Elze woke up feeling like she had had a very sweet sleep. Her whole body felt refreshed, and her mind felt clear as if it had been washed in cold water.
Elze took a deep breath and opened her eyes. The first thing that came into view was a dark sky. Unlike the bright blue sky she had seen in her dream, there was something dark and black, like dark clouds.
Her limbs felt light. The handcuffs and shackles that had restrained her body had disappeared without a trace. Elze felt her chest with her hand. Her clothes were clean, without a single speck of filth. She could feel her smooth flesh beneath the cloth without a trace. She had clearly been pierced by a sword, but it was clean without a single wound.
The divine power of Ilwooz has turned everything around.
As soon as she thought of Ilwooz, Elze instinctively looked for him.
But Ilwooz was nowhere to be seen. The lush green meadows with swaying grass that she had looked out over with him were no longer there.
Instead, what unfolded before her eyes was a black and red hell.
“...!”
Elze looked around in a daze. Blood was everywhere. The dry plains were soaked with blood. Under the torn Heglatan flag, pieces of flesh and bone were scattered, unrecognizable.
But Elze couldn't look any further. It was because Shan caught her eye. To be exact, it was Shan strangling Hyeon's neck.
“Shan!!”
Elze quickly got up and almost fell forward, running towards Shan.
In the brief moment she ran toward him, a slimy, damp air clung to her body. It was like a sticky tentacle that grabbed her limbs. But Elze didn’t stop running, even though she staggered.
“Shan, stop!!”
He hugged Shan from behind and grabbed his arm. Shan released his grip. Hyeon's body fell to the floor. Hyeon gasped for breath and coughed frantically.
She managed to stop Shan with great difficulty, but Elze was soon thrown back with a loud impact.
“Ugh...!”
Elze, who had fallen several meters, groaned from the impact when she hit the ground. However, before she could come to her senses, she was immediately hit with a hand on both her shoulders, causing her to scream in pain.
The owner of the hand was Shan. He climbed on top of Elze and pressed hia hand firmly onto her shoulder.
Is this what it feels like to be hunted? The merciless evil force felt like being stuck on a hook. Soon, a sharp pain rose up.
And only then did Elze get a good look at Shan.
Shan was already inhuman. A black aura was gushing out from him. It was a mixture of murderous intent and magical instruments, and the moment it touched her body, it brought about an instinctive sense of rejection.
The pupils, slits long and narrow like those of a wild beast, stared straight at Elze. It was a horrifying sight.
But Elze didn't run away. She wasn't afraid. She just looked him straight in the eye.
“...”
There was a subtle tension between him and Elze, a tension that was both thin and dangerous, like ice that could break at any moment.
The moment the dangerous and precarious tension breaks, her head will be blown off. Even though she knew this fact, Elze accepted him.
He breathed in and then out. Elze breathed out, and then in. Their breaths mingled. After an endlessly long and short moment, Shan slowly opened his mouth.
“...Elze?”
The moment he called her name, her body went numb. Elze wondered what kind of expression she was making right now.
She couldn't tell if she was crying or laughing. Maybe it was both.
Elze opened her lips slowly, very slowly, and called his name with a voice that came from deep within her body.
“Shan...”
The murderous intent and madness that had been overflowing in Shan's eyes gradually subsided. He looked down at Elze with slightly clearer eyes. After looking at her like that for a while, Shan spoke abruptly.
“Is this an illusion?”
The strength in his hand that was holding her shoulder gradually disappeared.
“I created this because I was completely crazy... so is it an illusion that will disappear quickly?”
The ending trembled. Fear was evident on Shan. He paused for a moment and looked at Elze. At some point, Shan’s eyes darkened again. He slowly opened his mouth.
“No, it doesn’t matter if it’s an illusion. It doesn’t matter if it’s a lie. It doesn’t matter if it’s anything...”
The dark energy that had been calming down a little began to stir again. Shan whispered in a deep voice.
“Don’t disappear...”
The pitch-black thing slowly descended down Shan and wrapped around Elze's body. The aura that wrapped around her so earnestly seemed as if it would immediately plunge Elze into the pitch-black darkness and imprison her forever.
