Reincarnated Into A World Of Elves As The Only Man-Chapter 31: Lyra plan

Naia ran through the corridor, tears streaming down her face as the realization of Eren’s departure overwhelmed her. "MOTHER!" Her cry echoed off the palace walls, the anguish in her voice causing a nearby servant to pause and look toward the source of the distress.

Before she could call out again, a hand shot out from an alcove, grabbing her wrist with unexpected strength. Another moment and she was pulled into the shadows, a palm pressed firmly against her mouth, silencing her cries. Naia struggled against the grip until she recognized Lyra’s face in the dim light.

"Be quiet," Lyra whispered, her voice barely audible. "The walls have ears." She slowly removed her hand from Naia’s mouth, eyes scanning the corridor where the curious servant still lingered.

"Eren is gone," Naia choked out, her voice breaking. She tried to speak further, to explain the devastating contents of the letter, but fresh tears overwhelmed her.

Lyra’s eyes fell to the parchment clutched in Naia’s trembling hand. With careful movements, she took the letter and unfolded it, her expression darkening as she read Eren’s words.

"So it’s true," Lyra murmured, refolding the parchment with deliberate precision. "She actually left a letter."

Naia stared at her in confusion, tears still flowing freely down her cheeks. "You... you knew?" The realization dawned slowly through her grief. "How could you possibly know?"

"I’ve suspected for days," Lyra replied, her voice low and cautious. She glanced past Naia to where the servant had finally moved on. "Eren has been watching the guard rotations, testing boundaries. I noticed the changes in her behavior after our conversation about the prophecy."

"But that doesn’t explain how you knew she’d actually gone," Naia pressed, wiping tears from her face with the back of her hand.

Lyra’s expression shifted subtly. "After Eren confronted me about the prophecy, one of the kitchen servants came to me with information. She had overheard Eren in her chambers that very morning, making plans for departure. I didn’t believe it at first, but the servant was insistent. She said her only reward for giving this information would be to find Eren together with me." A flash of regret crossed her face. "This same servant saw Eren preparing supplies last night. I should have acted then, but I wanted to be certain of her intentions."

"And you didn’t think to tell me?" Naia’s grief was giving way to anger now. "I could have stopped her!"

"Or you might have insisted on going with her immediately," Lyra countered, "which would have raised too many questions too quickly." She placed a steadying hand on Naia’s shoulder. "Listen carefully. There’s no time for lengthy explanations. You need to pack—only essentials, things you can carry without slowing you down."

"I should tell Mother," Naia insisted, starting to pull away. "She needs to know Eren is missing."

Lyra’s grip tightened, her fingers digging into Naia’s shoulder with unexpected force. "No." The single word carried such authority that Naia stilled. "Mother and Sorrel have been hiding things from all of us for years—the same secrets that drove Eren away. Don’t you see the pattern? The prophecy, the way they’ve isolated Eren, the increased guards, the restrictions... There’s something larger at play here."

Naia hesitated, torn between lifelong loyalty and the nagging doubts she’d pushed aside for years. "But what if you’re wrong? What if there’s a good reason for everything?"

"Then we’ll discover it together," Lyra said, her voice softening slightly. "But consider this—if Mother has kept such important truths from Eren all these years, what else might she be hiding? And from whom?"

The question hung between them, heavy with implication. Finally, Naia nodded slowly, decision hardening in her eyes. "What’s your plan?"

"Go to your chambers and pack only what you absolutely need. I’ve already sent word to the AMAZON squad through channels Mother doesn’t monitor. They’re preparing for departure as we speak."

"The AMAZON squad?" Naia’s eyes widened. "How did you convince them to—"

"There are those among them who share my concerns," Lyra cut her off. "Captain Diana has been skeptical of Mother’s policies for some time. Meet them at the eastern forest edge, past the old sanctuary. I’ll join you before dawn."

"And what will you do in the meantime?"

A shadow passed over Lyra’s face. "I need to ensure Mother doesn’t raise the alarm too soon. We need time—at least until tomorrow—to pick up Eren’s trail."

The implications of this statement hung in the air between them, neither willing to voice what such deception might entail or cost.

"Go now," Lyra urged. "Every moment we delay puts more distance between us and Eren."

With a final hesitant glance, Naia slipped away toward her chambers, heart pounding with equal measures of fear and determination.

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the palace corridor as Queen Elysia emerged from the council chamber, the weight of diplomacy evident in the set of her shoulders. Her eyes immediately found Lyra waiting at the entrance, posture perfect, armor gleaming in the slanted light.

"Lyra," the Queen acknowledged, approaching her daughter with a slight frown. "Have you seen Eren or Naia today? I checked the training grounds before the council meeting, but there was no sign of them."

Lyra met her mother’s gaze steadily. "Eren and Naia decided to go fishing by the eastern lakes. They expressed a desire for fresh air and time away from palace walls."

Elysia stopped mid-step, her posture instantly rigid. "You allowed Eren to leave without consulting me first?" The carefully measured calm in her voice belied the intensity in her eyes.

"They were quite insistent," Lyra replied, watching her mother’s reaction closely. "And I didn’t see reason to refuse. The danger from Thornvale seems contained for now, and they’re hardly defenseless."

"That is not your decision to make," Elysia said, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You know how important Eren’s safety is, especially now."

’Why such concern specifically for Eren?’ Lyra wondered, studying the worry lines that had appeared around her mother’s eyes. ’What makes her so precious beyond being heir? The prophecy alone doesn’t explain this level of protection.’

"They’re accompanied by six warriors from the AMAZON squad," Lyra added, noting how this information immediately affected her mother’s demeanor. "I wouldn’t have permitted their departure otherwise."

The tension in Elysia’s shoulders eased slightly at the mention of the elite guard unit. The AMAZON squad’s reputation for absolute loyalty and combat excellence was well-earned—they had never failed in their duty to the crown.

"Which six,Lyra?" Elysia asked, her voice still tight.

"Captain Diana herself, along with her squad," Lyra answered smoothly. "More than adequate protection, even if they encountered trouble."

For a long moment, Elysia studied Lyra’s face, searching for something—deception, perhaps, or uncertainty. Finally, she nodded once. "Very well. But I expect them back before nightfall, and I want to speak with Eren immediately upon her return."

"Of course, Mother," Lyra said with appropriate deference. "I’ll ensure they return promptly."

Elysia hesitated, then added with forced casualness, "Did Eren seem... troubled when she left?"

The question hung in the air between them, laden with unspoken concerns. Lyra allowed a calculated pause before responding.

"No more than usual," she said carefully. "Though she did mention wanting to check on the villagers affected by the water. She seems to feel responsible for their recovery."

"She shouldn’t," Elysia said quickly—too quickly. "That burden is not hers to bear."

’But there are burdens she does bear,’ Lyra thought, maintaining her neutral expression. ’Burdens you’ve placed on her without explanation.’ fгeewebnovёl.com

"Thank you for looking after them, Lyra," Elysia finally said, her voice softening slightly.

Lyra bowed her head in acknowledgment. "You’re welcome, my Queen."