Karina

Venzel pushed himself up, his breath unsteady. He remembered this day with painful clarity…

After Angie had saved him, he hadn't sent her to fetch the doctor. Instead, he had asked her to stay. They had talked, laughed, and that was when he had truly fallen for her.

But not this time, not this life, he wouldn't repeat that same mistake.

Without waiting for Angie to return, Venzel turned and walked away. His steps were slow, his body aching with every movement.

A knife wound marred his abdomen—a wound he had inflicted upon himself.

While Angie had managed to heal part of it, the pain still lingered on, sharp and itchy.

At the very least, he wouldn't die.

"Not yet, it's too early," he muttered, a bitter laugh escaping his lips as he mocked himself.

His mind was a storm of memories, his past and the present colliding.

And whenever he thought of Karina, a dull ache throbbed in his chest.

Did I truly feel that much guilt?

He scoffed at himself, shaking his head. And yet, despite everything, a small smile crept onto his lips.

He had come back in time, given a second chance and this time, he would change it.

This time, he would give his life to live a peaceful, loving life—with Karina.

* * *

The next day, Venzel readied himself for class, his mind heavy with the weight of what was to come.

If the past remained unchanged, today would be the day Karina and Angie had their fateful argument.

And today… was also the day he would break off his engagement with Karina.

He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his silver hair.

Phew… thanks for the second chance.

Dressed in the academy's pristine uniform—a white coat and matching white pants—he couldn't help but think the school had an odd fixation on the color.

Yet, despite its simplicity, the uniform suited him well along with his white silver hair which added charm to the suit.

Absent-mindedly, his fingers brushed over his abdomen, where the knife wound still remained beneath the fabric.

After finishing up, Venzel made his way toward the academy, his steps steady but his mind restless.

The academy was vast, encompassing an entire estate of its own. A grand dormitory stood tall, offering each student the luxury of their own private room. Beyond it stretched a massive playground, large enough to fit two full-sized football fields.

And then there was the combat arena—the heart of the academy. It was the largest structure on the grounds, housing multiple training halls, dueling platforms, and endless spaces dedicated to honing one's skills. And that was only a fraction of what the academy had to offer.

As Venzel approached the towering gates, he let out a slow, deep sigh.

Doubt gnawed at the edges of his mind.

Can I face Karina? Will I ever be able to earn her love again?

His fingers curled into fists.

Without a second thought, he raised his hand and slapped himself—hard. The sting burned against his skin, grounding him in the present.

Be confident.

You're the second prince of the country and besides, she's your fiancée.

With newfound resolve, Venzel took his first step through the academy gates—back in time, back to the moment before he made his first, greatest mistake.

"Venzel!"

A breathless voice called out behind him, filled with relief and familiarity.

Turning slightly, Venzel saw Angie sprinting toward him, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to catch her breath. A light laugh escaped her lips, though concern still lingered in her eyes.

"Ha… ha… finally caught up! Venzel, are you okay now?"

Venzel slowed his steps, offering her a small, easy smile. "Yeah, I'm all good. Thanks for yesterday."

Smiling at her wouldn't hurt—after all, despite giving his everything, her heart never belonged to him. The thought alone stung, but he swallowed it down, mocking himself in silence.

"Angie, I'll have to go ahead. I'll see you in class later," he said, preparing to walk away.

"Ah… can't we go together?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Venzel paused, then spoke with quiet finality.

"Angie… I have a fiancée."

Before Angie could respond, Venzel walked ahead, his attention drawn to a familiar figure in the distance.

Karina.

She stood alone, clutching her books close to her chest. A pair of thin glasses rested on the bridge of her nose, her head tilted downward as if she were trying to make herself smaller.

She looked… different. Almost unassuming. Nerdy, even.

Yet, to Venzel, she had never seemed more precious.

His chest tightened. A wave of emotions stirred within him—regret, guilt, longing. He hadn't realized just how much he had missed her. How much he had wronged her.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, he stepped forward, forcing a gentle, genuine smile onto his face.

"Good day, dear. Need a hand?"

The words left his lips naturally, warmer than he expected.

Karina flinched at the sound of his voice, her shoulders tensing and her grip on her books tightened. She lifted her head slightly, wide emerald eyes filled with hesitation and then avoided eye contact as she looked down right away.

"A-Ah… excuse me—I'm sorry!" she stammered before dashing off, nearly tripping over herself in her haste to escape.

Venzel stood there, watching her retreating figure, a bitter chuckle escaping him.

Right… what was I thinking?

He had spent years ignoring her, ridiculing her, treating her like she was nothing. She already had developed a trauma at this point.

I should take it slow.

Inhaling deeply, Venzel steadied himself. Then, wearing a warm smile, he followed after her.