Ch.153Honeymoon (6) (Villainess Guard X Romance Fantasy Novel R-rated)

As time passed until the final day, Evan and Irene were ultimately unable to meet Adilun and Whisis.

It would have been nice to meet them, but they must be busy with their own honeymoon.

However, wanting to fulfill the original purpose of their honeymoon, Evan woke up a bit earlier than usual.

Stretching his stiff body, his gaze narrowed as he stared into space. It was still dawn, with dim light spreading across the sky.

It didn’t take long to remember that today was their last day. The final day of their honeymoon—what should they do?

Though he had many thoughts, Evan soon shook his head to clear his complicated mind.

They called it a honeymoon, but it was really just a trip. Since he couldn’t propose again, the only meaning they could find in this journey was simply enjoying their time together.

“I miss the kids.”

It had been a week—perhaps a short time—but not seeing the children felt emptier than expected.

Irene felt the same way, mentioning her growing worry about the children as the days passed.

Still, they should end things properly. Evan watched the still-sleeping Irene and quietly got up, careful not to wake her. Since it was their last day, they should make it memorable.

#

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Gilteon Ortear.”

“I’m Irene Yuris. May I ask why you wanted to meet us?”

When Irene asked, Gilteon shrugged and gestured toward the prepared meal.

Following his invitation to sit, Evan and Irene sat side by side as Gilteon began to speak.

“I should have invited you earlier when I heard such distinguished guests had arrived, but I’ve been busy and only now managed to extend an invitation. Do you know that you two are quite popular here, where stories from other continents are rare?”

Evan smiled slightly at this. So many people had recognized them that Evan and Irene had briefly wondered if this might be Yuris.

Their fame was considerable, even with their story published as a fairy tale. Irene nodded in agreement, and Gilteon continued with a hearty laugh.

“My son also has a similar story to yours, so I wanted to meet you in person. Since you’re on your honeymoon, I wanted to ask various things and perhaps get advice for my son.”

“I don’t know if I have enough knowledge to give advice. We simply met because our hearts matched.”

Adilun and Whisis, Evan and Irene—both couples’ stories were so famous that finding similarities between them was a common hobby among enthusiasts.

The story of Irene and Evan, who were merely a lady-in-waiting and a guard knight, and Adilun and Whisis, who were engaged but had a terrible relationship—there were many similarities in how both couples fell in love and eventually came together.

Gilteon was curious about the couple who had traveled to another continent for their honeymoon.

Since Adilun and Whisis had officially been in love for only a few months, perhaps this couple, who had been together for over a year, could offer some advice. As the father of a newly married son, Gilteon was eager to hear what these two might say.

Evan and Irene exchanged glances and smiled simultaneously when they realized why the lord of Ortear had summoned them.

They had worried they might have caused some trouble during their week-long stay, but once they met, his questions were only cautious inquiries about how they became a couple.

“How old were you when you first met?”

“I came to Yuris when I was 10, but I believe we first met when I was 15. I was a knight apprentice then, if I remember correctly.”

“That’s right. In my memory, that’s when I first saw Evan too.”

Though memories are often called fond recollections, not all of them were pleasant.

When Evan first met Irene, she quite disliked him—or more accurately, she was wary of him, though Evan thought she hated him.

“Back then, Irene hated me. Right?”

“When did I ever? I never hated Evan. I just… avoided him a little.”

Hated him? Irene swore to heaven she had never hated Evan. At first, she had avoided him because he seemed awkward and clumsy. Hadn’t she thought he would turn his back on her later, just like others did, despite acting friendly now?

But after opening her heart, she had deliberately treated him well, so to say she hated him?

When Irene frowned, Evan smiled slightly and gently wiped away some oil from the corner of her mouth.

“You’re still as messy as ever. Didn’t you used to fall asleep right at your desk back then?”

“I did no such thing.”

Though her response was cold, Irene touched her cheek and blushed when she felt his finger on her lips.

How could he reach out like that without permission? Still not used to such bold actions in front of others, Irene cleared her throat and slowly moved her lips.

“Evan used to talk badly about me too. You got caught talking about me with Ropena.”

“…Did I do that?”

“Do you know how dumbfounded I was? If it hadn’t been you, I would have rejected you immediately.”

“And you were secretly practicing smiling in front of the mirror.”

“W-when?”

Watching their ongoing revelations, Gilteon let out a small laugh and tilted his head in confusion.

