Rion kissed Odette’s hand and begged desperately for the girl to agree to return to her era. “Please, Odette. Return to your era. Your place is not here. I beg you,” he said in a pleading tone. Tears started to trickle down his cheeks. He couldn’t control himself as fear of the situation would force him to choose between Odette and Panthera. He didn’t want to face the same situation six years ago, where he had to choose between Rose and his responsibilities as a king.
Rion didn’t want to be pessimistic, but he couldn’t stop thinking about the worst possibility where he couldn’t protect Odette, and Gerald cast obedience magic on the girl again.
Odette looked at Rion as tears also brimmed down on her cheeks, but she couldn’t grant his wish. She pulled and released her hand roughly, then ran out of the house.
The snow was falling slowly. On a long bench under a tree, she sat there while weeping, ignoring the cold that pierced against her skin.