But instead of avoiding the pitch-black aura, Elze quietly raised her hand. And she caressed his eyes.
Even the torn pupils, which were evidence of the evil awakening, looked pretty... This was really a big deal. Elze said with a quiet smile.
“I’m glad I can see your eyes again.”
Shan's eyes widened. His eyes, which had suddenly hardened, slowly began to moisten. His moist purple eyes began to shake slightly as he followed Elze's touch.
“It’s okay now, Shan.”
Elze whispered in a soft and affectionate voice.
“I'm back.”
And the moment he heard those words, Shan broke down.
“Elze...”
He buried his face in Elze's arms. She felt warm and wet. She heard sobbing. Shan's shoulders shook.
“Elze, Elze, Elze...”
Shan called Elze's name several times. He couldn't say anything, just called her name and burst into tears.
As the tears he shed, the black energy that had been stretching out in a meandering manner also subsided. As the dark instrument that had been covering the sky was cleared away, the priests and knights who had been suffering until then also gradually regained their energy.
Hyeon, who had been sitting on the floor, let out a long sigh of relief. She looked at Elze and Shan with a small smile.
As the instruments were removed, the sky, which had been dark because it blocked the sunlight, gradually brightened.
Shan held Elze in his arms and cried out loud for a long time until the black aura completely disappeared and the sky became completely blue and clear.
The war between Targayel and Heglatan, which had caused tension across the continent, ended in Targayel's victory.
The nations of the continent could not hide their surprise at Targayel's victory. Even the nations that supported Targayel were surprised by the victory.
This was because everything was against Targayel. From the time they were preparing for war to their military power, weapons, and even the weather, nothing was in their favor.
Except for one thing, Targayel had a brilliant general named Shan Kyraxus and the Knights of Elijah, who, like they had done in the Hundred Years' War, led the unwinnable war to victory.
However, unlike Targayel, who was firing off celebratory shots, the situation of Heglatan, the defeated nation, was miserable.
First of all, Heglatan lost its Emperor, Blahar, in the war. Blahar, who was defeated in battle and fled in panic, was chased by Targayel's pursuers and disappeared, and his body was never found.
Since Blahar ascended to the throne and annihilated the entire royal family, Heglatan was left to fend for itself for a long time without an Emperor to lead it.
Moreover, in the final battle, Heglatan took out the Chimera. The fact that he created the Chimera as a means of war became known to the world.
As the news of their Chimera experiments for war spread across the continent, they could not avoid moral condemnation. Despite being a defeated nation, Heglatan did not receive even a single pity.
In the end, Heglatan signed a treaty with Targayel that contained many unfavorable clauses, without taking sides with either country.
The treaty, which was based on the payment of a huge indemnity and interference in internal affairs, was so unfavorable to Heglatan that it could practically be seen as a vassal state of Targayel.
The northern empire that once ruled the continent was thus reduced to the back alleys of history.
And Targayel, who had achieved a great victory, prepared a grand celebration for the returning troops.
“Wow!!”
Cheers shook the ground. Paper flower petals fluttered and fell, while a military band played music, beating drums and blowing trumpets.
The imperial army marched in full uniform. Elze and Shan were at the forefront, riding horses. Elze rode side by side with Shan as they circled the capital.
The last was the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace had already completed preparations to welcome the generals. For the imperial people to see well, they were waiting in the square right in front of the Imperial Palace, with a platform and tents set up.
Since the victory ceremony was held immediately after returning to the Targayel Empire, she has not yet met Astin. This meeting here is the first reunion between Elze and Astin.
Astin stood on the platform, waiting for Elze. As she approached, step by step, his face appeared closer.
Elze walked confidently. Then she sat down in front of Astin, next to Shan, and knelt on one knee. Shan was the first to speak.
“Shan Targayel Kyraxus, Commander-in-Chief of the Targayel Empire’s Armies.”
And then Elze spoke.
“Erzenes Targayel, Deputy Commander of the Targayel Imperial Forces.”
Astin looked down at Elze with trembling eyes. Elze briefly lowered her head, then met his eyes and spoke.
