* * *
Ed couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the silver wolf, looking far livelier than the last time he’d seen him.
‘It must be because His Grace is no longer in pain, right?’
At that moment, another glow emanated from the Duke’s hand.
When Ed glanced away from Aran, a radiant halo surrounded the Duke and his vicinity.
It was a shimmering barrier, edged with golden light.
Even when Ed had first entered the crack in the rift, he’d been struck by the beauty of the Duke’s magic.
Now, as he admired the dazzling light, a question arose in his mind.
‘But why is His Grace erecting a barrier now?’
Aran wagged his tail enthusiastically and pranced around the edges of the circular barrier.
Then, at a small gesture from the Duke, the silver wolf nimbly scaled a tall tree nearby and leapt into the air.
“Wow.”
Ed marveled unconsciously as he watched Aran.
Suspended in midair, Aran released a magical orb from his mouth, which burst into an intricate display of magic.
It resembled a meteor shower falling from the heavens.
Ed stared, entranced, as the light particles burst in the air and tumbled outside the barrier like sparkling crystals.
He looked up again at Aran, who leapt back into the air.
The Duke approached the barrier, watching Ed’s fascinated expression, and clenched and unclenched his fist lightly.
Ever since he had begun spending time with Ed, his body had steadily recovered, no longer plagued by side effects or the nightmares of losing control.
The Duke came closer to Ed and gently swept back his hair.
“Ed.”
“…….”
He leaned down and whispered,
“You are a miracle to me, in and of yourself.”
At that moment, a bright light shot upward into the dark sky and cascaded back into the barrier.
Aran, frolicking in midair, had shattered another magical orb.
Seeing Aran produce yet another orb, brimming with energy, the Duke called out to calm him.
“Aran, that’s enough for now.”
But Aran, seemingly oblivious, let another cascade of light fall beneath the barrier.
Finally, the Duke let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping like a weary guardian of a rebellious child.
Turning to Ed, he muttered with a hint of exasperation,
“Aran’s been stronger lately, and now he doesn’t listen to me as much as he used to.”
“Do you think he might be going through a rebellious phase?” Ed replied with a soft chuckle.
The Duke shook his head, correcting him.
“No, it’s because he’s so fond of you. Every time the light falls, your eyes sparkle so brightly that even Aran can’t help but want to see it again.”
“Does that make you feel jealous of Aran, Your Grace?”
“Not jealous, exactly. It just reminds me of how radiant you are, Ed. Everyone—Aran, the people of the Northern Castle, and even the creatures dwelling in these mountains—adores you.”
Ed wrapped his arms around the Duke’s back, hugging him warmly.
“Even so, to me, Your Grace shines brighter than anyone else in the world.”
The Duke’s chest swelled with joy, his heart overflowing. He pressed a reverent kiss onto Ed’s forehead.
“……Ah.”
As Ed accepted the kiss, the Duke’s lips trailed down his face, and Ed lightly patted his chest in protest, his cheeks flushed.
Meanwhile, Aran had returned to the ground and wagged his tail, circling the barrier playfully, wanting attention.
But neither Ed nor the Duke noticed; they were wholly absorbed in each other.
“Mmm…”
The Duke cupped Ed’s face, tilting his head slightly as their tongues intertwined, soft and fervent.
The sudden intensity left Ed breathless, his body trembling at the electrifying warmth.
When their lips finally parted, Ed felt the lingering heat ripple through him and muttered,
“We shouldn’t… be doing this outdoors.”
The Duke chuckled softly, pressing another kiss to Ed’s forehead.
“It’s fine. Aran’s standing guard, isn’t he?”
Ed laughed and gently stepped out of the Duke’s embrace, feeling the warmth lingering between them.
The Duke gazed at him before retrieving a jewel case from his pocket and opening it.
“This was the necklace my father gave to my mother when he proposed.”
Inside, a ruby necklace gleamed brilliantly.
“He told me to pass it on when I found someone truly special.”
The Duke smiled as he straightened the chain.
“Do you know what my father said to me back then, Ed?”
Ed shook his head slightly.
“When you place the necklace on someone, be fully present, Asnel.”
“…….”
