Chapter 84

When they returned to the Empire, Duke Otien and others would try to bite Erica. Even though he was also feeling uncertain and worried about that, he couldn’t be reassured even in the Great Temple. So, in the end, he referred to her as his fiancée as the surest identity to hold her by his side.

‘My fiancée.’

As Declan spoke the words, he felt that she belonged completely to him, while he thought that Erica would also like it because she asked him not to let her go.

“…Fool.”

Intoxicated with his feelings, he ridiculed himself for failing to look into Erica’s heart.

“Brother, the prince of this book, isn’t he cool?”

Declan recalled a conversation he had one day while he was reading a children’s book to Chloe.

“What did Chloe like about him?”

“Look here. He kneels down like this and proposes!”

He smiled as he remembered Chloe, who blushed while pointing to the illustration in the children’s book.

“I want to get married like this in the future, too. If brother finds someone he loves in the future, you have to make sure to propose like this, okay?”

Chloe uttered once more as if she wasn’t relieved.

“You must propose like this. Otherwise, I’ll scold you, brother.”

Chloe put her hand on her waist and made a scary face on purpose.

“…Ah, Chloe.”

If the child had seen him now, she would have been very angry.

“Perhaps, you would bring me the children’s book again and tell me to look and learn properly…”

Thinking about it made him laugh.

“I’ll have to do it right so I don’t get scolded by Chloe.”

If this were the Empire, it would have been possible to mobilize everything at the highest level though the circumstances right now were not easy.

‘Still, I wanted to do my best.’

* * *

On the other hand, those who were standing outside the door and escorted glanced strangely at Declan, who murmured and smiled alone. In particular, the Kefienas were worried about Erica and secretly wary for her.

“What’s wrong with His Majesty?”

Wenzel, unable to see it any longer, approached Liam and asked in a low voice.

“I don’t know.”

Liam blocked their curiosity as if it wasn’t their business.

“Sometimes, it is similar to the appearance he had when he was away from the guardian angel.”

Hans looked into Liam’s eyes and spoke cautiously.

“Then, is it because he can’t be with her?”

Wenzel tilted his head.

“Thinking about it, they were always together.”

Hans also nodded his head with a serious face.

“Then, because they can’t use one room, he was looking like that?”

Hearing those words, Wenzel lowered his voice and widened his eyes, “Maybe, that’s the case… Since His Majesty always shared the same bedroom with the guardian angel.”

“Hey, I thought he was stonehearted, but he is a man.”

“Sir Oswan.”

Wenzel stuck out his tongue, and Liam called him with a stiff face.

“It’s because it’s so strange. Would you have imagined seeing him like that?”

“It’s natural to be like that. The guardian angel is the embodiment of God? To a God—uht uht!”

As Hans slowly started to ramble, Wenzel quickly covered his mouth.

“I know who Miss Erica is, so stop.”

Hans, who had barely escaped from him, stuck out his mouth in dissatisfaction.

“Shouldn’t we rather help?”

“What?”

Following Hans, Liam also looked at Wenzel with a puzzled look.

“As a loyal servant, you can’t just watch, can’t you? At a time like this, the chief attendant should have been here.”

Wenzel clicked his tongue in pity.

“I can’t help it. I will take the helm. So, come here.”

The three men, including Wenzel, approached Declan perhaps because their discussion was over. After a while, the four of them busily moved forward with satisfied faces. And moments after, an emergency order was issued to all the priests of the Great Hall.

* * *

“…Why isn’t he coming?”

Declan, who told me to wait for a moment, gave no news afterwards.

“Maybe, I shouldn’t have said that?”

Sitting across the bed, I tapped the floor with my feet as I continued to mutter to myself.

“He just needs to say something sincere…”

I didn’t want anything grandiose. Besides, it was not even possible right now anyway. Even though Declan said he loved me, I just wanted to hear him ask me to marry him rather than knowing by assuming, but in a proper way, for certain.

That was why I said that… because it seemed like the marriage would just pass by if it went on like this…

“You only get it once in a lifetime.”

As I wondered if I had been greedy and feeling sad, I didn’t realize how much time had passed.

“Have you waited long?”

At that moment, the door opened and Declan entered. Wherever he came from, his hair was a bit messy.

