Chapter 127: Love to Hate?

Nikolai remained motionless, his gaze locked on the spot where Ophelia had vanished. For what seemed like an eternity, he stood there, taking slow, deep breaths. His disheveled state and the blood on his hands reflected his inner turmoil. His mind was preoccupied with the catastrophic error he had made—an error that, in his eyes, was unforgivable. As the day’s events replayed in his mind, he realized how deeply he had messed up. The image of Ophelia’s distraught face from Sasha’s room haunted him, clouding his thoughts. He felt like a villain caught in a cycle of destiny, cursed to be both feared and despised. He was the so- called Child of Doom, and he feared that this very title would make Ophelia hate him. Despite knowing that he was not entirely at fault, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had driven her away. “Goddess, no!” he muttered in frustration, letting out a heavy sigh as he left the throne room. As he exited, he was abruptly halted by the sound of muffled sobs. His h