The silence after Vael left did not fade.
It settled.
Heavy.
Persistent.
Liora stood in the center of the room long after the door closed, staring at nothing.
Her thoughts wouldn't stop.
"What if he didn't even try to find another way?"
"You trusted him."
"And he killed you."
She pressed her fingers against her temple.
"…Stop."
But the doubt didn't listen.
Because it wasn't loud.
It was quiet.
Subtle.
The kind that didn't need to shout to stay.
A soft knock echoed at the door.
Liora froze.
For a moment—
She didn't move.
Didn't answer.
Another knock.
Softer this time.
"…Liora."
Her chest tightened.
She knew that voice.
Of course she did.
For a second, she considered pretending she wasn't there.
But that would be a lie.
And right now—
She was too tired to lie.
"…It's open."
The door creaked slightly.
Cairis stepped inside.
The moment he did—
The air shifted.
Not violently.
Not aggressively.
Just… different.
Like something unspoken had entered the room with him.
Liora didn't turn.
She stayed facing the window.
Arms folded lightly.
Distant.
Cairis closed the door behind him.
He didn't move closer immediately.
Didn't force the space between them to disappear.
Good.
Because if he had—
She didn't know how she would've reacted.
"…You shouldn't isolate yourself," he said quietly.
Liora let out a small breath.
"And yet, here I am."
Silence.
He stepped forward.
Slow.
Careful.
Like approaching something fragile.
"I heard about the attack."
She gave a dry laugh.
"I'm sure the whole palace did."
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
A pause.
"…You?"
"I'm fine."
Another silence.
Thicker this time.
Because neither of them was saying what actually mattered.
Liora turned slowly.
Her eyes met his.
And for a moment—
Everything from before came rushing back.
The memory.
The blade.
The truth.
Her voice came out quieter than she expected.
"…Why didn't you tell me?"
Cairis didn't pretend not to understand.
"Because it wouldn't have changed anything."
"It would have changed everything."
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"You let me stand there and defend you."
"You let me think—"
She stopped herself.
But it was too late.
He had already heard it.
"Think what?" he asked.
"That you were on my side."
The words hurt more than she intended.
Cairis's expression shifted slightly.
"…I am."
"No."
She shook her head.
"Not like that."
The distance between them suddenly felt much bigger than the room itself.
"You were on my side."
Her voice softened.
"But when it mattered most…"
Her chest tightened.
"…you chose something else."
Cairis didn't deny it.
"I chose the world."
"I know."
"And I would do it again."
Silence.
That—
That was the problem.
Liora let out a small, shaky breath.
"…You're honest."
"Yes."
"I hate that."
A faint flicker of something crossed his face.
But it disappeared quickly.
"Would you rather I lied?"
"No."
She looked away.
"Just… not that."
The room went quiet again.
But this silence—
It wasn't empty.
It was full of everything they weren't saying.
After a moment, Cairis spoke again.
"Vael was here."
Liora stiffened slightly.
"…You already know everything, don't you?"
"I know enough."
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"He said things."
"I'm aware."
"And?"
Cairis's gaze didn't waver.
"He's trying to manipulate you."
"Or he's telling me something you're not."
The tension snapped slightly.
Cairis stepped closer.
"Liora."
"No—answer me."
Her voice rose slightly.
"Was there another way?"
Silence.
That hesitation—
Even for a second—
Was enough.
Her heart dropped.
"…There wasn't," he said.
But this time—
It didn't sound as certain.
Liora laughed quietly.
"That didn't sound convincing."
"It's the truth."
"Then why did you hesitate?"
He didn't answer.
And suddenly—
That silence said everything.
Liora looked at him like she was seeing him differently now.
"…You're not sure."
"I am."
"No, you're not."
Her voice softened.
And somehow that made it worse.
"You made a choice."
"And now you're living with it."
Cairis's eyes darkened slightly.
"Yes."
"And if it was the wrong one?"
The question hung in the air.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Cairis didn't answer.
Because for the first time—
He couldn't.
Liora nodded slowly.
"…That's what I thought."
She turned away again.
Creating distance.
A barrier.
"I need time."
Her voice was quieter now.
Less sharp.
More tired.
"I can't just… ignore this."
"I'm not asking you to."
Silence.
Then she added softly—
"But I can't trust you right now either."
That—
That was the real damage.
Cairis went still.
But he didn't argue.
Didn't defend himself.
Because this time—
There was nothing to defend.
"…Understood."
The word felt colder than anything else he had said.
Liora closed her eyes briefly.
"…I don't want to fight you."
"You're not."
"It feels like I am."
Another silence.
Then—
Something shifted.
Cairis stepped closer.
Not enough to touch her.
But close enough that she could feel his presence again.
Strong.
Steady.
Unmoving.
"If you lose control…"
His voice dropped.
"…I will stop you."
Liora's chest tightened.
"There it is."
She let out a soft breath.
"That's what I was afraid of."
His gaze didn't waver.
"I won't let you destroy yourself."
"And if stopping me means—?"
He didn't let her finish.
"Yes."
The word cut cleanly through the air.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just truth.
Liora looked at him for a long moment.
Then nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
Not agreement.
Not acceptance.
Just acknowledgment.
"I understand."
And somehow—
That made it worse.
Because now she knew exactly where they stood.
Not enemies.
Not allies.
Something in between.
Something fragile.
Something that could break again at any moment.
She stepped back.
Putting space between them once more.
"…You should go."
Cairis didn't move immediately.
His eyes stayed on her.
Like he wanted to say something else.
But didn't.
Finally—
He turned.
Walked toward the door.
Stopped.
Just before leaving.
"…I didn't regret it."
Liora's breath caught slightly.
His voice was quiet.
But steady.
"I regretted the outcome."
The door opened.
Then closed behind him.
And Liora was alone again.
She stood there for a long time.
Not moving.
Not speaking.
Just thinking.
Her chest felt heavy.
But clearer.
In a painful kind of way.
"…This is going to get worse before it gets better."
The silver light flickered faintly around her fingers again.
Uncertain.
Unstable.
Just like everything else.
Somewhere in the palace—
Vael watched from the shadows.
His expression calm.
Satisfied.
"…Perfect."
Because now
The distance between them had grown.
And that distance
Would be exactly what he needed.