The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic

Chapter 541

Rain continued to fall outside the Veydrin estate.

The storm had not calmed since evening. Lightning flashed occasionally and lit up the sky for a brief moment before darkness returned again. The sound of rain striking the roof and windows echoed softly through the halls of the mansion.

In a quiet room at the far end of the estate, Lyria sat alone.

The room was dimly lit by a small lamp placed beside the bed. The warm yellow light pushed back the shadows only slightly, leaving most of the corners wrapped in darkness.

Lyria sat on the edge of the bed with her shoulders slightly hunched.

In her arms she held Elfie.

The small girl with faint dragon traits rested quietly against her chest. Her tiny horns peeked through her silver hair and her small tail lazily swayed back and forth. Elfie had long since fallen asleep, her breathing soft and steady as she clung loosely to Lyria’s clothing.

Elfie had always treated Lyria like a mother.

And Kael like a father.

Lyria gently brushed a few strands of hair away from the little girl’s face.

A faint smile appeared on her lips for a moment.

Then it slowly faded.

Her eyes drifted toward the window where faint flashes of lightning occasionally illuminated the rain outside.

The storm outside felt strangely similar to the storm inside her heart.

Lyria slowly tightened her arms around Elfie as if holding the little girl closer could somehow calm the thoughts inside her mind.

For a long time she had avoided admitting something to herself.

But now it was impossible to deny.

She had fallen in love with Kael.

The realization had crept into her heart slowly over time.

At first she had dismissed it.

She was just his maid.

Just someone who served him.

Someone who stood behind him quietly while he walked forward.

Yet every time she saw him return from battle, every time he spoke to her casually, every time he showed even the smallest bit of concern for her safety, the feelings inside her grew stronger.

She had finally begun to accept those feelings.

But now another problem appeared.

She did not know how to say it.

Lyria lowered her gaze toward the sleeping Elfie.

Her fingers slowly traced the little girl’s hair while her thoughts drifted back to the events of the day.

Kael had returned.

But he had returned as something far greater than she had imagined.

A Demi-God.

The entire world had seen it.

The sky itself had shaken when he revealed his true identity.

Leonard.

The Slayer of Gods.

The Destroyer of Dimensions.

Lyria let out a quiet breath.

The more she thought about it, the more distant he seemed.

He was standing at the top of the world.

And she...

She was still standing at the bottom.

Just a demon maid.

Her grip around Elfie tightened slightly.

The little dragon girl stirred in her sleep but did not wake.

Lyria quickly relaxed her hold and gently patted her back until the girl settled again.

"I’m sorry..." Lyria whispered softly.

She did not even know who she was apologizing to.

Maybe to Elfie.

Maybe to herself.

Maybe to the feelings she did not know how to handle.

She leaned back slightly against the bed and closed her eyes.

Images flashed through her mind of Kael smiling slightly.

Kael walking ahead while everyone followed behind him.

Each memory only made the distance between them feel larger.

Lyria slowly opened her eyes again and stared at the ceiling.

"He’s getting further and further away," she murmured quietly.

The words carried a faint sadness she could not hide.

She lowered her gaze toward Elfie again.

The small dragon girl looked peaceful while sleeping.

Her tiny hand had grabbed onto Lyria’s sleeve.

As if she feared Lyria might disappear if she let go.

Lyria gently kissed the girl’s forehead.

At least in Elfie’s world, things were still simple.

In that small world, Kael was a father.

And Lyria was mother.

A quiet family.

The thought made her smile faintly again.

But even that warmth could not erase the feeling slowly growing inside her chest.

The feeling that the more powerful Kael became...

The further away he moved from her reach.

Lyria lowered her head and hugged Elfie a little closer.

"He’s getting further and further away," she murmured softly.

Her voice was barely louder than the rain outside.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, a faint ripple of presence appeared behind her.

Before she could react, two arms suddenly hooked around her neck from behind.

Warm breath brushed against the side of her ear.

"So what is my lovely demoness thinking?"

The familiar voice made her body freeze instantly.

Her eyes widened.

"Lord.."

Lyria’s heart skipped violently as she felt his presence behind her.

His arms rested casually around her shoulders while his chin leaned slightly near her head as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

For a moment she could not even speak.

Her mind had completely stopped working.

Elfie stirred slightly at the sudden movement but remained asleep. Her small tail twitched once before settling again.

Lyria carefully held Elfie steady while slowly turning her head.

Kael stood behind her with a relaxed smile on his face.

His white hair was still slightly damp from the rain outside and a few strands had fallen over his forehead, giving him a slightly messy look.

His eyes carried that familiar teasing light.

Lyria stared at him in shock.

"You... when did you come in?" she asked softly.

Kael tilted his head slightly.

"A while ago."

His tone sounded casual as if sneaking into someone’s room was perfectly normal.

"I knocked," he added.

"But someone was too busy drowning in her thoughts."

Lyria blinked.

"I didn’t hear anything."

Kael chuckled quietly.

"That much was obvious."

His gaze lowered slightly toward the sleeping Elfie.

"She fell asleep again?"

Lyria nodded gently while adjusting the small girl in her arms.

"Yes."

Kael carefully leaned forward and lightly poked Elfie’s cheek with his finger.

The little dragon girl scrunched her face slightly but did not wake.

Kael smiled faintly before straightening again.

Then his gaze returned to Lyria.

His arms were still loosely resting around her shoulders.

"So," he said slowly.

"What is my lovely demoness thinking so deeply about?"

Lyria felt her face grow warm.

She quickly looked away and lowered her eyes.

"Nothing," she muttered quietly.

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing?"

His voice carried a hint of amusement.

"Yes," Lyria insisted softly.

Kael leaned slightly closer.

"Strange," he said.

"Because the expression on your face looked like someone whose heart was breaking."

Lyria froze again and her fingers tightened slightly around Elfie.