(Four days before the hunting competition)
After an exhausting day, Eva finally drifted into sleep. But rest did not greet her. Instead, she was pulled into a dream.
Eva slowly opened her eyes and found herself standing beneath an enormous tree. Its branches stretched endlessly into the sky, leaves whispering softly as if the world itself was breathing. A wooden swing hung from one of the branches, swaying gently.
Leo sat on it.
Eva’s lips curved into a soft smile. “Hello, Leo.”
Leo turned toward her, surprise flashing across his face before it melted into excitement.
“Oh, Eva—you’re here! Can you push me a little?”
She walked closer and placed her hands on the swing, giving it a gentle push.
Leo laughed as the swing moved higher. “Wow!”
Eva laughed with him. “Looks like you’re having fun.”
“Yes,” Leo said brightly. “It’s been so long since I’ve had this much fun, Eva.”
Suddenly, Leo jumped off the swing.
Eva rushed forward, worry flooding her face. “Leo! Why did you jump? You could’ve gotten hurt!”
He smiled carelessly. “Don’t worry, Eva. I’m fine.”
She stepped closer, her hands hovering as she searched for any sign of injury.
“Don’t do things like that again,” she scolded softly. “Do you want to make your mother worry?”
Leo’s smile faltered. “My mother…” he murmured. “She won’t be worried. She left me not long ago, she's in heaven now.”
Eva’s heart clenched. “I’m sorry, Leo. I didn’t know…”
He forced a smile. “It’s okay. How would you know? I never told you about her.”
She hesitated before asking, “What about your father?”
“Father…” Leo repeated quietly. “I don’t know. I never saw him. He died before I was born.”
“Oh…” Eva whispered. “I’m sorry.”
Leo shook his head gently. “Eva, stop saying sorry. It’s not your fault that I lost my parents.”
Eva lowered her gaze, sadness settling over her face.
Leo noticed. After a moment, he straightened, trying to lighten the heavy air.
He tilted his head, the playful smile returning to his face. “Forget about all that,” he said lightly. “There’s a reason I called you here.”
Eva blinked. “A reason?”
Leo nodded, his gaze strangely serious now. “Eva… tomorrow is your birthday, isn’t it?”
Her eyes widened, and a gentle happiness bloomed across her face. “Yes,” she said softly. “It is. But why do you ask?”
Instead of answering directly, Leo studied her for a moment, as if weighing something unseen.
“So,” he said at last, “what gift did you ask your husband to give you?”
Eva frowned in confusion. “Gift? I didn’t ask for anything. Why would I?”
Leo sighed, almost exasperated, and crossed his arms. “Then ask him.”
Eva looked taken aback. “Ask him… for what?”
“A ring,” Leo replied simply. “A ring with a green gemstone. And it has to be expensive.”
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
“A-an expensive ring?” Eva echoed. “With a green gemstone?”
“Yes,” Leo said, his tone firm. “Exactly that.”
Eva shook her head at once. “I can’t do that,” she said quietly. “He already works so hard to earn money. I don’t want to burden him with something so selfish. I can’t ask for something expensive.”
At that, Leo suddenly burst out laughing, clutching his stomach as if he’d heard the funniest joke in the world.
Eva stared at him,bewildered. “Why are you laughing?”
“Eva,” Leo said between laughs, wiping the corner of his eye, “your husband isn’t going to go broke just by buying a single ring.”
She hesitated. “He… won’t?”
Leo straightened and looked at her seriously. “No. Don’t worry. He can afford it.”
Her shoulders slowly relaxed. “He can…?”
“Yes,” Leo repeated with certainty.
After a moment of silence, Eva finally nodded. “Alright. I’ll ask for the ring.” Then she paused, her brows knitting together. “But at least tell me this—why does it have to be a ring with a green gemstone?”
Leo’s smile faded. For the first time, his expression turned unreadable. “I can’t tell you that, Eva.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he spoke again, gently this time.
“Just trust me. I’m doing this for your good.”
Eva searched his face, then slowly nodded. “Okay… I you.”
The world around them began to blur. The tree, the swing, even Leo’s figure started to fade, as if the dream itself was slipping away.
“Leo?” Eva called out anxiously. “Are you leaving?”
“Yes,” he replied softly. “It’s time for you to wake up.”
