Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 126

I walked, lost in thought, unsure of what I was doing.

As Lieutenant General Zankbal had stated, Valder Castle was under heavy guard.

The barrier, usually invisible, shimmered with a blue light around the castle, and the number of guards at the gate had doubled. Even in the gardens, visible at a glance, guards patrolled with spears.

“No one may enter without authorization!” A guard barked at Vanessa as she approached the castle gate. With trembling hands, Vanessa presented the letter.

“This letter bears Lieutenant General Zankbal’s signature from the Special Forces division.”

The guard scrutinized the letter, his brow furrowed. The mention of the Special Forces seemed to give him pause, and he sent a younger guard inside with the letter.

Shortly after, permission was granted.

Vanessa passed through the ranks of guards and entered the meticulously manicured garden. She halted just before the castle entrance.

*What if this is all a dream? What if I enter and wake up to terrible news?*

Vanessa felt rooted to the spot, as if vines were binding her feet. *Is this how others feel when I use binding magic on them?*

*Maybe I should turn back. Go back and… check the date. Then…*

Her wavering thoughts were interrupted by a voice.

“Why are you standing there? Come in, quickly.” It was Ramona, her eyes red-rimmed. Wearing a light shawl, she gently ushered Vanessa inside. Vanessa stumbled, allowing herself to be led.

“I’m so relieved. I was worried you wouldn’t be allowed in with so many guards. I’ve been waiting here… The Duke…” Ramona swallowed hard, her voice barely audible. “…He has someone very special waiting for him. Even a hundred important people wouldn’t compare to you, Miss.”

Ramona’s words scratched at Vanessa’s heart as she forced a smile. *What were the last words I said to him?*

She struggled to speak, simply staggering forward. Ramona glanced at Vanessa, her voice kind and soothing, as if offering a gentle pat.

“He’ll wake up soon. His Majesty has assigned the most skilled wizards to him…”

Vanessa felt suffocated. These hopeful words only confirmed the gravity of his condition. She bit her lip, desperate to suppress a sob.

A strange silence permeated the castle. The usual bustling servants and staff were absent. Only a few soldiers with wary expressions guarded the hallways.

Following Ramona in a daze, Vanessa found herself on the fourth floor before she realized it.

*It feels like ages since I was last on this floor. I think we argued then, too. He wanted to protect me, and I didn’t want him to remain in Phydom [the kingdom or region they are in] without understanding the hardships…*

*But in the end, we laughed and fell asleep holding hands.*

Numb, Vanessa opened the door to his bedroom. Ramona remained behind, the soft click of the closing door echoing in the silence.

“Vanessa Rose.” A guest who had arrived earlier was in the drawing room connected to the bedroom. The king, seated and gazing out the window, turned his attention to Vanessa.

“Your Majesty.”

“I’m glad you made it. I was considering issuing a special order to ensure your entry, fearing you’d be denied.”

The king, his hair impeccably styled, offered a wry smile, though it quickly faded, replaced by a downturned mouth.

The king appeared exhausted, but Vanessa felt detached, as if no one’s emotions could penetrate her. Not even the king’s.

“I’ll leave you alone. I was here contemplating matters, but I feel like I’m intruding.”

“Have the wizards been here?”

“Yes. They claim to have never encountered anything like this. They rushed off to consult ancient texts after examining the magical reaction… I’ve gathered the best, but it still feels insufficient.”

A distant rumble echoed beyond the window, drawing their attention. A flash of light momentarily pierced the dark clouds before vanishing. It resembled the eye of something hidden within the storm, unsettling and eerie.

“The Duke despises my visits to this castle. If I were to secretly discuss something here, he’d storm into the garden, voice his grievances, and promptly kick me out. Now, it’s too quiet.”

*Too quiet.* The king repeated slowly, rising to his feet. Vanessa bowed her head and opened the bedroom door.

The room was warm and still. A magic circle seemed to have been activated to raise the temperature. A palpable heat filled the air.

As the door closed, the curtains around the bed fluttered gently in the breeze, revealing a blurred figure behind them…

Vanessa staggered, as if shoved. Her feet faltered, then stopped.

