Even so, none of it stopped Rowan from writing.
He continued sending letters, writing about Eryndor, the council, matters within the palace, and sotis even how he was feeling.
He kept asking about her, writing everyday despite receiving nothing in return.
Most of the ti, he buried himself beneath endless duties and work, pushing himself from one responsibility to another in the hope that exhaustion would keep her out of his thoughts.
Sotis it worked. Sotis an entire day would pass without him dwelling on her.
But nights were different.
Whenever he was finally alone and lying in bed, his thoughts always drifted back to Rosalind. He would think about her until sleep eventually claid him.
What a pathetic man he had beco.
The realization always left a bitter taste in his mouth.
At the mont, Rowan was seated outside, feeding corn to the white bird that had beco his companion. He carefully divided the grains into two separate piles.
The pile on the right ant Rosalind would send a letter back.
The pile on the left ant she would not.
"Choose whichever side you like," Rowan told the bird as he folded his arms. "The right side brings blessings."
The bird tilted its head before waddling directly toward the left pile and pecking at it.
Rowan’s expression darkened imdiately. "The right side?" he prompted.
He even picked the bird up and placed it near the right pile.
The bird stared at it for a mont, then calmly walked back to the left side and continued eating.
Rowan released a long sigh.
Sohow, even the bird had chosen disappointnt.
anwhile, several miles away in rovia, Rosalind sat with the stack of letters spread neatly across the table in front of her.
It was not that she hated Rowan. In truth, she did not think she could hate him even if she tried. He still affected her in ways she did not fully understand. Yet her new life in rovia had made it easier to believe she could live without him. The warmth of her family, the comfort of ho, and the happiness she had found here had all helped.
Still, deep down in the quietest corner of her heart, she knew she missed him.
She had read so of his letters before. So annoyed her. Others made her emotional. Yet despite herself, she had kept every single one.
So days, she even found herself waiting for the next letter to arrive.
And it always did.
If there was one thing Rowan was, it was consistent.
Her fingers brushed over the first letter.
I hope rovia is treating you kindly. I know you wanted space, but I still wanted to know whether you’ve settled in well.
Rosalind smiled faintly before setting it aside. Then she picked up another.
There are many things I should have said when you were still here. Unfortunately, I seem to realize them only after you left.
That one annoyed her.
Only now? She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and moved on.
The council eting lasted for hours. You would have hated every second of it.
A laugh almost escaped her. That much was true.
She grabbed another letter. I hope you are eating properly. I know that sounds ridiculous coming from , but I still worry.
Rosalind nearly scoffed... If only he knew that her mother had practically declared war on starvation.
Continuing down the page, she read:
So days I convince myself that giving you space was the right thing to do. Other days I simply miss you.
Rosalind raised an eyebrow at that. Then, realizing she had lingered too long on those words, she quickly placed the letter aside.
Another caught her attention.
I told the council sothing today that I normally would have hidden. It felt uncomfortable, but I rembered what you said about trust being a choice.
Rosalind paused... She had not read this one before.
But that was bound to happen. There were simply too many letters now.
Her eyes continued downward. You once accused of deciding what people needed to hear. I disliked hearing it then. I think I dislike it now because you were right.
A long sigh escaped her. At least he could admit it now. That was sothing. Then she reached for another.
Today I almost told Cedric sothing and then realized I was looking for you instead.
This ti she actually rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable," she muttered.
Then another letter caught her attention.
I know you asked for space, and I intend to respect that. It made finally understand that caring for soone does not an deciding what is best for them.
Her expression slowly softened as the words lingered with her longer than she expected and she picked up another.
I used to think my favorite part of the day was sunrise over Eryndor. It turns out it was finding you sowhere in it.
Rosalind imdiately felt warmth spread across her cheeks. Before she could stop herself, she reached for another.
If I could change one thing, it would be the monts when I chose silence instead of honesty.
Her gaze lingered there, then she unfolded another letter.
The distance has not made lose feelings for you. It has only removed all the distractions that kept from admitting how much I do.
Rosalind released a heavy sigh and leaned back in her chair.
