Chapter 148
Had she ever told him exactly what this pendant was?
As she stayed silent, Sillian spoke in a calm, steady voice.
“It was a sudden accident. The pendant wouldn’t have been able to do anything.”
“How can you be so sure of that?”
“Magic isn’t something that brings the dead back to life.”
So he meant that Euphen had died the moment the accident occurred… that even if the pendant had been there, it couldn’t have changed anything.
A bitter smile tugged at her lips.
It was a harsh sort of comfort, but strangely, it did soothe her a little.
“If he’d been in any condition to use magic, the Imperial Prince would have been found alive.”
“So, regretting that the pendant wasn’t there… means nothing.”
“…So you’re saying it wasn’t my fault, after all.”
“That’s right.”
He smiled faintly.
Lynette closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
“Sillian.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
Why were such simple words so difficult to say?
His eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Words flooded up to the tip of her tongue.
For comforting her. For agreeing to go to the funeral. For staying silently by her side when she cried. For pulling her out of despair, even if it was by force. For trying to lift her spirits. For cherishing her. For loving her sincerely…
There were far too many reasons to be grateful.
“Just… thank you for everything.”
Instead of giving a long explanation, Lynette simply repeated her thanks with genuine sincerity.
Sillian looked at her quietly.
She wondered if her feelings had reached him.
After a long silence, he finally answered.
“I’ll stay by your side from now on, too.”
It felt a little out of place as a response to her thanks, but before she could say anything, he added a bit more.
“So you can think of everything that’s mine as yours.”
“…”
“I’m here to be whatever you need, whenever you need it. You’ve given me too much already. You can use me however you wish.”
“I’m just… guiding you.”
“That’s what keeps me alive, isn’t it? So everything I am belongs to you. Even my life.”
She couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
Her lips pressed together tightly.
Even Euphen had never said something like that to her.
To tell her that it is fine to use him, to treat everything he had as her own.
The silence between them grew heavy.
He smiled faintly.
“Was I too serious?”
“You meant it, didn’t you?”
“I did. But I didn’t mean to make you feel burdened.”
“I know. Still… Thank you. Truly.”
What was this feeling?
She gripped the reins tightly.
‘Something feels… strange.’
Something she couldn’t quite point out began to take root in her chest.
It wasn’t the same as what she’d felt for Euphen.
‘It would be stranger to feel nothing at all.’
After all, he was someone who had just said he would give her his everything.
Someone willing to place even his life in her hands… how could anyone stay indifferent to that?
The emotion growing inside her was still too small and fragile,
but one thing was certain.
It had already taken hold.
Lynette let out a quiet sigh.
Maybe because she had already exhausted every tear and sorrow she had for Euphen’s death,
she could feel even the faintest stirrings within her heart so clearly now.
Did that mean she was truly empty inside?
‘My heart used to be filled entirely with His Highness.’
Death, it seemed, took not only the dead, but everything that remained with the living.
It was a bitter thought.
It really did feel like the pendant was the only thing he had left behind.
“Lynette.”
Sillian suddenly stopped his horse and moved to block her path.
“What is it?”
“Someone’s coming.”
“So?”
“They look suspicious. It would be best if we hid for now.”
She followed his gaze into the distance but saw nothing.
Still, she obediently dismounted.
She trusted him completely.
If there was one thing that would never change, it was that this man would never harm her.
They hid their horses behind a thick patch of bushes and crouched low in a sheltered spot.
Lynette glanced down at Sillian’s hand gripping the sword’s hilt tightly.
“Are they assassins?”
“I’m not sure yet. But it’s better to be cautious.”
She nodded at his words.
“It would be best if they just passed by without incident…”
He trailed off.
Lynette raised her head slightly to peer toward the road.
A moment ago, there had been nothing, but now, something was visible.
Two figures, cloaked in black robes.
They were riding at a desperate pace, far too fast for ordinary travelers.
‘No wonder he’s wary.’
And after everything that had happened, it wasn’t as though they could assume they weren’t being targeted.
Lynette crouched lower, holding her breath.
“Could they be the ones being chased?”
Sillian nodded slightly.
“That’s possible. I’m considering every scenario, so don’t worry.”
The sound of hooves grew louder.
The ground itself seemed to tremble faintly beneath them.
‘Just pass by.’
She hoped that they were merely in a hurry to reach their destination.
As the horses approached at full speed, Sillian’s expression hardened.
When the two riders came close enough to pass right before them, Lynette leaned forward slightly, peering from behind the bushes.
Underneath the shadow of a deep hood, she caught a glimpse.
A familiar line of a nose, the curve of a jaw.
How could she ever forget that face?
All thought of hiding vanished from her mind as she shot to her feet, voice breaking into a scream.
“Your Highness!”
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