Chapter 145…………………………………………
“…Divorce papers?”
Dale’s heart plummeted as if there were no bottom, while Enya remained completely calm.
“I lost the divorce agreement Your Majesty gave me last time. I thought it would be better to meet and rewrite it officially, so I brought it here.”
“…”
Dale couldn’t sit, frozen in place, at Enya’s composed tone.
“Since you’ve already signed it once, signing it a second time shouldn’t be difficult, right? Preferably as soon as possible…”
Rip.
At that moment, the sound of paper tearing filled the air. Enya’s eyes widened instantly.
“Dale!”
“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of signing this again.”
“What did you say?”
Enya’s expression of disbelief was clear as the paper was now neatly split in two and lying on the table.
Dale, expressionless, approached her steadily. The closer he got, the wider Enya’s eyes grew.
Before long, Enya found herself backed against the wall, tilting her head back to look up at him.
“Dale, don’t you realize our contract period is almost over?”
“…”
“There are only a few days left when we can simply annul the marriage. Just three days! I need your signature immediately, and I’m busy too.”
“Even if it takes years to finalize the divorce, I don’t care.”
“I do care.”
Enya had nowhere to run, cornered sharply.
“We have 364 days to complete the divorce agreement comfortably. Both you and I, Dale.”
“Do you intend to marry someone else?”
The dark tone in Dale’s voice made Enya’s eyes widen again.
He gently lifted her chin.
Their gazes met, tangled in the space between them.
The distance between their faces was so close that his breath brushed hers.
“I heard the Lockhart family is preparing a marriage. And that you’re looking for a new suitor.”
“W-Who said that?”
“Emma, your maid, mentioned it.”
Enya exhaled shortly, turning her gaze away. Dale touched her nape softly.
“Is it true?”
“…Yes, it’s true.”
Enya admitted, slightly embarrassed.
“It’s true. But the one getting married isn’t me—it’s my brother.”
Enya slowly pushed against his chest. Beneath her small hand, her heart thumped rapidly. She smiled, holding her hand in place.
“My brother’s marriage was suddenly arranged. So our family is extremely busy right now.”
“Not you, but Samuel Lockhart, huh?”
“That’s right.”
“So the matchmaking rumors are a misunderstanding.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“!”
Dale’s expression darkened uncontrollably. His large hand covered hers.
“Here I am, an unfinished husband… and someone’s talking about you marrying another?”
“Ah…”
“Your marriage is absolutely impossible. I will never allow it, nor will I let the temple sanction it.”
His voice, sharper and heavier than ever before, left no room for debate.
Dale’s fingers threaded between Enya’s, holding her firmly.
“You told me how to arrange a secret marriage, so the same trick won’t work.”
“…”
“Even if someone else comes into your life, I won’t let it happen.”
“…Really?”
Enya, who had been quietly silent, finally asked, stepping on tiptoe and pulling his face close to whisper.
“Would you like it if I didn’t marry anyone else?”
Upon hearing the question, Dale’s eyes sharpened.
“You still like me?”
“…Huh?”
“You still like me, Dale?”
Momentarily flustered, Dale nodded.
“Of course I do. More than I could even question.”
“I wondered if you only liked me because of childhood memories, or the power to heal I had.”
Enya wrapped her arms around Dale’s neck and pressed close, looking into his eyes.
Dale’s face had turned bright red, like a ripe tomato.
Enya tilted her head and met his gaze, making him blush even deeper.
“Do you still want to marry me now? I don’t have any special powers anymore, and I ended up troubling you. Almost committing attempted murder from overwork, in fact.”
“Pfft…”
“Do you still like me anyway?”
Enya teased with a small, playful grin.
“I like you, Dale.”
“!”
Her whispered words were so soft they barely reached his ears.
Meeting his eyes, Enya held up the divorce papers alongside a marriage certificate.
“I called you today to trick you too.”
“Trick me?”
“You spread rumors through the aides and even sent letters.”
Dale exhaled, finally realizing the truth, a mix of relief and exasperation.
