The Night of HeartBreak
Sion strolled away, while a pair of eyes observed his departure. Those eyes belonged to Tiona Rudolvon, who quickly followed him. She had witnessed the climax of the princes’ duel and couldn’t tear her gaze away from Sion as he left the ballroom after his defeat. It seemed like no one dared to approach or detain Sion – not Mia, not Abel, not even Echard. Sion’s reclusive aura was so powerful that even his loyal subject, Keithwood, refrained from speaking a word.
However, Tiona was undeterred. A sense of urgency compelled her to reach out to Sion. Without hesitation, she began running through the castle, which would typically result in a scolding from the nearest guard. Strangely, she received gestures of gratitude from the guards she passed, as they had seen her helping Abram into his chamber earlier. Some even directed her toward the path Sion had taken.
Following their guidance, she navigated the twists and turns of the castle until she reached the entrance to a watchtower. Inside, she ascended the winding stone stairs, and suddenly, the stone walls disappeared, allowing moonlight to illuminate her face. She had reached the tower’s pinnacle, and when she stepped into the open air, she found Sion at the edge of the platform. He leaned against the rocky parapet with a distant gaze fixed on the sprawling townscape below.
“Prince Sion,” she called out.
“Who’s there?!” Sion spun around with a sharp cry of alarm, but upon seeing Tiona, he relaxed.
“Ah, Miss Tiona. What brings you to a place like this? Did you get lost?” he asked, tilting his head curiously and flashing his usual friendly smile. However, Tiona didn’t reciprocate the smile. Instead, she locked eyes with him.
“Why did you fight like that?”
“Ah, so you saw my duel. Ha ha, not my proudest of moments, I must say. I’m sorry you had to witness—”
“Were you trying to lose?”
For a moment, Sion froze, and then he shook his head, his expression turning serious.
“That would do Abel a great disservice. I fought with everything I had, and I lost. That’s all there is to it.”
“But you could have fought differently. If you were only trying to win, you could have fought around Prince Abel’s strength instead of directly against it. But you didn’t… Why?”
“You know, your behavior today has made me realize that you’re surprisingly…” Sion paused and released a soft sigh.
“Were it a simple contest of swordplay, you would be right. There would certainly be a way for me to win. But…such a win would have been pointless. Call me self-absorbed if you want, but that wasn’t a simple contest. Not for me. That…was a trial. A test of my spirit and soul. My love for Mia against everything I will shoulder as king,” he explained with a pained chuckle. “And guess which way the scales tipped? I couldn’t let go of everything.”
A glimmer from the townscape danced across his brow as he turned his gaze toward it.
“My father and my mother. Echard. Keithwood. Count Lampron. The royal attendants. The castle guards. And all the people—my people—who live down there… I couldn’t let them go.”
Tiona followed his gaze, and the moonlight bathed the town in its silvery glow. For a brief moment, she felt a connection with each person in the town, sensing their joys and sorrows and the presence of life that gathered there.
“That’s why I lost to Abel,” said Sion. “He was pure. He fought for Mia and Mia only. I couldn’t. There was…too much on my shoulders.”
What might have happened had he won against Abel? There would have been no salvation for Echard, and pursuing Mia would likely have meant forsaking his kingdom. But Sion had chosen the opposite path—to remain true to his duty as the next King of Sunkland. He had a profound responsibility to rule justly and protect the land’s peace and security, a responsibility he embraced wholeheartedly.
Tiona saw in him a nobility reminiscent of his father, King Abram, both virtuous and tragic. She couldn’t help but speak up, but before she could find her voice…
“That’s how it was supposed to play out, anyway…” Sion let out a deep sigh, and the tone of their conversation shifted noticeably. “But Mia didn’t let it. She saw right through me.”
“Huh?” Tiona furrowed her brow, puzzled by his statement.
“She refused to let me blame my actions on anything else,” he admitted, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Not on king and country, nor on duty and responsibility. She made me confess my love to her properly…and turned me down. Knowing her, she was probably worried that an ambiguous end to my feelings for her would sow within me the seeds of bitterness, eventually causing me to resent my own kingdom. In that sense, I understand why she forced my hand. It must have been hard for her… But by the sun high above, I swear it’s even harder for me…”
Tiona found herself unable to contain a smile at the sight of a dejected Sion, feeling sorry for him.
“You know, Prince Sion, I never knew you could be…”
“Hm? Could be what?”
“So endearingly childlike.”
“I—” Sion’s voice caught in his throat, prompting Tiona to burst into laughter. This rare glimpse of vulnerability in Sion’s otherwise perfect facade made her find his vulnerability incredibly charming.
“Wow, you didn’t have to laugh… In case it wasn’t clear, I did just have my heart broken, you know?” Sion remarked.
