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Chapter 205: ’I’m Sorry For What Happened’

Chapter 205: ’I’m Sorry For What Happened’

Florian inhaled sharply, steadying himself before speaking. His voice came out measured, careful—

"Levi, your brother... he... passed away."

Leila’s reaction was immediate—her eyes widened, lips parting as if to say something, but no words came.

She didn’t cry.

She didn’t collapse.

She just stood there, unmoving.

Then, after a brief pause, she asked, "What happened?"

Her voice was calm. Too calm.

Florian’s stomach twisted.

’She’s... okay? No. There’s no way. She’s a teenage girl—maybe sixteen, seventeen. Even if this world is different, she has to be holding it in.’

He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to focus.

"A week ago, one of the king’s harem members was kidnapped on his way here," Florian began, choosing his words carefully. "Your brother... happened to meet that member. And he helped him. The prince, I mean."

His thoughts tangled together as he tried to explain. He hadn’t expected to feel this nervous.

"But when they were escaping... Levi stayed behind." His throat felt tight, the words thick like lead in his mouth. "He distracted the kidnappers to make sure the prince could get away."

Not a lie.

But not the whole truth, either.

Florian left out the part where Levi had been one of the kidnappers first. That he had switched sides at the last moment. That his change of heart had cost him his life.

Levi didn’t deserve to be remembered as a traitor.

Florian wanted Leila to see him as a hero.

"The prince..." he continued, voice softer, "asked us to look for you. He found out Levi had a sister and wanted to help. He heard you were sick."

Silence.

The air between them felt thick, suffocating.

Florian’s heart pounded.

Why wasn’t she saying anything?

Why was she just standing there?

Panic coiled in his stomach.

Then—

"What is your name?"

Florian blinked.

’Huh?’

That... wasn’t the reaction he had expected.

"...Aden," he lied smoothly, instinct taking over. He wasn’t ready to tell her the truth. Not yet.

Leila didn’t react, just stared at him with those sharp, unreadable eyes.

Then she spoke again.

"Who was the prince my brother saved?"

Florian hesitated for half a second before answering, "Prince Florian."

Leila nodded slowly, a quiet hum leaving her lips. Then she said—

"I would’ve appreciated it more if he came here himself."

The words hit like a punch to the gut.

She wasn’t crying. She wasn’t angry. But somehow, that single sentence stung more than if she had screamed at him.

"After all," she continued, her voice as steady as ever, "my brother... my stupid brother, who never cared about anyone but himself, decided that the prince was worth dying for."

Florian’s jaw clenched.

That hurt.

He wanted to tell her. He wanted to say, ’I’m here. I was the one he saved. I never wanted him to die for me.’

But he couldn’t.

Heinz had insisted they stay in disguise. It was too dangerous to reveal themselves, especially in a place like this. Florian understood the reasoning.

But at this moment, it felt like a coward’s excuse.

"He wanted to," Florian said instead. "But he wasn’t permitted by the king."

Leila let out a soft sigh. "Then I guess there’s nothing he could do."

She looked up at him, her expression unreadable.

"Well," she said, "there’s no need to apologize. It was my brother’s decision. He knew the risks. He did what he had to do."

Florian felt a weight lift off his chest.

He had been afraid she would refuse their help, that her grief and anger would push them away. But she was accepting it.

Taking it far too well.

’Why is she so calm?’

Something about this didn’t sit right.

Not only that—

’Is she really sick?’

She looked sick—her skin was pale, her frame thin—but the way she moved...

Augustus had said she could barely stand, that she was too weak to move properly. But now? She was standing just fine. Walking just fine. Speaking just fine.

’Wait. What is her illness? No one told me.’

Florian hesitated. Should he ask?

He needed to.

"So, Leila," he started carefully. "The reason we’re here, as I mentioned, is because we want to help you. We heard you were sick, and maybe, we can help you get better." He hesitated for only a second before asking, "May I ask what your illness is?"

Leila turned away slightly. Thinking.

Then she answered—but with a question of her own.

"...Can we talk about this in my house?"

Florian blinked.

"It’s cold out here," she continued. "And I know the chief and others will scold me for being outside too long."

Oh.

That was... good, right?

She wanted to talk to him more.

That was good.

That was—

The unease clawed at his chest again.

A gut feeling.

Something wasn’t right.

But he ignored it.

After all, Levi had probably hesitated before helping Florian too.

And in the end—he still helped.

It wouldn’t kill Florian to step inside Leila’s house.

...Right?

"Alright," he said with a small, forced smile. "That’s fine."

Leila gave a small nod before turning around, her steps light, unhurried.

"Follow me then."

Florian followed behind Leila, his footsteps careful, measured.

The village was eerily silent at this hour, the dim glow of lanterns casting long shadows against the worn-down houses. The cold air nipped at his skin, but it wasn’t the chill that unsettled him—it was her.

’She feels... off.’

Her pace was even, her posture composed. If he hadn’t been told she was sick, he wouldn’t have thought twice. But that was the problem—she was supposed to be sick.

Levi had been desperate, frantic to save her. Augustus had said she was too weak to move, let alone walk this effortlessly. So why did she seem completely fine?

The unease from earlier coiled in his stomach again.

"Sorry," Leila spoke suddenly, breaking the silence. She didn’t turn to face him. "I don’t have any drinks to offer at my place."

Florian blinked, snapping out of his thoughts.

"Oh." He shook his head, forcing a small smile. "That’s fine. I don’t mind."

Leila didn’t respond.

The quiet stretched between them again as they continued walking, but Florian barely noticed this time. His mind drifted back to Levi—to the way he’d shoved Florian forward that day, his voice rough but determined.

"Don’t stop. Don’t turn back. Just run."

His throat tightened.

’He should’ve run with me.’

Levi had deserved better.

Florian let out a slow exhale, eyes fixed on the ground as he followed Leila. He was so lost in thought that he barely noticed the shift in the air until—

A hand grabbed his arm.

Florian groaned internally.

’Again?’

This was the second time tonight. Why was everyone so eager to drag him around?

But this time—he knew exactly who it was.

He turned his head, already expecting it.

Heinz stood beside him, expression unreadable, his grip firm but not harsh. Perched on his shoulder was a familiar little creature—Azure, the tiny dragon-lizard, its bright blue eyes gleaming under the lantern light.

Florian felt the weight of their stares before Heinz finally spoke, voice low and questioning—

"Where are you going?"

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