The Betrayed Princess Rising Chapter 129

Lylah's POV

It had taken me three full days to gather the courage to confess what I truly felt for Ezra. Three days of pacing, of second-guessing every emotion, of fearing what would happen if I spoke the truth aloud.

When I woke this morning, the memory of last night still lingered in my chest, warm and soft like the last glow of moonlight before dawn. For a moment, it felt unreal—like a beautiful dream I might lose the moment I opened my eyes.

But the feeling stayed.

And the fear that had once clawed at my heart was gone.

Completely gone.

It was as if Ezra had taken it from me and crushed it in his hands. My wolf still felt calm, soothed by his presence, by the certainty of him.

Gratitude filled my chest so deeply it almost hurt.

When I had confessed to Rowan in the past, it had never felt like this. That confession had been heavy, like every word I spoke carried the weight of the world upon my shoulders.

This…

This felt light.

Tiara used to say love wasn’t meant to burden you. If it was real, she insisted, it should make life gentler, not heavier.

Easy.

Light.

Exactly how I felt now after telling Ezra the truth.

“Good morning,"

Ezra’s voice pulled me from my thoughts as he approached the dining table.

“How's your sleep?” he asked.

“Good,” I replied softly. “What about you?”

My gaze drifted over him before I could stop myself.

Ezra was always dangerously handsome—there was simply no other way to describe it. But today he looked particularly striking. He was dressed more formally than usual, his dark suit fitted to his broad shoulders, his presence radiating quiet authority.

My mate.

“Are you heading to another meeting today?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said. “But I’ll try not to come back too late. Maybe we can have dinner together tonight. What do you think?”

A smile curved over my lips.

“That sounds nice. But…” I hesitated, guilt creeping in. “I might actually be the one coming home late. I have my teaching schedule today, and then the MDT meeting." I bit my lip. “Maybe I should just skip one of them?”

Ezra’s gaze settled on me—deep, steady, impossible to look away from.

He shook his head.

“No. Take both.”

“But—”

“You enjoy doing them, don’t you?”

I nodded slowly. “I do. But then we won’t really get to spend time together today.” I gave him a small, sheepish smile.

Ezra seemed to consider something.

“Wait a moment,” he said.

He pulled out his phone and placed a call. From what I could hear, he was speaking to Damon.

While he talked, my thoughts drifted back to something I had been meaning to tell him.

Something important.

“Ezra,” I called just as he ended the call.

“Yes?”

I took a breath.

“I think… I’m going to apply for the graduate program at Lunar Grace.”

The words came out slower than I expected.

“I don’t think I’ve told you this before, but graduating as a healer was always my real dream, not just entering Lunar Grace.” My fingers tightened slightly around my cup. “Back then the opportunity slipped through my fingers. But now, I think I have the chance to pursue it again.”

I hesitated before adding quietly, “But of course, I won’t do it if you don’t allow me.”

Ezra watched me in silence.

The weight of his gaze made my heart jump nervously in my chest.

Then he asked simply,

“Is there anything you need?”

I blinked. “Hm?”

“Before starting your graduate classes, is there anything you need? Maybe books, equipment, arrangements, or anything?"

He leaned back slightly in his chair, his expression calm but firm.

“And no, Lylah,” he continued, his voice steady, “I would never stand in the way of what you want.”

My stomach dropped for half a second.

Then he finished,

“Especially when it means chasing your dreams.”

His eyes softened.

“My role isn’t to control you. It’s to stand beside you, support you, and of course... be the home you return to.”

Emotion rose so suddenly that it caught in my throat.

A smile broke across my lips, my eyes stinging.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He gave a small nod, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Then curiosity returned to me.

“Anyway,” I said, tilting my head slightly, “why did you call Damon?”

Ezra’s answer left me completely speechless.

“To tell him I’ll be late for the meeting.”

My brows furrowed. “Why?”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Because I want to see you off first.”