Chapter 3: Rising Action
As the day drew to a close, Subaru found himself wandering through the palace's grand halls, struggling to distract himself from the agonizing longing consuming him. With Frederica always present at his side, his desire grew insatiable. His thoughts drifted towards her – imagining her perfect skin, her mesmerizing eyes, and tantalizing lips that taunted him so mercilessly.
Subaru navigated through the palace corridor, lost in thought.
As he turned yet another corner, he saw Frederica sitting alone in a small chamber adjacent to the library. Her usual confident demeanor seemed replaced by melancholy as she stared out the open window onto the serene courtyard below. Unable to resist any longer, Subaru approached Frederica cautiously, hoping to alleviate her apparent distress.
"Is everything okay?" Subaru hesitantly inquired, choosing his words carefully to avoid upsetting her further.
"No, everything isn't okay." Frederica finally admitted, turning to meet Subaru's concerned gaze.
She continued, "I can't ignore how much I care for Otto anymore... and knowing there may never be a chance..." Her voice cracked slightly, tears welling up in her eyes. "It hurts too much to stay near you without losing myself completely."
''I love him.'' Frederica smiled and stared into the corner. While Subaru walked away.