Chapter Text
Cael left the mansion in haste, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. The path to the cabin where he had met his demise in his previous life seemed both familiar and haunting. As he arrived, the memories of that fateful day flooded back, but he pushed them aside, focused on the urgency of the present.
Upon entering the cabin, Cael's eyes darted to the bed, where Hestia lay unconscious. Panic surged within him, and he rushed to her side, calling her name. "Hess!?" His voice trembled with a mixture of relief and worry, but Hestia remained unresponsive.
Fear gnawed at Cael's heart as he urgently called for a doctor. When the physician arrived and examined Hestia, Cael waited anxiously for the verdict. The doctor's words finally came, "My Lord, the duchess is fine. She was just having a fever and needed rest."
Cael's shoulders sagged with a mixture of relief and concern. Scooping Hestia gently in his arms, he headed for the waiting carriage. "Let's go back. Hess, just hang in there. I'll take you ‘home’," he murmured, his inner thoughts echoing with worry and a newfound determination to keep her safe.
As the carriage made its way back to the mansion, Cael held Hestia close, whispering reassurances and promises that she may not hear but were meant to soothe his own fears.
When Hestia finally woke up, her eyes fluttered open to a familiar ceiling. Confusion crossed her face as she turned to see Caelus at her side. "C-Cael?! H-How?" she stammered, her voice filled with disbelief.
Caelus couldn't contain his emotions any longer. He hugged her tightly, his voice choked with unspoken words. "Why? Why leave me?" he asked, the pain evident in his voice. "Please don't leave me, Hess, please." Tears welled up in his eyes as he held her, refusing to let go.
The days passed, and Cael remained devoted to Hestia's side. The mansion buzzed with activity as servants prepared a room for them to share, fulfilling Cael's silent order to have them stay together. Hestia, still weakened from her bout of fever, found herself conflicted by the sudden changes.
"But..." she started to protest, uncertain of the implications of sharing a room with Caelus.
"Please," Caelus interrupted softly, his eyes reflecting a vulnerability rarely seen. "I can't bear the thought of losing you again, Hess. Please stay with me."
Hestia met his gaze, seeing a depth of emotion she hadn't fully realized before. She relented, realizing that Caelus was driven not just by possessiveness, but by a genuine fear of losing her.
As they settled into the shared space, Caelus continued to hover over Hestia, his concern evident in every gesture. "You won't leave my sight," he vowed, his hand gently caressing her cheek. "I won't allow it."
Hestia, caught between the warmth of his affection and the mysteries of her past life, felt a mixture of gratitude and confusion. "Cael, I... I don't understand everything, but I want to be with you," she admitted, her eyes reflecting sincerity.
Caelus smiled, a rare and genuine expression that softened his features. "That's all I need to hear, Hess."
Days turned into nights, and Cael's protective nature intensified. He found comfort in simply being near Hestia, convinced that her presence alone could ward off the haunting memories of his past life.
One evening, Caelus decided to take a moment away from the mansion. He wandered the expansive gardens, his mind wrestling with the ghosts of the past. "Hess, I can't let anything harm you. Not again," he whispered to the wind, as if sharing his innermost thoughts with the universe.
In the quiet of the garden, Caelus's thoughts echoed with the painful memories of his previous life. "I died once, and it changed everything," he mused, a haunted expression on his face. "I won't let history repeat itself. Not when I have a chance to rewrite our story."
Meanwhile, Hestia, left alone in their shared room, traced the patterns on the luxurious bedspread. Her thoughts swirled with a mix of confusion and gratitude. "Cael cares for me so deeply. But what happened before? What is the truth behind this novel and my existence here?"
The next day, Helios arrived as Hyperion, bringing with him the weight of unspoken tensions. Caelus, mindful of Hestia's emotional state, approached Helios cautiously. "Heli, we need some time away. I've decided to take a break from state affairs and go to Attica with Hess."
Helios, perceptive as ever, observed the determination in Caelus's eyes. "I understand, Cael. Take the time you both need. I'll handle things here."
As Caelus prepared for their journey to Attica, his mind raced with thoughts of protecting Hestia from the shadows of their intertwined pasts. "I won't let anyone or anything jeopardize our newfound chance at happiness," he vowed, his eyes reflecting a steely resolve. Together, they embarked on a journey, leaving behind the mansion and the echoes of their pasts, ready to confront the uncertainties of the future.