Winter Wolf - Chapter 14. Part 1

Chapter 14. Part 1

Terrence returned to the stable and secured two horses. As he was doing so, he heard someone call his name from the door.

“Terrence.”

Lysithea stood before him, her arms reaching out to him. They kissed briefly, coldly, and she embraced him warmly.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

Her actions felt familiar, almost like a greeting between spouses. Terrence noticed the lightness of their interaction as he looked down at her smiling face.

She was undeniably beautiful, and he instinctively reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from her face.

“The sea has melted, Lysithea.”

“In that case, we can depart today.”

“Yes, even as soon as today.”

“Would you like to come with me on the ship?”

Without a word, Terrence remained silent as Lysithea turned away from him.

We will prepare to leave this afternoon, but let’s eat first. She said, “I made a promise,” before walking off. “Everything is set in the dining room, though I cannot guarantee the taste.”

As she walked away, Terrence watched her retreating figure.

Their final meal in the mansion awaited him.

***

Terrence sat at the dining table and observed the food spread before him. Lysithea had prepared the dishes he had taught her. The simplicity of the meal brought a slight smile to Terrence’s lips. It had been quite some time since he had enjoyed a meal prepared by someone else.

Lysithea sat across from him and watched his reaction closely. The meal was simple, but it could easily have passed for a light noble’s feast.

Terrence looked at the tomato stew, which was the main dish among several others.

“Did you make it in order this time?”

“Try it and be the judge.”

Lysithea grumbled playfully at Terrence’s teasing tone, pretending to be annoyed. Meanwhile, Terrence savored the flavor of the red stew in silence after scooping up a spoonful. The nervousness in…

He couldn’t help but smile at Lysithea’s violet eyes.

“It is delicious. You are a great cook.”

“Are you sure? It’s not too heavy for you?”

“No, it’s just right, although it’s quite packed with vegetables.”

“I used up all my leftovers to make it.”

“Well, that’s a problem for whoever comes next.”

“The next person?”

“Yes, the next guest who stays in this mansion, just like you.”

Lysithea offered a faint smile, nibbling quietly at her bread.

“Terrence, why are you even thinking about the next person? You’re leaving with me.”

“To the port of Silvanes?”

“Yes, that’s the plan.”

“As far as…?”

“Well, we’ll see.”

Terrence sipped his water, smiling discreetly. He assured her that the slight saltiness was nothing to be concerned about.

Observing him closely, Lysithea commented softly.

“You’ve changed quite a bit.”

“Changed? How so?”

“I don’t think you’re the same person you were when we first met.”

“What was I like when we first met?”

“An arrogant person with some quirks.”

He briefly paused his playful fork gesture before resuming and spearing a piece of steak as if nothing had happened.

“Were you really that bad?”

“Yes. I experienced moments of despair, especially when I was tormented by sleepless nights and strange noises.”

Lysithea recalled their past conversations, and Terrence responded promptly.

“But I did reach out to you. I asked you to come to my room.”

“How could you suggest that in such a situation, knowing what could happen?”

“It was safer than walking through the snow at night with wolves around.”

Lysithea shook her head.

“No, it’s not because if a real wolf attacks me, you can save me, but if you hurt me, no one can save me.”

“You wouldn’t have been harmed if you had come to my room that night.”

“Really? Do you truly believe that?”

Terrence took a sip of water. He avoided eye contact. His throat felt parched, maybe from the spicy food or Lysithea’s presence. Lysithea stirred unfamiliar emotions within him. He had never experienced such feelings before. Now, Lysithea felt like a significant part of his life.

“Come on.”

Near the end of the meal, Lysithea went to the kitchen and came back with a wine glass and a bottle. Terrence looked at the crystal-clear white wine in his glass and asked, “What is this?”

“Suddenly in the mood for a drink?”

“You mentioned saving it for last.”

“Isn’t it a bit early for ‘last’? We’ve only been traveling for three days to reach the port of Sylvanes….”

“No.”

As Lysithea finished her drink, she leaned back in her chair and lifted her glass gracefully.

“This is the end of our meals together,” she said solemnly.

