Chapter 113 - 113
"Shall we move on?" His Highness asked. We left the flower tunnel in a peaceful atmosphere, and a clear blue sky opened up before us. Small, charming flowers bloomed vividly at our feet, forming a path that led to a small, church-like building.
"What is that building?"
"Let's go. I wanted to bring you there as well."
At his gentle nod, he led me to the front of the building.
"It looks like a small church, but what is this place?"
"It is a church, just as you said. When the royal family visits this detached palace, they offer prayers here."
"I see."
Explaining this, His Highness opened the door and gestured for me to enter. I stepped inside slowly. With no priests present, the space was silent and empty. However, I was immediately overwhelmed by the beauty of the large stained-glass window. Upon closer inspection, it depicted the Spirit King of Light, shining divinely in the sunlight.
"Beautiful..."
"Yes. The craftsman who made this stained glass must have actually seen the Spirit King; it's that magnificent."
"Indeed, it's just as divine as the Spirit King appeared during the Spirit Summoning Ceremony."
I could still vividly recall the sight of the Spirit King of Light at the ceremony. He was so clearly wreathed in light that one couldn't help but wonder if this was what a god truly looked like.
As I stared at the stained glass, I felt His Highness turn toward me and shifted my gaze to him.
"Come to think of it, you met the Dark Spirit King, didn't you, Rachel? What was he like? Was he similar to the Spirit King of Light?"
"What was he like..."
I hesitated, wondering how to answer.
"Well... he wasn't very similar to the Spirit King of Light. If anything, he was approachable... I didn't even realize he was a Spirit King when we first met."
"Heh, that's unexpected. An approachable Spirit King. He certainly sounds different from the Spirit King of Light."
I pictured the black-haired young man with the dazzling smile, but I could only say he was completely different from the figure in the stained glass. I had been bewildered by his behavior, which was more like a close friend than a divine entity. Yet, he was undoubtedly a Spirit King with divine power beyond my imagination.
As I thought of this, I looked away from the stained glass and noticed many paintings adorning the walls.
I wonder what these paintings are.
The largest painting caught my eye first, and I stepped closer to examine it. It was clearly quite old.
"Are these paintings the history of this country?"
"Yes. This painting depicts the beginning. A parched land, a celestial maiden descending from the sky... this is the legend of the Saint. In other words, the origin of this nation."
"And this one?"
"This is when the next Saint was born. It shows her receiving a blessing from the Spirit King of Light."
"Then, these are the Saints of each generation..."
"Exactly. No one outside the royal family is allowed in here. It would be problematic if the secrets within these paintings were leaked."
I see. Until I received the Spirit King's blessing myself, I hadn't known what the power of a Saint truly was.
"By secrets, do you mean the power of the Saint? This painting shows someone being healed..."
"Yes. If this power were known, it would become a source of conflict both domestically and abroad."
I had heard that the power of the Saint of Light could accelerate the growth of crops and heal wounds. My dark power could return withered or diseased plants to a healthy state. In essence, it was the power to manipulate the flow of time. Many would surely seek to obtain and exploit such an unbelievable power. The power of a Saint was a complex thing; if misused, it could cause chaos and war rather than enriching the nation.
"Is that why the King was pushing for the engagement between Anna-san and Your Highness?"
"Because of the Saint's power, this country was able to rebuild itself from dangerous situations many times. The kings of the past likely restricted their freedom to ensure that power was used for the sake of the nation."
"...Was it truly like that?"
"What?"
I felt a sense of dissonance at his words. From a purely logical standpoint, marrying into the royal family to keep the Saint from other countries and keep the power secret might have been the best course for the nation—even if it ignored their own will. Yet, I looked at each painting closely, wondering where that feeling of dissonance came from. Then, I reached a conclusion.
"Every Saint in these paintings has a happy face. ...Perhaps they chose this for themselves."
"Even knowing they couldn't use their power freely and would be bound to the royal family?"
"Is that hard to believe?"
"No, it's not that. I just thought they could have chosen a different way to live."
Perhaps he felt a sense of helplessness. Until now, His Highness's primary criteria had been whether something was a benefit or a detriment to the country. If it was for the sake of the nation, he would have made any cold-hearted decision. He would likely face many more such decisions in the future. While that wasn't necessarily wrong and was one correct form for a ruler, he had begun to feel a sense of consideration for others that he hadn't needed to suffer through before. That might be why he looked at the paintings with such a poignant expression. Or perhaps he was projecting my future onto the Saints who had been given the Spirit King's power.
Even so, unlike before, His Highness would explore various possibilities and paths before choosing the best one. Because he was that kind of man, I respected him from the bottom of my heart and could always believe in him.
"You said they couldn't use their power freely, but at the very least... I will only use the power I've borrowed from the Spirit King for what I believe is right."
