A few days later, Ethan excitedly opened the letter from Emris as soon as he received it. Reading his brother's letters had always been a source of comfort. But this letter was different. As he read, a smile first appeared on his face, then his eyes widened, and his heart began to beat rapidly.
In Emris' letter, it read:
Dear Ethan,
I was delighted when your letter reached me. In this difficult time in my life, your support gives me strength. I am truly lucky to have a brother like you.
You mentioned Rowena. I know you've been friends with her for years, but judging from what you wrote in your letter… Ethan, I think you like Rowena! You can't ignore this. These feelings might be new, but you need to try to understand them.
Trust me; I once faced similar feelings. I think you should open up to Rowena about your feelings. If you keep your emotions hidden, it could be difficult not only for you but also for your relationship with her.
I hope everything goes well. I hope we can meet soon and talk about this face to face.
Take care of yourself,
La Edri
As Ethan's mind overflowed with these lines, he folded the letter and put it in his pocket. First, a look of surprise appeared on his face, followed by panic. "Do I really like Rowena?" he thought. The fear that Emris might be right about this overwhelmed him. His heart's irregular beats, Rowena's smile, the times spent with her… He began to reconsider all of these and suddenly stood up.
"I need to figure this out and talk to someone. Raidne... Yes, Raidne can tell me what to do," he said to himself.
Ethan quickly made his way to Raidne's house. He knocked on the door eagerly. When Raidne opened the door and saw the panic on Ethan's face, she raised her eyebrows.
"Ethan? What happened? Why are you so flustered?" she asked.
Breathing heavily as he stepped inside, Ethan said, "Raidne, I need to talk to you. It's very important." They immediately moved to the living room. Ethan ran his hands through his hair, beginning to speak with worry.
"I think... I like Rowena. What am I going to do, Raidne?"
Raidne paused for a moment. She rarely saw Ethan this anxious, but she realized the situation was serious. She looked at Ethan with a gentle smile.
"Ethan, calm down. This isn't a bad thing," she said. "If you like Rowena, it's not your fault. Don't try to suppress your feelings. It's perfectly natural."
Ethan took a deep breath, but the panic inside him still hadn't subsided. "But we've been friends for years. What if I tell her, and things change? What if she doesn't feel the same way?"
Raidne, as if expecting this question, lightly touched Ethan's shoulder with a reassuring demeanor. "Ethan, I know this scares you. But you're the only one who can change things. You can't know what Rowena feels, but by hiding your feelings, you're only making it harder on yourself. If you don't talk to her, these feelings will continue to gnaw at you."
Ethan took a deep breath, placing his head in his hands. "But how do I talk to her? What do I say? What if I ruin everything?"
Raidne gave Ethan a reassuring smile. "It could definitely be difficult, but remember, Rowena has been your closest friend for years. You trust each other. Being honest with her is the best thing you can do. You can express your feelings gently. Maybe you don't have to say you're in love right away, but you can help her understand that your feelings have changed."
Ethan thought about Raidne's words. "So, if I don't tell her, these feelings will grow and bother me even more?"
Raidne nodded. "Exactly. The more your feelings grow, the harder it will be to hide them. And this will not only affect you but Rowena too. Maybe she feels something as well. But you need to have the courage to find out."
Ethan, slightly relieved, took a deep breath, though he was still uneasy. "But what if things go wrong? What if she rejects me?"
Raidne sighed, giving Ethan a more serious look. "If she rejects you, it's not the end of the world. Your friendship is strong. Yes, some things might get tough, but over time, you can recover. Rowena knows you well, and being honest with her won't shatter the trust between you. Remember that."
Ethan nodded, standing up. "I guess you're right. I need to talk to Rowena. But I don't know when or how to do it."
Raidne smiled slightly. "You'll know when the time is right. Trust yourself, Ethan. Show your closest friend that you value her enough not to hide your feelings. This could strengthen the bond between you. No matter what happens, honesty is always the best way."
After Raidne's advice, Ethan felt calmer and more courageous. "Thank you, Raidne. I really didn't know what to do, but talking to you helped."
Raidne responded with a warm look. "I'm here whenever you need, Ethan. Just be honest with yourself and listen to your heart."
As Ethan said goodbye to Raidne, he still had many questions in his mind, but now he knew what he had to do. The first step was to gather his courage and open up to Rowena about his feelings.
Ethan's heart was pounding as he left Raidne's house, his mind swirling with thoughts and Raidne's advice urging him to speak with Rowena as soon as possible. His feet seemed to move of their own accord, driven by the urgency to find her. He set off in search of Rowena and eventually found her near the friends' quarters.
