The following day, as Adrian departed, Emily found herself deep in thought. She was acutely aware of Niklaus's unwavering devotion to her, and while his love provided her with comfort, it also terrified her. The knowledge that he would go to unimaginable lengths—perhaps even destroy the world—for her protection weighed heavily on her. It was this dangerous intensity of his love that left her unsettled.
A few days later, Niklaus brought a guest to the palace, a striking woman holding a small girl in her arms. The woman's posture was regal, and her eyes gleamed with familiarity as she approached.
"Emily, meet Lucy, my cousin," Niklaus introduced them with a rare warmth in his voice. His gaze briefly softened as it landed on the little girl in Lucy's arms.
Emily offered a welcoming smile, nodding in acknowledgment. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lucy. And who is this lovely little girl?"
"This is Bella, my daughter," Lucy replied, gently placing the child down. Bella, who couldn't have been more than three years old, immediately ran towards Emily with unbridled energy.
Emily crouched down, extending her arms to the child, who eagerly fell into her embrace. "Hello, Bella. Aren't you a sweetheart?" Emily said, smiling at the girl who giggled in response.
Lucy watched the interaction with a soft smile. "She's been so excited to meet you, Princess. Niklaus has spoken of you often."
"Has he?" Emily asked, her gaze flicking briefly to Niklaus, who was standing nearby, his eyes unwaveringly on her.
"Yes," Lucy affirmed, "He told us of how strong you are, and how your wisdom surpasses even the most seasoned rulers."
Emily's heart warmed slightly at the compliment, though she remained guarded. "That's very kind of him."
Niklaus stepped forward, his tone light but authoritative. "Bella, behave yourself with the princess, alright? Don't wear her out."
Bella laughed, her tiny hands gripping Emily's gown as she played at her feet. "But I like her! She's pretty."
Emily laughed softly, looking down at Bella. "Well, I like you too, Bella."
Niklaus and Lucy exchanged a few more words, catching up as cousins would, before Lucy turned to Emily. "It's been lovely meeting you, Princess. I hope we can spend more time together."
"Likewise," Emily responded, her tone polite though her mind remained preoccupied.
As Niklaus escorted Lucy to the palace's guest chambers, Emily lingered with Bella in the garden, her thoughts distracted. She couldn't help but glance at Niklaus, whose devotion to her seemed unwavering. But beneath that surface, something darker brewed. The knowledge of what he was capable of haunted her—his possessiveness, his need to protect her at all costs.
It was that fear, that undeniable truth, that kept her from fully surrendering to her own feelings for him. Even as Bella played at her feet, Emily couldn't shake the foreboding sense that her life—and Niklaus's love—were balancing on a knife's edge.
As Emily cradled Bella in her arms, she felt a rare sense of peace wash over her. The little girl's innocent laughter, her bright eyes full of life, seemed to melt away the tension that Emily carried like armor. For a moment, she let her guard down, allowing herself to savor the simplicity of the moment.
Suddenly, a deep voice interrupted the tranquility. "We are going to have many babies, but cuter and more beautiful, just like you." Niklaus's tone was playful, yet there was an unmistakable seriousness beneath his words. He stood in the doorway, his eyes gleaming with the same determination that always made Emily feel both cherished and trapped.
Emily looked up at him, her lips curving into a soft smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. His words hung heavy in the air, a promise of a future she feared she could never fulfill. How could she even dream of a life filled with children, happiness, and love when she knew the clock was ticking down on her own fate? Five months. That was all she had left before the curse would claim her, before her body would begin to decay beyond repair. The thought sent a chill through her heart.
Niklaus stepped closer, his eyes softening as he watched her with Bella. "You'd make a wonderful mother, Emily," he said, his voice a low, reverent whisper. "I can already see it."
She looked away, holding Bella tighter, as if the little girl could shield her from the heartbreak she was feeling. "Niklaus," she began softly, her voice trembling, "how can we talk about a future like that... when—" She stopped herself, unable to finish. Her throat tightened, the weight of her secret pressing down on her chest like a vice.
Niklaus frowned slightly, sensing the shift in her mood. "When what, Emily?"
She shook her head, forcing a weak smile. "Nothing... it's nothing."
But inside, her heart was breaking. The smile that had momentarily graced her face faded into sadness, her thoughts spiraling. How could she enjoy the life he dreamed of, the life he so desperately wanted for them, when her own was slipping away? The thought of leaving him—of leaving behind the love she had finally allowed herself to feel—was unbearable.
Niklaus stepped forward, sensing her unease. His hand reached out to gently cup her cheek, his thumb brushing against her skin. "Emily, you've been distant... and I don't understand why. You can talk to me."
Her heart lurched at his touch, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth—not yet. The fear of breaking his heart was too much. So, instead, she offered him a smile—small, fragile, and full of secrets—and whispered, "I'm just tired, Niklaus. That's all."
