Chapter 118
Cold air drifted quietly through the forest.
Snow continued to fall without end.
A massive pine tree had broken their fall.
Its thick branches, buried beneath layers of snow, had caught both of them before they disappeared deeper into the ravine.
Princess Flora tightened her grip on the branch beneath her.
"...Guinevere."
"I'm here."
Only then did Flora look beside her.
Guinevere hung from another branch, one hand gripping the tree while the other still held Flora's wrist.
Even after the fall...
She hadn't let go.
Snow slipped from the branches.
The tree groaned beneath their weight.
Guinevere looked upward.
"...Can you climb?"
Flora followed her gaze.
Broken branches formed a narrow path toward the top.
"...Yes."
Guinevere nodded.
"When I count to three..."
"...don't hesitate."
"...Alright."
"...One."
"...Two."
"...Three."
Both moved together.
Branches bent beneath their boots.
Snow poured over them.
CRACK—
One branch snapped beneath Flora.
Her footing slipped.
Before she could fall—
Guinevere grabbed her arm.
"...Careful."
Flora steadied herself.
"...Thank you."
Step by step...
The two finally reached solid ground.
For several moments...
Neither of them spoke.
Only the sound of their breathing echoed through the silent forest.
---
Guinevere studied their surroundings.
"Dont worry others will search for us."
Flora nodded.
"So..."
"...we wait."
They began walking through the untouched snow.
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
Their footsteps became the only sound.
Crunch...
Crunch...
Crunch...
After several minutes...
Flora suddenly stopped.
"...Do you remember..."
Guinevere turned.
"...What?"
"...The first snowfall in Lumivale."
For the first time...
A faint expression softened Guinevere's face.
"...There was barely enough snow to cover the palace garden."
"But you insisted it was enough for a snowball fight."
"You and Marco refused."
"You said there wasn't enough snow."
"There wasn't."
"...There was."
Guinevere let out a quiet sigh.
"You threw the first snowball."
"It hit Marco."
"...I was aiming for you."
"...I know."
For a brief moment...
The memory lingered between them.
Then...
The silence returned.
---
Flora looked ahead.
"...Guinevere."
"...Yes?"
"...Thank you."
Guinevere blinked.
"...For what?"
Flora remained quiet for several seconds.
"When Mother left that day..."
"I believed she would return."
"I never imagined..."
"...the next time I saw her..."
"...she wouldn't be able to walk."
The wind gently stirred the snow.
"A few days later..."
"...Father died."
"I didn't understand anything."
"Everything changed so quickly..."
"...that I couldn't even find time to be afraid."
"My uncle became Regent."
"Mother became someone I couldn't protect."
"And every day..."
"...I was reminded that if I failed..."
"...she would suffer."
Her voice remained calm.
Without anger.
Without tears.
"I thought..."
"...I survived those days because I was stronger than I believed."
She slowly shook her head.
"I was wrong."
She turned toward Guinevere.
"It wasn't my strength."
"It was yours."
"...And Marco's."
Guinevere quietly lowered her eyes.
"When Mother could no longer stand beside me..."
"...you did."
"When Father was gone..."
"...Marco did."
"You never complained."
"You never showed me how frightened you were."
"You simply kept walking..."
"...and expected me to keep walking beside you."
Flora lowered her gaze.
"I spent so many days asking myself why everyone hid the truth from me."
"I was so focused on what I had lost..."
"...that I never stopped to think about what all of you were carrying."
She took a slow breath.
"I finally understand."
"You weren't trying to keep me weak."
"You were trying to give me enough time..."
"...to become someone who could carry the truth."
A long silence followed.
Then...
Flora bowed her head.
Deeply.
"...Thank you."
"Not because you protected me."
"But because..."
"...you never left me alone."
Guinevere stood completely still.
She had imagined this conversation many times.
None of those memories resembled this one.
Flora slowly raised her head again.
"I've been thinking."
"For days."
"About Mother."
"About Father."
"About you."
"About Marco."
"And about myself."
"I cannot change who I am."
"I cannot change that I am the Blood of Peace."
"I cannot change the road waiting for me."
Her eyes met Guinevere's.
"But..."
"...I can choose how I walk it."
"I want to become a Queen worthy of everyone's faith."
"I want to protect Lumivale."
"If it is within my power..."
"...I want to save this world."
Not because it was her destiny.
Not because others expected it.
But because...
She had chosen it herself.
"I know I can't do it alone."
"I never could."
"So..."
"...I have one request."
Guinevere quietly nodded.
"...Tell me."
Flora took one step closer.
"Trust me."
"I don't need blind faith."
"If I'm wrong..."
"...tell me."
"If I lose my way..."
"...guide me."
"If I become weak..."
"...help me stand again."
Her voice remained unwavering.
"I don't want you carrying everything for me anymore."
"I want us to carry this together."
"You."
"Marco."
"Chris."
"Esabell."
"Everyone."
"I can't become the Queen Lumivale needs by myself."
"So..."
"...stay with me."
"Not because I'm someone you have to protect."
"But because..."
"...I need my sister beside me."
The forest became silent once more.
Guinevere stared at Flora.
The little girl who once chased her around the palace gardens with handfuls of snow...
...had disappeared.
Standing before her...
...was someone who had quietly found her own conviction.
A tear escaped before Guinevere even realized it.
She laughed softly at herself and wiped it away.
"...You've really grown up."
Flora didn't answer.
Guinevere stepped forward until they stood side by side.
Not in front.
Not behind.
Beside.
She looked toward the distant mountains.
"...Then I'll make you a promise."
"No matter how difficult the road becomes..."
"I'll keep correcting you when you're wrong."
"I'll argue with you when I disagree."
"I'll protect you when you need protection."
"And when you become strong enough to protect me..."
"...I'll accept that too."
She turned toward Flora.
A quiet determination filled her eyes.
"...So let's save this world together."
For the first time in days...
The distance between them was gone.
Far above the forest—
"PRINCESS!"
"COMMANDER GUINEVERE!"
Marco's voice echoed through the mountains.
Chris's shout followed soon after.
"They're over here!"
Guinevere glanced toward the sound.
Then back at Flora.
"...Looks like they found us."
Flora gave a small nod.
"...Let's go."
The two began walking toward the voices.
This time...
Not as a princess and her protector.
But as two sisters walking the same path together.
...CHAPTER 118ENDS...