Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 45

Thelma stood by ZH's side, her hands gentle as she checked the bandages around his head. He was resting quietly in a small pharmacy they had found in town, his breathing steady as he slept.  "He's fine," Thelma reassured, her voice soft. "You're lucky his wound isn't too serious." Despite the initial fear, the injury had turned out to be minor. They had wrapped his head carefully, ensuring the wound was clean and protected.

Mila breathed a sigh of relief, her heart still heavy with the events that had transpired. "Thank you, Thelma," she said gratefully. Thelma gave her a small smile, glad to have been able to help.

Mila moved closer to ZH, her eyes softening as she looked at him. He lay there, peaceful in his sleep, oblivious to the turmoil in her heart. She gently reached out and took his hand, feeling the warmth of his skin against hers. In her other hand, a delicate butterfly appeared, its wings shimmering as it carried a letter meant for ZH.

'I can't let you go with me,' Mila thought, her heart aching with the decision she had made. She had thought long and hard about it, but deep down, she knew what she needed to do. She had to get stronger—to learn how to protect those she loved without putting them in constant danger.

As she stood there, her thoughts weighed heavily on her, Emmett approached, his expression conflicted. "My lady, are you really going to leave him?" he asked quietly, noticing the letter in her hand. He could see the pain in her eyes, the struggle between her heart and her mind.

Mila nodded slowly, her resolve firming even as her heart wavered. "Let's go," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She knew this was the right choice, even if it hurt. She wanted to meet ZH again one day, when they were both older, stronger, and ready to face the world together. For now, though, she couldn't keep endangering him whenever they were together.

With a heavy heart, Mila placed the butterfly on ZH's chest, watching as it dissolved into a soft glow, leaving the letter behind. She then turned and walked away, each step feeling like a weight on her soul.

Leaving Rustmount, Mila and her group borrowed some commonly tamed elemental horses, which were popular in the region. The horses, familiar with the terrain, moved smoothly as they carried the group away from the town. As they rode, Mila couldn't help but look back, her thoughts lingering on ZH. She hoped that one day, when the time was right, their paths would cross again.
***
ZH grumbled softly as he regained consciousness, his body aching from the recent events. His mind was still groggy, and he instinctively reached up to touch his face, feeling a wave of panic. But as his fingers brushed over the familiar fabric of his mask, he sighed in relief. 'They didn't try to remove it,' he thought, feeling a deep sense of comfort that his identity remained intact.

As his awareness sharpened, ZH suddenly remembered. 'Mila?!' His eyes darted around the small pharmacy, but he quickly realized he was alone. The room was quiet, the only sound being his own breathing. The absence of Mila filled him with unease, and he sat up, wincing slightly at the soreness in his muscles.

His gaze fell on a butterfly resting on the desk nearby, its wings shimmering with a soft glow. Intrigued, ZH walked over, and as he approached, the butterfly began to dissolve, revealing a message that slowly formed before his eyes.

'I'm sorry. This entire time that we've met, you've been through nothing but danger because of me. Do not look for me or follow me. I wish to grow stronger to be able to protect those that I love. Let us meet again in three years.' – Mila.

ZH scoffed softly as he read the letter, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Strange girl," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. "Telling me never to run from a fight. And here you are, running from me like it's a fight."