Sorry for the delay! Had a medical emergency today and wasn't able to post, but I just got home and instantly opened Wattpad hahah! Thanks for everyone's patience :) The schedule for future chapters is still every Saturday! 🩵 xx - Ace

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Link's POV

Zelda begins her speech. Calm and steady, she speaks into the microphone. "Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed faculty, and dear friends..." The auditorium falls silent, all eyes fixed on her. "It is with a heart weighed by immeasurable sorrow that I stand before you today to honor and remember a man whose legacy is woven into the very fabric of this university—a man who was not only a visionary leader but also my beloved father, Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule."

I found a seat right at the aisle, close to the front, so in case Zelda needs my support, I'll be up on stage within seconds. She looks so small behind that podium. I wish there was something I could do to help her with this, other than sit, stare, and listen. If I could handle all the speeches and arrangements for her, I would do it in a heartbeat.

I'd roll her up in a blanket, bake fruit cake for her, put on her favorite movie, light some candles, and read her favorite books with her. I'd cradle her, whisper to her, and stay awake while she'd fall asleep. I'd handle all the bureaucracies, and I'd be the first one to wake up, already looking back at her when her eyes open in the morning. I would do all that and more, if only she'd let me.

"My father was a beacon of wisdom and guidance, steering our school with a steadfast hand and commitment to excellence. His tenure as President was marked by an unparalleled pursuit of knowledge. Under his leadership, our university flourished, reaching new heights of prestige and academic distinction. He believed in the power of education, and his life's work was a testament to that belief."

Zelda looks down with a short pause, pretending to check her notes. If I had to guess, I'd say she's probably afraid that her emotions will show if she keeps going. Every time she mentions her dad, her voice catches in her throat a little, but she always tries to hide it. As if it was shameful to show how sad she truly is.

I wish she knew that she could break down in tears right now, in front of the whole school and everyone she knows, and nobody would judge her. Everyone in this auditorium would understand.

Everyone but her.

She takes a deep breath, slowly lifts her eyes back up to the audience, and continues in a strong tone. "His loss is a wound that time may never fully heal, yet his memory will forever be a source of strength and inspiration to all of us. To me more than anyone... From a young age, I marveled at his intellect, his eloquence, and his sense of duty. My family home was always filled with the promise of greatness and the burden of high expectations. Now it stands as a symbol of both cherished memories and the unfathomable loss. The tragic destruction of my home is a reminder of the fragility of life, yet within the ashes, we find the embers of hope and resilience. We may mourn the loss of my father's untimely departure, but we shall also celebrate the indelible mark he left upon this world!"

To my left sit Mipha—blinking away the tears—and Ravioli who is comforting her. To my right is Impa, who seems the most upset out of all of us. She's clutching my arm with such force that my hand's going numb.

Urbosa and Daruk are here too, sitting two rows behind us. I also saw Pik, Purah, and some other familiar faces at the funeral earlier, like Domidak, Prissen, Teba, and Beetle, but there are so many people here today that I lost them in the crowd pretty quick. No clue where they're sitting in the auditorium, or if they're even still here.

"To the faculty, staff, and students of Hyrule University, I extend my deepest gratitude. Your support and kind words during this harrowing time have been a balm to my soul. My father's vision for this university was one of excellence. He believed in the potential of each and every student, seeing within them the power to change the world. As we navigate the path ahead, let us do so with the same determination and grace that he exemplified."

Impa leans her head against my shoulder. She sniffles and whispers, "Zelda sounds like a born leader... Look at her... She's just a kid, man. She shouldn't have to go through this. Not again..."

I try to hold back the sadness and force my eyes back to the stage. Not because it's shameful to be sad, but because I gotta stay strong for Zelda. If I get all emotional like Impa, Mipha, Urbosa, and the others, I won't be able to take proper care of Zelda. And I think she really needs me right now. So I'm going to be there every step of the way. That's really all I can do.

Zelda leans into the microphone with both passion and pain in her glistering eyes. "Let us honor his memory by striving for greatness in all that we do, by lifting each other up, and by creating a community that reflects the ideals he held so dear."

