Chapter 179

"I'm not saying that I'll be putting someone here. My ability..."

"That's good."

"It is?"

Aendydn hesitated as if he hadn't expected Kaywhin to respond that way. Kaywhin continued speaking.

"Please watch over us closely. So that I don't make any mistakes and so that my wife can be perfectly happy."

"..."

"My wife's happiness is more important than anything."

Aendydn silently scanned Kaywhin's eyes.

"...You really mean it."

"..."

"Aren't I a bother to you?"

"You are."

Kaywhin replied too quickly. He chuckled when Aendydn appeared to be flustered.

"But that's not as important as my wife's happiness."

Yelena returned from the carriage. She was awkwardly hiding her left hand behind her back.

"Ahem, shall we get on the boat then?"

Yelena held onto Kaywhin with her right hand and led him to the boat. She gave Aendydn a sharp look as she did so. It was a look that threatened him not to get on the boat with them.

'Go away.'

Aendydn shrugged and stepped back.

The boatman launched the boat. The boat drifted towards the middle of the lake slowly and smoothly.

"...Boat rides at night are quite scenic in their own way. The water seems calmer too."

"I see."

"I like that it's less windy. The stars are pretty too..."

Yelena was spouting out whatever came to mind, while on the inside, she was waiting for the right timing. She had been hiding flowers behind her back for this very moment.

'Why am I so nervous?'

She had planned everything so enthusiastically, but now that she was actually executing the plan, she was suddenly nervous. Her heart was racing and her mouth was dry. It didn't even cross her mind that Aendydn had insisted on helping her with the proposal.

As Yelena was taking deep breaths, Kaywhin turned his head as if he was looking around at the lake's scenery.

'Now.'

Yelena mustered up her courage and was about to whip out the flowers.

"...Huh?"

Yelena blinked. In a flash, glowing objects crowded around the boat.

'Fireflies?'

There weren't just a few of them. Dozens of fireflies hovered over the lake, encircling the boat.

Yelena stared at the spectacle, in a trance, before snapping her gaze towards the shore.

'Could it be?'

It was dark, but Yelena thought she could see Aendydn from afar, waving his hands and then giving two thumbs up.

'How in the world did he... no, that's not important.'

Yelena came to her senses and looked at Kaywhin, in the middle of the quiet lake, surrounded by the encircling fireflies.

This was no time to be hesitating. Yelena brought out the flowers.

"These are..."

"Enchanted flowers. According to the merchant, they won't wither for one hundred years, no matter where you put them."

"..."

"Kaywhin."

A soft breeze blew. Yelena's hair slightly tickled her forehead.

Still holding the flowers, Yelena continued speaking.

"Will you marry me again?"

She must have done away with her bashfulness; her voice came out without shaking.

"And would you live happily with me for one hundred... no, forever?"

Actually, perhaps she was still a bit bashful.

Yelena kept her gaze fixed on the flowers, unable to look at Kaywhin. Kaywhin accepted the flowers and then replied.

"...Of course."

Yelena may have been imagining it, but his voice sounded a little shaky.

***

The castle was bustling the morning of the wedding. Aendydn came looking for Yelena as she was getting ready for her makeover.

"Could you spare me a moment?"

"How did you do that at the lake?" Yelena asked Aendydn as soon as they reached the garden. She had been curious about it since last night, but had no time to ask him about it.

"Actually, let me ask you this while I'm at it. Just what have you been up to these past five years and where?"

No matter how much she thought about it, she had never heard of a place that teaches people how to control fireflies.

Instead of answering her question, Aendydn stopped in front of a tree. Then, he climbed it in a flash. It only took him two steps to climb up.

Yelena looked up at him with eyes that asked, 'What the heck is he doing all of a sudden?'

"Remember when we were kids?" Aendydn asked from his place atop the tree.

"...?"

"We would occasionally climb trees when there was a full moon. To see the moon closer."

"We sure did. And only I got in trouble."