secret love

Episode 13

Aria placed her hands gently on Lera’s shoulders and smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry,” she said softly. “I’m here with you.”

Lera, however, still seemed anxious. “But what if someone sees you here?” she asked hesitantly.

Aria shook her head. “That won’t happen. Don’t overthink it.”

She stood up and glanced at Lera. “You stay here. I’ll bring you something to eat.”

Lera nodded as Aria left the room. Alone, Lera found herself lost in thought. Why do I feel like I’ve seen her before? she wondered. Should I ask her… or not?

Before she could dwell on it further, Aria returned, carrying a tray of food. She placed it in front of Lera and sat beside her.

Lera hesitated before speaking. “Why do I feel like I’ve seen you before?” she finally asked.

Aria’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Because you have.”

Lera’s eyes widened in surprise. “What do you mean?”

Aria took a deep breath before explaining. “You used to come to the forest every day… in your dragon form,” she said. “But do you know something? You never once harmed me.”

Lera stared at her in shock.

Aria continued, “That’s why I never told anyone about you.”

Lera felt a mix of embarrassment and relief. Lowering her gaze, she whispered, “Thank you.”

Aria shook her head. “There’s no need to thank me. It’s my duty. Besides, you are Prince Herry’s fiancée, so your safety is in my hands.”

Lera smiled faintly at Aria’s words and started eating.

After a while, Aria looked toward the window. The sky was beginning to lighten. “It will be morning soon,” she said. “You should sleep on the bed. I’ll sleep down here.”

Lera shook her head. “No, sleep beside me,” she said softly. “I like having someone near me when I sleep.”

Aria hesitated for a moment but then nodded. “Alright.”

Both of them lay down, pulling the blanket over themselves.

For the first time in a long while, Lera felt safe.

The soldiers were tirelessly searching for the mysterious plant, but deep down, they all knew the truth—whatever it was, it had already changed its form. Finding it now was nearly impossible.

Despite this realization, Max couldn't shake off the fear lingering in his mind. What if this thing attacks the kingdom? he thought anxiously.

Just then, Herry placed a hand on Max’s shoulder, breaking him out of his thoughts. "Worrying won’t change anything now," Herry said calmly. "Who knows? Maybe such a creature—one that can take different forms—has never been discovered before."

Max clenched his jaw in frustration. "It’s not a creature," he snapped. "It’s a cursed plant! And the real question is, who could have done this?"

Herry yawned, stretching his arms lazily. "Instead of stressing over it, we should let the soldiers rest. Morning is almost here, and they’ve been working all night."

Max looked around. The soldiers were barely able to keep their eyes open, their exhaustion evident.

After a brief pause, Max sighed. "Fine. We’ll continue the search tomorrow. But make sure you all get proper sleep—otherwise, you’ll end up dozing off in the middle of duty."

The soldiers, relieved, dispersed to their homes, while Philip’s army remained in William’s kingdom, resting where they could.

With the search temporarily halted, Herry finally had a moment of peace. He returned to his room, pushing the door open silently. His eyes immediately fell on Lera and Aria, both fast asleep—wrapped in each other's arms for warmth and comfort.

Herry smiled faintly at the sight but didn’t want to disturb them. Instead, he grabbed a blanket, spread it on the floor, and lay down, closing his eyes.

Restless Thoughts

While the soldiers slept peacefully, Max lay awake, unable to silence the worries racing through his mind. The uncertainty of the situation gnawed at him—What if that thing truly is dangerous? What if it threatens the kingdom? He hated feeling powerless, but for now, there was nothing he could do.

As he tossed and turned, another thought suddenly crossed his mind—Aria.

What was she doing in the palace so late at night? he wondered. His mind replayed the moment he had seen her standing there, her head lowered, her eyes filled with unshed tears. Even in sorrow, she looked breathtakingly beautiful.

Max exhaled deeply, rubbing his temple. Why am I thinking about this right now?

Shaking his head, he muttered to himself, "I need to find peace within myself, just like I ask others to do."

With that final thought, he let his eyes close, allowing sleep to finally take over.