Elena opened her eyes, only to find that familiar white ceiling.
She tried to raise her hand, but found Mary holding it while she slept beside her.
She sat up slightly, feeling a light heaviness in her body, until she remembered what had happened. Her hands began to tremble, and confusion spread across her face.
But Mary's sudden scream woke her.
"My lady… you're awake…!"
She quickly hugged Elena, crying bitterly.
Elena returned the embrace, trying to calm her down. After Mary finally settled, Elena gently pulled away, a small smile appearing on her pale face as she whispered in a tired voice:
"Mary… thank you for worrying about me…
But what matters now… what happened to the First Prince?"
Mary's expression darkened. She looked down at the floor, her face filled with worry and sorrow.
"My lady… I'm sorry… but His Highness has been in a coma for a month now and hasn't woken up yet. The doctors believe that his chances of survival… are very low."
Elena began to tremble. Sweat poured down her face, her heartbeat raced, and tears streamed down without her realizing it.
Moments later, she left her duchy, mounted her black horse, and headed toward the Imperial Palace at full speed. Her hair flew wildly with the cold wind beneath a sky heavy with clouds, as if holding back a fierce storm.
After an hour of nonstop riding, Elena finally arrived. She stood before Kyle's palace for a moment, her breath ragged and her heart pounding in fear. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself—but it was useless. She burst into tears again and ran toward the palace.
She didn't wait for the guards to open the gates. She leapt over the wall, her hand injured by the surrounding thorns, the edges of her white coat torn in the process.
She ran at full speed until she reached Kyle's room. She opened the door, unable to catch her breath from running.
Elena bowed.
She saw Prince Louis sitting beside Kyle, holding his hand. Kyle's face had grown noticeably thinner. The face that always carried a hopeful smile now looked like a body without a soul.
Louis seemed to be telling him something, but he stopped when he noticed Elena standing there, struggling to breathe, her hair disheveled and blood dripping from her hands.
Elena bowed to him again, her voice trembling and barely audible.
"Elena Valdrin greets His Highness, the Second Prince."
Louis smiled faintly, hiding his fear for his younger brother. He ran a hand through his golden hair and spoke calmly:
"How are you, Duchess?
I heard you woke up today… yet you still came to see my brother.
Thank you for your devotion."
Louis stood up, giving her space.
Elena lowered her head in guilt, tears falling onto the floor.
"I did nothing…
I am the reason the prince is in this state…
If it weren't for me—"
She broke down, crying loudly, wiping her endless tears.
Louis approached her, gently patting her head with a reassuring smile.
"There's no need to blame yourself.
This was my brother's choice.
And I'm glad to see the Ice Duchess crying so bitterly for him."
Louis left the room.
Elena approached Kyle, sat on the floor, holding his hands and pressing them to her forehead, her voice shaking.
"Your Highness…
Wake up… don't lie to me… keep your promise…"
Silence filled the room. She tried to control herself, but her sobs returned, breaking the quiet.
"I can't smile… in a world without you…"
Her words were cut off by a warm hand gently patting her head—just like always—and that familiar voice she had longed for.
"I'm happy…
That you're worried about me…
But there's no need to worry…
I always keep my promises…"
Before he could finish, Elena hugged him tightly, crying—this time tears of joy.
"You idiot prince…
You worried me so much…
Welcome back… Kyle…"
Kyle was shocked by her reaction, but quickly returned the embrace, gently patting her head until she calmed down.
He then pulled her back slightly and noticed her injured hand. He grabbed it quickly, looking at her with mixed happiness and concern.
"Elena… I'm happy the first person I saw when I woke up was you.
But you don't need to put yourself in danger for me.
I'm not that important to you…"
He paused, his eyes filling with sadness.
"That might make me misunderstand…
That I'm someone special to you…"
Elena stood up, trying to hold back her tears. Her eyes wavered between anger and despair before she shouted—her voice loud, yet filled with sorrow.
"And now you're worried about me, you idiot?!
These wounds are nothing compared to what happened to you!
You almost died saving me, you fool!"
She grabbed him by the collar, shock clearly written on his face—he had never seen her this emotional.
"And now what? You don't want to misunderstand?
Who's the idiot now?!
Of course you're important to me, you fool!
You're the one who melted the ice around my heart…
I love you, you idiot!"
A deep silence filled the room.
Kyle's face turned red, his eyes widening in shock. She had confessed without realizing it. He looked at her with sparkling eyes, tears of joy almost falling.
After calming himself, he broke the awkward silence with his gentle voice.
"Elena… do you truly mean what you just said?"
Elena froze, her cheeks burning red, her heartbeat loud in her ears.
She looked away shyly and whispered:
"Of course… what kind of fool confesses to a man she doesn't love…?"
Kyle smiled brightly, cupped her face, and rested his forehead against hers, speaking softly.
"I'm extremely happy to hear that…
My flower…"
After some time…
Elena sat leaning back against Kyle, her head resting against his. The pinkish sunset light bathed them as she ran her fingers through her messy hair. Kyle sat behind her, a wide smile on his face.
They heard Elena sigh.
"I think it's time… to unlock the chain around my heart, filled with secrets.
Everything began ten years ago…
The day my father was killed…"
She closed her eyes, a nostalgic smile mixed with sorrow on her lips as her memories resurfaced.
"My mother was killed by an assassin when I was five.
My father and my brother Sid searched endlessly for the one behind it.
Despite that, they never stopped showing me love.
They were my entire world…"
She sighed softly, leaning her head against Kyle's shoulder, trying to hide her tears.
"Two years later…
On my seventh birthday… my father brought his friend's daughter, who was my age, so we could be friends…"
Kyle looked at her worriedly.
"Don't tell me… it was—"
Elena nodded, holding his hand.
"Yes… my first and last friend.
Rosaline Safrial."
She continued with a sad smile.
"Rose was the most precious person to me after my father and brother…
But she began growing cold after the Marquis Safrial incident.
I understood her pain… losing someone dear is unbearable.
Things stayed that way… until that cursed day…"
Her voice sharpened, mixed with anger and sorrow.
"It was after I graduated early from the Knight Academy.
When I returned to the palace, everything was eerily quiet.
No servants in sight.
I ran to my father's room… and froze in horror.
Sidric was driving his sword into my father's chest.
Blood covered them both.
Sidric's face was drenched in our father's blood, tears streaming down his eyes.
But what shocked me most… was Rosaline standing there, covered in blood, smiling at me as she whispered:
'This is all because of you…
You're the one who killed your father and brother.'"
Sidric turned toward Elena, shocked to see her. He hadn't noticed her enter, lost in his thoughts.
Elena ran to her father, crying, holding him as he lay dying.
He smiled warmly through his tears and whispered with difficulty:
"Sid… Eli… forgive me…
I couldn't protect you… my little ones…"
Those were his last words.
She looked at her brother through her tears.
"Sid… Rose… why… why did you do this…?"
Rosaline said nothing.
Sidric bit his lip, looking at her with regret and longing.
"You don't need to know the reason, sister.
I'm just waiting for you to come and take revenge on me…
Goodbye, Elena…"
The Present
Kyle hugged Elena, resting his head on her shoulder, giving her space to release everything she had been holding inside.
He gently patted her head, smiling sadly.
"You can cry… let it all out.
I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me.
Be angry at me if you want…"
At those words, all the ice Elena had built after that tragedy melted away.
She finally released all her buried emotions… through sobs and tears.