YOU’RE CHANGING ME!

She walked fast, almost running, as rage and pain raged within her chest. Naru lay unconscious, maybe even on the brink of death, all because of the man standing before her.

Raizen.

He didn't show the slightest hint of fear as she stormed toward him. He stood still, hands tucked into the sleeves of his dark robes, watching her with those cold, piercing eyes.

Leyla didn't stop. She didn't think. The moment she reached him, she grabbed him by the collar and yanked him closer, his face now so near hers that she could feel his breath on her skin.

Raizen didn't move, but something in his eyes shifted.

The closeness of her skin, the scent of her body—so familiar, yet so foreign. For years, he had imagined what it would be like to have her this close again, but now that it had finally happened, he couldn't move.

As if, if he touched her, she would disappear again.

His hands remained at his sides, but inside him, a storm raged.

Leyla.Or maybe… not Leyla?

And yet, her energy… it was the same.

Her fire, her rage… he had felt it all before, many years ago.

But then, things had changed.

Her eyes suddenly widened, and her grip on his clothing loosened.

She felt something.

Voices.

Vague images flickered through her mind—scene after scene, blurred yet filled with emotions she couldn't escape.

Raizen.His voice.His touch.His hand in hers.

Something inside her broke.

She let go of him and suddenly fell to her knees, clutching her head. Her breath came in ragged gasps as memories exploded in her mind.

Raizen still didn't move.

But now, he knew.

She remembers.

He knelt down, carefully, slowly, as if afraid to startle her.

His hands rested on his knees as he watched her.

"Breathe," he said softly.

Leyla couldn't breathe.

"Breathe, princess."

She took deep, trembling breaths, and Raizen was patient.

He didn't touch her.He didn't rush her.He only waited.

Leyla's body suddenly grew heavy, and her vision blurred. She felt herself slipping into unconsciousness, unable to fight it.

Raizen caught her before she hit the ground.

"Leyla!"

Her body was light in his arms, but to him, it carried the weight of centuries.

Without hesitation, he lifted her and gently cradled her as if she were the most precious thing in the world. Her head rested against his shoulder, her breath shallow.

His men stared at him in shock, but he ignored them.

"Prepare a room," he ordered coldly.

No one questioned him.

Raizen walked through the long corridors, holding her carefully, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't want to admit how much her touch affected him.

He didn't want to admit how much he wanted her back.

When Leyla woke up, the first thing she felt was warmth.

Soft sheets beneath her, candlelight flickering in the corners of the room.

But the moment she realized where she was—and WHO was beside her—she abruptly jumped out of bed.

"You!" she shouted, furious, instinctively taking a few steps back.

Raizen sat in a chair beside the bed, hands resting on his knees, watching her calmly.

"Good morning," he said smoothly, as if nothing had happened.

"Cut the crap," she snapped. "Where am I? Why did you bring me here?!"

"You passed out. You needed rest."

Leyla froze.

She didn't know what unsettled her more—that he had taken care of her, or that he sounded so… gentle?

No. No, she couldn't let him mess with her head.

"You had no right to touch me!" she shouted, clenching her fists.

Raizen raised an eyebrow.

"Well, next time, I'll let you smash your head against the floor."

Leyla gritted her teeth.

"Don't try to piss me off," she growled.

"That just comes naturally to me."

His voice was calm but tinged with amusement.

Leyla ran a hand through her hair, trying to steady herself.

"What do you want, Raizen?" she asked directly.

He sighed and stood up slowly, like a predator in no hurry.

"I want to talk."

"About what? How you tried to kill Naru?"

Raizen smirked, but it wasn't a pleasant smile.

"About who you really are, Leyla."

Her body tensed.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, but even she could hear the uncertainty in her voice.

Raizen stepped closer.

"You do. You're just afraid to admit it."

Leyla clenched her jaw.

"I'm not the one who's afraid," she said, her voice icy.

Raizen studied her for a moment, then chuckled.

"Maybe you're not."

He slipped his hands into his sleeves, his gaze serious.

"But it's time for you to learn the truth."

Leyla took a deep breath.

She knew she had no choice.

Leyla sat with her arms crossed, watching Raizen with the same sarcastic expression she had used to survive all her unpleasant situations.

"So," she said, tapping her fingers against her arm, "the King of Darkness wants to have a serious conversation. How amusing."

Raizen chuckled, a deep, quiet sound.

"King of Darkness? Really?"

"What else should I call you? Lord of Drama? Prince of Brooding?"

"Sounds like the title of a cheap novel."

Leyla shrugged.

"Well, you are a little cheap."

Raizen laughed again, but this time—it wasn't the usual mocking, sarcastic smirk he usually wore. No, something had changed.

His features, usually sharp and cold, softened in that moment. When he laughed—really laughed—he looked… different.

Younger. Warmer.

Like someone who, a long time ago, might have been easy to love.

But Leyla didn't want to think about that.

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked bluntly.

Raizen's expression turned serious again.

"To talk about what you saw. What you feel. What you're slowly starting to remember."

Leyla swallowed hard but refused to let him see her hesitation.

"You think I'm… her?"

Raizen held her gaze, unwavering.

"I know you are."

Leyla scoffed.

"You 'know'? Really? Do you have a DNA test or something?"

"I don't need a test."

"Oh, right. Because you're the great, almighty Raizen, master of dramatic revelations."

Raizen laughed again.

Leyla was starting to get on his nerves—but in a way that felt more like amusement than frustration.

"You were someone who changed this world," he said softly. "You were someone who… changed me."

His voice no longer held its usual confidence. No longer carried its arrogance.

No, now it was the voice of someone who still carried pain.

Leyla remained silent.

Raizen took a small step back, looking at a distant spot on the wall, as if seeing something only he could.

"I loved you," he said simply.

Leyla tried not to react.

"And you couldn't save me, could you?"

Raizen looked at her, and for a moment, she froze.

There was too much in his gaze.

"I couldn't."

His voice was lower. Rougher.

Leyla took a breath, unsure of what to say.

But she didn't have to say anything.

Because Raizen already knew how this conversation would end.

He leaned in closer, but didn't touch her.

"But you know what the best part of this story is?"

Leyla didn't answer.

Raizen smiled—but this time, there was nothing soft about it.

"When your memories come back…"

He leaned in even closer, his breath brushing against her ear.

"…you'll stop loving Naru."