Chapter 312: Breathe without restrictions

Sylvian and Iliana stopped at the center of the bustling market, pausing by a large stone fountain where several couples had gathered.

Despite feeling flushed from their run away from the palace grounds, he still wore his muffler securely around his neck, particularly his mouth.

"Here, take this bouquet," Sylvian said, extending the vibrant flowers to her. "She already declared us husband and wife."

Iliana felt her cheeks burn, but she didn’t argue, gently accepting the bouquet from his hands. "Thank you," she answered, averting her gaze. "But we aren’t husband and wife yet. That grandmother just wasn’t hearing well."

Sylvian closed the space between them, leaning down to whisper softly against her ear, "If you want, we could be soon."

His eyes carried a deep warmth that made her heart flutter once again.

"Is that you, Iliana, the bakery girl?" a voice called out from behind.

Iliana quickly stepped away from him and turned around to look, while Sylvian instinctively shifted to stand right behind her in a subtle show of protection.

"Yes, Lady Edith," Iliana replied, recognizing the woman standing near the fountain. She was one of her chief buyers in the town, frequently placing large orders for the grand gatherings hosted by the nobles.

"Are you seeing someone?" Lady Edith asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as her gaze swept over Sylvian. Even with his muffler, there was no hiding the fine, high-quality tailoring of his clothes, a contrast to what Iliana had worn.

"Ahh, not really. He’s just a guest visiting from a town far away," Iliana lied, her hand tightening around the bouquet.

"Oh? The gentleman looks quite different. Does he belong to the nobility? And what are these flowers for? Iliana, you don’t have to lie to me. We are friends, aren’t we?" Edith smiled, her sharp eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Iliana felt completely stuck, her mind racing for a believable excuse as she struggled to find her words under the woman’s persistent gaze.

Sylvian realized that because of his presence, Iliana could easily become an unwanted target for prying women like Edith.

"Iliana purchased these flowers to bake a batch of floral tea cakes," he interjected smoothly. "Please don’t press her by assuming anything untoward, Lady Edith. I have traveled here to collect a rare herbal remedy for a friend, and Iliana was kind enough to guide me through the local market. I trust this clears up your confusion."

He delivered the fabricated explanation with flawless grace, effortlessly shielding both their reputations while keeping any suspicion far away from his true identity.

"Edith, what are you doing over here?" a man’s voice called out from nearby as he approached, holding a wrapped package in his hand.

"I shall take my leave then. Forgive me, Iliana, if I made you uncomfortable," Edith said, offering a polite smile before turning and walking away toward him.

Iliana took a deep breath, letting out the tension in her chest as she gazed at Sylvian, who had already begun walking away.

She quickly followed after him, navigating through the thinning crowd until they reached a quieter, secluded spot. Beneath a stone bridge, a wide river flowed steadily by, its dark waters catching the warm, flickering reflections of a few lanterns glowing in the distance.

Sylvian finally stopped near the edge of the riverbank and turned around to meet her gaze. "Did I make you uncomfortable?"

"No," Iliana replied, shaking her head softly as she met his eyes.

"That woman... she doesn’t seem nice. She was prying into your affairs. I don’t wish for anything to happen to you behind my back," Sylvian affirmed, his voice laced with quiet concern.

"Lady Edith is a lovely woman, Your Highness," Iliana replied softly.

"You must not address me so formally when we are out in the open," he stated, turning his gaze back toward the gently flowing river.

Iliana stepped closer and stood beside him. "I can’t simply drop my manners with you. Perhaps, if I become your wife, I might call you by your name."

Sylvian tilted his head, a tender smile breaking across his features. "Will you become my wife then? Or do you need more time?"

"I am a commoner who has never followed the protocols of the royal court. What if life feels like a trap to me in a place of such high rank?" Iliana questioned him, the weight of her reality finally surfacing.

"Hmm. That is a deep question," he answered, looking back out over the shimmering water. "You’re right. The people surrounding me will expect you to adapt to the life I’ve grown up in. They expect women to change themselves in every aspect."

"Exactly, especially if they belong to the nobility," she answered. "And I know I will fall short in many ways. There will be times when people may mock you for choosing me, a simple baker. Do you really think we can make this last? I don’t have an influential family. I bring no status or advantage to your name."

"I will abdicate my position for you, Iliana," Sylvian said without a moment’s hesitation.

"No!" she refused immediately, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Listen to me first," Sylvian said, his gaze fixed on the quiet water below. "I’ve grown up in the palace, surrounded by the elite. Honestly, I felt trapped in the palace myself. That’s why I would run to Varos because that place had no restrictions on me. I understand your perspective on freedom because I crave the exact same thing."

He turned to face her fully, his eyes searching hers with complete sincerity. "And I’m not saying this just to please you. The truth is, I always wanted someone from a humble background, someone who could truly understand my interests. The noble women I met never saw what I saw. But you did. Your art, your passion, that is what attracted me. Do you think princes are allowed to have such hobbies? No, they aren’t. I have always shied away from taking on a major royal role because I knew I wouldn’t fit into that mold. However, I agreed to become the Duke of the West Province because I saw a glimmer of freedom away from the palace. I won’t be tied down by court rules there, and I can live as I see fit."

He laid his emotions bare in front of her.

"It’s not to pressure you, but to make your choice clear. I never even cared about what my mother said to me all these years. Do you really think I’ll listen to the opinions of strangers? In my region, the strict rules of the palace won’t reach us, nor will the expectations that bind me in chains. Your freedom will never be compromised, Iliana, and neither will your passion. If you trust me, you will make the right decision—for both of us."

Iliana blinked slowly as his words settled over her. She had never imagined that a man of his stature could feel just as trapped in the palace as she feared she would be.

He truly was a lover of art, a free soul trapped beneath royal expectations. Looking into his eyes, she saw the exact depth of emotion reflected on his face.

Lowering her head, a soft pang of guilt pinched at her heart. She felt she had hurt him once again, offering doubt when she hadn’t yet understood the full truth of who he was.

Sylvian wasn’t asking her to enter a cage. He was building a place where he could finally breathe without restrictions, and he was opening the door to welcome her into that very same world.

"We should head back home. It’s getting late," Iliana replied softly.

"Indeed. But let’s finish the shopping we came here for first," he answered, his voice muffled as he pulled the scarf back up to cover his mouth and nose.

"Ah, right. And we can’t forget to buy a proper pair of slippers for you."

Together, they navigated back through the bustling food stalls, gathering the necessary groceries before making their way back to her modest home.

Iliana unlocked the door and placed the key on the small wooden shelf by the entrance. Behind her, Sylvian stepped inside and turned the heavy iron latch, locking the door from the inside.

"Your Highness, you will have to help me prepare supper tonight," Iliana said, turning to him with a gentle smile.

"Of course! I’m not the best with a knife, but I’m sure if you teach me, I’ll do a wonderful job," Sylvian answered, following her into the compact kitchen space.

"With me, you’ll have to cook every single day. What kind of prince does that?" Iliana chuckled, setting the bags on the wooden counter.

"Sylvian," he replied without missing a beat, already gathering the fresh vegetables into a basket to wash them under the tap which connected from the water storage outside.

"I would like to draw you," Iliana suddenly said, grabbing the basket from him. He gazed at her with a shocking look. "Will you allow me to do that?"

"Yes," Sylvian agreed promptly.