Chapter 130

In the southwestern seas of the Preseria Empire lay many islands where tropical fruits were grown, but among them, Terju Island was famous for its large and sweet mangoes.

A year ago, a mercenary had settled there.

He always kept his face and body covered like a desert nomad, yet even from the line of his jaw, it was clear he was strikingly handsome—he turned heads wherever he went.

Terju was usually so quiet that he was its greatest topic of gossip, but one day, the island suddenly came alive with excitement.

“They say the young lady who owns the master’s island is coming.”

“I hear she’s just past adulthood, and she cares deeply for her people.”

Everywhere, people were talking about the young lady.

Stories spread of how she had punished plantation owners who treated farmers like livestock, how she replaced every farmer’s house and farming tools with brand-new ones, all in the name of producing better mangoes.

“Such a person deserves blessings.”

“But did you hear? They say the young lady eats all the Terju mangoes herself!”

“Hahaha! Impossible! It’s not like she eats mangoes instead of meals!”

Since it was her first visit, the villagers awaited her arrival with great excitement.

But then—

“My lady! My lady!”

“Over there?”

“No sign of her!”

The moment her ship docked, the young lady disappeared, throwing the entire port into chaos.

Knights ran frantically in all directions, and even plantation owners began sending out their networks to search for her.

And soon, an offer came to the mercenary—the man who had been the island’s most talked-about figure before her name came up.

“Her name and appearance?”

“Lady Minuelle Karnian. She had long pink hair, and just before disembarking, she was wearing white clothes.”

The mercenary froze with his notebook still in hand, then quickly bowed in apology.

“I’m sorry. I can’t take this job.”

“Don’t say that. She’s truly important.”

“I won’t be able to find her. Forgive me.”

“Hey! Wait, don’t—ugh…”

Shrugging off the plantation owner’s attempts to hold him back, the mercenary staggered outside. He froze in thought. If he stayed, he might cross paths with her.

I should go home first.

His pace quickened. Thoughts swirled in his head.

Is it time to leave Terju? …No, perhaps not. If I stay hidden for a few days, she’ll surely leave.

Fortunately, he had enough food stored.

But when he reached his house, relief never came—instead, tension gripped him.

The door, which he always kept locked tight, was slightly ajar.

Ssshhk.

Instinctively, he half-drew his sword and stepped inside cautiously.

Not a thief…?

Nothing was disturbed except for a chair left awkwardly pulled out, as if someone had briefly sat there.

He checked the entrance, the kitchen, and finally the bedroom. Only then did his tense body ease.

From beneath the blanket covering the bed, a cascade of pink hair spilled out.

With a clink, he sheathed his sword, exhaling in relief—only for new dread to rush over him.

His mind screamed.

I must leave at once.

But… it was the face he had long dreamed of.

Drawn in, he sat by the bed. At that very moment, the young lady everyone was searching for rolled over, kicking off her blanket.

Esadien couldn’t help but smile faintly. Even in sleep, Minuelle’s beauty was dazzling… and so very dear.

“Have you… been well?”

His whisper was so soft, yet her long lashes fluttered open.

When their eyes met, her gentle sky-blue gaze curved in a tender smile.

“Hello, Esadien.”

A year—it had been shorter than either of them imagined.

She had visited the sea tribes beneath the Hirobimi Volcano, helped with medicine development (though only as a record keeper), conducted mana experiments with Brassidas, studied magic, and sent Gabbie back north to his nest.

She had lived so busily that she’d nearly forgotten to eat or sleep.

And when she finally arrived at Terju Island, she couldn’t endure it any longer.

Rather than dragging him before her, the first thing she wanted was simply to see him.

She had known where his house was for a long time, so finding it was easy.

A simple spell opened the lock, and the familiar scent of the place enveloped her.

Perhaps that was why—though she had planned to embrace him the moment he returned—sleep had overtaken her, and she ended up dozing off instead.

Well, at least I succeeded in surprising him.

When Minuelle smiled, Esadien turned his eyes aside, deflecting.

“…Who are you?”

After just asking if I’d been well, really…

Even that side of him, she found endearing. Smiling sweetly, she said:

“Me? I’m the one you love.”

