Chapter 270: What Is Love?

Harlan, standing outside, overheard Geoffrey and Isolde talking. He sighed deeply, a look of relief washing over his face. Reconciliation was good—after all, they were father and daughter.

Isolde stayed at the villa for two hours before leaving. On her way back to the Valen residence, she remained immersed in the stories he had told her, unable to tear herself away for a long time. When she arrived at the residence and handed her horse to the stable boy, she saw Oliver walking out quickly.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Isolde asked in surprise. It was already past midnight, and he had to return to the Southern Watch tomorrow.

“I was waiting for you,” Oliver said, scrutinizing her carefully, afraid she might be hiding her distress.

Isolde exhaled, feeling the cold. “Let’s go back. It’s windy here.”

“Are you cold?” He took off his outer robe and draped it over her. “How did the discussion go?”

“Harlan doesn’t agree, but I spoke to him privately, and he relented. I’ll accompany him to the palace tomorrow, so I need Hattie and Hazel to distract Harlan first,” Isolde said, looking up at him and pulling his robe tighter around her. The robe carried his warmth and a faint scent of agarwood.

The two walked back to the Ningser Pavilion. Leonis, with its sharp claws, pounced out. Isolde bent down to pick it up, stroking its forehead. “Little one, still causing trouble this late?”

Oliver reached out to take it. “Its claws are sharp. Be careful it doesn’t scratch you.”

Isolde smiled warmly, watching him hold Leonis like a child. They walked inside, and Esme came out to greet them.

Isolde smiled wryly. “I go out for a bit, and no one can sleep? Am I really that important?”

Esme scoffed. “If you’re not important, who is? Coming back so late, and you didn’t even wear an extra layer. You just caught a cold from falling into the water the other day. Why aren’t you more careful?”

She turned and went inside to make soup.

Oliver stopped at the doorway. “You should rest early. I’ll head back now.” It wasn’t appropriate for him to enter Isolde’s room, especially so late at night. Even if present, it wouldn’t look good if word got out.

Isolde said, “Alright, you can go back first.” He had to return to the Southern Watch tomorrow, so even though Isolde wanted to talk more, she couldn’t bear to keep him up any longer.

Isolde smiled and shook her head. “No, you don’t need to get involved in this.”

“But I do!” Isolde quickly interrupted him. “Don’t say anymore. I insist. You go back to the Southern Watch tomorrow and focus on work.”

Oliver frowned. “I can say a few words in front of the King.”

“This time, listen to me. From now on, I’ll listen to you, alright?” This wasn’t about pride. The King’s temper was unpredictable. If he vented his anger on those who accompanied her to the palace, she didn’t care. Whether she was a General or a Princess, it didn’t matter to her. However, she cared about his future. He had fought hard for it.

Seeing her determination, Oliver reluctantly agreed. “Alright, be careful.”

“I will.”

Isolde had just turned around when he suddenly hugged her. The faint scent of Sage Fragrance drifted into her nose. She closed her eyes, feeling an indescribable comfort. It was only in his embrace that she realized how truly exhausted she was and how much she needed this hug. His hand gently stroked her head. Initially, he had only intended to comfort her, but holding her in his arms, all his worries and anxieties seemed to vanish. This hug ended up comforting him as well.

Esme came out, intending to offer Isolde some water. When she saw this scene, she paused, then smiled softly and tiptoed back inside.

Oliver’s lips brushed her forehead before he reluctantly let her go. “Go inside and have some water, then rest early.”

“Okay,” Isolde’s voice was soft. She gazed at him affectionately. “You should go back too.”

“Alright.” After letting her go, he felt a bit awkward and flustered. He had hugged her on impulse, driven by emotion.

Isolde leaned against the doorframe, watching him leave. Only when he disappeared from sight did she slowly withdraw her gaze and let out a soft sigh. When she turned around, Esme’s face was right in front of her, startling her.

“You scared me! Why are you standing so close?” Isolde said, clutching her chest.

Esme chuckled. “Oh? Can you still see me? How strange!”

Isolde linked arms with her. “Are you laughing at me?”

“Of course. I’m laughing. I’m happy. I’m happy to see the way Mr. Valois looks at you. He truly likes you.”

Chapter 270: What Is Love?

Isolde was momentarily stunned. From the time he proposed to the events in Zloimond, the accident, the marriage, his revival, the imperial decree, and their interactions, she had never considered one thing: It was a matter of liking and loving. Everything seemed so natural yet so unnatural to her.

After hearing Geoffrey talk about his past with her mother tonight, she understood what love was. It was love that made her mother defy her family to marry a man everyone opposed. Even in death, her mother still cared for him. Love was terrifying! But love… perhaps it could consume a person. What did it feel like to be consumed? To be willing to do anything for that person, even face death without fear.

Would she and Oliver be like this? She could die for Oliver, but she might not feel the way her mother and Geoffrey did—where a day apart felt like years. It sounded like a joke, but he had said it so seriously. He even talked about longing so deep it seeped into his bones….

When he was in trouble in Zloimond, she had been worried, but was that what longing felt like? In her past life, before she knew what kind of person William was, had she ever felt that way? No. She could do many things for him, accompany him to battle, even die for him, but that was only because he was her husband.

“Esme, have you ever liked someone? What does it feel like to like someone?” Isolde asked as she sat down and picked up her cup.

“What does it feel like to like someone?” Esme sat down and thought for a moment. “It’s when you see him, you miss him. When he’s in trouble, you’re more anxious than anyone. When he’s injured or sick, you wish you could take his place. If he talks to another woman, you want to tear her mouth apart. If he looks at another woman, you want to gouge his eyes out. If he says something you don’t like, you feel uneasy all day. If he goes out with another woman, you imagine if he’s already been intimate with her or even pledged his life to her.”

Isolde was dumbfounded! Was this love? Good heavens, it was terrifying! Just looking at another woman would make her want to gouge his eyes out? If his hand touched another woman, would she have to chop it off?

Isolde said firmly, “No, I would never be like that.”

Esme smiled at her. “Really? Just wait. There will come a time when you’ll eat your words.”

Isolde didn’t believe her. Esme had never been married. How could she know about matters of the heart? She was just spouting nonsense.

Chapter 270: What Is Love?

The next day, Isolde arrived at the villa early with Hattie and Hazel. She brought them along to distract Harlan.