Special Honeymoon (3)
The capital of the Roshan Kingdom, Berkni, was a small and vibrant city. It possessed a cozy, clustered charm and a condensed vitality that couldn’t be found in the imperial capital.
Aracila, dressed in a fluttering gown with a wide-brimmed hat, stepped out for a date with Damian, her face beaming with excitement. Having slept refreshingly through the night, her expression was bright and lively.
In contrast, Damian had slight shadows under his eyes, but his overall condition wasn’t too bad. At least he had enough energy to follow his wife around from place to place.
The two of them had lunch at a restaurant Damian had frequented during his study abroad days, then strolled along the forest path he used to walk whenever his mind was heavy with thoughts.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve come here too.”
“Did you always walk this path alone?”
“Yes, back then I had no room in my heart to have anyone by my side.”
The densely grown trees shielded them from the hot summer sun. With a calm expression, Damian took in the lush green scenery of the forest.
Perhaps because it was a place he visited when his mood was low or when he was burdened with worries, he felt no particular nostalgia. It had been too difficult back then.
“Whenever I suddenly saw myself as unhappy, I would come here and walk endlessly. After repeating the laps several times, the distracting thoughts would fade away.”
“Hmm… I didn’t suggest coming to a bad place for you, did I?”
“Of course not. If it were a place I hated so much it made my teeth chatter, I would have explained the situation to you and avoided it.”
Damian wrapped his hand around hers as they linked arms. Even so, Aracila couldn’t shake off the lingering unease and rolled her lips inward.
The sunlight filtering through the leaves swayed like waves in the breeze. As they walked along the low, flat path, she said,
“…But from now on, you won’t have to walk alone anymore. I’ll always be by your side.”
“Thank you. Just hearing that gives me strength.”
“I’m not just saying it with words.”
“I know.”
Damian, who knew well that Aracila was the type to keep any promise she made once spoken, let out a soft laugh. Having a lifelong ally felt so reassuring and warm.
“Even a place steeped in unhappy memories becomes beautiful when I’m here with you.”
He looked around with fresh eyes and spoke with genuine sincerity. With Aracila by his side, all his pain and sorrow melted away like snow, leaving only the emotions that she filled him with.
A life that had been nothing but miserable was now transforming into one where he was learning and coming to know happiness.
All of it was thanks to Aracila, and Damian couldn’t conceal his gratitude. Having someone like her by his side felt like an immense happiness that no one else could claim.
“I love you, Aracila.”
In that simple yet affection-filled confession, a smile bloomed on Aracila’s lips like a flower in full bloom.
“I love you, Damian.”
“No matter how many times I hear those words, they always bring me joy.”
“Me too.”
As she interlaced her fingers with Damian’s, Aracila hummed a soft little tune. The leisure of savoring time with a loved one was sweeter than any vacation.
While watching a squirrel busily scampering across the branches above, she suddenly asked,
“But why do you like me?”
“If I were to list all the reasons, it would take quite a bit of time. Are you sure that’s okay?”
“We have nothing but time right now. Tell me—I want to hear it.”
One naturally knows their own reasons for loving someone without needing to say them, but the other’s perspective remains unknown unless it’s voiced. Deep down, Aracila was curious about how this once stoic knight had come to like her.
Seeing her blue eyes sparkling with curiosity, Damian smiled faintly and slowly began to speak.
“I like the way you look so cute when you eat a good breakfast.”
The reasons that started there poured out endlessly.
He liked how diligent she appeared when she wore her frameless glasses while working, how adorable her stray wisps of hair were when she tied it back, how charismatic she seemed when leading her juniors…
Each one was trivial, yet every detail was a part of what made up Aracila, so hearing him say he liked those things made her heart tingle with delight.
Ah, I think that’s enough now.
She had fully grasped Damian’s feelings. Even without hearing more, his love felt overflowing.
But if she told him to stop because it was sufficient while he was earnestly reciting his reasons, he might feel a little disappointed.
“And when you’re concentrating, that habit of wrinkling your nose—”
Chu. A moist, soft sensation pressed firmly against Damian’s lips before pulling away.
Aracila, who had suddenly tugged her husband’s arm to kiss him, smiled brightly. After all, the best way to silence lips was with lips.
After blinking in surprise, Damian quickly understood and returned the kiss lightly.
“There’s still more to say—are you already satisfied?”
“Actually, even if you’d given just one reason, I would have been content.”
Aracila knew that love didn’t require a multitude of reasons. A mere handful of warmth, comfort, or understanding could easily capture a person’s heart.
Yet it was true that she’d hoped their love would be even richer, so she was grateful to Damian for going on at length until his mouth ached.
Gazing at his wife, who wore a smile of pure, unblemished beauty, Damian turned the question back to her.
“Then, why do you like me?”
“Because you’re such a lovable person.”
Aracila answered without a moment’s hesitation. Her eyes, gazing up at her husband, were clear and unwavering.
“Because you’re someone who loves me, and who knows how to cherish and safeguard my love in return.”
“So that’s the kind of person I am to you.”
“Yes.”
That concise response filled Damian with an indescribable joy and happiness. Indeed, being with Aracila made him feel perfectly complete, with nothing lacking.