“We have safely returned from the battle, with a glorious victory to present to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“...”
Astin bit his lips, unable to answer right away. He was trying to hold back his emotions. After taking several deep breaths, Astin was finally able to begin his speech.
“Truly... It could be said to be a great victory... Everything was unfavorable...”
Astin, who had been sobbing while continuing his speech, kept stopping because his throat was choked up. Elze gave Astin a small smile as a signal that it was okay.
But somehow that became a signal. Astin, who had been barely holding back his tears despite his wide eyes because it was an official event, eventually burst into tears.
Astin completely forgot all about his dignity as an Emperor and ran towards Elze, crying. Then he hugged Elze and sobbed.
No matter how dignifiedly he had been taking care of state affairs as an Emperor, he was still a young sibling in front of Elze. Since he had sent his only blood relative to the battlefield with his own hands, Astin's feelings were indescribable.
Elze didn't know, but Astin checked the news from the battlefield first thing every morning. And only after confirming that Elze was safe did he start his day's work. If he heard any bad news from the front line, he would feel anxious all day.
Elze took a deep breath and opened her eyes. The first thing that came into view was a dark sky. Unlike the bright blue sky she had seen in her dream, there was something dark and black, like dark clouds.
Her limbs felt light. The handcuffs and shackles that had restrained her body had disappeared without a trace. Elze felt her chest with her hand. Her clothes were clean, without a single speck of filth. She could feel her smooth flesh beneath the cloth without a trace. She had clearly been pierced by a sword, but it was clean without a single wound.
The divine power of Ilwooz has turned everything around.
As soon as she thought of Ilwooz, Elze instinctively looked for him.
But Ilwooz was nowhere to be seen. The lush green meadows with swaying grass that she had looked out over with him were no longer there.
Instead, what unfolded before her eyes was a black and red hell.
“...!”
Elze looked around in a daze. Blood was everywhere. The dry plains were soaked with blood. Under the torn Heglatan flag, pieces of flesh and bone were scattered, unrecognizable.
But Elze couldn't look any further. It was because Shan caught her eye. To be exact, it was Shan strangling Hyeon's neck.
“Shan!!”
Elze quickly got up and almost fell forward, running towards Shan.
In the brief moment she ran toward him, a slimy, damp air clung to her body. It was like a sticky tentacle that grabbed her limbs. But Elze didn’t stop running, even though she staggered.
“Shan, stop!!”
He hugged Shan from behind and grabbed his arm. Shan released his grip. Hyeon's body fell to the floor. Hyeon gasped for breath and coughed frantically.
She managed to stop Shan with great difficulty, but Elze was soon thrown back with a loud impact.
“Ugh...!”
Elze, who had fallen several meters, groaned from the impact when she hit the ground. However, before she could come to her senses, she was immediately hit with a hand on both her shoulders, causing her to scream in pain.
The owner of the hand was Shan. He climbed on top of Elze and pressed hia hand firmly onto her shoulder.
Is this what it feels like to be hunted? The merciless evil force felt like being stuck on a hook. Soon, a sharp pain rose up.
And only then did Elze get a good look at Shan.
Shan was already inhuman. A black aura was gushing out from him. It was a mixture of murderous intent and magical instruments, and the moment it touched her body, it brought about an instinctive sense of rejection.
The pupils, slits long and narrow like those of a wild beast, stared straight at Elze. It was a horrifying sight.
But Elze didn't run away. She wasn't afraid. She just looked him straight in the eye.
“...”
There was a subtle tension between him and Elze, a tension that was both thin and dangerous, like ice that could break at any moment.
The moment the dangerous and precarious tension breaks, her head will be blown off. Even though she knew this fact, Elze accepted him.
He breathed in and then out. Elze breathed out, and then in. Their breaths mingled. After an endlessly long and short moment, Shan slowly opened his mouth.
“...Elze?”
The moment he called her name, her body went numb. Elze wondered what kind of expression she was making right now.
She couldn't tell if she was crying or laughing. Maybe it was both.
Elze opened her lips slowly, very slowly, and called his name with a voice that came from deep within her body.
