#160

After the short yet long farewell, Kihelene rose from her spot. She looked down at her blood-stained dress and Yurisis, then turned back to Cullen. Clearing her voice, which was hoarse from crying, she tried to appear resolute.

“Let’s go, Lord Cullen. There is still work to be done. I will take care of Yuri afterward.”

She gazed at the Northern Palace directly in front of her. Following her gaze, Cullen also turned. His exhausted mind and body craved rest. Cullen nodded. It was time to go to his own resting place now.

“Kiyen-nim will not forgive me. It’s only natural, given what I’ve done. What I can do is somehow set him free.”

“Do you know how?”

Kihelene shook her head.

“My father and all the previous Larkans strictly forbade knowledge of how to release the Dragons. But Kiyen-nim will surely know. Now… there is no palace to protect, so I want to let him go.”

Cullen quietly gazed at her. He had not expected Kihelene to have thought that far. Their eyes met.

“You were by his side for that very purpose, weren’t you, Lord Cullen?”

“…That is correct.”

“When I think about it, it’s truly… a terrible thing. I can’t believe I didn’t realize it sooner.”

Kihelene spoke, looking around the dark palace.

“I felt it this time. As I replayed what I did to him every day, I realized how cruel my ancestors were. This is not proper rule. To build a nation by taking away the freedom of one life, without power or experience…”

Kihelene spoke as if she had been thinking about it for a long time. Even if it hadn’t been her, Cullen had planned to release Kiyen, but it would be much better if a Larkan like her cooperated. A tiny sliver of light entered his weary, crumbling heart.

If Kiyen were to gain freedom, he would surely be happy. If the bonds that had held him for an unimaginable number of years were to disappear, surely…

While a part of him was afraid, not knowing his condition, the thought of finally giving him freedom made him impatient.

He had left him alone for too long. Cullen decided not to delay any further. As he put away the artifact whose use was still uncertain, Kihelene also approached him.

She hesitated, glancing back once, then shook her head and gritted her teeth. Then, leaving Yurisis behind, she followed Cullen.

Cullen, calming his trembling insides, approached the palace gate at the end of the path. The gate, sealed with solid rock, and the emblem above it. Seeing the Dragon supporting the round moon, Cullen gritted his teeth. It was time to free him from this tiresome symbol.

Just as when he first entered the place, Cullen slowly reached out his hand to the gate. His hand touched the cold stone. A chilling yet eerie energy enveloped his body and flowed out. At the same time, the gate began to open slowly. Kihelene stood behind Cullen, watching the gate open with a tense expression.

Beyond the open gate, a forest was visible. But something was different from before. The brightly blooming flowers were gone, replaced by withered trees and grass. Seeing the listless, drooping things, a sense of unease arose.

Cullen entered without hesitation. Kihelene, anxiously surveying the interior, followed him. As they entered, the gate closed with a heavy sound.

Startled, Cullen pushed through the forest, too preoccupied to notice Kihelene looking back. Even though the grass was withered, Cullen tread carefully. He was afraid he might step on something he cherished.

“Kiyen-nim?”

Cullen called out to him, scanning his surroundings. But he felt no presence, not even the sound of insects. Kiyen was nowhere among the plants that had withered without the will to live.

His heart sank. His steps quickened. His heart pounded. The anxiety that he might have met with misfortune intensified.

Kiyen was not in the house beneath the large tree, nor by the lake. He was not anywhere that indicated Cullen had trespassed into forbidden areas.

The desire to see him immediately drove Cullen forward. Following his inner voice, which screamed that he had to find him, he frantically searched the surroundings. Again, nothing was visible.

After checking the lake one more time, he decided to retrace his steps and turned.

“How dare you show your shameless face here?”

The voice came then.

It was the voice he had longed for so much. He hadn’t heard it for such a long time. It had only been two months, but it felt as long as years, or a lifetime apart.

Finally, a smile formed on Cullen’s face, stained with scattered blood. It was an unstoppable smile. His dark eyebrows curved gently, and his purple eyes crinkled warmly.

However, Kiyen’s reaction was completely different from what he had expected. As if he hadn’t heard Cullen’s cry, a strong wind swept towards them.

The situation unfolded in an instant. A shadow of giant wings descending from the sky was visible, and Kiyen, like a sharp predator, lunged at Kihelene.

Kihelene, her face filled with fear, did not flinch. As she squeezed her eyes shut, Kiyen swung his sharp claws. It was the first time Cullen had seen his hands transform like that. Cullen’s eyes widened for a moment, unable to comprehend what had happened in a few seconds.

Clang!

Kiyen’s attack did not pass through Kihelene. As if hitting a giant barrier, Kiyen was pushed back with a flap of his wings. A roar filled with pain and hatred echoed.

“How dare you come here!”

Even though he knew his attack wouldn’t work, Kiyen continued to lunge at Kihelene. Kihelene stood rigidly, her eyes tightly shut. Her legs trembled, but she accepted all the attacks and accusations. Instead of dodging or pleading, she remained still, like someone resigned to death.

Cullen came to his senses after that. Kiyen, who had been attacking Kihelene, coughed and fell to the ground.

“Kiyen-nim!”

His giant wings, a mix of dragon scales and bird feathers, twitched as they bent. Seeing him droop powerlessly, like Kia who had died, Cullen rushed to him. Reaching him in an instant, he embraced him, accepting rejection.

