Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 55

ZH stood on the training grounds, his sword slashing through one wooden dummy after another with relentless fury. Each strike splintered the wood, scattering pieces across the ground. Aiken approached from behind, watching the destruction unfold with a calm demeanor, Vere standing quietly beside him.

"My, those dummies are going to cost a fortune to replace," Aiken remarked casually. "But I suppose it's good to clear out the old ones."

ZH, his breathing heavy, wiped his mouth, and his mask still concealed his eyes. He didn't turn around, but Aiken's words reached him.

"I didn't think you'd get so worked up over a little girl," Aiken continued, his tone light though he knew the weight of his words. "Is she perhaps not just a mere girl to you?"

ZH froze, his grip tightening on his sword. "Coming from someone like you, those words aren't easy to ignore," he replied, aware of Aiken's own complicated situation.

Aiken stepped closer, his voice lowering slightly. "I'm not trying to make things worse. She probably worries about everyone, which is why she keeps her distance, refusing to let anyone get too close."

ZH's anger still simmered, but he listened. "There was something she did to save me back in winter," he began, hesitating before continuing.

Aiken, sensing the significance of the moment, tried to mask his curiosity with indifference. "Oh? Do tell," he said, though his interest was now piqued.

ZH shot him a glance, almost walking away before deciding to speak. "If you don't really care, there's no point in telling you."

"I'll listen!" Aiken quickly interjected, his tone more sincere. "It's not like I haven't been in your shoes before. We're both dealing with our own messes."

ZH sighed, letting the tension in his shoulders ease slightly. "To save me, she chose to bond with the Crystal Dragon, allowing it to become my beast. If I had known she would end up like this, I would have given it back to her instead of letting her reach this sick state." His voice trembled with frustration and regret as he clenched his fist.

Aiken considered ZH's words carefully before responding. "But she did it for you. Have you ever thought about the guilt she might have felt if she hadn't saved you? If you want to help her, there has to be another way. Destroying all of my training dummies isn't going to do her any good."

ZH was taken aback by Aiken's wisdom, which was more insightful than he had expected. A moment of clarity washed over him.

"Aiken, you're a better friend than I realized," ZH said, a new resolve in his voice as he turned and sprinted back toward the palace, determined to be by Mila's side.

Aiken and Vere exchanged puzzled glances, both blinking in confusion.

"What did I say?" Aiken muttered, genuinely perplexed. Vere simply shrugged, equally unsure, having never experienced the complexities of love.
***
ZH quietly entered Mila's room, finding her peacefully asleep. As he approached her bedside, his eyes caught the purple pearl hairpin resting on the table, a small but significant token of her identity. He reached for her hand, gently lifting it to his lips, and kissed it softly.

"I'll help you in my own way," he murmured, his voice tender yet resolute. "This way, you won't be harmed too much by your mana. My anger blinded me, and I didn't consider this earlier. But know this, Mila—you can't escape me in the future, no matter what."

As he spoke, a faint symbol began to appear on the back of Mila's hand, glowing briefly before fading away as if it had never been there. It was the symbol of ZH's kingdom, a mark of protection, and a promise of their bond.