CHAPTER 314: CH 314: PREPARE FOR WAR - PART 3

Melissa quickly stood up, her chair scraping back with a sharp screech that drew a few eyes toward her.

But she didn’t care. Her face was carefully neutral, but her steps were a little too brisk as she walked toward the exit.

"I’ll be back. Washroom."

Silvy said cheerfully as she stood up as well, smoothing down her skirts with a soft hum. She turned toward Kyle with a bright smile.

Bruce, who had been silently chewing on his food, suddenly paused. His eyes narrowed in suspicion as he watched Silvy’s skipping form disappear behind the same door Melissa had taken just seconds earlier.

"My lord. Shouldn’t someone—"

Bruce said, almost too quietly.

"No. Let her go."

Kyle said, not looking up from his plate.

Bruce frowned.

"But that elf—"

"It’s not our place to interfere. These are her relationships and emotions. If she wants to go after Melissa, then she’s free to."

Kyle interrupted him, voice calm.

Bruce set his fork down with a loud clink, clearly displeased.

"Melissa doesn’t deserve to be cornered like that. You know she’ll lose. Emotionally. She’s already barely holding on."

Kyle remained quiet for a moment, letting Bruce’s words settle in the space between them. Then he wiped his mouth and leaned back slightly.

"She’s free to do what she wants."

Kyle said softly.

Bruce let out a humorless chuckle.

"No, young master. That’s not true. Not for her."

Kyle tilted his head.

"Explain."

Bruce’s eyes were sharp when they met his.

"Melissa’s not free. She’s bound by you. Everything she does, she does because of her feelings for you. You might say she can make her own choices—but all her choices revolve around you. That’s not freedom. That’s gravity."

Kyle’s eyes narrowed slightly, not in anger but in contemplation.

"Are you in love with her?"

He asked plainly.

Bruce blinked, caught off guard by the question. He looked down at his calloused hands and sat in silence for a long breath before shaking his head.

"No,"

He said.

"Not like that. Melissa is... like a sister to me. A sibling you bicker with, argue with, but can’t bear to see cry. That kind of bond. That kind of loyalty."

Kyle nodded once.

"Then why speak so strongly for her?"

"Because I know how much she’s struggling. And because you’re the reason for most of it."

Bruce replied without hesitation.

Kyle looked down at his empty plate, then turned his eyes toward the dim corridor where both women had vanished. His jaw clenched.

"I know. But even if I returned her feelings... I don’t have the luxury to act on them. Not now. Not with the war looming."

He said finally.

"You mean the war against divinity?"

Bruce asked, even though he already knew the answer.

Kyle nodded.

"This war... it’s not like the others. It’s not political, not territorial. It’s absolute. One side falls, and that’s the end. If I let myself get distracted... people will die."

Bruce sighed.

"She’d rather die fighting beside you than be left behind. You know that, right?"

Kyle didn’t answer.

"She’s loyal to a fault. And one day, that loyalty might break her."

Bruce added.

Kyle’s fingers drummed against the wooden table slowly.

"Then I’ll make sure she survives. Even if she hates me for it later."

Bruce looked at him for a moment longer, then returned to his meal.

"You’re too cruel, young master."

"Cruelty is the price of leadership."

Kyle murmured.

Silence settled between them again. Only the occasional clatter of cutlery from the remaining soldiers filled the room. Queen, perched silently above the main beam, let out a soft rustle of feathers, its glowing eyes watching over them like a silent sentinel.

Kyle looked up at it and muttered.

"Keep watch over them. I don’t want to clean up any mess tonight."

It responded with a low clicking sound, then flapped its wings once and turned its attention toward the corridor.

Bruce glanced up too.

"You really think that elf’s going to corner Melissa?"

"No. I think Melissa’s going to stand her ground."

Kyle said after a moment.

Bruce gave him a surprised look.

Kyle’s voice was calm, firm.

"She’s stronger than she thinks. And she won’t let Silvy get the last word."

__

Silvy’s footsteps echoed softly through the corridor as she finally caught up to Melissa. The elf had a bounce in her step and an annoyingly bright smile on her lips as she called out.

"You walk fast for someone who looked so tired during dinner."

Melissa paused without turning.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be back there trying to make a good impression on my young master?"

She asked coolly.

Silvy tilted her head and pressed a finger to her chin, as though thinking it over.

"Hmm... tempting. But I thought it would be more fun to come check up on you instead."

Her smile widened.

"Though, I have to say I’m disappointed. I expected a bit more progress by now. But you? You’ve gotten nowhere. Does that mean you have no charm at all?"

Melissa’s brows twitched slightly, but she didn’t rise to the bait immediately. She exhaled slowly, controlling her expression.

"If you’re done running your mouth, you should head back."

"Oh? Did I touch a nerve?"

Silvy blinked, feigning innocence.

"No. Just not interested in petty games."

Melissa replied, eyes cold now.

"Petty? You started it by acting like you had some kind of special bond with Kyle. I just pointed out the truth. You haven’t made any progress. You’re still just a loyal dog who waits at his side."

Silvy laughed.

Melissa’s hands clenched, but her voice stayed even.

"And what about you? Last I checked, you haven’t made any progress either."

She asked.

Silvy’s smile faltered for just a second.

"That’s different. I wasn’t here. I wasn’t even in the picture for most of this. You’ve had all this time with him."

She said defensively.

Melissa crossed her arms.

"Exactly. I’ve been here. I’ve fought by his side. Bled for him. Stood guard while he slept. You were gone, Silvy. And yet..."

She met the elf’s eyes with quiet strength.

"From where I stand, it looks like you and I are on the same playing field."

Silvy’s lips pressed together into a thin line. She hated the truth in that.

Neither of them had Kyle’s heart. Not yet.

And both of them knew it.

Silvy’s fingers twitched slightly at Melissa’s words, her pride smarting.

"Same playing field?"

She echoed, voice sharp.

"You think so just because he lets you follow him around like a shadow? Just because you’ve been here longer doesn’t mean you’ve gotten closer to his heart."

Melissa’s eyes narrowed, her patience thinning.

"And you think clinging to his arm at dinner will suddenly make you special? You’re trying to skip ahead in a race you haven’t even run."

Silvy’s breath hitched.

"I’m not skipping. I’m catching up."

She snapped, but even she could hear the uncertainty in her voice.

Melissa stared at her, and this time, her voice softened—not out of kindness, but cold resolve.

"We both want the same thing. But this isn’t a game you win by being the loudest, Silvy. It’s about standing your ground even when you’re ignored."

Silvy looked away, jaw clenched.

Melissa turned to walk away, her final words hanging in the air like a quiet warning.

"So go ahead. Keep clinging. Keep smiling. But don’t forget—I’m not going anywhere either."

Silvy watched her leave, frustration twisting in her chest.

Neither of them was backing down.

And Kyle... Kyle had yet to choose.