A Promise and a Parting

No sooner had Cassius departed than Duke Wenser arrived at Ilisia’s room with the Duchess in tow.

Before Ilisia could even react, Duchess Wenser rushed forward, pulling her into a tight embrace.

“You frightened me half to death last night, my darling…” her mother’s gentle voice trembled.

Then, the Duchess brushed Ilisia’s hair aside, leaned down, and planted a firm kiss upon her beautiful brow.

“I’m sorry, Mother, for leaving the banquet early without a word,” Ilisia said, a lump forming in her throat.

Duchess Wenser took Ilisia’s hands, her eyes already welling with tears.

“I’ve checked you over completely, including the most important parts—they’re all unharmed. You have not been defiled by anyone,” the Duchess said.

Ilisia nodded, leaning against her mother’s shoulder.

“As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters…” Duke Wenser managed a smile on his weary face as he stepped forward to pat his daughter’s head.

The family of three held each other in a warm embrace.

****

A short while later, the door was pushed open once more.

Her second older brother, Simon Wenser, walked in, followed closely by her older sister, Matilda Wenser, and her youngest sister, Katelyn Wenser.

“Sister!” Katelyn practically flew across the room and threw her arms around Ilisia, her eyes glistening. “Are you okay, sister?”

“I’m fine,” Ilisia replied with a smile, stroking her little sister’s head.

Matilda sat on the edge of the bed, taking Ilisia’s hand. “You truly gave us a scare this time,” she said.

Simon stood to the side with his arms crossed, remarking teasingly, “Seeing you so full of spirit now, I’d say things couldn’t have been too serious.”

“Hey, is that any way to comfort someone?” Ilisia shot Simon an exasperated look.

Simon pursed his lips and shrugged helplessly. “See? She can still trade barbs with me!”

The family shared a laugh and chatted for a few more moments.

The atmosphere in the room grew warm and bright.

“And where is Charles?” Ilisia suddenly asked about her eldest brother.

“Him? Off to some noble’s poetry gathering again,” Simon said with a frown. “Honestly, for his sister to be in such trouble and for him not to even visit… the heartless oaf.”

“Simon!” Duchess Wenser chided with a slight furrow of her brow. “Don’t speak of your brother that way.”

“But Mother, it’s outrageous that Charles hasn’t come to see her,” Matilda said, coming to Simon’s defense.

“Exactly, exactly!” Little Katelyn’s cheeks puffed out in anger.

As they all began to list their eldest brother’s faults, Ilisia could only help her mother smooth things over.

Duke Wenser stood by, watching the scene unfold without a word. After a few words of instruction, he took his leave and returned to his study.

Ilisia knew her father had a mountain of affairs to deal with, and that her safe return was the greatest comfort she could offer him.

The family chatted a little longer, and only after the other children had left did their mother reluctantly depart.

Just as she reached the doorway, Duchess Wenser turned back. “That Delarose boy is on the estate today. I’ve prepared a small gift for you to take to him later as thanks.”

At these words, Ilisia’s eyes lit up.

“Mother, I’ll go right now,” she said.

Ilisia eagerly hopped out of bed, only then realizing she was still in her nightgown, her bare feet on the cold floor.

The injury from yesterday sent a sharp twinge through her leg.

“Ah—My Lady!” The maids rushed forward to stop her and help her dress.

“Look at you, so eager,” Duchess Wenser remarked.

Ilisia’s cheeks flushed. “W-Well, who told you to bring something like that up so suddenly…”

After her daughter was dressed, Duchess Wenser personally straightened Ilisia’s gown and planted another kiss on her cheek.

“You’re of age now. It’s time you gave serious thought to your marriage,” she said with a radiant smile.

“Mo-ther!” Ilisia complained.

Ilisia slipped on her cloak and walked out of her chambers with her mother.

She avoided the main hall, as Cassius might still be there.

The mere sight of his face now would conjure images of him entwined with that woman in the farmhouse, and recall the disgusting, offensive words he had spoken.

‘If Cassius hadn’t been born into nobility, he’d be no different from the brigands I encountered last night.’

‘And the prince, so dashing and brilliant at the tournament…’

‘Who would have thought he was such a short-tempered brute.’

‘That golden hair of his is repulsive…’

****

Adrian stood in a clearing, a brazier placed before him.

He was taking a thick stack of papers from a servant and tossing them into the flames.

Adrian had finally finished calculating all the data.

“A great masterpiece…” Adrian murmured to himself.

The joy on his face was irrepressible; his body even trembled with excitement.

