Chapter : 134
Teo, who had thought he would grant anything Liriope wanted, had no intention of stopping her recklessly from doing what she wished.
“Just stop if it becomes even a little difficult. I’ve already set up a protective barrier, so there’s no need to rush to finish it.”
He kept a close eye on her to make sure she wasn’t overexerting herself.
“Understood. I’ll remember that.”
When Liriope nodded with a smile, Teo let out a short sigh as if resigned and got up.
“Even though I only rested a little, it feels like my mana is filling up quickly.”
“That’s because those with fire attributes recover mana faster than others. You learned that at the academy, didn’t you?”
Teo answered calmly to Liriope’s remark, and she looked at him, realizing, Ah.
“You said you don’t remember those days.”
Teo nodded and muttered to himself, and Liriope smiled faintly and nodded.
Teo, softened by her smile, returned it warmly before pressing his lips gently to her cheek and pulling away.
“Shall we go again, then?”
“Ah, wait a moment.”
As Teo opened a portal to the northern outskirts village, Liriope suddenly spoke, as if she had remembered something.
“I should pack some cookies or tea for the children in the outskirts village. They probably haven’t had a chance to try the palace food. Wait here for a moment; I’ll go see the head maid…”
At that moment, Teo picked up the golden bell at the edge of the table and rang it.
As if on cue, the reception room door opened, and the head maid entered.
“Did you call, Your Highness?”
“Prepare cookies and tea for outside. Make sure to fill it generously with cookies that the children will like.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After the head maid bowed and left, Teo spoke to Liriope.
“Rest a little more, and then bring the cookies and tea. You can sit while you wait, Lipe.”
Liriope nodded and quietly settled beside him.
“Thank you.”
She muttered a soft word of gratitude.
“For what?”
Teo asked, puzzled. Liriope looped her arm through his and rested her face against his shoulder.
Teo felt a slight stiffening in his body from the sudden contact.
Feeling it so clearly, Liriope let out a small laugh.
“It’s because you try to give me everything I want.”
Teo lowered his gaze to look at her and then softly kissed the top of her head.
“Of course. That won’t change. Whatever it is, I’ll make sure you get everything you want.”
Hearing those words, Liriope’s heart warmed, and she clung to his arm more tightly.
“Even if I ask for something completely unreasonable?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Even if I say I want to travel for years to see other countries?”
“Adil can take temporary charge of the estate.”
At Teo’s casual answer, Liriope straightened up and looked at him.
“What if I say I want to live in a monster’s habitat, like a crazy idea?”
“I’ll stay awake and protect you.”
“And what if I say I like another man?”
“….”
Teo closed his mouth and furrowed his brows at that question.
It seemed too extreme, so he began to correct it, then spoke.
“In the end, I’d let you go.”
“What did you say?”
“But I’d keep watching you. To make sure that bastard doesn’t hurt you or make you suffer. And if he does, even if it makes you sad, I’d half-kill that bastard.”
Hearing Teo’s serious words in that slightly crooked tone, Liriope felt her heart ache at the depth of his feelings.
“In that case, just try to turn your heart back. You said you’d let me go—what is that?”
Teo smiled gently at her grumbling.
“Of course, I’ll keep trying to change your mind in my own way. But if you end up liking someone else and I force you to stay, you’d definitely be unhappy.”
He said it plainly, as if the only thing he truly wanted was Liriope’s happiness.
It wasn’t selfish love—it was love that gave everything.
Teo was that kind of man.
Liriope hugged Teo’s neck and sobbed.
“I really, really love you.”
The man she loved, and who loved her this much, would only ever be Teo.
So even if her overwhelming emotions spilled and soaked the floor, it didn’t frighten her.
She was certain that Teo would love her until she grew old and passed away.
“I love you too, Lipe. I love you more than words can say.”
Teo’s soft, sincere words only strengthened that certainty.
“W-What is all this?”
Miriel’s eyes widened at the basket of desserts and tea that Gray handed her.
“These are cookies and tea from the palace. They taste and smell different from what ordinary people eat, so share them with your friends.”
“Your Highness…”
Tears welled up in Miriel’s eyes at the unexpected gift.
“I’ll bring more later, so don’t hold back—eat as much as you like, okay?”
Liriope said, and Miriel, too choked to answer, just nodded repeatedly and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
Liriope patted Miriel’s shoulder gently, then turned back toward the site where she had been creating the protective barrier.
While bringing cookies and tea to Miriel, Teo encountered the knights who had been standing guard.
They had reports of a non-forest monster—a fish-type monster that lived in the sea—appearing, instead of the usual forest-dwelling monsters in the northern outskirts.
“What kind of monster?”
“An advanced monster from the Abyssal Sanctuary. It suddenly appeared, attacked briefly, saw the fire barrier, and quickly disappeared.”
The knight pointed to the fire barrier Liriope had created, which flared intensely red, far stronger than a normal barrier.
“Abyssal Sanctuary…”
Teo murmured, his face tightening subtly.
Fish-type monsters that lived in water rarely appeared in the North. They were mostly found near the sea, and especially high-level ones from the Abyssal Sanctuary were extremely sensitive to temperature, making them unlikely to be seen in the cold North.
Hearing that a high-level monster had appeared in the northern outskirts and noting the enduring flames, Teo felt a subtle unease.
“File a separate report. Record everything exactly as you saw and heard.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Any other unusual occurrences?”
“No, Your Highness.”
Teo nodded and turned away.
“All right, then. Good work.”
Seeing Liriope returning from Miriel’s house toward the barrier, Teo quickened his pace.
He couldn’t afford to relax in case the high-level monster reappeared, his long legs moving tensely.
He only regained his composure once Liriope safely entered her space.
“Starting right away?”
Seeing Liriope conjuring the persistent flames in her hand, Teo asked, and she nodded.
“Yes. The sooner we hurry, the sooner it will be done.”
“Remember your promise not to overexert yourself, Lipe.”
“Understood.”
Liriope began extending the fire barrier with the persistent flames, and Teo quietly spoke to Gray.
“A monster from the Abyssal Sanctuary has appeared here.”
“…What?”
Gray’s eyes widened. It was unusual for a deep-sea fish-type monster from the southern part of the Empire to appear in the North.
Especially since this place bordered the monster forest. Sea-dwelling monsters and forest-dwelling monsters were extremely incompatible, making it even less likely.
“Why would a sea-dwelling monster appear here…?”
“We’ll find out.”
Teo’s expression grew serious as he spoke to Gray.
“Do your best, but don’t take your eyes off Lipe.”
“I understand.”
Gray’s firm reply made Teo nod as he watched Liriope’s back.
At this speed, how long will it take to set up a fire barrier around the entire village…
Even at full speed, it wouldn’t be done in a day or two.
Plus, persistent flames consumed far more mana than normal fire abilities, so they’d need to replenish her mana periodically.
At best, three or four days; at worst, more than five.
Teo frowned, realizing it would take longer than expected for Liriope to complete a barrier around a single village.
She can’t do this alone.
At that moment, he recalled a passage from an old book about persistent flames and flames of life.
Since Liriope, from the Steyla family, had a rare ability, and he could receive her power, it might help significantly in this situation.
And the fire attribute becomes stronger when I’m in contact with her.
Teo decided to receive her elemental power and create barriers across the North together with her.
It would be far better than letting her struggle alone.
This is definitely the best method.
But first, the most important thing had to be done.
They needed to have their names together on the marriage contract.
To bind themselves as family.
Teo quickly walked to Liriope’s side.
“Lipe.”
“Yes?”
“We need to become husband and wife right now.”