Was it because they were newlyweds, or simply because they had known each other for so long? Rather than exchanging honey-sweet glances, they seemed more like friends.

Whisis and Adilun were still cautious with each other. Though it was still early for them, Irene and Evan seemed much more comfortable with each other than the other couple, which felt refreshing to Gilteon.

“You two… seem to get along very well.”

Hearing Gilteon’s words, Evan and Irene burst into laughter simultaneously.

They often ended up arguing like this when talking about old times, and they had long since grown accustomed to this way of conversing.

After laughing for a while, Evan closed his mouth, and Irene looked at Gilteon and spoke calmly.

“I apologize. We sometimes get lost in conversation like this and forget there are others present.”

“It’s quite all right. In fact, I hope my son will be like this someday.”

Even the most passionate lovers eventually grow accustomed to their feelings over time.

Why else would married couples sometimes have affairs? Though he didn’t think everyone would do such a thing—and these two in particular seemed unlikely to—this kind of relationship, more friendly than romantic, was quite impressive.

“I heard you have children. Twins, right?”

“We have a son and a daughter. Our son is Arthur, and our daughter is Robelia.”

Mentioning the children made Evan and Irene stare blankly into space, suddenly missing them.

Though the honeymoon was enjoyable at first, it was natural to think of their children when away for so long.

Noticing this, Gilteon quietly put down his knife. The meal was nearly over anyway, and he opened his mouth slowly to ask what he was most curious about.

“It seems we should finish our meal now. Thank you for accepting my invitation today. I’d like to spend more time together, but… it would be better for you two to spend time with each other.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“But may I ask one thing, if you don’t mind?”

Though surprised by the sudden question, Irene nodded, saying it was fine. Gilteon smiled broadly and looked at Evan and Irene before asking.

“You met, and you married. Are you… happy now?”

Even loving couples sometimes find they don’t get along after marriage. Fearing this might happen to his son Whisis and Adilun, he asked this question. Hearing it, Evan smiled slightly and answered readily.

“Of course I’m happy. And I will be happy in the future too. It’s such a simple question, I’m not sure if that’s a sufficient answer.”

“…It’s more than enough. Truly.”

Irene smiled at Evan’s answer. It was such a simple response, but coincidentally, it was exactly what she would have said. If asked to name the happiest moment in her short life, it would probably be now.

Neither Evan nor Irene wanted to lose their current happiness.

She felt fingers fidgeting against the back of her hand where they had bumped.

When was it? Perhaps at Count Kasim’s estate? Both recalling the same memory simultaneously, they naturally held hands.

Not awkwardly as they had then, but naturally, as if they had always done so.

Gilteon watched as the couple moved away from the table.

And he sincerely hoped that his son Whisis would also have such a relationship with his spouse.

If asked until when—probably forever.

#

Whoosh—

They were only able to board the airship as dusk fell. After exploring both Rodenov and Ortear and resolving all their lingering attachments to this continent, they departed—rather late, one might say.

Unable to believe that their once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon was over, Irene leaned on Evan’s shoulder and stared blankly out the window.

Unlike Yuris, which was still in autumn, the Rodenov duchy was covered in white snow.

Although they hadn’t met the couple Adilun and Whisis, it was a place where they had experienced more than expected.

They had shared special intimate moments and seen with their own eyes the scenery they had previously only seen in Seiren.

The sea, dyed by the setting sun, was a bright yellow color. The date would change soon, and perhaps because they had been out all day, Irene noticed her vision becoming slightly blurry from fatigue.

“…I’m tired.”

“Why don’t you rest a bit when we get home?”

“I should. You should rest too, Evan. We’ll be sleeping together anyway.”

The word “home” still felt awkward to Evan. Home—a place to return to after going away.

The children were there, and people they were close to existed there. Once he had thought this world was just a novel, but how had it come to this?

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

As he had told Gilteon, Evan felt that this moment was happier than any other in his life.

He was happy and would be happy in the future. Having cleared away unnecessary thoughts, Evan began to see the darkening sea before him.

The pale moon reflected on the sea, with starlight pouring down like flowing water.

The sound of gentle breathing was like music in that scenery. It was too modest to call it the most beautiful moment, and the scenery was too dark to call it the most brilliant starlight. But Evan loved this modest scenery, and with his head lightly resting on Irene’s, he closed his eyes.

His vision gradually darkened.

The words “going home” echoed in his mind. Perhaps that’s why the word “home” no longer felt so awkward to Evan.