Chapter 169: After Story 9

My shy 19-year-old husband seldom adjusted, but I worked hard to push the cozyness.

I poked Aedis' cheek, and talked about things like how it was nice that the castle we live in has a weather-controlling spell even though it's cold in the north.

Then, when I listened to Aedis' pretty friendly answer, I felt happy as if I had the whole world.

Around the time the beautiful sunset light spread across the sky, the opportunity to prove my point also came.

There were times when the frozen water broke at a point where it was particularly thin, and the beasts came to the surface, but they didn't show any hostility toward me, let alone Aedis.

I waved at a beast that stuck its head out and peeked at us. The beast watched my hand movements with curious eyes, and then it awkwardly shook its forepaw.

"Did you see that? Beasts like me."

Did I speak too triumphantly?

Instead of admiring it, Aedis sighed and laughed.

"Eve."

I widened my eyes.

It was the first time the 19-year-old Aedis had called me by my nickname.

It was completely different from when I had asked if he didn't want to reveal his real name.

It was a soft voice, as if we were good now.

"I'm fine. You can go back."

"......."

Aedis stopped walking.

"You, stop pretending to be asleep, too."

I could feel the chick clattering in my pocket. The chick used its powers because it was difficult to get out of the deep pocket.

Glittering powder scattered like finely ground stars, and the chick poked its head out.

"Ppyaak!"

It was really the moment I had to go back.

I tried to calmly adjust my face.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Ppyaak Ppyaak!"

The chick clucked cheerfully.

Hmmm, maybe it would be better to leave the clothes Aedis bought for me.

"Aedis, put me down."

My feet touched the icy floor.

I put the head-poking chick in my pocket on the floor and took off my coat.

A fierce wind blew just in time and swept past me.

...... Wouldn't it be okay to just wear the coat?

Of course, I didn't want to take off his boots either.

I put the coat back on. The chick threw a subtle glance, but left me alone.

"Aedis, bow your head."

Aedis obediently complied with my request. I kissed his forehead, where we were at eye level.

Aedis' face looked slightly dissatisfied with the wholesome goodbye.

"I am not a child to be put to bed at night."

He's cute.

I kissed Aedis on the cheek as well. But Aedis' complaints only grew.

"I'm...... ?"

Maybe it was because he was nineteen, he was aggressive.

I specially closed my eyes.

I couldn't help but feel nervous in the coy atmosphere, but no matter how long I waited, nothing touched my lips.

What ......? Did he leave me?

It's not that I didn't believe my husband, but I raised my eyelids because I knew nothing.

Then, I saw Aedis, suffering and rubbing his face repeatedly.

...... Of course. He was still shy around me.

"Aedis?"

Aedis couldn't even control his flushed face and said,

"Wait a minute, I'm still mentally unprepared......."

The chick had been silently watching us and shrugged its wings.

I thought it would take Aedis days and days to finish preparing his heart.

Hey.

I slammed Aedis in the face. And I pressed my lips against his as if putting a stamp on them.

After removing my mouth, I confessed in a sweet voice, ignoring Aedis who had become ice.

"I love you, Aedis. If you wait a little.... Or not, anyway, I'll make sure to make you happy."

However, Aedis took a half step back as if he had heard a threat.

What, what, suddenly I felt like I'd done something very sinister.

Fortunately, it didn't seem like he retreated because he didn't like it. Aedis cleared his throat and touched his mouth.

"...... You, you are good at saying unfamiliar things."

"Because I love you?"

"......."

I answered without hesitation, and Aedis turned his head away.

I can see your ears are all red, Husband. Ah really. I want to bite them.

I barely suppressed the playfulness that was bubbling up.

"Aedis, goodbye, won't you make eye contact with me?"

The man in front of me was not a character in a novel. It was the child who became my beloved husband. That's why I had no choice but to fall in love all over again just looking at him.

