My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 262: Pieces of Her Past

Violet

The afternoon sun cast rippling patterns across the pond’s surface.

I sat on the same bench where Nessa had found me days ago, my hands folded in my lap. I felt a bit uncomfortable and out of place.

Also somewhat annoyed that I had to be meeting her again. In this same place, no less.

I touched my neck, feeling for my grandmother’s pendant, then realised I had left it in my things, deciding not to wear it today.

I have been wearing it less and less lately. Rowan’s capital was safe, so I should at least put it on again for the time being.

My mood slightly dampened when I thought of Kael. He had made it possible for me to wear it around my neck again.

Nessa appeared along the path that curved around the pond, her skirts swaying with each step. Her smile brightened when she spotted me on the bench.

"You actually came," she said as she settled onto the other end of the bench. "I wasn’t entirely certain you would."

"I said I would."

"You did." Nessa tilted her head, studying me with open curiosity.

"Never mind. I’m glad you’re here." She turned to face the pond, her expression softening. "It’s lovely at this hour, isn’t it? The light on the water."

I followed her gaze. It wasn’t fully evening yet, but the sun was beginning its descent, painting everything in shades of gold and amber. The pond’s surface shimmered beautifully.

"It is," I admitted quietly.

We sat in silence for a moment, and I was surprised to find my nerves were easing slowly. Nessa didn’t seem to feel the need to fill the gentle quiet with words, which I hadn’t expected from her.

"I would like to apologise for how forward I came the last time," Nessa said eventually.

I still stared at the water. "It’s fine. I guess it was something I needed to hear."

"Still, I apologise for coming on too strong. I could tell you were irritated with me." I could strangely hear the smile in her words as she talked.

"Thank you," I said softly.

She was very self aware, I had to give her that.

"Part of it came from the fact I hardly saw you whenever I came to the castle," she continued. "So whenever I saw you..."

She sighed.

I turned to look at her and she was watching the pond while absentmindedly sifting her fingers through her hair.

She had very beautiful hair.

"If my guess is right, you must be spending quite some time in the private library."

She noticed me staring and just smiled faintly. "Don’t fret. We know it exists. I’ve just never been there."

"Yes..." I said carefully. "There’s a lot to go through."

"I imagine there would be." Nessa’s voice was gentle, without the probing edge I had expected. "Finding pieces of your history... that must be overwhelming."

"It is," I admitted, the words coming out smaller than I intended.

Nessa was quiet for a moment. Then she shifted, angling her body to face me more fully.

"Can I tell you something?" she asked. "Something personal?"

I looked at her, surprised by the shift in tone.

"If you want?"

"My mother died when I was young," she said. "I barely remember her. But my father kept everything of hers. Letters, jewellery, pressed flowers from their courting days. All of it stored in a chest that he wouldn’t let anyone touch."

She paused, her gaze dropping to her hands.

"When I turned sixteen, he finally let me open it. I thought it would make me feel closer to her." A wry smile tugged at her lips. "Instead, it just made me realize how much I had lost. How much I would never know. All these pieces of a person I was supposed to have grown up with, reduced to objects in a box."

"I’m sorry," I said quietly.

Nessa shook her head. "I’m not telling you this for sympathy. I’m telling you because I think I understand, in some small way, what you might be feeling. Going through those archives. Finding fragments of a people you were supposed to belong to."

I stared at her, caught off guard by the unexpected depth.

"It’s not the same," Nessa continued. "I know that. But if you ever want to talk about it, or not talk about it, or just sit somewhere in silence... I’m here."

Her smile faintly returned. "I might be a chatterbox, but I do know when to be quiet."

"Oh..."

I didn’t know what to say.

"I understand. Thank you," I quickly voiced out after.

Nessa smiled, and some of her usual brightness returned.

"Nessa."

She looked at me, curious.

"You and Rowan." I forced the words out before I could lose my nerve. "What kind of relationship did you have with him?"

Nessa went still, genuinely caught off guard.

"You really want to know?" she asked quietly.

I hesitated. Part of me wanted to take the question back, and pretend I had never asked. But another part, the part that was tired of not knowing, tired of wondering, pushed forward.

"If you don’t mind telling me," I said.

The words hung in the air.

Then I shook my head, suddenly embarrassed.

"Actually, never mind. It’s not necessary. I shouldn’t have—"

"We were physically involved."

I stopped.

Nessa’s voice was calm, matter-of-fact.

"It was a few years ago," she continued. "Nothing recent. And it ended when he discovered I had other partners without his knowledge." She paused, her lips curving into a self-deprecating smile. "I was young and foolish. He was... convenient. But there was no emotional attachment between us. Not on his side, and not on mine."

She turned to face me fully, her brown eyes steady.

"Does that answer your question?"

I looked away, slightly embarrassed.

"Yes," I said quietly. "Thank you... for telling me."

"Of course." Nessa’s voice softened.

I nodded, still not quite able to meet her eyes.

The discomfort lingered, but beneath it, a slight relief settled into place.

Wait... she had other partners?

I looked at her and she grinned, as if knowing exactly what I was thinking.

"Just realising, are you?" she chuckled. "I was a bit wild back in the day."