“You’re back already? Weren’t you going to stay until summer?”
Ahwin and Noel had returned from their honeymoon. Everyone was surprised when the two, who had planned a long honeymoon, came back sooner than expected.
“Yes, it seems we returned earlier than we thought.”
Noel chuckled and glanced at Ahwin, whose fingers were interlocked with hers.
“There was someone we wanted to see. Right?”
Ahwin also smiled broadly in agreement.
“That’s right. We just couldn’t wait any longer.”
The two entered the palace, greeting people they hadn’t seen in a long time. Thanks to their long trip, both of them were moderately sun-kissed. Whether it was because they had become a married couple or because they had traveled together for so long, there was a different air of ease about them.
Noel and Ahwin. Initially, their honeymoon was supposed to be very long.
Leticia had granted them an extraordinarily long vacation.
“After all the emotional hardship before the wedding, you both deserve a happy time together,” she had said.
Though they hesitated, wanting to stay by Leticia’s side, she insisted they create good memories and practically pushed them to go. So, they decided to relax and fully enjoy their travels.
Their honeymoon was indeed sweet. It was the first time they had completely stepped away from their duties since becoming wings. The freedom felt strange yet enjoyable. The two spent blissful days, no longer as wings but as a normal couple.
The highlight of their honeymoon was the sea. Having been born and raised in the empire, neither of them had ever seen the ocean. Especially for Noel, who wielded the power of water, the sea had only ever been something she read about in books.
Genos was a country built beside the sea, with many beautiful coastal cities. The jade-colored sea stretching under a clear blue sky was so breathtaking it left them speechless. The sea breeze, the cry of the seagulls, and the soft touch of the white sand—these were memories they would never forget for the rest of their lives.
Yet, even while they were enjoying such a happy time, someone kept crossing their minds. Every time they saw something beautiful or experienced something wonderful, they thought of that person. How great it would have been to share it with her.
Lehira.
The daughter of Leticia and Dietrian.
The little girl who had brought Noel and Ahwin together, their goddaughter, kept coming to mind.
In the end, they decided to change their honeymoon plans. Instead of heading north after visiting the southern coastal cities, they would stop by the capital. They would visit the coastal city of Satir, where Sigmund and his wife had met, another time.
“Princess!”
As soon as Noel saw Lehira riding her wooden horse, a bright smile spread across her face. Lehira perked up her ears and looked at Noel, then reached out as if asking to be held. A court lady standing nearby exclaimed.
“Oh my, it’s like she knew you were coming.”
“Noe! Ahwin!”
The way her eyes sparkled made it seem true. Ahwin and Noel, who both had an inkling of Lehira’s powers, shared a knowing smile. Ahwin grinned and picked Lehira up.
“Princess, how have you been? Wow, you’ve grown so much since we last saw you!”
Instead of replying, Lehira wrapped her arms around Ahwin’s neck. Noel, still beaming, stepped forward to greet her too, but something seemed off. As soon as Lehira hugged Ahwin, her expression became gloomy.
“Princess? Is something wrong?”
Seeing the usually cheerful princess suddenly look so downcast made Noel’s heart drop. Lehira remained silent, resting her face against Ahwin’s shoulder. As Noel became more anxious, the court lady standing nearby spoke awkwardly.
“She’s been like this sometimes lately.”
“What? Really?”
How could this be? Their beloved princess was feeling down from time to time. Noel’s gaze wavered anxiously. The court lady, shaking her head with a reassuring smile, tried to ease her worry.
“It’s nothing serious. Lady Kailas and the royal physician have both checked her multiple times. Plus, Lord Julios said it’s fine as well. He mentioned it could be something natural during a growth phase.”
Julios. Hearing that name, Ahwin quietly whispered to Noel.
“Do you think it’s because of Gilead’s power?”
“It might be. I wonder what kind of future she saw….”
They couldn’t help but worry if it was a bad future.
“If Lord Julios has confirmed it, then it must really be alright.”
“Yes, you’re probably right.”
Even for the two wings, Gilead’s power was something very special. While they were concerned, they trusted that if Julios had confirmed everything was fine, then it likely was.
The two walked with Lehira, chatting about this and that. Perhaps it was because they had missed her, but even though the space was so familiar, everything seemed more precious and dear to them now.
