Aden was thankful that the message that came from the winter had arrived after the funeral. Ilyin was able to get through an extremely difficult event without other outside stressors.

Ilyin’s mind was extremely anxious now, however. She didn’t bother saying goodbye to the Viscount while leaving the mansion and instead, it was the Viscountess’s coffin that received her farewell. Next was Bertha whom Ilyin dreaded having to say goodbye to.

It was a sudden, but an expected farewell. Ilyin’s grandmother had told her beforehand that she wouldn’t come with Ilyin to the winter region but that didn’t mean she didn’t still feel empty.

“I know I can’t go in there,” Bertha looked around and pointed the end of the cane that had she got back from Idith at Milo’s nose. Milo flinched.

“Since my baby is feeling lonely, I’ll contact you from time to time,” said Bertha. There was a crack in her tough exterior at the thought of her granddaughter leaving.

Aden gave Milo a look which meant that Milo should do what Bertha wanted. Milo, noticing it, bowed deeply.

“I’ll see you again.” Bertha grabbed Ilyin’s hands and while the rest of her face showed no emotions, the love brimming in her eyes was evident.

It was a promise with no deadline. Bertha looked at Ilyin for a while and then turned around. As Bertha couldn’t stay in the Arlen territory due to the order of Viscount Arlen, she had to go somewhere else.

After saying goodbye, Ilyin left the Viscount mansion and her anxiety grew tenfold.

“Ilyin,” called Aden softly, there was no way he would miss her tensing up. As they made their way back to Acid Merchant, he gently grabbed her hand, “Are you okay?”

Ilyin took in a deep breath but even then, her mind refused to calm. It felt like something was tightly gripping her heart.

“I’m okay,” Ilyin’s voice came out strained.

I’ll be okay. Ilyin let out a long sigh. Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest.

The foreseen future, the return to the winter was in front of them.

***

As they were already prepped, they were able to leave soon. The return trip’s schedule was different from what the Delrose people were told, however.

“The other carriage will leave tomorrow.”

It was an order prepared with Ilyin’s foresight in mind. Aden gave the order to the surprised looking maids.

“And also, there won’t be other guards.”

Of course, Milo would place knights strategically where Ilyin wouldn’t see them, but it had to seem like there would be no guards. This was all a plan to deceive Ilyin’s foresight. Etra, Idith and Milo were the only ones in on it.

Ilyin’s guard knights Milia and Nis upon hearing this command immediately protested, “but Your Majesty—”

“Careful.” Milo cut them off with a warning.

Milia, who had spoken out instinctually, quickly shut her mouth. It wasn’t the right honorific to use outside of the Delrose territory.

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“Grand Master,” Milia, after pondering about how to address him in the warm region, corrected herself, “This isn’t a safe place.”

While this was an understandable concern for a knight, Aden did not falter.

“I will give an order through Milo regarding that,” Aden said firmly.

Milia was about to protest but then stopped herself. He was the Grand Master that had led all the battles in the winter region. He was even able to cope with the aggression of the anomalous winter monster tribe. He wouldn’t give out such an order without a reason and to refute him was basically doubting him.

“Don’t worry too much.” Ilyin grabbed both knights’ hands as she knew their worries, “I’ll see you when I arrive.”

Her kind farewell helped the two knights feel more at ease and Ilyin, escorted by Aden, headed towards the carriage.

“I’ll see you soon.” Milo bowed deeply to the two of them.

Aden moved after accepting his goodbye. Behind them only Idith and Etra followed. Ilyin looked up at the carriage. It was the carriage she rode here and the same carriage that broke down in the dream. Her heart began hammering as she took in a breath.

“It’s okay,” Aden whispered as he caressed Ilyin back in an attempt to calm her, “nothing will happen.”

Ilyin still couldn’t easily get on the carriage.

‘Your Majesty!’ Ilyin could hear Idith’s piercing scream ringing in her ears again.

In her dream, she clearly saw an arrow hit Aden’s back and she could feel that it was a fatal hit. Ilyin quickly shook her head. She tried to calm down by convincing herself that it wasn’t like she had actually foreseen his death. Even then, she was scared.

Ilyin tightly grabbed Aden’s hand not caring about if the pressure would hurt him. This was something she thought the most about during the funeral; the future that was foreseen was unavoidable.

She couldn’t stop her mom’s death nor Sid’s death, the only thing she could do was be beside them when it happened. Despite knowing the future before anyone, she felt like she couldn’t prepare for it.

‘Cursing blood that dreams.’

It was true. This was a curse. A curse that caused her to be in a longer state of anxiety than anyone and to be in pain longer as well.

Suddenly Ilyin thoughts were interrupted as found her perspective being tilted.

“Ah!” she screamed as she found her body being lifted without a warning. Her opened eyes momentarily could only see the clear sky. Aden lowered his head towards her a little as he held her up. He put his lips on her nose. Ilyin scrunched her nose and let out a laugh as it tickled.

The laughter that came out danced around like music to Aden’s ears. Aden looked at the eyes that were half closed and mischievously slid his lips on Ilyin’s nose again.

Ilyin chuckled again, “Den, people are…”

Watching, she wanted to continue but trailed off when Aden pulled away and flashed the most heart-wrenchingly beautiful smile. Aden’s dark blue eyes were half covered by his natural long eyelashes.magic

“If they’re smart enough, they’ll turn their head,” he smirked.

Ilyin couldn’t see the people behind them while being held this way by him. Aden quietly laughed and became a bit more aggressive. The lips that taped her nose again covered Ilyin’s breath. Ilyin shuddered as goosebumps trailed along her arms. Aden just had that effect on her.