𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐒𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄

5 ✧ New Memories

"You remembered him."

Mayari's thoughts were interrupted by the prince. She turned to see him wearing a grim expression. Realisation hit her.

"Y-Yeah, I only remembered him the moment I saw him," she answered meekly. "I can't really explain it but it's like the memories rushed into me when he came in."

His frown deepened. A sense of anguish seemed to overwhelm his eyes. The grip he had on her hand tightened, trembling lightly.

She pursed her lips, feeling the guilt eat away at her. Regef may be a sadistic man with violent tendencies; but at the end of the day, he's just a product of the environment he grew up in. The deprivation of love and the fear of losing everything instilled onto the mind of a young child. It all led him to become the way he was. She couldn't find it in herself to hate him, not when she knew what he's been through and what he truly needed.

Her other hand reached to place itself over his cheek. Mayari leaned in close to him, ignoring the slight discomfort of being so close to someone. "You know, I may not remember you, but I'll always be grateful for how kind you've treated me since I've woken up," she told him, smiling sweetly. "Even without my old memories, I'd like to make new ones with you, Regef. Just the two of us together."

His eyes fluttered shut, giving her a clearer view of his long eyelashes. Wow, she always thought eyelashes in the manhwa's artstyle were pretty but getting to see it up close like this felt like a whole new level.

"You were always the light in my dark world, Mayari," he whispered. His free hand grasped her hand on his cheek, melting into her touch. "That is why I cannot let you go."

He opened his eyes, letting her gaze into his sapphire irises, shimmering like the light reflecting off a clear ocean. "Promise me you won't."

A flurry of emotions struck her when he said those words. She could see herself in him at that very moment. The fear of abandonment was something she found herself weak to, knowing the intense pain of it due to her condition. She knew full well this wasn't healthy, that this was wrong. Yet she could not bring herself to refuse as she stared back at him.

"I won't."

That should be a vague enough answer that he could take however he wanted, right? It could either be heard as her saying she won't leave, or that she wouldn't make that promise.

His whole demeanor softened, brightening as soon as the words came out of her lips. He smiled with a radiance that rivaled the sun. "Good."

After that, Regef led her to the stables. He had her wait for a moment while he spoke to the stable hand. She merely looked around, assessing her surroundings. Everything looked way bigger now that she was within the manhwa's world. The scent of dewy grass entered her nostrils pleasantly; serenity spread throughout her body at this. Maybe being trapped in this world won't be too bad, especially since she's in the body of someone with power and influence. She had a better chance at helping more people like this.

The sounds of hooves clicking against the ground alerted her and she turned around to see Regef leading a horse to her.

She gaped at the sight of the majestic white horse, the kind she's only ever imagined within fairytale daydreams as a child. "Oh my, what a beautiful horse," she whispered, absentmindedly running her hands through its mane. Surprisingly, it didn't seem to mind her touch. It seemed like the horse was quite familiar with her.

"Blanc has missed you quite a lot," Regef said, smiling tenderly at her.

"Really?" Mayari's eyes widened, glancing back at it.