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“WHERE are we going?” Clovis asked as he followed behind Alicia.
It was a legitimate question. Alicia had suggested they take a stroll outside, and Clovis assumed they would stay in the garden, but she’d hurried through, and they were already back in the castle.
Their footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway. After taking several turns and descending some stairs, Clovis caught a glimpse of their destination.
“That’s…”
“The Hall of Time,” Alicia finished, stopping and turning to face him. Her blue hair flowed behind her, contrasting gray statues lining the hallway.
“Why are we here?” Clovis frowned. “This was where…”
“Where I died in my previous life… And where I first met you. That’s why we’re here.”
Clovis stared hard at his mistress, trying to figure out her true intention, then turned his gaze back to the room.
The Hall of Time—a place where the figures of past Heilland kings and saints lined up in imposing rows. It was a sacred space full of the history and majesty of the kingdom.
And it was the place where it all started.
“You were so frightening, filled with anger, hatred, and rage, concentrating them into your sword without mercy,” Alicia recounted. “When I first saw you at the ceremony at ten years old, I thought my heart would stop. You seemed like the black God of Death.”
In the center of the large hall filled with light, his glossy black hair swayed as he lifted his handsome face, those violet eyes slowly looking up at her…
She could still remember the terror she’d felt.
“But when you turned to leave, I knew I couldn’t let you go. That’s why I reached out… Making you my adviser was the best decision of my life. Because of you, I’ve learned so much, recognized my foolishness, found my path, and discovered love.”
Clovis took a deep breath and looked at Alicia’s wry smile.
“Didn’t you know? I guess not. I mean, I was just a child, and you could have any lady you wanted. So I kept my heart hidden, and rightly so. I made a mistake in my previous life and had no right to love anyone until I had achieved a successful reprise. That was my thought.”
“You…”
“Yes, Clovis. I’ve been in love with you for the longest time. Much longer than you can imagine.”
His violet eyes widened as his mouth dropped open in surprise. After a moment, he looked away and folded his arms in disapproval.
“…And yet you rejected me.”
“Because I didn’t want you to die, but it was the wrong choice after all,” she explained bitterly. “Rather than letting fears from my previous life get to me, I should have believed in the present, walking on with you and everyone else. Because of that mistake, I hurt you deeply. I can’t ask for forgiveness, but please. I’d like another chance if you’d allow it…!!”
“If I allow it? That’s a very half-hearted request.”
Alicia was speechless. Glancing up fearfully, she saw Clovis looking down at her, arms crossed and a grim expression on his face.
“Then let me ask. Will you give up if I say no? Are you planning to seal away your first love as a beautiful memory, go against your heart, and accept a foreign royal as your husband?” he challenged.
“That’s… I mean…”
“Unfortunately, Your Highness’s inability to answer tells me to expect the worst.”
The merciless words pierced through her heart. Suddenly, she couldn’t breathe as sharp pain coursed through her entire body.
Alicia looked at the floor, not knowing what to say. Tears filled her eyes and blurred her vision until she felt a sigh and the warmth of a hand on her head.
“Why does it look like I’m bullying you?”
“Clovis…?”
“Fine. Let me show you something.”
The adviser pulled out several scrolls from a pocket in his long robe. As Alicia blinked in confusion, he undid the string on the first scroll and held it out to her. Taking it from Clovis, she looked at the signature at the bottom and gasped.
“What’s this?”
“A royal decree from His Majesty. ‘I hereby welcome Clovis of House Cromwell as the husband of my daughter Alicia.’ That was the message he sent to the advisory office.”
“Oh?”
“There’s more.” Clovis passed the next scrolls to the dumbfounded Alicia. “This is the letter sent by the advisory office to the Privy Council in response to the king’s decree. And this is the response from the Privy Council showing their approval… And the Duke of Geras, being as shrewd as ever, has offered the Hobbs mansion as the venue for the wedding ceremony.”
“Huh? What?”
“This last one is from Empress Elizabeth. She has shown her support for Princess Alicia as the next ruler of Heilland and welcomed her husband as a symbol of friendship between the two countries. Her Majesty has recommended me to be a diplomatic ambassador between Heilland and Erdal.”
Alicia stood still, mouth hanging open as her sky-blue eyes scanned the first document again, then turned towards the calm Clovis.
“I have some questions,” she said.
“Please go ahead.”
“When was all this prepared?”
“After we returned from Erdal, of course, though His Majesty’s royal decree came before I could speak to him.”
“And the letter from Empress Elizabeth?”
“It arrived yesterday, though I spoke with Her Majesty when I infiltrated Mylene Hall to persuade her to join our side.”
“You spoke about marriage to her then?!” Alicia couldn’t help but shout. Clovis just shrugged, taking no offense.
“The empress agreed immediately, as expected, once I vowed not to accuse Crown Prince Fritz of framing Riddhe for the crime and promised to arrange his study abroad mission.”
Alicia could only stare at Clovis, not knowing what to say.
“It can’t be helped,” Clovis continued in all seriousness. “I had to do certain things if I wanted to have you. His Majesty would ensure Heilland’s approval of our union, but Empress Elizabeth’s letter is the most efficient way to prevent other countries from voicing any disapproval and interfering.”
“But this seems a little too much…?”
“There’s no such thing as too much in the quest to have you.”
With that, he pulled her into his arms, his handsome face looking down at Alicia as she fumbled for words. Stroking her long blue hair slowly, he spoke again.
“That is what I’ve done… So I will give you another chance. What do you want from me? How do you want me? Answer me, Alicia.”
His voice was low as he whispered the last words sweetly in her ear. Alicia suppressed the shiver that ran down her spine, finally looking up. Sky-blue and violet met, and a blush stained her cheeks.
“I-I…”
She looked at Clovis as he waited.
Fate was such a strange thing.
When she first regained her memories, she was terrified of the man. Before she knew it, he grew into a reliable ally, an irreplaceable friend, and finally, someone she loved dearly.
Someone she loved more than anyone else.
How often had she yearned for him to feel the same way for her?
“I want to become your one and only,” she whispered, raising a hand to caress his pale cheek as Clovis blinked. “I will never let you go again, so please don’t let go of me either. Please, Clovis. I wish for you to accept me, not as an adviser, but as Clovis Cromwell…”
Clovis bent and captured her lips. The kiss was soft and warm, hopelessly comforting, and almost brought tears to her eyes.
“I’d say the same,” he answered as he pulled away, wrapping his arms around her. She thought she could feel his heart beating a little faster. “I am already all yours… Now, it’s my turn to steal you away.”
Alicia closed her eyes. A single tear slid down her cheek.
That’s right. Ever since that day six years ago, when Alicia took his hand, they’d both been searching for their goal.
The road had been treacherous, dark, and filled with uncertainty. At times, she met with severe storms, suffering, and sorrow. But because he’d never let go, Alicia could keep going. She knew that there was always light at the end of the storm, and the pair had rejoiced in its beauty.
Now, they were standing in a brand new field.
This place was both endlessly free and endlessly unfree. Thick grass covered the land, but there were many hidden roads to be discovered. With no set goal, it was a world where they could be explorers, choosing their own destinations, paths, and routes.
And with Clovis by her side, she had nothing to fear.
And somewhere past the field, she should find an amazing starry sky she’d never seen before…
She wrapped her arms around his neck as he tilted her chin up. She looked right into his violet eyes and saw the sweet passion there.
Taking a small breath, she answered. “I’ll gladly go with you.”
Clovis smiled and held her tight.