*I’ve been tricked. He’s actually in his office, bathed in sunlight, working, and I’m dozing beside him. When Gide [short for Gideon] sees me reaching for the next document, he’ll wake me with a gentle laugh. If I smile sheepishly, everything will be alright…*

She repeated these foolish thoughts, desperately trying to deny reality. She wanted to flee. Spotting a pen and ink bottle on the table, she took a shaky breath.

Even standing by the bed, she couldn’t bring herself to lift the curtain. She had braced herself for the worst, but facing it required even more courage.

After a long, deep breath, she finally pulled back the thin fabric. Her heart plummeted.

The man lay motionless, as if in a deep slumber. Beneath his dark eyebrows, long, fair eyelashes concealed his vibrant eyes.

Even hidden, Vanessa knew the way those eyes always looked at her. Filled with warmth and tenderness.

*I wish he would open his eyes and show them to me.*

The man’s brow was slightly furrowed. *Is he having a nightmare?*

Ironically, Vanessa felt a surge of concern. It would be better if he could relax and rest, free from all burdens.

Vanessa carefully sat on the bed. Her fingertips, hovering in the air, gently stroked his cheek and eyelids. She smoothed the furrow in his brow.

Thankfully, his brow relaxed, and his breathing eased slightly. It was a small comfort. Vanessa offered a faint smile.

Her gaze meticulously examined every feature. Dark eyebrows, high nose, closed lips, a jawline as sharp as a sculpture…

Everything was familiar, yet her eyes were drawn to the black stain creeping up his neck, disappearing beneath his chin.

Vanessa knew about the scar on his wrist, a mark left by the byproducts of black demons, the scar that was said to be the origin of everything. The first time they traveled far together, when she inquired about the mark, she received a simple answer:

“It’s nothing.”

*If I had shown this scar to someone else back then, would this have happened?*

Would the outcome have been different?

No one answered. Gideon remained still, lost in a silent sleep. She didn’t want to burden him with regrets of the past. Instead, she decided to mentally list the stories she wanted to share with him when he awoke.

“I sent you a letter. Did you see it?”

Vanessa gently stroked his forehead. Watching his slightly overgrown bangs fall across his face, she continued.

“Well, you probably didn’t see it, since you left right after meeting me. Were you worried?”

Still, there was no response. The smile she attempted felt terribly forced.

When she was with him, even silence was comforting. It wasn’t awkward, but a time to feel each other’s warmth, peaceful and fulfilling. She was happy. But not today.

A trembling voice escaped her lips.

“They say you did so much. I’ll let you off the hook. I’m very lenient with Teacher [a mentor or respected figure] and Gideon. So, I can forgive you this time too…”

Vanessa finally succumbed to the sobs that welled up, pressing her forehead against the bed. *What will I do if I truly lose him?*

*If I lose him, I’ll lose Gideon and Teacher too.*

Vanessa gasped for breath, her eyes squeezed shut. Her hand groped for his, firmly grasping his large hand. The black stain was spreading and unsightly, but his hand was still warm, radiating a familiar body temperature.

Vanessa’s eyes slowly opened, drawn to the warmth. A faint light flickered in her blue eyes.

*The last thing I did was have such a conversation. I doubted his feelings, and he doubted mine.*

*’Then go.’*

*’Did you really like me?’*

*I wanted to torment him.*

*’Whatever decision you make…’*

But that was because I was certain we would have another chance to talk. Whether the conversation was heated or gentle, we would face each other and share our feelings. And in the end, we would emerge stronger.

*I never imagined this kind of ending. I can’t let it end like this. He has to open his eyes and hear my decision…*

A trembling hand rested on the bed. Vanessa straightened her back, gazing at the large window, her eyes hardening. Her eyes were still red, but the tears had dried, clearing her vision.

Vanessa buried her lips in his blackened hand. She remained there until the shadow of the table stretched long and reached her feet. She smoothed the blanket and tidied the areas she had disturbed.

“Don’t worry about anything,” she whispered.

The king had returned to the drawing room. His bright gray eyes watched Vanessa close the door.

“Your Majesty.”

Vanessa began.

“Are you going to examine the Night Vandalu magic circle in the royal castle? I grant you permission.”

The king offered, but Vanessa hesitated and shook her head. It was true that she wanted to see it, but what Vanessa desired was something more.