Fallen Radiance

As the light faded, Elena slowly opened her eyes and found herself standing in the warm sunshine. The faint scent of flowers wafted through the air, and the sights were both familiar and strange: high walls, cobbled paths, white roses everywhere... This is the palace garden of Ophelia's empire.

Her man touched his waist consciously, but did not touch the familiar dagger. Looking down, she found herself in a plain white dress, no armor, no weapons, and even the power that belonged to the abandoned son was completely gone.

"This is... Where is it?" She murmured in a doubtful tone.

Suddenly, she heard a light step, looking back, a figure was walking slowly through the forest path. It was a young man, silver hair blowing in the wind, with a slight smile on his face, wearing simple aristocratic clothes. There was a spring in his step, with the confidence of youth and a touch of careless ease.

"Renault..." Elena's heart gave a sudden jolt. This is a Renault from four years ago.

His eyes were clean and bright, without the chilling coldness and calculation that followed. At that moment, Elena felt as if her body had returned to the past, and that simple throb crept up on her heart.

Four years ago, Elena was just an ordinary soldier who had just entered the Imperial army, and had been summoned to the palace for her outstanding performance on the frontier battlefield to receive special treatment and training. However, she was not good at dealing with aristocratic communication, always appearing stiff and uneasy.

That day, she entered the palace garden for the first time, just looking for a quiet place to escape the tedious formalities. Unexpectedly, shortly after sitting down, a young man suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Are you new here?" Renaud leaned against a tree and looked her up and down with a faint smile on his face. "Your army boots gave you away."

Elena, a little overwhelmed by his sudden words, pressed her lips and whispered back, "I'm a soldier with the border Army. I've been sent for training."

"Border army?" Renault raised his eyebrows and took a few steps closer. "No wonder you look so uncomfortable. This place is really overwhelming."

Elena looked up and stared at him. The young Renault's face was a little childish, but his silver-gray eyes were particularly bright. His tone is relaxed and casual, with none of the royal majesty, rather like a mischievous friend.

"You are..." Elena asked tentatively.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself." Raynor smiled, bent slightly, and said, with great exaggeration: "Raynor Ophelia, fourth Prince of the Ophelia Empire, at your service."

His gesture made Elena laugh out loud, but she quickly realized her faux pas and bowed her head in apology: "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that."

"Laugh, it's normal." Renault waved his hand and said in a relaxed tone, "I quite like to hear people laugh, much better than those aristocrats who suck up all day."

Since that encounter, Leno seems to have developed a strong interest in Elena. He was always there just when she was feeling uneasy, taking her around the palace and defusing her nerves with his unique sense of humor.

"Elena, you know what?" At one point, he pointed to a statue on top of the palace and said, "That was the thing I was most afraid of as a child." Every time I go by here, I think he's going to jump down and bite me."

Elena couldn't help but chuckle: "You're afraid of statues?"

Renault nodded solemnly: "Of course, now that I'm older, I realize that the statue doesn't move at all." What's really scary is the people standing under the statue."

She did not understand the meaning of his words, but felt that the young prince was completely different from other aristocrats. He has no pretentious posture, nor that kind of high arrogance, more of a kind of truth that people can't help but be close to.

As time goes on, Elena finds her feelings for the teenager increasingly complicated. Every time I get along with him, the throb in my heart deepens. She understood that there was a disparity between their identities, and that this emotion might have been doomed from the beginning to have no result, but she still couldn't control herself to expect it.

That day, Elena practiced her swordsmanship in the garden as usual. Reno appeared out of nowhere, leaning against a tree and watching her quietly.

"Good swordsmanship." "He said with a smile and a hint of approval in his eyes.

Elena turned away her sword and wiped the sweat from her forehead: "Not as strong as those who are really strong."

"Really strong?" Leno took a few steps closer with raised eyebrows and his voice dropped. "Elena, do you know why I'm interested in you?"

'Why? Elena asked unconsciously, her eyes quizzical.

Renaud did not answer directly, but moved closer to her, his voice low and gentle: "Because you are the most special person I have ever met." You're not like other people here, where every smile is real and every word carries power."

Elena's heart was pounding and she took a step back unconsciously, only to find that her back was attached to the tree trunk. Renault's eyes made her feel hot, that kind of warmth and seriousness let her nowhere to escape.

"Elena, will you stay at the palace?" Renault asked softly. "As my friend, or... More."

At that moment, Elena's mind went blank. She didn't know how to answer and could only stare at him, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"That's all right," Renaud said, gently stepping back and smiling. "I can wait."

Elena closed her eyes and when she opened them, the scene slowly dissipated. The garden, the rose, and the green Reynold gradually blurred, and at last vanished completely.

In its place, the familiar darkness.

She looked down at her hands and saw that the warmth had gone, replaced by cold and emptiness.

"This is the way of the heart..." Elena murmured, a hint of pain in her voice.