Behind her, a slideshow with pictures of Dr. Hyrule plays, capturing moments of his life dedicated to the university. There are images of him giving a keynote address at a conference, shaking hands with politicians, and cutting the ribbon at the opening of the new football stadium. Business meetings, country-club charity events, strategizing with corporate leaders, and gala events.

They're even showing a couple of old, archived pics of him as a student; researching stuff in the library, and posing with his frat.

One picture stands out to me. It's from his college graduation here at HU, 30-something years ago. He's holding hands with a young woman who I assume is Zelda's mom. Blonde hair, trained smile, perfect posture, and that same head-over-heels-in-love look I've seen in Zelda.

In the picture, her parents are wearing blue caps and gowns, loaded with academic awards, gold medals, and red cords, holding their certificats with a strange mix of pride and humility.

A couple of photos with that unnamed woman follow where Dr. Hyrule is playing golf with her, attending a black-tie gala, graduating again with his PhD, and finally marrying her in front of a great audience.

After that, it's back to pictures of Dr. Hyrule by himself in the academic or business setting.

No photos with Zelda, besides that one pic from their recent charity auction. In it, Zelda is proudly holding a large framed painting while her dad and some other rich man are smiling and toasting their glasses of gold-flaked sparkling wine.

Before her speech, Zelda told me that all the pictures from her childhood must have burned down in the fire. But part of me thinks there weren't many pics to begin with. For example, I remember in Japan she told me she'd show me some photos of her as a kid, but she never did. At first, I thought she was just embarrassed, but I kinda got the hint that she didn't have any pics to show me.

The slideshow ends and fades to a black background. Zelda taps the stack of notecards against the podium, trying to straighten them out. Then she puts them face down and improvises the conclusion of her speech.

"Today, as we stand on the cusp of a new chapter, I find solace in the words my dear friend once shared with me: 'The world may turn dark sometimes but just because you can't see, doesn't mean you are alone.' Though my father is no longer with us, his spirit endures in the hearts and minds of all who knew him."

Her eyes leave her notes once more and stop when they find us to the far left of the fifth row.

"I am grateful to have my friends by my side during these dark times," she says, looking right at us. "Farewell, my dear father. May you rest in eternal peace, knowing that your legacy lives on in the institution you loved so dearly and in the hearts of those who will forever be grateful for your wisdom and guidance. And though the weight of your legacy now rests upon my shoulders, I shall carry it with the strength and resolve you imparted to me. I will strive to honor you in all that I do."

When she is done with her speech, the audience doesn't applaud. Silence settles in the room as her voice slowly echoes out through the speakers.

The school's vice President walks onto stage to comfort Zelda. He whispers something that the microphone doesn't catch and then pats her shoulder lightly. Zelda gives him a thankful nod but appears to have switched back to autopilot. Her eyes are empty, her expression lifeless.

People begin to rise and slowly leave the auditorium. Impa, Mipha, Ravioli, and I stay seated for a moment while the aisles fill up with people.

"What now?" Impa asks helpless.

Ravioli shrugs, looking a little lost. "We give her time to grieve, I guess?"

"We should..." Mipha mutters hesitantly. "We should definitely stay with Zelda. She shouldn't be alone right now."

They all look at me next, because I'm the boyfriend and I should know what to do in this situation.

I glance around the auditorium. Some people talk in hushed tones, others are simply lost in their own thoughts. Impa's fingers are still gripping my arm, her knuckles white with the effort. Mipha looks on the verge of tears. Ravioli seems distant.

"I don't know," I mumble. When I look back up at the stage, Zelda is gone.

Maybe I would know what to do in this situation if Zelda actually showed any kind of emotion. But she hasn't shed a single tear. Even on our drive back from Mammoth Lakes, she hardly said a word. Two hours into the drive, she suddenly gasped. That was the first and only reaction she gave, and I thought she was going to burst out in tears, but all she said was that the university will expect a eulogy from her.

I took her hand and told her she shouldn't worry about that right now, but she grabbed her iPad and began to draft the speech right away. I sat next to her in silence, completely clueless about what I should do.

How do you comfort someone who doesn't seem like they even need comforting? I don't want to baby her if that's not what she needs. And everytime I ask what I can do, she says she's fine.

