Chapter 571: Beyond the Temple Walls (I)
In the middle of the night, when everyone was fallen asleep, someone slipped into the Saintess’ chamber.
A man dressed in black pushed open the balcony door without knocking. He didn’t even care if he left behind any traces because in the end, there was only one person everyone would blame for the Saintess’ disappearance: the Captain of the Sorex Kingdom.
The moment he stepped into her room, Rose smiled at him. She had already packed her belongings into a small bag since she didn’t have many things to begin with.
"I’m ready," she said softly.
For years, she hadn’t had the courage to step outside the temple.
For years, she had accepted her fate as someone who would be used by others as a bridge to wash away their sins.
For years, she had never hoped that someone would reach out a hand to save her.
But here he was.
Edmond reached for her hand without the slightest hesitation. His blue eyes were filled with determination, as though not even the Gods themselves could stop him from doing what he had decided.
"The Cardinal isn’t here tonight, so we have more time to escape," Edmond said as he gently placed her bag over her shoulder. "We’ll leave on foot first. Once we reach the edge of the forest, I’ll shift into my wolf form. Please don’t be afraid. I would never hurt you."
Rose nodded without hesitation. "I believe you."
A warm smile appeared on Edmond’s face. He carefully lifted her into his arms, making it easier to carry her. Rose wrapped her arms around his neck at once. Her heart was racing with nerves, yet it was also filled with happiness she had never felt before.
"We’re never coming back here..." Edmond paused before letting out a small laugh. "No... we can’t come back here."
His expression turned gentle. "So whatever you’re leaving behind, you have to let it go."
"I don’t have anything here," Rose whispered. She slowly looked around the room with empty eyes. "I hate this place."
Even though this chamber had been called her home for years, she had never truly thought of it that way.
To her, it was nothing more than a prison.
These walls had silently watched every nightmare she had lived through.
They had seen her body covered in wounds.
They had seen her bite her lip until it bled, trying so hard not to cry whenever the pain in her heart became too much to bear.
"Please..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please take me far, far away from here."
"I will," Edmond said without the slightest hesitation. "I’ll take you somewhere no one knows us. Life won’t be easy at first, but I promise I’ll work hard and do everything I can to give you a good life."
Rose rested her head against his shoulder and looked at him with gentle, loving eyes. "It’s alright," she whispered. "As long as I have you... that’s enough for me."
She had spent years living in a never-ending nightmare, so even having someone who would never hurt her felt like the greatest gift the universe could ever give her.
"It’s actually you... who has to leave everything behind in this kingdom," Rose said.
She tilted her head slightly, reached up to his face, and gently caressed his cheek.
"You have to leave behind your title, your soldiers, your reputation, and even the trust the King has placed in you." She looked at him with gentle, sympathetic eyes.
"Is it really worth it?" she asked quietly. "My dear Captain... I don’t think I can give you as much as this kingdom can."
They hadn’t known each other for very long, and neither of them had ever confessed their feelings.
Yet even though the word love had never passed their lips, their hearts had already found each other.
The bond between them had already formed, even though Edmond hadn’t marked her. Rose could feel that her soul was already tied to his, even though they had never stood before anyone to exchange wedding vows.
For two people to feel this deeply for each other, wasn’t that enough to prove that their souls had always belonged together from the very beginning of their existence?
"This kingdom may be able to give me everything I could ever ask for," Edmond said, his eyes growing gentler. "But you..."
He carefully tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear before resting his hand against her cheek.
"You’re the only person who can make my heart feel whole. And if I ever have to watch you suffer again..." His voice became almost a whisper. "I’d rather die than let that happen."
He gently pulled her closer until their foreheads rested against each other. "You’re worth everything I have," he whispered. "And I didn’t choose this path because of you. I chose it because it’s what I truly want."
[Besides... why would I keep serving a kingdom that secretly tortures its own Saintess behind closed doors?] Edmond thought. [If I know the truth and still choose to look away, then I’m no different from them.]
As Primrose watched the two of them, it felt as though countless needles were piercing her heart.
No matter which timeline it was, her husband had always been this gentle. And he was always willing to give up everything for the woman he loved, never asking for anything in return.
As the clock hands moved past midnight, Edmond finally took Rose out of the temple for the first time in many years.
Holding her securely in his arms, he leaped down from the balcony with ease. The cool night breeze brushed gently across Rose’s face, making her slowly lift her head.
Her eyes widened as she looked up at the sky. The stars shone brightly above her, and the moon bathed the world in soft silver light. It was one of the most beautiful nights she had ever seen.
For years, those same stars had remained beyond the temple walls, close enough to see but forever out of reach.
Tonight, for the first time in a long time, they no longer felt so far away.
Tonight, she was finally experiencing what freedom truly felt like.