“Is everything going to be okay?” Milo didn't rush the words.
Heavy silence thickened the room.
“Omen dreams are abilities whose origins and limits are still unknown,” Milo continued despite his nerves, “Of course, as you said, what was predicted before has happened, but what variables will occur…”
The displeasure on Aden's face was evident, Milo read it clear as day.
However, he did not take back his words and observed the lord's disposition.
Those were words that could be said because it was Milo.
Milo was a person Aden trusted, so much so that he dared to put the brakes on Aden's decision.
“I understand your concern.” Aden, who had been silent for a while, spoke.
He didn't blame his cautious subordinate.
Of course, suspicions about Ilyin offended him, but Milo's words were not deceptions, but concerns.
There was certainly a risk in relying unconditionally on a skill that was not fully understood.
Still, Aden did not intend to change his plan.
“Anyway,” Aden said after a brief pause, “if it really is the Blue North, it’s time to get to the matter at hand.”
It was largely due to his father that the notion that a Winter Duke would become an “ordinary person” in the warm region was deeply ingrained in the consciousness of the Biflten people.
He was also the weakest Winter Duke, but he wasn't that interested in power.
The knights of Red Delrose were always excellent, but this was not always apparent, as they were unable to properly hone their skills without a competent leader.
“Lidan.”
Lidan of the Blue North.
If Aden was indeed attacked as Ilyin predicted and if Lidan was behind the attack, it meant that Lidan's neck was still chained to the people at the top of the hierarchy.
Arden smiled as he licked his lips.
"If he had just relied on his power, he wouldn't have survived until now.
You don't need to worry too much."
As Milo feared, there were too many variables.
Contrary to Ilyin's prediction, there could be no attack or even if attacked, the size of the enemy or the way they were attacked could be completely different.
Still, since the possibility of an attack was raised, there should be no carelessness.
If they were fully prepared, they would have nothing to fear even if they were attacked.
"OK."
The idea that the Winter Duke would faint when in the sun was just Lidan's wishful thinking.
Milo lowered his head without refuting.
“Please allow us to position troops around the carriage,” he spoke quickly before the lord could say anything, “I will instruct the knights to escort you out of His Majesty’s sight.”
Aden did not refuse this.
He nodded briefly as a sign of permission.
Then, suddenly, he turned his eyes and looked at the door.
“Ilyin?”
"What?"
Milo, who wasn't as sensitive to presences as Aden, didn't seem to hear anything, but Aden knew.
They were in an almost empty and silent building except for the soldiers who slept and stood guard.
Even there, his senses seemed to capture Ilyin's unique presence.
It was a short but lovely movement that seemed to slowly disappear.
"Madam?"
As he expected, Aegis's voice was heard at the end of the corridor.
He seemed to have found Ilyin as well.
“What brings you here?”
“I’m sorry, it’s morning, but is Den sleeping?”
Aden didn't miss the urgency in his voice as he quickly stood up.
“No, he’s inside.”
Aden didn't wait for Aegis to guide Ilyin.
He immediately opened the door and caught Ilyin crossing the corridor towards him.
“Ilyin, what’s wrong?”
Ilyin's breathing was uneven and she was visibly shaking.
Ilyin quickly approached him and hugged him.
Anyone could see her anxious state, Aden hugged her small body.
“What’s wrong?” he repeated as he rubbed Ilyin's back until she took a deep breath.
“What makes you so anxious?” he asked, his voice full of concern.
He thought of things that could threaten Ilyin in the sun.
Seeing Viscount Arlen's face after so long might have made her lose sleep at night.
“Did you have a nightmare?”
“It wasn’t a nightmare.”
Ilyin's trembling words were different from what he expected.
“It was my mother,” Ilyin speaking in a trembling voice, grabbed her arm tightly.
“Can we go to Viscount Arlen now?”
***
All preparations for going to Biflten have been suspended.
It was fortunate for Ilyin that the top of Acid was entirely owned by Delrose.
As soon as Aden heard about his dream prediction, he instructed Aegis to suspend all preparations.
Viscount Arlen seemed to know that Ilyin would come, to be exact that one day she would predict the viscountess's death, but Ilyin didn't know that it was today, his face turned pale.
“The viscount, did you call him?” Aden asked cautiously.
“My mother…”
Ilyin thought about the dream.