Chapter 114

* * *

After stopping the Melphius invasion, I was busy with paperwork for a few days.

During which, I was finally able to finish all the procedures to bring my servants from Spinel to Aktoum.

In the meantime, my body had fully recovered.

The doctor told the still-worried Rixus,

“Her Majesty is in good health now. You can have your first night right now.”

That shocked me.

This crazy country even had crazy doctors…… I was still embarrassed because I had a strong ‘scholar’s sensibility’.

Like that, today…

“Your Majesty the Queen!”

Passing through Breathbridge, my officials officially entered.

In the distance, my bookkeeper, Duke Orléans, was smiling brightly.

I could not express how glad I was to see that familiar face in the land of Aktoum.

“Duke Orléans, you’ve worked hard to come a long way.”

“No.”

Duke Orléans bowed his head and politely greeted me.

“I am truly delighted to be able to serve Your Majesty up close again.”

For some reason, the tip of my nose was getting choked up.

“…Yes, you’ve worked so hard all this time.”

I came to this country after establishing a system that would take care of the state affairs of Spinel in Aktoum.

Still, it would have been difficult without Duke Orléans, who was strong enough to hold on to Spinel.

He also worked very hard to prepare the materials that would persuade Johann.

That wasn’t all. I wrote to Duke Orléans before the wedding, and I had laid out a plan and entrusted him with a difficult task.

Duke Orléans knew in advance what was going to happen at the wedding.

It was him who persuaded the nobles of Spinel who were furious and confused about their fallen queen in a distant country.

‘It wouldn’t have been easy.’

Of course, Spinel was a powerful centralized state, and my name was absolute.

In any case, the message that they should not carry swords, shields, or anything else ‘at will’ towards Aktoum without my command would have had a powerful effect.

But in the country where the monarch was absent, great credit goes to Duke Orléans, that the order was kept.

Of course, the other officials were also wonderful.

“Duke of Mephisto, it must not have been easy to leave your territory and come to this country.”

Duke Mephisto bowed down with his characteristic blunt face.

“It is my duty to follow Your Majesty’s path. It is not difficult at all.”

“…Thank you.”

As if I had gained a thousand horses, my shoulders lifted.

It felt like returning to my hometown as I greeted other familiar faces.

Duke Orléans looked at the scene with a smile and said,

“Your Majesty, your atmosphere seems to have softened a lot.”

“…Yes? I don’t know.”

I got a little embarrassed and touched my face.

There were certainly a lot of smiles after coming to Aktoum.

I felt different when I saw the people of Aktoum, who were like small animals full of laughter, compared to when I saw my servants with cold, expressionless faces.

I must have been like that, no, I was colder and scarier than the people of Spinel.

Perhaps I was the most.

But I loved them because I knew the warmth, loyalty and sincerity in those stiff expressions.

When I saw all my people, I thought it was a good thing to come here. I came to Aktoum and kept the peace between the two countries… It was a good choice.

I was curious again and asked.

“Are there still no nobles in Spinel who are against this marriage?”

Of course, there was no one there when I was there. It was decided by a monarch with strong royal power.

Duke Orléans replied with a smile.

“Would you dare play with their mouths?”

“….…”

“Your Majesty’s will is the will of Spinel.”

“…I’m glad I came to Aktoum first.”

I had all these situations in mind at first, but when I actually experienced it in person, I realized it even more.

If Rixus had come to Spinel alone first, it would have taken much longer to convince the strict nobles of Aktoum.

Would we even have the wedding by now?

“It was a wise choice, Your Majesty.”

“Let’s go.”

At my command, the carriage, decorated in the red and white colors of Spinel, began to move in line.

The nobles of Aktoum came out like a cloud to welcome them.

Some of them looked very nervous.

There was a mixture of hospitality and coldness, thankfully the nobles of Spinel remained calm.

‘I’m glad you came on time.’

It was not intentional, but it was good timing for Spinel’s servants to come ‘today’.

I needed a lot of strength today.

Today would be…

‘The Lunar Eclipse of the Red Moon.’

……It was the day the blue roses bloom.

* * *

‘I’m not as nervous as I thought.’

That evening.

I was looking out the window in the dark.

On this day, my limbs would be numb and I would be sick since the morning, but this time round, I was strangely fine.

If it was normal, it would rain from near midnight, then a big red moon would rise, and a lunar eclipse would begin.

‘But the sky is still fine.’

There were quite a few clouds, but that was good.

Even the moon was beautiful. Surprisingly, I was indifferent upon seeing the scene.

I didn’t feel anything as if I had been given an anesthetic. I wasn’t even nervous.

It was when I was looking at the sky with a blank expression.

“Your Majesty, may I come in…?”

“Come in.”

The chicks came in with something in their arms.

It was a light dress. The neckline was elegantly and neatly embroidered with diamonds.

The maids asked if they could dress me up. I was sure there was a place they were taking me to.

But they said the place was a ‘secret’.

I was curious so I accepted the grooming, and it seemed we were going to a small courtyard in the Imperial Palace.

They said that they must cover my eyes in the middle. I stayed still to match the excitement.

But when I closed my eyes, my heart pounded despite there being no real reason.

‘Where are they taking me?’

I wore a white dress and even a wreath adorned with flowers, and, with the help of the maids, I fumbled forward.

“We’re not there yet?”

