The next morning, the atmosphere in Emerald High felt… charged. Not in the usual way, with gossip about celebrity crushes or who cheated in the last math test. No, today the whispers were different.
And unfortunately, most of them were about me.
---
“Did you hear what Ai said yesterday?”
“She called the story foolish! Can you believe that?”
“It’s because she doesn’t know love yet.”
“Or maybe she just doesn’t have a heart.”
I pretended not to hear as I slipped my books into my locker. The metal door rattled under my hand, and I focused on the sound to drown out the gossip behind me. But no matter how hard I tried, the words crawled into my ears, sharp and stinging.
Heartless. Cold. Foolish.
The irony made me want to laugh. If only they knew. If only they understood why I had reacted that way.
But they never would.
---
“Ai!”
The familiar voice made me turn. It was Mia, my closest friend since middle school. She was small, with big brown eyes that always seemed to sparkle with curiosity. Behind her trailed Sam, our other friend, tall and lanky, his backpack hanging off one shoulder like it weighed nothing.
Both of them looked at me with the same expression: a mix of concern and curiosity.
“Hey,” I greeted, forcing a smile.
Mia wasted no time. “What was that yesterday? You didn’t even flinch during Mr. Thompson’s story. Everyone else was bawling their eyes out!”
Sam leaned against the lockers, smirking. “Seriously, Ai. Even Marcus cried, and he’s the guy who laughs at horror movies. You, on the other hand…” He mimed a stone statue. “Unmoved. Unbreakable.”
I rolled my eyes. “It was just a story.”
Mia pouted, clutching her books to her chest. “But it was so romantic! Don’t you think? Two people loving each other so much that they’d rather die than be apart—”
“That’s not romantic, Mia,” I interrupted flatly. “It’s… tragic. And stupid. Life is worth more than that.”
Her eyes widened at my harsh tone, and guilt pricked at me. I softened my voice. “I just don’t think dying solves anything. That’s all.”
Sam raised a brow. “You sounded like you were personally offended yesterday. You sure you don’t have some hidden tragic backstory we don’t know about?”
If only he knew.
I forced a laugh, shaking my head. “No backstory. Just common sense.”
But inside, my chest tightened.
---
The first bell rang, cutting our conversation short. We walked to class together, but I could feel Mia stealing glances at me the whole way. She wasn’t convinced, and I knew sooner or later she’d press me again.
But I couldn’t tell her the truth. Not yet.
How could I possibly say, I know the story because I lived it. I was Eleanor, and the knight still haunts my soul.
She’d think I was crazy.
---
After school, I went straight home.
Our house was modest, nothing like the marble halls of the palace I remembered. The walls were painted soft cream, the furniture simple but cozy. A faint smell of garlic and onions greeted me the moment I opened the door.
“Welcome home, Ai!” my mom called from the kitchen. She was chopping vegetables, her apron stained from cooking. My father sat at the dining table, reading the newspaper with his glasses perched low on his nose.
“Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad,” I said, slipping off my shoes.
“How was school?” my mom asked, her tone light but expectant.
“The same as always,” I replied, dropping my bag on the couch.
Dad lowered his newspaper just enough to peer at me. “No trouble?”
I hesitated. The memory of the whispers in the hallway flickered in my mind. But I smiled faintly. “No trouble.”
Mom set down her knife and gave me a long look, like she could sense I was holding something back. But she didn’t press. Instead, she said, “Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes. Go wash up.”
I nodded, retreating to my room.
---
Lying on my bed, I stared at the ceiling, my mind replaying the day’s events.
My parents’ world was so simple. They worked hard, cared for me, and loved me in their quiet, everyday way. No crowns, no duties, no betrayals. Just ordinary life.
And yet…
Part of me still ached for something more. Something I couldn’t find in this life no matter how hard I tried.
Because half my heart was missing.
---
The next morning, Emerald High was buzzing with excitement. Not about me, thankfully, but about something else entirely.
Or rather, someone.
“Did you hear?”
“There’s going to be a new transfer student!”
“From abroad, I think. My cousin said he’s good-looking too.”
The halls vibrated with energy as the rumor spread like wildfire. Girls giggled and speculated, boys groaned about competition, and even teachers seemed vaguely aware of the incoming change.
Mia practically skipped to my side, her eyes wide with excitement. “Ai! Did you hear? We’re getting a transfer student this week! What if he’s cute?”
Sam rolled his eyes. “You don’t even know if it’s a he. Could be some quiet nerd who just wants to be left alone.”
“Still,” Mia insisted, “what if he’s different? What if he’s, like, mysterious? You know how in K-dramas, the transfer student always changes everything?”
I laughed softly, shaking my head. “You watch too much TV, Mia.”
But inside, something stirred.
A rumor. A transfer student.
I didn’t want to believe in coincidences. Not after everything.
Could it be him?
---
That night, sleep eluded me. I lay awake, staring at the glow of my phone screen, scrolling aimlessly through messages I didn’t care about.
The whispers from earlier wouldn’t leave my mind. Transfer student. Good-looking. Mysterious.
Was fate finally moving?
I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling the rapid beat of my heart.
“Elian…” I whispered into the silence. “Is it you?”
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