The castle had become strangely silent.
Only two days had passed since the attack, yet it felt as though months had gone by.
Outside, thick black smoke continued to stain the horizon. Every few minutes, another distant explosion rolled across the mountains. Even from inside the castle, the trembling earth reminded everyone that the realm was still suffering.
The once peaceful kingdom had become a battlefield.
Inside his room...
Kael sat motionless on the edge of his bed.
His sword leaned against the wall untouched.
The curtains remained closed.
He hadn't stepped outside since returning.
His eyes were empty.
His clothes were still stained with dirt from the previous day.
A soft knock echoed through the room.
No answer.
The door slowly opened.
Emily walked inside carrying a wooden tray.
Warm soup...
Fresh bread...
And a cup of herbal tea.
She quietly placed them on the table.
"You should eat."
Silence.
Emily looked at him for several seconds.
"You haven't eaten since yesterday."
Kael didn't even raise his head.
"...I'm not hungry."
"You have to keep your strength."
"...For what?"
Emily couldn't answer.
Kael slowly looked toward the window.
His voice sounded hollow.
"If I had gone with her..."
"Would she still be alive?"
Emily lowered her eyes.
"I don't know."
Another silence followed.
Kael forced out a weak laugh.
"I promised James."
"I looked him in the eyes..."
"And I told him I'd rather die than betray Larissa."
His fingers slowly tightened.
"But I couldn't even protect her."
The room became unbearably quiet.
Emily wanted to comfort him.
She truly did.
But every word felt meaningless.
She quietly left the room.
The food remained untouched.
Hours later...
The emergency meeting continued inside the council hall.
Maps covered the massive table.
Nearly every eastern district had turned red.
One elder pointed toward the glowing map.
"The southern districts have started protesting."
"They're demanding that the protection barrier be restored immediately."
Another elder sighed.
"The healers are overwhelmed."
"We've already run out of medicine in three districts."
Arulines remained silent.
His tired eyes scanned every report before him.
Another messenger hurried inside.
"Elder!"
"The western villages have also begun evacuating."
"The casualties continue increasing."
The room grew heavier.
Grace quietly observed everyone's expressions.
Outwardly...
She looked worried.
Inside...
She remained completely calm.
Finally, Arulines spoke.
"We cannot wait any longer."
His eyes slowly turned toward Emily.
"Has Kael agreed?"
Emily shook her head.
"...No."
Arulines closed his eyes.
"We're running out of time."
That evening...
Emily returned to Kael's room.
The soup she had brought earlier remained untouched.
She quietly carried it away before replacing it with fresh food.
Kael hadn't moved.
"You'll die before this realm does."
He gave a faint smile.
"Maybe that's better."
Emily sat beside him.
For several moments...
Neither of them spoke.
Finally...
Emily broke the silence.
"I went to the city today."
Kael remained still.
"I wanted to see everything with my own eyes."
She slowly continued.
"A little girl was crying beside her mother's body."
"No one had enough medicine to save her."
"There was a father trying to lift broken stones with his bare hands because his son was trapped underneath."
Her voice trembled.
"I saw healers choosing who could live..."
"...and who had to be abandoned."
Kael slowly closed his eyes.
"I know."
Emily continued.
"Kael..."
"I know what they're asking from you."
"I know how cruel it is."
"I know it isn't fair."
Tears slowly filled her eyes.
"But thousands of innocent people are paying the price."
Kael whispered,
"...Don't."
Emily looked at him.
"Please don't ask me."
"My heart already feels like it's being ripped apart."
Emily reached forward and gently held his shaking hand.
"I'm not asking you to stop loving Larissa."
"I'm asking you..."
"...to save everyone else."
Kael suddenly pulled his hand away.
"No."
"I won't betray her."
His voice grew louder.
"I can't."
Emily didn't argue anymore.
She quietly stood.
"I'll come back tomorrow."
Before leaving...
She looked back one last time.
"I just hope..."
"...that when you make your decision..."
"...it isn't already too late."
The door slowly closed.
The night passed.
Kael never slept.
Every time he closed his eyes...
He saw Larissa smiling beneath the moonlight.
He heard her laugh.
He remembered her birthday.
The necklace.
The mountain.
The promise.
"I'd rather die than betray you."
His breathing became heavier.
He covered his face with both hands.
"...I'm sorry."
Morning arrived.
The castle was already awake.
Soldiers rushed through the corridors.
Messengers ran from room to room.
Another emergency meeting had begun.
Outside...
The smoke had grown darker.
Emily stood alone in the garden.
She hadn't slept either.
A soldier approached.
"Miss Emily."
"The eastern district has completely fallen."
Emily quietly nodded.
"...I understand."
She returned to Kael's room once again.
This time...
She brought nothing.
No food.
No tea.
Only herself.
Kael looked worse than before.
Dark circles surrounded his eyes.
His lips had become pale.
Emily walked toward the window and slowly opened the curtains.
Bright sunlight entered the room.
Kael immediately covered his eyes.
"It hurts."
Emily quietly replied,
"So does reality."
She turned toward him.
"Kael."
"I won't force you."
"I won't threaten you."
"I won't tell you what is right."
She slowly knelt in front of him.
"But answer me honestly."
"If Larissa were standing here..."
"And she saw thousands of innocent people dying..."
"What would she choose?"
Kael froze.
Emily continued softly,
"Would she save only herself..."
"...or would she save everyone?"
The room fell silent.
For the first time...
Kael couldn't answer.
Emily slowly stood.
"I think..."
"...you already know."
She quietly left again.
The second day passed.
More districts fell.
The number of injured continued rising.
The protection barrier weakened even further.
By sunset...
Even the castle walls trembled from distant explosions.
Arulines looked toward the burning horizon.
"If we wait any longer..."
"There won't be a realm left."
Night fell once more.
Kael still sat alone.
His body felt weak.
His breathing had become uneven.
He hadn't eaten.
He hadn't slept.
His vision blurred every few minutes.
When he finally tried to stand...
The room suddenly spun.
His legs gave out beneath him.
He collapsed onto the floor.
Everything became blurry.
His heartbeat echoed loudly inside his ears.
For several moments...
He simply lay there.
Too exhausted to move.
Too broken to cry.
Then...
Very slowly...
He whispered into the empty room.
"...Larissa..."
"I'm sorry."
His fingers dug into the wooden floor.
Tears finally escaped his eyes.
"I don't know what the right answer is anymore."
A quiet knock interrupted the silence.
Emily entered one last time.
She immediately rushed toward him.
"Kael!"
She helped him sit against the bed.
"You'll collapse."
He didn't look at her.
Instead...
He stared into nothing.
Several long minutes passed.
Finally...
His trembling lips moved.
"...If..."
"If this really saves everyone..."
Emily held her breath.
Kael slowly closed his eyes.
Every word felt like a knife.
"...I'll do it."
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
Not from happiness...
But because she knew exactly how much those three words had cost him.
Outside...
The distant explosions continued beneath the dark sky.
Tomorrow...
Everything would change.