Chapter 451: Promise (3)

The sobs cameharder now.

She crouched on the ground, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, the mirror still clutched between her trembling fingers.

She couldn't stop.

She didn'twantto stop.

Because—

Becauseit was gone.

The pain.

The exhaustion.

The sickness that hadchained her for years, that had clung to her skin like aninescapable curse, that had stolenso much from her.

Gone.

Completely, entirely gone.

A broken gasp escaped her, her shouldersshaking violently.

'All this time…'

All this time, she had beenfighting it.

Every breath had been a struggle. Every step had been a battle. Every single day, she had lived knowing she was weak.

That no matter how much she fought, how much shewanted to live, her body wouldnever let her.

She had been dying for so long that she hadforgotten what it felt like to be alive.

But now—

Now, she was free.

A strangled cry broke past her lips as the realizationsank deep, deep into her bones.

She could breathe.

She could move.

She could finally, finally—

Live.

Tears streamed down her face, uncontrollable, unstoppable.

She washappy.

For the first time inso long—

She wastruly, completely happy.

And it wastoo much.

She sobbed into her hands, her body curling inward as the weight of it all crashed over her. The suffering. The hope. The despair. The relief.

Lucavionsaid nothing.

But he didn't leave.

Didn't turn away.

Didn't mock her.

He simply stood there—silent, waiting.

As if he had known all along thatthis moment was inevitable.

Her breath still trembled, but slowly—slowly—she raised her head.

Tears still clung to her lashes, warm streaks trailing down her cheeks, but sheforced herself to look.

And there he was.

Lucavion.

Leaning casually against the cavern wall, his arms crossed against his chest, his black eyes gleaming in the dim light.

And—he was smiling.

Not his usual mocking smirk. Not the arrogant, insufferable grin that made her want to strangle him.

No—this smile was quieter.

Steady. Knowing. Amused, but not unkind.

He was simplywatching her.

Watching herfall apart and come back together all at once.

And then—

Something inside her clicked.

Aeliana's amber eyes widened.

'It's thanks to him.'

Thanks to this man.

It washimwho had fought against that impossible beast.

It washimwho had refused to let her die.

It washimwho had stood in front of her, bleeding, battered, butunmoving.

It washimwho had given her hope.

It washimwho had freed her from this curse.

It washim—

Who had given color to her meaningless life.

Aeliana's chesttightened.

Her fingers curled, her heartbeatpounding, roaring in her ears—

And before she could even think—

SWOOSH!

Shemoved.

No—she leaped.

"Eh—?"

Lucavion barely had time to react before herarms wrapped around him.

Tightly. Desperately.

The impact forced him back against the cavern wall, his body momentarily tensing—because she never did this.

Shenever touched him first.

But right now—

Right now, shecouldn't stop herself.

She buried her face against his chest, her fingersclutching at the fabric of his coat, her bodyshaking again—but this time, not from sadness.

From somethingwarmer.

Something shedidn't know how to name.

And then—her voice came.

Soft. Fragile. Raw.

"Thank you."

Lucavion stiffened slightly.

But Aelianadidn't let go.

Her fingerstightened, her breathshaky, her tearswetting the fabric between themas sheheld on.

"Thank you for everything."

And for the first time—

She meant it.

Lucavion stoodstill.

Aeliana's arms werewrapped around him, her body pressed against his, her warmthspreading through his coat.

He didn't move.

Didn't push her away.

Didn't tighten his hold either.

Instead, his arms hovered awkwardly in the air, his hands flexing slightly—as if unsure where to put them.

And then—

He spoke.

"Why are you thanking me?"

His voice was smooth, but beneath it—something else.

Something unreadable.

"Didn't you say you would never forgive me ever again?"

Aelianadidn't answer.

Didn't even flinch.

She justburied her face deeper into him, snuggling closer, her breath warm against his skin.

Her fingers curled into the fabric of his coat, holding onas if she was afraid to let go.

He could feel her now.

Her soft, steady breathing.

The way her bodymelted slightly into his.

And yet—

Something was missing.

Somethingoff.

Lucavion exhaled quietly.

His black eyeslowered, flickering with something that he refused to acknowledge.

"Hey…"he murmured, his voice dropping slightly.

His lips barely moved.

"Little ember."

Aeliana didn't react.

Didn't move.

Didn't pull away.

Lucaviontilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable as his golden earringcaught the dim starlightstill lingering in the cavern.

"Are you not going to answer?"

Aelianafinally moved.

She raised her headslowly, amber eyes gleaming in the light—soft, yet burning.

Her chin rested against his chest, her breathwarm against his skin.

Lucavion watched her—watched the way her gaze shifted, hesitated, searched.

And then—

She saw it.

A smallsparkin his black irises.

Fleeting. Subtle.

As if he was—

Waiting.

Or maybe…

Maybe it was just an illusion.

Lucavion tilted his head slightly.

"You?"

Aelianaswallowed.

Her throat felt tight. Her chest too full.

And then—

"I won't…"

Lucavion's lips twitched.

"You won't?"

Aelianagripped his coat tighter.

Her voice was small, barely above a whisper, butunshaken.

"I will never forgive you."

Lucavion blinked.

Then—

His lipscurled slightly.

"Is that so?"

Aeliana's breathhitched.

Her gaze flickered.

From hisblack eyes—to hislips.

Her heart pounded.

"I will never forgive you," shewhispered again.

Lucavion's voice waslow, smooth, unreadable.

"I get that."

"I will never forgive you."

"I see."

"You will never be forgiven."

Lucavion didn't reply immediately this time.

For a moment—

A brief, quiet moment—

His black eyeslowered slightly, something flickering behind them.

Then—

Aeliana inhaled sharply.

And finally—

She said it.

"That is why…"

Her fingers curledtighter.

Her breathbrushed against him.

"You are always going to be stuck by my side."

Silence.

Lucavion'slips parted slightly, as if to say something—

But he didn't.

He only stared.

And then—

He smiled.

"You are quite a spoiled young lady, you know that right?"

"Hehehehe…"