Ch.179Ending (2)

How long has it been since everyone gathered like this? Evan looked at the tables spread throughout the garden and smiled contentedly.

Even Chris, who had left Yuris to live with Rofena, and Emperor Kaisel were planning to come here secretly.

It had been several years since they’d last met. Evan picked up a lamb skewer as he recalled the first time he met Kaisel.

“Set everything up before eating. And don’t eat by yourself like that.”

“…Can’t I eat just one? There’s so much food here.”

“No, you can’t.”

When Airin firmly shook her head as she inspected the food, Evan pouted and clicked his tongue softly.

In the past, she would have allowed it without hesitation. Perhaps her feelings had cooled off now.

Seeing Evan’s shoulders slump naturally and his expression darken, Airin sighed deeply and spoke.

“Even if you act like that, no means no. What if you start eating before everyone arrives? You’re a duke now, after all.”

“But I’m hungry. After working so hard yesterday.”

“…That’s not why I’m saying this, and you know it.”

Airin replied, lightly covering her reddened cheeks with narrowed eyes.

Dealing with Evan, who grew more glib with each passing year, was no easy task, but Airin had found her own ways to handle him over time. If she had to give an example, it might be taking a strong stance once in a while.

But then again, scolding him over just one lamb skewer seemed too harsh, so she ended up looking at Evan with an internal groan.

“Do you want it that badly?”

“No, I was just kidding.”

“Really, are you an idiot?”

Airin hit Evan’s arm with a thud and finally burst into laughter.

When they first met, he seemed so serious, but at some point, his pranks had become more frequent.

Of course, if asked whether she disliked it, she could accept even this as part of Evan’s charm.

After all, they had been together for 25 years now. Since first meeting Evan and getting married. Even now, when their children had grown into adults.

Although his appearance hadn’t changed at all… throughout that long time, Airin still loved Evan.

His appearance, personality, emotions, gestures. Every single thing about him. They say feelings dull with time, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly at how fresh her feelings still were, like a flower that had just bloomed.

Airin, who had been nestled in Evan’s arms fidgeting her feet, gently pushed him away with her elbow and gestured to a maid working nearby.

Since the Emperor himself was coming, they couldn’t be careless with the preparations. Even though they were friends, he could make an issue of such things if he wanted to.

She had thought they couldn’t be as comfortable as before, but listening to Evan and Kaisel talk, it was amazing how they still used the same manner of speech as in the past.

It was a common complaint she shared with Scarlet about where their age had gone, but the two men themselves didn’t seem to care much about it.

“Where’s Arthur?”

“He’s probably at the training ground by now. I told him to wash up, so he should be here soon.”

“Make sure he dresses neatly. Today is… the day Lize is coming too.”

Despite mentioning Lize’s name, neither of their expressions showed any sign of wavering. It was only natural.

They might have been a bit flustered when they first met her, but now they had accepted her as Levi’s guardian.

Levi had been fond of her since childhood, and besides, hadn’t they completely let go of their past feelings?

Hearing voices in the distance that sounded like Arthur and Levi, Evan glanced at Airin and nodded toward the distance.

“Is Arthur coming? I can’t see him yet.”

“Didn’t I tell you? Your perception is lacking. How would you manage without me?”

“Then just stay by my side forever.”

“I’ve been waiting for that answer.”

How could she, as a Master, see everything that Evan could see?

But since she could faintly hear Arthur’s voice, Evan and Airin approached the direction of the sound and quietly watched the two walking side by side.

Come to think of it, how many years had it been since Levi confessed to Arthur?

The memory of Levi dragging a blushing Arthur and what she had said was still vivid in both their minds.

“I was really surprised back then. So… did they agree that whoever lost the match would confess?”

“I think that’s what happened. Arthur’s reaction was funny too.”

Because Levi suddenly kissed him first despite being the one who was supposed to confess, Arthur, who unexpectedly lost his first kiss, could only be dragged along by Levi, having completely lost the initiative.

Evan had thought she would take control like he did, but Levi growing up to be so fierce was beyond his expectations.

Not that he thought it was bad, but wasn’t his son being such a pushover a bit too much?

“Arthur, why aren’t you saying anything?”

“…Well, I was wondering if we really need to hold hands. It’s… we’ve only been dating for a month. Isn’t this a bit fast?”

At Arthur’s comment about it being too fast, Levi snorted and linked her arm with his, pressing her body close to him.

After waiting for years, he called this fast? She wanted to do even more, but after seeing him lose his mind over just one kiss, she was pacing herself a bit.

She had heard that Arthur’s father was quite open-minded, so why was Arthur so shy with her? But wasn’t that part of his charm?

He didn’t have any female friends to speak of, and he usually trained alone or spent time with her, so there was nothing else to worry about.

Every time her soft body pressed against his arm, Arthur would take a sharp breath. Either unaware of this or ignoring it, Levi pressed herself even closer, making Airin chuckle.

