The strange dream had returned once more, though this time, Henrie found himself in a different guise. He was no longer the child from his previous reverie; instead, he was older, as was Runa.
"Henrie!" Runa's voice pierced the dreamlike haze, her call filled with urgency as she sprinted toward him, leaping into his arms.
Henrie was taken aback by her sudden embrace, but his dream-self remained unfazed, his heart racing within the dream's surreal boundaries. With a composed demeanor, he accepted her in his arms, his fingers brushing gently through her hair.
"Thank you for coming," she whispered, her voice filled with sincerity. "Listen, there's something I need to tell you, but you must promise me that you won't think I'm insane. Can you promise that?"
She pouted in a way that was far too endearing for Henrie to resist. In that dreamworld, he longed for her, and he wished he could exercise even the slightest control over his dream-self. Runa looked irresistibly adorable, and his impulses to kiss those lips surged.
In response, the Henrie within the dream could only offer a nod, his heart and mind ensnared by the enigmatic allure of this surreal encounter.
"I've been having these dreams," Runa began.
Henrie, unable to resist his playful nature, interrupted with a sly grin. "About me?"
"No!" Annoyed but with a touch of affection, Runa pushed his face away from hers. Pouting once more, she scolded, "Would you please listen, or are you going to keep teasing me?"
Henrie let out a chuckle, his laughter warm and endearing. "Alright, alright," he acquiesced as he decided to take her seriously.
"In the dream, I wasn't myself," Runa continued, her eyes searching his for understanding. "I inhabited another girl's body, and I don't know who that girl was. But her face was familiar."
Henrie's skepticism surfaced. "It's just a dream, Runa. Why are you getting so worked up about it?"
"It felt real, Henrie! It's like… a memory." Runa nibbled nervously on her lower lip, her apprehension growing. "I was living a different life in a different house. In that dream, my brother wasn't a recluse. He was handsome and kind, and my parents... they loved me."
There was a poignant pause in Runa's words, her eyes shimmering with unspoken emotion. Henrie couldn't help but wonder about the source of her expression, though the Henrie in the dream already knew the answer.
"Your brother would have a fit if he heard you say that," he remarked with a wry smile. "And your father genuinely cares for you. But, well, I can't say the same about the queen."
"Care?" Runa huffed, her arm sliding around Henrie's as she nestled her head against it. "He's just obsessed with me because I resemble my mother. And the queen is definitely not my parent."
Henrie, seizing the moment with a mischievous glint in his eye, played along. "Should I propose to you, then? I promise to love you for eternity."
Rolling her eyes, Runa swiftly dismissed his words as jest. Just as Henrie was about to assert his sincerity, her attention was diverted elsewhere.
"Neils!" she exclaimed suddenly, releasing her hold on his arm and rushing toward a knight with fiery red hair.
***
Henrie extended an invitation to Runa for a leisurely walk, seizing the opportunity to casually broach the subject of the recent diplomatic delegation destined for Greifswaldia.
"Are you certain it's alright to bring me along?" Runa inquired, her concerns perhaps mirroring those of the king.
Henrie responded with conviction, sending reassurance and admiration. "You were more than just the symbol of Reichwein Kingdom. Why hesitate? We both know you're capable of much more than being my fiancee."
Runa's countenance remained inscrutable, and Henrie found himself unable to decipher her reaction. It was unclear whether she took his words as a compliment or if they simply held no significance to her at all.
"All right," she finally agreed, a radiant smile gracing her lips.
Henrie shifted the conversation to a more pressing matter. "I've heard about Fabian's predicament. With my father closing the borders, he must be facing considerable challenges. What plans does my dear sister have in mind? Should I extend a helping hand?"
With a confident nod, she responded, "I trust Princess Elke's ability to handle the situation. She will undoubtedly arrange a discreet journey for Fabian. If you're willing to assist, why not include Fabian in our discussions with the Emperor of Greifswaldia? He could serve as your assistant."
After a moment of contemplation, Henrie agreed, "That should not pose any significant difficulties."
As they continued their stroll, Henrie grappled with the decision of whether to confide in Runa about his perplexing dream or keep it shrouded in silence. The dream had felt so vivid, so achingly real, that distinguishing it from a buried memory had become an arduous task.
Contemplating the possibility that the dream might hold a kernel of truth, Henrie couldn't help but wonder whether the Runa from his dream had experienced similar visions.
After a brief hesitation, he broached the subject, his words carefully chosen. "Do you happen to know a knight with red hair?"
The question landed heavily in the air, hanging between them. In his dream, that red-haired knight had served within the palace. If the dream somehow mirrored reality, then that individual must have existed, and Runa must have been acquainted with him.
The inquiry seemed to weigh heavily on Runa as she abruptly halted in her tracks. Her expression transitioned from shock to deep contemplation, her brow furrowing as if she were searching for a significant part in her memory.
"A knight... with red hair?" she repeated slowly. Her gaze was unfocused as if trying to extract a long-buried fragment of her past.
Suddenly, without warning, tears cascaded down Runa's cheeks like a torrential downpour.
"Runa?" Henrie reacted swiftly, offering her his steady support as she trembled and stumbled. He guided her to a nearby bench, clasping her hand tenderly as she wrestled with the overwhelming rush of emotions. "Are you alright?"
Runa could only shake her head, her sobs wracking her fragile frame.
Perplexed and concerned, Henrie pressed gently for answers. "Why are you crying? Do you know him?"
Once more, Runa shook her head, her voice feeble as she admitted, "I don't know."
Frustration mingled with her grief as Runa clenched her fists, her knuckles white as she struck her chest repeatedly, teeth gritted in anguish. "It just hurts," she cried out, her voice filled with pain.