• Obed's Room •
Obed, despite his claims of not being hungry, had devoured all the fruit Luna had brought him, leaving only a single apple in his hand. He nibbled on it thoughtfully, his other hand busy with a bow. It wasn't just any bow, though. This was a creation of his own, crafted with meticulous care and a touch of magic. Obed was a skilled artisan, a master of forging and fixing, capable of crafting anything from weapons to tools. This particular bow was something special, a unique design that set it apart from any other.
The bow itself was sleek and powerful, crafted from dark, polished wood. The string was woven from a material that hummed with an almost imperceptible energy, and the arrows, small and sharp, were tipped with iron that gleamed with a faint, almost mystical light. Obed had been working on this bow for a long time, ever since he'd left his grandmother's home. She had encouraged his passion for craftsmanship, recognizing the talent that flowed through his veins. He kept his work secret, however, hiding it away in his room, working diligently whenever he had a moment.
Now, with the final touches being made, Obed's bow was nearly complete. The arrow release mechanism was a marvel of engineering, designed to fire a volley of arrows with incredible speed and precision. These weren't your typical arrows, though. They were small, sharp, and infused with a magical energy that made them deadly. With this weapon, Obed would be a force to be reckoned with, capable of bringing down even the mightiest of foes. The spirit of his grandma watched him work, a sense of awe washing over her. She knew that Obed was destined for greatness, and she couldn't wait to see what he would achieve with it, even though it's going to be tough for him since it's him all alone now, no one to advise and direct him.
"Ugh... this is driving me crazy. I hope all this work isn't a complete waste of time," Obed muttered to himself, frustration mounting as he struggled with the intricate workings of his bow. He was so engrossed in his task that the sudden knock on the door startled him. He knew exactly who it was, though. Ruth. She was the only visitor he has, apart from her then it's definitely a spirit because no one has ever visited him on this place if not Ruth.
"Damn it, it's that girl again. Can't she let me have a moment of peace?" he grumbled under his breath, his voice low and laced with annoyance. He didn't want to deal with her right now, especially not while he was wrestling with this frustratingly stubborn bow. The frustration was starting to get to him, and it was spilling over into his work. The arrow release mechanism was proving to be a real pain, refusing to cooperate no matter how hard he tried.
Just as he was about to give up in a fit of despair, another knock came at the door.
"Who is it?!" he snapped, his voice sharp with irritation. He didn't even need to open the door to know it was Ruth. His frustration was reaching its peak, and he was ready to unleash it on the unsuspecting girl.
“It’s me! Ruth! I’m really sorry if I’m disturbing you. I brought you your lunch,” she said, her voice soft and apologetic.
“Thank you very much, but I’m not hungry. Please take it back! I’m very busy right now, so can you give me a few more minutes alone? Just a little time, please!” Obed replied, his frustration evident. He was clearly upset, making it obvious that he didn’t want to see her at the moment. He wished she would leave him alone, or at least come back later if she really wanted to give him lunch.
“Alright then, I’ll put the food away for now. I’ll be back in a bit. But I also want to remind you that I spoke to the girl you asked me about. I think she’s waiting for you at her usual spot. You should go talk to her when you’re done with your work,” Ruth said, her voice steady.
Obed paused, the weight of her words sinking in. He could no longer see himself as busy; instead, he felt useless, struggling with something that seemed impossible. Realizing this might be his only chance, he set aside his work and decided to seize the opportunity to meet the girl Ruth mentioned. Seems like the only chance he got.
But wasn’t it obvious? He had just told Ruth that he was busy and didn’t want to be disturbed for a while. Yet, when he heard about this other girl, he suddenly felt free. This is to show that he's obsessed with the girl already, he knew deep down that this was someone special, someone he cared for deeply—his feelings had grown from mere liking to something much stronger.
As he opened his door, he saw Ruth walking away down the passage. When she glanced back, he quickly stepped back into his room, ensuring she was far enough away before he ventured out. He crossed to the other side of the road and headed outside the golden castle to see the girl at the market.
Arriving at the market, he realized why she hadn’t come to find him herself even after Ruth spoke to her. She was always busy, surrounded by customers, unable to leave her post to search for him.
When he reached her shop, their eyes met for the first time, and she smiled at him. A wave of happiness washed over him; he couldn’t contain his joy. However, as he basked in this moment, he noticed Ruth watching him from the upper floor of the golden castle.
The girl’s shop was located right outside the golden castle, close to the gate. This made it easy for anyone on the upper floors of the castle to see who was outside. Ruth, watching from above, couldn’t believe her eyes. This was the same guy who had just told her he was too busy to be bothered, the same guy had abandoned everything to see this other girl but for her? he becomes too busy.
A wave of hurt washed over her. Maybe it was time to let go, to stop thinking about him. It wasn’t going to work out. He was making it clear that there was no chance for them. Perhaps she wasn’t beautiful enough, or maybe it was something else entirely. Love was a strange thing; it could happen unexpectedly, and sometimes we didn’t get to choose who we loved. Our hearts decided for us.
When Obed caught Ruth’s gaze, he knew she wasn’t happy. He understood; he wouldn’t be happy either if he were in her shoes. But he looked away, pretending not to care. And in a way, he didn’t. The girl had just smiled at him for the first time, and that was enough to make his day.
Obed waited patiently, watching the girl attend to her last customer. He knew he needed to give her time to finish before they could talk. Meanwhile, Ruth watched from upstairs, her heart heavy with sorrow.
She fought back tears, her pain almost unbearable.
“Obed?” a voice interrupted her thoughts. She looked up to see the princess standing there.
“Ah! Yes… my princess!” Ruth managed to respond.
“You love him, don’t you?” the princess asked, her gaze fixed on Ruth. Ruth didn’t know how to answer. It felt wrong to admit her feelings, especially since Obed hadn’t shown any affection towards her. She looked down, swallowed hard, and shook her head.
“It doesn’t matter,” Ruth finally replied.
“Of course it doesn’t,” the princess said, her eyes still on Obed. “It’s always disheartening to see someone we care for fall in love with someone else. It’s something our hearts can’t always handle. I’ve been in your position before.”
 
“If you’ve been in that situation before, how did you get through it?” Ruth asked, seeking guidance.
“You don’t solve the problem,” the princess replied. “The problem solves itself. The only thing you need to do is learn to love yourself. Things change, you know. Things change in the future…”
Ruth found the princess’s response confusing. It didn’t answer her question, and she didn’t see how it connected to what she had asked.
“I don’t understand, my princess,” she said.
“You will, one day, maybe, maybe never, depending on you” Mara said, and then left.