But as she cradled Bella in her arms, the reality of her dwindling time weighed heavier than ever. The future he dreamed of—children, happiness, love—seemed to slip further and further from her grasp. And with each passing day, Emily knew she had to tell him the truth. But how? How could she shatter his heart when he had already given her everything?
In the following days, Emily withdrew even further into herself. The emotional distance between her and Niklaus, once a chasm that could be easily bridged by a single touch, now felt insurmountable. She could feel the weight of the truth pressing against her chest, threatening to crush her, but she refused to let it out. It wasn't just her life that was at stake anymore—it was his heart too. The thought of Niklaus being shattered by her inevitable death haunted her every waking moment.
Niklaus, on the other hand, watched her retreat with a heavy heart. He was a man used to commanding kingdoms, winning battles, and bending people to his will, but none of his power or authority seemed to work with Emily. She was slipping away from him, and no matter how much he reached out, he couldn't pull her back.
One evening, as they sat in the dimly lit study, the tension between them boiled over. Niklaus couldn't take it any longer. "Emily," he began, his voice strained with concern and frustration, "what is going on with you? You've been so distant... so cold. I can see it in your eyes. There's something you're hiding from me."
Emily looked away, avoiding his piercing gaze. Her heart ached, but her resolve hardened. "It's nothing, Niklaus. You don't need to concern yourself with it." Her voice was calm, almost too calm, as if she were rehearsing the same lie over and over again until it felt natural.
But Niklaus wasn't buying it. "Don't lie to me," he said, his tone growing more intense, a mixture of anger and hurt lacing his words. "I care about you more than you know. Whatever it is, we face it together. I need you to trust me."
Emily let out a bitter laugh, her voice tinged with a mix of sorrow and scorn. "You care about me?" she repeated, almost mockingly. "If you truly cared, you wouldn't have touched me like you did. You wouldn't have forced me into this marriage."
Her accusations hit Niklaus like a punch to the gut. He had expected her to be distant, but this? This felt like betrayal. His jaw tightened, and his fists clenched as he tried to control the storm of emotions rising within him. "Emily," he began, but she cut him off.
"I was never happy with you," she continued, her voice trembling now, though she fought to maintain her composure. "All you've ever done is play with me. I might have enjoyed the attention you gave me, but that's all it was—fleeting, ephemeral. You never won my heart, Niklaus. You just used me for your own desires."
Her words were daggers, each one sharper than the last, slicing through him without mercy. Niklaus stood there, frozen, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never seen her like this before—so cold, so distant, so... unreachable. "So, what now?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "You want to leave? Is that it?"
Emily's silence was all the confirmation he needed. She nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she forced herself to meet his gaze. "Please," she said softly, "just let me go."
Niklaus stared at her, his heart breaking into a thousand pieces. He wanted to reach out, to pull her into his arms, to beg her to stay—but he knew better. He had pushed her too far, and now she was slipping away. Taking a deep breath, he spoke with a quiet intensity. "You can move your things if you must, but know this: I will not force you to stay in my room. I will respect your decision. However, I am not ready to let go completely. I never will, princess. As I said, you will always belong with me."
The sincerity in his voice struck Emily deeply, the weight of his words settling heavily on her heart. Every fiber of her being screamed for her to stay, to confess everything and fall into his arms, but she couldn't. The curse hung over her like a death sentence, and she couldn't bear the thought of him watching her wither away.
With a trembling breath, Emily nodded and turned away, heading to her chambers. She spent the rest of the evening packing her belongings, her hands shaking with each item she placed into her trunk. Every piece of jewelry, every gown, every keepsake felt like a farewell. Her heart was breaking with every moment, but she knew this was for the best.
Niklaus watched her from the doorway, his eyes dark with emotion. He made no move to stop her, though his every instinct screamed to intervene. He knew if he tried to hold her back, she'd slip further away. But the distance between them felt like an open wound, bleeding with every second that passed.
Later that night, Emily moved into her old chambers, just down the hall. Though they were physically close, it felt as though miles separated them. Niklaus would walk past her door at night, wanting to knock, to demand answers, but he refrained. He couldn't push her further away. Yet, despite the distance she created, he maintained his silent vigil, never straying far, waiting—hoping—for her to come back to him.
Emily lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, clutching the necklace Niklaus had given her—the one she never took off. Her heart ached for him, and the guilt of her deception gnawed at her soul. But the curse loomed larger with each passing day, and she knew she couldn't afford to let him love her any deeper than he already did.
In the quiet darkness, as the night stretched on, both Emily and Niklaus remained awake, their hearts heavy with the weight of unspoken truths, both longing for the other but too bound by circumstance to bridge the growing chasm between them.