Chapter 177

Aendydn was busy all week.

He spent one day watching the knights train in the arena, another day surveying the vast ducal territory, and another helping and conversing with several different people who worked in the castle.

Meanwhile, Yelena focused on her own matters, regardless of what Aendydn was up to.

'My new wedding!'

Yelena's plan to hold a new wedding at the castle was slowly coming together. It was on the verge of coming to fruition.

Her plan was as follows:

First, the preparations for the wedding would be kept secret from her husband.

In order for that to be possible, Yelena needed Ben and the head maid Lula on her side. After all, it would be difficult for the other servants to avoid them, no matter how stealthily they moved.

'The banquet hall is almost all set up.'

The castle's banquet hall was one of the main places that Yelena's husband usually didn't pay attention to. He would never know that the hall was being decorated without Ben or Lula reporting to him about it. And so, the banquet hall was steadily being decorated, unbeknownst to Kaywhin.

'And...'

Second, once the preparations were complete, Yelena would propose to Kaywhin.

Yelena clenched her fists.

'The flowers arrived just in time last night...'

After getting a ring, Yelena prepared flowers that were commonly used for proposals. They were a rare species that used magic to prevent withering semipermanently. Luckily, Yelena was able to procure them in a week's time.

Abbie had reported the banquet hall's status to Yelena this morning. At this rate, the wedding preparations would be complete by tomorrow at the latest. Plus, Ben said he had been secretly practicing for the officiation in his room for the past couple of days.

'Great. I'm proposing today.'

Yelena was firm in her decision. She even had the location set: the lake.

They would ride a boat on the lake where Yelena had yearned to have a date for so long. After setting the mood, she would bring out her flowers and propose.

'It's perfect!'

After assessing her plan, Yelena made her way towards her husband's study with a look of determination.

It was then that someone suddenly appeared and blocked her path.

"Aendy?"

"Yelena."

"I'm sorry, but I'm a bit busy right now. Could we talk later—"

"You're going for a boat ride at the lake today, right? With your husband."

Yelena, who had stopped in her tracks, briefly recalled her memories.

'Did I tell Aendy about this?'

She didn't.

"...How do you know that?"

"I have my ways."

'Merry must have told him.'

There was no doubt about it.

Merry was weak only when it came to Aendydn, seemingly because of her memories of taking care of him and Yelena when he was a feeble child.

'I guess he's still a child in Merry's eyes even though he grew up so unpleasantly.'

No kidding. She had called him a fairy and prince of the forest and whatnot. Yelena mentally shook her head. Then, she spoke.

"Fine, I am. I'm going for a boat ride. I have to go tell my husband now, so could you get out of the..."

"Let me go with you to the boat ride."

"What?!" Yelena raised her voice suddenly. She stared at Aendydn as if she had heard something unbelievable.

"Go with me where?"

"I'm not going to ride the boat. Just take me to the lake."

"No."

Yelena shuddered at the memory of what had happened at the dinner table on Aendydn's first day here.

"Take you to the lake so you can slander me? Absolutely not. I can't. Go away."

"I won't get in the way. No, I'll help you."

"What?"

"I said I'll help you. I'll make your proposal more marvelous than you ever imagined."

Yelena stared at Aendydn. She was suspicious for valid reasons.

"And how would you do that?"

"Yelena, aren't you curious? About where I was and what I was doing for the past five years."

"..."

"What knowledge I came back with, I mean."

"That's related to helping out with my proposal?"

"You'll know when you see it."

"..."

"How about it, Yelena? You'll take me, won't you?"

Yelena looked into Aendydn's orange eyes. Warm eyes that reminded her of the sky at sunset. Many things about her childhood friend had changed, but only those eyes had remained the same.

Yelena let out a sigh shortly after.

"...If you get in my way, you won't be seeing me for a long time."

Aendydn smiled like the boy from Yelena's memories.

"Don't worry. Your happiness is what's most important to me."