Chapter 95
She wanted to confess her feelings to him right that moment, but with her lips sealed by his, it wasn’t like she could say anything. Then again, after going on about divorce just earlier, suddenly blurting out ‘I love you’ would’ve been laughable in itself.
Aldrick, unaware of Violet’s tangled emotions, mumbled feverishly.
“We have so much time ahead of us. I’ll prove to you that my feelings aren’t just some illusion. Maybe to your eyes I’m still lacking in a lot of ways, but I’ll work on that… okay? You don’t have to love me right away. Just… don’t say things like divorce or breaking up. Please. You’re everything to me.”
All Violet could do was return his heartfelt confession and fervent kiss with everything she had.
Their bodies, pressed together like glue in the Lambert mansion’s garden, finally separated when they sensed someone nearby.
“This won’t do. Let’s go back to our room.”
At Aldrick’s quiet whisper, she nodded. Being led by the hand through the nighttime garden felt more romantic than usual.
‘Oh, right.’
There was something she’d been meaning to ask him.
Once they got to the room, he’d probably pounce on her again, and she might be too distracted to remember. Taking advantage of the moment of clarity brought on by the cool night air, Violet leaned in and whispered into his ear.
“By the way… what exactly is… that you mentioned? ‘Touching yourself’?”
***
That evening, Aldrick and Violet avoided the other guests and retreated to their room.
…They didn’t emerge for an entire week.
Count Lambert, having a rough idea of how a young couple reunited after a year apart might spend their time, discreetly instructed the servants not to disturb them.
On the morning of the seventh day, still buried under the covers, Violet grumbled at Aldrick.
“I’ll never be able to go outside again… Everyone will know… they’ll know what we did. It’s awful…”
She had lost her senses, too, but once she sobered up, the unbearable embarrassment hit her like a tidal wave.
And this wasn’t even their own home. The thought of what Count and Countess Lambert might think of her made her want to crawl into a hole. But unlike Violet, Aldrick was unfazed.
“We’re married. Everyone will just take it in stride.”
Now that they were truly husband and wife in every sense, he seemed just plain happy.
“Still, this isn’t even our house…”
“Oh, right. That reminds me—there’s no need for us to stay here anymore.”
As he spoke, idly toying with her hair, Violet’s eyes went wide.
“Really? Then where are we going?”
He smiled, a little sheepishly, and explained his plan.
“It’s not official yet, but I’m probably going to be assigned to the Royal Guard. The commander said so, so I’m pretty sure it’s set. So I looked into a house as soon as I got back to the capital… I picked it on my own, so I’m not sure if you’ll like it.”
The more he said, the more Violet’s eyes widened in disbelief. It was all such good news that she didn’t even know how to be excited properly.
“The Royal Guard? Isn’t that only for elite knights? That’s incredible, Aldrick!”
“The commander said he’d recommend me. I didn’t do badly in the war, I guess… Anyway, I just told him I’d do anything as long as it paid well.”
Despite the modesty, the light blush on his face made him look exactly like the boy he used to be.
“There was some talk of a title, too, but since the war ended early, I didn’t really accomplish anything special… I guess this is still the best I can do for now. The house isn’t grand like Simon’s manor—it’s just a normal one on the outskirts. I’m sorry. But I’ll do my best to make you happy, no matter what.”
His serious promise, with a firm expression, was that of a man who had grown and matured.
Violet hugged him tightly, messing up his hair as she pressed her face to his.
Aldrick would always protest when she treated him like a child, but so what? To Violet, Aldrick would always be that kind of presence.
At once a boy and a man, a younger brother and a friend, and now her husband.
“My gosh, I’m so happy. Honestly, I can’t believe it. A house… I always dreamed of just having a room of my own… When do we get to see it? What about furniture? I didn’t just spend my time playing around while you were away, you know. I saved up a bit of money—it’s not much, but maybe it’ll help. Oh… but I was going to use that money to buy you clothes and a ring. Hm, would it be rude to ask Doris if she has any more work for me? This all feels like a dream, Aldrick. What if I wake up and I’m back in Father’s house in Wölze? I don’t think I could ever sleep again.”
Still wrapped in his arms, Aldrick listened to Violet’s excited, babbling voice.
Just as she said, it truly felt like a dream. This moment—being with the woman he loved. Was something he had wished for ever since falling for her.
It was hard to believe that a dream that once seemed impossible had now come true.
The overwhelming joy that filled Aldrick’s heart was beyond words.
And he vowed never to let go of this happiness for the rest of his life.
Once a boy who resented the world and lived in misery, he had now found eternal happiness in the arms of the love of his life.
—IF Story, End.
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