Chapter 125
“Finally done…”
Setting down her fountain pen, Riana rotated her wrist and leaned back into her chair.
When she turned her head to glance outside, the long rays of the sun had already slipped away.
Evening had passed into night.
“Haa…”
Letting out a small sigh, Riana reached for the little box she had left at the corner of her desk.
All throughout her paperwork and letter writing, her gaze had strayed to that box more than once.
She carefully lifted the lilac-colored box tied with a white ribbon, her fingers brushing over the end of the bow.
If things had gone according to plan, it would already have reached its intended owner. Yet here it still was, in her hands.
Tap.
She stroked the ribbon absentmindedly, then quickly set the box back down on the desk, as though afraid it might get damaged.
The regret of not delivering it weighed on her, and now her eyes kept being drawn back to the box itself.
“…Is the wrapping too much?”
It wasn’t that the wrapping was actually gaudy—it was rather simple.
What made it “too much” was not the decoration, but the meaning behind the colors: lilac like her own eyes, with a white ribbon that shimmered faintly.
If someone else were giving it, perhaps it wouldn’t matter. But coming from her, it seemed loaded with meaning.
“Still, I like it this way.”
Her neatly trimmed nails toyed gently with the ribbon.
She didn’t want to fuss over it, yet her desire to give it away made her hands restless.
And she knew exactly why.
I’m nervous.
She had already made Ianheart wait. That alone made her want to hand it over sooner.
Add to that the anxiety of plans gone awry, and the disappointment—it wasn’t exactly the best state of mind for giving a gift.
At least there was some good news: earlier that morning, they had identified the monsters lurking on the outskirts of the capital, and reports confirmed that the strange afflictions among people were clearing up.
All that was left was to survey the remaining areas and tighten the security.
As she stared quietly at the box, time slipped away, and soon the faint sunset vanished completely.
Riana sighed once more and tucked the box into her subspace.
Walking toward the balcony, she lifted her gaze.
In place of the sun, the full moon now shone brilliantly in the night sky.
“…Looks like tonight isn’t the night.”
Her voice carried a trace of disappointment.
The only reason she was still wearing the same dress she had worn when confronting Raindel was because of Ianheart.
It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was lavish and expensive—something she wouldn’t wear so casually.
And yet, she had wanted to show it to him.
After all, he had once asked her to wear it for him someday.
So, she had planned to confess to him in this very outfit.
But it seemed tonight wasn’t meant for it.
I should at least go change first…
She let out another sigh and turned, just about to step away—
Knock, knock.
A dull tapping sound came from the balcony window behind her.
The sensation was strangely familiar.
At this hour, on this floor, there was only one person who would knock on her office balcony window.
Riana whirled around.
A tall figure stood beyond the glass.
Taking one step closer, she saw the darkness peel back.
“…Ian.”
Without realizing it, Riana’s lips moved, whispering his name.
On the other side of the glass, Ianheart smiled mischievously.
He tapped the window again, as if asking permission to come in—
As if the door weren’t unlocked already.
Riana let out a small, helpless laugh.
“Should I open it for you?”
She asked with a smile, stepping closer. Ianheart nodded.
I want to see you.
He shaped the words silently with his lips, without a sound.
The glass was thin enough she would’ve heard him had he spoken, so it was clear he had mouthed it on purpose.
And for some reason, that made him even more adorable.
Ianheart was already tall, standing a head above even Riana, who was taller than most women.
His build left no room for doubt.
In uniform, he looked sleek and powerful like a black panther. But when she had been in his arms, she had discovered how solid, broad, and warm he really was.
Who would have thought a man like that could be “cute”?
…But he really is acting cute.
True to his word, Ianheart had been relentless in wooing her, even pulling little tricks like this.
The funny thing was, none of it ever seemed ridiculous—it only made him more charming.
Thinking back, perhaps she had already fallen for his antics long ago.
Click.
Without another thought, Riana unlocked and opened the balcony door.
“—!”
And in the very next instant, she threw herself straight into his arms.
Ianheart froze in surprise at the sudden embrace, but then he let out a low laugh and wrapped his arms firmly around her waist.
“That’s quite the welcome.”
“…I thought I wouldn’t see you tonight.”
Her voice was muffled against his shoulder.
Ianheart’s hand stilled.
“…So you missed me too?”
To anyone else, the question might have sounded casual. But Riana heard the faint, eager hope beneath it—carefully hidden, yet impossible to miss.
This time, she didn’t hesitate. She nodded.
“A lot.”
“…Heh.”
A soft chuckle escaped him, born from pure joy.
His breath brushed through her hair as he laughed quietly.
“Is there some special occasion today? Seeing you dressed up so beautifully—my heart can hardly take it. …Don’t tell me it’s my birthday?”
His tone was playful, but full of delight.
Honestly…
All she had done was wear the clothes he’d gifted her, greet him a little warmer than usual—and yet here he was, grinning like a fool.
A fool she found far too lovable.
“Do I look like the kind of careless fiancée who wouldn’t even know your birthday?”
She tilted her head up, feigning indignation, asking her overflowing affection to hold itself back just a little longer.
And right away, she was met by his eyes, crinkling with warmth as he looked down at her.
“You’re diligent, yes. I just… like it too much. …I missed you as well.”
His voice dropped into a low whisper as he bent down—
And pressed his lips gently to her forehead.
It was soft, fleeting, almost too short to be satisfying.
“…”
Silence stretched between them, broken only by their shared breaths.
“…Will you grant me a favor?”
It was Ianheart who broke the quiet, his voice hushed.
“…Anything.”
Her reply, too, was softer than usual.
His request was simple.
“Spare me a little time. There’s somewhere I want to take you.”
A place he wanted to go, together.
Naturally, Riana agreed without hesitation. She, too, had something she wished to tell him.
“All right. I’ll accept your midnight date.”
She smiled playfully, and the corners of his lips lifted in response.
“Then put your arms around my neck.”
“…My arms?”
“Mm.”
He was asking her to hold onto him again.
She blinked, confused, but the boyish gleam in his eyes made her comply. She looped her arms around his neck—
“Ah!”
In the next moment, she was lifted clean off the ground.
Startled, she instinctively tightened her hold.
“Surprised?”
His teasing voice was warm with laughter.
Riana looked up—and his face was right there, close enough to touch.
Only then did she realize what was happening.
“…You’re carrying me?”
“Yes.”
He answered with a shameless nod.
Riana didn’t know whether to be exasperated, amused, or simply delighted.
Like a knight carrying a lady, Ianheart held her effortlessly in his arms.
She, a princess and a swordmaster, had never once been held like this.
She had carried others before—but never been carried herself.
“…This is the first time I’ve ever been held like this.”
Her words came out half-laughing, half-incredulous.
Ianheart, however, looked pleased.
“Good. I’m glad it’s the first.”
“…Glad? Why?”
“Because if it weren’t, I’d be jealous of the parts of your life I wasn’t in.”
Honestly—he’s insane.
Flustered, Riana buried her face against his neck, hugging him tightly.
Even though she had already admitted her feelings, she still wasn’t used to words like these.
“You shouldn’t… say things like that…”
She muttered in protest, but the redness of her ears betrayed her.
And of course, Ianheart noticed.
He laughed, even as she scolded him.
