Fate To Fake: Loved by the Fallen; Fated to Kill the Divine
Chapter 29: Valerienne d’Asterra’s First Feeling [Bonus]

Chapter 29: Valerienne d’Asterra’s First Feeling [Bonus]

Valerienne d’Asterra’s POV

After warning Leo, I walked back to my house, my boots hitting the ground harder than necessary as a frown refused to leave my face. My expression was twisted in a mixture of frustration and confusion, my brows furrowed and lips pursed.

My house stood tall at the end of the quiet street—big, almost like a mansion, with wide hallways and old stone walls covered in ivy. But even with its grandeur, there was a gentle weight of time pressing over it. It was old, slightly weathered... just like the traditions of the noble family I belonged to.

I pushed the heavy wooden door open and stepped inside. The silence greeted me like an old friend. I walked past the antique portraits, the tall vases, and the silent chandeliers hanging like frozen moments. None of it mattered right now.

All I wanted was to crash on my bed.

And I did exactly that.

I flopped onto the mattress with a deep sigh, lying flat on my back, arms sprawled out. My body felt heavy, but it was nothing compared to the weight spinning in my mind. My eyes stared up at the ceiling, but my heart was pacing somewhere far away.

I let out a small grumble, frustrated, the corners of my mouth twitching with irritation. "Ugh... What even happened today?" I murmured, blinking up at the ceiling. "What the hell is wrong with him?"

Leo’s face flashed in my mind.

He looked so calm. Like nothing had happened. Like everything was completely normal.

Was it really?

Was it all fine to him?

I sat up slowly, my expression growing more and more annoyed by the second. "I was trying to protect him, damn it. Doesn’t he get that? This isn’t a game... this is war. A real one."

I stood up, pacing slowly back and forth in my room, the wooden floor creaking beneath my steps. My fingers tugged gently at the sleeves of my uniform as if trying to pull the thoughts out of my head.

"If he makes even one mistake out there... if he underestimates them even once..." I stopped and clenched my fists. "Those monsters... they’ll tear him apart. They don’t care who you are. They’ve got no mercy."

I dropped face-first onto the bed again, groaning as I pressed my cheek into the pillow. "Why can’t he just back off and stay safe for once?" I muttered softly. "Is it because he lost his memories? Is that why he’s changed? He seems... different now. Like he’s trying harder. Like... before."

Then suddenly, a strange warmth crawled up to my face, spreading across my cheeks like sunlight breaking through clouds. My lips parted slightly, and my heart gave a faint little thump.

That moment on the roof...

His voice echoed in my head—confident, soft, and almost... kind.

"Well then, friend... why don’t we team up and win this thing together?"

Just recalling those words made my stomach flutter in a weird way. My mind... it paused when he said that. For a second, everything just... stopped. His eyes, his expression—it was like he wasn’t just looking at me.

It was like he saw me.

The real me.

And I didn’t know why... but a part of me felt warm.... a little Happy, maybe?

I sighed, pulling the pillow close to my face and whispering into it with a small, embarrassed smile. "Fine... I admit it. I got really... Really happy when he said that."

A laugh slipped out of me—quiet and shy. "He wanted to team up with me... with me. Can you believe that?"

My lips curled into a soft grin as my thoughts wandered. ’Hehe... both of us fighting side by side... sounds kind of awesome.’

I never imagined he would ask me that. I always thought he’d walk away entirely after what happened. But he didn’t. He reached out.

"I guess... even after losing his memories... maybe he hasn’t really changed that much," I whispered gently. My voice softened even further as I turned my head and looked up at the ceiling again.

The light from the lamp flickered slightly. The old ceiling was cracked in places, just like my heart—tired, stretched, but still holding on. My eyes slowly started to close as the fatigue finally washed over me like a slow, warm wave.

And then... a memory floated to the surface.

One I hadn’t thought of in so long.

Back then, after school, I was about to head home, just like always. The hallways were mostly empty, and the sky outside was turning orange. But then I saw him.

That same boy... running.

He was all alone, circling the track behind the school like he had something to prove.

His posture was clumsy. His legs moved awkwardly. He ran like he was barely holding himself together. I remember tilting my head in confusion, whispering to myself, "Why the hell is he running like that? He looks like he’s about to fall."

He was weak. So fragile. I even laughed a little. He looked like he was running just for the sake of it—no speed, no purpose.

But the next day, he was there again. Still running.

And the day after that... And the next... And the one after that too.

Every single day, without fail, after the final bell rang, he ran.

Even when the rain poured down and drenched everything, he kept going, soaked to the bone, feet splashing in muddy puddles, breath heaving in the cold air. He didn’t stop.

I watched from a distance, pretending not to care. But slowly... something about it drew me in.

At first, I thought he was just being stupid. But then I realised—there was something in his eyes when he ran. Something stubborn. Something that wouldn’t let him stop.

And yet... no matter how much he practised, he never got faster.

His form didn’t change... His steps were still the same clumsy, awkward mess.

But he kept running.

Every single day.

Like he was chasing something that no one else could see.