“Shan...”
The murderous intent and madness that had been overflowing in Shan's eyes gradually subsided. He looked down at Elze with slightly clearer eyes. After looking at her like that for a while, Shan spoke abruptly.
“Is this an illusion?”
The strength in his hand that was holding her shoulder gradually disappeared.
“I created this because I was completely crazy... so is it an illusion that will disappear quickly?”
The ending trembled. Fear was evident on Shan. He paused for a moment and looked at Elze. At some point, Shan’s eyes darkened again. He slowly opened his mouth.
“No, it doesn’t matter if it’s an illusion. It doesn’t matter if it’s a lie. It doesn’t matter if it’s anything...”
The dark energy that had been calming down a little began to stir again. Shan whispered in a deep voice.
“Don’t disappear...”
The pitch-black thing slowly descended down Shan and wrapped around Elze's body. The aura that wrapped around her so earnestly seemed as if it would immediately plunge Elze into the pitch-black darkness and imprison her forever.
But instead of avoiding the pitch-black aura, Elze quietly raised her hand. And she caressed his eyes.
Even the torn pupils, which were evidence of the evil awakening, looked pretty... This was really a big deal. Elze said with a quiet smile.
“I’m glad I can see your eyes again.”
Shan's eyes widened. His eyes, which had suddenly hardened, slowly began to moisten. His moist purple eyes began to shake slightly as he followed Elze's touch.
“It’s okay now, Shan.”
Elze whispered in a soft and affectionate voice.
“I'm back.”
And the moment he heard those words, Shan broke down.
“Elze...”
He buried his face in Elze's arms. She felt warm and wet. She heard sobbing. Shan's shoulders shook.
“Elze, Elze, Elze...”
Shan called Elze's name several times. He couldn't say anything, just called her name and burst into tears.
As the tears he shed, the black energy that had been stretching out in a meandering manner also subsided. As the dark instrument that had been covering the sky was cleared away, the priests and knights who had been suffering until then also gradually regained their energy.
Hyeon, who had been sitting on the floor, let out a long sigh of relief. She looked at Elze and Shan with a small smile.
As the instruments were removed, the sky, which had been dark because it blocked the sunlight, gradually brightened.
Shan held Elze in his arms and cried out loud for a long time until the black aura completely disappeared and the sky became completely blue and clear.
***
The war between Targayel and Heglatan, which had caused tension across the continent, ended in Targayel's victory.
The nations of the continent could not hide their surprise at Targayel's victory. Even the nations that supported Targayel were surprised by the victory.
This was because everything was against Targayel. From the time they were preparing for war to their military power, weapons, and even the weather, nothing was in their favor.
Except for one thing, Targayel had a brilliant general named Shan Kyraxus and the Knights of Elijah, who, like they had done in the Hundred Years' War, led the unwinnable war to victory.
However, unlike Targayel, who was firing off celebratory shots, the situation of Heglatan, the defeated nation, was miserable.
First of all, Heglatan lost its Emperor, Blahar, in the war. Blahar, who was defeated in battle and fled in panic, was chased by Targayel's pursuers and disappeared, and his body was never found.
Since Blahar ascended to the throne and annihilated the entire royal family, Heglatan was left to fend for itself for a long time without an Emperor to lead it.
Moreover, in the final battle, Heglatan took out the Chimera. The fact that he created the Chimera as a means of war became known to the world.
As the news of their Chimera experiments for war spread across the continent, they could not avoid moral condemnation. Despite being a defeated nation, Heglatan did not receive even a single pity.
In the end, Heglatan signed a treaty with Targayel that contained many unfavorable clauses, without taking sides with either country.
The treaty, which was based on the payment of a huge indemnity and interference in internal affairs, was so unfavorable to Heglatan that it could practically be seen as a vassal state of Targayel.
The northern empire that once ruled the continent was thus reduced to the back alleys of history.
And Targayel, who had achieved a great victory, prepared a grand celebration for the returning troops.
“Wow!!”
Cheers shook the ground. Paper flower petals fluttered and fell, while a military band played music, beating drums and blowing trumpets.