Aedis faced me with eyes that were redder than before. He looked like he was on the verge of tears, and my chest tightened.

"As expected, you can't. How can I leave you? What if someone catches you! You can't even—"

"Take her."

Aedis gestured at the chick. Although he was more agitated than me inside, he was relentless on the outside.

"Ppyaak."

The chick hopped over and climbed into my boots.

When I stared at him sadly with teary eyes, Aedis avoided my gaze again.

"...... Don't look at me like that."

How could you ask the chick to take me away without mercy!

"Why? Are you feeling weak?"

I put a lot of force into my eyes. I made an angry face, but Aedis bit his lip.

"Eve."

The face that called my name was quite stern.

I preferred that he just laughed.

I finally understood how Aedis must have felt when he saw me holding back a laugh.

Perhaps listening to my inner protest, Aedis eventually raised the corners of his mouth honestly.

While I was momentarily dazed by that youthful smile, Aedis took a step closer.

Originally, our distance wasn't too far, so we were close enough to hug each other.

Aedis' veined hand caressed my cheek. Aedis was putting more effort into not hurting me.

I grabbed Aedis' hand to hold it still, and rubbed my cheek against his firm palm.

Aedis' smile lingered on his lips and spread to the corners of his eyes.

"It really is a useless worry. You know I will marry you."

Perhaps trying to imprint it on my mind, Aedis spoke slowly and clearly.

Soon his lips landed on mine. It was a wholesome and simple kiss.

It was no different from a goodbye, so why was he unhappy earlier?

While tilting my head, I asked what I had always been curious about.

"You know, if someone else proposed to you, would you have accepted it?"

"I'm not the type to marry just anyone."

Aedis laughed while quoting what I said and swallowed my lips.

For some reason, he seemed put out by my question.

"Wa, wait......."

It felt like my lips were being bitten.

He grabbed me by the back of my head so that I couldn't even step back half a step like he did and pushed me terribly and persistently.

Despite having listened to the protests in my heart, Aedis consistently ignored the protests that barely escaped from my mouth.

When our lips finally parted, I felt dizzy, and my whole body was weak.

"If you don't go back, I take it as meaning that I can continue."

Aedis grabbed my clothes and made a not-threat-like threat.

I'm fine with it...... or no.

I glanced down.

The chick stretched out its short wings and managed to cover its eyes.

"...... Ppi, ppii."

"......."

That chick must be the eldest here, so why does it feel like Aedis and I had become trash here?

But I was the only one who flinched.

Aedis didn't care and waited for my answer.

"...... See you later, Aedis."

Aedis smiled prettily, knowing that the later would be a time that no ordinary person would reach even if they devoted their whole life to it.

"I will wait patiently for you to call me."

It was only when I heard the words that resonated deeply that I was convinced.

Aedis must have accepted the marriage proposal because it was me.

Even if this encounter had faded from his memory, something will remain.

* * *

I carefully lifted my eyelids.

A familiar background and warmth greeted me.

I was sitting on Regen's bed.

Regen was not there, and the exhausted chick rolled around in Regen's place.

First, I tried to listen to the sounds around me quietly. There were no explosions or piercing screams.

It seemed peaceful?

I was also not worried about Aedis, who was nineteen years old.

I left the chick alone then stood and left the room. The long hallway was empty.

"Sarah?"

My voice hummed against the hallway wall.

Don't, don't tell me it was the calm before the storm.......

I fiddled with my coat. It still looked new, but the design was out of date.

If I go down to the first floor like this, rumors will circulate that the Grand Duchess' fashion sense has become strange. Umm, since I have to meet Aedis, I'll have to go to the bedroom first.

I took a step. As if everyone in the castle had evaporated, I didn't run into anyone on the way to the bedroom.

What is it, why am I anxious? I'm sure I'm not the only one in the castle.

Slightly nervous, I knocked on the bedroom door.

"Aedis?"

No answer.

I opened the door.