Hello dear readers ♥
The previous chapter was full of surprises 🤭
But this chapter holds an even bigger one ❄🦋🤯
And now, I leave you to enjoy reading 💙
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After Elena lost consciousness…
Kyle carried her in his arms, tension and fear etched on his face, as Elena's body was extremely cold, her face covered in frost, and her breaths came in short, broken bursts, like wind passing through ice.
He pulled her close to his chest, releasing his full power, sending out a warm golden aura, like sunlight itself, which quickly melted the ice around them. With every step he took, the frost disappeared. His hair fell over his eyes, which began to shed tears like a rainy sky. With a trembling, almost inaudible voice, he whispered:
"Elena… please open your eyes again… don't leave me…"
The moment was interrupted by a knock at the door, and a man with black hair and sky-blue eyes entered.
"Your Highness, the prince, you need rest; you haven't slept in a week."
Kyle looked at him, his face exhausted, and his golden eyes dimmed.
"How can I rest when Elena hasn't woken up yet?"
The servant bowed and left, knowing it was impossible to make Kyle rest.
.
.
Meanwhile, Elena was somewhere entirely different…
Elena…
She was crouched, surrounded by darkness like a cold cloak, speaking in an indifferent tone:
"This place is better. No one can hurt me or hate me. I don't want to wake up. No one is waiting for me anyway…"
Her words were interrupted by a faint, desperate voice:
"Elena… please wake up… don't leave me…"
She looked up, a small smile breaking through the coldness on her face.
"It seems I forgot about this prince… who cares about me?"
Elena opened her eyes to find herself in an unfamiliar place. Warm tears touched her hands, melting the remaining ice around her, and she saw Kyle holding her hand tightly, tears streaming from his eyes like raindrops.
Elena gently patted his head with a soft smile, her voice tender and calm:
"Your Highness, the prince… you've returned."
Kyle lifted his head, unable to believe she had opened her eyes again. Without realizing it, he hugged her tightly, crying tears of joy.
"Elena… you finally woke up… I missed you so much… I was afraid I'd never see you again."
Elena smiled warmly, gently patting his head. In a tender voice she said:
"And where would I go while being your personal guardian?"
.
After Kyle calmed down a little, he sat on the bed near Elena, holding her hand, his face radiating trust:
"Elena, I won't ask you what happened, but know that I'm always here. You can rely on me anytime and tell me your problems. You don't have to bear these burdens alone."
Elena gave a small smile but quickly hid it under her cold facade. She asked in a cold tone:
"May I ask, Your Highness, why are you doing all this for me?"
Kyle smiled faintly, took a deep breath, and knelt down, holding her hand.
With a voice blending love and gentleness, he said:
"I wished the moment were more romantic when I told you, but I believe now is the right time. And I think you already know…
I am Kyle Aristal. I swear on my life and blood to bring back your smile, to melt the ice around your heart, to turn you from a frozen blue flower into a flower under sunlight at any cost, even if that cost is my life itself.
And I swear I will punish anyone who threatens you, even if that someone is me. So, Elena Valdrin… you who stole my heart… will you grant me the honor of trying to win your heart and melt your ice with my sun?"
Elena's face turned red, her heart pounding. She had known he had feelings for her, but hearing him say it directly made her nervous. Even she, who always controlled her expressions, couldn't hide them now.
She took a deep breath, words stuck in her throat, her heart torn between fear and trust. Finally, she placed her hand on his and looked at him with a mix of regret and a small sad smile, hiding the scars of broken trust:
"Your Highness… it is truly an honor that you have feelings for me, but I prefer to remain as I am… a frozen flower. That way, no one can hurt me. Unlike a flower under sunlight, which can be trampled easily. But I apologize for not returning the same feelings."
She lowered her face, sad for hurting his feelings, but was surprised when he held her cheeks in his hands, making their eyes meet.
"Don't feel sorry for me… Let me tell you this: you will be a flower under my sun, and no one will dare touch you again… except over my dead body. I only ask… give me a chance to melt this ice."
Then he kissed her hand, looking straight into her eyes, a faint blush on his cheeks. "So, you who stole my heart… will you give me a chance to win your heart too?"