Esadien’s eyes trembled at her boldness. She rested her chin on her hand, enjoying his flustered expression.

“Isn’t that right? After all, there’s only one person in this world that Prince Esadien loves—and it’s me.”

But with a single deep breath, his composure returned.

“Enough of this. Leave my house.”

“No.”

“Then I will—”

“You couldn’t forget me either. That’s why you rushed home the moment you heard I was here, isn’t it? To run or hide?”

Minuelle pitied him. Wrapped tightly head to toe, hiding himself away on this hot, humid island—how stifling it must have been.

“Come back with me.”

“I cannot.”

“Then I suppose I’ll just have to live here.”

“Minuelle, please!”

At last, Esadien snapped, overwhelmed.

“All I can offer you now is shame! Wherever I go with you, whatever I do, I’ll be followed by stares of disgust! In this… this wretched form—!”

Ripping down the cloth covering his face, he revealed the blotched, scarred skin beneath.

But Minuelle remained calm.

“My eyesight is poor—I can’t see well, Esadien. Come closer.”

Even in despair, his shoulders twitched at her words.

“…Your eyes have worsened? Is it from the aftermath of that day?”

“Not exactly… I want to compare your hand to mine. Please, just a little closer.”

Naïvely, he leaned in.

And in that instant, Minuel seized him with magic and toppled him onto the bed.

She had trained this spell relentlessly for a year—just for this very moment!

Straddling him, she roared triumphantly: “At last, after a whole year, I’ve done it!”

Esadien was dumbfounded.

“Th-then… your eyes, they…?”

“Just a little white lie. Te-hee!”

“You mock me now?!”

He tried to rise, but she pinned him down again with magic. With a playful sigh, she continued: “Why so impatient? Look at this first.”

She thrust her palm before his eyes.

His blue eyes widened—her skin was flawless, as if it had never known scars.

“Minuelle, this is…”

His gaze dropped to the ring on her finger.

“That…”

“Of course I’ve kept it on.”

Her fingers slipped between his, intertwining tightly.

“Come back with me. I made a medicine for you.”

“A… medicine? Is that what healed your scars?”

“Yes. Want me to try it on you now?”

She took out a small vial. Mesmerized, Esadien removed his glove.

Can it really work…?

He still remembered what the doctors had said, and fear gnawed at him more than hope.

But as Minuelle spread the ointment onto his hand, it melted away like butter—leaving behind skin as unblemished as before his scars.

“Hmm, as I thought, it works even faster on you.”

She spoke knowingly, but he was too stunned to understand.

“This… Minuelle, this is truly…”

“So, you’ll come with me?”

Slowly, Esadien raised his eyes to her.

Even after I ran away… she never let go. She never gave up on me.

No man with a shred of shame could accept such devotion so easily. And yet—

“I missed you.”

Faced with her shining eyes, he couldn’t refuse.

Finally, he nodded.

“Waaah!”

Minuelle cheered and threw herself into his arms.

It felt so natural, so familiar, despite a year apart.

He held her tightly, burying his face in her pink hair.

“Thank you… for not forgetting me. For finding me. For never giving up…”

She giggled at his breath against her skin, puffing up proudly.

“You’d better thank me more! It was honestly tough, you know.”

“Then I shall thank you every day, for the rest of my life.”

Hesitantly, he added: “That is… if you still wish to marry me.”

Even after seeing the ring.

Idiot.

But Minuelle knew it was his way of apologizing—words alone couldn’t contain all he felt.

She hugged him tighter and set her condition.

“If you promise to say you love me every day, for the rest of your life—I’ll marry you.”

“Such an easy condition—how could I not?”

His large hand covered her eyes gently. Then, like a man returning home, his lips pressed against hers.

“I love you, Minuel.”

…

But she said nothing.

Worried at her silence, Esadien shifted—only for Minuelle to pull down his hand and plant a kiss on the scar on his cheek.

Then, beaming as brightly as spring sunshine, she replied:

“I love you too!”

And that’s the end of the main story, everyone! I hope you enjoyed the story. However there’s still 23 special stories so we’re not quite done with their story yet! And for Ramande lovers, there’s a portion of the special stories that are an alternative ending with him.