My name is Anna, and I hail from Circle City—or should I say the capital of Elfan now? My mother, Elizabeth Elzaran, was the queen of Elzaran, and my father was a mere cook in the royal palace. Curious why my last name isn't Elzaran or why I’m not a princess? Well, let me tell you.

My father was a commoner who won the queen's heart through his culinary skills. She would summon him at odd hours just to taste his delectable dishes. One thing led to another, and the queen found herself pregnant. Valuing her reputation above all, she kept the pregnancy a secret. She hid her growing belly under layers of clothes and used a magical item to conceal it. When I was born, my mother fired my father to raise me discreetly. She secretly funded him, allowing him to open a restaurant, which quickly gained fame.

I had a passion for swords, unlike my father, who was a master chef. Still, I helped around the shop, not wanting to disappoint him. When I turned twelve, my father revealed the truth about my royal lineage. It was a shock to learn my mother was the queen, but the painful part was realizing she was ashamed of me. I chose to keep this knowledge to myself, knowing the danger it posed. There was already a crown princess, and revealing my identity could disrupt the royal hierarchy. Nobles are ruthless when it comes to power.

Life was peaceful until jealous nobles targeted us. One night, our house was set ablaze. I woke up to smoke and flames, unable to move or breathe. My father shielded me from the fire, sacrificing himself. Neighbors tried to save us, but I blacked out. I woke up in an apothecary, cared for by a kind lady named Lirael Aceso. When I asked about my father, her sorrowful expression told me everything. I despised the queen for failing to protect him.

Homeless and too young to run our business, I had to rely on relatives. My aunties were more interested in our restaurant than my well-being, fighting over it at the apothecary. Lirael, fearing for my safety, offered me a place in her home until the dispute was settled. I accepted, having no other options.

The Aceso estate was a revelation—grand and beautiful. Despite coming from a prestigious family, Lirael was kind and gentle. She had twin daughters my age, and we hit it off immediately. They shared my love for fighting, and we bonded over sparring sessions. Life at the Aceso estate was a dream. Lirael adopted me, helped reclaim my father's properties, and rebuilt our burnt house. She ensured the businesses thrived and saved the profits for me.

As I grew up, my sword skills improved. When I reached adulthood, my father's properties were transferred to me. Yet, nothing changed in my loyalty to the Aceso family. I revealed my royal lineage to them, and they accepted me without hesitation. To repay their kindness, I worked hard. When the twins needed bodyguards, I volunteered. Eli went to the knight academy, while I trained rigorously under the Aceso family’s commander of knights.

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Years later, Eli and I became bodyguards to Lady Leona and Leonie. I spent most of my time with Lady Leona, who was kind and beautiful. When she was banished to Eldorado, I had no choice but to follow. In Eldorado, we faced harassment from locals. I suggested eradicating the town, but Lady Leona was against it. She found a friend and began to smile again. However, I soon realized she was in love with him—a dark elf named Elfan.

Lady Leona's behavior grew erratic. She wrote obsessively about him and went mad when he ventured into a sealed mine, killing her own comrades. Years passed, and they married. At first, I was against it, but seeing her happiness, I supported their union. They ascended the throne and transformed our country, abolishing discrimination and boosting the economy.

As her bodyguard and His Majesty’s secretary, I found myself drawn to him. He was tall, dark, and exuded a quiet strength that was impossible to ignore. But despite my growing feelings, Elfan was slow to notice. Her Highness was overprotective, but I showed my devotion by protecting them both. Guarding the door at night, I fantasized about being with them. I imagined what it would be like to run my fingers through his dark hair, to feel his strong arms around me. But he was always too focused on his duties and his love for Lady Leona to see the longing in my eyes.

I remember the day he asked me to accompany him on a diplomatic mission. We rode side by side, and he talked to me as if I were an equal. His kindness made my heart ache with unspoken words. He praised my swordsmanship and said he trusted me with his life. Those words were a balm to my soul, yet they also deepened my yearning for something more. I wanted him to see me, not just as a bodyguard or secretary, but as a woman who loved him deeply.

Now, as Elfan stands gravely wounded, I see Ryan preparing to deliver the fatal blow. Without thinking, I dive in front of him, taking the blade meant for His Majesty. Pain explodes in my chest as I feel the cold steel pierce my flesh. Blood flows freely, and I collapse, struggling to breathe.

Elfan's eyes widen in horror as he catches me, cradling my head in his arms. "Wake up, Anna! Come on, stop playing," he cries, his voice thick with anguish. "Wake up, please!"

Through the haze of pain, I manage a weak smile. "Elfan, I... I need to tell you something," I whisper, but my voice is so faint, drowned out by his desperate pleas.

"Stay with me, Anna. Don’t leave me. Wake up!" He shakes me gently, his tears falling onto my face.

As darkness encroaches, I regret not confessing my feelings sooner, not seizing the moments we had. If only I had been braver. If only he had noticed. My last thoughts are of him, hoping that in another life, I will have the courage to tell him how much he means to me.

"Elfan, I... I love you," I try to say, but the words are lost as my strength fades and the world around me grows dim.

In my final moments, I cling to the hope that somehow, in some other time, we will find each other again.

"I'll find you," I whisper, as the darkness takes me. "In the next life, I'll find you..."

And with that, I slip into the void, my heart full of love and regret, hoping Elfan will know the depth of my feelings, even if it's too late.