Silence fell for a few moments until Elena blushed deeply and, in a low, hesitant tone, said:
"Alright… I'll give you a chance… to make me fall in love with you."
Kyle's eyes lit up with shock, unable to believe what he heard. He stood up, his face full of triumph and joy, then rushed out of the room to spread the news throughout the palace.
Elena whispered softly, almost inaudibly, with a small smile:
"No need for that… it seems I've already fallen."
.
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A few days later…
Elena, now brighter than ever, stood training the knights. The ice that once surrounded her heart began slowly melting.
In her knight uniform, her short hair tied with a black ribbon, she raised her sword over her shoulder. A white cloth was placed on her head by someone from behind.
The blue-haired girl adjusted the cloth, hiding her blushing face, and in a serious tone said:
"What are you doing here, Your Highness?"
Kyle smiled, holding a bouquet of blue flowers, offering them to her.
"I came to ask you to go out with me to the city."
The knights' eyes widened, instantly realizing Kyle's feelings for Elena. They felt sorry for him, expecting rejection from the "Ice Flower" who freezes every man who approaches her. But what shocked them even more was Elena's red cheeks.
Elena took the bouquet and hid her face completely with the cloth, whispering almost inaudibly:
"Alright… but after I finish training the knights."
Kyle smiled and nodded, bowing to kiss her hand.
"Of course, my flower… I'll wait until you're done."
The knights were stunned, until one accidentally said:
"It seems the ice around the leader's heart is melting."
Elena's face turned from embarrassed to angry:
"You won't finish training until you complete another hundred rounds."
The knights looked at Kyle pleadingly:
"Your Highness… save us…"
Kyle burst out laughing:
"I'm happy my blue flower opened her heart only to me. Even when she's angry, she's still kind. But I apologize, I won't show mercy to anyone who disturbs my flower."
The knights grumbled, but Elena's angry look made everyone run to finish their training.
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Time passed quickly until the sun set…
Kyle, golden hair fluttering in the cold wind, stood on a bridge overlooking the river, waiting for his blue flower.
His solitude was interrupted by Elena arriving, panting from running. She adjusted her scattered hair.
"Sorry for being late, Your Highness… training ran longer than I realized."
Kyle approached, wiping her face with a handkerchief, smiling gently:
"No need to apologize. I know how busy you are, and I just arrived myself."
A small smile appeared on Elena's lips, her cheeks blushing as Kyle approached.
He took her hand, and they went to the city together.
The city was crowded for a big festival. They wandered around, tasted many foods, and watched a play about the founding legend.
After the day ended, they sat in a small garden under the moonlight. Kyle looked at the full moon:
"Elena, did you enjoy today?"
She smiled and looked at the moon as well:
"Of course, Your Highness. Thank you for this day… Do you know? It's the first time I noticed how beautiful the full moon is. I always hated it because of that day's memory."
Kyle held her hand, his eyes full of determination:
"I swear, Elena, I will replace all your painful memories with happy ones."
Elena smiled; she was truly happy someone cared for her.
.
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In the royal carriage on the way back…
Elena dozed on Kyle's shoulder, dreaming of distant memories.
A girl with long brown hair, covered in blood, approached her with a wide smile:
"It seems you've started trusting people again. Didn't I tell you they always have hidden motives? If those close to you betray you, won't strangers? Let me give you some advice: trust no one again."
Elena woke at Kyle's call, seeing fear and worry replacing his usual confidence:
"Elena, are you alright? You seemed to be having a nightmare."
She held his hand to reassure him:
"I'm fine, Your Highness. Thank you for worrying about me."
Kyle took a deep breath to calm down.
Soon they reached the Duke's palace. Elena stepped out of the carriage, a faint sad smile on her face:
"Thank you for today, Your Highness. Good night."
Kyle noticed her sadness but didn't ask about her dream, not wanting to hurt her:
"No need to thank me. If you want, we can go out every day. Good night to you too."
Elena smiled falsely:
"No need, Your Highness. We both have many duties."
She went to her palace, muttering almost inaudibly:
"Maybe she was right… I can't trust him, even if it's real for me. I don't know when he might change."
The ice around her heart seemed to begin forming again…