“I don’t like the idea of you liking another man.”
“Well, you almost married another woman, so we’re even.”
“That… I’m sorry.”
Dale was at a loss for words.
“And…”
Enya handed him a small, elegant box. Dale’s eyes narrowed, sensing what it contained.
“I lied twice today. The wedding being prepared isn’t my brother’s—it’s mine. I’ve chosen my husband, though he hasn’t given permission yet.”
“…!”
Placing Dale’s stiffened hand in hers, Enya set a ring on his palm.
“Let’s not do a 364-day marriage. Let’s have a real marriage.”
Smiling slyly, Enya extended her hand elegantly.
“If you’re okay with our contract automatically renewing, place this on my hand.”
Her radiant smile and flushed cheeks shone like sunlight. Dale stared at the ring, then wrapped his arms around her waist.
So close, Enya blinked.
Dale lightly pressed his forehead against hers and kissed her small nose.
“You stole the second proposal too, didn’t you?”
“Hmm… If you wanted to, we can redo it. I pretended to be far away for a month to give you the perfect ring. Sorry.”
“I can do the third one.”
Dale laughed quietly, his breath brushing her lips.
Before taking a deeper breath, he pulled back slightly to whisper:
“Then…”
His low, husky voice tickled her ears. Through his half-open eyes, his tender gaze met hers.
“Then say ‘I love you’ instead of just ‘I like you.’”
“Ah…”
“I’ll be expecting it.”
Dale’s faint smile disappeared into Enya’s mouth as he leaned close.
His large hand cupped the back of her neck, fingers threading softly through her hair, hurried yet gentle.
Enya quietly locked the slightly open front door.
“Ah-choo!”
They sneezed at the same time.
Shivering, I wrapped myself in a shawl and slid back under the covers.
“Are you coming down with a cold?”
“I’m fine. Not that cold.”
I rested my head on Dale’s arm, reassuring him.
Dale’s warmth enveloped me, making me cozy, though he looked colder than I felt.
We had stayed inside the Grunwald house for a week without stepping outside.
Which meant it had been a year and a few days since Dale and I became husband and wife.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
Dale smiled every time our eyes met, and I found it fascinating.
Leaning his large frame against me, it felt as if my lungs were being gently squeezed.
“Because I’m happy.”
“…”
“Because I’m so happy with you, Enya.”
I stroked his black hair softly, feeling its soft, fluffy texture like petting a puppy.
“But Dale, think about it—we’ve been friends since childhood.”
Dale nodded after placing a kiss on my finger.
“Then we don’t need to use formal speech anymore, right?”
“How do you want to do it, Enya?”
“Now, I don’t think I’ll say ‘Miss Enya’ anymore… but I’m not sure. It might feel strange.”
“We have plenty of time, so we can take it slow.”
“Hehe, right.”
I stared at the ceiling for a moment, then rolled over and hugged Dale tightly again.
Even without powers, being in Dale’s arms smelled comforting, a scent that had now become part of me.
But… time?
“Dale. Did you tell the aides? That you’re taking leave?”
“No.”
Dale stroked my cheek, answering naturally.
“…Is it really okay for the Emperor to be away for a whole week?”
“…”
“Dale?”
“I’ve thought about it. Now that Hexagon is gone and nothing threatens you anymore…”
“Gone?”
I waited for his next words.
He smiled shyly, as always, only to me, making a suggestion.
“Why don’t we abdicate and spend more time together?”
“…Dale. Get up. Let’s go to the capital right now.”
“Just a little longer.”
Dale pulled me closer as I jumped up, closing his eyes.
Exhausted, he fell asleep instantly.
With a relaxed expression, long lashes, nose, eyes, and lips—everything was perfect just to behold.
This must be what happiness feels like.
“Dale.”
I held his sleeping face gently, whispering:
“Sa…”
I stopped myself and smiled quietly.
“The words Dale wants to hear, I’ll say the moment he wakes.”
Because it seemed we had fallen in love long ago.
I held his hand and drifted off for a nap.
(The End)
