Whatever means to survive

Chapter 13

Safforina paced in her chambers, her mind spinning with the reason of Eric's arrival. She barely had time to collect her guesses when a soft knock on her door interrupted her train of thought.

"Who is it?" she called, trying to keep her voice steady.

"It's... me, Eric. Can we talk, please?"

Why is he here?!

Her heart pounded in her chest. She opened the door reluctantly, finding Eric standing there with a determined look in his eyes. She stepped aside, allowing him to enter before closing the door behind him.

"Eric, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's late and the newly found prince should be resting and not going into a lady's chambers."

Eric sighed, biting his lip as if he were about to cry. "I didn't plan this, my love. But when the opportunity arose, I couldn't stay away. I had... no, I needed to see you."

She crossed her arms, trying to maintain her composure. "You could jeopardize everything. Do you realize the risk you're putting both of us in?"

"I know," he admitted, his voice softening. "But I couldn't wait any longer. I needed to talk to you, to try and make things right."

Safforina shook her head, frustration mingling with her chest. "We ended things for a reason, Eric."

Why was he so stubborn?! Is it the dark magic? Well... I guess so since I'm here, should I bring him to Ophelina so she can cure him?

Eric took a step closer, his eyes pleading. "The reason was because of our statuses, was it not? Then it's different now! I'm royalty, and you're a high-ranking noble! It's more than perfect!"

I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. "I... I can't... I can't be with you!"

"Why not, my love?" he said quietly. "I love you and you love me... So why not?"

"Because... Of my dark magic... Eric, the reason you disappeared 3 years ago was because of me... I made you lose your memories and made you fall in love with me because of my magic..."

There, I said it, you know what? I don't care anymore, the prophecy, my death, who cares? I died once, I might as well die again.

Eric's expression hardened "Did you... Really do that?"

Her breath caught in her throat. "Yes, I'm sorry for everything I did... But now that you know you can forget about me! I read in a book that if you're away from the source of the dark magic, the spell cast upon you starts to wither away" I rambled and rambled, convincing him that there was nothing to fight about.

Please... Don't kill me... Wow, I guess I'm still scared after all...

"Does anyone know?" He responds.

What? What the fuck does he mean?

He reached out, gently taking her hand. "If no one knows then everything is fine," he plastered the biggest smile.

Is he genuinely happy? Is he insane?

Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked at her,  "I don't care if what started between us was dark magic, those three years of my life were and will be the best years of my life, do not forget, you are my savior."

He then hugged her.

WHAT. THE. FUCK?!

He squeezed the life out of her, his voice filled with love and warmth. "From this moment forward, my heart whispers its truth, and it's telling me of an unwavering love for you."

___

Three years ago, Eric visited the Illion empire, only to vanish mysteriously.

Unbeknownst to him, Safforina had orchestrated it using dark magic.

She made him lose his memories and introduced herself as his savior while manipulating him into falling in love with her.

But how did it come this way?

How did it end up with him sputtering bullshit?!