บท 171: Own Up

20 August, 1360. Westerhaven Palace, Islia

William leaned against a stone pillar as he looked vacantly across the western gardens, which seemed to almost shimmer in the afternoon heat. Unlike the beautifully manicured gardens of Magdaline Castle, the greenery in the south was lush and wild. The fierce sun and the heady scent of so many exotic blooms were making him feel dizzy.

William had never felt so utterly alone as he had these last couple of weeks.

The loneliness reminded him of his life before Camilla had been part of it. Back then, he had schooled himself to bury all of his fears and his unhappiness so deep inside himself, that he could almost forget about them sometimes. It had taken him a long time to fight that instinct and accept his emotions. It was still an ongoing struggle.