The Absolute Surrender

Chapter 18: Seek for Clarity

It was late into the night when Obene, worn from the arduous journey, decided it was time to find shelter and rest. The trek to Silla had been grueling, marked by hours of silent, cautious travel through the dense forest.

Victoria sat serenely at the base of a towering forest tree, her back resting against the rough bark. Her eyes, though tired, held a sense of calm as she gazed into the flickering firelight. Lilian, wrapped in a threadbare cloak, huddled close beside her for warmth. The chill of the night air was biting, and the crackling of the fire provided a meager comfort against the encroaching cold.

The surrounding forest was a dark, tangled maze of shadows and whispering leaves. The night was alive with the distant calls of nocturnal creatures, their sounds blending into a symphony of the wild. Despite the quiet, there was a palpable tension in the air, a reminder of the dangers lurking in the darkness just beyond the fire's flickering reach.

They shared the meager rations Obene had provided. As time passed, Victoria, worn out, fell into a deep sleep in the corner of their makeshift camp. Lilian and Obene sat by the flickering fire, lost in their thoughts.

"Can I ask you something?" Lilian finally broke the silence. Obene nodded in response.

"What drove you to defy your king?" Lilian inquired. Obene paused, contemplating her question.

"I'm not entirely sure," he admitted. "But when I learned he intended to harm you, I realized I couldn't just stand by and do nothing." Lilian's eyes widened in disbelief at his answer.

"Obene, I need to tell you something," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

"I know... it's not your fault, Lilian," he said, reaching out to take her hand.

"How do you know?" she asked, confused.

"I overheard your conversation with King Marlin by accident. I'm sorry; it must have been quite a shock," he said sympathetically.

"It is," Lilian replied, still struggling to comprehend. "I never imagined that the image of my parents I had dreamed of would turn into a nightmare. How could he do that to my mother?"

Obene shrugged, unable to provide any justification for Marlin's actions. He knew the king could be ruthless, but he had never anticipated the extent of Marlin's cruelty in his quest for power.

"Are you okay with this, though? I know how much you value loyalty and service. I just don't want you to resent me," Lilian said earnestly.

Obene shook his head, meeting her gaze. "I would never feel that way towards you. This is my choice, and I believe I'm doing the right thing. There was no turning back after I stole the keys from the head guard. It was quite a sneaky move, but I have more hidden talents up my sleeve," he added with a touch of humor that made Lilian laugh.

Victoria, listening to their exchange, looked between Lilian and Obene with a meaningful smile. She closed her eyes again, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth. She breathed deeply, silently thanking the gods for the freedom she had longed for and finally achieved.

Days had passed since Marlin's attempted assault on Ardan's kingdom, and the threat had not yet dissipated. The feeling of danger lingered, with the enemy still lurking in the shadows, waiting for another chance to strike.

"Where is she, Brother?" Kalen demanded, bursting into the room with a forceful slam of the door. His frustration was palpable. The recent war had tainted everyone's minds, with suspicions pointing toward Lilian and Obene as the masterminds behind Silla's near defeat. The coincidence of Lilian and Obene's disappearance right before Marlin's men attacked the capital was too suspicious to dismiss as a mere accident.