[: Daniel POV :]
Bella’s heart raced, her voice trembling as she pleaded with her mother.
“W-What!? Mother, can’t we bring him along?”
The mere thought of leaving me behind felt as if her whole world had been mercilessly turned upside down.
Elia let out a sigh, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she teased her daughter.
“Look at this. I haven’t been together with you for more than a day, and already you have a guy by your side.”
Feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment, Bella shook her head vigorously.
“Mother, it’s not like that!”
Her words held an undertone of desperation, but her expressive eyes betrayed the true depth of her feelings.
And I couldn’t help but smile warmly at such a sight, and it was quite adorable to watch her reaction.
“I don’t want you to misunderstand,” Elia said, her voice tinged with a mix of gratitude and concern.
“I’m not trying to push our benefactor away, and honestly, I don’t think I could ever repay him for everything he’s done for us”
“But going forward, it’s not just about burdening him anymore. It’s becoming more of a family problem.”
I could understand where she was coming from.
The need for constant fighting was no longer necessary now that she had obtained the authority she sought.
It became clear that there were certain secrets she felt should be kept hidden from me.
At this moment, there was a wave of mixed emotions washed over me.
I knew that at some point, our journey would come to an end, but it seems I wasn’t prepared for it that much.
It felt as though a part of me was being excluded, left in the dark about important matters.
I know me and Bella were not yet up to that level and I’m not expecting us to take our relationship to a whole new level.
But perhaps because of the times we spent together, I somehow grew slightly attached to her.
Nevertheless, this is where we separate and depart.
I respected her decision, reminding myself not to meddle too deeply in their noble affairs.
Though a part of me wished I could be more involved, I understood the importance of boundaries set in this world.
Despite the freedom to explore and levelling up, there are rules that Players can’t even themselves with.
One was killing the natives and one of them was involved with Politics.
Well, the reason behind this is due to the missions that will act accordingly from the Politics.
Hence, if a Player involves themselves with Politics, it would disrupt the flow of missions.
The only time this was allowed was when they were given a mission like how Bella had given to me.
“I understand,” I replied, offering a warm smile.
“And I truly hope that after all of this, we can still cross paths again.”
The thought of seeing them was something that I was looking forward to and to seeing how much Bella had grown.
No doubt that the time we spent together had been filled with laughter and joy, and I cherished those moments.
Still, this was the end…at least for our first mission together. After all, there would be still more missions that greatly involve the Human Continent.
“But still I want to express my gratitude to you, Mr. Daniel, for all that you’ve done,”
Elia said, her voice filled with sincere appreciation.
I just nodded my head with a smile.
“I’m glad you understand why I can’t bring anyone inside the Imperial grounds. It’s considered sacred and the situation is complicated.”
She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing.
“However, once everything has settled, I would love to extend an invitation to a special event just for you.”
Her words carried a hint of excitement.
A smile formed on my lips as I responded, “Then, I will eagerly look forward to it.”
If it was the same event as I’m thinking then, it’d be something I’m looking forward but since the present time has changed, I wonder if that ‘event’ would still be the same?
Well, let’s just look forward to it.
“Then, if nothing else, it’s time for us to leave”
Elia said and she looked at her daughter before calling her out.
You got anything to say, my dear daughter?”
Elia’s words hung in the air, signalling that it was time for us to depart.
“Ah!” Bella exclaimed, startled by the cue.
I watched as Bella’s nervousness became evident, her fingers fidgeting anxiously.
Elia was perceptive, not an oblivious mother who would miss her daughter’s true feelings.
Taking a hesitant step forward, she nervously played with her fingers.
It was clear that she had something to say, her body language revealing a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
I had an idea what she might have to say, and I didn’t want to interrupt nor did I want to break her heart.
I didn’t wish to give her false hope but before I could speak, Bella conveyed her honest feelings.
“Thank you for everything you have done for me and us,”
Bella’s words resonated in my ears, filled with a mix of gratitude and hope.
It was clear she had mustered up her courage for what she was about to do.
“I know that I might not have a place in your heart, but I won’t give up,”
She continued, her voice unwavering.
Suddenly, she leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, a final gift from her.
The touch of her lips sent a jolt through me, leaving a lingering warmth and a rush of emotions.
Even though I kept saying how I wouldn’t have a relationship with her, I couldn’t deny that she was a beauty.
Before I could fully comprehend what had just happened, Bella quickly retreated to where her mother stood, her face flushed with embarrassment.
I couldn’t help but smile in response.
Elia chuckled softly at her daughter’s boldness, clearly amused by the act.
“Teleport to the Imperial House” She commanded and 1 second before they disappeared, Bella screamed her last words to him.
“We’ll meet again one day and by that time, I will conquer your heart!”
She exclaimed and a second later, they had disappeared.
As I stood there, my hand instinctively touching the spot where Bella’s lips had briefly met my cheek.
I couldn’t deny the sweet flutter of hope that bloomed within me.
Perhaps, just perhaps, there was a chance for something more between us than either of us had anticipated.
[: 3rd POV :]
As they appeared in a room within the Imperial Household, the sudden teleportation left both figures breathless and disoriented.
Bella, in particular, seemed to be heaving with heavy breaths, as if she had narrowly escaped a nightmarish encounter.
Trying to regain her composure, Elia’s face was drenched in sweat as she struggled to catch her breath. 𝘭𝘪𝑟𝒶.𝘤𝑜𝘮
The encounter had clearly taken a toll on her, and the presence of an unimaginable monster seemed to have left a lasting impression.
She couldn’t shake off the anxiety that swelled within her.
“J-Just what kind of man have you encountered, my dear daughter?”
Elia’s voice quivered with both concern and fear, her eyes searching Bella for answers.
The intensity of her reaction hinted at the power and danger she felt emanating from this mysterious man.
Bella, perplexed by her mother’s reaction, furrowed her brows in confusion.
She couldn’t comprehend why her mother was sweating so profusely, nor why catching her breath seemed so difficult for her.
Bella simply replied with a mixture of curiosity and innocence, “He’s a powerful man that I encountered.”
“T-That’s more than just powerful”
Elia stuttered, her voice trembling.
“His presence shook me to my core as if it challenged the very foundation of my existence”
“I can’t quite put it into words, but it was overwhelming”
“Whoever this man you have caught your eye on is, if you want to bind him, you will need to become even stronger than him, just as I did with your father.”
“Alright, Mother,” Bella responded.
The words held weight, and she understood the task that lay before her.
She would strive to surpass the strength of the man who had captured her attention.
As Elia’s bluish eyes darkened with a mix of longing and yearning, her thoughts drifted to her husband—someone she had been longing to meet once again.
The memory of him only added fuel to her desire to grow stronger and protect what was precious to her.
At the same time, Bella couldn’t help but chuckle, her mind filled with strange yet delightful thoughts of a future together with Daniel.
It became evident where she inherited her unique personality from, realizing that her hopes and dreams were not so different from her mother’s.
With a shared determination and a bond formed by their similarities, Elia and Bella embarked on their respective journeys, preparing themselves for the challenges that lay ahead.
Both resolved to become stronger, not only for themselves but also for each other and the overwhelming love they had for someone that they loved.