Terrence glanced down at the wine she poured, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. He spoke in a low, cautious voice.

“Why is this our final meal? Is there something wrong with it?”

“Yes,” Lysithea replied calmly.

Terrence’s eyes widened in alarm as he turned to face her. Her expression remained composed as she raised her glass.

“You’re joking, right?”

“It’s no joke,” she affirmed.

Anxious at her words, Terrence threw his wine glass against the wall. Though it didn’t shatter far, Lysithea winced, closing her eyes briefly as the glass broke with a sharp crash, filling the room with the smell of spilled wine.

Terrence looked confused as he gazed at Lysithea, his expression turning blank.

“Lysithea, why are you suddenly doing this?”

“Why?”

“Why? Because you said…”

Terrence stopped abruptly, his words catching in his throat. He felt a whirlwind of emotions inside him, including anger, betrayal, and hurt, all brought on by her sudden change.

He finished his drink, still thirsty. Then, he placed the empty glass on the table and waited for Lysithea to say something.

“Terrence, want to hear a funny story? I think you’ll find it amusing.”

“I’m not interested.”

“This mansion used to be haunted.”

Terrence remained silent. His eyes remained fixed on her. Lysithea felt a surge of self-disgust, her heart racing under his intense stare. She laughed to herself, muttering softly.

“It was a setup from the beginning. This mansion was all a game that you set up, and I walked right into your trap. In the end, you won, and I lost.”

“Lysithea, that was just a lie. There are no ghosts here.”

“No, there are ghosts, and they’re here.”

Lysithea maintained eye contact with him.

“Phantoms”

He stared at her silently, his eyes dropping to the table. Most of the food had been eaten, leaving only one plate untouched.

Lysithea had a bowl of tomato stew in front of her.

At that moment, he realized his unbearable thirst. He shoved his chair back with a loud noise and rose to his feet. He prepared to leap forward and attack her with one foot on the table, but he hesitated, clutching his head as if struck, like a wolf wounded by a bullet.

“Damn it, Lysithea…!”

He felt a powerful force bearing down on him, crushing his body. His heart slowed down as if it were submerged in freezing water. Cold sweat drenched his palms, barely holding onto the table. He flailed his arms, fighting against the sensation of collapsing, and clutched the back of his chair to remain seated.

He opened his eyes and saw the distant ceiling. He felt like his body was breaking apart and scattering across the floor.

He laughed hysterically while Lysithea watched him with limp limbs and a distant gaze. Despite her trembling chest, she managed to take a deep breath before asking her question.

“I need to know… are you a Phantom”

As his body seemed to dissolve, so did the walls that had hidden the truth.

***.

“Let me start from the beginning.”

“It all began when I took on that job.”

“Two days before the revolution began, I received a substantial payment to hire five men to assassinate Bran, the son of the Lord High Septon.”

“Finding him was difficult, especially with the impending chaos.”

“But when the revolution finally began, Bran emerged. I was ready to act.”

“The day after the revolution began, a hitman approached me and gave me a bag of gold. He said it was payment for the assassination of Bran. At that point, news of the assassination had already spread.”

“The Phantom, the most renowned assassin of all, had killed Bran, the son of the Lord High Septon.”

“But here’s the thing, Lysithea, I didn’t kill Bran. Something went wrong.”

“However, it was too late to correct the situation. Rumors were already spreading, and no one was willing to deny them. You had the truth in your hands, but you fled the capital.”

“At that chaotic time, I had one question that kept bothering me: Who killed Bran?”

“Someone intervened and caused my mission to fail.”

“As the Phantom, known for my impeccable record, it was a harsh blow to experience my first failure at the hands of an unknown assassin.”

“I felt overwhelming fear; it completely consumed my thoughts.”

“The mere thought of the true killer enjoying my downfall and secretly laughing at my reputation filled me with a potent mixture of sickness and anger.”

“Upon reflection, I realized that my concern was not limited to my wounded pride. I also had to consider my safety and the looming threat posed by those in power. Therefore, I concluded that leaving the country might be the best thing to do.”

“Amid these tumultuous deliberations, the broker arrived with a new mission, bearing the seal of a prominent leader.”