Rosylin’s crying slowly began to fade.
Her shoulders still trembled as she remained in Sylvan’s arms, her face hidden against his chest.
She had cried far more than she had intended to.
For years, she had forced herself to swallow every tear, every humiliation, every painful memory.
Sylvan continued to pat her back.
Slowly.
Quietly.
He didn’t ask her to stop.
He didn’t ask another question.
He simply stayed there.
After a while, Rosylin finally realized what she was doing.
She suddenly pulled away.
Her face was flushed with embarrassment.
Then she noticed his clothes.
The front of his coat was damp where her tears had fallen.
Her eyes widened.
“I…
I’m sorry.”
Sylvan looked at her.
“For what?”
She looked at his coat.
“I ruined your clothes.”
Her voice trembled.
“I didn’t mean to.
I shouldn’t have cried like that.
I’m sorry, I—”
“Enough.”
His deep voice stopped her.
Rosylin froze.
Sylvan glanced at his coat for a moment before looking back at her.
“It’s only clothing.”
“But—”
“I said enough.”
His voice remained cold, but there was no anger toward her.
Rosylin lowered her eyes.
Then she suddenly began breathing faster.
She looked around the garden as if she had only just remembered where she was.
“I shouldn’t have stayed here.”
Sylvan watched her.
“I shouldn’t have let you see me like that.”
Her voice became increasingly nervous.
“I need to go.”
She turned.
Sylvan caught her wrist.
“Stop.”
Rosylin froze.
“You’re panicking again.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“You are.”
His voice was calm and firm.
“Breathe.”
Rosylin tried.
Her breathing slowly became steadier.
Sylvan waited until she had calmed down before speaking again.
Rosylin lowered her head.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she quietly spoke.
“I still can’t tell you who I am.”
Sylvan remained silent.
“I can’t.”
Her fingers curled slightly.
“But…
if you really care about me, then please don’t ask me anything.”
She hesitated.
“And don’t mention me to anyone.”
Her voice became softer.
“Please.”
She bowed her head.
Sylvan looked at her for several seconds.
He could see how difficult it had been for her to say those words.
She wasn’t asking him to forget what he had seen.
She was asking him to leave the door to her secret closed.
At last, he answered.
“Okay.”
Rosylin slowly raised her eyes.
“Fine.”
She stared at him.
“I’ll do what you ask.”
Relief briefly crossed her face.
Then Sylvan continued.
“But I have one condition.”
Her relief disappeared.
“What condition?”
His eyes remained fixed on hers.
“I’ll stay here for four days.”
Rosylin blinked.
“Four days?”
“Yes.”
She immediately became nervous.
“But I “, she didn’t fill the sentence
He still staring and say “you what?
“But I can’t talk to you,” She said looking lower
Sylvan said nothing.
“And I can’t let anyone see me with you.”
She shook her head.
“I can’t be visible to everyone.
If they see me talking to you…”
She stopped.
Sylvan suddenly reached for her wrist again.
Rosylin looked up in surprise as he pulled her slightly closer.
His expression remained completely calm.
“Then don’t.”
She stared at him.
“What?”
“You don’t have to talk to me where everyone can see you.”
His eyes moved toward the dark garden surrounding them.
“At night.”
Rosylin remained silent.
Sylvan looked back at her.
“This garden.”
She blinked.
“For the next four days.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“You want me to meet you here?”
“Yes.”
“At night?”
“Yes.”
His answers were short and certain.
Rosylin looked toward the mansion.
“But what if someone sees me?”
“They won’t.”
She looked back at him.
“How can you be sure?”
Sylvan’s expression remained cold.
Rosylin lowered her eyes again.
He continued,
“You asked me not to mention you to anyone.”
A pause.
“I won’t.”
She looked at him.
“But for four days, you won’t avoid me.”
Rosylin’s lips parted.
“And you won’t run away.”
She hesitated.
“Four days?”
“Four days.”
She stared at him for a long moment.
Then, slowly, she nodded.
“Okay.”
Sylvan’s gaze remained on her.
“Every night?”
She nodded again.
“Every night.”
For the first time , the tension between them seemed to settle.
Sylvan slowly loosened his hold on her wrist.
Rosylin looked down at his hand.
Then she looked back at him.
For one second, she remained completely still.
Then Sylvan released her.
The moment her wrist was free—
Rosylin turned around and ran.
Her long burgundy hair flew behind her as she disappeared into the garden.
Sylvan didn’t move.
He simply watched the direction she had taken.
Silence settled beneath the old tree again.
He lowered his gaze to his hand, the same hand that had held her wrist moments earlier.
Then he looked toward the path where she had disappeared.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
“Four days,” he murmured.
He shook his head slightly.
“She agreed…
and still ran.”
His smile faded into his usual calm expression.
But his eyes remained fixed on the way she disappeared.
Because now, for the first time, Rosylin had agreed to meet him willingly.
And Sylvan intended to make sure she kept her promise.