Chapter 124 

“…What are you thinking about?”

Essellia frowned as she asked Ysildus. People often said a child’s smile brought happiness, but in Essellia’s case, Ysildus’s smile only filled her with unease. Lately, Alexa had been avoiding Ysildus, which added to her growing concerns. She used to be the kind of person with not a single worry, but ever since raising Ysildus, she felt like she was aging, thanks to a bloodline that didn’t even age to begin with!

“Ah.”

Ysildus set down his teacup with a soft smile. In elegance and poise, he was no less refined than any noble lady. Just in terms of bearing, he was like a swan.

“I was thinking of something pleasant.”

He had been recalling the moment when Alexa’s eyes had widened and her body had trembled at his request for a kiss. He had wanted to devour her whole, but knew he shouldn’t, so he restrained himself and waited. Alexa, flustered and uncertain, eventually gave in to his coaxing…

Peck.

…and kissed him. It wasn’t the kind of passionate act he had hoped for, far from it, it was endearingly innocent, but he returned it with something deeper, warmer, and sweeter. Thinking back on such a delightful moment, he couldn’t help but smile to himself.

“Pleasant, huh…? You didn’t do anything to Alexa, did you?”

Ysildus merely smiled in silence. For some reason, a chill ran down Essellia’s spine.

“…I’ll trust you to handle things, but I won’t tolerate you causing harm to Alexa.”

“That’s such a hurtful thing to say.”

“…Anyway. Shouldn’t you be in a meeting right now?”

The implication was clear, what was he doing here? Ysildus had recently been entrusted with matters opposing the Imperial Family, leaving him busy day after day. So it was strange for him to be idling now.

“I came because I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I’m going to get married.”

A beat of silence followed. In that brief moment, a thousand thoughts flashed through Essellia’s mind: Ysildus threatening Alexa, Ysildus coercing Alexa, Ysildus doing God-knows-what to Alexa…

“I’ll say it again, there can be no harming Alexa.”

“I haven’t done anything of the sort.”

“…Then have you at least gotten Alexa’s consent?”

Essellia asked, her expression one of complete distrust. She was well aware of the obsessive, persistent affection Ysildus had shown Alexa during her five-year coma. No doubt he was pushing forward now that the opportunity had come. The real question was: did Alexa feel the same way?

“She’ll agree.”

“Ysu.”

“There’s no scenario where Alexa and I part ways. Inevitably, we will stand at the starting point called marriage. Just like Father and Mother did.”

“Still, you should consider how Alexa feels…”

“I’m not saying we’ll marry right this moment, Mother.”

Ysildus gently cut her off, his voice softening.

“Then why make it sound so urgent?”

“She needs proof that what we have is unbreakable. A warning to all the flies circling her, too.”

“And?”

Essellia sighed as she asked.

“I’d like you to give me the ring, Mother.”

“…The ring?”

“I know there’s a ring passed down in the Thersion family. I want that.”

“Ah!”

Essellia let out a short gasp.

“Haa. Why didn’t you just say that from the start? I thought you meant you were getting married right now.”

Shaking her head, she gestured to a maid. It was a ring she had received long ago, in the year she married Carlisle, from his mother. She had all but forgotten its existence until now.

The maid returned with a classic ring set with a deep blue sapphire. Around the large central gem were smaller diamonds arranged in delicate waves. Even alone, the ring was a lavish piece capable of capturing all eyes.

“It’ll shrink to fit the wearer’s finger. Hmm…”

Essellia stared at the ring, briefly lost in thought. 

Alexa wearing this ring… small, adorable Alexa slipping it on… donning a white wedding dress… becoming the Lady of Thersion… My goodness. Just the thought was enough to make her heart flutter.

“Should I start preparing the wedding dress now?”

There was silk produced only across the sea in the Magic Kingdom, made from refined sea foam, sunlight, and mermaid pearls. It was weightless, shimmered like stardust, and melted like whipped cream at a touch. They said one had to reserve it at least ten years in advance, but perhaps the Thersion name could shorten that to three months. Once that silk was secured, she’d need to source the finest materials to adorn the dress…

“Even if we start now, it might still be too late.”

