Chapter 62: Chapter 62

Marek’s voice came softly behind me, cautious, measured, like he was afraid that one wrong word might make me fall apart again.

Yeah. Probably because I looked like I would.

The cry that wouldn’t even let me tear still sat heavy in my chest, burning instead of fading.

"My lady," he tried again, "it would be better to come here with Lord Luci—"

I snapped before he could finish, turning sharply toward him. "How long have you been working with him?"

Marek blinked, clearly startled by the question. "Err... it’s been a century, my lady."

"A century..." I repeated, the words quiet, heavy. Then I let out a small laugh that didn’t sound like one. "Then... you must be loyal to him."

Marek hesitated, his posture tightening slightly, but he didn’t look away. "I am," he said carefully. "Lord Lucian saved my clan during the Frost War. My loyalty to him isn’t something that changes easily."

I nodded slowly, though the ache in my chest deepened. "Of course," I murmured. "Everyone has a reason to stay by his side."

I looked away, voice softer now. "I just thought... maybe mine was different."

"My lady..." Marek stepped closer, his tone gentle, careful. "If there is something wrong, it is better to talk it out..."

I smiled faintly, but it wasn’t the kind that reached my eyes. "Talk it out?" I repeated, almost in a whisper. "If I start, Marek... I don’t think he’d like what I have to say."

He frowned slightly. "You mean Lord Lucian?"

I shrugged, looking ahead at nothing in particular. "Or maybe I mean myself."

For a moment, silence filled the air between us... soft, heavy, and uncertain.

Then I added quietly, "Either way, someone’s bound to get burned."

I continued walking, heading toward the bright place. It looked exactly like Wisneyland — the one I’d always wanted to visit as a kid.

"But—" Marek said, his tone uneasy, "but my lady, it would be better to go back for now. Entering that forest when evening is approaching... is not a good idea."

I frowned, glancing around. "What do you mean, forest?"

I turned back toward the path ahead. It didn’t look like a forest at all.

The air shimmered softly, the trees glowing faintly like hanging lanterns. Somewhere in the distance, I could almost hear laughter — soft, warm, familiar. The kind that made your chest ache with nostalgia.

A forest? No. It looked like... a theme park.

I smiled without thinking. "It’s fine, Marek. Look at it... it’s so beautiful."

Then, as my gaze swept to the right, I froze.

Someone stood there, just beyond the glowing arch of trees. A figure waving lightly, smiling.

My heart stumbled in my chest.

"Vivian...?" I whispered.

The name slipped out before I could stop it.

"Vivian...!" I called again, taking a few hurried steps forward.

"My lady..." Marek’s voice broke, strained. He rushed to stand in front of me, spreading his arms wide, blocking my path. His breathing had turned uneven, like he was forcing himself to stay calm.

"You... can’t enter this place," he said firmly.

I frowned, trying to look past him. "What do you mean? I just—"

I shifted to the side, craning my neck, and my breath caught again.

She was still there. Vivian. Smiling at me. Waving like always. Her lips moved — a faint, silent whisper that I could almost hear. ’Hurry up.’

"Marek, she’s right there!" I said, my voice trembling between hope and disbelief. "She’s... she’s my best friend. I know her!"

He hesitated for a long second, his hand half-raised, like he wanted to reach for me but wasn’t sure if he could. His voice came low, barely above a whisper.

"My lady..." Marek said, his eyes fixed on the glowing forest ahead. "Whoever you see in there... isn’t really them."

"What—" I blinked, glancing back toward the trees. But she looked real. Vivian was still there, waving at me with that same bright smile.

"Vivian... come here!" I called, my voice cracking slightly. "He said you’re not real... Come prove him wrong! Come!"

She didn’t move, just kept smiling, her hand swaying gently like she was waiting for me.

My chest tightened. She looked so real.

Her hair, her clothes, that faint tilt of her head when she smiled, exactly like how I remembered her.

Honestly, I could hardly believe it myself. How could she be here? In this world?

But... there were times.

Two times, to be exact.

Once, when I was in the bathroom... her voice had echoed through the mirror.

And again, at the altar, just before I said my vows to Lucian.

Both times, it was her voice. Clear and familiar, no mistake.

But she had never appeared before me. Until now.

"Vivian," I whispered, stepping forward. "Is it really you?"

"My lady," Marek’s voice came again, firmer this time, though I could hear the hesitation under it. "Please don’t go in there."

I turned slightly, frowning. "You don’t understand... that’s my friend."

He looked torn, his hand hovering midair like he wanted to grab me but didn’t dare. "And what if it’s not?"

"I’ll confirm it myself," I said quietly, though my voice trembled just a little. "I’ll look with my own eyes, and then we’ll go. Okay?" Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs NovelHub(.)net

Marek didn’t respond, just tensed, every line of his body ready, like he knew words wouldn’t stop me.

I took a slow step forward. The air ahead shimmered faintly, gold melting into silver as the distance between me and the glowing forest grew smaller. Vivian was still there, smiling, her hand now reaching out toward me.

Just a few more steps... but before I could move again, someone seized my arm, firm and steady.

I gasped, spinning around, the world tilting with the sudden pull.

A hand gripped mine tightly, stopping me just at the edge of the light.

And then the voice followed, low and sharp right beside my ear.

"What are you doing here?"