Embers of Sun and Flame (Fuegoleon Vermillion x OC)

Chapter 38 A note and an apology

Fuegoleon paced around in his room, candles and the roaring fire in the fireplace cast light, but the gentle flicker of them brought him no comfort. The soft, golden light, meant to push the approaching winter further away, made him feel no warmer. Instead, he just walked around with his gaze fixed into the distance, into nothingness. This is absurd, he told himself. She left only a few hours ago. And she will come back. She will. This is no different from me going on a mission and not being able to tell precisely when I'll come back. This is no different. This is NO different! No different. He paused, halting his steps and he gazed to the ceiling as he felt something burning rising to his eyes. His body grew weak, and it felt as if something was gnawing his insides, trying to carve him hollow as his heart clenched, spilling its tears from under the scars, left by the winding golden threads.

But... he admitted to himself as his gaze finally lowered back down, willing the collecting tears away. I miss her... He thought as he glanced over to the empty bed, knowing that he'd still sleep on his own side, wanting to spare her space, wanting to make sure that if by some miracle given by the gods, she'd return, then she would have space to rest.

Maybe reading a book would put my mind at ease... he made his way to his dresser, where a copy of the novel he had been reading was laid. But the melancholic veil still lingered over him as he grabbed the book, and settled into an armchair by the fire, thinking if he should also grab something to drink before continuing the story, but he decided against it. If he felt like it, he could always grab one later.

So, he opened the piece of literature from where his bookmark was placed, but instead of discovering only text filled pages and a marker, he found a folded piece of paper. His brows furrowed as curiosity filled him, the sadness and the sorrow subsiding for a moment as he took the article and put the book itself away.

His fingers moved over the smooth surface of the paper, which was followed by the sound of paper rustling that became more vivid than the crackling of wood in the fireplace. But the sight that unfolded before him, made his frown melt and his lips tug up into a smile, bright as the first dawn of spring time; the sight of a familiar handwriting.

"Good evening my beloved,

I take it that you wouldn't have started reading unless you were uneasy. Or bored. And I do hope that it's bored out of those two options. But. In case it isn't simply boredom: it'll be alright love. Whatever it is that's making you uneasy, it'll be alright. And I hope that I could be there for you in person, but fate isn't always as kind.

But, if anything, at least it'll make returning just that much sweeter.

And now I'm blabbering, aren't I?

Sweet dreams my love. May tomorrow be better than today.

I love you,

Solara"

And below her name there was a lipstick mark, the same tint that had decorated her lips a couple of days before.

He looked at the note, reading it a few times over and then just stared at it with a soft, tender gaze. The paper felt so fragile between his fingers, so soft and delicate that he, for a moment, feared that he might break it. But the moment passed, and he got up from his chair with an unshakable smile. He folded the piece of paper back as it had been and made his way to his dressing table.

There was a small chest on the wooden surface, one in which he stored cufflinks and earrings, various accessories that he might wear on special occasions, as well as his usual pair of earrings when he wasn't using them. He took out most of the content in the chest, rearranging it, and placed the note inside. Perfect, he thought as he watched how it fit inside, among all the other valuables.