Chapter 6 – The Princess and the Past Life
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Royal Academy Courtyard — Late Afternoon
The courtyard stood drenched in golden light, the last rays of sun pooling between the polished white stone columns. Students had long scattered, and whispers had faded into silence.
But Aeron still stood there.
Alone. Unmoved.
The place where he had faced Selene Estelle Rindell only moments ago still carried her presence like a lingering chill. The royal crest she bore, the flicker of divine mana in her eyes, the high-and-mighty tone in her voice—none of it masked what truly rattled her.
Aeron could feel it, because he remembered.
And now… so did she.
Or at least, something inside her did.
[Void System – Affinity Progress Updated]
Target: Selene Estelle Rindell
Current Affinity: 1.7 / 10
Emotion Change: Cold → Conflicted
New Memory Fragment Unlocked – "Lake of First Magic"
Harem Points: +25 (Heartflutter)
Total: 265
Hidden Trigger Progression: Past-Life Bond (Stage 1)
Aeron exhaled, rolling his shoulders slightly.
"So, it begins…"
The murmurs from onlookers had died down. The moment he walked away without kneeling, the crowd knew a line had been crossed—one that shouldn't have been.
And yet… he crossed it, smiling.
Now he walked slowly through the garden path behind the main courtyard, footsteps soft on gravel. Light wind stirred the cherry blossoms overhead, their petals drifting down like forgotten wishes.
He paused beneath a crimson-leafed tree and looked up.
In my last life, I bent the knee to loyalty, to love, to belief.
He clenched his jaw.
This time, I kneel to nothing.
Selene's Private Garden – Royal Palace
Selene stood still as a statue.
She hadn't changed from her Academy attire—silk and velvet hugging her slender frame, silver embroidery tracing her sleeves like veins of frost.
But her hands…
They trembled.
She gripped the edge of the marble table too tightly, her knuckles pale beneath the soft glow of the floating light orbs that illuminated her private garden.
The princess's personal sanctum, normally a place of peace, felt wrong tonight.
"Your Highness," came a gentle voice behind her.
Lady Mirell, her chief steward, stepped forward, hands clasped.
"I heard what happened. The servants—"
"I'm fine," Selene cut in quickly. Too quickly.
Mirell's eyes lingered on her face. "You don't seem fine."
Selene slowly sat, her spine straight as a blade, refusing to reveal more. Her voice was measured, her lips tight.
"He didn't kneel."
Mirell nodded. "And that has… stirred something?"
Selene didn't answer.
But her eyes betrayed her.
Why did I hesitate? Why couldn't I summon the second spell? Why did my hand tremble when I looked into his eyes?
She poured herself tea from the delicate silver kettle beside her. It clattered softly against the porcelain as she sipped.
"I saw something in him," Selene said at last, her voice quiet. "A reflection… a piece of something ancient. Like a thread connecting us."
Mirell tilted her head. "Do you mean… from your Awakening visions?"
Selene shook her head. "No. This was deeper. A shadow. A wound."
She looked up suddenly, her eyes blazing.
"I think we knew each other. Before this life."
Void System Archive — Aeron's Chambers, Capital
Later that night, Aeron stood shirtless before the mirror in his temporary estate room. His upper body bore lean muscle—hard-earned during his previous life as a battle mage. But now, silver runes curled lightly around his collarbones, crawling faintly like tattoos of light. The [Void Seed] pulsed gently beneath his skin.
[Memory Archive Accessed]
Fragment: "Lake of First Magic" – Selene's Past Life Triggered
Syncing affinity…
Downloading dream-link for target
"...She saw it," Aeron murmured.
She felt it. That moment. The lake. The blood. The vow.
He sat by the edge of his bed and summoned the fragment again. The system allowed him access to moments Selene had glimpsed through the dream. Not full control—just observation.
A silent lake. Silver waters. Two figures.
Selene, wearing mage robes dyed in royal gold and starlight blue.
And him—Aeron, in his previous form. Clad in obsidian battlewear, the Voidfire cloak trailing behind him, his hand extended toward her.
Her voice from that dream whispered:
"You promised… we'd never fight again."
And his had answered:
"I lied."
He closed the screen, breathing slowly.
The heart remembered what the mind tried to forget.
Selene's Bedchamber — Midnight
Selene shot upright in bed, breathing fast.
Her skin glistened with sweat, and her fingers curled against the silk sheets.
"Aeron…" she whispered, lips parted. Her heart thundered.
She looked to the moonlight through her open balcony doors. A soft wind stirred the curtains, brushing her cheeks like a phantom.
She pulled her knees to her chest.
"I betrayed him… didn't I?"
But it wasn't a question.
It was recognition.
Not just of what her soul once did… but of who he used to be.
And who he was becoming again.
The Capital – Moonveil Tavern, Hidden Corner Booth
Meanwhile, Aeron sat with Veila, sipping from his silver cup.
She leaned back, stretching her arms lazily.
"You look like you're brooding," she said.
"I am," he replied.
"About Selene?"
"Yes."
Veila raised an eyebrow. "I've seen you kill without blinking. Burn cities. Rewrite bloodlines. But one pretty princess makes you wince?"
Aeron shot her a look. "You don't know what she meant. In the past life…"
"I know what she did. She helped gut you like a dog."
He didn't flinch.
"She also held my hand the moment before I died."
A silence passed.
Veila looked away, lips pressing tight. "I hope you know what you're doing."
"I do."
"Good. Because the longer she remembers, the more the Church will sniff it out. They monitor Past-Life awakenings. Especially forbidden ones."
Aeron's gaze hardened.
"Let them come."
Back at the Palace – Selene's Balcony
She stood under the stars now, eyes reflecting the constellations above.
One hand pressed lightly to her chest.
And her lips formed a single name again.
"Aeron…"
The world would call her cold.
Cruel.
Unreachable.
But in that single whisper—there was longing. Fear. Regret.
And maybe—just maybe—a seed of something else.
System Update: Emotional Tide Rising
Target: Selene Estelle Rindell
Affinity: 2.1 / 10
Harem Points: +65
New Status: "Heart-Stirred Noble"
Dream-Merge Progress: 12%
Warning: Emotional Clash Incoming – Prepare Interference
Aeron's Window — The Same Night
He stood in his chamber, overlooking the same stars.
Their minds were thousands of feet apart.
But in that moment—
Their hearts aligned across the distance.
And neither could sleep.
.
.