Chapter 506

The Night of HeartBreak

Sion strolled away, while a pair of eyes observed his departure. Those eyes belonged to Tiona Rudolvon, who quickly followed him. She had witnessed the climax of the princes’ duel and couldn’t tear her gaze away from Sion as he left the ballroom after his defeat. It seemed like no one dared to approach or detain Sion – not Mia, not Abel, not even Echard. Sion’s reclusive aura was so powerful that even his loyal subject, Keithwood, refrained from speaking a word.

However, Tiona was undeterred. A sense of urgency compelled her to reach out to Sion. Without hesitation, she began running through the castle, which would typically result in a scolding from the nearest guard. Strangely, she received gestures of gratitude from the guards she passed, as they had seen her helping Abram into his chamber earlier. Some even directed her toward the path Sion had taken.

Following their guidance, she navigated the twists and turns of the castle until she reached the entrance to a watchtower. Inside, she ascended the winding stone stairs, and suddenly, the stone walls disappeared, allowing moonlight to illuminate her face. She had reached the tower’s pinnacle, and when she stepped into the open air, she found Sion at the edge of the platform. He leaned against the rocky parapet with a distant gaze fixed on the sprawling townscape below.

“Prince Sion,” she called out.

“Who’s there?!” Sion spun around with a sharp cry of alarm, but upon seeing Tiona, he relaxed.

“Ah, Miss Tiona. What brings you to a place like this? Did you get lost?” he asked, tilting his head curiously and flashing his usual friendly smile. However, Tiona didn’t reciprocate the smile. Instead, she locked eyes with him.

“Why did you fight like that?”

“Ah, so you saw my duel. Ha ha, not my proudest of moments, I must say. I’m sorry you had to witness—”

“Were you trying to lose?”

For a moment, Sion froze, and then he shook his head, his expression turning serious.

“That would do Abel a great disservice. I fought with everything I had, and I lost. That’s all there is to it.”

“But you could have fought differently. If you were only trying to win, you could have fought around Prince Abel’s strength instead of directly against it. But you didn’t... Why?”

“You know, your behavior today has made me realize that you’re surprisingly...” Sion paused and released a soft sigh.

“Were it a simple contest of swordplay, you would be right. There would certainly be a way for me to win. But...such a win would have been pointless. Call me self-absorbed if you want, but that wasn’t a simple contest. Not for me. That...was a trial. A test of my spirit and soul. My love for Mia against everything I will shoulder as king,” he explained with a pained chuckle. “And guess which way the scales tipped? I couldn’t let go of everything.”

A glimmer from the townscape danced across his brow as he turned his gaze toward it.

“My father and my mother. Echard. Keithwood. Count Lampron. The royal attendants. The castle guards. And all the people—my people—who live down there... I couldn’t let them go.”

Tiona followed his gaze, and the moonlight bathed the town in its silvery glow. For a brief moment, she felt a connection with each person in the town, sensing their joys and sorrows and the presence of life that gathered there.Ne/w novel chapters are published on no/vel(/bin(.)co/m

“That’s why I lost to Abel,” said Sion. “He was pure. He fought for Mia and Mia only. I couldn’t. There was...too much on my shoulders.”

What might have happened had he won against Abel? There would have been no salvation for Echard, and pursuing Mia would likely have meant forsaking his kingdom. But Sion had chosen the opposite path—to remain true to his duty as the next King of Sunkland. He had a profound responsibility to rule justly and protect the land’s peace and security, a responsibility he embraced wholeheartedly.

Tiona saw in him a nobility reminiscent of his father, King Abram, both virtuous and tragic. She couldn’t help but speak up, but before she could find her voice...

“Uh, I do mind, actually. Specifically, I don’t appreciate being treated like a child, so—”

“When was your birthday, Prince Sion?”

“...About ten days ago?”

His response elicited another giggle from her. “Well, mine was in the spring, so I’m older. That makes me the big sister here, and when little brothers are feeling down, I think it’s their job to let their big sisters comfort them.”

“That’s... nonsense,” Sion said, sounding exasperated.

Tiona agreed; even she thought her words were nonsense. Nevertheless, she couldn’t leave Sion alone like this, or she’d regret it for the rest of her life. She wasn’t sure why she felt that way, but she did.

“Besides, there’s nothing to worry about. I’m just an outcount’s daughter. Even if someone tries to spread some weird rumors, no one will take them seriously.”

“That’s... nonsense...” Sion said again, his voice growing pensive before dropping to the softest whisper. “You... are surprisingly pushy, Tiona. So much so that it’s very hard not to take you seriously...”

A third figure sighed deeply. Keithwood watched the two from a distance, privately smiling.

“Praise the sun... Looks like my job has been done for me... It’s nice that he’s found a friend he can be vulnerable around. And I’d like to keep it that way. Despite what Miss Rudolvon said, this is definitely a scene that needs to be kept private. I guess I’ll head back down the tower and play door guard for a bit...”

Ever the loyal servant, Keithwood’s night had just begun.

As for Mia, what was she up to during this time?

“Hmm... All this relief is making me hungry. I wonder if there’s anything to eat around here... Where did that cookie go...?” With the spectacle concluded, guests began to leave, and Mia scratched her head while scanning the emptying ballroom.

“That’s a valid point. We didn’t get much of a dinner, did we?” Rafina suggested. “How about we go to my room for a light meal, with plenty of desserts, of course.”

“Well, is that truly acceptable, Miss Rafina?” Mia’s face instantly lit up. “In fact, I was just thinking about showing gratitude to the inn’s staff. After all, I believe the juice Anne brought was from them.”

“Great idea. We should also check if anyone else wants to join us. Miss Esmeralda might be busy, but Miss Citrina and Miss Bel are more than welcome. And of course, we should invite Miss Anne. We should try to meet up with Miss Tiona as well.”

And so, it was settled that the after-party would take place in Rafina’s room at the inn. The night for Mia and her friends was going to be a long one, and it didn’t seem like it would end anytime soon.

Author’s Note:

Oh, by the way, I’m trying to spoil the room for delusions, but Shion and Tiona didn’t have anything particularly romantic after this, and they came home normally without waiting for Chun in the morning. yes.

Keith Wood is also smiling as they have a young and healthy relationship. I don’t know.

Yeah, right. Nothing happened after. Because this is not a R18 novel.