Caleb's fingers hovered above Elise's chest.
Soft light spread from his palm, thin and pale, like mist shaped by will. It moved slowly, tracing her head, her neck, her arms. The glow pulsed once. Then again.
Rowan stood nearby, arms crossed.
Seven minutes passed.
The light faded.
Caleb stepped back and exhaled quietly.
Rowan lifted his gaze. "Well?"
Caleb shook his head. "There is nothing wrong with her body, Your Grace. Her mana flow is normal. Her soul is… present."
Rowan frowned slightly.
"However," Caleb added, "her memories appear damaged. Likely caused by shock from the fall. They should return over time."
"I see."
Rowan nodded once.
"Take her back to her chambers," he said. "Have the maids watch her closely."
Caleb bowed. "As you wish."
He touched only Elise's hands.
The world bent.
In the next blink, they were gone. Teleported.
ৎ────
Tik. Tak. Tik. Tak. Tik. Tak.
The sound drilled into Zach's head.
Annoying. Sharp. Endless.
"Shut it off…" he muttered. Well it was the familiar sound.
His eyes snapped open.
Darkness. It was currently night time.
Same curtains. Tall ceiling. Soft sheets.
Elise's room.
"…What the hell happened?" Zach groaned.
He pushed himself upright, clutching his forehead.
Bits came back in flashes.
The dining hall. The cold stare of the Duke. That hand raised in the air so suddenly. The magic appeared from his hand. .
"That prick," Zach muttered.
He swung his legs off the bed and walked toward the balcony. Cool night air hit his face the moment he opened the doors.
Outside, the world glowed.
Even more than before. It looked more magical because it was night time.
Lights floated like fireflies. The garden shimmered under moonlight. Magic hummed quietly in the air, like the world itself was breathing. There were flying lights moving in the sky.
Zach grabbed the railing.
"LET ME GO HOME!" he shouted.
"I don't care how magical your world is, I miss my world." He added.
His voice echoed into the night.
Nothing answered.
He laughed bitterly.
Then-
"Zach."
His breath hitched.
"…Huh?"
The voice was soft and soothing.
It was coming from inside.
"Zach."
He turned slowly. And headed inside.
The room was empty.
"Show yourself!" he snapped.
Suddenly a light bloomed above.
A soft purple glow poured down from the ceiling, slow and gentle, until it reached the floor.
It took shape.
A woman stood there.
Purple hair. Pale skin. Gray eyes.
The same face.
Zach froze.
"…You."
She smiled.
"Yes," she said lightly. "It's me. Elise."
Zach's hands curled into fists.
"What did you do to me?!" he shouted.
She laughed softly, like it amused her.
"Sorry about the mess," she said. "But you were fated to be here."
"Fated?" Zach scoffed. "Give me my body back! Let me go back!"
She sat on the edge of the bed, calm. Playful.
"I don't want to. Not yet."
"What?"
She raised her hand.
The air shimmered.
An image appeared. It was Zach, laying on the hospital bed, machines beeping, tubes, pale skin, and white sheets.
His body is in a critical state.
His chest tightened.
"No way, I look like a corpse." he whispered.
The image vanished.
"That's you, you got that right." Elise said gently. "Still alive. Barely."
Zach's knees felt weak.
"Why?" he snapped. "Why me?!"
She crossed her legs.
"You are being punished but that's not the main reason."
"For what?!"
She tilted her head and laughed. "For how you treated women."
His breath caught.
Images flashed in his mind.
Faces. Smiles. Text messages left unread. Confessions brushed off with jokes. Promises never meant seriously.
Not cruelty.
Just carelessness.
He never played with hearts on purpose.
But he never stopped to think, either.
"You never meant harm," Elise said. "But you never cared enough."
Zach looked away.
"But that's not so deep, it's not even a good reason to punish me." He snapped.
She continued, voice calm.
"Whoopsie." Elise crossed her legs.
"And I'm tired," she added. "Tired of living for him. Tired of being perfect. Tired of waiting."
Zach snapped his head back.
"So you let me steal your life?"
She chuckled. A playful expression appeared on her face. "Not exactly."
"Go back to your body!" he shouted.
"Like I said. You are fated to be here in the first place. Just not a normal kind of fate. Heh. I am enjoying more in the spirit realm, I can guide you anytime."
"What? Are you crazy?" Zach stared at her in disbelief.
She shook her head.
"Live my life for one year, you can be different and you have to melt my husband's heart." she said. "Then you can return."
Zach stared.
"A year?"
"Melt your husband's heart? What kind of fate is this? I'm not even gay!" Zach brows were furrowed.
Elise stood and laughed. "Well, there's another option. Make him fall in love with my rival Camilla whom he actually was attracted to. But there will be a different outcome."
Purple light wrapped around her.
"Good luck, Zach. Your choice!"
"WAIT!"
She vanished.
Silence returned.
Zach fell back onto the bed, arms spread wide.
"A year," he muttered. "In this body. In this world. Including her husband"
"I'm actually going to lose my mind."
Momeo later. A purple glow flared above him.
"Now what is this again…"
It struck his head. Pain slammed into his head.
Memories flooded in. Elise pretending to smile in front of everyone. Waiting alone for his husband that never showed up. Elise practiced how to be a perfect wife. Elise dresses pretty everyday for Rowan. Not only that, Elise intentionally fell from the carriage. All of her memories flooded in his head.
Zach groaned, clutching his head.
"So this is her life, I have to live this for a year?" he whispered.
Morning came.
He never slept.
When the maids entered, they gasped.
"Lady Elise!"
Dark circles. Messy hair. Eyes wide and tired.
Zach waved weakly.
"Oh," he said. "Hey there. Haha."
And somehow-
He thought of the choices Elise had told him last night. The silence pressed down, heavy with the things he needed to do to get home.
"I don't want to do anything with that man. If I make him fall in love with a different woman then it will be good because it's not me. But what did she mean about a different outcome?"