“I trust you’ll do a wonderful job, Mother.”

Ysildus stood with the ring in hand, as if that had been the entire purpose of his visit. He would make sure everyone saw him place it on Alexa’s finger, especially Terrun and Jeremiah, who were clearly waiting for their chance.

* * *

At Karrolf’s suggestion, Alexa was taking a walk as part of her daily routine. Just as she passed the knight training grounds… 

“Huh? Ysildus?”

He was walking toward her, sunlight at his back. The moment she saw him, yesterday’s events came flooding back, and her face turned bright red. 

Last night had been surreal, like a dream. She had finally realized what her feelings for him were and even confessed them. The kisses they’d shared right before falling asleep felt vividly real. The delicate sensations that tickled like fine down, the heat of Ysildus’s touch… The warmth pooling behind her knees, the way her fingers curled from it…

This is insane, Alexa! Thinking about that in broad daylight?!

‘Ugh…!’

She’d hoped to avoid him today, but the mere fact that they’d fallen asleep curled up on the same bed meant that plan had already failed. Alexa took three steps back. But every time she stepped back, Ysildus took ten forward. This time was no different as he quickly caught up to her.

“Alexa. Where were you heading?”

“I… I was just taking a walk.”

Alexa muttered, avoiding his gaze. Ysildus smiled gently at her.

“Shouldn’t you be in a meeting?”

A meeting from which Alexa had been excluded under the pretext of illness, with Jeremiah and Terrun tightly banded together.

“There was something urgent today, so we postponed it.”

“Something urgent?”

“Yes. Very urgent.”

Ysildus slowly lowered himself to one knee and held out his hand to her.

“W-What are you doing?”

“Give me your hand, Alexa.”

“My… hand?”

Alexa hesitated, her lips trembling. Then, tilting her head, she placed her hand in his. Her pale, delicate fingers lay neatly in his large palm, and he gazed at them with greedy eyes. In truth, the ring wasn’t what he wanted to place on her finger. What he really wanted was to entwine his fingers with hers forever.

But since that wasn’t yet possible, the ring was his next best choice. Now that their feelings were mutual, nothing stood in his way. Ysildus slowly slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand. Though it was initially too large, the ring magically shrank until it fit her perfectly.

“It’s enchanted, Alexa. It won’t tarnish or come off easily.”

“Th-This is…”

Alexa murmured. She had seen many things while staying at Thersion, but never a luxury quite like this. The glittering sapphire almost seemed to smile at her.

‘This is insanely expensive… probably worth a thousand gold…’

It seemed to whisper.

“This ring has been passed down through generations in Thersion. From Great-Grandmother to Grandmother, then to Mother. It’s meant for the Lady of Thersion.”

“And… I’m supposed to have something like this…?”

Alexa blinked. Her finger suddenly felt impossibly heavy. Ysildus brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her ring finger.

“Of course. It’s yours. Isn’t that right, Alexa?”

He smiled languidly.

“Well…”

“You’re not planning to leave me, are you? Not after… kissing me like that last night.”

His expression turned pitiful, as if Alexa had used and abandoned him.

“You wouldn’t just leave me after that… right?”

He kissed the center of her palm as if to remind her of last night.

“Of course I wouldn’t!”

Alexa squeezed her eyes shut and cried out.

“Then there’s no problem accepting the ring, is there?”

Well… well… They had shared their first kiss only a week ago, and yesterday they had exchanged heartfelt feelings. Then why did it feel like her life was now being signed away? As Alexa hesitated to answer, Ysildus pressed her.

“Alexa. You’re not thinking of anything strange, are you? Like… having feelings for someone else?”

She didn’t notice the sudden sharp glint in Ysildus’s eyes.

“Of course not! It’s just… it all feels a bit fast.”

Alexa puffed out her cheeks.

“What’s fast? Ah… Alexa, were you already thinking about marriage?”

Her cheeks flushed a lovely red, like apples ripening under the sun.