“Otherwise, your once-in-a-lifetime proposal might turn into a complete disaster.”
Ed watched as the Duke deftly unclasped the necklace, his movements deliberate yet trembling slightly.
“At first, I didn’t understand what he meant.”
The Duke studied Ed’s face as if committing every detail to memory.
“But now, I do. My hands are shaking just unclasping this.”
“…….”
“My father said he was so nervous placing the necklace on my mother’s neck that he felt like his heart would burst out of his chest. He didn’t know where to look or how to move his hands.”
“Did he manage to put it on her in one go?”
“No, he was trembling so much that my mother ended up putting it on herself.”
“Ha! That must’ve made the proposal even more unforgettable.”
“Maybe. They reminisced about it every anniversary without fail.”
The Duke’s face softened as he reminisced. He held up the necklace for Ed to see.
“What do you think, Ed? Not bad so far, right?”
“Of course.”
The Duke bent slightly, his voice low.
“Then, will you give me the chance?”
“What kind of chance would that be?”
“To see if I take after my father or mother in moments like this.”
The Duke showed Ed his hands, grinning playfully. Ed smiled faintly.
“Is that all you want, Your Grace?”
“Well, there is one more thing I’d like, if it’s not too much to ask.”
Ed looked up at the Duke’s golden-red eyes, which shimmered in the light of the magical barrier.
“I don’t have much to offer. Can I really give you what you desire?”
“You already do. It’s more than enough. What I want…”
“…….”
The Duke reached out, brushing his fingers against the fastenings of Ed’s hooded cloak, and replied,
“…is you, Ed.”
Blushing, Ed fiddled with his heated ears and lowered his head, watching the Duke’s elegant fingers undo the cloak’s buckles.
“You must be thinking it would’ve been easier if I’d worn something simpler.”
“Exactly. Why are there so many fastenings? My father struggled with a necklace; I might be here all night because of these buckles.”
Feigning exasperation, the Duke sighed, prompting Ed to reply sympathetically.
“Unfortunately, I can’t help you, Your Grace. I need to concentrate to document every moment of today in my journal, so I never forget it.”
“If it’s going to be recorded, I’d better not mess this up, then.”
“Well, wouldn’t it be alright to make a mistake? That could make today even more special.”
“If, someday, you end up feeling upset or angry because of me, Ed, maybe you could look back on this day and reflect on it too.”
The Grand Duke spoke calmly, his hands moving with steady precision.
“In that case, I should make this moment so magnificent that just recalling it would dissolve any anger.”
Ed, who had been lost in thought for a moment, raised his head.
“And if that day does come, how about I follow you around and recite, word for word, all the things we’ve shared up to now? That way, both Your Grace and I could look back and think, ‘We enjoyed it so much because we were together.'”
The Grand Duke chuckled as if he found Ed’s suggestion amusing.
“That’s actually a brilliant idea. If I did make a mistake and it gets recorded, it would motivate me to ensure you’ll never have to read it from your notebook.”
“And if Your Grace ever feels troubled because of me, please let me know anytime. I’ll lend you my notebook. I promise I won’t be curious about what you’ll write, and I’ll humbly wait for you to return it.”
“You shouldn’t say things like that lightly, Ed. What if I come up with an excuse just to keep an eye on you?”
“…If that’s considered ‘keeping an eye on me,’ I think I’d be alright with it. After all, I spend the whole day wondering where Your Grace is and what you’re doing.”
The Grand Duke let out a brief sigh and pulled Ed into his arms.
“My father used to drink himself silly whenever the topic of marriage proposals came up.”
“Was he a good drinker?”
“Not at all. His face would turn red after just one glass of wine. But during those times, his usual stern demeanor would soften, and my mother would often pour him another drink.”
“Listening to Your Grace’s stories, I can feel how much they loved each other. I felt the same way when I saw that family portrait earlier.”
The Grand Duke kissed the top of Ed’s head gently.
“Yes, and I want to share that same happiness with you, Ed. And…”
As he trailed off, the hood of Ed’s coat slipped down his back.
“Fortunately, it seems I won’t need your help to deal with my clothes today.”
* * *
🥰