“I am here, Kiyen-nim, to… to save you.”

With great strength, Cullen pulled Kiyen into his embrace. The scent of lilies wafted. Along with his voice, the faint fragrance he had longed for.

Warm body heat and soft blond hair were finally in Cullen’s arms. Kiyen lifted his head, his firm arms embracing him. He gazed at Cullen with golden eyes, completely devoid of blue.

The golden eyes, staring blankly at Cullen, were unmistakably those of a Dragon. The pointed pupils examined Cullen intently. After a few seconds, Kiyen opened his mouth.

“Cullen?”

The voice that softly called his name sounded childlike. It felt so broken, so unlike the one who had always protected him, that it tore at Cullen’s heart. He felt his insides twist.

“It’s me, Kiyen-nim. I’m sorry. I’m too late.”

I was late. He shouldn’t have let him go. He hadn’t known he would be in such a state. Kiyen’s robe was red, just as it had been when they parted. The blood stained on the always clean white robe remained, and Cullen encountered pain beyond words.

“…”

Kiyen stared at him, as if he hadn’t expected him. Then, his hand slowly reached out. A white hand firmly grasped Cullen’s chin.

“You are late.”

Cullen nodded. Kiyen’s golden eyes flickered unstably. He spoke again.

“Too late.”

“I am sorry.”

“Didn’t I ask you to choose? Whether to keep me by your side, or…”

Kiyen’s eyes flashed sharply as they turned towards Kihelene. His wings spread menacingly.

“To send me to that Larkan, I asked you to choose. Do you know the result of sending me…?”

This time, he shook his head. Cullen dared not imagine what he had seen. So, instead, he embraced him again. Kiyen did not push him away but wailed.

“It felt like fire would engulf everything, so I had to extinguish it. Do you know how I felt, re-examining the places I was forced to burn? I had to see hundreds of corpses burned because they couldn’t escape. I had to kill things I never intended to kill. Was this the result you wanted?”

Kiyen was looking for someone to blame. Cullen willingly accepted his blame. He felt as if Kiyen wouldn’t be able to bear it otherwise.

“I’m sorry, Kiyen-nim…”

Continuing his apologies, Cullen did not release his arms around him.

“Answer me properly, Cullen. Was this what you wanted…?”

Kiyen lifted his jaw, which Cullen was holding, and met his gaze. His eyes, glistening with anger and despair, demanded an answer. It was too deep. The wound was too deep, and he had no idea how to comfort him.

“How could I… wish for you to suffer? How could I dare…”

Tears finally welled up in Cullen’s eyes. Kiyen blinked.

“Is that true?”

“It is true. I didn’t know this would happen. If I had known, I would have done anything to prevent you from being sent away.”

Hoping that even a little bit of his sincerity would be conveyed, Cullen whispered. He repeated it, ensuring Kiyen could hear him clearly.

Kiyen stared at Cullen silently for a long time, then turned his head. He then pointed at Kihelene.

“Then kill her.”

At those words, Cullen’s hands, holding Kiyen, stiffened. Wondering if what he heard was an illusion, Cullen turned his body following Kiyen’s hand.

However, Kiyen’s fingertips were precisely pointing at Kihelene.

“Kill that Larkan. Then I will believe you.”

Kiyen was resolute. Anger surged across Kiyen’s face, which had been shaking with pain. He genuinely wanted Kihelene dead.

Kihelene, standing at the end of Kiyen’s pointed finger, stood frozen as if sensing her death. Her posture remained one of no intention to flee.

“It’s alright, Lord Cullen.”

Kihelene spoke.

“I am someone who deserves to die. Because I did… terrible things to Kiyen-nim. Is that all? The one who was Crown Prince… killed the people.”

She spoke calmly, as if it were alright. Then she whispered to Kiyen as well.

“I am sorry, Kiyen-nim. I am truly sorry. No matter what, I shouldn’t have demanded such a thing… I was foolish. I know you cannot forgive me. It is natural that you do not accept it. But truly… truly, I am sorry.”

“Shut up.”

Kiyen dismissed her apology.

“What you did cannot be forgiven by any means. You did the same as your ancestors. You ordered me to commit a massacre, killing those who should not be killed, for your sake.”

Kihelene nodded.

“Yes. I deserve to die.”

She drew the dagger she had been holding since she rushed at Iris.

“So I will die. However, do not make Lord Cullen do such a thing. That would be too… cruel.”

At those words, Kiyen flinched. He seemed not to have expected Kihelene to accept death so readily. But then he let out a hollow laugh.

“Humans are truly… selfish. Death ends everything. Leaving me with a hell to bear for a lifetime, and they just die and it’s over.”

Kiyen’s chest heaved. After a long moment of laughter, he raised his head. His narrowed, menacing pupils glared at Kihelene.

“However, if that is the best course, then die.”

Kihelene nodded and gripped the dagger with both hands. Her trembling arms were visible, but she looked at Cullen with a forced smile.

“Thank you, Lord Cullen. And I am sorry.”

Kihelene squeezed her eyes shut. Her wrists, which had attempted death multiple times, showed white under the moonlight. Seeing that, Cullen shook his head.

This is not right.

This is wrong.

“Stop, Kihelene!”