A Curse (The Love Story) GL

CHAPTER XLV

"The Truth Beneath All Faces"

Celeste's POV

It took everything in me — every drop of courage and every heartbeat filled with uncertainty — to finally ask the question that had been burning inside me since the moment our fates were bound.

> "Vorgath… why did you marry me?"

She paused.

Her eyes — those storm-scarred eyes — looked into mine with a flicker of something I couldn't name. And then, without warning, she said:

> "Celeste… that's your name, right?"

I blinked, confused by the sudden turn of her words.

> "Yes… it is," I replied slowly. "Why?"

She stepped closer, her expression unreadable.

> "Then you should know… I have a name too.

And it's not Vorgath.

I am Caelum."

The world stopped spinning.

My lips parted in stunned silence, my thoughts turning to ice.

> "Caelum?" I repeated, barely able to breathe the name.

> "Yes," she said. Calmly. Truthfully.

Everything hit me at once — the stolen glances, the strange familiarity, the way my heart had been torn between two souls who were, all along… one and the same.

> "So… you were playing a game with me?" I asked, my voice trembling. "All this time… you were pretending?"

She nodded.

> "Yes. I thought maybe… if you knew I was a pixie prince, you might like me. That's why I became Caelum for you. But then…" — her voice softened, just slightly — "Chiko told me the truth. That you didn't fall in love with the prince.

You fell in love with the fairy.

With me."

I took a shaky step toward her.

The truth hit harder than I thought it would — not because I was angry, but because in that moment… I realized I had never loved two people.

> I had only ever loved one.

No matter what face she wore.

> "You lied to me," I said, more gently than I meant to.

"You let me stay confused. You let me suffer."

She looked down, guilt flickering across her expression for the first time.

> "I know. And maybe I had my reasons. Maybe I still do. But Celeste… I didn't marry you for love.

I married you for something important. Something… I can't explain. Not yet."

I stared at her, my heart breaking open and mending itself in the same breath.

> "Do you even love me?" I whispered.

She didn't answer.

The silence between us was louder than any scream.

But something inside me had already made peace with the answer. Because even if she couldn't say it — even if she didn't believe it — I knew.

> I had always loved her.

Not just the prince. Not just the fairy.

Her.

> "You want to know what hurts?" I asked, stepping closer, my voice raw and quiet.

"When you kept switching between Caelum and Vorgath, I couldn't tell who I was falling for.

And now I know… it was you.

It was always just you."

She looked stunned — as if hearing those words did something to her soul.

I reached out, grabbed the collar of her royal dress, and pulled her close.

> "No more running," I whispered.

And before she could speak —

Before doubt could crawl back into her voice —

I kissed her.

> Deep. Fierce. Real.

A kiss I had only ever dared to imagine in my dreams.

But this wasn't a dream. This was happening.

Her lips — once so distant — were now the only thing that made sense. Every breath, every soft touch, every second of closeness told me that my heart had always belonged here — with her.

As the kiss broke, I gasped for breath, trying to calm the storm she always seemed to ignite inside me.

We were so close.

So real.

But just as my soul leaned into her again…

> She pulled away.

Gently — but firmly — she slipped her hand from mine.

Without a word, she turned.

And walked back into the palace.

Leaving me standing under the heavy sky, full of magic and ache, holding onto a kiss that changed everything…

> And yet…

still didn't give me the answer I wanted most.

"The Sisters of Shadows and Light"

Celeste's POV

I stood still beneath the gray sky, heart aching, thoughts tangled in the storm Caelum had left behind.

But just as I turned to walk back into the ruined palace — the one that now shielded our shared fate — a voice rang out behind me.

A voice I hadn't heard in a long time, but one my soul instantly recognized.

> "Hello, Princess Cel."

I turned swiftly, my breath catching.

Standing before me, walking toward me with radiant smiles and warm arms wide open, were two women dressed in ethereal gowns that shimmered like dusk and dawn —

Ivory and Olivia.

> Caelum's sisters.

Before I could even say a word, they wrapped me in a tight embrace, their laughter soft and comforting. I felt their warmth — not just in their touch, but in their presence. It was like being hugged by a memory I didn't even know I had.

> "Congratulations on your wedding," Olivia whispered, placing a gentle kiss on my cheek.

I stepped back, eyes wide.

> "How are you here?" I asked, astonished. "How do you even know—?"

Ivory giggled lightly, her golden eyes sparkling like moonlight.

> "Oh, Princess of Caelum's heart," she said sweetly, "we're sisters — not just in title, but in soul. When something happens to one of us, the others always know."

She paused, her hand resting over her heart.

> "This land… is ours. A secret sanctuary we created long ago. Whenever the world becomes too loud or dangerous, we return here — to this place of silence and stars.

And today, we've come… to welcome you home."

Before I could respond, another voice pierced the air — sharper, commanding, filled with the usual fire I knew so well.

> "Ivory! Olivia!" Caelum's voice rang from across the courtyard as she stepped outside.

"Go back. Now."

Her tone was clipped, her gaze intense.

But Ivory only rolled her eyes with a smirk, turning slowly toward her sister.

> "Don't forget, Caelum," she called back, "I'm the eldest. And between the three of us, my word is law."

Olivia laughed and nodded playfully.

> "We're not going anywhere. You may be a warrior, sister, but today you're also a bride.

Let us celebrate you — both of you."

Before Caelum could protest again, Olivia reached out, grabbed her by the wrist, and tugged her firmly — dragging her all the way toward me like an impatient sibling dragging her sister to her own birthday.

Caelum didn't resist much. In fact, she followed like she'd known it was useless to argue.

There was something sweet in the way Olivia made her listen — not as a warrior, not as a feared shadow, but simply… as a younger sister.

Now, with all three standing beside me, Ivory and Olivia raised their hands high in the air.

They clapped once — loud, proud.

Then, in perfect synchrony, they twirled their fingers toward the broken palace.

> And something incredible happened.

The shattered walls of the ruined palace began to knit themselves back together — vines retreated, dust vanished, fallen stones returned to place. Magic hummed like music in the air as beauty began to bloom in every direction.

Windows glowed with soft light. Cracked columns mended into silver marble. Stained glass shimmered once more with forgotten colors.

> The entire land lit up — As if someone had kissed it back to life.

Even the sky shifted — the heavy fog softened into mist, and tiny white fireflies danced like stars along the treetops.

> A forgotten world… remembered us.

I turned to look at the sisters, tears forming in my eyes.

> "You… you healed it."

Ivory smiled gently.

> "We didn't just heal the palace, Celeste. We welcomed you into it."

Then Olivia took my hand, holding it like we'd known each other for years.

> "Your dress is a mess," she said, half-teasing, brushing a finger down my gown.

"Let us prepare you again — properly. The queen of this land should look like one."

> "And then," Ivory added, linking her arm through mine, "we'll bring you back to her."

I glanced toward Caelum.

She stood quietly now, no longer resisting — watching, waiting. Her eyes softer. Her shoulders relaxed.

For the first time, I saw not just the warrior.

Not just the dark queen.

But the girl beneath it all.

The one who waited — perhaps even hoped — for me to walk toward her again.

> And I would.

But first… I would go with her sisters.

To be made ready.

To walk into the new life I never expected…

> But now couldn't imagine living without.

To be continued…