As his form became almost transparent, he added one last thing, his voice echoing faintly—
“And Eva… remember to wear it every day.”
The dream shattered like mist.
Eva gasped and opened her eyes, waking up in her bed—her heart strangely heavy, and her hand unconsciously closing into a fist.
Leo remained standing in the dreamland, staring at the empty space where Eva had been only moments ago.
For a heartbeat, silence ruled.
Then he burst into laughter.
Clutching his stomach, Leo dropped to the ground, rolling as his laughter echoed beneath the vast, unreal sky.
“She’s worried her husband won’t be able to afford a ring…” he gasped between laughs. “Oh dear—this is too much. I can’t stop laughing.”
Slowly, his laughter faded into a breathless chuckle. Leo pushed himself up, brushing imaginary dust from his clothes.
“Oh, Eva,” he murmured, amusement laced with something deeper. “If only you knew who your husband really is…”
His expression shifted. The smile vanished, replaced by a cold, unwavering seriousness that did not belong to a child.
“I’ll make sure of it,” Leo said quietly. “No matter what it takes, your husband will give you .”
Turning away, he lifted a hand and waved casually.
“Let’s meet again,” he said.
Leo smiled.
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(Royal Palace of Velmoria)
Eyan let out a slow sigh, rubbing his temple as frustration weighed heavily on him. Across the desk, Hans stood in respectful silence, sensing his emperor’s mood.
“You couldn’t find it?” Eyan asked at last, his voice low.
Hans bowed his head slightly.
“No, Your Majesty. I searched every jeweler in the capital—without exception. A ring with a green gemstone… every single one has already been sold.”
Eyan’s fingers tapped against the polished surface of the table, sharp and restless.
“This is the first time Eva has ever asked me for a gift,” he said quietly. “I don’t want to disappoint her.”
Hans hesitated before speaking again. “Your Majesty, does the ring truly need to have a green gemstone? Perhaps another color—a sapphire or a ruby—would—”
“No,” Eyan interrupted firmly. “It has to be green.”
Hans fell silent. After a moment, he tried again. “Then… what about purchasing one from a neighboring country?”
Eyan shook his head. “No. Her birthday is tomorrow. Even the fastest courier would take days. I need to find one today.”
Hans frowned, thinking hard. Then his eyes suddenly widened.
“Your Majesty… there a ring with a green gemstone.”
Eyan looked up at once. “Where?”
“Do you remember the gift Prince Velco brought you on your birthday?” Hans asked carefully.
“There was a ring among them. A ring with a green gemstone.”
Eyan went still, then nodded slowly. “Yes… you’re right. That ring.”
He straightened, resolve hardening in his eyes. “Bring it to me.”
Hans soon returned, carrying a small velvet box in his hands. He placed it carefully on the desk and stepped back.
Eyan opened the box.
Nestled inside lay a ring crowned with a deep green gemstone, its surface catching the light with an almost unnatural brilliance.
Eyan’s lips curved into a rare smile. “It’s perfect,” he murmured. “And… it’s the right size for her finger.”
Hans allowed himself a relieved smile. “Then your problem is solved, Your Majesty. You can finally present it to Her Majesty.”
The smile on Eyan’s face slowly faded. “No,” he said after a moment. “That might not be a good idea.”
Hans stiffened. “Your Majesty?”
“Prince Velco gifted this ring,” Eyan continued, his gaze never leaving the gemstone. “If he sees it on Eva’s finger, he’ll recognize it instantly.”
He closed the box with a soft click. “And they will meet at the hunting competition. I can’t take that risk.”
Hans thought for a moment, then spoke carefully.
“Your Majesty, you’re worrying unnecessarily. During the hunting competition, Her Majesty will be wearing gloves. There will be no chance for Prince Velco to see the ring.”
Eyan remained silent.
“And after the competition,” Hans added, “the prince will return to his country. There is no reason for them to meet again.”
Eyan hesitated, fingers tightening around the box. “True… they won’t meet again. But—”
“Your Majesty,” Hans interrupted gently, “please don’t overthink this. Give the ring to Her Majesty.”
Slowly, Eyan opened the box once more and stared at the green gemstone, its glow reflecting in his eyes.
“…Fine,” he said at last. “I’ll give it to her.”
In choosing that ring, Eyan unknowingly set fate into motion—one that could no longer be undone.
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