“….…”

At the same time as my question, the movement stopped.

Then, I heard the sound of stealthy footsteps, and before I knew it, the sound disappeared.

‘Huh? Where are you guys going?’

‘Leaving me alone…’

My heart beat faster with anxiety. I felt like a lost child in an unfamiliar space.

It was then.

Slip—

The cloth that covered my eyes was peeled off from behind me.

As I slowly opened my closed eyes, a friendly man’s smile appeared in front of me.

……Why? Was it because it was today?

As soon as I saw him, my heart raced.

“…Rixus.”

“Berylia.”

It was very pleasant to hear the languid bass calling me.

Rixus was more neatly dressed than usual.

“Rixus, is this… what is it all about?”

In a beautiful garden with a small spring, tall trees stood with twinkling magic stone lights.

It was a space with a small bonfire burning in the center, and the scent of tiny flowers.

Rixus grabbed my hand and pulled me gently.

“Our little wedding.”

“!”

“Because I didn’t do it properly that day. Let’s do it again here, Candy.”

My heart pounded and tingled.

I guess he was taking care of me.

And that was how the one-time wedding ended.

The base of the tree was covered with white lace. It was a simple bridal stone.

“Sit down, my bride.”

Rixus politely guided me to the tree stump, and I finally sat down with a small smile.

“Are we really alone?”

“No. There are witnesses. Although not ‘witnesses’ per say.”

As Rixus gestured, the cat hiding in the bushes widened its almond-shaped eyes and tilted its head.

Then, flaunting its fluffy tail, it strode over.

“This cat will witness our love.”

“It’s stupid.”

Still, I couldn’t hide my smile.

Rixus brought a small pendant hanging from the cat’s neck. Upon closer inspection, it was a ring. It seemed to be a ring prepared for today.

Rixus slowly grabbed my hand and went down on one knee in front of me.

He looked at me with blue-purple eyes as if I was the only one in the world.

I, too, was looking at him as if trapped in his world.

My heart raced.

“I love you, Berylia.”

“….…”

With those eyes without any doubts or hesitation and this confession…

I finally realized.

……It’s not that I didn’t feel anything today.

When I feel emotions, I become so, so, so desperate.

I was intentionally trying to protect myself.

The emotions once opened flooded like waves and filled my heart completely.

I felt my heart bursting with happiness and anxiety, as well as worries and concerns.

My affection for Rixus made my bones numb. At the same time, I was very afraid. Maybe my death was predestined.

What should I do…

‘I love you so much.’

Now, I couldn’t stand it or turn back.

“…….”

The moment Rixus put the ring on my finger, I was completely enlightened.

This man who always came to me in the same way, regardless of whether I pushed him out or got angry,

That I, too, had been in love since a certain moment.

“Why are you crying again?”

Rixus asked with worried eyes and a kind voice.

Then he wiped away my tears with his hands.

“…Because I’m happy, because I’m so happy, Rixus.”

I laughed as I cried.

Rixus looked at me like that with narrowed eyes and asked playfully.

“You’re crying because you’re really happy this time, aren’t you?”

“Ugh. It’s true.”

He patted my back with his large hand and wrapped me in his arms. His warm body temperature spread throughout my body.

“I didn’t know you’d have so many tears. The infamous Queen of Spinel.”

I didn’t know either. I never thought I would cry like this in front of Rixus.

If I added up all the tears I shed in the past seven lifetimes, it was fewer than the tears in this life.

Pat pat. At the friendly gestures, my crying suddenly subsided.

Even so, Rixus hugged me for a long time and then pulled me out of his arms.

He said,

“Now, if you leave me, I swear I’ll die.”

This time, laughter came out without tears.

He raised his eyebrows with a straight face.

“I’m serious.”

I narrowed my eyes and accepted.

“Then swear you’ll die if you betray me too.”

“If I betray you, I will die.”

Rixus immediately kissed the back of my hand and swore.

“I swear to God.”

My heart sank at that serious face.

“…No, don’t die. Okay? Even if you betray me, you can’t die.”

I hurriedly grabbed his arm and said so.

Even if he betrayed me over the blue roses in the near future, I didn’t want him to die.

My death was fate, but he was the protagonist of this novel.

I hoped he would survive until the end, become the emperor, and enjoy happiness. Even if it was a world without me.

I didn’t want him to be unhappy, so don’t be unhappy.

‘Do not die.’

‘Because I love you so much…’

“Berylia.”

“……Yes.”

He looked at my face quietly for a while, then whispered in a soft voice.

“Let’s spend the night together.”

“!”

My heart skipped a beat in a surprise.

Soon, I felt my earlobes heating up and my cheeks flushed.

‘Tonight…’

I knew what was going to happen tonight.

But I thought if Rixus wanted me today, if I wanted him today, that would also be fate.

“Great.”

I answered.

“…I want you too.”

Rixus looked at me and covered his lips with a low, pained sound.

“You’re already driving me crazy.”

I longed to be able to keep this promise.

‘May the blue roses not bloom.’

I hoped I could pour my all into him in peace.

I had never prayed so earnestly in my life.

Our happy little wedding ended just like that.

I went back to my room for a while on the pretext of preparing for the night.

And I prayed and prayed till midnight.

* * *

Midnight finally came.

Surprisingly, the blue roses did not bloom.