“He doesn’t take after me. Somehow, Levi seems more like you.”

“Was I like that? I think I was a bit more gradual—”

“Who was it that grabbed a drunk person and kissed them? If I hadn’t been drinking that night, you would have just held my hand for months like an idiot.”

“Who was it that was so obviously inexperienced back then? I had everything prepared. Even without alcohol, we would have had Arthur and Robelia… ugh.”

“You really have no filter! Though I would have done everything anyway…! Did you have to say it like that?”

Evan smiled awkwardly at Airin’s protest, her face bright red. Of course, he liked the part about her doing everything.

He wanted to go to their room right away, but spotting a figure in the distance, Evan pulled Airin into his arms and hid behind her.

“S-suddenly creating a mood like this won’t get you anything.”

“I’m not asking for anything. Lize is here.”

Unlike the two who had evaded the passage of time, Lize now had the appearance of a mature woman.

Her black hair was now rolled up in a bun, and the nun’s habit she wore suited her quite well now.

After wandering around for a while, Lize spotted Levi and smiled faintly.

Her complicated expression disappeared completely, and eventually, with a warm motherly expression, she called Levi’s name.

“Levi!”

Hearing her name, Levi looked around for a moment, then spotted Lize and jumped up, running straight toward her.

“Mom!”

Now naturally calling her “Mom,” Levi hugged her tightly, and the two exchanged greetings for a long time while Arthur stood awkwardly in one spot.

After watching for a while, Arthur hesitantly approached Lize and slightly bowed his head with a gentle smile.

Now that she was his lover’s mother, the bold expression he had when they first met was nowhere to be found.

“…I just realized we might need to have a formal meeting with Lize.”

“Does that make you uncomfortable?”

“No, it just feels strange to think about it.”

They say a person’s future is unpredictable even a moment ahead.

Who would have thought that when he first became a knight, he would be meeting Lize for formal introductions—and as parents of their children, no less?

Feeling that so much time had passed, he patted his perfectly fine waist and then smiled playfully.

“Is your waist hurting? Was I too rough last night?”

Of course, Airin initially thought he was really in pain, but when she realized it was a joke, her face instantly turned red.

She hit his back with a loud smack, and as she fumed, Evan hugged her tightly, telling her to calm down. Then, noticing a carriage in the distance, he spoke.

“It looks like Kaisel has arrived. Let’s go greet him.”

“Why don’t you just say your thighs hurt now?”

“It was just a joke. Please forgive me.”

“…How is it that you seem to get younger? You were much more dignified at first.”

“So, do you dislike me as I am now?”

Her laughter escaped involuntarily at his persistently glib smile, and Airin finally forgave him, shaking her head.

How could she say she disliked him? The man she had fallen in love with as if enchanted, their hearts connecting from the moment they first met.

Seeing Evan extend his hand slightly, she laughed for a while longer before finally taking it, interlocking their fingers as they walked toward the main gate where the carriage was arriving.

Paying attention to their crossing steps, they matched their pace completely and burst into laughter again.

“This hasn’t changed.”

“It’s a hobby. Matching our walking rhythm.”

“You two are still getting along well, I see. Have you been well?”

Kaisel, stepping out of the carriage, frowned at the sight of Airin and Evan holding hands tightly.

It was surprising that they were still so close even after all this time had passed.

As proof, he wasn’t even holding hands with Scarlet.

“Kaisel, why don’t you hold my hand?”

“…I guess we’re still getting along well too.”

Realizing he was wrong, Kaisel greeted Evan and Airin with a light bow and exchanged pleasantries.

He quite liked the atmosphere that naturally formed as soon as they met.

Comfortable and pleasant. It was an atmosphere that couldn’t be felt in the imperial palace, so Scarlet also just smiled brightly, waving her hand enthusiastically at Airin.

“By the way, I have a gift to show you.”

“A gift, you say?”

“But first, make me a promise. Don’t hit me after seeing this, and don’t declare war.”

“…What are you plotting?”

As Evan’s eyes narrowed, Kaisel extended his hand toward the carriage that had followed them and smiled mischievously.

That distinctive expression he always wore when playing pranks on Evan. A sense of unease suddenly came over him, and he belatedly thought of Robelia, but by then it was already too late.

“May I present the Crown Princess. What do you think?”

It was Robelia, standing beside Kyle, dressed so elegantly. Adorned with all manner of finery, and holding Kyle’s hand tightly—Evan stared blankly at her before his face began to turn pale.

His legs weakened, his lips trembled, and his excited mood instantly deflated.

After his mind raced through the implications, he came to only one conclusion, and quietly, in a voice so soft that only Kaisel could hear, he muttered:

“…Are you declaring war on me?”

Perhaps he was sincere in that moment, as Kaisel’s body momentarily flinched at the chilling sensation running down his spine.