That Prince Is A Girl The Vicious King's Captive Slave Mate by Kiss Leilani

Chapter 530:

“I haven’t even crossed the mountain yet, and I already miss him so much.” She turned, tracing the path they had walked. “It’s been a full day since I saw him, and all I want is to be with him, to spend the rest of the day in his presence.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “How do I live without him, Lord Ottai?”

“No one can answer that question but you, dear child.” He gave her hand a comforting squeeze.

“I don’t want to live without him. I don’t want to go back to the hell of living without him again.” A choked, shaky laugh broke from her lips as she swiped at her eyes. “I thought leaving was the answer—that I wouldn’t survive if he broke my heart again. But now that I’ve thought about it… the truth is, I cannot survive a future without him in it.”

Lord Ottai’s gaze softened, and he tilted his head. “Have you ever told him that?”

“I’m too afraid…” Emeriel looked down at her hand in his, her voice barely above a whisper. “Terrified it’ll be thrown back in my face.”

“Sometimes, the best solution is to step beyond that fear. To take a single step of courage. Because what truly hurts is not trying, but giving up,” Lord Ottai said.

“Riel.”

her breath catching painfully in her

behind me, isn’t

“Yes, he is.”

“Lord Ottai…”

him everything. No running. No holding back. Face him and pour out

unfurled in her chest. Just hearing King Daemonikai’s voice had lifted some of the crushing weight off her heart. His presence alone made it easier

fighting a lost cause all

“Riel, look at me.”

she looked

to talk.” Ottai released her hand and stepped back. With her tear-streaked face

Daemonikai’s. “I c-can’t do it,” she choked out.

tight with an underlying pain. He didn’t move, didn’t