The imperial army marched in full uniform. Elze and Shan were at the forefront, riding horses. Elze rode side by side with Shan as they circled the capital.
The last was the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace had already completed preparations to welcome the generals. For the imperial people to see well, they were waiting in the square right in front of the Imperial Palace, with a platform and tents set up.
Since the victory ceremony was held immediately after returning to the Targayel Empire, she has not yet met Astin. This meeting here is the first reunion between Elze and Astin.
Astin stood on the platform, waiting for Elze. As she approached, step by step, his face appeared closer.
Elze walked confidently. Then she sat down in front of Astin, next to Shan, and knelt on one knee. Shan was the first to speak.
“Shan Targayel Kyraxus, Commander-in-Chief of the Targayel Empire’s Armies.”
And then Elze spoke.
“Erzenes Targayel, Deputy Commander of the Targayel Imperial Forces.”
Astin looked down at Elze with trembling eyes. Elze briefly lowered her head, then met his eyes and spoke.
“We have safely returned from the battle, with a glorious victory to present to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“...”
Astin bit his lips, unable to answer right away. He was trying to hold back his emotions. After taking several deep breaths, Astin was finally able to begin his speech.
“Truly... It could be said to be a great victory... Everything was unfavorable...”
Astin, who had been sobbing while continuing his speech, kept stopping because his throat was choked up. Elze gave Astin a small smile as a signal that it was okay.
But somehow that became a signal. Astin, who had been barely holding back his tears despite his wide eyes because it was an official event, eventually burst into tears.
Astin completely forgot all about his dignity as an Emperor and ran towards Elze, crying. Then he hugged Elze and sobbed.
No matter how dignifiedly he had been taking care of state affairs as an Emperor, he was still a young sibling in front of Elze. Since he had sent his only blood relative to the battlefield with his own hands, Astin's feelings were indescribable.
Elze didn't know, but Astin checked the news from the battlefield first thing every morning. And only after confirming that Elze was safe did he start his day's work. If he heard any bad news from the front line, he would feel anxious all day.
He waited with such anxiety, and finally got to see his sister's face. It was a brave thing that Astin, who was always crying, was able to endure this much.
“...”
Elze smiled silently and hugged Astin, who was crying loudly. The people of the empire responded to the two siblings’ embrace with enthusiastic cheers and applause.
Next to Astin and Elze, Heyla took out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears, and Shan smiled quietly.
The attendants were taken aback by the sudden turn of events and hurriedly opened the cage they had been planning to release after the congratulatory speech. A pure white dove flapped its wings and flew under the dazzling sunlight, and sparkling paper petals scattered in the air, embroidering the surroundings.
The crowd's cheers grew louder. Amidst the thunderous cheers, Elze and Astin looked at each other with tearful eyes and big smiles.
It was the beginning of true peace.
***
There was a rustling sound. Elze read the letters slowly, being careful not to crumple the paper in her hand too much.
Elze, who had carefully read the letter from beginning to end twice, sighed. Then, muttering quietly, she folded the paper neatly and put it in her pocket.
“Not yet...”
The paper was a letter from the sacred city of Inesian.
After the sudden death of Ilwooz, the Ines Church dispatched priests all over the continent to find the next Ilwooz.
In the Kingdom of Ryeo, in order to find Ilwooz, they were supporting the Ines Church in both material and spiritual ways, centered around Queen Hyeon.
However, finding Ilwooz was not easy. Of course, in the past, there were cases where the next Ilwooz was found several years after the death of the previous Ilwooz.
But this time, it was a bit special. To save Elze, the savior, Ilwooz went against providence. It was an act that was no different from acting against Ines.
No one could be sure whether Ilwooz would once again receive God's love and continue on to the next generation with his thousand-year-old memories.
There was skepticism about this issue even within the church. They would continue to look for the next Ilwooz, but it seemed that they had somewhat given up hope.
But Elze believed him. Because he had promised. Because he had promised so firmly that he would definitely return. Even if it took so long and even the church forgot about Ilwooz, Elze would remember him and wait for him.
