Chapter 479: Are You Willing To Take That Risk?
Seated in the small wooden rowboat that drifted lazily over the calm expanse of Stav Lake, Serah and Billy sat side by side, each holding a fishing rod in hand. The gentle creak of the oars echoed faintly, though they had long been drawn in, and now the boat simply floated wherever the current pleased to take it. The lake stretched wide around them—tranquil and endless—its glassy surface reflecting the soft blue of the sky and the faint shimmer of falling autumn leaves that drifted upon the water.
Serah sat upright, the morning breeze tugging at strands of her red hair that had escaped her ponytail. Her brows furrowed slightly as she stared at her fishing line disappearing into the depths of the water, the rod steady in her hands.
"Honestly," she said, breaking the silence, "I still think this is a waste of time."
Billy gave a soft chuckle from beside her, the corner of his lips curling upward as he calmly reeled in and cast again.
"I mean, I had no success when I tried fishing at the streams or the river," Serah continued, her tone mildly exasperated. "And that was when I could actually see the fish. But here? It’s like fishing in an ocean. There’s no way I’m catching anything in this massive lake. My chances are literally below zero."
Billy let out a low laugh, his voice rumbling warmly. "I get your logic, Serah," he said in that calm, unhurried tone of his. "But trust me, I have a feeling you’ll have your first catch today." He cast another line into the water and leaned back slightly. "You just need to be..."
"Patient," Serah finished for him, glancing sideways with a faint smirk.
Billy’s grin widened. "See? You’re already halfway there."
Serah let out an exaggerated sigh, the sound soft but playful, and looked back toward the lake. The sunlight shimmered across the rippling surface, casting tiny waves of light that danced across their faces.
For a long stretch of time, neither spoke. Only the rhythmic sounds of water lapping against the sides of the boat and the occasional chirping of distant birds filled the air. Billy began humming softly—an old tune, low and familiar. Serah tilted her head slightly, realizing it sounded strikingly similar to the tune Marcus often hummed when he was focused or simply bored.
"I see you’ve grown close to Marcus," Billy said at last, his tone light yet thoughtful, still gazing at the horizon. "I suppose he wasn’t lying when he said you were the one he wanted."
Serah turned her head toward him, her eyes widening slightly before her cheeks flushed crimson. She quickly turned her gaze back to the lake, pretending to focus on her fishing line, though the soft, shy smile curving her lips betrayed her.
"I won’t deny it," Billy went on, a gentle warmth threading through his voice. "You two make a fine pair. I can see it clearly now—the way you look at him, the way he behaves when you’re around. He’s different with you, calmer in some ways, more alive in others." Billy paused, smiling faintly. "Your stay here has shown me something I didn’t expect—that my son truly needs someone like you in his life. And you... well, you bring a light into his chaos. I can’t say I’m against it."
Serah’s eyes softened as she listened, but then Billy’s tone shifted, becoming heavier, more deliberate.
"But," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly as they lingered on the water, "there’s something you must understand—something you, especially, need to be prepared for."
Serah’s head turned toward him again, curiosity flickering in her expression. "What do you mean?"
Billy took a deep breath, his face reflecting both wisdom and weariness. "You, Serah, are the first child and princess of the Solara Kingdom. A kingdom that, for generations, has branded dark mages as curses upon humanity. Your father—the King—is known far and wide for his merciless enforcement of the laws against us. He hunts my kind without hesitation, believing it righteous."
He turned his head slightly, his sharp, knowing gaze meeting hers. "And I imagine, being raised under such a man, you were taught to despise dark mages as much as he does."
Serah’s lips parted, but no words came out.
Billy continued, his tone calm yet piercing. "But you didn’t turn out that way, did you? No... somehow, you strayed from the path he tried to carve for you. Though I doubt he realizes it. You’ve done well to hide that softness—your sympathy for those your father calls cursed. You’ve shown him only the image of the daughter he expects to see, while quietly defying the very beliefs he built his throne upon."
He looked away again, the faintest trace of admiration in his voice. "I’ll admit, I respect that. Your quiet rebellion. Your strength. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were born of the Tempest Kingdom rather than Solara itself."
A soft wind passed over the lake, carrying with it the scent of pine and water. The surface rippled faintly, and Serah’s grip on her fishing rod tightened just a little.
Then Billy spoke again, his tone growing heavier with each word. "But I must ask you something, Princess."
Her crimson eyes lifted to meet his.
"How long do you believe this... relationship of yours can remain hidden? This forbidden love between the Princess of Solara and a dark mage?" He held her gaze firmly, his voice steady yet laced with meaning. "You and I both know that nothing stays buried forever. Sooner or later, truth claws its way into the light."
