In a distant age, amid the dark and mysterious centuries of Europe, a boy was born into a royal family. The kingdom, vast and powerful, had seen centuries of war and peace, and now it awaited a new ruler.
His name was Leonard Valen, the only heir to this mighty throne. From the moment he opened his eyes, the court whispered with anticipation, for he was the child who would one day carry the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders.
But unknown to all, this boy carried a reincarnated soul — a soul that had once ruled as a king, experienced love and loss, and felt the full depth of life. The memories of that past existence lay dormant in his heart, ready to awaken at the right moment.
In his youth, Leonard was a king who adored his people, showing kindness and wisdom that few rulers possessed. Yet on the battlefield, he became a force of nature — swift, merciless, and unstoppable. His enemies trembled at the mere mention of his name.
Despite his strength and authority, what truly pulsed in his heart was not the desire for power, nor the allure of the crown. It was love — a love that had shaped his soul across lifetimes, a love for a girl who would forever change his destiny.
At the age of six, during a grand aristocratic banquet filled with candlelight and the delicate sounds of harps and violins, he saw Elena Mevis for the first time. Her eyes sparkled like stars, and her smile illuminated the dimly lit hall. She carried an air of grace and innocence that captivated everyone, yet her life had already been marked by hardship.
Elena had once belonged to a family of prominence, but her father had lost everything in a merciless war, leaving her family in poverty. Her presence at the banquet was both a reminder of past glories and a symbol of resilience.
Leonard, knowing the truth of his royal identity could change everything, hid who he really was. He pretended to be the son of a foreign nobleman, blending seamlessly among the guests. That night, amidst the flickering candles and the soft music, the two children spoke for hours. They laughed, shared stories, and imagined a world together — a world untouched by the cruelty of fate. It was as if destiny itself had woven their hearts together from the very beginning.
At the end of the evening, as the festivities reached their peak, Elena reached out and kissed Leonard gently on the eyes. With a soft, knowing smile, she whispered:
"Even if one day we're separated by thousands of miles, my heart will still recognize you."
But fate, as it often does, was far more cruel than anyone could anticipate.
A few weeks later, a great and devastating war erupted. Elena's father was killed, leaving her family to flee for their lives. She, her mother, and two younger brothers escaped to a distant, unfamiliar land. The boy and the girl who had shared laughter and dreams were torn apart before they could understand the depth of their connection.
Years passed. Leonard ascended to the throne, crowned amid pomp and ceremony, yet he never found his first love. During his coronation, he questioned every courtier, searched every corner of the kingdom for any trace of her — but no one had ever heard her name. The girl who had once touched his heart remained a memory, hidden in the mists of time.
He never loved again. Even when his parents, King Alaric and Queen Serine, urged him to marry a princess for political alliances, he calmly replied:
"I fell in love once… and that once is enough for a lifetime."
Instead of pursuing his own family, Leonard brought two orphans into the palace, nurturing and raising them as if they were his own children. They became his companions, his joy, and the little lights in his otherwise solemn life.
Meanwhile, Elena endured a life of sorrow and hardship in the western lands. By the age of twenty, she married a wealthy man, seeking stability and comfort. But happiness was fleeting. Four years later, she passed away quietly, unnoticed by the world, leaving behind only the echo of the love she had once inspired.
Time moved forward relentlessly. Leonard, now an aged king with silver hair and weary eyes, attended the wedding of his daughter to Prince Adrian. He carried himself with dignity, wearing a gentle fatherly smile, yet a part of him remained forever lost to memories of a love long gone.
That night, after the celebrations, he walked with the young prince through the quiet streets, the soft glow of lanterns illuminating the cobblestones. His eyes fell upon a gravestone in the corner of a small, serene cemetery. Etched into the stone were words that pierced his heart:
"Elena Mevis — a woman who lived with a kind heart and died with a silent love."
Leonard sank to his knees, tears streaming down his face. In the solemn silence, he whispered with a broken voice:
"Finally, I found you… Elena."
And there, beside the grave of the woman who had captured his heart in another lifetime, his pulse stilled.
His death cast a heavy shadow of grief over the kingdom; on the very day when his daughter's smile shone brightest, he departed from the world quietly, beside the resting place of the girl who had given her life to love him.
Yet, this was not the end.
Leonard's soul was reborn — in 2009, into a wealthy family in America. The memories of his past life came with him, vivid and undeniable. At the age of five, on his first day of kindergarten, he saw a girl with the same radiant face, the same enchanting smile…
Her name was also Elena.
The boy's heart raced, unsure whether to laugh or cry, for time seemed to have stopped. The girl approached, her steps light and joyful, and greeted him with a cheerful:
"Hi!"
Leonard's face flushed crimson, and he bolted from the classroom, overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions.
Their teacher, Ms. Rosaline, watched with a knowing smile and whispered softly to herself:
"I think he's found his love…"
Moments later, Leonard returned and timidly sat beside Elena.
– "Can I play with you?"
– "Of course!"
During lunch, Elena rested her head on his shoulder, smiling warmly, saying:
"It's nice to meet you."
Leonard returned the smile, though his heart was brimming with memories from a life he barely understood but deeply remembered.
When the final bell rang, the children left the classroom, leaving Leonard standing alone for a moment. Facing the sunlight streaming through the windows, he whispered softly to himself:
"I think I've found my true love again…"
End of Chapter One...