✿︎𝐅𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬, 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞✿︎

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐧𝐞: 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦

The sun was setting over Hyrule, casting a warm, amber glow that seemed to soften the rugged landscape. The fields beyond the village stretched out endlessly, painted gold by the fading light. She stood at the village edge, waiting, her heart caught between the thrill of his arrival and the ache she tried to suppress.

Every few days, Link—the Hero of Hyrule—would ride through the village, checking in after another battle, another mission. He was a figure of myth and legend, yet somehow, he was here, real and tangible, just a glance away. She often wondered what it must be like to walk beside him, to share his path, to be worthy of even a fraction of his attention.

But [Y/n] was simply one face in a crowd, a girl he might not even remember.

Even so, each sight of him sent warmth surging through her chest, like a spark catching in dry wood. She clutched her hands tightly, willing her heart to quiet. It’s foolish, she told herself. You’ll only hurt yourself.

Yet, the pain was oddly addictive, as if the ache itself was proof of her heart’s devotion, of love too intense to ignore. [Y/n] took a deep breath, letting the air calm her fluttering thoughts, just as she spotted him in the distance.

Link was riding slowly, his gaze scanning the village as if taking in every detail. He looked as he always did—quietly noble, his blue eyes deep and clear, a face carved by courage yet softened by kindness. It was easy to imagine him as a figure from one of Hyrule’s ancient tales, a hero bound to his fate, his heart belonging not to one person but to the kingdom itself.

As he drew closer, [Y/n] felt her heart pick up its pace, her cheeks warming. She forced herself to meet his eyes, swallowing the nervous tremor that threatened to spill over.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice a gentle surprise that broke the quiet evening air. He was closer than she’d realized, his eyes settled on her with genuine warmth and concern.

“Oh, yes! I’m... I’m fine," she managed, her voice faint and unsteady.

He nodded, offering a small, gentle smile. For a moment, he lingered, his gaze holding hers in a way that made her heart swell, almost painfully. [Y/n] could feel the air around her pulse with something heavy, something unspoken. She wanted to say something—anything—but the words felt caught in her throat, trapped by the fear of letting her feelings slip free.

Then his expression softened, his gaze drifting past her, towards the castle in the distance. The warmth in his eyes deepened, his posture shifting as if drawn by a gravity stronger than any other.

“Princess Zelda...” he murmured, his voice carrying a tenderness she hadn’t heard before.

[Y/n]'s heart sank. The name was like a cold wind, brushing away her warmth and leaving her exposed. She had always known, deep down, that his loyalty, his devotion, would forever belong to the princess. Zelda was more than a ruler to him—she was his destiny, the other half of the legend that bound them both.

She managed a smile, hoping he couldn’t see the sorrow slipping through the cracks of her mask. “She’s lucky to have you,” she whispered, almost to herself.

His gaze returned to her, a flicker of surprise passing over his face. He nodded, his eyes distant yet grateful, as if she had spoken a truth he had felt but never said aloud. With a final nod, he turned, his footsteps carrying him away with that same effortless grace.

As he disappeared from view, she felt an emptiness settle over her, like a shadow filling the space he left behind. The hope she’d clung to, fragile as it was, began to crumble, its edges worn and fraying.

A strange tightness took root in her chest, a soft, almost ticklish ache. She pressed her hand to her heart, confusion mingling with the pain. She tried to swallow it down, but it only seemed to grow, filling her with an uncomfortable warmth.

And then she coughed—a sudden, dry sound that left her breathless. She pressed her hand to her lips, feeling something soft brush against her fingers. When she pulled her hand away, a pale, delicate petal rested in her palm, its edges tinged with pink.

Her heart froze as she stared at it, horror creeping over her. She had heard of this before, whispered in tales of old: Hanahaki Disease. A curse born from unrequited love, it grew from a heart filled with feelings that could never be returned, sprouting flowers within the lungs and heart until it consumed the victim from within. The only cure was to let go of the love or… die with it.

The petal slipped from her fingers, floating to the ground. This can’t be happening. Her mind raced, desperate for any other explanation. But the ache only grew, like roots digging deeper, entwining with her heartbeat. She could feel the sadness blooming, every unspoken hope and foolish daydream giving life to a flower that would ultimately take her breath away.

The villagers moved around her, their lives carrying on as if nothing had changed. She was invisible here, her pain unnoticed. She picked up the petal, slipping it into her pocket, a token of the love she couldn’t let go of, the love that would be her undoing.

As she turned to walk home, she glanced back, hoping for one last glimpse of him. But he was gone, his figure blending into the shadows cast by the castle walls. It was fitting, she thought, that the hero belonged there, bound to his duty and his destiny, while she remained here, lost in the silence of unspoken words and fading hopes.

The tightness in her chest flared again, and she coughed, another petal slipping free. This time, it was a shade deeper, vibrant and full of life—a mockery of the empty, aching space it grew from.

She closed her eyes, a single tear slipping down her cheek. In a world filled with heroes and legends, she had never thought her own fate would twist into something so tragic, so quietly painful. Yet here she was, bound by her love for a hero whose heart was promised to another.

With each petal that fell, she knew that this was only the beginning.