Volume 1. Chapter 46

Ken stared thoughtfully at the shimmering flower in Lily’s hands, reflecting on her words. The story she had told stirred something within him — a pure, sincere feeling, almost forgotten.“That was a beautiful story… I really liked it,” he finally said, his voice quiet, but filled with genuine sincerity. “Thank you for sharing it.”Lily looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. Her smile widened, open and full of joy.“Did you really like it?” she asked eagerly. “Me too! It’s one of my favorite legends!”Her face radiated happiness, and it seemed like sparks of light danced in her eyes. Seeing her like this made Ken’s own smile stretch wider. He looked her straight in the eyes and added in a warm, almost friendly tone:“Yeah, really. I did. But why did you think I’d laugh or think you were silly or naïve?”Lily suddenly looked flustered. She lifted a hand to her hair, curling a golden strand around her finger. Her gaze dropped to the ground.“Well…” she began hesitantly. “Once, one of my father’s old friends visited us — also an adventurer. I was telling him about this legend and asking if he knew similar stories.”She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts, then continued in a quieter voice:“When I mentioned Alarayn and Roland, he just laughed. Said it was a tale for silly, naïve little girls, and that I needed to grow up…” Her voice faded to barely a whisper. “That was a couple of years ago… when my mother and father were still alive.”Her final words were barely audible, and she flinched slightly, her hands tightening on her knees. Something clenched painfully in Ken’s chest. He couldn’t let this slide.“Lily,” he said, making his voice as gentle but firm as possible, “I don’t know what the situation was, but maybe that guy was just joking and didn’t mean to hurt you. Or… maybe he was just someone with the emotional range of a stone boot.”Lily let out an involuntary laugh through her emotions, though her eyes were still sad.“But in any case,” Ken continued, now more serious, “don’t let other people decide what you should feel. Don’t devalue your emotions. You have no reason to be ashamed of what you love or what matters to you.”His voice grew stronger, his words flowing with passion and sincerity.“I liked that story too. And if anyone wants to think I’m a silly, naïve little girl for it, so be it. That kind of narrow-minded thinking says more about them than it does about me. You understand?”Lily looked at him in surprise, and then sparks of joy lit up her eyes. Her face reflected a whole range of emotions — from touched amazement to deep gratitude. She turned away slightly, trying to contain the surge of feelings, but tears were already running down her cheeks.Unaware of her tears, Ken continued, caught up in his thoughts.“Listen, Lily,” he said, his tone softening, though still full of depth. “People are like ships sailing a boundless ocean. Our sails are filled with our feelings and dreams. So don’t be ashamed of your feelings. They’re what make us truly alive. No one else has the right to tell you what to feel.”Then he noticed Lily was silent. When he looked at her, he saw tears streaming down her face.“Hey… you’re crying? Are you okay?” he asked, leaning toward her in concern.Lily tried to wipe her tears, her voice trembling as she replied:“Yes… I’m okay… Thank you, Ken, for those kind words… Could you… could you hold me? I need to cry a little, is that okay?”Ken was a bit surprised, but without hesitation, he answered confidently:“Of course. As long as you need.”He gently pulled her into an embrace, holding her so she’d be comfortable. Lily buried her face in his shoulder and cried softly, while he simply sat there, giving her the space to let everything out. After a while, her breathing calmed, and she straightened up, avoiding his gaze.“Sorry, Ken,” she whispered. “The memories just overwhelmed me. I didn’t want you to see me like this… so weak.”Ken looked at her with a warm, kind smile.“Lily, come on…” he said, his voice soft but steady. “You can be however you want to be. I know how amazing you are. I’ll accept you no matter what. You don’t need to worry about that.”Her eyes filled with tears again, but this time from joy. She looked at him as if trying to memorize every word he said.“Thank you, Ken,” she said softly, her voice filled with warmth and gratitude. “Let’s stay like this a little longer, okay?”Ken nodded, smiling.“Of course. All my time is yours,” he said with a playful grin.Lily giggled quietly, her smile gentle and sincere. She nestled against him again, feeling completely safe. In that moment, she knew she had someone special — someone who would support her no matter what. Her thoughts returned to Ken’s words: “You can be however you want to be. I know how amazing you are.”She repeated those words to herself again and again, feeling them warm her heart. She thanked Ken once more — this time silently.And so they sat there, holding each other, enjoying a rare moment of peace and closeness. Time seemed to pause, giving way to quiet warmth and serenity.