Chapter 16
In the days that followed, Sylvie and Lance visited Reldor’s ancient landmarks, including the Sacred Arena, the Celestial Cathedral, and Angelfall Castle.
At night, they made their way through Reldor’s streets, swept along with the crowd under the dark sky. The moonlight bathed their faces, casting a gentle, intimate glow in the cool air.
Lance’s hand rested on top of Sylvie’s, and their breaths grew closer.
“Did you know?” he asked, his deep blue eyes seeming even more mysterious in the dim light.
“What?” Sylvie felt her cheeks warm and forced herself to look away.
“Right here, at Angelfall Castle, the runaway princess and the struggling reporter went through exile and escape before finally realizing they were in love and sealing it with a timeless kiss.”
Lance’s breath grew closer, warming Sylvie’s skin. He gently cupped her chin and turned her face toward his, applying just enough pressure to make her meet his
gaze.
“What about you?”
Sylvie’s eyes locked with Lance’s, filled with such tenderness that, for a moment, she wanted to lose herself in them—to dive deep and uncover what lay beneath
that vast ocean of blue.
But she pushed him away just as his lips were about to meet hers. Tears streamed down her face as he stared at her, stunned. She covered her face, turned, and ran like a coward fleeing from battle.
Alone, Sylvie huddled on a bench beneath the shadow of a tree by the street, pressing her face into her knees as she sobbed. She couldn’t understand why she
couldn’t accept Lance’s feelings.
Maybe she still hadn’t fully escaped the darkness Soren had plunged her into.
Lance sat down quietly beside her. A peaceful silence settled between them, only interrupted by the occasional sound of cicadas as time passed.
It wasn’t until a long while later that Sylvie quietly said, “I’m sorry.”
Lance noticed the tear streaks on her face and replied, “I should be the one apologizing. I acted impulsively and scared you.”
Sylvie shook her head repeatedly and met his gaze. His eyes showed no anger, only deep concern.
“No,” she said, holding back tears. “I was the one who said I needed to move on, but I’m still stuck in the past.”
Seeing how fragile she looked, Lance paused before asking, “Can I hug you?”
When Sylvie nodded, he turned and gently pulled her into his arms. Unlike Soren, who always smelled of cologne, Lance had a subtle, natural scent, like fresh–cut
grass.
Sylvie sniffled and mumbled against his chest, “What kind of cologne are you wearing?”
Lance let out a soft laugh. “I’m a doctor. I don’t wear cologne. Does it smell strange?”
“No, it’s nice,” Sylvie said, pressing her face deeper into his embrace.
She was surprised to realize that all the years of built–up pain and resentment inside her seemed to pour out with her tears, as if they were being washed away from her body.
“If you ever need someone to hold you while you cry, I hope I can be that person,” Lance whispered. “It’s okay if you haven’t moved on yet. As long as you don’t want to stay stuck in the past, I’ll be right here with you, taking it one step at a time until you’re ready to let me in.”
Sylvie lifted her head from Lance’s arms and looked at the defined line of his jaw. “Lance, do you really mean it when you say you’ll stay with me? Or will you leave me one day and stop loving me?”
Lance met her eyes, his nose softly brushing against her forehead as he slowly replied, “No. I will never leave you.”
Sylvie could only stare at him, drawn in by the depth and steadiness in his eyes. How long had it been since someone had promised to love her for a lifetime?
Sylvie pressed her fingertip against Lance’s forehead. “Lance, why are you so good–looking? And how did you end up with blue eyes?”
They reminded her of the ocean, though she kept that thought to herself.
Lance smiled, “My mom was Cravonian, and my dad was Fremorian. I got his eyes and nose, but everything else comes from her.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Yule must’ve been really charming and good–looking,” Sylvie said with a smile.
“They would’ve loved meeting you,” Lance replied, his deep ocean–blue eyes locked on hers.
Heat rushed to Sylvie’s cheeks, and she quickly pulled out of his arms and stood up. “You’re Fremorian, so you wouldn’t get it. In Cravonia, people only introduce someone to their parents if they’re serious about staying together long–term.”
Lance smiled softly at her flustered reaction. “I didn’t grow up in Fremoria. I lived in Cravonia until I was 15, then my family moved abroad.”
He turned her shoulders toward him and looked her straight in the eye. “So, I know exactly what it means to meet the parents.”
Sylvie could only stare back, her face burning with embarrassment. “That’s unfair, Lance!”