‘This world is real.’

‘That means I can devote myself completely to the ‘hunt’.’

‘Just you wait, you whelps. I’ve let you fester for more than a decade…’

‘Now, it’s time to reap what you’ve sown.’

“Heh heh heh!” A sinister sound escaped Adrian’s lips. “Hmm… Hahaha!”

“Are you all right?” Ilisia’s voice cut through his reverie.

“Ahem…” Adrian scratched his head, slightly embarrassed. “Miss Ilisia, what brings you here?”

“Are those your manuscripts? You’re burning all of them?” Ilisia asked in surprise as she approached.

“I have no more need for them,” Adrian replied.

“Does that mean you won’t be watching the stars anymore?” she asked.

“Something like that. But I’ll have other matters to attend to now,” Adrian said with a sigh, continuing to feed the documents into the fire.

The firelight danced across his face, its glow mingling with the setting sun to cast his features in sharp relief.

Ilisia watched him quietly, feeling that something about him had changed.

Adrian looked up, his eyes meeting hers.

The flames reflected in his dark pupils, like countless stars sending ripples across a deep night sky.

Ilisia was mesmerized.

The fire leaped between them, illuminating her face and tracing the contours of his.

Her heart began to beat faster, and she remembered the events of last night…

‘He could have escaped on his own. Those brigands weren’t interested in him…’

‘He’s just a powerless bookworm, yet he still tried to protect me in that situation. It was rather foolish, almost clumsy…’

‘But… I don’t dislike it…’

A sudden impulse surged through Ilisia.

She truly, desperately wanted to throw her arms around Adrian…

To kiss him wildly, until red marks bloomed across his face…

The mere thought made her cheeks burn.

****

Adrian took a few steps back.

He saw a frenzied look flash across Ilisia’s face.

‘Damn, her eyes are practically shooting out hearts.’

‘She’s not going to pounce on me, is she?’

Adrian shot a look at his servant, signaling him to be on guard.

A sense of shame and her noble upbringing were the only things that stopped Ilisia, forcing her to discreetly draw back the drool gathering at the corner of her mouth.

“I came to give you this.”

She smiled faintly and placed a small object she had been clutching in her hand into Adrian’s.

It was a gold coin, engraved with the Wenser family crest.

It was the highest reward the House of Wenser bestowed upon its benefactors, a symbol that meant:

No matter what trouble you find yourself in, the Wenser family will come to your aid.

It was a promise that transcended mere interest.

“It was my pleasure to be of service to the House of Wenser,” Adrian said, accepting the coin. “However, I would have saved you regardless of your station.”

They were polite words.

But a warmth spread through Ilisia’s heart.

“After all, we’re friends, aren’t we?” Adrian added.

Ilisia’s smile vanished.

‘What?’

‘Friends?!’

The word struck her like a slap, shattering her beautiful daydream.

She wondered if she had misheard.

“Just friends…?” Ilisia’s voice was barely a whisper.

She stared intently at Adrian, a pained expression clouding her features.

She couldn’t believe that in his heart, she was merely a “friend.”

“You…” Ilisia lunged forward, grabbing the front of Adrian’s clothes.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Adrian yelped.

“I-LI-SI-A!” A voice seemed to explode from a distance, instantly freezing the two of them in the garden.

Bella appeared at the garden entrance, her eyes still slightly swollen and red.

She stomped over to her brother and Ilisia, spread her arms to stand between them, and glared resentfully at Ilisia.

“Do you have any idea what he looked like when he came back yesterday? He was carrying you, covered in blood, while you didn’t have a single scratch…” Bella said, her eyes turning red again.

“Bella, you again…” Ilisia crossed her arms.

“After everything my brother went through to save you, what more do you want from him!” Bella cried.

“…”

The two girls stood in a standoff.

And Adrian?

He, of course, seized the opportunity to slip away, hopping into a carriage and heading toward the flower fields.

‘Alas, Ilisia is certainly a beauty, and the Duke’s second daughter at that.’

‘Marrying her would be the top choice for a comfortable, lazy life.’

‘Becoming a carefree live-in son-in-law, spending my days eating and drinking, would be perfect.’

‘Unfortunately, as long as those evil spiritual creatures roam this continent, I cannot rest for a moment.’

‘I’ve already given them more than a decade…’

‘Too long.’

‘Who knows what kind of dreadful information they’ve gathered by now.’

‘I need to hurry.’

‘The path ahead is fraught with peril, and there is no place for a mere mortal by my side…’