CH 145

Gareth cleared his throat and got off the horse first. He then helped Elena down the horse and said, “You’re right that this is a place to receive blessings.”

Elena felt something strange at the moment. She tilted her head in confusion as her heart began to flutter.

Gareth led her to the entrance to the monastery, whispering, “I know it’s late… but I wanted us to receive blessings from God.”

“Huh?”

Gareth stopped walking at that moment. Feeling his surroundings grow quiet and the people’s attention pointed to him, he held Elena’s hands. Elena naturally opened her eyes wide as they became hot and teary.

“Will you take this foolish man as your husband?” Gareth asked in a gentle voice.

Hot tears ran down Elena’s cheeks. ‘Does this mean…’

“Will you take me as your husband in front of God’s eyes?” he asked again.

“Yes, yes, of course! I will be happy to become your wife.”

Gareth smiled and led Elena inside, where all the villagers were waiting as witnesses of their ceremony. The two people Elena had wanted to see so much, Rowena and Marina, were also inside. The two sisters ran toward Elena and hugged her. Elena could not stop crying at the incredible blessings that showered her.

“Don’t cry, it’s supposed to be a good day,” Gareth whispered as he wiped Elena’s tears with the back of his hand.

Elena held Gareth’s hand hovering over her eye and reminded him, “Did I tell you how much I love you?”

Gareth lowered his head and spoke in a hushed tone next to her ear, “…I love you more, Elena.” His hot breath enveloped her skin as he clasped her hand. Elena looked beautiful, or rather radiant to him, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. His lips slowly became bent, and his eyes formed a crescent shape. The people in the monastery exclaimed loudly when they saw his handsome, natural smile. Everyone, including Elena, couldn’t help but focus on the stunning groom.

‘Gareth…’ Elena thought as she looked at the man with a beautiful smile in front of her, listening to the exclamations from the villagers. “I think I’m falling in love with you all over again,” she confessed.

“I feel like that every morning,” Gareth replied.

It was indeed a beautiful day for the couple to hold a ceremony to become husband and wife in front of God’s eyes. Gareth bowed his head and kissed Elena lightly on the lips. He then led her back into the monastery where his sharp gaze caught a black-haired man with casual clothes standing in the crowd. Gareth opened his eyes wide slightly in surprise, to which Ethan gave a subtle nod to say hello. Gareth, who had never thought Ethan would come to the ceremony, soon nodded back.

“We have an unexpected guest,” he muttered under his breath.

“What did you say?” Elena asked, slightly alarmed.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go, Elena. It’s time to officially become my wife.”

Elena let out a burst of bright laughter. Gareth led her inside, enjoying the sound of her voice. Walking beside her, Gareth felt like the ground was made of clouds.

‘Elena… My dear Elena… I love you.’

* * *

Holding a squirming child in her arms, Elena glanced at Abel, who was playing with Gareth. Abel, who was now three years old, was chasing Gareth around in the wide field while dragging the wooden horse Gareth had made for him. Even though Gareth had attached wheels onto the toy horse, it seemed that the child liked dragging it around much more than pushing it using the wheels. The child’s high-pitched laughter ascended to the high skies, and Gareth’s laughter harmonized with the joyful noise.

“I’m so happy, Adelia,” Elena whispered, kissing her daughter Adelia who had just turned three months old. The baby with strawberry blonde hair opened her dainty pink lips and gave a long yawn in response. Elena kissed the child gently on the forehead again.

The wind blew softly, taking Gareth and Abels’ laughter and circling Elena and Adelia’s small body. Elena reached out her hand to feel the wind swirling around her. The air on her hand seemed to be promising that happiness was going to last for eternity.

“Mommy! Can you help me catch Daddy?” Abel ran toward Elena huffing and puffing while dragging the wooden horse behind him. It seemed that he was upset because Gareth was not letting him win. The little child’s dazzling blond hair and red cheeks emitted a sense of vitality.

Elena turned and winked at Gareth, to which he ran to Abel from behind him with arms open. He grabbed the child’s body playfully and threw him into the air, then he caught him safely back in his arms.

“Daddy!” Abel smiled brightly and clung to Gareth’s neck. Constantly following after his father, Abel especially liked it when they played together. Gareth held Abel by the waist and ran fast to make him feel as if he were flying in the air.

“Faster! Let’s go faster!” Abel yelled as he burst into laughter. Leaving his body to Gareth, Abel stretched his arms out, enjoying the “flight.”

“How far should we go?” Gareth asked.

“To the borders!”

“Should we, then?” Gareth replied with a smile, taking his little boy’s request rather seriously to entertain him.

“Yay! You’re the best, Daddy! I’m so excited!”