The next morning, she chose her plainest dress. No perfume. She considered leaving her hair wild—like Miss Cheerful. But Seeker loved her curls. Let him look at them one last time. When this was over, she’d talk to Kind. More selfishness.
She spent all morning thinking where to tell him. Someplace that meant nothing to him. Nothing to her either. She couldn’t bear that.
She set out a plate, then another beside it. One last breakfast before he was gone—her final act of selfishness. He stood in the doorway. Tall. Strong. Defiant. Not the sad boy from her dream. Good. That would make this easier. Her heart ached with love for him. At least she’d have this image—to hold on to when everything else was gone.
He didn’t touch the plate. Just beckoned. Headed for the door—toward the Tower. No. Not there. She caught his hand, tugged him off course—away from the Tower. Away from the stairs. And definitely not the stream.
His hand resisted—just for a second. But he followed. Through the wheat fields. Where they first smiled. No. Not here. Across the Narrow Way stood an abandoned farm. Here. Broken fences. Weeds choking the ground—like the words caught in her throat.
“Seeker, this isn’t working. Leave. Forget about me. Be happy.” It was done. Not beautiful. But it served.
He stood there, his eyes as cold as ice, as hard as steel. “Good. I don’t need you. I don’t love—”
She gasped cutting him off mid-sentence. Then the tears came—loud, broken, unstoppable. How could he? Her last ray of hope—gone. She crumpled, shuddering.
His arms wrapped around her—strong, unmoved. “Don’t cry, Beautiful. You’ll be fine. There are a million men who’ll love you.” No sympathy in his voice. Just arrogance. She stayed in his arms. Just for a breath. Even this pain—she’d hold on to it. Then he pushed her away.
“Goodbye,” he said, with finality as he turned away.
She collapsed. Briars bit into her palms. Only then did she feel it—the bitter January cold. A thorn caught on his ragged jacket and tore it with a harsh sound. She saw him shiver.
She’d done this to him. Made him a man. But she’d shattered the heart of the poor boy she loved. There was nothing to cherish in this. Nothing she could live with. She had to make it right. Then she remembered. The jacket she’d sewn for him. In secret.
“Seeker—Seeker, wait…” she called after him, pleading. “I can’t stand to see you cold like this.”
“Please Seeker,” she whispered, voice trembling. “Before you leave me… I have something I want you to have.”
***
Seeker sat next to the hearth, wooden cup trembling in his hands. He took a sip of the spiced wine—still warm. She’d poured it before slipping away upstairs.
He’d had hours to prepare. To harden his heart—be the man she wanted him to be. Had he convinced her? Maybe she would stay. But now he wanted to cut out his own tongue for those cruel words. He wasn’t prepared for her response. It had taken everything—everything—not to fall apart with her.
She appeared with a coat in her hands. “I made this for you.”
It was soft and warm, the seams stitched with small, careful precision. It fit him perfectly. She beamed.
“Can we try it out?” she asked sweetly. “Take me to see the cascades—I hear they are frozen. And beautiful.” A mischievous grin lit across her face as she dashed for the door. “Try to keep up!” she called over her shoulder.
It was as if nothing—absolutely nothing—had happened that morning. He would never understand her. Not in a million years, but he loved her.
And in that moment, he made up his mind. He would never let her go again. Ever.
***
The days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, until spring returned to the Realm of the Interpreter. Seeker and Beautiful were always together—and never once tried to leave each other.
Now and then, Seeker would ask Beautiful to be his wife. Sometimes she said yes. But by day’s end, it always turned to no, and a quiet sadness would return to her eyes. Yet no harsh words ever passed between them.
And so, the days passed, and their love and devotion only deepened. She never once removed the ring with its seven radiant diamonds. To Seeker, she remained as much a mystery as ever.