The couple held hands and walked in step. The dazzling sunlight shone brightly down on their similar silhouettes from behind.
* * *
Damian began to show subtle signs of tension as dinner time drew near.
After wrapping up their date and returning to the mansion, the two headed down to the dining hall. Thanks to Damian’s prior instructions, the table was laden with all of Aracila’s favorite dishes.
While Aracila ate with genuine enjoyment and gratitude for his thoughtfulness, he barely touched his food.
He couldn’t keep his hands still—rubbing them on his trousers, crossing his arms, or stroking the back of his neck, betraying his anxiety.
Aracila hadn’t noticed yet, but there was a reason for his nervousness.
He had prepared for their night together.
It wasn’t anything overly elaborate; he’d simply set the mood with some wine and flowers for a touch of romance.
Of course, knowing he wasn’t much of a drinker, Damian had chosen a low-alcohol champagne.
‘I hope it pleases her.’
For once, Damian had finished bathing before Aracila and was now seated on the sofa, waiting for her.
A short while later, as she returned to the room, Aracila paused at the sight of the softly lit interior before spotting Damian. Her gaze swept past the bottle, glasses, and flowers on the table in front of him.
“What’s all this?”
“How about a drink tonight?”
“Are you sure? You don’t handle alcohol well.”
“I’ll keep it moderate.”
With no real reason to refuse, Aracila sat down beside him. Damian poured the pale liquid into the glasses.
One sip, and a sweet flavor spread through her mouth. It was a relatively low-proof drink, one that even Damian could enjoy in a single glass without overdoing it.
Aracila neatly emptied her glass, finding the slightly bitter, juice-like taste refreshing, then studied her husband closely. The robe draped over his solidly muscled frame hung looser than usual.
Try as she might to resist, her eyes were drawn to the glimpse of his chest and the sharp contours of his abdomen visible through the parted fabric. She sent him an openly appraising look before lifting her gaze slightly.
Beneath his silver hair, which seemed to hold the moonlight, his face wore a mesmerizing smile.
“Are you trying to seduce me right now?”
“And if I am?”
“Well, in that case…”
In that brief pause, Aracila’s mouth went dry as she prepared to respond with a serious expression.
“Kyaaah—!”
A piercing scream shook the mansion. Startled, the two quickly straightened their clothes and rushed outside.
In front of the first-floor entrance door, a maid had collapsed to the floor. Aracila approached the terrified, trembling girl and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
“M-M-Madam. Th-there…”
Aracila turned her head toward where the maid’s finger pointed, and through the half-open door, she saw a dark shape.
Long hair soaked by the drizzling rain that had been falling earlier, and a pitch-black form.
What is that? Aracila narrowed her eyes.
“A g-ghost…”
“No, that’s a person.”
Handing the maid over to the others who had arrived belatedly, Aracila ordered the door to be opened. Damian stuck close to her side, on high alert.
One of the maids mustered her courage and pulled the door open. The dark figure slipped inside. As the lamplight illuminated the pale face, Aracila and Damian’s eyes widened in recognition.
“Hello, Duchess. Duke… I’m sorry for arriving unannounced at such a late hour. Please forgive my rudeness…”
With lips trembling, the person offered a polite greeting—it was none other than Violet, the first princess of the Kingdom of Roshan.
* * *
The maid who had gone to answer the late-night knock at the mansion door had mistaken the princess, clad in a black robe and drenched in rain, for a ghost and screamed.
Once the situation calmed, Aracila led Violet to the drawing room. After drying her wet face and body with a towel, Violet’s color soon returned.
“How did you know to come here?”
“Ah… I heard from my parents. They said you two were staying at the mansion where the Duke lived during his time as a young lord.”
“Then, what brings you here?”
What could possibly drive a princess of a nation to brave the night and rain, showing up unannounced at someone else’s home?
Violet hesitated, biting her lower lip with her front teeth, before cautiously speaking.
“I came to ask for your help, Madam.”
“Mine?”
Violet nodded slightly and continued.
“Please convince my parents to call off my marriage. I beg you.”
Setting aside her princessly dignity and pride, she bowed her head. Thoroughly flustered, Aracila grasped Violet’s shoulders and responded calmly.
“What are you saying all of a sudden, Princess? Please, lift your head.”
“Once I come of age next year, my parents plan to marry me off immediately. We fought about it, and I stormed out, coming straight to you for help.”
There was a reason Violet had undertaken this undignified, impulsive visit through the rain.
In the heat of an argument with her parents, her emotions had boiled over, leading her to seek aid without thinking it through.
In a way, it was an immature act befitting a seventeen-year-old. With a small sigh, Aracila replied firmly.
“I understand your situation, but this puts me in a difficult position. I’m not from the Kingdom of Roshan, so I can’t interfere in royal matters. Why ask me in the first place?”
“…Mother thinks highly of you, Duchess. She won’t listen to anything I say, but she might if it’s from you.”
Violet’s face fell into a sullen expression. Unable to ignore the despair and melancholy emanating from the newly seventeen-year-old princess, Aracila asked,
“Do you not want to get married, Princess?”
“No…”
“Why not?”
