Chapter 3
It was a relief she had procrastinated on making their relationship official. Her past reluctance, finding his pleading eyes too cute to give a firm answer, had turned out to be a blessing. If things had gotten any deeper, letting him go would have been unbearable. She could still end it now.
“Jayden. You should go with them.”
His eyes widened. “I do not wish to.”
“Your father is calling for you.”
“I do not want to be apart from you…” Disappointment colored his features. The way he looked at her, resting his head on her hand, was heartbreakingly pitiful. Her chest ached. He looks so pathetic, it makes me want to give him anything…
This man was a master at using his looks to bewitch people. Elena steeled her weakening resolve. “It looks like they will wait until they can take you.”
“I will send them away. I can do it.” He wondered if they were an obstacle. A chilling glint flickered in his eyes, as if he were about to eliminate them on the spot. Before he could declare he would kill them all, Elena quickly added, “Your family came for you. Maybe it is something important.”
As she caressed his cheek, trying to persuade him, Jayden pressed his lips together in a firm line. It was his silent way of saying he did not want to obey. Elena knew it was a flimsy excuse. In all the time they had lived together, he had never once mentioned his family, and he had looked at his supposed brother as if he were a stone. There was no way he would follow their call just because they were family.
And yet, the reason he could not refuse more forcefully was simple. Because I taught him to listen to me.
Was it the result of her training? Jayden had never truly refused one of her requests. Even when she asked for something unreasonable, he would comply. She had once been so curious that she had even asked him about it.
“Jayden, why do you listen to me so well? You do not want to do this right now, do you?”
His cheeks had been puffed out ever since she had given him the chore. Yet he was still doing it diligently. If he disliked it so much, he could just stop.
“I made a promise.”
“What promise?”
He stopped what he was doing and looked back at her, his expression so genuinely shocked that Elena felt a pang of guilt.
“I am sorry for not remembering.”
“I promised to listen to you well, Elena…”
When did we make a promise like that? Ah… “When we decided to live together?”
He nodded, confirming her guess. “Yes, I promised then.”
“So you are forcing yourself to do something you do not want to?”
“Because I made a promise.”
And then he went back to his work in silence. What is so important about a silly promise? Elena could not understand his way of thinking, but she had not pressed the matter. It was not a bad thing for her that he was so obedient. He does take care of all the annoying chores.
She had brushed it aside. Since then, Jayden had never truly refused her. It would be the same this time.
“Jayden, you’re going with them, right?” Since she wanted it, he would grant her wish.
His expression clouded over. “Then, would you not come with me?” His eyes grew moist, as if he were about to burst into tears. Her heart nearly gave way at his even more pitiful gaze, but she held firm.
“I have to look after the store.” Now that she had made her decision, she had to see it through.
Jayden instantly became sullen. Seeing that Elena had no intention of changing her mind, he finally relented. “I understand. I will go. You will wait for me, will you not?”
“Don’t cause any trouble on your way.” As she stroked his cheek one last time, his gaze softened. He looked at her for a moment, then took her hand and brought it to his lips.
“Yes. I will not cause any trouble. So please, wait for me safely, Elena.”
“Since you’ve decided, it’s best to leave quickly. What do you need to pack?” Elena naturally pulled her hand away. Jayden stared at his empty palm, then rose with a dejected air.
“I am not sure. Should I pack a weapon and some food?”
“You’re not going hunting. Hmm… I do not think you need to pack anything. They do not look short on money, so I am sure they will buy you whatever you need.” Her first instinct was to pack things for him out of worry, but she quickly changed her mind. If she was going to end things, it was better if he carried fewer traces of this place with him. “Shall we go?” she asked, pretending not to feel his heavy gaze.
He did not move. From his quiet stare, she knew what he wanted. Elena closed the distance and placed her hands on his cheeks. As if he had been waiting, Jayden lowered his head. She intercepted the lips that were descending for a familiar kiss. His eyelids flew open, revealing blue eyes that had turned chillingly cold. Jayden often appeared naive, but he was not a fool. His mistakes stemmed from ignorance, not a lack of intelligence. In fact, he was smart, and his intuition was growing sharper by the day.
He must have noticed something was wrong.
Elena smiled naturally and held his face, bringing their eyes close. As if this had been her intention all along. Only then did his icy aura begin to thaw. “You remember our promise, right? Don’t attack people recklessly.” It felt a bit overbearing to nag him as he was leaving, but she could not help it. She was worried.
“I will be careful.”
“And if possible, try not to get angry.” I do not know if anyone there can stop him if he truly decides to cause trouble.
“I will be careful about that as well…”
His answer brought some relief, but her heart remained heavy. To think she would never see this beautiful, kind man again. Of course, she was not at ease with her decision. How could she be, when she had decided to part with the man she thought she would spend her life with? But her ability had shown her the world of the nobility. A world where those who believed themselves superior gathered, a place where invisible blades flew in the endless pursuit of power. There was no place more greedy or exclusive. Elena did not want to set foot in it.
“Good boy.”
He naturally offered his cheek for a kiss. Ignoring his silent request for his usual reward, she instead gently bumped their foreheads together. “Don’t do anything that might get you hurt.”
As if he had guessed something, his gaze searched hers intently. “I want you to be safe, Jayden. Can you promise me that?”
He covered her hand with his own. As always, he responded with an attitude of complete surrender. “Yes. I will make my safety my top priority. I promise.” His blue eyes sparkled, and a warm, gentle aura washed over the room—a phenomenon that always occurred when he made a promise.
Elena smiled in relief, and Jayden tilted his head to kiss her cheek. This time, she could not avoid it.
Together, they went outside, where the waiting men watched with tense expressions. Jayden tossed the words bluntly at his brother, “Let’s go.”
“Are you saying you will come with us…?” his brother reacted slowly.
“Yes.”
When Jayden agreed so readily, everyone stared in disbelief.
“He is coming along willingly?”
“Without a fight?”
“I was worried half of us might die…”
A low murmur spread through the ranks, and Jayden’s brother, equally surprised, glanced at Elena. “What on earth did you…”
“You had best be on your way before he changes his mind,” Elena cut in smoothly.
“Do you have any intention of coming with us?”
She had not expected him to ask. She could feel Jayden watching her, a flicker of hope in his eyes.
“My home is here.”
Did he understand her true meaning? Jayden’s brother’s expression darkened. “Everyone, we are returning,” he commanded, and his men immediately prepared to leave, hurrying as if worried Jayden would retract his consent.
“I will be back soon,” Jayden said, his voice laced with desperation as he squeezed her hand in a final farewell. The knights glanced over at them as if witnessing something truly bizarre, but Elena paid them no mind.
“Take this.” She placed a tiny pouch, one that would not even fill half of his large palm, into his hand.
“What is this?”
Inside was the farewell letter she had prepared. When he read it, he would understand. I know this kind of farewell is cruel, but… she thought, I do not have the courage to say it to his face.
“Don’t look at it now. Check it later,” she said, stopping him as he was about to open it.
“When?”
“Hmm… after you meet your father.”
Jayden’s lips pressed into a thin line. He looked from Elena to the pouch with a heavy gaze before carefully tucking it inside his coat. “I understand. I will be back soon, so please stay safe.”
As Jayden turned to leave, his brother gave Elena a final, curt nod, and the entire party departed at once. The moment they were out of sight, Elena went back inside, packed her own bags, and left the village, making sure the man she had just set free would never find her again.
