After casually blurting those words, Elder Mino took another gulp. Vince was at a loss. How could this old man say something he wasn't even certain about yet?
"What? Hahaha... Are you wondering how I knew?"
The elder was teasing him. Vince wanted to take back his first impression of this elder.
"I... I didn't even know, how could you say that?"
It was rare for Vince to be timid, but at that moment, he was. He was delighted yet nervous, excited, but was also scared!
"I knew it when I first saw both of you, and I confirmed it at our dinner."
"Dinner?"
Vince was thinking. Thinking deep. If a stranger could tell it at first sight, how dull could his senses be to reach at this point without him noticing?
"Don't worry, I won't tell it to another soul."
Elder Mino assured after seeing the frozen Vince.
"But, you have to stay away from my naughty niece. Tomorrow, I will send you early, so you both get ready."
Vince finally pulled himself back.
"Elder...! I am very grateful for your help, but I don't remember anything, and... I don't know how to...
"Just follow your heart!"
Elder Mino slashed his uncertainty.
"Dari, do you know...? I felt the same thing to a man who looks exactly like you before."
"Elder!"
Of all the words the elder said for over an hour, these were the most shocking to Vince.
"Shhhh... Just listen. You are the very first one to know this secret that I was keeping for a long time."
Elder Mino smiled, but his eyes betrayed him. There was an immeasurable sorrow within his pair of hazy, old eyes.
"I was eighteen when I met a brave and capable, yet humble prince, a few years older than me. He rescued our tribe that was devastated by an evil sorcerer, who spread an untreatable plague. He defeated that evil sorcerer in a short period. When I first saw him, he was dazzling. At first sight, I fell in love. My mind was blown when I first realized this. For the very first time, I was confused about what to do. I was strong, rebellious, and a rule-breaker, but I didn't know how to handle that forbidden feeling. It was my first time falling for someone, I should be delighted but it happened to be in the wrong gender and is extremely condemned. I kept that feeling in me, telling no one, but keeping it inside just intensified my desire. It was driving me mad. I decided to follow him, but I was keeping my distance. All I wanted was to see him, even from afar, but his senses were too sharp. After following him for a few days, he suddenly appeared behind me. I was startled. When he asked my purpose of tailing him, I couldn't utter a word. Seeing me frozen, he smiled and invited me to join him and his soldiers. We became friends. I followed him for several months and helped defeat evil worshippers. I was very happy that I was able to stay that close to him. But my happiness didn't last long, I found out that he was betrothed to a fine and beautiful princess. My heart was shattered into pieces, but I never told him. I was still following him despite this painful fact, I can't help it, my heart and my mind were telling me to. I was there when his father made him the new tribe king. After the succession ritual, his father announced the date of his marriage, and it was three days after the succession. Hearing those words, I staggered at the corner. I left before his wedding because I couldn't bear seeing him marrying someone else. My shattered heart was very painful. I kept on drinking but even the strongest wine didn't help me. A few months passed by, I was still broken. My family was too worried, they kept asking what was wrong with me, but how can I answer them? Later I decided to join the traders to travel to other islands. It was when I traveled to many places and met different people that I slowly overcame the pain. Years passed, but he was still the only person in my heart so I didn't marry. My father had betrothed me to many fine princesses but I refused and continued traveling. Ten years ago, a few weeks after I came home, I heard the devastating news about his demise. I didn't believe it at first. In my eyes he was invincible, so how could someone like him fall? I rushed to his tribe and saw a completely worn out place, with lifeless bodies scattered all over. Some were devoured by wild animals. I fell on my knees and screamed my pain out until my voice became hoarse. How could it happen? I was hoping that it was just a nightmare, but it was real. A painful reality that I could barely accept. Later, three people came to me, they were the tribesmen who managed to escape. They told me everything. My heart was full of hatred that I badly wanted to seek revenge, but I was helpless against the two leading tribes and cannot put my tribe at risk. When I slowly composed myself, I told the three men to gather the corpses and separate the remains of the tribe royals. It took them two days to complete the work. But when they checked the remains, they couldn't find the youngest prince. We thought and hoped at that time, that perhaps this youngest prince managed to survive. I hired people to look for him. Ten years have passed, but I never stop looking for this young prince. This is the only thing that gave me hope all this time. I stayed here waiting for ten years, without losing hope. Recently, I heard the news of the Dahatan tribe's youngest prince running away with his soldier. The people that I hired told me the rumors about the soldier's origin, that he came from the tribe that was annihilated ten years ago. For the first time in ten years, I feel alive. I hired more people to find them half a month ago, but I didn't expect that for many decades, luck finally favored me and brought that person to me..."
The story finally ended. Both the storyteller and the listener were emotionally affected. An old face was in pain while the young one was filled with awe and sympathy. But both faces were immersed in sorrow.
Vince had a lot of words earlier, but those words were lost after hearing Elder Mino's confession. How should he respond? He is not Dari, so he felt he wasn't in the position to talk about this matter. But the elder Mino's confession touched his heart. He can feel the pain the old man was keeping inside for many years. This kind of pure love is rare. It's remarkable and should be honored.
"Elder... I don't know what to say."
Vince was overwhelmed by his emotions and was out of words.
"Then, don't say anything."
The teary elder smiled and took another gulp.
"Do you know, this wine has been my only companion for many decades..."
There was a brief silence. Later, Vince looked at the sorrowful old man.
"But elder, I want you to know that you are amazing. You have a true heart and a pure soul. I admire you, I really do!"
These were the words that Vince found in his heart. And it made the elder smile.
"Do you know, I was very excited when I saw you. For the first time after he was gone, I feel alive again. Finally, I can do something for him. You look exactly like him. I wonder if those leading tribe kings didn't see him in you."
Vince stared at him. Was it really the case? Probably, otherwise, Dari has long been gone.
The elder swallowed another mouthful of wine.
"Do you know how much I missed him? Even when I was on the most distant island, I was thinking of him. I always have this regret of not telling him my feelings. What if I braved myself then and confessed. Would it change anything? Though I doubted that he would accept me, I should at least tell him."
Regrets... A distressing word that appears after failure. Vince cannot allow this to happen between him and Prince Aiji.
As if knowing his thoughts, the elder said later.
"Regarding the two of you, all I can say is, follow your heart. Just follow your heart. You have a different situation than me. Mine was a one-sided love, while you and the prince have mutual feelings, so it's easier."
Vince suddenly rose from his seat.
"Elder, do you think, he also feels the same?!"
The old man was surprised, but later he broke into laughter.
"Hahaha... You silly child! The prince chose you and ran away from his wedding, how can you doubt his feelings?"
"Ran away from his wedding!?"