Chapter 263

Kaywhin approached Yelena without asking for a reason, willingly wrapping his wide arms around her. Yelena stayed in his strong embrace for a while before shifting slightly.

"How long was I unconscious?"

"You regained consciousness after a day."

"A day?"

Yelena remembered that the Demon Lord had been defeated just yesterday. After the aftermath of using the artifact, she remained unconscious for a long time. Perhaps the combination of her injured ankle and the sudden release of extreme tension had led to exhaustion.

"And the knights... Andy? Are they all okay?"

"They got injured, but all four of them are safe and sound. Currently, they're finishing off the remaining and waiting for their consciousness to return."

"I see." A sense of relief mixed with her soft-spoken words. She was relieved. The answer that her friends were unharmed was enough for her. Yelena confirmed the divine power filling her body. If she had time, restoring the four of them wouldn't be a difficult task.

"And the situation outside?" Yelena casually inquired. The Demon Lord was dead. Could his death have brought about some changes? She asked half-expectantly, but she was pleasantly surprised to receive an answer that met her expectations.

"Most of the monsters are being taken care of." According to the continued explanation, the situation was rather positive.

'The monsters! The monsters were retreating!'

After the Demon Lord's death, cheers rang out from the castle walls. The hordes of monsters that had occupied the castle abruptly retreated like ebbing water. There were some stragglers left, but their numbers were significantly diminished. Currently, they were organizing a punitive force at the Lord's Castle to systematically clear out the remaining monsters. Hearing the situation outside, Yelena pressed her cheek against Kaywhin's broad chest and let out a sigh of relief. Her heart was at ease. She had changed the future. She really... prevented the destruction. Suddenly, Noval's face appeared in Elena's mind. The face she had seen before regaining consciousness, was in a white space that stretched in every direction. It was the face of Noval who had spoken to her in the center of that void. What could it have been? Was that simply a dream?

'If it wasn't just a dream, then who exactly was Noval——'

Yelena pondered further about Noval and the white space before eventually closing her eyes and burrowing deeper into her husband's embrace. In the enigmatic space, whose true nature remained unknown for now, Noval had told her something. He mentioned that there would be a chance for her to meet him soon. That he would share various stories with her. If those words were true, all she had to do now was wait. The moment to resolve her doubts would come on its own. As Yelena closed her eyes and contemplated, she felt the strength in her husband's arms, which held her body. For an instant, his firm embrace almost felt suffocating. His arms, which normally treated her delicately like a fragile bird that could be easily injured, held her with an unprecedented amount of strength.

"Kaywhin?"

It wasn't painful, but it felt a bit uncomfortable since she was having a hard time breathing. Yelena raised her head from her husband's chest, her expression puzzled. Then, she noticed the faint trembling of her husband's eyelashes.

"You..."

Just then, Kaywhin buried his head into the crook of Yelena's neck. Then, as if he had been holding back, he finally spoke. "I was worried."

"..."

"During these past few days when I couldn't ensure your safety." His voice faltered momentarily as if suppressing his emotions. "I was scared. Scared that something might have happened to you."

"..."

"I was terrified, truly."

Yelena finally understood. Even within his powerful arms, which held her so unfamiliarly tight, she sensed a delicate tremor in her body. Yelena calmly closed and opened her eyes. Her heart raced. The ticklish sensation spread gradually throughout her entire chest. Yelena lifted her hand and gently touched Kaywhin's neck and back as if soothing him. Then she spoke.

"Kaywhin."

"Yes."

"Show me your face. I want to see your face."

Upon her words, Kaywhin obediently lifted his head that had been nestled against Yelena's shoulder. He eased the strength in the arms that had held her almost suffocatingly tight, allowing Yelena enough space to easily observe his face. With genuine consideration, Yelena took in her husband's features meticulously. The cool, symmetrical forehead, the perfectly balanced, high bridge of his nose, the exquisitely shaped lips, the delicate yet sharply defined jawline, and eyes deeper and bluer than any ocean could ever be. Her heart surged once again.