After the walk was almost over, Ahwin tried to set Lehira down. At that moment, Lehira clung to him tightly, refusing to let go. Ahwin gently asked her,
“Princess, are you uncomfortable?”
“Seeyoh!”
“Then would you like to stay with us a little longer?”
“……”
“……Princess?”
Ahwin gasped softly. Tears had started welling up in Lehira’s eyes and soon began to stream down her cheeks. The two of them were flustered, watching her in distress.
“Seeyoh…”
“Princess? What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”
“Seeyoh… Banetta….”
“……Pardon?”
“Seeyoh… meeah.”
Lehira, with her childish lisp, kept saying “no” and “bad.” Noel strained to listen carefully, finally managing to make sense of her words.
“……You don’t like Banessa?”
But Lehira wasn’t finished speaking.
“She’ll… take away… my brother? Abel? Are you talking about Abel?”
“Waaaah!”
Lehira burst into tears. Noel and Ahwin exchanged bewildered glances. Banessa taking Abel away? What on earth could she mean?
* * *
At the same time, in the Empire, Banessa was overwhelmed with worry, completely unaware that he was being hated by Lehira.
It was because of Callisto.
His relationship with Dana was still going smoothly.
However, they hadn’t yet made their relationship public. This was because Dana was determined to at least grant Banessa the title of Duke.
Although Banessa insisted that such a high rank wasn’t necessary, Dana drew a firm line. She absolutely wouldn’t allow the nobodies to gossip about her future husband.
The joy Banessa felt at being called ‘husband’ by Dana was short-lived, as fear began to grip him. It was the very worry that had been weighing heavily on his chest for days.
‘How should I tell him?’
No matter how much he thought about it, it seemed unlikely that Callisto would welcome him. After much consideration, he finally confided his concerns to Dana, albeit very cautiously. He didn’t want to show his weak side, but whenever he thought of Callisto, he genuinely felt his life was at risk.
「Callisto? Don’t worry. I’ll win. You have nothing to worry about.」
Despite all his agonizing, Dana brushed off Banessa’s concerns as if they were trivial.
Yes. Dana was right. Dana would never lose to Callisto. And surely, Callisto wouldn’t go to such lengths to block what his sister had set her mind on.
Even after resolving to think this way, the anxiety only grew. The guilt of all the wrongs he had done to Callisto flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.
Banessa tried his best to focus on his strengths. As he had done before, he closed his eyes and tried to imagine.
Let’s imagine that my late sister has come back to life. She now has a lover. But that lover, like I did with Callisto, interfered in everything he did and irritated him in every possible way. How would I react…?
‘I’d kill him.’
A scoundrel like that getting close to my precious sister would be absolutely unforgivable. And if he dared cross her bedroom threshold at night? Even more unforgivable.
In the end, Banessa started to come up with a rather outrageous plan.
‘Maybe I should hide until he goes back to the Tower.’
I’ll hide until Callisto’s research ends, and he returns to the Magic Tower. Callisto will go back eventually. If I can just avoid him until then, I’ll be fine somehow.
If I accept the title Dana is giving me and become her fiancé. If we even get married.
Would Callisto really kill me?
‘I must not even let this thought slip. If I do, it’s all over.’
…And so, Banessa was scheming how to avoid Callisto’s eyes. But why, for some reason.
“Long time no see.”
Why had Callisto emerged from his lab so soon? And why had he come straight for him the moment his research ended? Moreover, why was he glaring at him with such a terrifying expression? Banessa forced a smile and asked.
“Haha, right?”
Callisto’s gaze grew colder. As Banessa, who was dating someone with the same eye color, he found it unbelievable. Since they were siblings, both Callisto and Dana shared the same gray eyes. While they seemed like mystical jewels when he was with Dana, they appeared chillingly menacing now. It was baffling.
“Banessa.”
Callisto narrowed his eyes. A bell rang in Banessa’s head. He was so tense that his heart pounded loudly. It felt like all the blood in his body was draining out. His mouth was dry as sandpaper.
He wasn’t ready to face Callisto. His mind was in shambles. Amidst the chaos, a memory floated up—Dana had laughed heartily when Banessa shared his worries with her, and then said:
「If Callisto opposes us, don’t worry. Just say what I told you, and nothing will happen.」
At that moment, Banessa resolved never to say what Dana had suggested, no matter what.
That perhaps his sister might already be pregnant with his niece or nephew.
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