His Highness narrowed his eyes gently and smiled happily. "I see."
Seeing that smile, the tension left my shoulders. He, too, respected and believed in me. He showed it through his words and his attitude. That was why I wanted to be with him. Because I truly loved him. So, surely...
"I'm sure the women in these paintings were like me; perhaps their happiness lay in being with someone from the royal family. I think it's not a bad thing to believe that."
"Yeah, you're right."
His Highness lowered his brows, his gaze fixed on one painting. It depicted a Saint with a happy face holding a baby affectionately, with a former King watching over them with a gentle expression.
"I know that happy families and good parent-child relationships exist. Yet, I have no memory of being held by my mother like that, nor have I ever received such a warm gaze from my father. ...Perhaps this painting makes the viewer feel warm and relieved because the subjects themselves were happy. I suppose there are still many emotions I don't know yet."
"Me too. I'm full of things I don't know—about this country, about spirits... everything. But you taught me. If there's something I don't know, I can just learn it from now on. It's never too late. Lacking something isn't a bad thing either, as long as there's someone to make up for it."
His Highness's eyes widened at my words, and he smiled bashfully, his eyes reddening slightly.
"Thank you, Rachel. You always make me realize things."
"It's the same for me. I can keep looking forward because you always reach out a hand and walk slowly with me."
The shadow vanished from his smile, replaced by a clear, bright expression. He took my hand gently, as if wrapping something precious. He led me toward the altar. As our conversation ceased, the only sound in the silent church was the echo of our footsteps. Reaching the altar, the beauty of the stained glass was even more striking. The figure of the Spirit King, wreathed in vivid light as if he might step out at any moment, took my breath away. I stole a glance at His Highness; he was staring straight at the stained glass just as I was.
"Rachel, I love this country."
His voice wasn't loud, but his declaration was firm. He stood with a dignified air, as if he had made a great resolution.
"I love the people of this country."
I nodded silently at his next words.
Yes, Your Highness. I know. Cyril, Theodore-sama, and I have all seen you working tirelessly for this nation.
He loved and respected this country more than anyone. He knew the kindness and strength of its people. Because he had shown me so many facets of this nation, I had come to love it even more. I had come to know its beauty.
"And you."
"Me?"
He turned toward me, his sweet, hot gaze piercing through me. I couldn't look away, as if captured by his eyes. He let out a breath, and while keeping his eyes fixed on mine, he knelt on the spot.
"Your... Your Highness... what are you..."
Ignoring my flustered state, he deepened his smile.
"Rachel, I love you."
"Ah..."
"I will protect you until my life ends. I promise."
"Your Highness..."
It wasn't the first time he had told me he loved me. Yet, for some reason, my eyes grew hot, and tears threatened to spill. My voice came out shaky and faint. It was because his feelings were so clearly conveyed through his eyes.
"So, please, stay smiling by my side. That is my happiness."
"Your Highness, this is..."
He took something out of his pocket with his free hand. I realized immediately it was a ring. The jewel sparkled as it reflected the light from the window. Without hesitation, he slipped the ring onto the ring finger of my left hand and kissed it.
"This belongs to you."
"Is this... the Ring of Covenant...?"
I stared at him in disbelief, and he gave a gentle smile in affirmation. I simply stared at my left hand in a daze. A large, brilliant jewel sat at the center of the ring. As the light from the window reflected off it, I peered closer. There, I saw the crest of a hawk—his personal emblem.
The hawk was the crest given to him at birth, representing himself. And the Ring of Covenant was something a male of the royal family was permitted to make only once in his life. It was given to the one to whom he would entrust and dedicate his everything. I had heard that to make one, one had to imbue it with mana every single day for a hundred days, and that the tradition of giving them had faded with time.
When I looked back at him, he stood up and smiled, his cheeks slightly flushed. "I decided a long time ago that I would give this to you."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
My vision blurred with tears. His feelings, his kindness... and the love for him overflowing from my own chest... everything made my heart burn. I tried my best to give him a smile, but I wondered if I was actually smiling properly. He cupped my cheeks with both hands, matching my clumsy expression.
"Rachel, my consort. I vow to cherish and love you for all my life."
At those words, a single tear I couldn't hold back rolled down my cheek.
"So, please, marry me."
"Yes... yes. Your Highness, I love you too."
I nodded again and again. I couldn't see his expression clearly through my tears, but I felt as though I could see him narrowing his eyes happily. I felt his face slowly approaching and naturally closed my eyes. A moment later, something warm touched my lips.
In the small church where we were alone, bathed in the gentle light from the window, His Highness pressed a warm, gentle kiss to my lips.
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I accidentally deleted this update once, so it's a bit late. As a result of rewriting it, it somehow ended up longer than before.