Chapter 6.4

In truth, the signs of his blind devotion and immense love had already begun long ago—on the day they first met. Contrary to Hestia’s belief that they first encountered each other during the fire incident, Lian Clyde had already known her.

Three years ago.

It was the day he was once again pushed into the battlefield, as though being forced out the door.

At the time, he was riding a horse at the forefront of the procession, accompanied by his knights and the marching soldiers. Among the crowds waving at him, he saw her.

The thunderous cheers from the crowd encouraged him and the knights, with shouts like “Win!” and “Bring victory!”

In the empire, there was a tradition of waving yellow handkerchiefs to wish for the safe return of those heading to war. That day, the people who had gathered to support the soldiers waved those handkerchiefs endlessly.

The fluttering yellow handkerchiefs created a scenery reminiscent of falling petals—a beautiful sight when viewed from atop a horse.

But at that time, Lian Clyde was exhausted, both physically and mentally, despite the title of “hero” that the world bestowed upon him.

The incompetent imperial family and their careless decisions had led to yet another war. And the sword had been handed to him once again.

To him, everything seemed gray. He was sick of fighting, and he didn’t have much of a reason to continue living. His soul felt worn down. He even thought he might die during the war. Perhaps that was why the cheers felt like a yellow tide leading him to his death. Though he knew the support was sincere, it still horrified him.

Was this life I’ve built so far truly this hollow and meaningless?

With a blank expression concealing his emotions, he rode forward like a man who saw nothing.

It was then—

“…Sir Clyde!”

At that moment, someone called his name in a voice as clear as a bell. Looking back now, it felt like a call from fate.

Under the cloudless, bright blue sky, a single bird crossed his vision, leading his gaze to someone. 

When he turned his head, he saw a woman leaning out of a second-floor window, waving at him. She had long yellow ribbons tied to her wrist and hair, likely in place of a handkerchief. 

“Come back safely!”

Among the many voices, hers alone rang clearly in his ears. Her teal eyes sparkled like jewels, and her fluttering hair gleamed like fine threads of silk.

In that moment, as he stood face-to-face with her, Lian Clyde felt the will to live, which had been withering away within him, suddenly revive. It was as if the first warm breeze of spring had caused a frozen seed to sprout after a long winter.

For the first time, Lian Clyde thought, ‘I want to come back alive.’ He wanted to return and see that smile again.

He knew then that the sight he had seen under the bright blue sky would linger in his mind every day, under every white sun. 

He couldn’t understand why a fleeting moment with a stranger had left such a deep mark on him. Thus, he carried the unanswered question with him for a long time.

On the battlefield.

Amid the black smoke, roaring flames, crimson blood, and harrowing screams, he often thought of her. The darker and more despairing his surroundings became, the brighter that memory shone in his mind.

The yellow ribbons fluttering under the clear sky, her hair, her beautiful smile, and her sparkling eyes—each fragment of that moment was vivid, like a dreamlike painting he couldn’t stop revisiting. When he closed his eyes and pictured her, it became just barely bearable.

“These are the supplies sent by the Imperial Family.”

One day, while inspecting the supplies, he saw a ribbon that resembled the one she had worn. Without thinking, he grasped it. Foolishly, he even tied it around the hilt of his sword. It felt as though the item carried her encouragement from that day.

What is her name? Will I ever see her again?

Lost in these thoughts, he had his first dream about her.

“Someone’s here…!”

But it wasn’t the beautiful scene he remembered.

She was still waving from the window, but now black smoke and flames surrounded her. He woke up drenched in cold sweat.

It had been a nightmare—a terrible one.

For an entire year on the battlefield, he was haunted by the same dream. By then, he began to think it was some kind of omen. So, as soon as the war ended, he wandered from village to village, searching for the woman he had seen that day.

“Blonde hair and teal eyes? Oh, are you talking about that girl? The one working at the bakery down there?”

Is she safe? Is she alive? Was it just a meaningless dream after all?

He ran frantically and stopped at a distance where he could see her. It was their first reunion in two years.

