Chapter 132

Minuelle could tell what Esadien was thinking. ‘Could his heart still be pounding, even though he knows the answer?’

But she didn’t stop him from speaking. Even with her denseness, she had enough sense not to interrupt a man who had planned an entire day to formally propose.

“Minuelle, I dare to ask for your hand in marriage. Please allow me to be by your side, from the moment the sun rises until it sets, and even through the darkest of nights.”

Hearing these words was a different experience. The conversations about marriage they’d had before were genuine, of course, but this time, it felt as though marriage was finally within reach. Because of this, Minuelle’s reply came a beat late.

“…Yes. Happily.”

Only then did the tension leave Esadien’s face.

Minuelle gently helped him up and smiled. She remembered when, in this very mansion, she had first told him she would take responsibility for him.

“I’ve already seen your bare body ‘many times,’ Your Highness.”

She added mischievously, but Esadien was no longer the shy, standoffish prince he once was. He lowered his head, a low laugh rumbling in his chest.

“I will only show it to you in the future.”

“You’d better keep that promise.”

Minuelle wasn’t backing down. She rose on her tiptoes. Between their lips, Esadien’s firm reply flowed.

“Of course.”

A deep kiss followed.

***

With the successful proposal, Esadien expected they would begin wedding preparations. However, it had been a month since their dream-like day in Caduren, and neither Minuelle nor the Grand Duchess’s family had said anything about it.

Not only that…

“…A trip?” Esadien’s pupils trembled wildly when he visited Minuelle. A trip? Now, of all times, when he was thinking about wedding preparations?

“Yes, it won’t take long. Let’s go, just the two of us.” At least she had included him in the trip.

“Isn’t the honeymoon usually after the wedding?” Esadien said with a hint of a complaint, and Minuelle chuckled. But her gaze remained fixed on her documents.

“It’s not a honeymoon. We’re just visiting for an appointment.”

“An appointment? With whom?”

“Hmm… You’ll find out when we get there.”

Noticing that she didn’t want to answer yet, Esadien fell silent. His gaze rested quietly on the teacup. But Minuelle knew he was dejected just from a quick glance.

‘Aw… how cute.’

She covered her mouth with the documents to hide her smile and asked, forcing her voice to sound neutral, “Do you feel like this isn’t enough, even though we see each other every day?”

Minuelle was just as eager to get married. But this matter had to be settled before they could take the next step.

Though her words sounded like a gentle chiding, Esadien replied confidently, “Yes. I want to be with you 24 hours a day.”

He had said as much during his proposal. Minuelle couldn’t hold back anymore and winked at her steadfast fiancé.

“I feel the same way, you know?”

“Minuelle…”

Esadien, once again at the mercy of Minuelle, let out a sigh of relief. His expression looked as if he might cry if she teased him any more. This reaction went straight to Minuelle’s heart, and a guiltless document crumpled in her hand.

“…I can’t take this.”

In a flash, the document flew behind the sofa, and Esadien was lying down. Minuelle was putting one of the few spells she knew to very good use.

“M-Minuelle. What if someone comes in…”

As Esadien fidgeted nervously, Minuelle unfastened a button on his shirt and smiled sweetly, tilting her head. “Huh? What? I just wanted to check if there were any scars left inside.”

However, her eyes, twinkling between her pink eyelashes, were the epitome of mischief. Esadien calmly pointed this out.

“Minuelle, you look very devious right now.”

“And you don’t like it?” Minuelle, completely unfazed, unfastened another button and asked.

“…”

Esadien clamped his mouth shut. Just two unfastened buttons had made his throat go dry. Time seemed to slow down, a different kind of tension than a kiss.

‘How did I manage to grab her in the oasis?’

He must have been under the desert’s spell. Compared to that, Minuelle was…

‘Does she gain strength from sunlight?’

It was clear, seeing how she was so unrestrained even with the sun high in the sky. He had always thought her smile was like sunshine, after all.

Their eyes met. Minuelle, just as Esadien had thought, smiled like the sun and caressed his cheek. “Cute.”

Just then, a cool voice cut through the heated atmosphere.

“What’s so cute? Let me see, too, sis?”

Minuelle jumped up.

“Oh, sis!”

To be precise, it was her “sisters.” Without a sound of the door opening, Elga and Juela were standing there with a “look what we have here” expression. As if they weren’t sisters but twins, their crossed-arm stance was identical.

“Oh, my.”

Juela laughed, amused by the slightly gender-swapped scene of Esadien and Minuelle. “You handle your fiancé just like Sister Elga does.”

Elga nudged Juela’s side, as if to say, ‘that’s not me.’ A silent conversation quickly passed between the sisters.

‘You too.’

‘Hmm, no. At least not as much as you, sis?’

Elga’s eyebrow rose in displeasure, but Juela dismissed it with a wink. Elga couldn’t win against the ever-relaxed Juela. The arrow naturally turned to Esadien.

“Your Highness. I warned you not to lay a hand on her before the wedding.”

