he next day, Kaelen cleared his schedule, eager to take me to see fireworks in the mortal realm.
The world of the living was vibrant and bustling. A rare spark of excitement lit up my face. If it hadn’t been for Kaelen, I never would have stayed in such a desolate place… but now, it no longer mattered.
Kaelen shielded me as we walked through the crowded streets, frequently turning to adjust the hairpin in my
hair.
A little girl selling flowers ran up to us, her face bright with a smile. “Mister, buy a bouquet for this pretty lady! May you two be happy together forever!”
I froze, about to refuse, but Kaelen was already smiling and picking out flowers. After careful consideration,
he decided to buy her entire basket.
“Wait.”
I snapped out of my daze and stopped him.
Kaelen looked at me, his eyes full of warmth. “What is it, Elara? You don’t like them?”
I nodded, my voice flat. “I don’t like jasmine.”
His expression froze instantly, his pupils contracting. He looked… unnatural. He forced a stiff smile. “Elara, I thought jasmine was your favorite. Why the sudden change…?”
A sharp pain pierced my heart. Once, to make me happy, he had commanded an entire mortal courtyard to
bloom with jasmine just for me. Now, to please another woman, he traveled to the mortal realm to bring her bouquets of it.
In that moment, I desperately wanted to ask him: when he gave her jasmine, did he feel even a flicker of guilt?
Before I could speak, a young, handsome acolyte rushed out from behind Kaelen and slammed into me. I
3/6
04:32
Chapter 1
had no time to dodge and was knocked to the ground.
04.32
My ankle twisted, swelling instantly. My hands were scraped. The hairpin tumbled out and landed crookedly
on the pavement.
The acolyte shot me a triumphant glance before turning to Kaelen. “My lord! There are rogue titans stirring ir
the deepest pits of Tartarus! You must go at once!”
Kaelen frowned, a bolt of dark energy shooting from his hand towards the acolyte. But as he recognized the face, he abruptly withdrew the attack.
My gaze faltered.
I knew this “acolyte.” It was the nymph, Lyra.
She was disguised as a man, but it only accentuated her fair, jade–like skin.
Kaelen looked at me with a pained expression as he helped me up. “Elara, you go on ahead. I’ll take care of
this…”
Hearing his words, I hid my injured hand behind my back and answered flatly, “It’s fine. I can go back by mys
elf.”
He tenderly wiped a smudge of dirt from my face, then turned and snapped at Lyra, “Be more careful. If you
ever harm Elara again, I will have your immortal soul!”
He glanced at me guiltily again, then bent down to retrieve the hairpin. Before he could, a group of laughing children ran past, and the hairpin vanished into the crowd.
A flash of annoyance crossed Kaelen’s face. He was about to search for it himself when Lyra tugged on his
sleeve, her voice soft and cloying. “My lord, we’ll be too late…!”
She wasn’t even bothering to disguise her feminine voice anymore, her expression a blatant provocation.
Kaelen frowned and roughly shook her hand off, his tone turning to ice. “If you don’t vanish from my sight, I
will unmake you.”
He channeled his power, and in an instant, her exposed arm turned red and swollen.
A flicker of defiance crossed her face, followed by a pout. She turned and left.
Once she was gone, Kaelen’s expression softened. “Elara, you look around. I’ll be right back.”
I nodded numbly.
He lovingly stroked my hair one last time, then ordered two of his guards to stay and find the hairpin. “This hairpin is a symbol of my vow to Elara,” he said, his voice cold. “It must be found.”
Listening to his passionate words, I scoffed inwardly.
His heart had already changed. Why pretend to care?
4/6
04.32
Chapter 1
As his figure disappeared, I silently followed him.
I watched as he caught up to Lyra and pulled her fiercely into his arms.
His voice was a low growl. “You should not have appeared in front of Elara.”
3
