I’d Give Up The World For You - Chapter 229

Rukelion was crying by the end of his speech and repeating how sorry he was over and over gripping Daisy’s hands as if they were his lifeline. She didn’t know what she was supposed to think after all that.

If he could be believed, he hadn’t been in love with a woman named Veronica who happened to share her soul. He had been in love with her all along. Daisy Miller. An ordinary woman from Ohio who happened to end up inside a fantasy world while in a coma.

All of this was hard to swallow. Yet for some reason Daisy was crying too.

She vaguely remembered that she had been crying when she woke up from her accident. Was this why? Because her heart remembered what had been lost even if her mind couldn’t?

His story was insane but she did believe him. He wouldn’t be so upset if he wasn’t telling the truth. That aside, she felt it in her soul. Everything that didn’t make sense clicked into place with his explanation.

Rukelion wasn’t wistful and somehow sad and happy at the same time doing things with her because he was already depressed or because he was in love with someone else that he used to do those things with. It was because he had done those things with HER countless times and she had forgotten him.

Some of what he said contradicted what was written in the prequel but if Juliet had been involved in what happened she wouldn’t have wanted to include that. She had likely written out everything about Daisy being from another world and her being there at all so it continued to fit the context of the first novel. Everything else had to be true but that.

As soon as she made that realization, memories that didn’t fit with the prequel flooded her mind. She hadn’t been visiting a friend when Rukelion took over the kingdom; she had been visiting Ira. Who had tried and failed to save her.

Daisy’s tears turned to sobs as it all came back to her. How miserable she had been being queen. How nervous yet excited she had been about the baby only to be terrified of what would happen to it with how unwell its father was doing after Juliet’s group attacked. Going into labor then falling unconscious as Ira and his friends tried to protect her from Demetria.

That was the last thing she remembered. Everything else he mentioned must have happened while she was out.

Rukelion tried and failed to save her but followed her all the way here anyway and went through so much getting used to a new world and dealing with her memory loss. It must have been so hard for him!

“Rukelion!” Daisy wailed as she threw herself into his arms, sobbing even harder.

Why? Why had he followed her? He gave up everything he worked for—everything he knew—on the off chance he would be able to see her again. There hadn’t even been a guarantee he would be able to find her.

He had spent eight years working toward a single goal and had largely put her on the back burner to do it despite loving her. She hadn’t been his priority because he was so consumed by his revenge and yet he dropped it all in a second to go after her soul without having any clue where he would end up or what would happen to him.

He had to rely on Juliet to learn how to get by in this world despite hating her more than he had hated the king of Mirea. But he did that for her sake. Knowing him, he was able to push everything else aside to focus on his goal.

He had always been like that but this time she was what he was striving for instead of being an afterthought. He had carried on even after finding out she didn’t remember him. She couldn’t fathom how painful that must have been for him but he dealt with it anyway because he would rather be with her in any capacity than without her.

Daisy had been so horrible to him without realizing the depth of her cruelty. She had been so callous to her own husband!

“Daisy?” Rukelion asked cautiously. “Did you remember something?”

“I remember everything! You idiot, how could you give up all that you worked for because of me? I wasn’t as important to you as your revenge so how—?”

“When it came down to it I didn’t hesitate for a second. I gave up my world in a heartbeat because there wouldn’t have been a point staying there without you. I should have realized that everything would be meaningless without you sooner. You’re the most important thing in this or any world to me. Please forgive me, Daisy!”

How could she not? He had hurt her but she had hurt him too without realizing it. And he had been working tirelessly to do what she had asked of him back in the castle during that last horrible fight they had the day she died.

Rukelion was changing. He might still have a long way to go but he was trying to let go of his anger and focus on the future instead of the past. How could she fault him for that?

Daisy had accused him of caring more about his revenge than he cared about her. That she hadn’t been enough for him and that even though he loved her it wasn’t enough to make a difference and stop him from going down the path Juliet had written for him.

That hadn’t happened. He had given up on thoughts of revenge. If he was the same person he had been that terrible day, he would have killed Juliet for sure. But he hadn’t and Daisy was certain it was because he knew she wouldn’t have wanted him to. He actually listened to her!

She pulled back from his embrace and looked him in the eye placing both hands on his cheeks. “Of course I forgive you.”

Rukelion leaned his forehead against hers as tears of relief leaked from his eyes. He reached up and clasped her wrists too, fervently whispering “thank you.”

That was when Daisy noticed something. The ring he always wore on his middle finger when he wasn’t at school. She would recognize it anywhere. That was his wedding ring and he had been unwilling to part with it all this time even though they weren’t married here.

Her heart ached. She let go of his face and resolutely took the ring off him before placing it back on his ring finger where it belonged. He looked at her in surprise and asked her what she was doing.

“Fixing something that should have been a long time ago,” she said firmly. “Get dressed. Wear whatever you have that’s nicest.”

“Daisy?” Rukelion asked in confusion, staring at his ring finger.

“What are you waiting for? We need to get married again, don’t we? We’ll both have to call in sick but I want to get this done sooner rather than later. You’ve waited long enough.”

He didn’t go to do as she said. First, he picked her up and spun her around laughing in delight the way he always did when he was at his happiest. He was still crying but she could tell they were tears of joy this time.

“I love you, Daisy!”

Daisy smiled and kissed him as soon as he set her down. “I love you too. How did you pick me up like that though? I’m a lot heavier now.”

Rukelion shook his head. “You’re light as a feather to me.”

She frowned as another thought hit her. She didn’t look anything like Veronica. He said he recognized her by her heat signature but had he really not had any issues with her true body’s appearance?

He had gazed at her as fondly as always from the very beginning. She used to think it was because of a case of desperation-induced love at first sight but now she realized it was probably because he was so happy to see her again in any form.

Holding her or touching her in some way was his favorite thing to do so he had to be at least a little attracted to her as she was. Right?

“What are you frowning about?” Rukelion asked, observant as ever.

“I was just thinking about how I look nothing like Veronica,” Daisy admitted. “Do you…have a problem with that?”

An expression of great offense crossed his face. “I would never! I didn’t fall in love with what you looked like; I fell in love with what you ARE. Your enthusiasm shines through no matter what face you have.

“The intent behind your smile and the sparkle in your eyes when you’re excited or happy are the same no matter what. You’re the most beautiful woman in existence, Daisy.. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart. So don’t you dare doubt me!”