The Silvermoon estate was a breathtaking sight, nestled at the heart of a lush valley.
The grand mansion stood tall, its pristine white walls gleaming under the afternoon sun. Delicate wisteria vines draped over the balconies, their vibrant blooms filling the air with a sweet, lingering fragrance.
A soft breeze rustled through the trees, and the distant chirping of birds harmonized with the gentle trickle of a fountain in the courtyard.
The gardens stretched endlessly, a sea of vibrant colors—roses, lilacs, and moon lilies swayed in the wind, as if whispering secrets to one another.
A grand marble pathway wound through the estate, leading to a crystal-clear pond where koi fish swam gracefully, their golden scales flashing beneath the surface. Towering cherry blossom trees stood like silent sentinels, their pink petals drifting through the air like soft snowflakes.
Amidst this serenity stood a small girl with raven-black hair and gleaming amber eyes, her face alight with excitement.
She turned eagerly, her gaze locking onto a timid boy with pale white hair and crimson eyes, who stood uncertainly at the grand entrance of the mansion. His small hands fidgeted nervously at his sides, his eyes darting away from hers.
"Hello! I'm Layla Silvermoon. What's your name?" she asked brightly, standing before him with a wide grin.
The boy hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. His small hands curled into fists at his sides. Behind him, a gentle hand rested on his shoulder.
"Noah, it's rude to keep a lady waiting," his mother whispered softly.
Swallowing his nerves, Noah muttered, "H-Hello… I-I'm Noah Von Augustus. It's nice to meet you."
Layla's grin widened as she grabbed his hand with an enthusiasm that left him little time to react. "Come on! I'll show you my house!"
Noah barely had time to catch his breath before she dragged him through the halls, her voice bubbling with excitement as she pointed out her favorite spots.
"This is the garden! My mom says the flowers here are magical, but I think she just says that to stop me from picking them," she giggled, glancing over her shoulder. "Do you like flowers, Noah?"
"Uh… I guess?" Noah mumbled, unsure how to respond.
"Then I'll pick one for you later!" Layla declared proudly before pulling him toward the kitchen.
"And this is where all the delicious food comes from! Our chef makes the best pastries. Oh, wait! Let me show you something!"
She sprinted to a cabinet and pulled out a small cookie, holding it out to him with an expectant look. "Here! Try it!"
Noah hesitated but took a small bite. "It's… good," he said quietly, earning a beaming smile from Layla.
Next, she led him to her magic practice room, shelves lined with books and mystical artifacts filling the space.
"This is where I practice my magic! My mom says I have a gift for curse magic!" she said, her voice bubbling with excitement. "Look! I can make a small curse flame!"
She lifted her hand, and a faint, dark flame flickered to life in her palm before fading away. "One day, I'll be strong enough to cast real spells! What about you, Noah? Do you use magic?"
"N-No… not really," he admitted.
"That's okay! I'll teach you some tricks! You can be my magic partner!"
Noah's face turned red at the thought, but he said nothing as she continued her grand tour.
Without hesitation, she led him into her room.
"And this is where I sleep! Oh, and that's my bathroom!" she added proudly, unaware of his growing discomfort.
Noah's face flushed with embarrassment. He had never been inside a girl's room before, let alone shown something as private as her bathroom.
Layla giggled, clearly amused by his flustered expression. "You're cute," she declared.
It was the first time anyone had called him that. He didn't know how to respond, so he simply stood there, feeling his cheeks burn.
As the years passed, Layla's energetic nature never wavered, and Noah found himself trailing after her, quietly listening to her endless stories. But there was one topic that she never failed to bring up—Prince Arthur.
"Layla, I started magic training today!" Noah said excitedly one afternoon.
"Oh really? You know, Prince Arthur is an amazing mage! His control over light magic is just flawless, and..." Layla gushed.
Noah clenched his fists. Every time she spoke about the prince, something inside him twisted with irritation, though he never fully understood why.
She loved to tease him, knowing that it made him jealous. But she never stopped.
And eventually… Noah stopped trying.
He convinced himself that Layla would never see him the way he saw her. So, he buried his feelings, choosing to silently support her happiness instead.
But Layla never realized what she had done.
She took his presence for granted, assuming he would always be there.
Until one day… he wasn't.
Three months passed without a single visit from Noah. Concerned, Layla decided to find him. But when she arrived at his home, what she saw shattered her world.
Noah stood beside a blonde-haired girl with empty, void-like eyes. He was smiling at her, a warmth in his demeanor that she had never seen before. He held her hand gently, guiding her through the halls of his estate, just as Layla had once done for him.
Her heart clenched painfully. Who was she?
Later, Layla learned the truth—Charlotte de Angelis, Prince Arthur's stepsister.
Noah's fiancée.
She couldn't understand it. Why her? Why not me?
What had she done wrong?
Now, as Layla lay on the cold ground, Scarlett's words echoing in her mind, it finally clicked.
Noah had never left her.
She had pushed him away.
All those years of teasing, of taking his feelings lightly, of assuming he would always be there… she had been a fool.
Tears slipped from her closed eyes, soaking into the earth beneath her. "Ah… I'm sorry, Noah…"
She had lost something precious without even realizing it.
And now… she didn't know if she could ever get it back.
BOOM! BOOM!
"Kyaaaa!"