Chapter 51: chapter 51

Amelia's breath caught in her throat at Ivar’s unexpected confession. For a moment, she could only stare at him, unable to process the weight of his words."This… this can’t be true," she murmured, shaking her head in disbelief. "You can’t be serious. right?"But Ivar’s expression remained serious, unwavering. His eyes burned with an intensity that left no room for doubt. "Do I appear anything but serious?" he asked, his voice calm yet firm.Amelia’s lips parted, but no words came out."I knew you would react this way," Ivar continued, his gaze never leaving hers. "I was in denial myself for a long time. I kept telling myself that whatever I was feeling for you was temporary… that it would pass." He let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head slightly. "But it never did."His voice grew softer, more resolute. "Now I realise… my heart isn’t mine anymore."Amelia felt the weight of his words settle over her like a heavy cloak, her breath hitching as she met his unwavering gaze. There was something raw—as if he were confessing a truth he had fought against for far too long."Believe me," Ivar continued, his voice laced with quiet desperation. "I tried so hard to hold myself back—to stay away from you, to not look at you." He let out a slow, measured breath, "But I failed."Amelia’s chest tightened. She could hear the struggle in his voice, the battle he had fought against himself. He took a slow step toward her, closing the distance between them. "Now," he whispered, his gaze never leaving hers, "you've become the reason I breathe every day."Amelia swallowed hard, her pulse pounding in her ears. "Ivar, this… this isn’t something you can just say and expect me to understand.""I don’t expect you to understand," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not yet. But you will." A slow smirk curved his lips. "I’ll make sure of it."Amelia snapped, "No, you never can. I don't trust you. You've been hiding things from me since the beginning. So why tell me this now? I’m sure there's something twisted behind it." She fixed her gaze on Ivar, searching his expression for answers.A faint, almost bitter smirk played on Ivar’s lips. "I’m telling you this because I can’t hide it anymore. Whether you accept it or not, Amelia, you’ve changed everything."Amelia said coldly, "I didn’t come here to listen to your feelings about me—they mean nothing to me. Get that in your head. I just want to go home. I want to see my family."Ivar’s gaze darkened as he stepped closer, his voice low, "Alright, I’ll let you go, but only if you convince me of one thing."His eyes locked onto hers, searching, demanding. "Why were you so curious about me? Why did you worry about me?" His voice softened, but the weight of his words pressed against her. "You kept coming to me, even when I tried to stay away. Again and again."He tilted his head, a slow, bitter smile curling on his lips. "You led me astray from my path, Amelia. And now, you’ll have to face the consequences."Tears welled in Amelia’s eyes, her voice quivering with frustration. "So now it’s my fault? You’re blaming me?" She took a shaky breath, her chest tightening. "I’m just a mere human. We humans share affection for one another, that’s why I was worried about you. But you… you’re not even human, are you? If you choose to see it any other way, that’s on you, not me. I’ve had enough." Her words were sharp, like a lash, as she turned to walk away, her heart heavy with the weight of his accusations.But before she could take another step, Ivar grasped her hand and pulled her against his chest. She gasped in surprise, her pulse quickening as one of his arms wrapped around her back while the other cradled her head, holding her firmly. His breath was warm on her skin, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. He leaned in, his lips claiming hers with a raw intensity that stole the air from her lungs. Amelia’s thoughts scattered, overwhelmed by the touch of his lips, the heat that surged between them. Her body tensed, but she couldn't pull away.After what felt like an eternity, Ivar slowly pulled back, his chest rising and falling with the weight of his breath. His eyes, dark and intense, bore into hers, and his voice broke the silence. "Now tell me, human… how does it feel?"Realising what had just happened, Amelia jerked away from Ivar, her breath unsteady as she stumbled back. Without sparing him a glance, she turned on her heel and walked away, her steps hurried, almost frantic. She couldn’t think—she didn’t want to.Behind her, a low, amused chuckle broke the silence. "You don’t even understand your own feelings, Amelia," Ivar murmured, his voice smooth yet laced with something knowing. "How could you possibly understand mine?"He let the words linger in the air, watching as she stiffened but didn’t stop. Then, with quiet certainty, he added, "Take your time. Think about what just happened. Sooner or later, you’ll come to understand yourself… and how you feel about me."Amelia stormed out of Ivar’s chamber, her heart pounding. Just outside the door, Daisy stood waiting. The moment she saw Amelia’s face—flushed, her breaths uneven—her eyes narrowed with concern.As Amelia swept past her, Daisy immediately fell into step beside her, struggling to keep up with her hurried pace. "What happened, my lady?" she asked, her voice low but urgent.Amelia didn’t answer. Words failed her, tangled in the storm of emotions surging within. Daisy studied her in silence for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh. "I told you this wasn’t the right time to talk to him," she murmured, her tone both knowing and resigned.