The Day Of Death And Sorrow

Cedric's body ached as he jolted awake from the dream world, the memory of his mother still fresh in his mind. But when he touched his lips, he felt the warm trickle of blood. He was bleeding, just as Matilda had warned. The potion had taken more from him than he expected, but it had also given him clarity.

He stumbled through the door of Matilda's shop, his hands gripping the edge of the counter. Matilda, always keenly aware, rushed to him.

"You've pushed too far," she said, her hands already moving to pull out herbs and healing potions. "Sit."

Cedric obeyed, sitting heavily on a chair as Matilda began treating the wounds the dream had caused. His mind swam, not just from the pain, but from the revelation he had just uncovered. The truth of his existence was now clear, and he knew exactly what needed to be done.

"More potions," Cedric whispered, his voice weak but determined. "I need more for the wedding."

Matilda paused, her brow furrowing. "You're still going through with it?"

Cedric gave a weak nod, wincing at the pain in his chest. "It has to happen. Everything is falling into place."

Matilda studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she sighed and handed him another vial. "This will keep you alive for a short while after... it happens. But it's dangerous, Cedric. You're playing with something far beyond what you understand."

"I understand perfectly," he replied. "I've seen it all."

---

The day had come, the day Seraphina both dreaded and longed for. As she stood before the mirror, dressed in her wedding gown, her reflection felt foreign to her. A villainess dressed as a bride, the woman feared across kingdoms, now poised to marry the only man who had ever claimed to love her—Cedric.

But the prophecy lingered like a shadow, its weight pressing down on her chest. She had no choice. The moment the dagger pierced his heart, everything would be set in motion. If she didn't fulfill it, she would lose everything she held dear, including the kingdom and, worst of all, her freedom.

Yet, it was Cedric she would lose first.

Her heart clenched at the thought of him. His unwavering devotion, his determination to change her fate, and now, today, he would die by her hand.

Seraphina closed her eyes, forcing herself to breathe. She had been prepared for this from the start. This was always how it had to end.

The day of the wedding came, and Arcadia was alive with celebration. Every noble and dignitary from across the land had gathered to witness the union of Cedric and Seraphina, a match that would secure the kingdom's future. The air was heavy with anticipation, though beneath the festivities, a somber note lingered—an unspoken understanding of what was to come.

The wedding was a grand spectacle, as expected. The nobles were gathered, the royals sat in attendance, and the air was thick with the anticipation of the union between Cedric and Seraphina. But no one knew the dark truth behind the beautiful facade—except the two standing at the altar.

Seraphina, the villainess who had once been feared and hated, now stood radiant in her wedding dress, her face an unreadable mask as she walked toward Cedric. The prophecy loomed over her, and though her steps were steady, Cedric could see the turmoil in her eyes. She knew what had to happen.

Seraphina glanced at Cedric, his face serene, almost calm as if he had already accepted his fate. He looked at her with those same eyes, filled with an emotion she still struggled to name. Was it love? Or something deeper, something that transcended even that?

His hand found hers, steadying her trembling fingers. She tried to draw strength from him, but her heart raced. She didn't want this. She didn't want to lose him. Not now. Not after everything.

As the final words of the ceremony were spoken, the crowd rose to their feet, clapping and cheering. Cedric smiled at her, that same gentle smile he had given her so many times before.

The ceremony was beautiful, almost ethereal. Vows were exchanged, and the union was sealed with a kiss, though neither bride nor groom smiled. Everyone watched, some in awe, others in fear, as the ceremony reached its conclusion.

But Seraphina's hand trembled.

And then, at the appointed moment, she acted.

Her dagger, hidden beneath the folds of her dress, plunged into Cedric's chest. The crowd gasped, but no one moved. The prophecy was being fulfilled.

Cedric's vision blurred, and he staggered, feeling the warmth of his blood soak through his suit. Yet, through the haze, he remained conscious, thanks to Matilda's potion. The pain was excruciating, but he needed to speak—to say the words that had weighed on him for so long.

He reached for Seraphina's hand, holding her as he bled. "You've done it... just like the prophecy said."

Tears streamed down Seraphina's face, her body trembling with the weight of her actions. "I had no choice, Cedric... the prophecy... I had to do it. If I didn't... I would lose everything."

Cedric coughed, blood staining his lips as he smiled weakly. "I know. I've always known."

Her tear-filled eyes met his. "Then why... why did you go through with it?"

Cedric, struggling to stay conscious, pulled something from his jacket—an old, weathered book. The grimoire. The very one he had found in the cabin.

"This... this isn't just any book," Cedric whispered, his voice growing faint. "It's my diary."

Seraphina's eyes widened in shock. "What?"

"I didn't reincarnate," Cedric said, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "I time-traveled. The moment you killed me the first time... I was sent back. The novel I read... it was my life. My diary. Everything I knew... everything I did... was to try and change our fate. The day Rosewood burned the experiment and the cabin of my dreams it wasn't a curse but a gift. A gift that bestowed me to lift the curse upin you with the prophecy of love."

Seraphina's hands shook, still clutching the bloody dagger. "You... you knew this would happen?"

Cedric nodded weakly, his strength fading. "I knew... I'd die again. But this confirmed it. It wasn't the potion." As he locked at Matilda she came near him."

"Matilda, will the healing potion work now?"

Matilda gazed with a sad,

"Ofcourse not,idiot."

"Doesn't the live potion work the same way?"

"What?"

"When I die does it wear off?"

"Ofcourse it does."

Cedric smiled as ge looked at Seraphina

"That means when i died in the previous life. The potion wore off but i still loved you. I loved you since i was a child. You don't remember it now. You want the reason I love you beacause I love you. I love you the way you breath."

Seraphina's face turned with full of tears.

"Why did you do this though?"

" I needed to know... one thing."

Seraphina leaned closer, her tears falling onto his face. "What... what is it?"

Cedric's grip on her hand tightened, his voice barely a whisper. "Do you love me?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and raw. Seraphina, her tears falling freely now, sobbed as she cradled Cedric's head in her arms.

"Yes," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I do. I love you, Cedric."

A weak smile crossed Cedric's lips, his heart swelling with both pain and joy. "Then... it was worth it."

With those final words, Cedric's eyes closed, his body going still. The potion had done its work, keeping him alive long enough to hear her answer. But now, even its power couldn't hold back the inevitable.

Seraphina held him close, her heart breaking as she wept over his lifeless body. The man who had done everything for her, who had changed the course of fate itself, was gone. And though the prophecy had been fulfilled, she had lost the one person she truly loved.

The crowd remained silent, the weight of the moment pressing down on them all. The villainess had fulfilled her destiny, but at a cost neither of them had fully understood until it was too late.

As Seraphina cried, the world around her felt emptier than ever. She had gained everything the prophecy had promised her—yet she had lost the only person who had ever truly understood her.

And in that moment, she realized that even in fulfilling the prophecy, she had not escaped her fate.

She had merely traded one kind of suffering for another.

She had gained everything.

But she had lost the only thing that had ever mattered.

And now, even with the prophecy fulfilled, her heart felt emptier than it ever had before. The man she loved was gone, and no amount of power could bring him back.