The air was thick with tension as Lucy entered the grand hall. Her steps echoed against the marble floor, though the soft clinking of her shoes did little to calm the storm brewing inside her. She had been preparing for this conversation all day, knowing it wouldn't be easy. Kael, the king, wasn't a man who easily changed his mind once it was set. But Lucy had to try. For Lilien's sake.
She found him standing by the tall windows that overlooked the palace gardens, the early evening sun casting a warm glow on his silhouette. He didn't turn when she approached, but she knew he was aware of her presence.
"Your Majesty," Lucy greeted him with a respectful bow, her voice soft yet firm.
Kael remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon as if searching for answers in the fading light. "Countess," he finally responded, his tone neutral. "What brings you here at this hour?"
Lucy took a breath, steeling herself. "I've come to discuss Lilien."
At the mention of Lilien's name, Kael turned to face her, his expression unreadable on the outside but Lucy knew how difficult it was for him to keep the facade. "What about her?"
"She wants to return to Garhian," Lucy said carefully, watching for any flicker of emotion in his eyes. "She's… unsettled here. I think it would be best for her to go back, at least for a little while."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly, though his voice remained calm. "I've already told her that she's safe here. There's no reason for her to leave."
"With all due respect, Your Majesty," Lucy began, choosing her words with care, "I don't believe this is about safety. Lilien feels disconnected. She's struggling to make sense of everything that's happened, and staying here is only making things worse. Perhaps going back to Garhian, even temporarily, could help her regain a sense of familiarity and peace."
Kael's jaw tightened, and Lucy could sense the subtle shift in his demeanor. He wasn't pleased with the suggestion, and she knew why. Lilien's presence here wasn't just about keeping her safe; it was also about keeping her close, under his protection.
"Garhian is not safe, I don't know who is doing this," Kael said firmly. "There are still forces at play that I cannot control. I will not risk her well-being by sending her back without surety of her safety."
Lucy nodded, understanding his concerns. "I know Garhian isn't without its dangers. But Lilien doesn't have to go there permanently. She just needs time to adjust, to find her bearings. Keeping her here, where everything is unfamiliar, isn't helping her. In fact, it's making her more anxious."
Kael turned away again, his gaze hardening as he looked out the window. "And what if she doesn't return? What if going back reminds her of things she should forget? What if she never regains her memories?"
Lucy felt her heart sink at the implication. She knew Kael cared deeply for Lilien, more than she even knew of. But his desire to keep her close, to protect her, was blinding him to what she truly needed.
"She will return," Lucy said softly. "But you must trust her. You must trust that her feelings matter, that she needs to make this choice for herself. She's not a child, Your Majesty. She deserves the chance to decide where she feels most at ease."
Kael's shoulders tensed, and for a moment, Lucy wondered if she had overstepped. But then he spoke, his voice low and measured. "I have protected her for years. I've kept her safe from harm. And now you're asking me to let her walk out of my sight, now that she's in danger?"
Lucy stepped closer, her tone gentle but resolute. "I'm asking you to let her breathe. To give her the space she needs to heal. She's not the same person she was before, Kael. Keeping her here, under constant guard, won't bring her peace, it won't return her memories. It will only make her feel trapped."
Kael finally turned to face her again, and this time, Lucy saw the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. He cared for Lilien, more deeply than anyone else did, and the thought of letting her go—of not being able to protect her—terrified him.
"Do you really believe she'll find peace in Garhian?" he asked quietly.
"I do," Lucy replied. "She needs to reconnect with her past, to make sense of the memories that are coming back to her. Garhian is a part of who she is, and ignoring that part of herself will only make things harder for her in the long run."
Kael was silent for a long moment, his expression unreadable as he weighed her words. Lucy could see the internal struggle written in the tense lines of his face. He was torn between his duty as a king and his care for Lilien.
"Your Majesty," Lucy said softly, breaking the silence. "Sometimes, the hardest part of loving someone is letting them go, even if it's just for a little while. But if you trust her, she will return to you."
Kael's eyes met hers, and for the first time, Lucy saw the vulnerability behind his regal facade. He wasn't just a king—he was a man who had watched over Lilien for so long, who had fought to protect her, and now, he was being asked to let her go, even temporarily.
"You truly believe this is what she needs?" he asked.
"I do," Lucy said, her voice steady. "She'll be stronger for it. And when she's ready, she'll come back."
Kael let out a long breath, and the tension in the room seemed to dissipate, if only slightly. "Very well," he said quietly. "She may go."
Relief washed over Lucy, but she kept her composure, bowing her head respectfully. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
As she turned to leave, Kael's voice stopped her.
"Lucy," he said, his tone softer now. "Ensure she's well-protected. I don't want anything to happen to her."
Lucy nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision they had just made. "I will, Your Majesty."
With that, she left the room, her mind racing with the preparations that needed to be made for Lilien's departure. She had won the debate, but the true challenge was still ahead—ensuring that Lilien found the peace she was searching for, and that she returned to Kael when the time was right.
As she walked down the corridor, she couldn't help but wonder: Would this journey help Lilien remember? Or would it only lead to more questions? Only time would tell.