Chapter 5: A Gift from the past

Elysia

It had been a month, a complete month since my life fell apart. I was surprised at how the hell I was still standing. I didn’t think I would even be able to survive this long.

I sat on the edge of Sylvie’s couch, my legs tucked beneath me, a warm cup of tea in my hand. Her house smelled of freshly baked goods, and I loved it.

“I’m serious,” I said, forcing myself to smile as I looked at her. “You can believe I’m over Derek. He can go to hell for all I care.”

Sylvie raised a brow, and I knew she wasn’t convinced, not even a little bit. “You know I’m always here for you, right? Whatever you need.”

“I do,” I said, stretching my hands to hold hers. “But I’m fine. Sometimes when I think about it, it hurts… a lot, but not as much as it used to. Cathy got Derek, so what?” I smiled.

“Fine,” she said, smiling back at me. “I believe you.”

I held on to her hand tightly. Coming back to Elyndor was actually the best thing I could have done for myself. I had my mother and my best friend with me. What more could I have asked for?

I knew I wasn’t totally healed, but I wasn’t as broken as I was when I first came back.

“But what I do need is a job,” I said, changing the topic.

“A job?” she said, staring at me with surprise.

“Already?” she asked. “Why would you want to work when you just came back a month ago? You know if you need money, all you have to do is ask, right? I have more than I know what to do with.”

“I know, Sylvie, and I love you, but I really need a job. I don’t want to keep staying indoors.”

“Then go out and have some fun.”

“Really?” I said, raising a brow. “The last fun I had, I ended up drunk and sleeping with a random guy. I just want to work and get my mind off things.”

“Okay…” she said thoughtfully. “I could talk to my brother, the king. He would definitely be able to find something for you to do.”

“Wait… really?” I said excitedly, but my thought was cut short when a wave of nausea hit me. My stomach twisted, and I got up, a hand pressed to my stomach as I rushed to the washroom.

The moment I reached it, I was on my knees, vomiting violently. By the time it stopped, I was shaking, my throat burning, and my eyes watery.

Sylvie was there instantly. “Elysia, are you okay?” Her voice was filled with worry.

“Yeah,” I said, raising my head to look at her. “It’s probably something I had to eat.”

She didn’t look convinced.

“Are you sure? Has this happened before?”

“Calm down, Sylvie. I’m fine. It has happened only once or twice. You have nothing to worry about, okay?” I reassured her. “I’m definitely sure it has something to do with what I ate.”

“Alright, but if it happens again, I’m taking you to see a doctor.”

I nodded, relieved when she let it go.

We sat in the living room for a moment without her saying a word before she finally spoke. “I have an idea, but I don’t know if you would like it.”

“Sylvie, since when have I never liked any of your ideas?”

“Let’s just go to the palace so my brother can see you.”

I blinked. “Wait, now?”

“Yes, now,” she replied, already on her feet. “There’s no point in us waiting. I know he’ll give you the job, so let’s go.”

I hesitated for a moment. “Sylvie, I don’t know.”

“Oh, come on, Elysia.” A mischievous smile appeared on her lips. “You know I’ve always wanted to introduce you to my brother. Maybe you both can—”

I laughed, cutting her off. “You are royalty, for crying out loud. Your brother is a king. He’ll never go for someone like me. You know that.”

“Don’t ever say that,” she said, stretching her hand toward me.

I took it, and she led me straight to the carriage. We got in.

As we rode through the city, I was reminded of how magnificently beautiful Elyndor truly was, from the tall buildings with stone walls to the lamps on the streets.

I glanced at Sylvie, who was looking out the other window. When she talked about her brother, I felt a little bit of excitement, but I wasn’t ready for that.

Even though I had told myself I was over what happened with Derek, it felt so hard to just move on. And I couldn’t get my mind off the stranger from that night at the pub.

“You know, it’s weird that we’ve been friends since we were kids, but you’ve never actually been to Elyndor’s palace before,” Sylvie said, still staring out the window.

I didn’t reply, but she was right. We’d been friends since childhood, but when I was seven, my family moved to Vethania. Ever since then, we were only sending letters. That was where my father married that witch, Cathy’s mother, and I was more than sure she bewitched my father because I knew how much he loved my mother.

When we got to the palace, the massive gates opened, and the carriage came in. I was starstruck; my jaw literally dropped.

The coachman got down and opened our doors, and I stepped out, my eyes still trying to comprehend what I was seeing.

“Oh my Goddess, Sylvie, this place is beautiful,” I said.

She smiled, clearly pleased.

I’d heard some things about the palace, but it was nothing compared to what I was seeing right now.

“Come on, Elysia. Let’s go inside. You’ll be more surprised,” she said, taking my hand and leading me in.

But before I could take it all in, she pointed ahead.

“That’s my brother,” she said.

I quickly adjusted my posture, but when his face came into view, I froze.

It was him.

The man from that night.

The man who claimed to be the King of Elyndor—and I laughed at him.

The man I had slept with and couldn’t get out of my mind.

It was him.