nanakawaichan
patreon
Dark Moon Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 365. Cut Off One Head, Another Grows Back
🕑 Added 2025-01-16 16:05:15 +0000 UTCThird Arc (Fallen Heart) - 365. Cut Off One Head, Another Grows Back
She rolled her eyes, walking over to him. “Still, you wear it well. So… what now? More formalities, or can we actually relax for a bit before the party?”
Angel hesitated for a moment before answering. “We’ve got some time. But… I was just checking things.”
Her brows knitted slightly in concern. “And?”
“Nothing definitive,” he said, his tone even. “No more obvious threats, but I don’t trust that things are as quiet as they seem. Whoever sent those assassins isn’t done.”
Rose sighed, crossing her arms. “Zephyrus… I thought things would settle down after we dealt with the rebels last time. Didn’t we clean up most of the mess already?”
Angel leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed in his usual calm yet guarded stance. “We did. At least, we thought we did. But you know how these factions work. Cut off one head, another grows back. Some of them are too stubborn to stay down.”
Rose rubbed her temples, frustration flickering across her face. “It feels like it’ll never end. Every time we handle one problem, another one pops up.”
“That’s politics,” Angel said with a faint smirk, though his eyes carried none of the humor. “Your family’s power might be stronger now with your coronation, but that also means more people will try to challenge it.”
Rose let out another sigh, pacing slowly across the room. The mention of her family brought back a rush of memories—Zephyrus had always been a kingdom of contrasts: beautiful on the surface, but beneath that surface was a constant struggle for power.
“I just don’t get it,” she said after a moment, her voice quieter now. “We defeated the rebels not long ago. We crushed their power, scattered their forces. So why now? Why try something during my coronation? It’s reckless.”
“Because they’re desperate,” Angel replied, his tone matter-of-fact. “They know they can’t face us head-on. So they’re trying to undermine you. Make it look like you don’t belong here. Create instability in Euphorion and weaken your family’s hold on Zephyrus.”
Rose stopped pacing, turning to face him fully. “You already knew this, didn’t you?”
“Not really,” Angel claimed. “But I had suspicions. It’s why I increased security during the coronation. And it’s why I’ve been keeping an eye on the nobles who arrived from Zephyrus. Some of them have ties to the old rebel factions.”
Rose’s brows furrowed, a flicker of worry crossing her face. “You think some of them might still be loyal to the rebels?”
“Possibly,” Angel said, pushing off the doorframe and stepping closer. “But we don’t have solid proof yet. Just whispers and rumors. I didn’t want to tell you earlier because I didn’t want you distracted during the ceremony.”
She sighed again, leaning against the edge of the table. “I appreciate that, but it’s hard not to feel… responsible. It’s my kingdom, my family. These rebels—they’re fighting because they don’t want us in power.”
Angel stepped beside her, his hand resting lightly on hers. “This isn’t on you, Rose. You didn’t create this mess. You’re trying to fix it. That’s more than most people would do.”
Rose nodded, a bitter smile playing on her lips. “I know. And I’m trying my best. I tried, actually.” Her voice was steady, but Angel could hear the frustration hidden beneath her words. She locked her gaze with his, her expression softening as something unspoken flickered in her eyes.
She wanted to say more, to tell him how much it all weighed on her, how she felt like she was constantly being tested, constantly failing—until he came into her life again. With him by her side, the burden felt lighter, almost manageable. No… It was he who fixed everything. But the words caught in her throat. Instead, she just held his gaze, hoping he could sense what she couldn’t bring herself to say.
Angel studied her silently for a moment, his sharp eyes softening as if he understood more than she was letting on. “You haven’t failed, Rose. If anything, you’ve been carrying more than your share of this fight for far too long.”
Rose exhaled slowly, dropping her gaze to where his hand still rested over hers. His touch was warm, grounding. “Sometimes it feels like no matter how much I do, it’s never enough. There’s always something else—another crisis, another fight.”
