Forbidden Love; Its The Best Kind (Link x Reader)

|| Chapter 51 || Being Honest

For the first time since their stay, it had rained. The storm raged on outside the safety of the castle, flashes of lightening lighting up the gloomy sky before being followed by a loud crash of thunder shortly afterwards. Oddly enough, it was, in a way, comforting for some.

Liam stood near one of the hallway windows, watching the small water droplets hit the glass, creating a steady rhythm. The longer he listened, the more it sounded like music to his ears. No matter how different Anicetus was from home, it still rained in the same way that created a calming effect. It was relaxing for once.

Footsteps alerted him of a new presence, causing him to turn his head to the side and spot (Y/n) walking towards him, a shy smile tugging at her lips," sorry. I've been looking for you all over."

"Right, I-I thought I'd walk around a bit before dinner," he rubbed the back of his neck.

(y/n) nodded, stopping at his side and gazing out the window as well. Minutes of silence passed until either spoke. She was the first to," have you been doing okay?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Inside, he prayed she wouldn't bring up the topic of Amadahy. He had no clue how long he could keep lying to her face.

"I don't know. We haven't talked a lot since you've gotten here and when we do, you always seem...distant. I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay," at first, she chuckled awkwardly, however, a frown made its way on her lips as she almost whispered," we're still good, right? We're still friends and all."

"Of course," Liam was quick to answer," things are just so different now is all...I guess I'm just trying to adjust."

"Different how?"

The former knight's cheeks brightened, directing his eyes away," well, we're no longer in Amadahy, you ran away from being a princess, I ran away from being a knight-we have new friends, you have a lover, I-"

He cut himself off, thanking his lucky star (y/n) didn't dwell on the last part as much.

"Yeah, things have changed a lot and it is hard to get used to, isn't it?" She sighed, touching his shoulder so he'd look at her," look, I'm really sorry I've gotten you dragged up into this. I've gotten everyone dragged into it and-"

"-Don't, please," Liam placed a hand on hers, giving it a gentle squeeze, which caused her to look up at him and meet his eyes," you can't blame yourself. We've all chosen a part of this path."

(Y/n) let there be another short pause, whispering quietly," can I be completely honest with you, and you with me?"

"Always, milady."

"...Do you think it's a good thing I've made all the choices I have up until now? Or have I been too selfish?" She didn't give him a chance to answer right away as she turned to the window, staring at the rain outside," because I sometimes worry I have. I've had time to think here and I fear I could've done something different. I could've done something more for the good of everyone instead of myself."

Liam hesitated, looking out the window then back at (Y/n)," be honest."

"I will."

"Do you regret any of this?" He asked, earning her full attention as he went on," if I said you did screw up, or if you were convinced you had, would you go back home? Because doing so, you'd abandon a life with Link; the life you want. You have to ask yourself 'was this all worth it?'."

(Y/n) stared at him, thinking only for a second," honestly: no, I don't regret this altogether. I do, however, regret my whole stunt of trying to make Hylians equal. I think that's the choice that screwed us over. I should've spent more time on it. Maybe then Brooke would be alive and my family, perhaps, wouldn't have such a harsh view on Link."

"You wanted Hylians to be equal and that's not selfish, therefore, to answer your question, I don't think any of it was. You want happiness as does Link, all the Hylians, all our own people...everyone does. You can't blame yourself for something everyone wants and has tried to get. If anything, you blame the world for being unfair; never yourself."

(Y/n) took in his words, closing her eyes," thank you, Liam."

Liam hummed, letting his eyes drift outside and watching how the rain hit the window and ran down in a swirling way," have you told Link or Aeshia how you feel about this or am I the only one?"

"Like I said, I don't regret this altogether. I don't regret leaving it all for him and I don't want him to get that idea...And I needed the advice of a close friend above anything else."

He nodded, glancing to her with a smile," well, I'm glad then. I may not be your knight anymore, but at least I can still be of help in some way."

The two watched the rain together in silence, although, it was a comfortable one. Every so often, Liam looked to the former princess in the corner of his eyes, thinking of their conversation.

He was still hurt by the simple word 'friend' yet it somehow didn't burn the same exact way it had. When he looked at her, he felt sad. Not necessarily heartbroken the way he had once before.

"We should probably get down to the dining hall. Aeshia said they're serving Anicetus specialties," (Y/n) broke the silence, facing him with a smile which he matched.

"I thought we had Anicetus specialties every night?"

"I thought that, too, we makes me wonder why this meal will be so special," she chuckled while the two started down the hall side-by-side, making predictions of the dinner for the night.

Acceptance. That's what the feeling was. It wasn't like before. This time, Liam was fully accepting (Y/n) was gone...and he was becoming okay with it.