By noon, they had finished washing the clothes and hung them out to dry. It was time for lunch, and the servants and maids were called to collect their meals from the kitchen.
Fiona led Lilith inside, where she met Madam Thalia again, along with the head cook, a stern-looking woman who, despite her intimidating demeanor, seemed kind. Lilith was introduced to a few more servants, and to her surprise, her time during lunch was quite enjoyable. The conversation was light, the food warm and filling, and for a brief moment, she almost forgot about the troubles that awaited her under the prince's command.
Once the meal was over, Fiona excused herself to run an errand, leaving Lilith with time to herself. Not wanting to waste the rare moment of freedom before the prince inevitably summoned her for another absurd task, she decided to take a walk through the gardens.
Wrapping her arms around herself, she welcomed the cool breeze that swept across the open space, sending shivers down her spine. The garden was unlike anything she had expected. The flowers flourished in breathtaking shades of red, gold, and violet, their delicate petals swaying gently in the wind. It was a magnificent sight.
It seemed that while the prince was cold and cruel, everything else within the palace was full of life. The gardens, the servants, even the walls of the palace itself, all vibrant and thriving. Only the prince stood apart, untouched by warmth or beauty.
She turned her gaze toward the ginormous castle, her eyes drifting from one window to the next. But then, her heart lurched violently in her chest.
At the far end of the top floor, where no signs of light or life should have existed, a figure stood motionless by a window. Cloaked in darkness, its imposing presence sent a chill down her spine. Lilith couldn't make out who or what it was, but an undeniable weight of power radiated from the figure, even across the distance.
Her fingers dug into her forearm as her breath grew unsteady. Every instinct in her body screamed at her to look away. Forcing herself to break eye contact, she turned abruptly, taking hurried steps in the opposite direction.
Only when she had put enough distance between herself and that ominous window did she allow herself to slow down. Her nerves were still raw, her chest rising and falling with each breath as she tried to regain composure. What was that? Whatever or whoever, it was had unsettled her to her core. She made a silent vow to never glance at that part of the castle again.
Minutes passed before she finally felt at ease, allowing herself to absorb the serene beauty of the garden once more.
When she reached the end of the garden, she noticed two diverging paths. One led back toward the castle's entrance, while the other stretched into the vast greenland beyond the compound. Drawn to the open space, she chose the latter, wrapping her arms tighter around herself as she walked.
Lost in thought, she almost missed it at first, a faint voice calling her name.
Lilith froze, her pulse quickening. She listened, straining her ears.
Silence.
Had she imagined it?
Shaking off the eerie feeling creeping up her spine, she continued her stroll, convincing herself it was nothing.
"Lilith! Lilith!! Lilith!!!"
The voice grew louder, closing in on her fast.
Lilith barely had time to react before a figure came barreling toward her. In an instant, she was nearly knocked off her feet as strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a tight embrace that lingered a little too long.
When he finally pulled away, his hands cupped her cheeks, his thumbs grazing her skin before he pressed a kiss to each of them. A bright smile lit up his face, pure relief shining in his eyes.
"Oh, goodness, I knew you would be alright," he breathed, his voice thick with emotion. "I was worried sick about you, Lilith. I had no idea what happened to you or where you would be. But now...now, you are alright, and I cannot tell you how happy I am to see you again."
He pulled her into another hug, this one brief but filled with warmth.
Lilith, still frozen in shock, struggled to process his sudden appearance. She blinked up at him, her mind racing.
"L-Leonidas?" she finally stammered. "What are you doing here? How are you here?" Her brows knitted together in confusion.
Leonidas' smile softened as his hands slid down from her shoulders. His expression shifted, sorrow creeping into his gaze.
"I left Eryndor to find you," he admitted, his voice lowering. "I couldn't bear the guilt of doing nothing when I should have. I should have eloped with you that day, I should have fought for you." He exhaled sharply, his hands clenching into fists. "But I was a coward. I turned my back on you, and I haven't been the same since you left."
Regret weighed heavily in his words, and for the first time since she had seen him, Lilith saw it, the pain in his eyes.
Lilith tried to smile, though it barely reached her eyes. "It's not your fault," she said gently. "To be honest, there wasn't much anyone could have done to help me at that point."
Leonidas exhaled in relief, his grin widening. "It doesn't matter now. What matters is that you're safe, and now, nothing can separate us. We finally have the freedom to do as we please." His fingers wrapped around hers, holding them tightly.
Lilith's smile faltered. She frowned. "You are not returning? I don't understand. What about your father? The Council?"
Leonidas let out a heavy sigh. "It's a long story, but to sum it up, I told the Council I couldn't leave you at the prince's mercy. I had to make sure you were safe." He shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Let's just say... it didn't go over well. My father was furious. He threatened to disown me if I stepped foot outside the village."
He glanced at her, waiting for her to piece it together.
Lilith gasped, nudging him lightly with her elbow. "Oh my gods, Leonidas, why would you do something so reckless?" She stared at him, disbelief clouding her features. "Your whole life is in Eryndor. Everything you love your family, your people, it's all there. Why would you throw it all away for... for me?"
"Because I care about you, Lilith. Really, really much," Leonidas said, his voice laced with emotion. "I can't see myself with any other woman but you. All the comfort, titles, and wealth mean nothing without you. We can start over, travel far away and begin our life together." His hopeful eyes searched hers, waiting for an answer.
Lilith swallowed hard, her breath hitching at his sudden confession. Leonidas had always been one of the few people who showed her genuine kindness and care. Since they were children, he had been by her side, helping her, keeping her company, even carrying buckets for her when she was sent to the lake for laundry.
She had always known about his feelings, just as she had always been aware of her own. But she had never found the courage to admit it, because he had been betrothed to her stepsister, Prudence.
Lilith had learned long ago which battles were worth fighting and which ones were better left alone. And being with Leonidas... that had always been a lost cause. Fighting for him meant fighting Prudence, and that was a war she could never win.