IT'S BEEN EXACTLY TWO YEARS SINCE I LEFT ANATOL and everyone there for good. I'm living back in Croyso, but this time I had enough gold to buy myself a small house and I had the education to start a job.

Not I'm working in pharmacy helping with the preparation of the herbs. I honestly like my life right now, it peaceful and simple. Being a 25 years old woman living on her own has its ups and downs, but I'm not complaining.

I heard Riftan and lady Maximilian got married last year. I watched the wedding on the magical box and it looked beautiful. My heart was ripping apart, while I was watching, but I was..happy for him. He settled down.

It's not my job to keep track of what happens in Anatol anymore. I write letters from time to time to Gordon, Ruth and sir Hebaron to keep in check of them. They all seem good to me. I never had the balls to write Riftan tho.

It doesn't matter anymore anyway. He officially has a wife and I'm the servant, who left him and loved him awhile back. I'm not worth remembering. And I'm sure his feelings for me are long gone. Mine aren't tho.

I've been thinking about him everyday and every night. I can't get his beautiful green eyes and his strong muscular body off my mind, I can't forget the way he treated me too. Leaving him and walk away defeated wasn't the best choice, but I'm doing okay now.

"Eleanor, please take our next client", my boss walks in the back rooms and looks at me. She looks tired and sleepy. After all she takes care of the night shifts. I nod my head.

I put my apron and I tie it behind my back and neck. Then I put my hair in a ponytail and I walk out in the shop. The moment I saw that white hair and those tires eyes I knew it was him. Ruth. He was holding a whole bag filled with herbs and he raised his eyes he looked shocked to see me.

"Ruth?", I said in surprise and I step up to him, he puts the bag down and just stares at me.

"Eleanor?", he finally came to his senses and he ran up to me wrapping his hands around my body hugging me tight, "Man, it's been awhile".

"Right? You look so different, Ruth", I hug him back and I make a step back to look at him.

In the face he was the same-same haircut, same tires eyes with those black circles under then and same pale skin, but his body was different. He was taller and jacked now, he had muscles for days and I was so proud of him. I was the one, who looked the same.

"Do you have free time? Maybe we can go for tea and catch up?", Ruth said excitedly and I look back at my boss, who smiled at me as a yes. I look back at him and I nod my head.

It was crazy. I didn't expect to run into Ruth of all people here in Croyso. But here we are on a table together with two cups of tea and a piece of cake, that we decided to share together. I feel like I'm being reunited with an old family member, who I haven't seen it years. And Ruth sure was excited to tell me everything.

He told me about Anatol and how it's going, the war still continues, but at least it's not as brutal as it was years back. He told me about the knights and that they are doing okay, he told me that Gordon isn't feeling well and that's why Ruth is here for herbs.

"Oh my God, Gordon!", I put my hand on my mouth and I was shocked to hear this. Ruth made it sound like he didn't had much time to live and I felt awful, "Please, Ruth, do everything in your power to help him", I said.

"I'm trying my best, but it seems like Gordon just doesn't wanna get better", he explained and took a piece of the cake, "he refused to take any medication and treatment".

"Typical Gordon. He'll always put everyone else before him. Stupid old man", I smiled.

"You know...Gordon's been talking a lot about you lately. We all been thinking about you for the past two years", Ruth looks down and he plays with his fingers under the table, "how is life treating you? Are you married?".

"Life is treating me good. I had enough gold to buy myself a house down the street, it's not as luxurious as the castle, but it's home. And I'm working in the pharmacy, as you already saw, the work is nice", I started to explain and then I bit my lip a little bit, "and I'm not married".

"We really miss you, Eleanor. It's not the same without you in Anatol. The energy, that you had made us all wanna live. I'm not blaming Gordon for wanting to die. It's better than living in a castle with a First Lady, who only listens to her father's advices", he said.

"Hows the Lord and his First Lady? Are they treating you good?", I looked at him.

"Riftan became really...closed person, he barely speaks to anyone else than Maximilian and Gordon. After you left Anatol everybody blamed him for it, so most of us lost the bond with him", Ruth finally looks at me I can see sadness in his eyes, "the First Lady is okay, she's stupid, but nice...she's like a puppet for Duke Croix, he's basically governs us through her, which is bad for us, of course".

"I'm sorry to hear that, Ruth".

"Yeah, I'm sorry too. Maybe, if you were still there Riftan wouldn't let this simple woman with no character to make the decisions", Ruth took my hand and smiled at me, "unfortunately I gotta go now, but I'll come back to see you soon, okay? Be here, Eleanor".

"I won't run away I promise", I chuckled.

Me and Ruth separated our ways and the night after I couldn't stop thinking about what he said about Riftan. Everybody blamed his, because I left Anatol. That must be so tough for him to handle all by himself. I honestly wished to see him one more time.

Riftan's pov:
It's been exactly 730 days, 1,051, 200 minutes and 63,072,000 seconds since Eleanor left and there was no moment, that I didn't think about her. I've been married for a year, but even after my marriage I still kept an eye on her.

After she left I didn't know anything about her and where she is. Until one day I spotted her in Croyso walking past the market. She was carrying a big box of herbs in it. She didn't saw me that day and I was relieved.

That was year and a half ago, now I know every little detail about her life. I know where she lives, I know where she works, I know who she talks to everyday. And I know how crazy I sound, but I'm obsessed with her.

I've been in love with Eleanor for so long and the fact, that nothing ever happened between us was entirely my fault. So I couldn't forgive myself for letting her go. That day, when she decided to leave Anatol...I didn't say anything to her, I didn't try to stop her and I regret it every goddamn day. That's why I spent most of my days just walking around Croyso hoping I would bump into her. But it never happens. I just watch her from a distance and think.

She looks happy, that's what I repeatedly told myself to make me feel better, but it wasn't helpful at all. Her absence affected not only me, but the whole kingdom. She was a light in our dark days..and now this light is gone.

I miss her lips every day, I miss the way she blushed, when I teased her. I had everything, when I had her and I took it for granted. Now I don't have anything and on top of that I'm in unhappy marriage with a woman I barely know.

I hope my Eleanor..would come back to me.

UNEDITED