"I say we go check on her," Impa decides for us.

Murmuring in agreement, we all rise from our seats. The room is slowly emptying, and we make our way to the exit, joining the stream of people leaving the building.

Outside, the air feels colder than it did before. The sky is gray, dim, and motionless. December's chill is making everything seem even more gloomy.

We spot Zelda standing by the doors. I step forward and give her a gentle hug, trying to offer a bit of comfort. When our hug loosens, I kiss her forehead and rub her back.

"Beautiful speech," Mipha beats me to it.

I tug one of Zelda's loose strands behind her ear and cup her flushed cheek. "How are you feeling?" I ask the dumbest question anyone could ask right now.

"I'm fine, thank you," she answers as if rehearsed. I know it's a lie. What I don't understand is why she feels the need to hide her grief from us.

"We were thinking of grabbing some dinner. What are you in the mood for?" I ask.

Zelda shakes her head at me, void of emotion. "I don't have time for that right now. I have to keep working on some important matters. There are meetings and planning sessions that I need to attend to. The university has a lot of issues that need addressing right now, and I have to be involved in every step."

I can see the exhaustion in her eyes. "Zelda, you should really take the night off," I say. "It's been a long day. You spoke at the funeral, played the harp for like an hour during the reception, handled the wake almost entirely by yourself, coordinated with the event staff, met with the board of trustees, answered about a hundred calls from well-wishers, and still managed to thank everyone who came to pay their respects. Then, without any breaks, you held yet another speech for those who couldn't attend the funeral..."

"Link, I understand you concern, but I have a lot of responsibilities now."

"I don't care how much work there is, you are only human, and there is only one of you. You need to rest and eat. The school will understand."

She shakes her head at me, so I grab her by her shoulders and force her eyes on me.

"Zelda, listen to me, you are smart, so I'll put it into an equation for you: Your endless tasks plus your well-being equals exhaustion, and considering the variable of human limits, it follows that rest and nourishment are essential for optimal function."

Before she can respond, a tall broad-shouldered man interrupts us. It takes me a second to recognize him, but I'm pretty sure he's the host of that masquerade party we attended on Halloween... Y'know, the guy who tried to set Zelda up with his son. And now that I'm seeing him without a mask, I can confirm that he's also the rich man who was posing next to Zelda and her dad in that photo from the charity auction where they were clinking glasses and showing off the $100K artwork.

"Zelda, my dear, there you are!" His voice comes out dramatic, his eyes crying waterfalls. "I've been trying to reach you! I can't tell you how deeply sorry I am for your loss."

He pulls her into a sudden hug. She stiffens for a moment but then relaxes, taking comfort in his presence.

"I know this is a difficult time," he cries. "I can't imagine the weight you're carrying!"

"This must be difficult for you as well," Zelda replies calm as can be. "So I am sorry for your loss, too."

"The pain I felt when I found out what had happened!" He collects himself and takes a step back to give her some breathing room. "I'd like to offer you a place to live. My family and I would be honored to have you stay with us. Your home... I heard about the fire. It's the least we can do."

"Oh, that is very kind of you. But..."

"Before you decline, let me assure you that you wouldn't have to worry about a thing at our home. It's a place where you can find some peace, even if just for a short while. Consider it a temporary respite from the storm you're facing."

"Penn," she gives him a pained smile, "I truly appreciate the offer. It's very generous of you and your family, and I'm sure Father would be grateful for your hospitality as well. But I already have a temporary living arrangement. I'm staying with a family friend, and in less than two weeks I will be moving into a townhome with some other friends. I really do appreciate your generosity, though."

Penn places a reassuring hand on her arm. "I understand, Zelda. Just know that the offer stands if you ever need it. You're always welcome. No notice needed."

Zelda smiles. "Your kindness means more to me than I can say. I'll be alright, and I'm grateful to have such wonderful people in my life."

Not soon after Penn leaves, Zelda uses the same robotic tone to thank us for inviting her for dinner before she excuses herself to "get stuff done." Since I can't force her to come with us, I ask how I can help "get stuff done." She smiles and says she's got it covered.

