I Will End My 10-Year Unrequited Love - Chapter 24

Rias smiled as he looked at the sunset on the hill. Like how the sun was exhaling its last breath, the horizon between the sky and the field was painted in hues of red.

“Then, just a moment.”

Elia, who had been staring into the distance, made up her mind and took Rias’s hand. Since the conversation with Cyrone earlier, she had been in a bad mood, and she thought maybe a little change of pace would help.

“Don’t worry. I’m right behind you.”

Once Elia had safely mounted the horse, Rias firmly grasped the reins from behind. The horse started galloping, the cool breeze cutting across her cheek as it rushed by with a speed she had never felt before.

“How do you like it?”

“I didn’t know a place like this existed.”

They rode for a while and as they entered the deserted woods, Rias loosened the reins. Elia gazed at the scenery in front of her in amazement. For a lady like her, who had always been forced to act with maturity, it was a special experience.

“Elia.”

As Elia was touching the leaves, she turned toward Rias, who had called her name.

Their breaths intertwined in the close space between them. Elia had turned her head suddenly, and Rias’s face was far too close.

“Oh, sorry, Rias.”

Startled, Elia tried to pull away, but Rias quickly wrapped his arms around her waist, preventing her from moving. Rias’s heartbeat was so close that Elia could feel it.

“Elia.”

He called her name urgently again. Their gazes locked for a while, tangled in each other. Rias bit his lip struggling to find the right words.

“I already know your heart isn’t directed toward me, but…”

Rias’s voice came out quietly. He seemed to suddenly recall painful memories and gripped Elia’s waist even tighter.

“On the day you disappeared, I realized more than I thought just how much I care about you.”

What did he mean by ‘disappeared’? Elia wanted to ask but couldn’t bring herself to. His voice sounded so desperate, so full of longing.

Rias gazed at Elia’s face, his hands trembling as he slowly cupped her face. When his lips touched Elia’s red ones, Rias felt as if his whole body was burning.

“This is the one last chance God has given me. I will never let you…”

A cool, clear breeze filled the space between them, and at that moment, their gazes were still locked, entwining them in silence.

Bang—!

The chirping of the birds suddenly stopped. A loud crash, like the earth exploding, reverberated through the surroundings. The world seemed to shake as if an earthquake had hit.

The sound was so intense it seemed like the entire forest would collapse. Birds perched on branches flew into the sky in a panic, and leaves fell to the ground.

“What… what’s happening?”

A groan involuntarily escaped her lips. What was going on? The deafening sound that filled her ears made Elia squeeze her eyes shut. The stinging smell of gunpowder filled the air, clouding her vision, almost making her nauseous.

“Rias!”

Elia’s shoulders shook with a sudden wave of shock and fear. Rias’s dark eyes were frozen, as he couldn’t believe what was happening. He turned his head, still in disbelief, his expression said that he couldn’t grasp the situation.

“…!”

Elia covered her mouth. The large tree next to Rias had a blackened bullet casing embedded in it. It had hit with such precision, there was no doubt it had been aimed at the tree instead of Rias, as if someone had intended to target him.

What if Rias had turned his head the wrong way? Elia felt the bullet casing that could have pierced Rias’s eye send a chill down her spine.

“Rias! Are you okay? Are you hurt? What happened…!”

Elia frantically searched Rias’s face, relieved only when she confirmed he was unharmed. She exhaled deeply, still shaken, though Rias remained silent, staring calmly at something in the distance.

The moment Elia turned her head to follow Rias’s gaze.

“…What in the world is going on?!”

The long, sharp musket’s firing pin flared with a blackened heat.

Through the dissipating smoke stood Cyrone. He reloaded his musket, aiming it again at his target. Once he had finished loading, he placed his hand gently on the lever and smiled.

“That tree kept bothering me.”

Cyrone furrowed his brows slightly as he spoke. In an instant, the barrel of the gun was directed at Rias’s neck.

“Oh, by the way, did I mention I have bad eyesight?”

As the wind blew, Cyrone’s hair swayed gently. His blue eyes gleamed, the eyes of a predator hunting its prey.

It was terrifyingly beautiful.

* * *

Elia felt as though her heart had stopped beating. She silently glared at Cyrone, standing beyond the border.

Cyrone, who possessed all the light in the world, was as beautiful as ever. But Elia knew that the boy she had once loved, the one she had once given her heart to, was no longer there. So many things have changed.

The thick smoke and the sickening smell of gunpowder mixed between the three of them.

“Cyrone… what is this?”

Elia’s voice trembled. The scene unfolding before her was too horrible.