“Yes, yes, I’m sorry,” Tiona replied between giggles. “But it’s just…”
Suddenly, inspired by her own laughter, Tiona realized the significance of Mia’s actions. Mia had taken Sion and stripped away his royal image, revealing the boy beneath. The person in front of Tiona was not a sovereign icon of justice; he was just a boy, a regular human who had his heart broken by the girl he loved.
“Her Highness is so incredible,” Tiona silently mouthed, filled with admiration for her princess.
Seeing that Sion was struggling with the weight of his royal responsibilities, Mia had removed all his masks and appearances, leaving him as a mere boy who had stumbled in love. But now, Sion’s demeanor shifted, and he aged in an instant, his face taking on an air of maturity. The boyishness that had been so endearing just moments before disappeared, replaced by a cold, regal composure that discouraged any approach. This was the face of a king, someone who revealed no concerns or vulnerabilities, bearing the weight of his heart and all its afflictions alone.
Once again, the proud and lonely king stood before Tiona. But she couldn’t simply leave him like this. She pushed past the barriers of his regal aura, his position as the crown prince of Sunkland, and his request for solitude with unwavering determination.
Sion was right in front of her, and she reached out to him. He was hurting, and she wanted to be there for him. What more reason did she need? With determination in her heart, she closed the remaining distance and…
“Tiona? What—?” His bewildered voice trailed off as she embraced him, holding him like a mother would a child or a sister would a heartbroken brother.
“What… is the meaning of this?” Sion’s voice held a touch of youthful confusion, which relieved Tiona.
A moment later, she replied, “My little brother… He’s fallen for Her Highness as well.”
“Hm? I… see?” Sion responded, still puzzled.
“But,” she continued, “his is also a hopeless love. Someday, it’ll surely break his heart. So for a long time, I’ve been thinking… about how to comfort him when the time comes.”
She had pondered how to console her brother when his crush inevitably hurt him, but no answer came. In the end, all she could do was be there for him, hug him, and cry with him if he cried.
“But I’d like to get some practice beforehand. So if you don’t mind…”
“Uh, I do mind, actually. Specifically, I don’t appreciate being treated like a child, so—”
“When was your birthday, Prince Sion?”
“…About ten days ago?”
His response elicited another giggle from her. “Well, mine was in the spring, so I’m older. That makes me the big sister here, and when little brothers are feeling down, I think it’s their job to let their big sisters comfort them.”
“That’s… nonsense,” Sion said, sounding exasperated.
Tiona agreed; even she thought her words were nonsense. Nevertheless, she couldn’t leave Sion alone like this, or she’d regret it for the rest of her life. She wasn’t sure why she felt that way, but she did.
“Besides, there’s nothing to worry about. I’m just an outcount’s daughter. Even if someone tries to spread some weird rumors, no one will take them seriously.”
“That’s… nonsense…” Sion said again, his voice growing pensive before dropping to the softest whisper. “You… are surprisingly pushy, Tiona. So much so that it’s very hard not to take you seriously…”
A third figure sighed deeply. Keithwood watched the two from a distance, privately smiling.
“Praise the sun… Looks like my job has been done for me… It’s nice that he’s found a friend he can be vulnerable around. And I’d like to keep it that way. Despite what Miss Rudolvon said, this is definitely a scene that needs to be kept private. I guess I’ll head back down the tower and play door guard for a bit…”
Ever the loyal servant, Keithwood’s night had just begun.
As for Mia, what was she up to during this time?
“Hmm… All this relief is making me hungry. I wonder if there’s anything to eat around here… Where did that cookie go…?” With the spectacle concluded, guests began to leave, and Mia scratched her head while scanning the emptying ballroom.
“That’s a valid point. We didn’t get much of a dinner, did we?” Rafina suggested. “How about we go to my room for a light meal, with plenty of desserts, of course.”
“Well, is that truly acceptable, Miss Rafina?” Mia’s face instantly lit up. “In fact, I was just thinking about showing gratitude to the inn’s staff. After all, I believe the juice Anne brought was from them.”
“Great idea. We should also check if anyone else wants to join us. Miss Esmeralda might be busy, but Miss Citrina and Miss Bel are more than welcome. And of course, we should invite Miss Anne. We should try to meet up with Miss Tiona as well.”
And so, it was settled that the after-party would take place in Rafina’s room at the inn. The night for Mia and her friends was going to be a long one, and it didn’t seem like it would end anytime soon.
Author’s Note:
Oh, by the way, I’m trying to spoil the room for delusions, but Shion and Tiona didn’t have anything particularly romantic after this, and they came home normally without waiting for Chun in the morning. yes.
Keith Wood is also smiling as they have a young and healthy relationship. I don’t know.
Yeah, right. Nothing happened after. Because this is not a R18 novel.