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting. Would you like to come with me?”

Asking that, he hesitated and reached out his hand. When I followed him out of the room, only the Kefienas followed me.

“Where did the knights go?”

“They are away for a while because they have work to do.”

What was happening all of a sudden? Did Duke Otien somehow find out we were here…? While I was immersed in these thoughts alone, Declan suddenly stopped his steps.

“Erica.”

Turning my head to his call, he grabbed my hand with both hands.

“I want you to focus on me from now on.”

I nodded slightly at him, who looked serious and slightly nervous.

“Where are we going?”

“They said there is a place you must see in the Great Temple.”

“Is there such a place…?”

“How much the Pope recommended that you must see it before you leave. Come to think of it, the only time to see it is now.”

He made an unusually long excuse and glanced into my eyes.

‘…I think he prepared something.’

It was cute to look at me so as not to be noticed, and he kept smiling.

“What kind of place did the Pope even recommend?”

“That’s what I’m curious about, too.”

As I adjusted to his tune, Declan hurried his steps with his happy face in satisfaction. We went quite deep into the temple and stopped in front of a large gate embossed with vines.

“Erica, can you close your eyes for a moment?”

I smiled softly and closed my eyes.

“Trust me, and walk slowly.”

Saying so, Declan gently grabbed my hands and led me. Relying solely on him, I took a step, and at some point, my feet felt something soft.

“Ah.”

The scent of flowers and the scent of grass tickled my nose.

How long had I been wanting to smell this scent while going back and forth between the garden and the greenhouse? By the way, was there a garden before? It looked like we had just entered the room earlier…

While puzzled, Declan led me a little further.

“Now, you can open your eyes.”

When I slowly opened my eyes, I was at a loss for words. The flowers in full bloom around me were shining softly as if they were embracing the moon. It was as if fragments of the moon had been scattered among them.

“It’s so beautiful.”

I was fascinated by the scene unfolding before my eyes and looked at it, possessed.

“Moonrose.”

Declan pointed to the softly glowing flower.

“It is said that flowers that bloom only in the moonlight can only be seen at night.”

Saying so, he pointed to the ceiling. I could see that there was a round hole in it.

Moonlight was flowing down on the moonrose through the hole. Was this what the world inhabited by fairies would be like? It was mysterious and enchanting.

When I glanced around, I noticed that there were not only moonroses here. Even though it was night, the colorful flowers were in full bloom with vitality. In addition, floating spheres illuminated the garden appropriately.

I burst into laughter at the familiar aura I felt in the sphere.

‘…I can’t believe he used divine power here.’

I should have known from the time he mentioned the Pope. Perhaps, it was clear that Declan had recruited the priests of the Great Temple. Though I felt sorry for them, I couldn’t help but raise the corners of my mouth.

Where could I find such beautiful scenery?

Besides, the man who suited this place so well, like a picture, was nervous in front of me. As I gazed at Declan, he came closer to me. He then gently took my left hand and slowly knelt down on one of his knees.

“Erica, you were the first to wipe away my tears.”

A low, thick voice rang out quietly.

“After I met you, I was no longer in pain or lonely.”

Strength entered his hands.

“Be with me forever as my wife.”

Looking into the green eyes that I wanted to be in so much, only my image remained. My fingertips held by him were hot.

“….Yes. I want to be with Your Majesty forever.”

As I answered happily, his eyes fluttered softly and a smirk spread across his lips. Declan carefully placed the ring on the ring finger of my left hand, which he was holding onto, before kissing it.

I didn’t know he would prepare a ring, so I was quite surprised.

“Your Majesty, what about this ring?”

“Fortunately, there is a pair of rings in the Great Temple. It seems that God cares for you a lot. Seeing that these holy relics were prepared.”

“…Wait, is it a relic?”

I didn’t know where to point it out, so my lips twitched.

“Erica. Put it on me, too.”

When I peered into the eyes that were staring at me with high expectations, I slowly put the ring on his hand as well. I looked at his calloused and rough knuckles, portraying a life that would have been arduous.

“Now, you must have fallen in love with my hand.”

I gently let go of Declan’s hand in embarrassment hearing that. However, he came back and took my hand.

“I’m sorry, because I didn’t understand your feelings ahead of time.”