And for some reason... I couldn’t look away.

The next day, as the final bell rang and students began to pour out of the school building, I found myself waiting near the track, hands tucked into my sleeves, heart beating strangely fast.

He was there again—just like always—stretching quietly by himself, completely oblivious to the world. That same lonely figure... determined, awkward, but somehow strong in a way I couldn’t name.

I walked toward him slowly, my steps hesitant, unsure why I was even doing this. Then, before he could begin another one of his endless runs, I called out,

"Excuse me?"

He stopped mid-motion, flinching slightly at the sound of my voice. When he turned around and saw me, his eyes widened with surprise.

"Yes?" he asked, blinking as if he hadn’t expected anyone to talk to him—especially not me.

I hesitated for a second, then forced a casual smile. "Hmm... are you training for a marathon or something?"

He blinked again, then shook his head. "No, why do you ask?"

"Well... I’ve seen you running out here after school almost every day. Just got curious about what you’re doing," I said, trying my best not to sound like a stalker. My voice cracked slightly near the end, and I cleared my throat.

A small smile appeared on his face. "Oh, that’s..." He paused, then smiled again—this time more softly. There was something fragile about that smile, something almost vulnerable. It was like I had accidentally touched a part of him he didn’t show anyone.

For a second, I thought maybe I should back off. But before I could, he looked up at the sky and continued, "Next month... my birthday’s coming up. It falls on the same day as the school’s sports festival."

He took a breath. His eyes didn’t meet mine now, but his voice grew quieter—deeper. "I promised my dad that I’d win first place in the running competition... and make him proud."

My breath caught in my throat. I don’t know why... but there was something in his tone.

A quiet ache... A small dream wrapped in pain.

I didn’t say anything at first. I just nodded slightly, unsure what to do, and was about to turn around and walk away—

But then he looked at me. Really looked at me. And with those bright, unshaken eyes, he said,

"So yeah... I’m going to win."

That moment...

It stole my breath.

Just for a second, it felt like the world had gone quiet. Like something small and invisible inside my chest had shifted.

I don’t understand why... but his words hit me right in the heart.

I knew he couldn’t do it—not with the way he ran, not with the way his body gave out before even a full lap.

Heck, even he might’ve known it was impossible.

And yet...

There was this light in his eyes when he said those words. That fierce, shining belief.

That hope.

And something about it made me feel... something.

I... don’t even know what it was.

But ever since that day, I never approached him again. I didn’t speak to him or even wave.

And yet... my eyes kept following him.

Whether I liked it or not... they always found him.

Even in a crowded hallway or a busy classroom... somehow, I’d spot him. He never noticed me. He never looked back. It was like I was invisible.

And that... made me clench my fists.

Why did I care if he saw me or not? Why did it matter if he remembered me?

And yet... every time I walked by him and he didn’t even glance in my direction, it felt like I was just some background character.

A one-time interaction in a story where he was the main protagonist.

Honestly, it pissed me off.

I don’t want to sound narcissistic, but I am kind of a popular girl. I know how many guys look at me. I see the weird stares, the awkward smiles, the attempts to get close.

But this boy?

He forgot me right after one conversation.

Grrr...

I gritted my teeth in frustration, shooting a glare at nothing in particular.

"What are you looking at?" my friend asked casually as she followed my line of sight.

I flinched. That boy was across the field, helping the janitor move heavy crates without being asked.

"N-Nothing..." I replied quickly, trying to look away.

She turned her head, glanced at him, then raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Ohhh..."

My cheeks lit up instantly. "It’s not what you think it is!!"

"I didn’t say anything, though?" she replied, her voice light and amused, that teasing grin creeping across her face.

I gritted my teeth harder, hating how easily she saw through me.

Honestly, I don’t get it.

Was this... love at first sight?

No. That couldn’t be it.

Maybe admiration?

Maybe sympathy?

Or maybe... it was something else entirely.

Something I couldn’t name.

Something soft and confusing, sitting somewhere between fascination and longing.

All I knew was that whenever his eyes met mine—even if only for a moment—my heart fluttered like it had wings.

It felt like a dream... this strange feeling blooming inside me. A feeling I couldn’t control.

And yet, deep down, I knew.

Even if I came to understand what it was...

My family would never accept someone like him.

A normal human, with no status, no pedigree.

No matter what, I felt...

It wouldn’t matter.

/Master, wake up. It’s almost midnight./

I groaned softly, hearing Envy’s voice echo in my head. My body shifted beneath the blankets, and I muttered with a sleepy face, "Midnight... already?"

But then my eyes shot open. I blinked rapidly, realizing what time it was. "Shit! He’s probably waiting for me!" I said, my voice suddenly sharp as I jumped up, shaking off the drowsiness.

I had to meet him.

I had to make him understand what it meant to be a Master.

What it meant to win this war.

I would drill it into him... protect him... keep him safe—no matter what it took.

I would put him in his place so that he’d never walk into danger again.

...Or at least, that’s what I believed.

Until... He beat a shit out of me!

Damn it!!