Aden was grateful that the message that came from Winter had arrived after the funeral, Ilyin was able to get through an extremely difficult event without other external stressors.
Ilyin's mind was extremely anxious now, however.
She didn't bother to say goodbye to the viscount as she left the mansion and instead, it was the viscountess' coffin that received her farewell.
It was a sudden but expected farewell.
Ilyin's grandmother had told her beforehand that she wouldn't go with Ilyin to the winter region, but that didn't mean she didn't still feel empty.
“I know I can't go in there,” Bertha looked around and pointed the tip of the cane she had taken back from Idith at Milo's nose.
Milo flinched.
“Since my baby is feeling lonely, I will contact you from time to time,” Bertha said.
There was a crack in his tough exterior at the thought of his granddaughter leaving.
Aden gave Milo a look that meant Milo should do what Bertha wanted.
Milo, realizing this, bowed deeply.
“See you again.” Bertha grabbed Ilyin's hands and while the rest of her face showed no emotions, the love overflowing in her eyes was evident.
It was a promise without a deadline.
Bertha looked at Ilyin for a while and then turned away.
Since Bertha could not stay in Arlen's territory per Viscount Arlen's orders, she had to go somewhere else.
After saying goodbye, Ilyin left the viscount's mansion and his anxiety increased tenfold.
“Ilyin,” Aden called softly, there was no way he would miss her tensing up.
As they walked back to the Acid Merchant, he gently grabbed her hand, “Are you okay?”
Ilyin took a deep breath, but even so, his mind refused to calm down.
It felt like something was holding his heart tightly.
“I'm fine,” Ilyin's voice was strained.
‘I’ll be fine.’ Ilyin let out a long sigh, his heart felt like it was going to come out of his chest.
The predicted future, the return to winter, was before them.
***
As they were already prepared, they were soon able to leave.
The return trip schedule was different from what the Delrose people were told, however.
“The other carriage will leave tomorrow.”
It was an order prepared with Ilyin's vision in mind.
Aden gave the order to the maids who looked surprised.
“And also, there will be no other guards.”
Of course, Milo would strategically place knights where Ilyin wouldn't see them, but it seemed like there would be no guards.
This was all a plan to deceive Ilyin's prediction.
Etra, Idith and Milo were the only ones involved.
The knights of Ilyin's guard, Milia and Nis, upon hearing this command immediately protested:
“But Your Majesty.”
"Careful." Milo interrupted them with a warning.
Milia, who had spoken instinctively, quickly shut up.
It wasn't the right honorific to use outside of Delrose territory.
“Grandmaster,” Milia, after pondering how to address him in the hot region, corrected herself, “This is not a safe place.”
Although this was an understandable concern for a knight, Aden did not waver.
“I will give an order through Milo about this,” Aden said firmly.
Milia was about to protest, but then stopped herself.
He was the Grandmaster who led all the battles in the winter region.
He was even able to deal with the aggression of the anomalous winter monster tribe.
He would not give such an order without reason and refuting him was basically doubting him.
“Don’t worry too much.” Ilyin grabbed both knights' hands upon learning of their concerns, "I'll see you when you arrive."
His kind farewell helped the two knights feel more at ease and Ilyin, escorted by Aden, headed to the carriage.
“See you soon.” Milo bowed deeply to both of them.
Aden moved on after accepting his goodbye.
Behind them only Idith and Etra followed.
Ilyin looked at the carriage.
It was the carriage she used to come and the same carriage that broke down in the dream.
Her heart began to pound as she took a deep breath.
“It’s okay,” Aden whispered as he stroked Ilyin’s back in an attempt to calm her, “nothing will happen.”
Ilyin still couldn't easily get into the carriage.
‘Your Majesty!’ Ilyin could hear Idith’s piercing scream ringing in his ears again.
In her dream, she clearly saw an arrow hit Aden's back and she could feel that it was a fatal blow.
Ilyin quickly shook her head, she tried to calm herself down by convincing herself that it wasn't like she had actually predicted his death.
Still, she was scared.
Ilyin grabbed Aden's hand tightly, not caring if the pressure would hurt him.
This was something she thought about most during the funeral, the future that was foreseen was inevitable.
She couldn't stop her mother's death nor Sid's death, the only thing she could do was be there for them when it happened.
Despite knowing the future before anyone else, she felt she couldn't prepare for it.
‘Cursed blood that dreams.’
It was true, this was a curse.
A curse that caused her to stay in a state of anxiety longer than anyone else and to feel pain longer as well.
Suddenly, Ilyin's thoughts were interrupted as his perspective was tilted.
“Oh!” she screamed when she saw her body being lifted without a warning.
His momentarily opened eyes could only see the clear sky.
Aden lowered his head towards her a little as he held her and he placed his lips on her nose.
Ilyin wrinkled his nose and let out a laugh as he tickled.
The laugh that came out danced like music to Aden's ears.
Aden looked at the eyes that were half closed and mischievously slid his lips onto Ilyin's nose again.
Ilyin laughed again.
“Den, people are…”
‘Watching’, she wanted to continue, but stopped when Aden walked away and gave the most heartbreakingly beautiful smile.
Aden's dark blue eyes were half covered by his long natural eyelashes.
“If they're smart enough, they'll turn heads,” he smiled.
Ilyin couldn't see the people behind them while being held like this by him, Aden chuckled softly and became a little more aggressive.
The lips that covered her nose again covered Ilyin's breathing and Ilyin shivered as goosebumps ran down her arms, only Aden had that effect on her.