28| A Loyal Guard II

Sylteena stared at the silent guard standing before her, and despite the coverage of his metal helmet, she could feel his confused gaze underneath.

"I— I do not understand the question, Your Highness..."

Her shoulders relaxed with her exhale. "I am sure you are aware of my lack of authority within these palace walls..."

He did not respond.

Sylteena's eyes gauged him from head to toe — he was taller than the previous guard who had stepped in earlier that morning. Not to mention, his voice was more guttural and coarse.

Hm... What an odd one, she thought to herself. Even though she couldn't see his eyes to read his intent, his demeanor and tone were far less strict and absolute than the other guards who barely interacted with her.

He seemed somewhat... Nervous.

Sylteena then took a step forward to look down at the enticing meals on the trolley, then back up. "I appreciate your kind gesture... Even if you may have reasons best known to your interest."

Again, the guard didn't speak. Instead, he kept his head slightly tilted down as Sylteena continued.

"But I advise you to push your efforts where you'll yield results. Perhaps the first prince might seem difficult to approach, but I think the second prince would give listening ears to your demands—"

"With all due respect, Your Highness..."

Sylteena's lips sealed at the sudden shift in his tone — He raised his head.

"...I would never seek favor through such lowly means, Your Highness."

Sylteena blinked twice.

Lowering his head to an even deeper bow, he asked, "Permission to speak freely, Your Highness?"

It took Sylteena a few moments of silence to realize he was referring to her. "O- Oh... Of course..."

He inhaled deeply. "Forgive me for uttering untrue words and undermining your suspicion, Your Highness..."

He didn't need to apologize, Sylteena thought to herself. It's not like she had any ounce of power to punish or rebuke him even if she wanted to — which she never would.

Her clutches slowly loosened from the fabric of her flare.

"But I came here only to ensure you do not starve, Your Highness, as you haven't eaten anything since lunch yesterday."

Her brows arched high.

That was true... But how did he know? More importantly, why was he bothered about it?

Sylteena then noticed the guard clench his fists by his side, as if bracing himself for the words he was yet to say.

He gulped. "But I cannot stand and watch someone be maltreated for no reason... Not even by those of imperial power."

No reason? Sylteena was tempted to ask. Did he not know she was regarded as a cursed child from the South? Attuned to doom...

As if reading her thoughts, he shook his head. "And I do not stand to watch gossip and assumptions rule the worth of another person's life... Especially when they are all untrue."

"And why do you think that?" Now Sylteena just couldn't hold back. She had to know what exactly he was thinking.

"Because a being believed to be the bearer of evil and vile would not allow her abuser to go unpunished this long."

She didn't speak.

Mellowed by emotions of gratitude and disbelief, Sylteena was more mesmerized by the guard's audacity to call the royal family members her abusers.

"And lastly..." The guard slowly raised his hands to grasp the sides of his helmet. Sylteena watched attentively as he turned and slowly pulled up the metal shielding his face.

Her eyes peeled wide.

He lowered his helmet to his side, staring at her with a calm composure.

Sylteena forgot to blink.

With his ruby red eyes locked on her, Sylteena's gaze remained fixed on the left half of his face that bore a grotesque map of twisted flesh — jagged scars puckered and pulled like torn leather stretched too tight. His skin was a mottled canvas of crimson, raw pink, and dull gray, where nerves and muscles had stubbornly tried to reweave themselves over his exposed jawbone.

The portion of his left nose was absent, leaving the hollow nostrils exposed to his skull.

The left side of his scalp was bare of a single strand of hair; his eye on that side seemed slightly smaller, hooded by the swollen skin stretched from the raised scars.

Her lips gaped.

Taking a moment before scrutinizing the unscarred right side of his face, Sylteena made out the weak half-lip smirk and the softening of his red eyes as his black hair framed that side of his head.

"I of all people understand the cruelty one's look can attract."

Sylteena was lost for words.

A long moment of tense silence dragged between the two in the library before Sylteena stuttered.

"What... Ha- Happened?"

"Fire..." He wore back his helmet, unconsciously freeing her from the shock of his sight.

He cleared his throat softly. "In my first year as a royal guard, I was involved in a fire accident during an internal conflict within the capital... which disfigured half of my face."

"I— I am so sorry—"

"There is no need to apologize, Your Highness." He bowed. "I do not seek your pity, only to share my intention. I need nothing from you but your well-being, because you do not deserve such malice for things beyond your control — such as your creation..."

Sylteena felt a hard blow to her gut as her fingers tightened. She bit her lips.

Taking a moment to look back at her, the guard flinched. "Y-Your Highness!?"

Sylteena jolted. "W-What?"

"Y-You are crying!"

"Huh?" She instinctively touched her cheek and froze at the draining streams from her eyes.

She immediately looked away, covering her eyes with her sleeves, clearing the bitter clog in her throat as she rubbed her eyes.

The guard only stared, his hands tempted to reach out.

Sylteena swiftly cleaned her eyes before turning to him with a weak smile. "Forgive me..." She cleared her throat once more. "I— I did not realize I—Um..." Her words trailed off, as well as her gaze.

The guard remained silent too, letting the thick fog of awkwardness linger between them.

Sylteena continued to watch the floor as she rubbed her palms on her dress, wrecking her brain for something a sensible person with efficient social skills would say or do at that moment...

This was the last situation she ever thought she'd find herself in. She bit her lip harder.

"Darian."

Her brows scrunched at his voice, slowly raising her gaze.

"My name..." He rubbed the back of his head. "My name is Darian Holt..."

Sylteena's eyes blinked twice at him before her lips pulled into an even wider smile.

One that seemed less forced.

"Nice to meet you, Sir Darian..."

He chuckled, unsure of what else to do other than bow once more. "The pleasure is all mine, Your Highness."

Again, silence.

With both unsure how else to interact, Darian finally raised his head with a sigh. "I—I will be on my way now, Your Highness... Please, enjoy your meal."

He gestured to the trolley before turning to walk away. Sylteena watched him stride steadily to the door.

"Sir Darian!"

He halted, turning instinctively. "Yes, Your Highness?"

Sylteena hesitated before saying, "I need your help, please."

"Help?" He cocked his head.