𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 (𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝)

29. The Forgotten Mission

A week later, the atmosphere in the palace shifted. Aiore had been making every effort to compensate for the time he had missed with Arielle during her first two months of pregnancy. Each moment he spent away from her felt like an eternity, and he couldn't bear the thought of being apart again. Although he had important work to complete, he managed to finish his tasks as quickly as possible, rushing to her side whenever he could.

One evening, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the room, Aiore entered with a plate of food in hand. Arielle was sitting on the couch, her expression distant and somewhat forlorn.

"The maid told me you aren't eating properly. You have to eat a lot, okay?" Aiore tried to coax her, concern evident in his voice. "See I brought you some delicious food."

Arielle shook her head stubbornly, her brows knitted together. "I'm not hungry."

A deep sigh escaped Aiore's lips as he set the plate down on the small table beside her. He had noticed her reluctance to eat, a worrying trend that had persisted for days. "You need to eat for both you and our baby," he insisted gently, taking a seat beside her.

As she remained resolute, Aiore took the initiative and picked up a spoonful of food. "Come on, just one bite," he encouraged, his voice softening.

To his surprise, this time, Arielle couldn't refuse him. He fed her slowly, watching as her lips parted to accept the food. A flicker of happiness danced in his chest when he saw a small smile appear on her lips.

"See? Isn't that better?" he smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.

Arielle smiled back, her eyes sparkling as her mind wandered elsewhere. "What are you thinking?" Aiore asked, his tone tender and curious.

She shook her head slightly, hiding her face in her hands. "Oh, nothing," she murmured, but Aiore could see her cheeks flush red.

"Come on," he pressed, his lips pursing playfully. "You have to tell me."

"Fine," she relented, rolling her eyes but unable to hide the smile tugging at her lips. "I was just thinking how much you've changed. In the past, it was me who had to feed you."

Aiore chuckled, taking a moment to reflect. "True, true. At that time, I refused to eat on purpose so you'd feed me."

Arielle hit his chest lightly. "So naughty."

"Mmm, mmm. Naughty for you." He tried to feed her another spoon but she looked away, making him give her a whole lecture of why she had to eat a lot.

"Shut up!" She pouted, feeling annoyed. "Doesn't your mouth hurt?"

Aiore shook his head with a smile, still feeding her another spoonful. "I became talkative thanks to my fiancée. What to do. There's no turning back now."

Arielle giggled softly, her heart swelling at his words. "You're becoming a parrot," she teased, playfully nudging him with her elbow.

"Only because of your influence," he laughed, suddenly leaning his head against her lap, catching her off guard. The weight of his head was comforting, and Arielle instinctively began to stroke his hair, her eyes filled with love and warmth. Aiore closed his eyes, relishing her gentle touch as he settled more comfortably against her.

"You know what?" she began, her voice a soft whisper. "The palace is so busy with our wedding..."

Aiore nodded, his attention fully captured. Their wedding was only a few days away, and excitement mixed with nerves fluttered in his stomach. "Hmm?" he encouraged her to continue as he sat properly, looking into her eyes calmly.

"But we still didn't..." Arielle hesitated, biting her bottom lip nervously, playing with her fingers.

"What?" Aiore prompted, confusion washing over his features. "We are already expecting a child. I can't do anything about you not remembering anything about that night."

Arielle felt a rush of embarrassment at his words, her cheeks turning a shade of crimson. "I remember that night! I'm not talking about it, idiot!" She pinched his arm playfully, puffing her cheeks in annoyance.

"Okay, nevermind, I'll take the initiative myself," Arielle straightened her back, and turned to him with a radiant smile, cupping his cheeks in her small hands. "Aiore, I love you. I love you so, so, sooo much."

Aiore's heart soared at her declaration. A smile broke across his face, but his eyes held a complexity of emotions-joy, disbelief, and a hint of vulnerability. "I love you too," he responded earnestly, "so much that I can't explain it with words."

He could hardly believe that he deserved her love, but those words slipped out of him easily, as if he were affirming something he had known all along.

As he gazed into her eyes, Aiore felt the distance between them shrink, the world around them fading away. He gently pulled her face closer to his by the back of her head, his heart pounding in anticipation. Arielle closed her eyes, ready for the kiss she had yearned for, and he felt himself lean in.

Just as their lips were about to meet, Arielle's eyes fluttered shut, and her body went limp. She passed out in his arms, her weight pulling him back into reality.

"Arielle!" Aiore exclaimed, panic flooding his senses. He quickly caught her and lowered her gently onto the couch. His heart raced as he assessed her. She looked peaceful, but the suddenness of her unconsciousness worried him deeply.

As she drifted into the darkness, the familiar voice of the system echoed in her mind, breaking through the haze. "Congratulations, Su Mi! You successfully finished your mission."