Chapter 173: Chapter 173: End of Happiness

(Lyla's Point of View)

Once I escape my pursuers, I notice that it is nearing dusk. I have no idea when it was or what happened with the parade. I must have been wanted. There may be men after me. Still, I had to return to Lambert castle. Even if I was to be punished.

It is the darkest time of the evening, right before dusk, and I am familiar with most routes the soldiers on night watch take. I had lived here for years. An alleyway where I had chased down a criminal. It was an odd feeling sneaking through that same alley. There was nothing funny about any of this, but my face was distorted into what could look like a grin.

I had lost my armour. The armour that had saved me from the explosion and shrapnel was too bent up to even attempt fixing. I might have left it somewhere in the underground waterway, but it was useless. Thankfully, the lack of noise worked in my favour.

I still couldn’t figure it all out. Why did I stab Margrave Blare? Why did I attack the King? 

On my hands, there remained the gloves I am wearing under my gauntlets. I notice the detailed floral pattern on them. Come to think of it, Hiro had lent me these, too. I couldn’t keep them on. With my trembling fingers, I finally get them off, and throw them on the ground. Although they are just a thin pair of gloves, my fingers feel unbearably cold.

I decide that I have to go home and change, first. I wonder if granny is worried. Did I make her weep? I had no idea what to say or how to act to her. But I just want to hear her voice. I want her to scold me.

I have no assets to speak of, but the last thing I want is for granny to be labeled as a criminal. I would have to give her everything I had, and give her holiday.

It must not have been that long, but it feels like a long, winding journey to me. Then, I arrive to my sweet home. The room where children had gathered every day would never again be filled with such cheer.

I stand in front of the door, and inhale quickly before knocking softly. It is supposed to be locked, but the door creaks open. Is granny worried sick, forgetting to lock the door? But the lights are out.

As soon as I walk in, the mystery is solved.

My beloved granny is dead. In the room. Alone. My heart freezes as I begin to understand what had happened. Lighting a candle, I look over her body. She had been killed. There are marks on her neck, and a few of her finger nails had broken off, probably due to torture. The breakfast table is half cleared, and there are dishes in the bucket. She must have dropped some when she was attacked.

There are several words written on the wall. 

There five writings on the wall, with the same words "Traitor".

That is the only mess in the room, so it isn’t a robber. Clearly, someone had meant to kill her.

Then, something burnt out.

"Granny… Why, you… You, haven’t, done, a, thing…"

There are no tears. Not even sorrow, whatever that is supposed to mean. I couldn’t feel my face.

Lyla, who has been sitting by the body for several minutes, stands up without another word. She doesn’t change. She doesn’t pack. She simply walks out of the house. The door closes, leaving behind only the unspeaking corpse.

***

(Hiro's Point of View)

After Lyla went rampage, she escaped. I left Hanabi and Selene in the room. 

I had guessed where Lyla was heading to. But I must reach there before anyone else, before the Abram's pursuers.

"I know short cuts." 

That's what Brita, the town guard with a decade of experience in the area told me.

Thus, I made Brita led me via the unknown beeline from there to Lyla's house.

It is nearly dusk when we arrive at the compound.

Lyla is standing in front of the house. She seems to just exit the house, wearing the same clothing as during the parade, minus the body armour. 

Our eyes meet.

With a dumbfounded, blood-drained face, Lyla whisper, still standing with her long sword on her left hand and its tip rests on the ground. She looks she is having a nightmare. As she slowly regains her mind and starts recalling the events leading up to this point, her expression distorts, she grits her teeth… Until she looks like she is holding back tears.

Then, I hear Lyla.

"Hiro… Because of me, granny is tormented, killed by them."

So, that's what Lubreo had planned. He wanted to assassinate the King, Prime minister and Margrave Blare. Then, pin all the blame on Lyla.

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"I, killed the Margrave. And… I turned my blade against the King…Granny was killed because if me."

Tears flow from her eyes.

"That…! That was Soraya’s trap. Her eyes.  Lyla, you didn’t do.." I shout.

Lyla isn’t foolish. She understands fully what had happened. 

She killed Margrave Blare, then pointed her blade at King.

Lyla’s future as a knight in Abram had been utterly extinguished.

"Lyla… Be mine." Couldn't stand seeing her like that, I instinctively utter that words.

It came out of my mouth, and I meant it. 

"What…? What did you…?"

Lyla seems google-eyed.

"You know already. You have no place to go. That Luby used you up and threw you away. All that’s left for him is to pin you as the culprit for King’s assassination attempt. …I know that you knew I wasn’t exactly normal. And I don’t need to hide it anymore. Be mine. This is where you belong, Lyla. That’s my command."

Of course, I am in no position to order Lyla to do anything. Still, I feel that I have to be this assertive to reach Lyla. 

"But why… Why a dirty girl like me?"

"Because I want you. Because I had you. Because, I want to make you mine."

"I, have to go back."

Lyla says, as she straightens up.

"Why? He… used you, made you up to be traitor to this country…"

"Stop. Say no more. No more… Please."

"You’re right, I think… But I’m still a knight. If there’s still a chance that it was all a mistake… I can’t forsake my duties of a knight."

It is a pure, sad smile.

Still, her granny may be able to stop her and escape with her from this place. Lyla wouldn’t be able to ditch her granny. But that granny is dead now.

"Thank you, Hiro. If only, I had met you before everything."

I won't let it end like this. I stride to her.

"Hiro, get away. Something is wrong with her."

Brita runs and grabs me. 

Lyla's expression changes. Her eyes and face turn to what we saw during her rampage against the King.

Now I understand how Soraya's eyes work. 

Her power is not absolute control. 

She could either control someone temporarily through hypnosis or put a suggestion into one's mind. 

The only way to ensure permanent effect is by putting a suggestion into one's mind. It will trigger an action. 

In Lyla's case, something, probably that explosion triggered that suggestion for her to go rampage.

Another trigger is when I am close to her after that rampage.

She walks like a robot towards us with her sword raised.

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