At the time, Hestia was living her usual busy day. She swept the front of the bakery, went inside occasionally, opened and closed the doors, and greeted customers. 

Lian stood frozen, as if he had turned to stone, watching her all day. Whenever her face turned in his direction, his heart pounded loudly. His chest burned.

Thank goodness… she’s alive.

From that day on, whenever he had free time, he would ride his horse to the outskirts of the city. From afar, like a stray dog, he watched her work. He hoped for another chance encounter, like the one when their eyes had first met.

He didn’t know why he couldn’t bring himself to speak to her. Looking back now, he realized he had always been accustomed to others approaching him first. But she was different. It felt as though she wouldn’t notice his existence unless he took the first step toward her.

Then, one day—

“Hello! Are you with the Security Forces? We’re giving out bread and cookies to celebrate the Founding Festival.”

She approached him, mistaking him for a member of the Security Forces due to his cloak, sword, and imposing figure. People living on the outskirts of the capital were particularly warm toward the Security Forces, so she spoke to him without hesitation.

“Feel free to take whatever you’d like.”

She held out a basket filled with bread and cookies, smiling brightly.

Startled, he froze, staring at her radiant face under the hood of his cloak. Slowly, he reached out to take something from the basket, afraid she might leave if he didn’t. He picked up a package of cookies decorated with a pretty yellow ribbon.

“Wow! That’s the one I made myself!”

She laughed cheerfully, as if it was a delightful coincidence.

Even as he remained silent, Lian’s chest felt like it was about to burst from the pounding of his heart.

“Enjoy it!”

That day, he tied the ribbon from the cookies onto his sword hilt.

Afterward, he even adjusted the patrol range of the knights to include the outskirts of the capital. When Forrest and the others asked what had gotten into him, he used the recent corruption scandal involving a Security Forces officer as an excuse. Everyone praised his foresight. In truth, his reasons were far from noble.

From then on, he openly rode near the bakery where she worked, keeping watch over the area. If a drunkard tried to cause trouble at the shop, he would quietly drag them away. If someone followed her late at night, he made sure they regretted it. Every time her bright smile remained intact, he became more certain—he had fallen in love.

Even so, he couldn’t prevent the misfortune that struck two years later.

She was trapped in a burning building. The moment he saw the flames consuming the structure, he realized everything he had done up until now had led to this day. When he became aware of his ability to see Hestia’s future whenever they touched, Lian instinctively knew what his purpose was.

It was to protect Hestia’s safety and win her love.

“Why are you trading such an important matter for something as trivial as guarding Miss Hestia?”  

“Trivial?”  

“Anyway, I’m not interested in gaining credit anymore.”

For her, he was willing to give up everything—his position as Deputy Commander, his title as a knight. None of it mattered. What did any of it mean compared to her?

“Hes… my Hes.”

Lian gazed at her sleeping figure and carefully embraced her, holding her close.

Then, as her soft, loving breath brushed against the nape of his neck, the horrifying scenes of her death flickered through his mind once more.

Watching those despairing fragments, he wondered if it was the gods’ way of mocking him, telling him that they could never be happy. But his heart was far too strong to give up so easily. How could he abandon her now, after everything? After what had begun as a fleeting connection, an uncertain bond, had grown into something that allowed him to stay by her side and even win her love? There was no way he could let it all end like this.

His own suffering didn’t matter in the slightest.

Even if every touch, every moment of bliss, came with glimpses of her tragic fate like a recurring nightmare, he could endure it. Even if it felt like he was teetering between heaven and hell, he chose to protect this fragile love, which could end as soon as tomorrow. He resolved to throw himself willingly into this thorny path of happiness.

Once he accepted everything and decided to face it head-on, he finally understood why the gods had given him this power.

This ability wasn’t a curse—it was a blessing.

“I’ll protect you, no matter what. I swear.”

If the threads of death were binding her, he would cut them apart with his own hands, over and over again. He would rewrite fate itself. He would keep her safe, cherished, and at peace. That was the love he had vowed to protect.

―To be continued in Volume 2.

Even If Your Love Ends Tomorrow, Volume 1