Chapter 132
“It would be more dangerous to run in an open field.”
It was a cold, rational judgment.
Keeping her body as low as she could, Lynette slowly moved toward the rock he had mentioned. Fortunately, the tall grass provided enough cover to conceal her. The problem was that it also hid the enemy.
‘Why is this happening…?’
When she reached the large rock, she crawled into a small crevice beneath it.
In that short time, several more arrows flew toward Sillian, which he narrowly evaded. When Lynette had been standing there, he had blocked every single one of them without hesitation. But now, with no one to protect, he seemed slightly more at ease.
Even from a distance, she could tell how terrifyingly cold his expression had become.
Was he capable of making such a face?
Lynette crouched low and held her breath. The only thing she could and should do was stay out of his way.
“You guys should know that arrows alone can’t kill me.”
Since the enemy didn’t reveal themselves, Sillian spoke calmly, taunting them instead. At his words, the tall grass trembled faintly. Whether it was movement from someone within or just the wind, she couldn’t tell.
She could sense the tension in him.
Lynette bit her lip hard.
‘Who are they after?’
No, neither of them were important enough to be targeted for assassination.
Sillian was a prince from a faraway foreign kingdom, and hadn’t he said the matter of succession there was already settled?
He didn’t seem to be lying. He had been leisurely enough to suggest they travel together, and he didn’t appear to harbor any desire for power.
Even back in the Empire, he had lived merely as a guard. Though he had often visited Euphen’s Detached Palace because of her, he had never been involved in politics in any way.
‘Then… are they after me?’
She frowned slightly. She had once been targeted before, back when she had lived as Euphen’s supposed lover.
Though their complicated circumstances hadn’t been known to the public, she had, in the end, been abandoned in the eyes of the world.
Would anyone really go so far as to chase down and kill a woman cast aside by love? It wouldn’t affect Euphen in the slightest.
Lynette clasped her hands tightly together. Though she was hidden, she couldn’t drive away the fear completely.
Her fingertips were cold.
A few more arrows shot toward Sillian, embedding themselves into the ground and nearby trees. Then, several figures suddenly emerged from the tall grass.
He calmly raised his sword, meeting their attack head-on.
The sound of clashing steel rang sharply through the open field.
It felt surreal.
As his blade struck back with force, Sillian gritted his teeth. Around him, something transparent began to waver and ripple.
‘His ability…’
Of course. With his Guide right beside him, he had no reason to restrain his power.
Lynette’s eyes widened as she watched. It was as though he was bending the air itself.
She couldn’t see it clearly, but she could tell how skillfully he wielded it.
One man approaching from behind was slammed to the ground with brutal force, and Sillian’s other hand closed around another enemy’s throat. A choking gasp rang out loudly.
His red eyes glimmered with a cold light.
As he deflected another blow and turned his head toward his opponent, fierce flames suddenly flared to life.
At that, Lynette squeezed her eyes shut. It didn’t matter if they were enemies, witnessing someone hurt or die still terrified her.
The clash of swords echoed again and again, mixed with the shrill cries of agony. The final breath she heard sent a chill down her spine. Too raw and cruel to blend into the whispering waves of grass that swayed in the wind.
She didn’t know how long she had prayed for Sillian’s safety before the terrible sounds abruptly stopped.
When she cautiously opened her eyes, only one man remained standing.
The moment she saw his long golden hair stirring in the breeze, she let out a small sigh of relief.
‘Is it alright to go out now?’
He was staring down at the ground, his expression rigid. His lips were moving as if murmuring something, but she couldn’t hear his voice.
“…”
Lynette curled up.
Sillian frowned, then brought his sword down.
The tall grass hid the scene from view, but it wasn’t difficult to guess what had happened.
She flinched and buried her face in her knees.
She didn’t think he had become a monster just because he had killed someone, but she was not the sort of person who could accept such brutality without feeling shaken.
After several trembling breaths, she felt a light touch against her arm. Startled, she looked up to see Sillian’s face before her.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
Taking his offered hand, she slowly climbed out from the crevice beneath the rock. From the point where their hands met, the gentle yet vivid sensation of guiding spread through her.
Subconsciously, Lynette gripped his hand tightly. Perhaps mistaking it for fear, Sillian patted her shoulder lightly, as if to reassure her that she was okay.
He had made sure she wouldn’t see the bodies. Though, of course, the crimson stains on the grass could not be hidden.
“…Who were they trying to kill?”
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