Sylvia, who had been continuing her meetings with Kyle, one day heard that he would come to the Eleonore County first and hurriedly left the castle.
The meetings between the two had always required Sylvia to go to him, so she couldn’t help but feel happy.
She paid a little more attention to her outfit than usual, put on light makeup, and went out to greet him, only to see that his face looked somewhat gloomy.
Since he always had an expressionless face, it was hard to read his emotions, but after spending this short time together, she was able to read his expression just a little.
Moreover, she quickly realized that the reason he had come here was not to look around Eleonore County but for something else.
Although she felt a little disappointed by this, Sylvia, who wanted to be of help to him even in the slightest, only wished that he would quickly bring up what was on his mind.
“…Sylvia Eleonore.”
“Yes, Prince Lyard.”
How long had they walked aimlessly?
Noticing that he spoke with a heavier tone than usual, Sylvia instinctively realized that the moment she had anticipated had arrived.
However, she kept a straight face and responded as if nothing was wrong.
Then Kyle continued.
“I’m sorry to bring this up in such an atmosphere, but actually, I came today to ask you for a favor.”
“As expected. I had a feeling there was another reason you came.”
What could that request be?
With both expectation and anxiety, Sylvia looked at him, and then something came into her view.
It was a small piece of paper that Kyle took out from his pocket.
The worn-out parchment was crumpled and rolled up, making it look quite like an old map.
“Four days from now, come to this place alone. I have something to say.”
“This place, you mean? Alright. Since you’re asking me to come alone, I suppose it’s something very important?”
“Yes, it’s important. So please, do as I ask.”
As he finished speaking and fell silent, Sylvia tightly gripped the map in her hand, trying hard to hide her slight trembling.
‘This must be a farewell.’
And she instinctively knew—he was going to say goodbye to her.
Of course, no matter how much she had learned to read Kyle’s emotions, she couldn’t know the exact reason.
However, whatever the reason, if that was what he wanted, she resolved to nod and accept it without hesitation.
I love you too much right now to try and hold you back.
But more than that, you have given me so much that I can’t bring myself to stop you.
If I did, it would be like rescuing a drowning person only to demand payment immediately after.
At the very least, I don’t want to be remembered as someone pitiful to you.
That’s why, even as she clenched the map in her hands, Sylvia made up her mind.
For the next four days, she would prepare herself emotionally no matter what.
At the very least, she would send him off with a smile one last time.
Four days later, Sylvia headed alone to the location Kyle had given her.
It was a small field that looked as if it had come straight out of a fairy tale, filled with flowers of various colors.
In a dreamlike and romantic place like this, her heart might have been excited under normal circumstances, but the thought of hearing a farewell in such a beautiful place dampened her spirits.
Still, to avoid revealing her feelings as much as possible, she forced herself to act as the usual Sylvia Eleonore, cheerfully hopping around the field.
Plop.
Then, since things had come to this, she thought she might as well do something she had always wanted to try and lay down on the flower field.
At that moment, she noticed Kyle’s eyes widen in surprise as he instinctively moved to support her body.
Realizing this, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Pffft, sorry for surprising you. I’ve always wanted to lie down in a flower field like a bed when I visited a place like this.”
“To think that was all you wanted to do… You must have lived quite a boring life.”
Was he being curt on purpose to hide his surprise?
Or was he feeling embarrassed because she had noticed his reaction and laughed?
Whatever the reason, despite Kyle’s somewhat sharp tone, Sylvia simply sat up and looked at him with a bright smile, nodding.
Because there was nothing wrong with what he had said.
“You’re right. It probably was a bit of a boring life. After all, I’ve only been able to walk around freely for about four years now.”
“Four years…? What do you mean?”
For the first time, Sylvia spoke about her circumstances in detail, and Kyle’s pupils shook slightly.
She had always tried to avoid discussing such dark topics in front of him, but thinking that today was the last time, she found herself wanting to share everything.
She spoke of how she had spent nearly 17 years confined to a single room.
It was not a pleasant story for anyone to hear, but throughout her recounting, Sylvia never lost her smile.
It wasn’t because she had grown accustomed to this reality and reached a state of acceptance.
Rather, despite those long 17 years—or more accurately, even after that, the oppression from her family had continued for another three years, making it a total of 20 years—
Despite all those dark years, the approximately 100 days she had spent with him were so brilliant and bright that she could never erase them from her memory.
‘But now, this too must become just another page in the past.’
If I could continue being with you, I wonder how many more stories we could have written together.
But that is not the story you wish for.
With that thought, half resigned, Sylvia finished speaking and stood up.
Grab.
“Sylvia.”
“Y-Yes…!?”
