Good news and bad news

Kael sat in his office with his head resting heavily in his hand, his thoughts a turbulent storm of frustration and disillusionment. The weight of his responsibilities and the persistent coldness from Lilien pressed down on him like an unbearable burden. Despite his relentless efforts to bridge the chasm between them, her demeanor remained as icy and unyielding as ever. Every attempt to reach out, every gesture of goodwill seemed to be met with an impenetrable wall of resistance.

He had tried to be patient, to understand and adapt to her needs, but no matter how much he gave or how many sacrifices he made, their strained relationship showed no sign of improvement. His once unwavering patience was now frayed at the edges, worn thin by the constant struggle and lack of progress. Each day felt like an uphill battle, his sense of hope dwindling as he grappled with the reality that his efforts might never be enough to mend the rift between them.

The mounting exasperation was beginning to take its toll, making it harder for him to maintain his composure and optimism. The weight of the situation seemed almost insurmountable, and Kael found himself questioning whether any amount of perseverance would ever change the disheartening dynamic that had come to define their interactions.

A knock on the door jolted him from his thoughts, but he barely acknowledged it, remaining in his position, lost in contemplation.

"Your Majesty," a voice called out as the door opened. "I'm back," the visitor announced, and Kael looked up wearily. "I've completed my mission; the Countess is safe in the villa and awaiting her Majesty," the man reported.

"Good," Kael sighed, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

The man glanced at Kael's troubled expression and said, "By the look on your face, it seems like things are still difficult."

"You don't know," Kael replied, his voice tinged with despair.

"Did you tell her that her sister is on her way?" the man inquired.

"I tried, but it seems best if I don't. She's become so suspicious of everything I say that I fear she might see it as a trap if I mention her sister. I think it's better just to take her to her directly," Kael explained, sounding drained.

"There's no limit to her Majesty's imagination," the man said with a wry smile. "Well, I've delivered my report. I'll return to my duties now," he said before leaving Kael alone, feeling more frustrated than ever.

The rest of the day passed in a haze for Kael. Since Lilien had lost her memories, he had struggled to return to his usual routine, unable to shake the feeling that everything had changed irrevocably. The prospect of seeing Lilien for dinner had once been something he looked forward to, but now it only deepened his sense of melancholy. The situation felt like a cruel twist of fate.

In the early days of their marriage, Lilien had been wary of him, but her quirks and vivid imagination had soon made their relationship warmer. Now, however, Kael felt as if she genuinely despised him, despite his efforts to remain unobtrusive and avoid arousing her suspicions.

He approached their room—now Lilien's room—and hesitated at the door. He needed to tell her that her sister had arrived, but he was unsure how to do so without making her distrustful of him.

Sighing heavily, he knocked softly but received no response. He opened the door and stepped inside, pausing at the threshold. Lilien stood by her reading table, absorbed in a note.

"Lilien, I—" Kael began, but she cut him off.

"I want to leave," she said, her gaze filled with pure hatred. Kael's heart shattered at her words. "Don't give me some pathetic excuse about my safety," she continued, her voice laced with bitterness. Kael struggled to find words. "Tell me the truth: how did I lose my memories? Who is responsible?" she demanded.

"I don't know," Kael said, his voice filled with regret.

"You deliberately sent Vince away, didn't you? Did he discover a way to restore my memories? Is that why you dismissed him—to keep me from recovering?" she accused, her anger palpable.

Kael had sent Vince away to avoid making Lilien uncomfortable, but the decision had backfired spectacularly.

"I heard that you performed some kind of protection spell on me. Is that how you manipulated my mind? Surely, no one can surpass the King of Erries in spellcasting, so tell me the truth," Lilien pressed.

"Lilien, I don't know how you lost your—"

"Lies upon lies. You just keep lying. What did I do to deserve this? Is there something I can apologize for? What is it? I'm sorry, okay? But if you won't tell me the truth, just let me go," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of sorrow and frustration.

"Lilien," Kael called, his voice heavy with hurt.

"Stop… Stop looking at me like that. Your pretense won't work on me," she said sharply. "I'm leaving, whether you like it or not," she declared with steely resolve. "And don't think you can—"

"You can go," Kael interrupted.

"What did you say?" Lilien asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

"I'm letting you go to see your sister. That's why I came here," he said quietly.

"You're letting me go," she repeated, disbelief in her voice. He nodded. "Just like that?"

"Do you want to stay?" Kael asked, allowing a glimmer of hope to surface.

"No, no, no way. I'm just surprised," she said, her voice faltering slightly.

"I'll excuse you to get some rest. You have a long journey ahead tomorrow," Kael said, turning to leave.

As he walked away, he heard Lilien's cry of joy and couldn't help but smile to himself. Whether her happiness stemmed from leaving or from seeing her sister didn't matter as much as her genuine smile. Despite the lies and half-truths, Kael felt a pang of guilt for deceiving her, but he hoped that the small act of kindness would make a difference in her troubled heart.