Home/I confined you, but I have no ill will/ch 44

44.

Though the curtains were drawn, they weren't thick, and sunlight filtered through. The warm heat pack soothed her body, and drowsiness crept in even so.

When she lived with her grandfather, every day had been busy—but since being with Kite, her days had grown leisurely.

Though the situation isn't.

They still hadn't caught those targeting Kite. In her dream, the Emperor had been threatened, but she didn't know who the perpetrator was. And now Unknown—another seer—had appeared, complicating matters.

Unknown.

Who was he? How had he gained his ability, and who was he aligned with? She thought of him even as she drifted toward sleep.

Perhaps that was why—

When she opened her eyes again, Unknown stood before her.

"Hello?"

Unknown smiled at her.

They were in a quiet garden—alone, with no other living soul present.

Had he possessed such ability? Even among seers, the differences in power were vast.

Ibelin looked around slowly, then turned her gaze to Unknown.

"Did you call me here?"

Unknown didn't answer readily.

"What do you think—does it seem like I called you?"

"Didn't you?"

"No—this place is unfamiliar to me too. But seeing the palace over there, I can guess where we are."

He pointed at the sky. Following his gesture, she saw the familiar palace—Leonhardt's residence. So Unknown had slipped into her dream?

Perhaps. In her last dream, he had been able to move freely while she could only watch—but now, looking at her hands, she found she could move them as she wished, feeling fully present.

Just then, a sharp metallic sound came from somewhere. Ibelin rose and hurried toward it.

Beyond the garden stretched an unfamiliar landscape—a snow-covered forest of scattered conifers, sparse enough to see what lay ahead.

There stood Kite. People in unfamiliar attire threw themselves at him, trying to kill him. He cut them down quickly, but they didn't give up—as if driven by something more.

After they all fell, a new figure appeared.

"Kahn."

Kite frowned at the man.

"The time has come at last—I can avenge our grudge!"

"Can you truly? Your time will never come. You should have stayed quiet."

The man raised a massive sword and shouted.

"Great ancestors—be with me!"

A hazy form shrouded him, and he charged wildly at Kite. Though exhausted, Kite didn't avoid him.

But Ibelin could see—Kite was in danger.

She stepped forward in panic—but Unknown caught her.

"It's alright—this is just a glimpse of the future. Let's go back."

"But—"

She bit her lip—but Unknown was right. There was nothing she could do for Kite now.

They returned to the quiet garden.

"The Archduke will meet his death in the North."

Unknown calmly prophesied Kite's death.

"Lord Kite won't die."

"Ibelin—changing a fixed future is very difficult."

"Still, I will change it. I won't let him die."

She had already changed the future twice—saving Kite from the alley attack, and preventing Leonhardt's gift from exploding.

"I wonder—can you do it?"

"Yes. I won't abandon my benefactor."

"I see—the Archduke is fortunate to have a seer as his benefactor. Then by all means, try to change fate—if you can."

"I can!"

She declared firmly—she would do anything to save Kite.

"But if you want to save him, you'll have to stay here, Ibelin. Is that alright? I thought you planned to return to where you came from."

She had—she had planned to return to her old home once everything was resolved. She wanted to live a peaceful life. But she couldn't turn away from Kite. Even knowing the danger, she had worked to save him—and now she didn't want to flee alone. To save Kite, she decided to change her own future.

"It's fine."

For that, she would stay in the capital and help him. It had started as a way to honor her grandfather's dying wish—but now it was her own will.

"I don't dislike brave people. But sometimes, you need to accept reality."

"I don't need that."

She said firmly.

"More importantly—who are you?"

"You're curious about me?"

He shrugged.

"What do you want to know? About Unknown? Or the forces connected to him?"

"What if I want to know everything?"

"Hmm—it seems you'll have to choose. I can't tell you everything now. However—"

He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a white arm covered in scars—burn marks, cuts, all manner of wounds.

Ibelin stared in shock.

"What is the price of your prophecy?"

She opened and closed her mouth several times—did prophecy require a price?

She had always seen the future only in dreams, so to see it while awake, her body had to enter a state akin to sleep—like when she collapsed at the banquet.

"This is my price. I can see the future whenever I want—but I must wound my body."

He lowered his sleeve.

"I've paid countless prices to see the future—but you haven't, have you?"

"Unknown."

"Do you know—in the age when dragons lived, seers were divided into two kinds: those blessed by the gods, who saw the future in dreams—and those abandoned by the gods, who could only see it by paying a price. The more they tried to see fate-changing futures, the more they risked their lives."

She had never heard this—even her grandfather hadn't told her.

"I resent you—but at the same time..."

He paused, looking back.

"I have a wish."

"What wish?"

"Save—"

Me.

"Save me."

At that point, the garden began to melt like paint running. He said more, but she couldn't hear it—only those words stuck.

"Save me."

Yes—those words. Ibelin slowly lifted her heavy eyelids.

"Save me."

Why had Unknown said that? Weren't they enemies? She wanted to protect Kite, and Unknown seemed to side with those who wanted him dead—otherwise, he wouldn't be with Draven.

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