Sending Ser Sevyn to deliver the message was fraught with danger.
Sapphire Isle was barren, and there was little to reward her with.
Alaric had thus agreed that once the letter was delivered, Sevyn would be permitted to leave the group entirely and return home to live a good life.
Sylas naturally understood these kindnesses.
He didn't say much, just covered his eyes, took out some gold and silver from his storage pouch, and prepared to give it to Sevyn.
Sevyn hurriedly declined: "Absolutely not! This subordinate owes the General a debt I can never repay. I am already... already deeply ashamed."
"Take it. Live well when you return home."
Sylas placed the money in her hands, then said despondently, "Be careful on your journey. Don't get caught. I cannot see you off."
"Understood. Young Master, take good care of yourself."
Sevyn kowtowed solemnly three times, stood up, put on her wide-brimmed hat, and left.
Sylas returned to his room, distraught.
He locked the door and gently opened the letter.
Alaric briefly described what had happened, telling him of the barrenness of Sapphire Isle.
She was almost certain that Lyonesse was gone forever, with no possibility of restoration.
Seeing his mother's despair, Sylas could only sigh.
Then, Alaric urged him repeatedly to take good care of himself and never do anything foolish.
Surviving was difficult enough; if the Empress of Aethelred liked him, he should just marry her properly and stop thinking about struggle.
Finally, Alaric told him never to try to contact Sapphire Isle.
The reason for letting Sevyn return home was precisely to prevent anyone from finding the island's location.
There should be no further contact from now on.
Sylas looked at the letter, tears streaming down his face.
Tears fell drip by drip onto the letter paper, soaking a large section.
He placed the letter on the table, covered his face with both hands, bent over in his chair, and cried silently like this for a long time.
He wanted to hate.
He wanted to curse.
But found he had no target.
According to the letter, his family had already given up on him.
And even advised him not to take his own life, but to serve Isolde well.
As if it were only about Isolde?!
Filled with grief and indignation, he cried until his sleeves were soaked.
Finally, he slowly picked up the letter and threw it into the brazier.
Sylas was relatively strong-willed.
He washed his face to calm himself down.
Although very sad, from a practical perspective, this was also a good thing.
At the very least, he no longer had to worry about his family's safety.
So next, it was either seek death or escape.
Sylas looked at the golden chain on his wrist, suddenly lowered his head, and bit it hard.
But although the Servant's Chain seemed delicate, it was extremely tough.
He bit and pulled for a long time but couldn't break the thin chain.
He sighed deeply, finally giving up on the idea of opening it himself.
Then, he thought of another method.
Sylas took a few deep breaths and finally made a decision.
...
New Year's Eve. After returning from the palace, Victoria held a family feast at home.
She had no relatives, only Sylas as her husband.
Jade had come from Ravenhold, bringing only her daughter.
So, for the sake of liveliness and celebration, Victoria invited Jade and her daughter to the
Marquess's manor to celebrate the New Year together.
Jade couldn't refuse, though she was deeply embarrassed to see Sylas.
But finally, faced with Victoria's firm request, she could only reluctantly agree to come.
After agreeing, she felt somewhat relieved.
Don't blame your Auntie Jade, Little Sylas. Your Lady Sovereign insisted I come.
Arriving at the Marquess's manor, she felt a secret delight.
She could finally see Sylas again.
Jade certainly didn't have excessive ideas.
But being able to see the child in person made her happy.
For this, she had prepared many gold, silver, and jewels.
"Mother, did Brother Sylas marry Chancellor Victoria?"
A charmingly naive and lovely young girl followed behind Jade, tugging at her mother's sleeve, asking somewhat timidly.
This was Jade's daughter, Crystal.
After this New Year, she would be eighteen.
According to what Jade usually told her, after eighteen, she could start helping her mother with work.
So this year, Jade brought her to meet the highly influential Lady Victoria of Aethelred.
But Crystal was clearly not interested in Victoria.
She usually muddled through life. Back in Lyonesse, she only thought about playing with Brother
Sylas from the General's household.
She had even heard that she and Sylas were betrothed.
She just never expected the country to fall, her family to be lost, herself imprisoned for over a month, suffering hardships.
And Brother Sylas had become Victoria's husband.
Fate indeed played cruel tricks.
Hearing her daughter's words, Jade urgently and sternly warned her: "Lyn, didn't Mother tell you before we came? Don't mention this!
Just eat your meal properly, offer toasts, do whatever you are told!"
"Oh, understood..."
Crystal lowered her head, feeling wronged.
Seeing this, Jade just sighed softly. Then, she and her daughter went to the reception hall.
They saw Victoria seated in the host's position, speaking softly to a handsome young man beside her.
After being busy for so many years, this was the first time she could quietly enjoy a New Year's Eve dinner.
Returning to the Marquess's manor, Victoria felt an unprecedented warmth.
It had to be said, Sylas was skilled at managing household affairs.
The house was kept in perfect order.
Even if Victoria usually ignored it, she had to praise his capability.
Sylas had changed clothes.
He wore a grey brocade robe, covering his body completely.
Yet even so, sitting beside Victoria, he naturally exuded an air of grace and charm.
This wasn't Sylas's own decision. Recently shuttling between three women, no matter how steady he was, he had been worn down considerably.
Jade saw Sylas, her pupils constricted. Suppressing her impulse, she paid respectful greetings to Victoria.
Crystal, ignorant and muddled, didn't dare speak and followed her mother's lead in paying respects.
Victoria warmly invited them to be seated.
Then, she joked, "Sylas, Lady Lyn and you are both from old Lyonesse. Why don't you say something?"
Sylas didn't even look at Jade, saying faintly, "There's no 'Lyonesse' anymore. There is only Aethelred now."
"Brother Sylas, I'm Lyn..." Crystal called out softly.
Jade quickly hit her daughter's arm.
Sylas looked over, his eyes full of indifference.
But he didn't say more. Then he revealed a shallow smile and continued enduring the ordeal of this New Year's gathering.
It was a family feast; Victoria was very relaxed.
She drank with Jade, drank with Crystal, and finally pulled Sylas to drink.
Amidst the clinking of glasses, she became seventy percent drunk.
Jade, however, wasn't drunk. She occasionally glanced at Sylas, her heart feeling somewhat bleak.
After all, they had been so intimate in that dungeon...
Thinking of this, Jade actually felt somewhat jealous.
If they were still in Lyonesse, could she, as the Chancellor, have married him as a second husband?
But then, she drank a cup by herself and laughed bitterly a few times.
The more I think, the more confused I become.
If in Lyonesse, I would have been his mother-in-law.
This situation would never have occurred!