The Cursed Prince

Chapter 952: Who Are You, Raphael?

When a god was in the realm of Cretea, it was almost impossible for them to get exhausted or tired like that of humans. They were powerful beings.

However, Raphael spent a better part of the last year simply being in the human realm, and even as the Seventh Prince, his own strength could drain.

He and many of the other gods went to great lengths to ensure that King Draco's letters weren't delivered into the world. When they failed to do that, Raphael chose to redirect his attention and assailed some human princes to discourage and dishearten them from going on a journey.

Raphael did it all while making sure that his fellow companions, his friends didn't butt heads or accidentally gave away their positions.

If his father, the King of Cretea, figured out what exactly the purpose of Raphael being in the human realm was for—there was no doubt going to be issues.

Which was why after he tracked down Rowena and then even nursed her to health, Raphael was finally able to sigh in relief and fall asleep, even for a short while. Exhaustion finally coursed through his body as he succumbed to rest.

This was why Raphael stirred up when he awoke and found Rowena nowhere to be found. Did he sleep so long that she was gone?!

His eyes widened and he checked up on himself. "No dust or indication of being asleep for too long, but where is she—"

Raphael pulled himself up and immediately went to search for the missing girl. He was extremely worried about what she might do if he left her unattended.

"Rowena? Rowena?" Raphael checked the rooms.

When he received the potion earlier, the God of Aviary informed Raphael of what transpired in Verona through what he heard from a little bird—the ruckus of what Rowena caused.

And even Raphael's little stunt.

Verona was in a dire state and yet Raphael's appearance made the unfortunate incidents seem like it was all in the proper order of things. As if it was divine retribution extended to them.

It left a bad taste on Raphael, but he was more concerned with Rowena. He finally ventured and stepped out and there he saw her.

Underneath the soft and pale moonlight, Rowena was surrounded by the little purple flowers in her garden. She looked so much better.

There was a much rosier color to her cheeks, and even her golden hair seemed to glisten under the lights in a way that the moonlight truly paled beneath hers.

Raphael couldn't help but call out to her.

"Rowena?"

Rowena blinked and glanced over her shoulder, seeing Raphael finally awake. At first, she didn't know what to say. There were too many things that had happened—this man had continued to involve himself despite her pushing him away.

However, for a moment, she smiled and simply picked up a c

ris flower and held it out to him.

"Julian… Julian planted most of these, and I think that after the lengths you went through for me—he would probably say thank you."

Raphael looked at the flower in her hand and didn't know what to say. The mere act was simply in gratitude though, so he reached out and accepted it.

"I… I believe that if he were here with us today, he would also be quite relieved to see that you're feeling better now, Rowena."

"He'd always fussed more about me rather than himself," she said.

Rowena smiled for a moment and then continued.

"When I got bored of being stuck here in the hut we lived in—when I started to crave adventure again, Julian chose to accompany me even when he had no obligation to do so. He's someone I wish I could be as half great."

"The two of you both care for each other so much—it's not every day that a lone person ventures to help their friend." Raphael reminded her. "I'd like to imagine that it wasn't only you on the receiving end. He did it because he was probably also happy to be with you."

Rowena smiled sadly. "I… can't help but wonder if this was my fault."

"Your fault?"

"You know, some people around his age start getting married and having a family but because he's only been with me here in the valley for a long time, I was afraid that I must have stopped him from being able to look elsewhere."

"His feelings for you are not your fault." Raphael gently told her. "And I don't think he could easily find someone if he already liked you."

"But if I could have been more accepting towards his feelings... if only I could have returned them or maybe listened more to what he wanted—" Rowena's voice became shaky. "Then he wouldn't have died. It's all my fault."

"There are circumstances beyond our control, and you probably did what you thought was best, right?" Raphael asked.

"I rejected him because I didn't feel the same way." Rowena bit her lip.

Raphael remembered how Julian seemed to care so much for Rowena even when he was in his final hours. It was actually surprising because he initially thought that they had something special, but he pushed those thoughts away to listen to Rowena.

She looked down on the ground, studying her feet.

"I… I thought it was better than giving him false hopes. But I still shouldn't have agreed to stay for the ballroom party. I shouldn't have thought that finding his origins was the best—"

"Even though we think we control our fate, sometimes there are instances where we can't do anything," Raphael said.

"That sounds terrible."

"Well, if you try to keep control, there are some things you'll miss—you fail to see what might happen if you let life take the lead. New and

unexpected circumstances, both good and bad. It's tiring to always be on guard, you know?"

Back then, Raphael could have asserted his position as the Seventh Prince when he lost the bet and was to be turned into a Phoenix by the God of Aviary.

However, he accepted it as a challenge.

And it was because of that event, that even though he ended up captured by King Draco and nearly killed because of that incident—he met Rowena.

If he had been controlling, too paranoid of what could have happened, and lived afraid? He would have missed her coming into his life.

"So who are you really, Raphael?"