Finale: The Phantom’s Endless Love

Cold beads of sweat streamed down my forehead as I recalled that summer night three years ago. After that, the authorities launched an official investigation on Viscount Gorton’s manor. They rescued the captured songstress, who then testified that Viscount Gorton had plagiarized Cyrus Wharton’s opera and songs. Eugenia reclaimed the rights to the Lady of the Lagoon, and she began learning opera anew.

Three years later—that is, this year—her long-awaited debut arrived. And of course, her love interest was played by none other than the popular Serge Crowley. The opera they were performing was Cyrus Wharton’s posthumous work, Lady of the Lagoon, which he had written for his daughter.

It was based on the Hero King, King Karl, and Princess Ceysheila, the Lady of the Lagoon. The two were popular historical figures used frequently in various works of fiction. I had seen numerous performances based on them, but this opera in particular felt special. The reason for that had everything to do with that masquerade ball three years ago. And as for why I didn’t feel like I could bring it up with His Highness, well...

The prince gave a small, bitter chuckle. “Eli...” His voice was calm, as if trying to soothe me. He reached over, grasping the hand that had been resting in my lap. Even through the darkness, I could see the mischievous smile on his face and the sweet glimmer in those blue eyes.

He lifted my hand to his lips. “My Fairy Princess, you really do flutter off to different worlds all the time. And that’s exactly why I want to capture you.” The prince planted a kiss on my palm.

My eyes flew open and my jaw dropped in surprise. It can’t be, I thought, although the answer was quite clear. The prince possessed the same blue eyes, blond hair, and commanding aura.

“So it was you,” I murmured, completely at a loss.

The prince chuckled, smirking. “Elianna, my Fairy Princess, you mustn’t sneak off and go to masquerade balls like that anymore. It’s much too dangerous.”

A number of different emotions came flooding up from my chest, manifesting as tears in the corners of my eyes. I was the one who had gone there in secret, so I had no right to complain that he’d kept the truth from me. In fact, I berated myself for being so dense and not realizing who it was sooner. But more than anything, I felt relief—and that was what produced the tears.

“I understand.” I looked up at the prince and nodded. “I was so worried that I might have fallen for someone else, however short lived it was. It’s such a relief to hear you were the same person this entire time.” My lips pulled into a smile.

He stared back at me, wide-eyed. Then the prince sucked in a breath and glanced at the ceiling. After a few moments, he pressed my hand to his forehead and slumped forward.

Bewildered, I blinked at him several times, unsure as to why he was fidgeting around so much. “Your Highness?”

He expelled the loudest sigh I had ever heard from him, as if all the air in his body was spilling out. “I surrender. An unconditional surrender, honestly, I swear. I’m no match for you. I never could be.” He paused, grumbling, “Of course, I knew that already, though.”

Finally, he took a deep exhale once more. When he lifted his head next, his expression was a mix of defeat and determination.

The prince planted another kiss on my palm, and then he glanced up at me with those sweet, gentle blue eyes. “I surrender to you, my Fairy Princess.” His words were so soft and melodic, I gave him a bashful smile.

Unlike in our usual exchanges, he kept his gaze locked on me as he pressed his lips close to my palm and mumbled, “Yes, I really do surrender. Every second of every day, I fall for you more and more.”