I Rejected the Alpha Crown Prince

Lily

Adelita’s heart raced as she reached out towards her younger self in the pond. She didn't even realize how close she was to the edge, and before she knew it, she had stumbled and fallen into the water.

Without a second thought, Adelita sprang into action, diving into the pond to rescue the young girl. As she pulled her out of the water, Adelita couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness towards her younger self. She held the girl tightly, whispering words of comfort as she calmed her down.

The coldness of the water enveloped her body, causing her to gasp for air. The shock of the impact had taken her breath away and for a moment she struggled to resurface. Her limbs flailed as she tried to find her footing on the slippery ground beneath her, but her efforts were in vain. Panic set in as she realized she was in over her head, quite literally.

As she struggled to resurface, memories flooded her mind. She saw herself at fourteen, the age she was when she was pushed into the pond by the other maidens. She saw the fear in her own eyes and felt the terror in her heart. She remembered feeling like she was drowning then, and now, as she struggled to stay afloat in the same pond, that feeling returned with a vengeance.

Her thoughts were jumbled, memories of the past mingling with the present. She felt as if she were drowning not only in the pond, but in her own mind, unable to keep her head above the water.

As the blackness crept in around the edges of her vision, she fought to keep herself conscious. She knew she couldn't let herself drown, not now, not after everything she had been through. With a last burst of strength, she kicked her legs and pushed herself to the surface, gasping for air.

Adelita's eyes fluttered open as she felt a great pull dragging her down to the bottom of the pond. Panic set in as she tried to swim upwards, but her limbs felt heavy and unresponsive. She felt as though she was drowning all over again.

As she struggled to stay afloat, she caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure moving in the water with her. Fear gripped her heart as she realized that she was not alone in the pond. She tried to call out, but her voice was muted by the water.

Adelita's body was numb and cold from being submerged in the icy waters of the pond. As she drifted deeper into the darkness, she could feel a strong pull, like a giant hand dragging her towards the bottom. Panic set in as she struggled to stay afloat, but the pull was too strong, and soon she found herself sinking deeper and deeper.

Just as she was about to give in and let herself drown, Adelita felt a sudden warmth envelop her body. It was as if a pair of strong, steady hands had wrapped themselves around her waist and were pulling her up towards the surface.

Adelita's eyes flew open as she gasped for air, her lungs burning with the effort. As she broke through the surface of the pond, she saw a figure standing on the shore, watching her with concern. It was a man, tall and muscular with broad shoulders and dark hair that fell in unruly waves around his face.

Where am I? Who is he?

For a moment, Adelita simply stared at him, taking in his rugged features and the piercing blue of his eyes. He looked familiar, somehow, but she couldn't quite place him.

"Bathing in a winter's night? Maidens from house Solace does seem to have some very queer hobbies," the man asked, his voice deep and gravelly.

Ezekiel Arquette. Just himself, obnoxious as usual.

Adelita nodded, still trying to catch her breath. "Don’t you have some other business to do about other than watching me struggle, General?"

“I do, but this is more pleasant.”

A small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "You're lucky I was passing by. You could have drowned. You'll die and no one could find you until your body float on the surface, two or three days from now."

Adelita couldn't help but notice how his gaze lingered on her, taking in her disheveled appearance and the water droplets that clung to her skin like tiny jewels.

"I owe you this one time." Adelita said, feeling a surge of gratitude and something else she couldn't quite name. She knew she had to play her part well, even though she couldn't remmeber anything.

“I’ll go back home now. You shouldn’t be seen with me. Leave, -”

"-Ezekiel," she replied, feeling a strange sense of familiarity as the name left her lips. That was the first name that came from her mouth ever since she was brought here.

The man didn't say a word, but Adelita could feel his gaze on her, as if he was trying to see into her soul. She felt vulnerable under his intense scrutiny, but at the same time, she felt a sense of safety in his strong arms.

As she looked up at him, she saw the sharp angles of his face and the dark stubble on his chin. He had a rugged look about him, like he had been through many battles and had come out on top. Just like how she remembered how he used to be.

The man's grip on her waist loosened as he lowered her to the ground, and Adelita felt a sense of loss as she was no longer in his embrace. She looked up at him, searching for any sign of emotion in his cold, dark eyes.

"And thank you," Adelita managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man didn't reply, but instead, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the trees. Adelita stood there, watching him go, wondering who he was and why he had come to her rescue. Then memories flooded back to her.

"Be careful. I still need you, little silver fox."

As Adelita stood there, dripping wet and still catching her breath, a young maid came running towards her. Panic etched across her face, she took in the sight of Adelita's soaked clothes and pale complexion, realizing that something had gone terribly wrong.

"Adelita!" the maid cried out, her voice filled with genuine concern. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

Adelita managed a weak smile, reassuring the maid that she was physically unharmed. "I'm fine," she replied, her voice still shaky. "It was just a momentary mishap in the pond."

Tears welled up in the maid's eyes as she looked at Adelita, a mix of guilt and worry evident on her face. "I'm so sorry, Adelita. I should have been there to protect you. I'll never leave your side again, I promise."

Adelita reached out a hand to comfort the distressed maid, her touch gentle and comforting. "It's not your fault," she reassured her. "I ventured into the pond without caution. You couldn't have known. But I’m still alive, intact and unharmed, don’t you see?"

The maid sniffled, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. "Still, I should have been more vigilant. Are you cold, my lady? We need to come back now and get you wrapped up in a blanket and porridge. I can't bear the thought of something happening to you."

Adelita's eyes widened as she looked at Lily, her loyal confidant. In that instant, a flood of memories surged through her mind, transporting her back to a different time and place. It was a memory she had tried to bury, but now it resurfaced with an unyielding force.

She saw Lily, just as she had been in their past life, vibrant and full of life. Adelita's heart ached as she remembered the tragic fate that had befallen her. Lily had been taken from her too soon, a casualty of the very circumstances they had both tried to escape.

Overwhelmed by the rush of emotions, Adelita's instincts took over, and she rushed forward, embracing Lily tightly. Confusion painted Lily's face as she tried to make sense of Adelita's sudden display of affection...