Kyle suddenly grabbed both of her arms and, for the first time, called her by her name.
Sylvia’s cheeks turned red at his unexpected action.
“I’ll explain later. Run. Right now.”
“Huh? What do you mea—”
But only for a moment.
Sylvia widened her eyes and was about to demand an explanation, but Kyle, saying there was no time, pointed to the other side of the field and urged her to run there immediately.
The urgency on his face made it clear that he was not joking.
At that moment—
“…What a shame, Kyle Lyard. I never thought you would betray us. Quite the shock.”
A man wearing a hooded robe appeared beyond a magic circle and began approaching them with firm steps.
Meanwhile, Kyle positioned himself in front of Sylvia, shielding her with his arm.
It was then that Sylvia instinctively understood.
The reason Kyle was trying to escape from this place was none other than that man’s presence.
According to Kyle, the man was a member of a rebel group known as the “Eyes of Dawn.”
As a chilling murderous intent spread throughout the area, Sylvia’s body trembled slightly, but she forced herself to stay calm and searched for a way to escape with Kyle.
However—
Crack!
“Keugh…!?”
Kyle, who had been moving like a broken wooden puppet, suddenly spun around and grabbed her neck with such force that it felt as if he would crush her spine.
Her thoughts came to a screeching halt.
All she could do was struggle desperately to survive, gasping weakly as her breath turned into painful groans.
Even in this utterly bewildering situation, Sylvia coolly assessed the circumstances.
Kyle, who had just been trying to help her escape, wouldn’t have changed his attitude so suddenly.
She had no doubt that the man was controlling Kyle’s body.
Then, was she truly going to die at the hands of the man she loved so deeply?
‘If that’s the case, I’d rather it be your hands.’
It was a truly tragic ending, but she thought it was still better than dying at the hands of some nameless man.
With that in mind, Sylvia let go of Kyle’s wrist.
If you, who once brought light into my life, are now the one to extinguish it, I will accept it without resistance.
“S-Sylvia…”
However, while this may have been the ending Sylvia had resigned herself to, it was not the ending Kyle wanted.
If she had found her first and last light in him, then conversely, he had also found his first and last light in her.
For that reason, he could never be the one to extinguish that radiant light with his own hands.
He weakly called her name, and using that as a catalyst, he barely managed to loosen his grip.
Sylvia’s eyes widened in shock at his actions.
Thud!
But perhaps even the gods did not intend to give them time for a final farewell.
Just before Kyle could fully release her, a massive silver spear flew from somewhere and pierced them both at once.
Sylvia’s barely returning consciousness was drenched in red.
At last, their bodies collapsed powerlessly onto the flower field where she had been lying down just moments ago, enjoying its beauty.
Kyle had desperately gathered his remaining magic to shield her from the full impact, so Sylvia did not immediately lose consciousness.
But it was only a temporary relief.
“Ky… Kyle….”
With her body barely moving, Sylvia mustered all the strength she had left and reached out to Kyle.
If only I had tried to hold on to you a little longer.
The day I mistakenly thought you were going to say goodbye to me, if I had clung to you, begging you not to leave, maybe this outcome wouldn’t have come to pass.
The truth is, I knew.
I knew you were trying to use me like a tool, that you weren’t actually seeing me.
But still, I liked being by your side. Even though you didn’t see me, at least you didn’t treat me as if I didn’t exist.
You sometimes looked at distant mountains, as if you had your own path somewhere far away.
While watching you like that, I hoped that when you reached that place, the person standing beside you would be me.
That’s why I said nothing.
But now, perhaps, I might regret it.
Not for choosing you, but for not stopping you.
The chance to guide you to the right path, the chance to stop your heart from being tainted by darkness, that opportunity, which I could have seized, is the most regretful and sorrowful thing in my life.
So, Kyle.
“I… I…”
I don’t blame you.
This is nothing but the words of a witch who made a wrong choice.
‘I should have at least told you I loved you.’
At the very least, I should have pretended I didn’t know and let myself be held in your arms.
Even though you were so close, I will never hold your hand again.
The realization of that fact is so painfully intense.
‘If I were given another chance to choose.’
I would never make the same mistake again.
If I could turn back time and meet you once more, I would make sure you never fall to darkness.
I would make you love me so much that you couldn’t bear to give me up.
I would protect you now, just as you once tried to protect me.
So, gods, please grant me one more chance.
“…It’s just the beginning.”
Just before Sylvia’s consciousness completely faded, a man’s voice faintly reached her ears.
With the sound of footsteps across the grass, the robed man approached them and reached for Sylvia’s right eye.
At that moment—
Zing.
The faint red light emanating from her magical eye grew larger, engulfing the entire field, and eventually devoured everything in its path.