Serah’s lips parted slightly, her breath catching as his words sank deep into her chest.
"So tell me, Serah," Billy continued, leaning forward slightly. "Are you willing to bear that cost? To risk your crown, your title, your family’s honor—and even your own life—for the sake of being with Marcus?"
The air between them fell utterly still. Only the gentle rocking of the boat and the soft whisper of the wind filled the silence that followed, as Serah’s heart pounded quietly beneath her ribs.
For a long while, she remained silent. The gentle lap of water against the rowboat was the only sound between her and Billy. The weight of his words lingered heavily in her chest, and as she stared into the rippling reflection of the lake, she saw not just her own face—but the chains of a life she had been born into.
The gleaming crown, the golden halls, the endless ceremonies of praise and pretense—none of it had ever truly belonged to her. Her father’s ideals had always come first, and her own heart, her own wants, were simply... shadows.
As the cool autumn wind brushed against her face, she lowered her gaze. The title, the honor, the name... all of it suddenly felt so hollow. "Those things," she thought, "they were never me. They were what he wanted me to be."
Her eyes softened as she remembered that final conversation with her mother—the tender, knowing smile on Queen Seralyne’s face, the way her hand brushed Serah’s cheek before she left Ilis Palace.
"My sweet Serah, love will not always be found in places that shine. Sometimes it lives where the world forbids it to exist. But if it’s real... it’s worth every scar it leaves."
Those words echoed now, clear and unwavering, and Serah realized that the peace she sought wasn’t bound to the Solara throne—it was sitting right here, across the still waters of Stav Lake, with the family of the man she loved.
Finally, she lifted her head, the faintest shimmer of tears in her eyes, but a small, calm smile upon her lips. "You’re right, Billy," she began softly. "Every word you said holds truth. My father’s teachings... the kingdom’s laws... they shaped me into what I was supposed to be. But not into who I am."
Billy’s eyes met hers—steady, patient, the way a man looked at someone walking the edge of revelation.
Serah continued, her voice steady now, though her hands trembled slightly on the fishing rod. "I’ve lived my whole life wearing crowns that never fit, smiling at people I didn’t trust, speaking words I didn’t mean. Everything I’ve done was to please a man who sees duty above love, and power above peace. But Marcus..." she paused, her eyes softening, "Marcus reminds me that I’m still human. That I can choose who I want to be. And that maybe, I deserve to be happy for once in my life."
Billy said nothing, only nodding faintly, listening.
"I won’t deny that I’m terrified," Serah admitted, her voice dipping low. "I know the moment my father learns of this, it’ll mean war between kingdoms, maybe even blood spilled in the name of pride. But if I have to give up my crown, my title, and every shred of honor that Solara built around me just to have a simple life with him..." she exhaled softly, a tear slipping free as she smiled through it, "then that’s what I’ll do. Because what good is a life filled with power, if my heart is empty?"
Billy’s gaze lingered on her for a long moment—his weathered face unreadable, the faint wind tugging at his grey-streaked hair. Then, slowly, a warm smile curved across his lips. It was the kind of smile that spoke not of mockery, but of pride... and remembrance.
"You speak just like her," he murmured quietly.
Serah blinked, her brows furrowing slightly. "Like who?"
Billy’s eyes softened with a glint of distant sorrow. "My late wife... Maya. She used to talk just like that. With her heart first, and logic later." He chuckled softly, shaking his head as if at an old memory. "She believed love wasn’t something to be chosen by laws or family, but something that chooses you when you least expect it. I thought she was crazy—until I fell for her myself."
Serah smiled faintly, her heart swelling at the sound of affection in his voice.
Billy looked out across the lake then, his reflection rippling beside hers. "You’ve got the same fire she had. That courage to stand against everything for the one you care for. I see now why Marcus sees the world differently around you. He smiles more genuinely, even when he thinks no one’s watching."
There was a moment of silence before Serah’s gaze turned thoughtful again. "Billy... if you don’t mind me asking..."
He tilted his head slightly, curious.
"What... happened to him?" she asked softly. "What made Marcus the way he is? I can see it sometimes, in his eyes. There’s pain there, buried deep, and yet he hides it behind his jokes, his smirks. I’ve always wondered what really caused it."
Billy’s expression changed then—something faint and distant flickered in his eyes. He looked down at his hands for a moment, silent. The lake wind shifted, cold and still, and for the first time, the lightness in his demeanor dimmed.
He took a slow breath. "That... is a story not easily told," he said quietly. "But if you’re truly ready to walk beside my son, then you deserve to hear it."