For so reason, she found herself rereading those particular letters more than once.
Surely, Rowan had not actually written things like that. The thought seed impossible. Yet she imdiately dismissed it, because he would never allow anyone else to write sothing so personal on his behalf.
That much she knew.
Which ant Rowan had truly written those words himself.
And perhaps, for the first ti in his life, he was genuinely trying to communicate how he felt.
Rosalind could see that he was making an effort. With every letter he sent, Rowan seed to be trying, little by little, to beco better than the man he had been before.
Could she ever get rid of this man?
The thought crossed her mind unexpectedly. Then another followed right after.
Did she even want to get rid of him?
Rosalind pressed her lips together before continuing to read.
...You once told that carrying everything alone is not strength. I think I finally understand what you ant...
Her eyes lingered on those words before she reached for another letter.
...I used to think that if I carried every burden alone, I could protect the people I cared about. It turns out that keeping people in the dark is not the sa thing as protecting them...
Sotis Rosalind found herself rereading certain letters repeatedly, just to make sure she was not imagining things.
Yet every ti she did, she ca to the sa conclusion.
He was trying... Genuinely trying.
Her fingers moved to another letter.
You asked once what I wanted after everything was over. I never answered because I was afraid of sounding selfish. The answer was always you.
Rosalind imdiately froze.
For a mont, she could almost hear Rowan’s voice speaking those words directly into her ear.
The answer was always you...
Her heart skipped.
"No," she muttered under her breath as she quickly lowered the paper. Heat rushed to her cheeks and she covered part of her face with one hand.
This was not what she had intended to do today. Not at all.
She had only planned to read the letters. Instead, she was sitting here blushing over words written by Rowan of all people.
After several monts, Rosalind finally released a long breath.
Fine. Maybe she would send a reply after all.
She prepared a sheet of paper and slowly began writing. Then it dawned on her that she had never lacked words. She had only been avoiding them.
I received your letters.
And before you start feeling proud of yourself, no, this does not an I have forgiven you completely.
However, I suppose it would be rude not to acknowledge the effort.
I am doing well.
Mother is still trying to feed enough for three people.
Hannah says hello.
I hope you are taking care of yourself too.
Rosalind stopped there and waited for the ink to dry. She then read over the letter several tis, wondering whether she should add more.
Eventually, she shook her head. No. This was enough... For now.
Before long, the letter was sent toward Eryndor.
Queen Catarina gently ran her hands through Rosalind’s hair as they watched the ssenger depart. "Did you manage to write sothing?" she asked.
"I did," Rosalind answered without hesitation.
Then she smiled slightly. "You give really good advice, mother."
That earned a laugh from Catarina as the two won began walking back into the hall together.
****
Eventually, the letter arrived in Eryndor.
The royal attendant practically rushed through the palace searching for Rowan the mont it reached his hands. When he finally found Rowan, he nearly stumbled right into him.
"Your Majesty," he said breathlessly. "A letter arrived. From rovia."
Rowan’s eyes widened ever so slightly.
"Hand it over." His voice remained calm as always, but internally he felt sothing entirely different.
The attendant imdiately handed it to him.
Rowan unfolded the letter and began reading. Then he read it again. And again.
A faint smile appeared on his lips before he could stop it.
To anyone else, it was a short letter. To him, it felt like the greatest gift he had received in months.
He had honestly been prepared to receive nothing at all.
Yet here it was.
A reply.
And strangely enough, that small piece of paper made him happier than his coronation ever had.
After that, Rowan continued sending letters.
Rosalind continued receiving them.
At first, she replied only occasionally, while he wrote far more often than she did. Yet every ti she read his letters, she noticed more growth, more honesty, and more effort than before.
Weeks turned into months, and although Rosalind still replied less often than Rowan wrote, her letters gradually beca more frequent.
And while Rosalind continued building a happy life in rovia, Rowan found his own days becoming easier to endure in Eryndor.
Neither of them realized it yet, but with every letter exchanged between them, they were slowly finding their way back to each other.
The End.
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Of Book 1.
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