Elze's thoughts were soon broken by a knock on the door.
“Madam, we have arrived.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Elze replied briefly and got out of the carriage. The bustling capital square unfolded before her. Elze pulled her hood down low and hid in the crowd.
Elze was headed to an old tavern hidden in a corner past the square. It was the place where she first met Elijah after the end of the Hundred Years' War.
And there was a party going on there right now. It was a victory party with Elijah and Kalia.
The old wooden sign creaked and swayed in the wind. Even before entering the bar, the noise was already rumbling outside. As soon as Elze opened the door, cheers and shouts of all kinds poured out from inside.
“Captain! The Captain is here!!”
“Is Ma'am here?”
“The Captain is here? Sit next to me!”
“Are you here, Captain? Why are you so late?”
She was out of her mind. In the meantime, Elze was already sitting down, holding a glass full of alcohol in both hands.
“Come on, come on, the Captain is here too, let’s all cheer!”
Following the loud shout of Tarkun, everyone raised their glasses and cheered until the bar was empty. Elze also smiled and clinked her glasses with them.
It was a gathering with cool drinks, delicious food, and comrades who had gone through life and death together. Even though there was nothing special, it was so much fun that they couldn't stop laughing. Time flew by as they chatted about random things and laughed.
As they were getting into a heated conversation, the topic of the victory ceremony came up.
“The sight of the Emperor and the Captain embracing each other at the victory ceremony was heartbreaking, wasn’t it?”
“What is the Emperor, you ignorant one?”
Tarkun spoke steadfastly despite Ivanna's nagging.
“Everyone said that was the best scene in the victory ceremony! They really liked it because it made them feel close to the Emperor, who was like the sky.”
Rapine took a sip of his drink and answered.
“I definitely felt like I was approaching him in a friendly way because I could sense his human side.”
Elze stabbed a well-cooked sausage with a fork and took a bite, saying:
“Well... I didn’t really think about it and did anything like that.”
As they talked about the victory ceremony, Shan naturally came to mind. What is he doing now? He had earnestly urged Elze, who was going to the party, to come home early...
Thinking back, she didn't even realize how much time had passed while she was playing. Elze glanced out the window. It was already dark outside, so stars were visible. Elze was surprised and quickly got up from her seat.
"Captain?"
Ivanna looked at Elze in wonder. Elze smiled bashfully and said.
“Sorry! I’ll go in first.”
“What the heck!!”
Naturally, chaos broke out. Everyone spoke up and grabbed Elze.
“What flavor is the alcohol if the captain is gone?”
“No, Captain. I will never let you go.”
“That’s right! Where are you going?”
Epen also added a word timidly next to Elijah, who was chattering away.
“Madam, I would be very sad if you left like this.”
Elze said as she apologized to Elijah, Epen, and Kalia.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. But my husband is waiting for me at home.”
For some reason, at the words that her husband was waiting, the mouths that had been chattering until just a moment ago shut tightly. Elze smiled and spoke to them.
“Instead, Shan said he’ll pay for all the drinks, so everyone can drink without worry! And eat lots of expensive food.”
And with those words, the fierce opposition completely died down. Thanks to the atmosphere of tolerance and understanding, Elze was able to leave the bar with ease.
“See you at the mansion! See you later!”
After exchanging greetings here and there, she left the bar. The old wooden door creaked shut. The loud voices and laughter disappeared faintly beyond the wall.
Elze, standing in an empty alley, looked up at the sky for a moment. Clouds drifted slowly across the deep blue sky. The cloud’s trajectory was drawn long under the moonlight.
The spring breeze brushed her cheek. The soft sensation tickled her hair and skin. Pass, the sound of grass rustling could be heard from somewhere.
Just like that moment in her dream that day, when she was sitting side by side with Ilwooz in the meadow...
“...”
Elze stared blankly at the sky and then started walking. It was time to go home.
To the Targayel mansion, where Shan is waiting.
***
That day, Shan almost killed the knights of Targayel.
In fact, if Elze hadn't come back, he probably would have started killing Hyon and then continued killing everyone he could find.
