Her Rebirth.

Amelia felt elated, to say the least.

This was the first time she didn’t feel like a passenger in her younger self’s body, and this was furthered by the fact that the young man she had been speaking to all this while was also named Kai.

Did he have some connection to her Kai?

Thinking about Kai, she suddenly became very melancholic. She missed him so very much, and she couldn’t help but wonder how he felt currently.

She had thought about it so many times; if she was dead in her own body, if this was merely a dream, or if she was in a coma and Kai was by her side.

Her throat tightened painfully. She hated this part of her life.

She wanted to go back. She didn’t wish to relive this part of her life, but as much as she wished for it, that was the only thing she could do—wish so desperately and pray, if there was a God up there, to take her back.

"Ughhh, so annoying," the girl slammed down her book in annoyance.

Her thoughts had been enveloped by the thought of Kai, and she was finding it really hard to concentrate on the book. It was hard to find someone with the same interests as her, not that there weren’t any, just that many weren’t vocal about it.

Besides, she really enjoyed the discussion with him.

If only they could become friends, then that would be good.

A knock on the door startled her.

"Lady Amelia," a soft voice called. It was one of her maids. "Prince Aldric is here. He asks to see you."

Amelia could feel her body’s heart skip before she could stop it.

Of course it would react this way. Stupid, foolish heart. She exhaled, gathering herself.

"Tell him to wait. I’ll be with him shortly."

The maid bowed and left. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The girl went still for a moment, her hand pressed to her chest. I’m still angry with him. He doesn’t deserve to waltz in and out like this. But even as she repeated those words in her head, she knew she still loved him. Deeply. Madly. And pathetically so.

"Yes, you were foolishly and pathetically in love with him," Amelia, the observer, mused with a hint of mockery.

She didn’t want to watch this anymore, but she didn’t have any choice but to watch as her maids quickly dressed her in a yellow gown, styled her hair, and decorated her ears with pearl drop earrings. Once they were done, she walked out of her room and down the stairs, almost too quickly than she should have.

Then she saw him. He was dressed in navy and silver, his cape fluttering faintly in the breeze. His hair was slicked back, his expression unreadable, except for the way his eyes seemed to soften the moment he saw her.

"Amelia," he breathed, walking toward her.

She looked at him coldly, then offered a curt nod.

"I missed you," he said in a low and tentative voice.

Her eyelids drooped, but she didn’t respond, seemingly waiting for him to continue.

Aldric, seeing she refused to respond, hesitated. "Are you... still angry with me?"

The girl scoffed, raising her brow. "How could I be? How could I ever get angry with His Highness?"

A wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips, the kind that used to make her chest flutter. It still did. Amelia felt it, and she so despised it.

"You are still angry, aren’t you?" he then added with a small sigh. "Then I do hope I’ll be able to make it up to you."

He extended a hand toward her.

For a heartbeat, she just stared at it. Then, reluctantly, she fully walked down the stairs, now standing face to face with him, and then placed hers in his. It felt warm, like it always had.

Without a word, he led her to the luxurious carriage waiting outside the Volemont mansion. She climbed in beside him, the silence between them stretching but not uncomfortable.

They arrived at the palace just as the sky turned a dusky pink. He led her through the corridors, avoiding the main halls and the curious gazes of courtiers, until they emerged into the royal gardens. It was blooming with white roses and delicate peonies. Beneath a flowering pergola stood a table dressed in white silk, set with fine china and crystal goblets. A soft breeze carried the scent of roses and freshly baked pastries.

Amelia blinked in surprise. "What is this?"

"A peace offering," Aldric said simply.

They sat across from each other. The food was exquisite, but she barely tasted it, too aware of his gaze on her, of how easily he still affected her.

When the plates were cleared and only dessert remained, he stood and walked behind her.

"Close your eyes," he murmured.

"Why?" she asked, clearly unwilling, with a hint of curiosity.

She hesitated but obeyed.

She felt the light brush of his fingers against her neck, then the soft weight of something cold and metallic. A delicate click sounded as the clasp settled.

"You can open them now."

She lifted her fingers to touch it around her neck. It was a simple, elegant chain with a small gem in the shape of a tear. It shimmered faintly in the light.

"I’m sorry," he said quietly. "Okay? Please forgive me, Amelia."

Amelia swallowed hard, her thumb brushing over the gem. Her chest ached with conflicting emotions; anger, longing, love, fear.

She didn’t know if she was ready to forgive him.

But she also didn’t know how to stop loving him.

"All right, Your Highness, I forgive you."

Aldric’s face beamed into a wide smile. "Really?! You do forgive me?"

Amelia smiled warmly at him. "Yeah, I really do forgive you," she answered, and her eyes fell back to the necklace.

She had forgiven him.

But why was she feeling a nagging sensation in her chest?

Had she made a mistake?