The hero walked up to the throne and politely bowed to the king. The king opened his mouth.
“Welcome. It is an honor that the hero has graced our kingdom with his presence.”
“I am grateful for the warm reception.”
“Um, I do not know why the hero has come to our kingdom….”
The king felt his heart pounding again.
This is maddening. He’s so nervous. He’s very nervous.
It was no wonder, as the man standing before him, the ‘hero,’ had single-handedly defeated the evil god.
What kind of being was the evil god?
It was a being that had tried to destroy the world all on its own.
It even had the power to do so.
But to think that this hero had defeated such a god…
The king took a deep breath. The fate of the kingdom rested on his shoulders, and they were unbearably heavy.
“If the hero wishes to remain in our kingdom, I will grant you anything you desire.”
In the name of the crown. The king added.
Standing to the right of the throne, a middle-aged nobleman whispered to the king.
“If you say you’ll grant anything, won’t that make us seem weak?”
Hearing the whisper, the king silently wiggled his fingers. The middle-aged nobleman leaned in closer.
“Then what would you suggest?”
“Pardon?”
“Pride is something humans establish against other humans. Do you think the one standing before us is a human?”
“…”
“At the very least, he’s a demigod. It would be foolish for a human to oppose a god.”
The king reminded himself once again of the weight resting on his shoulders. The middle-aged nobleman averted his gaze, and the king raised his voice.
“Hero! Is there anything you desire from me or this kingdom?”
“There is.”
“And what is it?”
“I wish to take root in this country, so please grant me a title.”
“That is a simple matter. I promise you the title of Duke. You may choose any land you desire as your domain. And? Is there anything else?”
“And…”
A moment of silence passed. The king began to tremble again, like someone afflicted with a cold.
The attendants were too busy stealing glances at the hero’s face to check the king’s expression this time.
Finally, the hero spoke.
“Please give me two criminals.”
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
“Duke Cassion Axid.”
“Just call me what you used to.”
“Sion!”
Cecile hugged Sion tightly. After giving Sion’s back a few firm pats with her fist, she released him and stepped back.
“I hit you hard, but you didn’t budge at all.”
“How’s Laila?”
“She’s doing well. You two have been exchanging letters, right?”
After saying that, Cecile chuckled.
“You really are something. How could you not send a single letter to me? Weren’t you curious about how your family was doing?”
“Laila kept me updated on how you were.”
“Oh, really.”
Sion stood quietly, gazing at Cecile. Cecile sensed a subtle anxiety in his penetrating gaze.
With her arms crossed, Cecile let out a small sigh and spoke.
“Laila should be in the garden.”
“Thank you.”
Sion quickly expressed his gratitude and moved away from his spot. Cecile watched Sion’s diminishing figure and muttered to herself.
“They say raising a child or a younger brother is pointless.”
“Did my wife raise the hero?”
“Oh, you startled me.”
Cecile flinched and turned around. A handsome man with neatly combed gray hair was looking down at her.
“Count.”
“I came to greet Duke Axid, but it seems I was too late.”
“Yes, you just missed him.”
Cecile glanced in the direction Sion had gone, and Count Kaiter also turned his gaze that way.
Cecile stared blankly at the empty space for a moment before looking back at the count.
“Shouldn’t you be heading back? You must be busy.”
“Hmm… Since I’m already here, can’t I stay a little longer?”
“And how do you plan to spend your time?”
“Well…”
Count Kaiter met his wife’s eyes.
“How about a game of chess with my wife?”
“What’s the prize?”
“Must there be a prize?”
“It’s hard to take a game or match seriously when there’s nothing to gain from winning.”
“Hm, in that case…”
Count Kaiter leaned down and whispered into Cecile’s ear. He then straightened his posture.
“What do you think?”
“I think I should play this game seriously.”
“Really?”
“Let’s go.”
Cecile took Count Kaiter by the hand and guided him away. The count smiled as he walked, accompanied by his much smaller wife.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Laila decided to take a nap in the garden.
Actually, she hadn’t come to the garden with the intention of napping. She had originally planned to read a book.
But there was a rocking chair in the garden… And when she sat in the rocking chair… it was comfortable… and the weather was warm…
Should I take a quick nap?
In the end, Laila couldn’t resist the gentle swaying of the chair and sat down, closing her eyes.
How long did she sleep?
She suddenly woke up, pushing up her eyelids. Her vision gradually became clearer.
“The book…”
Laila murmured to herself. Her lap felt empty. The book she had laid across her legs before falling asleep was nowhere to be found.
It must have fallen. She should pick it up. As Laila, with her drowsy mind, was thinking this…
She sensed a presence. Laila turned her head.
A figure entered the garden, approaching with the sun behind them. Their footsteps were light and easy.
Perhaps it was because of their height and long legs that it seemed so imposing.
The figure, without haste, approached Laila and kneeled beside the rocking chair.
Soon after, someone offered Laila a book.
Laila didn’t take the book. Instead, she stared intently at the face of the person holding it out to her.
Her lips trembled.
“A dream?”
“……”
“It’s been a while…”
Laila muttered to herself. She hadn’t had a dream like this in a while.
Her white fingers brushed past the book, then moved toward the face swallowed by the backlight.
Her fingertips brushed against the facial features. Laila suddenly let out a light laugh.
“Handsome.”
“……”
“And warm… hmm…”
So vivid.
…Why is it so vivid?
Laila suddenly widened her half-closed eyes. Her hand quickly withdrew from the person’s face.
“Sion?”
Sion followed the retreating hand with his gaze before speaking.
“Yeah.”
He placed the book back on the ground and looked directly at Laila. Their eyes met.
“Have you been well?”
Laila stood frozen, unable to move as she gazed at Sion.
Eventually, she curled her fingers into a fist. It felt as if her fingertips were burning—as if she had touched fire.
After a moment of silence, Laila finally spoke.
“…Hello.”
No, what do you mean by hello? Did you separate yesterday and meet again today?
“…Good afternoon.”
What’s this about?
“So…”
After some stammering, Laila finally managed to say something sensible.
“Welcome back.”
“……”
“……I’ve been waiting.”
Laila clearly saw a smile spreading across Sion’s face, which was close to hers.
She felt her heart beating rapidly but steadily.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
“Let’s go to my estate.”
Sion’s words spread through the air. Taylor, standing motionless next to Laila, sparkled with excitement.
What about me? Me? Me? Me? Me……
As Taylor’s intense gaze bore into him, Sion calmly added,
“Both of you.”
“Are you accepting me as Duke’s knight?”
“You don’t have to call me Duke.”
“Are you accepting me as your knight, Lord Sion?”
“You don’t even have to use honorifics. Just do as you did before.”
“Sion!”
Taylor suddenly called out Sion’s name and stepped closer to him. Sensing something unusual, Sion immediately said,
“No hugging.”
“…Why?”
“It’s hot.”
“…Should I take off my outerwear?”
Ignoring Taylor, Sion turned his gaze to Laila. Laila, who had been staring at Sion the whole time, flinched reflexively when their eyes met. Sion spoke.
“Do you want to go?”
“……”
“Do whatever you want. It’s fine if you stay here. Even if you stay here, you’ll be safe.”
Awwww they finally met T^T