Fortunately, Elze managed to block Shan's attack just in time to avoid the worst. However, the Targayel knights who had fled at that time saw Shan's attack on Heglatan in full view.
Judging from the appearance of the corpse that remained in their memory, it must have been a very brutal murder. They must have seen the scene of Shan killing Blahar and killing others indiscriminately. However, none of the knights dared to speak, and they kept quiet about what happened that day.
In fact, Shan's rampage and Elze's death and resurrection were things that couldn't be understood with common sense. No matter where she went and talked about it, it would only be treated as an exaggeration of his military exploits on the battlefield.
Besides, Shan wasn't the type of person to just leave loose-lipped people alone. The knights knew that, too, so they chose to keep their mouths shut.
But the demon problem did not end there. The priests of the Ines cult were still anxious about Shan's existence. This was because the millennium had not yet arrived. The priests regarded Shan as a time bomb that could turn into a demon at any time.
However, they did not stop Shan right away. It was because they believed that everything would be okay if Elze were by his side. Seeing Elze put the rampaging demon to sleep in an instant, they realized the true meaning of a savior.
Also, due to the sudden death of Ilwooz, the internal affairs of the church were so hectic that it was difficult to even pay attention to this.
Although Hyeon is helping the church a lot, the church's chaos will continue until the next Ilwooz is found.
“...”
Thinking of Hyeon, Elze's heart became complicated again. Hyeon was strangled by Shan. But that day, even though she had a red handprint on her neck, she hugged Elze and cried. She even joked that she would give up her neck as many times as Elze wanted if she could come back alive.
She accepted Ilwooz's death more gracefully than anyone else. She even comforted Elze, saying that he was just doing his duty.
However, Hyeon and Ilwooz were close friends. Her heart couldn't be at peace when she had to send her best friend away overnight.
Just by looking at the way she spared no support for the Ines Church in their search for Ilwooz, it was immediately clear that she, too, was missing Ilwooz.
As Elze was lost in thought, the clattering of carriage wheels came to her ears. It was the sound of a carriage running on a well-paved road.
Elze gently opened the curtains of the carriage window. In the distance, she could see the Targayel mansion. The simple and plain-looking mansion was always the same, unchanging, waiting for Elze.
And inside there, Shan will be waiting.
Thinking of Shan, who was eagerly waiting for her, her heart suddenly became anxious again. As soon as the carriage stopped, Elze opened the door herself and got out. As she entered the mansion with quick steps, Marle greeted Elze.
“Madam, are you here? His Excellency is waiting for you.”
Marle chattered about how he had been waiting for Madame to come home, having eaten dinner or not. Elze smiled, exchanged a few words with him, and went straight up to the bedroom.
Was it the sound of footsteps walking? Before Elze could grab the doorknob, the bedroom door opened with a bang. A large hand grabbed Elze by the waist.
“Shan!”
Elze called his name as she was half-dragged into the bedroom. Shan didn't care and just hugged Elze.
He hugged Elze with his strong arms crossed. Shan buried his face in Elze's shoulder. After holding her like that for a long time, Shan belatedly opened his mouth.
“I kept waiting.”
Elze smiled awkwardly at his resentful tone. She had promised to come back before the sun set, but she ended up playing until the stars came out.
“I’m sorry. I lost track of time... Ugh!”
She tried to make excuses to Shan, but she couldn't. He kissed her right away. Elze's excuses were lost under his lips.
The kiss, which was like covering and biting, was hasty. The kiss, which was full of impatience, was closer to confirming the other person's existence than confirming love.
Elze didn't push him away. She accepted him as he was and responded to him little by little. Shan slowly licked Elze's lips before finally pulling her mouth away.
“...”
He let out a soft breath. The visibly anxious look had disappeared, and Shan was able to return to his usual self.
Elze smiled at him, who had become much more relaxed. Then she grabbed Shan's hand and said playfully.
“I need to change my clothes.”
Shan chuckled and followed Elze's lead. He helped Elze change her clothes in place of the maid.
The two, who had been playing around while changing into comfortable indoor clothes, soon jumped into bed. They lightly touched each other and laughed, exchanged sweet conversations and kisses, and occasionally rolled around on the bed. Then, at one point while talking, they hugged each other tightly and fell asleep.
