The night was a nightmare. Every time you had fallen asleep, Morvran's face had appeared your of nowhere to haunt you. It was like a bad omen, that wanted to keep you from dreaming about better times.

Every time, you tire your eyes open to scream. And every time you would wake up in an empty room, all by yourself, while the pillow that still smelled like him was pressed to your chest.

Angrily, you threw it away but got up to get it back. This was the last thing you had from him. It wasn't right to keep it, nor did it any good for you. But your heart couldn't bare to throw it away. You wanted to keep it as long as possible. You needed to hold onto this small piece of him.

Now, you were sitting in the kitchen, half asleep, while cooking a warm meal for Herman. While doing so, your eyes hit heavy and you began to drive off every now and then. Every time, you ripped your eyes wide open and tilted your head back, to avoid dipping your head into the hot water.

It went well, until you remained sleeping a little too long and the water began to boil over.

Cursing, you awoke from the world of dreams and tried to clean it but the damage was already done. Water began to hiss and the kitchen was filled with smoke.

"For fucks sake!", you screamed, as a hot drop burned your hand.

With tears of pain in your eyes, you jumped back, letting the flames burn out themselves.

The spot, in wich the water had touched your skin, was already turning red. It began to swell a lot, making the skin throb as if your heart was beating inside the bump that was growing.

Sobbing, you held the had into a pot i]of cold water. The cold was able to silence the pain a little but the skin would be scared for the rest of your life.

"Gods, how stupid.", you mumbled to yourself while trying not to cry. "Why did that have to happen to me?"

"You should go to bed, child.", Herman's voice suddenly said.

Surprised, you raised your head to look into the direction it had come from.

The old man was standing in the doorframe, his legs were shaking and his back was arched. He was supporting himself on a cane, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to do a single step. Still weak on his own two feet, he walked around the stove to look at your burned hand.

Ashamed, you hid it behind your back. He did not need to see anything like this right now. You had found out that his heart had gotten weaker. Any kind of anger or worry would have been able to cause a heart attack.

"I'm fine.", you whispered and jumped back on your feet, to pretend you wanted to return to work right away.

But the old man was a smart one and didn't believe a single word you said. Still, he stayed calm and smiled in an old sad way. His eyes watched you, as you returned to the stove to put in new firewood to feed the flames.

"You're tired.", he said in his shaky, weak voice.

"I'm not. You are. And you need to go back to bed. Come on, I will help you."

You stepped closer to him but he refused.

"Don't treat me like a child. I know that my body is getting weaker. I feel death getting closer to my chest. But I am still able to walk, and I will do so until I die.", with a sad smile, he raised his finger and giggled. "Now, don't waste my last hours on earth with your lectures and listen to me for once in your young life. You figured out about the communicator I've given you, don't deny it I can see it on your eyes. There is doubt, my child. Doubt and fear. But let me tell you one thing, your existence won't affect his life nor his title. People might talk about him but they won't try to tear him down. Because he was born high and he will stay where he has been born. Rumours can't take away his noble blood, neither can a simple relationship. So listen and hear me out. If this man is what your heart desires then don't hurt it just to protect his good name. A name is just a name after all. But love is far more than just love."

Unsure, you frowned.

How did he know all of this?

Why was he talking to you, trying to convince you to take your chance with the general?

"You're delusional, Herman. He's a general, a son of a noble family. I'm just... well me.", you said with a bitter smile on your face. "He would never want me."

"If not he wouldn't have given you the communicator. The possession of it could cost him a hand. But he took that risk because he was so desperate to stay in contact with you. Now, don't be a fool (Y/N) and accept the signs."

"And then what?! Marry him? That's ridiculous, Herman and you know it. It might be a dream I like to dream but it won't ever be reality."

"It can be one day. But you're right, it won't happen if you sit here and do nothing. You two might be decided by birth but connected through something much more powerful."

Amused, yet unimpressed, you tilted your head to look at him with pity. He was talking so much nonsense, it was ridiculous.

"You don't know what you're saying. Only a man that sees the world as a faery tale could say such bold things.", with a bitter laugh, you turned away and wanted to ignore him.

But he grabbed you by the shoulder, surprisingly strong for his age and state of health.

A little angered, you turned to him, ready to scream. But you hesitated, as his old eyes met yours.

"I was like you once. My wife was a noble daughter. I didn't beliefe that we could ever be together. But in the end, she choose me and we made a life for ourselves.", tears were shining in his eyes, as he recalled the memories of a better time. "If I wouldn't have chosen the impossible that day I would have missed the perfect life. I would have never experienced the love and many adventures I have had with her. So believe me when I say, that sometimes, risking something will be regarded with eternal happiness."