Chapter 83
I offered him a polite smile, dipping my head slightly out of respect. “I heard Lirian wasn’t feeling well, so I came to check on him.”
A faint glimmer of warmth crossed Alaric’s eyes as he looked between us.
I had known him since I was young; he had once fought alongside my parents, and he had always seemed like a distant but reliable presence in my life, the kind of person whose approval meant a great deal.
I see,” he said, nodding thoughtfully. “Well then, I’ll leave you two to talk. Lirian’s lucky you’re here, even if he doesn’t quite know it himself.”
There was a hint of teasing in his voice, though it was subtle enough that only Lirian and I would catch it. Lirian’s face flushed slightly, and he shifted uncomfortably, his usual cool composure slipping just a little.
Alaric merely gave him an amused glance, then turned and walked out, leaving us once more in the quiet solitude of the room.
As the door clicked shut behind Alaric, I turned back to Lirian, unable to hold back a small smile. “So,” I said, watching him intently. “Are you happy that I came to see you?”
Lirian’s face was a picture of carefully crafted indifference, though a slight flush tinged his cheeks. “It’s… fine,” he muttered, trying to sound as detached as possible, though I could see the flicker of vulnerability in his gaze.
I stepped closer, tilting my head as if studying him. “Oh, really? Then I suppose you wouldn’t mind if I don’t come next time?”
For a second, his eyes widened, a trace of panic flashing across his face. But he quickly masked it, clearing his throat and adopting a cool tone. “Whatever you decide,” he replied, though his words lacked the conviction he was aiming for.
Feigning a sigh, I leaned back, my voice softening as I gazed at him. “Lirian…. do you hate me?”
The question seemed to catch him off guard. His eyes met mine, a flicker of raw emotion crossing his face as he processed my words. “No,” he said finally, his voice barely a whisper. “I could never
hate you, Sophia.”
A deep sadness filled his gaze, and he took a step closer, lowering his voice as if confessing a hidden
truth. “I’m just afraid, Sophia. I’m afraid that I’m getting too used to your kindness, your warmth. I feel like…”
He swallowed, his voice trembling slightly. “I feel like one day, you’ll go back to Ryan, or you’ll meet someone else. Someone who deserves you. And then… then I’ll be left with nothing.”
I felt a pang in my heart at his words, realizing just how deeply his fears ran. He continued, his voice low and filled with a bittersweet honesty. “Maybe you see me as kind and forgiving, someone who can handle anything thrown his way.
But the truth is… I’m not that noble. If there’s something I truly want, I’ll fight for it. I’ll fight for it even if it means stepping into a battle I might lose.”
His eyes met mine, and in that moment, I saw a side of him I had never fully understood before–a side filled with longing, uncertainty, and a fierce determination that bordered on desperation.
Before I could respond, the buzzing of my phone shattered the silence between us. I glanced at the screen and saw Ethan’s name flashing, reminding me of the time. I pressed the phone to my ear, feeling a twinge of guilt.
“It’s late,” Ethan’s familiar voice sounded over the line. “When are you coming back?”
I glanced out the window, realizing that the sky had grown dark. “I’ll head back now,” I assured him, ensing his worry even through the phone.
Ethan murmured a few more words of caution before hanging up, and I lowered my phone, feeling the weight of the moment I had just shared with Lirian.
I knew I needed to leave, but something held me back.
I looked at Lirian, taking in the sadness that lingered in his expression.
Without a word, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him, feeling his warmth against me. He stiffened slightly, as if caught off guard, but then slowly, he let his arms encircle me, his embrace tightening as though he was afraid to let go.
For a brief, precious moment, we stood there in silence, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear.
I pulled away gently, offering him a small smile. “Take care of yourself, alright? Rest up and get better.”
I was about to leave when Lirian took my arm. He looked at me fondly, ‘When are you coming……next “time?”