Darkness descended along with silence. Only the moonlight filtered into the bedroom through the gaps in the slightly opened curtains. It was a moment of endless peace and quiet. Suddenly, Shan let out a groan of pain. He exhaled harshly and sat up.
“!!”
And then he turned around to see Elze. Only after confirming that Elze was sleeping soundly, Shan felt relieved.
"Ha..."
He covered his eyes with one hand and sighed. His exhaled breath was full of agony.
Elze also woke up at the sound of Shan tossing and turning. And as soon as she confirmed that Shan’s breathing was unsteady, she got up with sleepy eyes and hugged Shan. Shan bit her lower lip and hugged Elze back.
“Elze, Elze...”
He called Elze's name a few times in a soft voice. Then he asked in a heavy, hushed voice.
“This isn’t... a dream. Is it? You are truly by my side?”
“It’s not a dream. I’m here with you.”
At Elze's words, Shan closed his eyes. Elze hugged Shan tightly and stroked his head.
“It’s okay, Shan. I’m here...”
At Elze's whisper, Shan's rough breathing slowly calmed down. His body, which had been trembling slightly, also gradually calmed down.
Shan, who had been quietly holding his breath, suddenly raised his head. Then he groped and found Elze's lips and kissed them. After exchanging two or three light, bird kisses, Shan and Elze were able to lie down side by side.
Although sleep had long since flown away, Elze buried her face in the pillow and pretended to sleep. Shan would feel bad if Elze couldn't sleep.
Shan couldn't fall asleep easily. She felt his gaze staring at her. Elze felt a prickling pain in her chest.
Elze's death was a huge trauma for Shan.
He occasionally had nightmares. They were nightmares of the moment Elze died. After having such dreams, he would inevitably tremble with an endless sense of anxiety. He would suffer for a long time, gripped by the fear that Elze might disappear.
At those times, all Elze could do was her best to comfort Shan.
Shan's hand gently stroked Elze's hair. Elze, feeling his fingers gently caressing her, suddenly remembered something.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Elze quickly made up her mind. Then she stopped pretending to sleep and sat up straight.
“Elze...?”
Shan looked at Elze in surprise. Elze looked straight at Shan. Then she spoke to Shan in a serious tone, looking flustered.
“Let’s go on vacation, Shan.”
"What?"
Shan asked again at the unexpected remark.
“Vacation? Let’s go on vacation...?”
And Elze answered Shan again.
“Let’s go on vacation right now, just the two of us.”
Shan looked at Elze quietly and asked a question.
“...Are you serious?”
Elze smiled brightly and nodded. Shan stared blankly at Elze, then smiled happily back at her.
***
The mornings of the Duke and Duchess are busy. In particular, Duchess Kiraxus and Shan Kiraxus would wake up early in the morning to work.
But today, the sun was high in the sky, and neither of them came out of the bedroom. At first, the servants, who thought they were tired, felt something strange and wandered around the bedroom. However, no sound was heard from the bedroom.
Finally, Marle took the lead and knocked on the bedroom door. When there was no answer, Marle carefully turned the doorknob.
“I will go in.”
He sent his maid in first to check inside, just in case something happened. The maid who entered the bedroom screamed in terror.
“There’s no one inside!”
Marle rushed into the bedroom. He wondered if they had been attacked or kidnapped, but the bedroom was too clean for that to be the case.
Suddenly, a note on the bed caught his eye as he was panicking. On the note on the neatly folded bedding, there was only one line written in neat handwriting.
-I'm going on vacation.-
The handwriting on the note was Elze's. Marle looked at the note for a while, then sighed deeply. Then he folded the note in his bosom.
There were many places to announce the Duke and Duchess's unexpected vacation. Today would probably be a hectic day. However, despite his embarrassed expression, Marle's mouth was smiling brightly.
Since you're already here, I hope you get a good rest. Marle looked out the window as he thought to himself.
It was a day when the spring sunshine was unusually warm.
Marriage and Sword, Complete.
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