Sylas began helping Crystal with her official duties.
Confined to his bed, Crystal would bring the documents and read them to him.
At first, he felt somewhat aggrieved. Having finally escaped, he was still being coerced by Crystal.
But gradually, he felt it wasn't so bad after all.
Crystal was his childhood friend.
Even if she had some small schemes, she would also act coquettishly and play the fool.
She wasn't as overbearing as Isolde.
Besides, lying idle in bed was incredibly boring.
He had always preferred being productive, and now advising Crystal was quite fulfilling.
Soon, he also gained an understanding of Celestia Ridge's current situation.
Celestia Ridge was located in the central part of the Eastern Heartland Prefecture of Aethelred.
However, not all of the Eastern Heartland was under Aethelred's control.
This area belonged to Stonewold.
Right at the bend of the River stood a city called Sentinel Peaks.
Sentinel Peaks was a nail driven southward, pointing towards Argenthaven.
Stonewold wasn't particularly large, holding only the Central Plains region.
Based on the personnel changes in the Aethelred court, Sylas deduced that if Isolde wanted to attack Stonewold shortly.
The Empress of Stonewold, Mirabel, had just come of age and was not a major concern.
But the Chancellor of Stonewold, Gwendolyn, was a talent capable of assisting a sovereign.
To curb Aethelred's westward advance, Gwendolyn ordered the master architect Maeve to build two fortresses in the Eastern Heartland.
One was Sentinel Peaks.
The other, west of Sentinel Peaks, was called Jade Bastion.
Just these two military towns were enough to inspire despair.
Placing Crystal on this route was indeed a carefully considered move by Jade.
Celestia Ridge was very small. If governed well, it could shine brightly in future westward campaigns.
If left neglected, it wouldn't cause any significant impact.
For the oblivious Crystal, it was truly a perfect place to gild her credentials.
After deciphering Jade's intentions, Sylas formed his own plan.
Don't perform too well, but don't perform poorly either.
He guided Crystal's work based on this general direction.
The dilapidated small county town gradually showed signs of life, quietly, like a new bud sprouting in spring.
Sylas's legs finally regained sensation.
The weather had warmed.
He sat in the courtyard.
The sunlight warmed him, feeling delightful. But a chill remained deep within him.
Sylas understood the loss he suffered could never truly be replenished.
"Sylene..." Now, whenever he was lost in thought alone, he would silently recite his daughter's name.
Was Isolde's belly showing?
Would the child cry after birth?
Sylas fantasized about what his daughter might look like in the future, occasionally smiling.
But this was always followed by endless longing.
He even entertained the idea of going to see his daughter.
This thought terrified him.
Having finally escaped, how could he return to certain death?
Yet, this paternal urge left him restless, unable to eat or sleep peacefully.
"Can't think about it. Mustn't think about it anymore..." He closed his eyes, letting the sunlight caress his face.
His pale face gained a slight rosy hue.
He wished the sun's warmth could flood into his body, making him strong again.
The courtyard gate opened, and a pretty and adorable figure slipped in.
It was Crystal, wearing a light green dress, her sleeves rolled up, revealing two slender, jade-like arms.
She was cradling a snow-white cat.
Petting the cat, she walked up to Sylas and said cheerfully, "Brother, found you something fun. Look, a Persian cat."
Sylas opened his eyes, saw the cat in her arms, and smiled faintly.
"I can't even hold chopsticks yet, and you want me to care for a cat?"
His limbs hadn't fully recovered.
He needed help just to go outside and sunbathe daily.
Let alone keep a pet.
His words carried a faint melancholy.
"Don't worry about it. It's very well-behaved. Go on, Luna, this is your master now."
Crystal was terribly thick-skinned; she paid no mind to Sylas's self-pity.
She placed the white cat in Sylas's lap and said to the cat coquettishly, "Hurry up! Behave! Or no dried fish for you."
"Purrr~~" The cat lay on Sylas's knees, basking in the sun, purring contentedly.
It rolled over, exposing its belly, utterly comfortable.
"Hey? You little beast, how can you be so comfortable?" Crystal was displeased again.
She had never lain in Sylas's arms herself.
How did this cat deserve it?
She reached out to grab the white cat by the scruff of its neck.
But Sylas unconsciously raised his hand. Stopping her.
Crystal looked quite surprised.
Then, she took Sylas's wrist and said laughingly, "Brother, can't bear to part with it already?"
Sylas looked at the white cat in his lap, slightly mesmerized.
He jolted, came back to his senses, and smiled, "Why are you angry with it? Let it lie. Its name is Luna?"
The feeling of the white cat acting spoiled in his arms gave him a heavy sense of satisfaction, as if he were holding an infant.
"Brother, do you like it?" Crystal began laughing mischievously.
She leaned in, offering her small face, puckering her lips, and said, "Brother, look... shouldn't you..."
Sylas immediately turned his head away irritably, "Get lost. No kiss."
"Brother Sylas..." Crystal began to pester.
She initially wanted to sit in Sylas's lap, but seeing Luna occupying the spot, she bared her teeth at the white cat.
Luna, very annoyed, jumped down and found a warm spot to curl up in by itself.
Crystal burrowed into his arms, murmuring, "Brother, I've talked to Mother. We are the pair. Don't worry."
"..."
Sylas lowered his head, silent.
His head hurt just hearing about this.
Could this even be negotiated? You all have such broad minds.
"How is Auntie Jade? Was she implicated?" he asked casually.
"She's fine. Mother is in Ravenhold now. What could happen in our hometown?
Don't worry about her. Worry about me instead." Crystal wrapped her arms around his neck, seeking affection.
Her advances on Sylas were gradual and patient.
After all, they were childhood friends, and she had taken care of him for so long.
Sylas couldn't keep a cold face every day.
He could only close his eyes, actively kiss Crystal, then quickly pull away.
Blushing, he said: "Go on, get to work. I'm sunbathing."
"Hehe." Crystal smiled triumphantly.
She wouldn't leave.
Having finally gotten this close, how could she let go easily?
She simply leaned against Sylas's chest and began telling him about major events in the Lorynth court.
Though she wasn't interested in the political struggles herself, she mentioned one thing.
Isolde's pregnancy.