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DURING dinner, we received wonderful news from abroad. Prince Malius and Lady Lecia of the Kingdom of Orion had finally set the date of their marriage. With that, Elizabeth and I began hashing out plans for our honeymoon in earnest. The plan was to visit Orion first for our friends’ wedding. Then, we’d continue to tour the continent and take in as much of it as we could. Elizabeth and I had just retired to my chambers to discuss our plans.
“Prince Malius and Lady Lecia are bound to have a wonderful wedding, aren’t they?” Elizabeth asked me dreamily.
“I’d imagine they will.”
I was still concerned for Leohardt’s mental state, but Lecia was already all but living in the palace during her studies to become queen. I hoped that gave him a chance to adapt to his brother’s relationship.
“Let’s plan to stay in Orion for one week,” I suggested. “We’ll continue north to Ankreiss from there. I’d like to find out if their royal family is still at odds with their prime minister or if it’s just a rumor after all.”
“I’ve also heard that they’re swimming in gold.”
“Exactly, and as long as their royals maintain their hold on the mines, they’ll remain dominant…or at least, I would expect so. I’ve heard they’ve been exporting increasingly less gold lately.”
I glanced up to find Elizabeth staring at me and likely had been for some time. It took a moment for her to regain her composure and awkwardly avert her gaze.
“I was a little smitten at how seriously you’re taking this,” she admitted awkwardly.
“Oh. Er… Good.”
It was extremely direct of her but par for the course at this point.
I’m so glad I remembered all of my political knowledge… It’s officially worth it now.
“That’s my only diplomatic concern,” I announced. “Is there anywhere you’d like to see?”
“I’d like to see the Angel’s Canyon in Varmon… I’ve wanted to visit since I was a little girl.”
Why go anywhere? There’s a true angel before my eyes.
I didn’t say that; instead, I consulted the map to figure out what the travel times and duration of our stay in each place would look like. We resolved to visit Nieve as our last stop, after which we’d return to Urhalla from the south. It’d be a three-month trip in total. We had many foreign kings and the like to visit, specifically the ones unable to attend our wedding, but we’d have ample time for sightseeing as well.
By the time we’d finished, evening had melted into nightfall, and it was nearly time to prepare for bed. As we were married, however, it only felt right that we should plan to spend some time alone, as a married couple should. A kiss on the cheek would surely be enough—but on the other hand, I didn’t want her to think it was too sudden.
Before I could plot a course of action, however, she stood up.
“I bid you good night, my prince.”
“Er, um…yes, good night.”
Drat. I missed the timing.
Normally, after we said our good nights, she’d curtsy cordially and leave. This time, however, she stepped closer to me instead of the door.
“Good night, Vince.”
She rested her hand on mine, then stretched her neck toward me. I felt her lips graze my cheek like the wings of a butterfly.
“Er…”
“His Majesty—no, Father and Mother gave me some advice earlier. They told me that any time we’re alone together is an opportunity to grow closer to you.” She chuckled bashfully, but I could barely process it.
Mother, Father, what manner of obscenities are you trying to teach my wife? Thank you so, so much.
Elizabeth stepped back to leave, but I found myself shadowing her and wrapping my arms tightly around her slender body. I could feel my face go red hot, a fever unlike any I’d ever felt. Guilt rapidly built within me, and I tried to release her, but before I could, she wrapped her trembling arms around my back. Her grip was weak, growing just slightly stronger as we held each other. My heart was beating so wildly she had to be hearing it.
“Do…do you remember that good luck charm you gave me before the wedding?” She didn’t reply, but her body language strongly suggested she did. “I interpreted that as your having strong feelings for me… It gave me courage. Courage enough to kiss you then, in front of all those people.”
Before I could thank her, she pulled her head off my shoulder. Her eyes swam around the room.
“U-Um… That was Lady Margaret’s idea. Her ‘killing blow,’ she called it.”
“Lady Margaret’s what?”
“I knew I should have told you beforehand… I’m dreadfully sorry.”
She pulled out of our embrace, then raised her right hand a little and made a fist.
Wait. Killing blow?!
Elizabeth extended her fist slowly, turning her hand so that its back was toward me. She moved so slowly and deliberately that I felt no danger whatsoever from her. Finally, she pressed her hand into my lips, then bashfully dropped her gaze.
So her “good luck charm” wasn’t a kiss after all?
I continued staring blankly at her, and she shifted her weight uncomfortably.
“I told Lady Margaret that our practice sessions weren’t going well, so she taught me this.”
Didn’t Harold say Lady Margaret kissed him?
“She said that if I did this,” Elizabeth continued, “even the surliest of lovers would be putty in my hands…”
Oh, so she did it all out of love, after all.
I got the feeling Lady Margaret’s advice gave me a little too much info about her love life with Harold, but I tried not to dwell on that. There was a more important question I had to ask.
“Do you mind if I get a little mushy? Saccharine, even?”
She blinked in surprise. “Eh? U-Um…”
Her gaze slowly rose to meet mine, and after swallowing hard, she briefly nodded yes. I’d never seen anything so cute before in my life.
I took her by the hand and bowed deeply, kissing the back of her hand again but of my own volition.
“At the ceremony, we swore undying love and fealty to our country and each other. Allow me to pledge my love once more, here and now. Elizabeth, will you swear to stand with me forever?”
I watched as her blush traveled to the tips of her ears. As I looked into those brilliant amethyst eyes, however, I could see the joy in them. I’d never seen her so happy before.
“Yes! Of course I will, Vincent.”
Her eyes fluttered shut, and I leaned into her.
With that, the happiest man in the world became the happiest husband in the world. In time, he would become a great king, beloved across the land.
And they lived happily ever after.