Chapter 67
Without his priestly robes, Theodore looked striking. The silver hair he always kept perfectly slicked back had now been casually styled, giving him a freer, gentler air. His once-set mouth and stern gaze now curved softly, blooming like a rose in spring.
The deep green tunic shirt and a mantle embroidered with silver thread he wore could have had him mistaken for a nobleman’s heir.
‘His family is the House of Valentino, after all. Blue blood, through and through.’
She’d never actually met a royal knight, but surely they looked like this. His broad shoulders and the hint of his strong chest beneath the shirt made her want to throw herself into his arms.
“Daphne?”
Daphne couldn’t tear her eyes from his beautiful face. When she didn’t respond, Theodore lifted a hand to cast shade over her features, his brow creasing with gentle concern.
“Have you gotten too much sun?” he asked softly, peering down at her.
She grinned, a slow, teasing thing, before slipping her arms around his lean, firm waist and pulling him close.
“I was waiting for you,” she murmured.
“I told you not to wander off alone.”
“Mmm, I wasn’t. I was with the sisters just a little while ago.”
“I know. They’re the ones who told me where to find you.”
He pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, his voice quiet against her hair.
“Have you decided what you want to do yet?”
“Hmm… not yet.”
When she’d finished her release from the clergy and was sorting through her things at the convent, he had asked her if there was anything she’d dreamed of doing once she left. But having assumed she would live out her days within the convent’s walls, Daphne hadn’t known how to answer.
“There’s no rush.”
Theodore said, wrapping his arms around her waist. He placed her feet gently atop his and began to sway them into a slow dance. Caught by surprise, Daphne’s eyes widened, then she giggled, throwing her arms around his neck in delight.
“By the way, what did you do with it?”
“…With what?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
When she narrowed her eyes at him, he glanced away in a way that made her grin widen. She had told him to throw out the collection of keepsakes he’d kept from her. She’d suspected he wouldn’t.
“Do you still need that, now that you have me?”
He deflected with a kiss to her forehead, eyes twinkling.
“You were the first to ever give me something, How could I part with it so easily?”
“Goodness.”
She wasn’t talking about the stone.
Seeing him talk nonsense, it seemed like he was determined to hold on to it until the end.
‘He doesn’t want to let go, so maybe I should just leave him be.’
Daphne shook her head.
After a few more turns, the spring breeze gently tousled their hair. Daphne lifted her head and gazed across the river. Beyond the shimmering ripples, she could see the forest.
“I wonder what’s beyond there?”
At Daphne’s muttering, Theodore followed the direction of her gaze.
“To the northwest lies the Kingdom of Tenebre. Beyond that, there’s the Gelumar Sea. It’s a place where you can see the northern lights.”
“The northern lights?”
What’s that?
When Daphne tilted her head in confusion, Theodore lovingly looked at her.
“Think of it as a rainbow in the night sky.”
“A rainbow in the night sky…”
Daphne thought of the small rainbows that would occasionally appear after it rained. The sky she saw from the convent was so monotonous that those rare days when she saw a rainbow became a memory she cherished. It would make her happy just to see one.
As Daphne’s turquoise eyes sparkled, Theodore smiled faintly and said:
“If you want, we can go see it.”
“Really?”
“If you’re not sure what you want to do, taking a trip might be a good idea.”
He suggested that by seeing the world and meeting different people, she might find something she wanted to do. Daphne rested her head on his chest.
“Of course, you don’t have to do anything. I can fatten you up without lifting a finger.”
At the assurance that money would not be a concern, Daphne chuckled softly.
“Are you going to fatten me up to eat me?”
“Isn’t that only natural?”
“Wow…”
She thought she was the one who had no restraint, but once this person crossed a line, he became like a wild, untamed colt. Recalling how he had tormented her until the early hours of the morning yesterday, Daphne clicked her tongue and stepped off his foot.
“We should definitely go on a trip.”
“That’s a shame, but it’s a good idea. This time of year is perfect for traveling to new places.”
With a chuckle, Theodore kissed her forehead and let her go.
Just then, they heard footsteps coming from the riverbank.
“Oh, you’re still here! Daphne!”
From a distance, Thalia could be seen waving toward them, with other sisters by her side.
Theodore extended his arm toward Daphne.
“Shall we go?”
“Sure.”
Daphne took his arm and began walking. It was really time to leave.
Thank you for sticking with Daphne and Theodore until the end of their story! If you liked this novel, feel free to let other readers know what you enjoyed about it on novel updates. If you like what I do, you can support me on ko-fi ☆
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