Chapter 134

‘You’ve already become someone I can’t live without.’

Elena gazed quietly at her lover before giving him a gentle eye-smile.

“Of course I miss you. I think of you every moment, you know?”

At her forthright words, Lupeon’s blue pupils dilated then contracted.

Pulling his lips into an elegant smile, he gazed at her for a long while as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

Embarrassed by his gaze, she rolled her eyes around before asking with a prim expression.

“Have you fallen for me all over again?”

“It seems I have.”

Elena’s golden eyes trembled at his ready admission.

In the garden where moonlight fell softly and only the sound of crickets quietly echoed, they gazed at each other silently.

Realizing her feelings for Lupeon deepened with each passing moment, Elena called his name with a trembling voice.

“Lupeon.”

“Yes?”

Though she had been determined to do this well, now that the moment had come, her heart felt ready to burst.

But she couldn’t give up. How much preparation had she done for this moment?

Praying that the moon god would give her courage, she raised the ring she had taken from her pocket.

Her fingertips trembled so much that she worried she might drop the ring.

Though she tried to regain her composure by swallowing hard, she couldn’t control her thundering heart.

In the quiet stillness, Elena carefully slipped the ring onto Lupeon’s left ring finger.

She hoped he would like this one-of-a-kind ring she had made thinking of him.

Then she bowed her head and lightly kissed the back of his hand.

“May sacred glory reach you.”

“Elena…”

Disturbance passed through Lupeon’s clear eyes, as if he hadn’t expected this situation at all.

After gazing for a moment at his indescribable expression, Elena said with a faint smile.

“Lupeon, will you marry me?”

Despite her direct question, he just silently stared at her.

Though she had wanted to deliver this perfectly, Elena could feel how much she was trembling.

‘Why isn’t he saying anything?’

Had her father felt this way too when he proposed to her mother?

Elena tried to think if she had made any mistakes, but her mind went blank and no thoughts would come.

‘It doesn’t seem like I made any mistakes…’

How diligently she had practiced alone all this time. To pledge eternal love to the man she loved most.

The moment she received the Mermaid’s Tear from Duke Hugoston, Elena had decided to turn it into a ring and propose to Lupeon.

She had been secretly anticipating what expression he would make upon receiving the blue jeweled ring.

But seeing the man’s stiffened expression, she was starting to feel anxious and impatient.

Seeing his unreadable expression reminded her of when they had reunited in the North.

‘I can’t tell what he’s thinking at all.’

Elena bit her lower lip as all sorts of thoughts ran through her mind.

Whether he didn’t like the jewel, or whether he didn’t like her proposal itself.

But she was certain of one thing: she couldn’t propose a second time.

Just as she swallowed a shallow sigh and tried to hide her anxiety while silently waiting for her lover.

Lupeon suddenly dropped his head to her shoulder, and soon his hot breath transferred directly to her skin.

“…!”

As Elena looked at Lupeon with round eyes, he muttered something quietly.

“I really can’t win against you.”

“What…?”

Raising his head again, he captured only one woman in his eyes.

“I’ll spend my life making you happy, so your choice won’t be in vain.”

As Elena slowly processed his words, she finally realized he hadn’t rejected her proposal.

“You mean…!”

The man, who had somehow taken her hand in his, lightly kissed the back of it.

“Please become my lifelong companion.”

As deep emotion washed over her again, Elena nodded and answered in a voice thick with tears.

“Yes, Lupeon.”

Upon hearing her answer, Lupeon trapped her in his broad embrace, and Elena hugged him back tightly with a bright smile.

They couldn’t tell whose heartbeat was louder, but the sound wasn’t unwelcome.

When Elena lifted her face that had been buried in his chest, he immediately kissed her forehead as if he had been waiting for this.

Then her eyes, her pure white cheeks, and her crimson lips.

Not stopping there, the man began to press his lips against her white neck.

As his sensual breath touched her skin, Elena felt her neck area burning hot.

She couldn’t think straight with his woody scent touching her nose, and her whole body felt tingly and dizzy.

“Ah…”

When Elena’s delicate shoulders trembled slightly, Lupeon raised his head and a gentle smile spread across his lips.

“From now on, I’ll do my best in everything.”

“…”

Then he raised their interlocked hands and gently pressed them against his face.

“Within your satisfaction.”

* * *

Looking at her reflection in the vanity mirror, Elena blushed at the vivid red marks particularly prominent on her white neck.

“Really, Lupeon…”

Embarrassed as she recalled last night’s events, she generously applied regenerative ointment hoping the marks would fade.

After all, she couldn’t openly display such things in the imperial palace where many people came and went.

‘Besides, it wouldn’t be good for Anasha’s education.’

Elena finally let out a sigh of relief after covering the red marks with a bandage.

“This should be fine, right?”

Yet perhaps because the man’s face when accepting her proposal lingered in her mind, her face turned crimson again.

Cupping her heated cheeks with both hands, Elena looked toward the door at the sound of someone knocking lightly.

*Knock knock*

“Big Sister, may I come in?”

“Of course, Young Miss.”

As soon as permission was granted, Anasha flung the door open.

But when the child entered struggling with something in her arms, Elena’s eyes widened like saucers.

“Young Miss, what is all this?”

As if trying to answer her Big Sister’s question, Anasha let out a deep sigh and spoke.

“This many have piled up again, but it’s boring just writing replies.”

What the child held was none other than a large bag full of letters.

When she said she had come to spend time talking together, Elena guided the child to the tea table.

Seeing the young lady looking somewhat dejected, she handed her sweet cocoa to comfort her.

Even after attending the Hestia Count family’s tea party, Anasha had attended several other houses’ social events.

But unlike her initial excitement, the child’s face had grown increasingly dark.

“Young Miss, did something happen at the recent tea parties?”

At that question, Anasha hung her head low and answered while fidgeting with her fingers.

“Everyone was intimidated by me and just kept watching their behavior.”

“What…?”

The child began to pour out her troubles to her Big Sister, appearing quite upset.

“I thought I’d make many friends after becoming princess, but that wasn’t the case.”

“Young Miss…”

Elena’s heart ached seeing the child so downcast, saying she hadn’t known making like-minded friends would be this difficult.

Particularly, she mentioned that Lady Hestia, whom she had especially wanted to befriend, hadn’t replied to Anasha’s letter.

Now it seemed the child was most hurt by Siena not responding to her letter above all else.

As Elena was lost in thought, wondering if there might be a separate reason the count’s daughter hadn’t sent a reply, someone knocked on the door.

The person who appeared was the maid in charge of correspondence, and she delivered a letter to Anasha.

“Your Highness, I’ve brought a letter that was misplaced.”

“Thank you for your work. You may go now.”

After the maid finished her respectful bow and left Elena’s room, the child checked the sender’s name with a listless expression.