The Cursed Prince

Chapter 953: Rowena Is Feeling Better

Raphael froze for a moment and then met Rowena's gaze. "Pardon?"

"You stayed with me for more than two weeks just to make sure that I was alright. People don't just do that for someone they've barely met."

Raphael cleared his throat. "It is simply because I've admired what you did for your friend so—"

"That's not enough of a reason," Rowena said and frowned. "Do I know you from somewhere? Have we met before? Are you actually someone who my father knows and this is all a vile attempt to make me come back with him?"

Despite the fact that she had many things going through her life, she was still perceptive and sharp. Rowena had more reasons to doubt someone and she was still on edge, even though it was clear that Raphael helped her so much.

The Seventh Prince understood her suspicions, her doubts, and her inability to trust at the moment and so... he chose to tell her a story.

"Fine, if you wish to understand why I chose to help you, it'll be a long story though."

Rowena tilted her head and gave him a smile. "We have all the time tonight, go ahead."

Raphael said those words but didn't know how to start. How awkward would it be to reveal he was a god that was trapped as a bird and stayed by Rowena's side secretly throughout her childhood?

However, he still promised to tell her a story and so, all he needed to do was still give a good reason why a mere 'stranger' helped another person.

"There are times in your life when you're not at the top of the world," Raphael began. The memory of losing a bet against the God of Knowledge was something that left him to slightly grimace.

Rowena silently looked at him and assessed his features while she listened. As he recounted his tale, Rowena was still on guard—there were tell-tale signs of telling a lie, when a man was simply making up a story to impress a woman, but he sounded genuine.

It didn't take too long for Raphael to explain why someone had helped him at a moment where he was at his lowest—leaving out the part as a mere Phoenix deprived of powers.

"However, it was through this dear person's help that I was able to see much of the world and more importantly they have saved my life."

Raphael's deep gaze in Rowena's direction left her slightly surprised. It also made Rowena extremely conscious because she had been staring at him for a long while.

"A-ah... I see. So, someone saved your life and you saved mine?" Rowena said.

"Yes, you can simply call it paying forward the kindness I've received in the past," Raphael smiled gently. "And it also probably helps that this person reminded me of you."&nb

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"Me?" Rowena's eyes widened. "Do we look similar? Is that why you kept staring at me in the underwater palace of the Merfolk King?"

Raphael's face slightly turned red as he averted his gaze. He didn't realize that he really had been staring hopelessly at Rowena back then.

"Uh, well... I wish to be honest and say that you caught my eye, but what I truly admired the most back then was your self-sacrificing nature and the lengths that you would go through for a friend." Raphael said.

"Ah, so I reminded you of this person who once saved your life," Rowena slowly said. "Similar to what I... when I tried to save Julian."

Raphael looked worriedly at her, but Rowena only took a deep breath and then finally pulled up to her feet. She no longer burst into tears at the memory of her friend, but it was clear that it still affected her deeply.

Raphael cleared his throat and said. "Do you wish to go back to sleep? Or to eat? Are you famished? You just woke up but you came here to the garden immediately."

Rowena chuckled lightly. "Sleep? I've slept so much in the past weeks that I feel like I need to exercise and get out. But... did you say food?"

"Yeah, I cooked something," Raphael said and then gestured back to the hut. "You weren't eating what I cooked you, but I still did it just in case you got even a little bit hungry."

Rowena grimaced. "Ah, that must have been a lot of food spoilage—thank you for your efforts. I would like to eat, but I still have to repay you for your help—"

"There's no need to do something like that, remember?" Raphael said. "All of this is simply to pay forward the kindness I've received."

"Well, since I've received your kindness," Rowena looked at him. "Nobody said that paying it forward meant that I couldn't help the person who helped me first."

Raphael paused but then slowly nodded. "If that is the case... then I hope you could allow me to take shelter in your hut?"

"Huh? Did you sleep outside the entire time?" Rowena's eyes suddenly widened.

"The idea of an unmarried man and woman sleeping underneath the same roof isn't taken so well, isn't it?" Raphael said vaguely. He also didn't feel comfortable taking Julian's room.

Rowena smiled sadly for a moment. That was exactly how she and Julian first met, how most of this all started.

"Yeah, it's frustrating when someone doesn't believe you—but you've already done so much for me that if you had any evil intentions you would have already done them, right?"

"I would never do anything to you." Raphael frowned.

"I know. So le

t's come inside of the hut already then." Rowena smiled and beckoned the man to follow him over back into the hut.

Raphael followed right after her. "If you'd like to return to your room, I can also bring the tray of food there. I'm glad that you're feeling better, but please don't force yourself, alright?"

"A-ah, thank you so much, Raphael." Rowena smiled. "I'll do just that."

The Seventh Prince then soon turned his back around to prepare Rowena's food and heat them up.

However, when Rowena stepped away from Raphael and returned to her room—the smile on her face vanished.

"He's... suspicious."