As soon as Rowena saw Ethan, she approached him with a warm smile. "Ethan, I haven't seen you in a while! Is everything okay? You seem a bit tense…" she said.
Ethan's heart was beating like a drum in his chest. He averted his eyes, pausing for a moment, but as he noticed the curious look in Rowena's eyes, he tried to calm the panic within him.
"It's just... we need to talk," Ethan replied. His voice trembled slightly, but he gathered his courage. "Let's go to the friends' quarters, where we can be more comfortable."
Rowena noticed Ethan's anxiety, furrowing her brows slightly, but she nodded and followed him. They sat down on the comfortable couches inside the friends' quarters.
Once seated, Rowena could sense the concern on Ethan's face more clearly. "Ethan, did something happen? You look worried. You can tell me."
Ethan took a deep breath and looked into Rowena's eyes. Despite his racing heart, he remembered Raidne's advice. It was now or never. He gathered his courage. "Rowena... we've been friends for years. You've always been there for me, giving me strength, and as I think about you, I realize something has changed inside me. I can't see you just as a friend anymore. My heart races when I'm around you, and every time you smile, my world brightens. I think... no, I'm sure. My feelings for you have changed. I'm in love with you," he confessed.
Rowena's eyes widened in surprise for a moment. Ethan's honesty and straightforwardness had caught her off guard. But soon, a sweet smile spread across her face. She took Ethan's hand and squeezed it gently, her eyes shining with affection.
"Ethan… I love you too. These feelings have been inside me for a long time, but I was afraid to admit it because I didn't want to lose you. Hearing this from you… it makes me so happy," she said. However, the joy on her face quickly faded, replaced by a look of sadness. Her hand was still in Ethan's, but she averted her gaze.
Ethan noticed the sudden change in Rowena's expression and furrowed his brows in concern. "What's wrong? Why do you look so sad?" he asked, his voice filled with worry. "If you love me, why do you seem so unhappy?"
Rowena took a deep breath and looked at Ethan. "Ethan... you're a prince. I'm just a healer. There's a vast divide between us. The people, your father… they won't approve of such a relationship. This love... it might be impossible."
Ethan, seeing the sorrow in Rowena's eyes, held her hand tightly. A determined expression appeared on his face. "Rowena, I won't let this divide come between us. I love you, and I won't let anything change that. I will talk to my father. No matter what, we will grow up and get married."
Tears welled up in Rowena's eyes at Ethan's determination. But there was still doubt within her. "Ethan, do you think your father will accept this? Royalty usually marries for politics, and I'm just a commoner."
Ethan embraced Rowena before leaving her side. "No matter what, I will convince my father. Living without you is meaningless to me."
Ethan quickly returned to the palace to speak with his father. He passed through the large stone doors and headed to the throne room. His father, King Marlon, sat on the throne. Ethan felt his father's stern gaze but remained standing, bolstered by his resolve.
"Father, I need to talk to you about something important," Ethan said, his voice firm but slightly trembling.
King Marlon looked at his son with curiosity. "What is so important, Ethan? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Ethan took a deep breath and locked eyes with his father. "Rowena... I have feelings for Rowena. I want to grow up and marry her."
King Marlon's face instantly hardened. "Rowena? The healer girl? Ethan, you are a prince. As the heir to a kingdom, you need to be more careful. You want to marry a healer? Have you considered the people's and the royal council's reactions?"
Ethan stepped forward, his voice growing more resolute. "Father, if I can't be with her, my life will have no meaning. What keeps me alive is my love for Rowena. I know how important I am to the kingdom, but this love is more valuable to me than anything else. If you don't allow it, I will have no reason to live."
King Marlon, hearing his son's words, sighed deeply. He could see the seriousness and determination in Ethan's eyes. Seeing him so resolute was both pride-inducing and challenging. After a moment of silence, the king reluctantly nodded.
"Ethan, the people's and the council's reactions could be harsh, but your happiness is most important. If you truly love her, I will accept it. But remember this: the road will be difficult. Are you prepared for the challenges you'll face?"
A great sense of relief and joy spread across Ethan's face. "I am, Father. My love for Rowena will help me overcome any challenge."
King Marlon slowly nodded in approval of his son's decision. "Then, I accept you and Rowena. Your happiness is my greatest wish."
Upon hearing his father's words, Ethan felt a huge sense of relief in his heart. Now he could return to Rowena and share the good news with her. Everything might be challenging, but he was willing to face anything to be with Rowena.