With a sigh I give in. "Please text me when you're done, so I can come pick you up. We can grab dinner after. Whatever you're in the mood for, it's on me. No matter how late it gets, just call me, okay? We'll spend the night together. I'll take care of you, it'll be nice. I promise."

She nods, as if half of it passed right by her ears. Then she disappears in the crowd.

Zelda's POV

The conference room is bathed in the cold glow of artifical lights, casting sharp shadows on the polished oak table. I let my fingers grace the surface. This table belonged to Father. The indentation in the chair where he used to sit is still visible. I try not to dwell, but even after smoothing out those creases, I can't deny how strange it feels to sit in his place.

My posture is rigid, my expression unwavering. The board members file in, their murmurs a distant hum in my ears.

I clasp my hands tightly on the table, knuckles white, forcing myself to focus on the agenda in front of me. "Thank you for joining me today. We need to discuss the budget allocations for the upcoming semester." My voice is steady, giving away none of the turmoil within. "Our primary focus should be on enhancing the STEM programs. The recent grant gives us some flexibility."

Their nods ripples through the room. My eyes dart to the clock, counting the seconds. Every tick seems to echo in the silence that follows my words. I clear my throat and continue.

"We also need to address the maintenance issues in the freshman dormitories. Several showers are in disrepair, and the AC seems to give out occasionally, which affects the learning environment."

As I move to the next topic, Sahasrahla clears his throat. "Before we continue, Zelda, I want to extend my deepest condolences for your loss. I know this is a difficult time for you."

I nod, forcing a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Sahasrahla."

Another board member, Anjean, speaks up. "If there's anything you need, or if there's any way we can support you during this time, please let us know."

I appreciate the sentiment but keep my response measured. "I'm managing, thank you. I'm here to focus on the tasks at hand."

However, when Gustaf asks, "How are you holding up, Zelda? Are you sure you're alright to handle all this? This can all wait until Monday... Your father passed away less than a week ago..." my patience wears thin.

I don't want to show any frustration or exhaustion, so I take a deep breath, maintaining my composure. "I appreciate your concern, but I would prefer not to discuss my father's passing right now. I have a job to do, and I need to focus on that. If there are no other matters related to the university that need addressing, I would like to proceed."

The room quiets, and the board members exchange glances. The focus shifts back to the agenda.

"I suppose," Gustaf says, breaking the silence. "We need to discuss the upcoming lawsuit against Karusa. Our legal team has been preparing to proceed with the case, and the trial is scheduled to start in 3 days."

I feel a tightness in my chest, but I force myself to remain calm. "Yes, proceed with the legal team," I say firmly. Make him burn.

The words barely leave my lips before a vivid image sears into my mind: my home engulfed in flames, my father's face appearing through the smoke, his eyes wide with shock and pain. I see him stumbling, his figure silhouetted against the inferno. The crackling of the fire, the choking haze, the smell of burning wood, burning hair, burning flesh...

The scene is an explosion of color and sound, my father's final moments of destruction and agony.

I drift, staring blankly into the room. My thoughts are a swirling vortex of grief and anger until my vision blurs and the image of the fire consumes my mind.

"Zelda?" A voice pierces through the fog, jolting me back to reality. I blink, shaking off the haunting image, and refocus on the room around me. "Are you alright?" Anjean's concerned voice pulls me back. I straighten in my seat, forcing a professional mien back into place.

"I already told you, I'm fine," I say, the words feeling hollow. "We cannot afford to let this case slip. The university's integrity is at stake."

Anjean nods, making a note. "Understood. We'll ensure everything is in place for the trial."

As the meeting continues, I bury my grief under layers of duty. If I keep moving, keep talking, maybe I can outrun the pain.

But eventually, the meeting ends. I stand, my movements precise and controlled. As the members exit, I offer polite words of thanks until the room finally empties, and the silence presses in.

For a moment, just a moment, I close my eyes and see my father's face. But then I blink, and the image is gone, replaced by his empty chair that now carries my indentation. It hurts, but I can't afford to focus on that.

I gather my papers, straighten my blazer, and walk out of the room. There's still so much to do. And I will not falter.

I will not disappoint you, Father. Not again.

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Hi guys! Just curious, do you use Wattpad more on your phone or laptop/PC? :)