire left in her veins.
> "You're lying," I whispered.
"You're just asleep. You always fake sleep when you're mad at me…"
But no teasing voice answered.
No sharp remark.
No challenge.
---
Duke Zuel didn't lift his head.
Tears dripped silently onto Seraphina's blanket.
> "She held on," he whispered hoarsely.
"Until just before dawn…"
> "She kept… whispering your name."
---
Captain Reinhart slowly lowered his head, standing by the door in grief-stricken silence.
I sat there.
My mind blank.
The Phoenix Veil offered no warmth now.
Only pain.
A hollow grief surged into my chest.
The battlefield had broken my body.
But this—
This broke my soul.
---
> "I was too slow…"
> "I had the power to save her. I had the fire, the strength…"
> "And still—I was too late."
I reached into my armor, pulling out the small glowing object pressed against my heart.
The Legendary Orb.
Still warm. Still glowing.
Still waiting.
---
But it came with a price.
A wish for anything… in exchange for something precious.
And now, the one I wanted to save… was already gone.
---
With sudden —
The room stood still—
Like the world forgot to breathe.
Outside the window, the wind stopped.
The curtains hung frozen mid-sway.
And in my hands—
The Legendary Orb began to glow.
Not faintly. Not warmly.
But blinding.
---
Everything—
The Duke, Captain Reinhart, the maids, even the falling dust—
Froze in place.
Time itself… held its breath.
Only I could move.
Only I could hear it.
> "STATE YOUR WISH…"
The voice echoed, not in sound, but inside my soul.
I looked down at Seraphina—
Still motionless.
Still pale.
Still cold.
And my heart shattered again.
---
> "I want her back…"
> "Please. I don't care what it takes. Bring her back."
> "I WISH—"
"—FOR SERAPHINA TO BE REVIVED!!"
---
The Orb pulsed like a heartbeat.
> "UNDERSTOOD."
> "BUT ALL LIFE COMES WITH COST."
---
Then, words carved into the very air:
> "PRICE: She will lose the memories of the one she loved most."
> "Including the bond that tethered her back from despair."
> "And in return—"
> "You will surrender a piece of your life."
> "You will never heal that wound."
> "And if you try to force her to remember you too clearly—"
> "The price may shatter her soul."
---
I paused.
Tears ran freely.
My hands shook.
> "Even if… she never remembers me…"
> "Even if she forgets I was ever in her heart…"
I clenched my jaw and held her hand tighter.
> "I still want her to live."
> "That's what matters."
> "Let me be the one to bear it."
---
The Orb pulsed once more.
A soft, final light.
Then—
It broke.
---
Not like shattering glass—
But like dissolving starlight.
Tiny shards of blue and golden light scattered and flowed into Seraphina's chest…
Her body lifted slightly—
Her hair rising like wind swept it upward.
The curse mark on her neck glowed red—
> And then vanished.
---
Duke Zuel blinked as time snapped back into place.
Captain Reinhart gasped—
He saw the orb vanish, and Seraphina glowing with light.
Everyone froze again—
Because Seraphina's lips slowly parted.
And her chest… rose.
> She breathed.
---
Her eyes fluttered open—
Glassy. Confused.
Alive.
---
> "W-Where… am I…?"
Her voice—soft, delicate—like waking from a dream.
Duke Zuel burst into tears.
Maids collapsed to their knees, praying.
Captain Reinhart stepped back, shaken by divine power.
---
But I—
I just knelt there, silent.
My hand still holding hers.
Even when her gaze passed right through me.
No warmth.
No recognition.
Not even a flicker.
> "Who… are you?" she asked gently.
---
I smiled. My heart breaking again—but holding firm.
> "Just someone who promised he'd come back."
---
Seraphina's hand felt warm again.
Alive.
Real.
But not mine to hold anymore.
---
She sat up slowly on the bed, supported by her father's trembling arms.
Still dizzy. Still confused.
Her red eyes scanned the room…
…And passed over me.
Without recognition.
Without memory.
---
I gently let go of her hand.
The warmth faded from my fingers like it was never there.
> "She's safe now…"
That's all that mattered.
---
I stood. Or tried to.
My knees buckled the second I rose.
The Phoenix Veil had drained everything.
The Legendary Orb had taken more than that.
> A piece of me was gone now.
My soul burned in places no healing could reach.
---
I stumbled toward the doorway, gripping the wall.
Captain Reinhart rushed to catch me.
> "Prince Alein!"
I leaned on him, barely upright, coughing blood between my teeth.
> "Bring me… back home…"
> "Refuse anything the Duke offers…"
> "I'll… explain later…"
---
Duke Zuel stood, alarmed, his voice rising:
> "Wait! You—What happened? What did you—?!"
> "She came back to life! Just now—was it… you?!"
> "Prince Alein—!"
But I didn't turn.
My eyes were closing.
My pulse slowing.
I didn't want to stay another second.
Not when she looked at me like a stranger.
---
As the pain consumed my chest, I whispered one last time—
> "I kept my promise…"
And with that, my eyes went dark—
My body collapsed into Captain Reinhart's arms.
Chapter 17 end.