บท 9: Chapter 9: Forgotten Bonds
The morning air was thick with tension as Valerius stood in his study, overlooking the sprawling lands of his estate. The reports of increased beast activity at the gate were troubling, and the disturbances had grown more frequent and unpredictable. He was about to issue orders to lead the next hunt himself when a knock came at the door.
"My Lord," Rhoan entered, his expression even grimmer than usual. "A message has arrived from the imperial palace. The emperor's younger sister... she is coming to visit."
Valerius felt his pulse quicken, a sudden tension coiling in his chest. The emperor's sister? She had been a shadowy figure in the game, little more than a powerful presence that players encountered briefly, if at all. Her name, even her true nature, had been shrouded in mystery. All he knew was that she was one of the most powerful mages in the empire, a hunter of legendary beasts, Rank 5 and 6 monsters falling to her magic as if they were nothing more than prey.
Yet in Valerius' memories—his memories—there was no clear recollection of her. No past encounters, no conversations that stood out. And yet... something stirred within him, something deep and unsettling.
Rhoan continued, oblivious to the storm of thoughts in Valerius' mind. "She will arrive shortly. The preparations for her reception have already begun."
Valerius nodded, keeping his face neutral, but inside, confusion gnawed at him. Why was she coming now? Why him? The timing couldn't have been worse. He needed to focus on the gate, on the beasts and the increasing danger, not on imperial politics. But the emperor's sister... she wasn't someone he could ignore. Her power alone made her a figure of immense influence, and her presence at his estate was bound to stir the court's attention.
He dismissed Rhoan with a wave of his hand, the steward bowing and leaving him alone with his thoughts.
---
By the time the imperial carriage arrived, Valerius had donned his mask of calm, his sharp mind compartmentalizing the many emotions that threatened to surface. He stood at the entrance of the estate, watching as the carriage, draped in the imperial colors, came to a stop. The guards snapped to attention, their armor gleaming in the mid-morning sun.
The door to the carriage opened, and a figure stepped out.
She was taller than he expected, her presence commanding even without the heavy trappings of imperial authority. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes—piercing, alive, full of a fire that could not be extinguished—met his. She wore simple, elegant robes that did little to disguise the power that radiated from her. It was the kind of raw, untamed energy he had only seen in the highest-ranked mages.
And yet, as she approached, Valerius felt something strange within himself. A tightening in his chest, a surge of emotions that were foreign to him—and yet not. Loss. Anger. And love.
The wave of feelings hit him so suddenly that he had to force himself to remain still, his hands clenching at his sides. What is this? His own mind struggled to make sense of the barrage of emotions. He wasn't supposed to feel this way. He didn't know her, not truly. He had never met her in his previous life as the strategist behind the screen. So why?
"Valerius," her voice was rich, almost melodic, as she spoke his name.
It wasn't just the way she said it. It was the familiarity in her tone, as if they had shared countless conversations, moments of deep understanding. Yet, as far as he knew, they had never met. But the feelings—the emotions swirling within him—belonged to Valerius, the Duke whose body he now inhabited.
He bowed slightly, more out of habit than genuine deference. "Your Highness."
She smiled, but it was not the kind of smile that brought warmth. It was sad, almost wistful. "It has been too long."
Her words struck him with an unexpected force, and he felt his heart twist, though he could not understand why. He could see the flicker of life in her eyes, the unspoken connection she seemed to share with him—or rather, with Valerius. Yet he had no memory of her, none at all. His thoughts swirled in confusion. How could this be?
"You've changed," she continued, her gaze sweeping over him as if she could see into the very depths of his soul. "But perhaps... we all have."
Valerius felt a wave of frustration rise in him. These were not his emotions, this was not his past. Yet they overwhelmed him, threatening to pull him under. He had expected to be in control, to master this world as he had mastered the game. But now, standing before her, he felt anything but in control.
"What brings you to my estate, Your Highness?" Valerius asked, his voice steady, though his heart was anything but.
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as if searching for something in him. "Do I need a reason to visit my old friend?"
Old friend. The words struck him like a dagger. Friend? Valerius could feel the weight of her gaze, her expectation, but he had no memory to draw from, no shared past to anchor himself. Why didn't he remember her?
And yet, as she stood before him, the emotions swirled once more—loss, anger, and that deep, inexplicable affection. It was disorienting, to feel such powerful emotions and yet not understand why.
"I didn't expect to see you," Valerius said slowly, careful not to betray his inner turmoil.
A shadow passed over her face. "I thought you might say that."
For a brief moment, silence fell between them. She looked away, toward the distant mountains where the gates shimmered faintly in the horizon. When she spoke again, her voice was softer, as if she were speaking more to herself than to him. "We used to talk about the future. About what we wanted, who we would become. I suppose those days are long gone now."
Valerius felt a pang of something—Valerius felt it—but he pushed it down. He couldn't afford to get lost in someone else's emotions, in memories that weren't his. He needed to stay focused, to understand what was happening.
But the more he tried to distance himself, the more the emotions threatened to overwhelm him. Her presence stirred something deep within him, something that he couldn't quite grasp. It was as though Valerius—the true Valerius—was still there, somewhere in the depths of his mind, and her arrival had brought those dormant emotions to the surface.
"I... don't remember," Valerius said quietly, the words slipping from his lips before he could stop them.
Her gaze snapped back to him, sharp and piercing. "What do you mean?"
He hesitated. Should he tell her the truth? Could he? "I don't remember... much from before."
She studied him for a long moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. Then, to his surprise, she smiled, though it was a sad, knowing smile. "Perhaps that's for the best," she said softly, more to herself than to him.
Valerius felt his heart twist again at her words. There was so much unspoken between them, so many layers of emotion that he couldn't even begin to understand. And yet, none of it was truly his.
"I'll be staying for a while," she said suddenly, breaking the silence. "There's much to discuss, and... I've missed our conversations."
Valerius nodded, though inwardly he felt the weight of her words pressing down on him. The gate, the beasts, the empire's political landscape—none of that seemed as pressing now as the mystery of his missing memories and the powerful emotions that were not his own.
As she turned to leave, he caught one last glimpse of her eyes—alive, vibrant, and full of history. A history he could not recall.
---
That night, long after the imperial entourage had settled in, Valerius sat in his chambers, staring at the crackling fire. The shadows danced along the walls, but his mind was far from the warmth of the hearth. He could still feel the lingering presence of the emperor's sister, her words echoing in his mind.
Who was she to Valerius? What had they shared? The emotions were too strong, too raw to be ignored, but the memories... the memories were missing.
As he stared into the flames, Valerius made a silent vow. He would uncover the truth—about her, about his missing memories, and about the person he had once been.
But first, there was the matter of the gate, and the hunt that awaited him at dawn.
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