Next day.

Idyllia slipped out of the house with her maid Hannah, pretending to visit relatives, and went to a cathedral on the outskirts of the city. It was not connected to either the Leveaux family or the Fontana family. This was one of the places Silvio found for secret meetings. It was difficult to find a place with no ties to either of the two families, who both had a great deal of influence not only in the capital but also in the country. But it was obvious that they would immediately contact each other’s houses and be disturbed if it was not such a place. Also, a public place proved to be out of the question. If people started to gossip, both families would think about their reputations and take steps to prevent the secret meeting.

For this reason, Silvio and Idyllia were very careful and discreet in their encounters. Even though the cathedral was unnamed, there was a small altar in the side aisle, where a saint was enshrined. That was the meeting place Silvio had designated today. However – Silvio, who always came first and waited for her, was nowhere to be seen today.

“I’m sure he’ll be here soon, so stay a little further away.”

Saying this, her lady-in-waiting nodded with a knowing look on her face and left. Idyllia’s heart was actually filled with anxiety as she looked away.

(Possibly …)

After a major incident involving both families, she always felt uneasy. This time he would give up, heartbroken at the difficulty of continuing this relationship. Or maybe he would be persuaded by those around him to change his mind and no longer see the value in the relationship with Idyllia itself….

“No, not like that….!”

In a small, cramped, dimly lit room surrounded by stone walls, Idyllia kneeled, facing the altar, and prayed desperately.

(Silvio … please. Please … don’t abandon me for the sake of your house. For the sake of both our houses, we must be united! …No, that’s just an excuse. I just love you. I love you. The world without you is the same as the world at night without the sun. My heart will wither and die …!)

How long had she been praying, her heart burning with frustration – suddenly, a small voice, reserved for the silence of the cathedral, echoed behind her.

“Idyllia …?”

“────”

She turned around to see a sweaty, heavily out-of-breath Silvio standing at the entrance to the side aisle where the altar was. Idyllia felt a tearful relief when she saw that the same passion was still in his moon-white eyes, which were gazing at her tenderly.

“Silvio …”

After saying this, she covered her face with her hands to hide the tears that had seeped. He came closer with rapid breathing, supported Idyllia’s arm and slowly made her stand up.

“I’m sorry. It took me a while to sneak out of the mansion because of that meeting… I couldn’t even get my horse out because there were so many guests, and I didn’t know where their eyes were. So I had to run…… and I was completely late……”

“Silvio…”

It was such a hard thing for you to come to see me. Idyllia looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

“Silvio, I … have something to tell you ….”

“Yes?”

“That ….”

The head of the Leveaux family – Idyllia’s father – was terribly distressed by his brother’s injury. And he reiterated to her that it would be difficult for him to approve their relationship. Silvio, who constantly tried his hardest to somehow get her father’s approval, would surely be discouraged.

(Even though he has worked so hard to get here….)

When she was mouthing off in such anguish, he opened his mouth as if he were numb and fearful.

“… You don’t… think it’s a goodbye …?”

“No!”

Idyllia immediately shook her head at the unexpected question. At that moment, Silvio revealed a pitifully relieved face.

“Thank goodness …!”

Idyllia was taken aback by that appearance, which was unimaginable from his usual atmosphere of neatness and calmness.

(He also makes faces like this….)

When she pouted, he asked her, recomposing himself.

“Hey, can I hug you?”

“Here? No….”

Even if it was in a cathedral, they must at least have left first if they wanted to behave as lovers. Idyllia responded seriously, but Silvio embraced her softly on the spot. He then whispered pleadingly in her ear.

“Sorry. I didn’t hear you.”