“Maybe she hates me so much that she wouldn’t let me in her world again. This is her way of punishing me for leaving her.”
I could hear rejection in his voice. “If I, who possesses power, is so close to giving up now, then there is a high chance that she also feels the same way out there. I didn’t even get to finish the spell I made for our knights there. She would think that I fooled her once she sees one of them.”

Present Time
I BLINKED twice to stop my tears from falling upon the darn memory that suddenly played in my mind while looking at Alison’s face. At that time, we received a report about the culprit related to the Olunia river.
And as it turned out, it was Clavia.
She was already separated from her husband and ever since Alexandros returned, she had been desperate to win him back. My cousin tried to be patient with her in honor of their past relationship. But the second he found out about the culprit; he did not hesitate to send Clavia to the dungeons.
It was also the first time that his cousin became that furious that he looked like he was willing to move heaven and earth just to punish Clavia.
I had to ask Alexandros many times to release her because her magic had also contributed a lot to the citizens. Thankfully, after two days, Clavia was released. That was when I found out that she transferred the water from Olunia river to other parts of the North who had been tremendously affected by the drought.
And because the water came straight from Alexandros’ aquatic dragon, it was pure and clean. The people could drink it without worries unlike the original water in Olunia. Clavia was well-aware of how much Alexandros valued the water there. He didn’t want anyone to meddle with the river. That was the only favor he asked from us.
Alexandros had assigned officials to ensure that the people would have enough water supply that’s why there was no reason for the Olunia river to be affected. But Clavia did that on purpose because she didn’t want Alexandros to keep holding on to the portal. Even if she knew she would be punished, she still did it.
She didn’t succeed, though.
Because Alexandros had given all of his free time in restoring Olunia. He would forget to eat and rest, but he would never forget weaving magic all for the river. After a year, he succeeded.
My thoughts went back to Alison when I heard her sob. Something warm crept into my chest. When I helped her in climbing up the carriage, all the things that happened to her flashed in my head like a video. That was my ability.
Life had been tough on her, too. But Alison’s journey was just beginning. And the moment Alison had overcome the beginning, the middle and the end part of her story will get better. She was still one lucky mortal.
“I’m really sorry for your loss, Alison. I’m sorry for what you’ve been through. But like I said, it wasn’t my cousin’s fault. It was mine. I brought him here. He didn’t get to come back because the only portal that would lead him to your world had already closed. You know our story that’s why it was hard to hope given our situation. But he knew he had to keep hoping. Because the thought that he will get to see you and Demi one day was the only reason why he made it this far. He was trapped here and I actually thought that he will sink like he did before. But he didn’t. Instead, he held on and chose to be brave because of you, Alison.”
I fondly smiled at her as I handed her my handkerchief. “My cousin had always chosen other people over himself. That’s why when he chose to be with you, I knew that for the first time, he had chosen himself. You have no idea how much that silly but adorable king loves you.”

(Alison)
“YOU are a mere mortal, so I know I was not supposed to envy you, but I do. You are still so young, but your eyes… they tell me that I’m only older by age. I can see your past just by looking in your eyes. That’s why I know that compared to me, you had shared plenty of experiences with Alexandros. You also carried his child. You are braver than me because you still chose to continue your pregnancy even if you thought he had already left you.”
I couldn’t speak when I saw how Clavia’s eyes watered. She was right. I thought Alexandros left me. And that one sentence was the root of all my negative feelings at this very moment.
“You’ve experienced motherhood. And you’ve endured everything from wherever you came from. And all these years, I had gone crazy. I had been wondering constantly what kind of woman you are for Alexandros to stay in love with you. After all, I had been with him far longer than you were. I hate you for coming here and for making me realize how wrong I was for ever thinking that way.”
I sighed when Clavia suddenly pointed her finger at me. “Listen, I’m not here to fight with you or anything. I just want to know if you have an idea where I could find Alexandros-“
“I also hate you for making me feel so insecure, but most of all, I hate you for attempting to leave Alexandros like that, Alison. Even if you hate him, that was still so cruel of you,” Claudia added as if she didn’t hear me. “If I didn’t stop you, this kingdom would have crashed. And Alex would have died feeling so damn heartbroken and you would have gone back to your world, unable to sleep at night for thinking all about those terrible what-ifs. But by the time that you realize you had made a mistake, it was already too late because you cannot go back into the book anymore.
“So, don’t commit the same mistake that I did, mortal.” Clavia’s voice softened a little. “Don’t walk away from the ones you truly love just because things seem scary at first. You might hate me now, but I saved you, you know. I saved you from regrets. You will thank me later.”