Parting Ways

Kassim visited me the next day. Walking through the doorway, I could see he came bearing gifts: a basket full of sweet berries and a hefty-looking pouch.

"How are you feeling?" He looked concerned.

"Better than I look."

"I'm glad you have energy to joke still..." A wry smile crept across his face.

I tilted my head slightly. He seemed... despondent, like something bad had happened. I'm sure that there were some hiccups while I was out, but nothing he couldn't handle. Right?

"What's wrong? You can tell me." I asked him.

"Well..." he paused, "A lot of things happened... Good and bad."

He sighed, placing the gifts on the table next to me, sitting on the side of my bed. He sat there, silent, for a few seconds, looking at the ceiling before speaking.

"Yesterday, I was approached by Aella with an offer... A marriage offer."

"Marriage?"

"Yeah... and I plan on accepting."

"Ah..."

Now I knew why he was so hesitant. It felt like a knife had been plunged into my heart. But why? He showed a little affection here and there, but it wasn't like we were dating or lovers... so why? Why did I feel like this?

"Sern, I want you to know that I love you, and you alone. I am only doing this to secure my power."

Kassim reached out, clasping his hands around mine.

"If you would become my lover, I wou-"

I pulled my hand away. "Please leave."

I turned my head away from him. I could feel him looking at me, but I didn't want to look at him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to keep this from you." He stepped back, quietly leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

It's not his fault. It's my fault. This is something Malti told me a while ago. The throne comes before anything else; that's what she told me. What could a person like me offer compared to a person like her? I just thought I was special...

"Huh?" A tear ran down my face. I didn't think I was capable of crying over something like this.

This sucks. The first person I've ever had feelings for, and they could only take me as a lover. Maybe because of the monogamous background of my previous life, I couldn't accept it.

Worse still, I felt disgusted by myself. Like, I am so desperate for affection. Even though he has done everything for me, I can't look at him the same way. I curled up into a ball, closing my eyes as I tried to go to sleep.

***

A few hours later, I woke up. It was the middle of the night. Malti had entered the room and gone to sleep without me waking up.

"Nngh..." I quietly groaned as I sat myself up.

I looked down at the gifts he brought but didn't touch them. I started to grab my things, the bare necessities. I was leaving this place. Leaving it all behind. All these awful emotions.

Opening the door, I walked out of the room. Passing by the courtyard, the training grounds, and the dining hall, all these nostalgic memories flooded into my mind as I passed them by.

Approaching the exit, the guards let me by as I silently walked past them. Walking down the dark road, the villa began to grow more and more distant.

"Leaving without even saying goodbye?" A voice asked from behind me.

I swiveled around to see Malti standing there with a grin on her face.

"You came to lecture me?" I sniffed.

"Why are you being so dramatic? You knew this was going to happen."

I was already sad and angry, but now I was seething. I leaped onto her, balling up my fist and slamming it down like a hammer. I was in pain while doing this, but I didn't care. Saying all that to me when I'm at my lowest point? Really?

I kept hitting her until I was panting, out of breath.

"You done?" Malti sat up, wiping her face.

"You know, he really does love you."

From behind her, she pulled out a small letter and the pouch Kassim brought to me earlier. Reaching out, I grabbed the letter, opening it.

Dear Sern-

We have been on quite the journey, haven't we? From meeting you all those years ago to now, where you helped me become king. It's still hard to believe we did it, right? Well... what I want to say is that I love you... And I'm sorry.

I know that what I am choosing to do is completely selfish, and you have every reason to leave, but I want you to know that I will cherish the memories we made together, and you will always be in my heart and mind.

I hope we can meet again one day.

Sincerely,
Kos Kassim

Tears began to roll down my cheeks as I dropped my hands to my sides. Malti walked up, hugging me close. We stayed like this for a few minutes.

After I was done, she handed me the pouch. Looking inside, there were dozens of gold coins, a small fortune's worth.

Malti rubbed my head. "Kassim is pretty thoughtful even though he is insufferable, right?"

I nodded.

"Well," she paused, "what are you going to do now?"

"I'll travel back to Llanes to look for my father, although I probably know what happened to him already..." I said in a somber tone.

"Maybe you should go to the Western Continent, Nok. Kassim said there isn't any demon persecution and they're known for their magic."

"Okay, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you... for everything." I turned to walk away.

"Wait," Malti called out, "I'm coming with you."

"Huh?"

"I'm worried about leaving you alone." She smiled.

"What abo-" I was cut off.

"Kassim probably wants me to go with you."

I stood, staring, then smiled.

"Well then... let's start going."