Chapter 555 I Don't Have Any Problems
Ricardo was practically yelling, "You're just refusing to save Paloma 'cause you think she's beneath you!"
"Look, I was way too caught up in trying to bring back the dead. I had all these crazy goals, but I finally realized they were just pipe dreams. I get that you're hurting. But the Eldorians gotta keep moving forward. I can have Louis hand over those people to you, and we'll make it right. Everything I said still stands." RavenWing tightened his lips and walked straight up to Ricardo.
He was ready for whatever. If Ricardo needed to punch him or demanded someone's head, he was ready to be the one.
He wouldn't fight back and would even tell Pearl and Louis not to get back at Ricardo.
RavenWing hadn't hit that point yet, but Pearl and Louis were already on the same page.
Pearl chimed in, "Ricardo! We didn't let Paloma die! You're Eldorian too. Even if Paloma didn't love Louis, she had mad love for her country."
Who in their right mind would want to hurt their own leader?
That sentence made Ricardo remember his chat with Paloma.
Paloma was head over heels for Louis, always collecting news about him, even cutting out his pics from newspapers.
She had screenshots from videos and photos she printed herself.
He once asked her, "Your status is so different from Mr. Mitchell's. You're so devoted; do you think there will ever come a day when you'd die for him?"
He never thought his words would come true.
But he remembered Paloma's words crystal clear. "Even if I don't have feelings for him, he's the leader of the country. If I die because of him, it'd be a sacrifice for the country, and that'd be an honor."
Now Pearl brought it up again.
This was all Paloma's choice; she saw this coming a mile away.
Ricardo's breathing got heavy. "I'm sorry. I'll volunteer to go to the frontier. Paloma died for the country. Give her an honor; I don't want anything else."
Louis wanted to make it up to Ricardo but didn't expect him to volunteer for the frontier. "Of course, but I was gonna talk to you first. Since you said it, I'll have Giovanni handle it now. But what you deserve, you'll still get. You..."
Ricardo was still a kid.
He was only 12. The Eldorians' conscription age was 12, and even at that young age, his face was set with determination.
"I don't want it. Paloma's gone; those things mean nothing to me. I'd rather use my youth to serve the country," said Ricardo. That was where Ricardo's head was at.
Louis wanted to say more, but RavenWing had already given him the nod, so Louis had to respect Ricardo's wishes. "Alright, we'll do it your way."
Paloma was head over heels for Louis, but that was her own deal. She never chased after him. She did it for the country, not for love.
Everyone in Eldoria was talking about Paloma, calling her brave. She got her posthumous props, but she wasn't coming back.
Ricardo had one thing on his mind: he wanted to protect the Eldorians and Louis.
Because Louis and the Eldorians were what Paloma gave her life for.
The day Ricardo left, Pearl came to see him off.
Ricardo didn't want money, status, or any of that stuff.
Pearl said, "Ricardo, the frontier's rough. Take care of yourself. Even though Paloma's gone, we're still your family, and you can come back anytime."
Ricardo smiled, but he knew deep down that with Paloma gone, the Eldorians weren't his home anymore. Pearl and Louis had their own lives.
He wasn't a little kid; he got it.
With Ricardo gone, Paloma's story came to an end.
Pearl was worried about Louis, so she stuck around Eldoria for a bit. Louis seemed fine on the outside, but his eyes were bloodshot, and he looked wiped out. He had no spark left.
Pearl was really worried, asking, "You look terrible. Are you not sleeping? If it gets worse, I'll call Jeffery to check on you."
Louis wasn't the type to open up to RavenWing, but Jeffery was different.
Jeffery was thorough and their peer, so no awkwardness there.
"No..." Louis started to brush it off, but Jimena cut in, "How can it be nothing! You haven't been sleeping, and you dream about Paloma every night! Louis, you did your best!"
Louis had seen death before, especially with the past wars in Eldoria.
Jimena knew Paloma died trying to save Louis, but he did everything he could; he didn't want Paloma to die.
So why was Louis in such a bad state after Paloma's death?
Jimena hugged Louis, but his face was dark and gloomy. He didn't want Pearl to worry, but Jimena spilled the beans.
Louis snapped, "Jimena, why'd you tell Pearl that? You didn't need to say anything!"
"It's your problem now. You're a mess. Why can't I tell Pearl?" Jimena's voice cracked, tears streaming down her face.
Pearl put her arm around Jimena, saying, "I get it. Louis, you can't keep going like this."
"I'm fine!" Louis said coldly. He was dead serious.
In Louis's situation, how could there be no problem? Those facing issues often claim they have none.
Pearl felt a weight in her chest. "Don't get worked up. Everything will be okay. You need to get back to normal. Paloma wouldn't want to see you like this."
Louis shouted, "No, I'm not!"
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