Esadien, who had already straightened his clothes, apologized. His demeanor was impeccable.

“I apologize.”

“No, why are you apologizing, Esadien!” Minuelle immediately protested, and Juela pressed a finger to her forehead.

“Yes, you should apologize, too. You both made that promise.”

“But I… I only said I’d have our first night on our wedding day. It’s daytime right now, and besides… can’t I just kiss my fiancé?!”

Watching Minuelle’s outburst, Elga felt a little sad.

‘I love you, sis!’, ‘My parents and sisters are the best!’ was all her youngest sibling ever used to say. She had no idea of her sisters’ disappointment. The old saying that all parenting goes to waste suddenly resonated with her. The arrow was once again aimed at Esadien.

“You seem full of energy, how about a spar?”

“It would be an honor to receive your guidance.”

Esadien immediately stood up. Minuelle grabbed the end of his sleeve, but she let go when he gently patted her hand.

“I’ll be back, Minuelle.”

“Seriously… the mood was so good.”

He wanted to kiss her pouting lips right now, but his future sisters-in-law were watching with sharp eyes. Esadien said his goodbyes to Minuelle with perfect courtesy.

“If your skills have rusted, don’t even think about seeing my sister again.”

Elga was already walking away, her back turned.

It was a chilling warning, but Esadien took it well. This wasn’t their first meeting; as a friend of the Crown Princess, he had even received lessons from her when he was younger.

Minuelle’s muttered words came through the closing door.

“Ugh, seriously. I need to get married soon.”

A smile he couldn’t hide crept onto Esadien’s lips. For Minuelle to be so determined, he was just grateful to his future sisters-in-law for showing up.

“…”

Of course, Elga, who felt his mischievous gratitude, felt a bit annoyed and decided to beat him up enough that he couldn’t walk out of there gracefully.

‘Clang!’

But life doesn’t always go as you want it to. After dozens of sword strikes, and then dozens more, Elga clicked her tongue and admitted it.

“You’ve improved quite a bit. They said you ran away and worked as a mercenary, but your swordsmanship has become more fluid.”

Her tone was sharp, but the hand she offered for a handshake was generous.

“…Thank you, Young Grand Duchess.”

“Call me ‘sis.’ How long are you going to be so stiff?”

Esadien, who had paused at her words, firmly grasped Elga’s hand. He didn’t realize it, but his face, smiling brightly despite his exhaustion, was as radiant as Minuelle’s.

***

After that, Esadien quickly assimilated into the Karnian family. He spent so much time at the Grand Duchess’s mansion that the Emperor himself expressed his disappointment.

He felt sorry for the Emperor, but Esadien’s heart was fluttering with excitement as he and Minuelle traveled to the eastern coastal city of Rosos.

‘After this is over, I’ll truly be family with Minuelle.’

Unlike Esadien, however, Minuelle grew calmer as the scent of the sea grew stronger. In a way, she seemed nervous.

‘When my son’s treatment is complete, bring him here. Just once is enough. But you must not tell him about me.’

Her gaze was fixed out the window, but she wasn’t seeing the scenery. Her mind was filled with the promise she had made before she got Esadien back.

‘Your son? Your Majesty, do you mean Esadien is your son?’

It was about a year ago, when she and Gabbie had gone into the sea to get the water essence. Whether it was due to a change of heart, as Gabbie had said, or some other reason, the water spirit had refused to give up the essence. At that time, the one who helped her persuade the spirit was the King of the Sea Clan. The only thing he asked of Minuelle was to be reunited with his son, Esadien.

‘- I knew he smelled of water. He must have the blood of the Sea Clan in him.’

Even Gabbie, with his arms crossed, nodded, but Minuelle couldn’t be convinced.

‘How can I believe you are his father based on just that? I can’t just take a person who can’t use magic to the depths of the sea.’

But Minuelle’s protest soon lost its power. When the king, who had kept his face covered, lifted his veil, a face identical to Esadien’s was revealed.

‘Daughter of man. Do you believe me now?’

She had no choice but to believe. If it were a painting, she might think it had been traced, but to think a face like this existed in the world!

‘My end is approaching. Before I die… I want to see my son’s face just one more time.’

‘Then come with me. I know where Esadien is.’

The King of the Sea Clan smiled sadly, with the same face as Esadien.

‘I’m worried he might resent me and refuse to see me.’

She understood the king’s fear. Whatever the reason, it was a fact that Princess Maya had lost her mind because of him.

*…*

She couldn’t refuse. The core ingredient of the burn treatment medicine was the water essence. Without it, she wouldn’t have even decided to make the medicine within a year. But the King of the Sea Clan, interpreting her silence differently, became anxious.

‘I will cast a spell on this bracelet. By the side of one with the blood of the sea, it will not lose its light, even at night.’

A chant, like a song, embedded itself in Minuelle’s mind.

‘…And you will be able to open the door to our clan’s domain at any time.’

The king’s words were true. By Esadien’s side, the bracelet emitted a faint light as if to remind her not to forget her promise.

Just like now.