章節 16: Lie, trust, love.

Cyrus simply let her be for a long moment, allowing her to live in her moment of freedom. He didn't want to interrupt it, didn't want to break the spell. But eventually, he couldn't resist reaching out, gently brushing a strand of her hair back from her face.

Nila cleared her eyes and looked at him, her expression unreadable. She didn't pull away. She simply gazed at him, as if trying to figure out the man sitting beside her. The tension between them had softened, though the wounds of yesterday still lingered in the air like a shadow.

Cyrus murmured, his voice low and soft. "You look so alive. Like this is you, you are glowing."

Nila blinked, surprised by his words. She hadn't expected him to notice something so subtle, so personal. Her instinct was to brush it off, to guard herself from the tenderness creeping into his voice. But as she sat there, surrounded by the beauty of the bluebells, the weak defences she built up around him seemed to crumble apart completely now.

Cyrus's chest tightened. He wanted to reach for her, to hold her and promise that he would make it all right again, but he knew better than to rush things. This was a fragile ground, and he didn't want to push her away.

Instead, he leaned back slightly, resting his hands on the grass behind him. "You should laugh more, Nila. You deserve that."

Nila bit her lip, feeling the familiar conflict rise within her. Part of her wanted to snap at him, to remind him that he was the one who had recently contributed to her sadness. But another part of her, that still clung to the memories of Sol, wanted to keep hearing him say things like that.

Wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, she could find that joy again.

"Why do you say things like that?" she asked, her voice soft but tinged with frustration. "Like you know what's best for me. Like you care."

Cyrus turned his head to look at her, his expression serious. "Because I do care, Nila. I always have. Even when I messed up, even when I hurt you… I never stopped caring." He paused, his gaze searching hers. "I know I'm not the man you remember, not exactly. But I'm still Sol. I'm still the one who fell in love with you, the one who wants to build a life with you."

Nila's heart stuttered at his words, the raw vulnerability in his voice catching her off guard. She had prepared herself for many things, his apologies, his attempts to win her back but not this. Not this quiet, desperate plea for her to see him, truly see him, as more than just the king who had betrayed her.

"I don't know who you are anymore," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the soft rustling of the breeze. "You were Sol to me… but Cyrus, the king, the things I have heard my whole life and seen for a few days are completely confusing, I am just overwhelmed by everything, everything that I have heard and witnessed"

Cyrus closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a slow breath. He knew this would take time. He had to give her space to figure things out, to come to terms with the man he had become. But he couldn't stand the thought of her believing that Sol, the man she had fallen in love with, was gone.

Cyrus stood up, offering her his hand. "Come on," he said, a small, hopeful smile tugging at his lips. "Let's keep walking. You've only seen a small part of the garden."

Nila hesitated for a moment, then slowly placed her hand in his. His grip was warm and steady, and for a brief second, it felt like old times. Like when they used to walk together in secret, sharing stolen moments before the weight of the world came crashing down on them.

They reached a small pond, its surface reflecting the bright blue sky above. The sound of trickling water filled the air, adding to the serenity of the place. Nila stopped at the edge of the pond, watching the ripples dance across the water's surface.

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked, her voice quiet but curious. "This place… it feels special."

Cyrus stood beside her, his gaze focused on the water as well. "It is special," he said softly. "This is where I come when I need to think. When the weight of everything becomes too much." He paused, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. "I wanted to share it with you. Because it's one of the few places that still feels… real. Uncomplicated."

Nila's heart fluttered at his words, but she quickly reminded herself not to get swept away. She had to stay firm, had to protect herself. But still… there was something about this moment, about the way he was opening up to her, that made her feel like she was seeing a side of him that few people ever got to see.

Cyrus took a step closer, his voice lowering to a near whisper. "I don't expect you to forgive me overnight. But I want to start building something new, Nila. Something honest. I've made mistakes, but I'm willing to spend the rest of my life making up for them. If you'll let me."

Nila's breath caught in her throat. There it was again, that raw, sincere vulnerability. He wasn't just asking for forgiveness. He was asking for a chance to start over, to rebuild something from the ashes of what they had once been.

But could she give him that? Will he treat her differently once he gets her?

"I don't know if I can," Nila spoke, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't know if I can trust you again."

Lie, it was all a lie.

Nila trusted and loved him more than any man she had ever come across and that terrified her.