Chapter : 135
At Theo’s sudden words, Liriope’s eyes widened.
“‘Husband and wife’?”
In response to her question, Theo nodded and explained what he had read in an old book.
Upon hearing something she had never known before, Liriope’s mouth fell open on its own.
“You’re saying that if I let my ability flow into you, Theo, you’ll also be able to use the Everlasting Flame?”
“Yes. The Flame of Life works the same way. So while reading that part, I thought that later—when you save Rinix—it would be good if I could give my life force together with yours.”
“…Ah.”
“But that’s something for later. What’s urgent right now is creating a defensive barrier with the Everlasting Flame, so let’s resolve that first.”
Liriope felt a little bewildered by Theo’s words, since the old books she had read contained no such information, nor did the original novel mention anything like it.
I even combed through the side stories, and there was nothing like this at all… Then again, Rosearin doesn’t have elemental powers but divine power, so something like this wouldn’t appear in the original work anyway.
Still, the fact that she could transfer her abilities to Theo was something entirely new.
Now that I think about it, the way Theo’s fire attribute strengthened just through kissing was also something that never appeared in the original.
Lost in thought for a moment, Liriope nodded unconsciously.
“Alright… but I don’t know how I’m supposed to give my elemental power to you.”
“That’s why I’m saying we should become husband and wife.”
“We have to be married?”
“Of course. You said you believe in chastity before marriage. The act of letting your elemental power flow into me is something that can only be done after marriage.”
The word “act” coming from Theo’s mouth sounded strangely suggestive, but Liriope didn’t show it.
If she reacted too strongly, she might just end up being teased for having lewd thoughts.
“Of course, the most fundamental requirement for that act is that I become family with the Steyla household.”
In other words, it was something that could only be obtained through the marital relationship after marriage.
Liriope’s face began to burn.
This isn’t even an R-rated novel—what kind of ability is this? Is this really okay in an all-ages fantasy world?
As she fanned her flushed face with her hand in disbelief, Theo spoke with a serious expression.
“You said you wanted to build a defensive barrier made of the Everlasting Flame across the entire North. If I receive your power, we can protect the North much faster.”
“……”
“And when I come into contact with you, my fire attribute becomes stronger. So efficiency-wise, it’s the best option.”
At Theo’s words, Liriope nodded.
From the start, trying to construct a defensive barrier across the entire North by herself would take an extremely long time.
Theo’s total mana was far greater than hers, and working together would also be more enjoyable.
“Alright. Then let’s go to Father and submit the marriage pledge first.”
A marriage pledge required the seals of both parties’ parents.
Since Theo’s parents had passed away long ago, it made sense to inform the Duke first.
Theo nodded at Liriope’s words, recalling how the Duke had vehemently opposed it just days ago, insisting it was absolutely unacceptable before they officially became husband and wife.
I wanted to prepare the wedding properly…
Because the previous wedding had ended without a proper conclusion, Theo wanted the second one to be grand, flawless, and safe in every way.
On top of that, the wedding attire would need to be remade, so doing it right away was clearly impossible.
In the end, persuading the Duke and submitting the marriage pledge first seemed to be the only option.
Theo nodded at Liriope.
“Let’s go right now.”
* * *
The Duke looked puzzled when Liriope and Theo suddenly appeared in his office without notice, but when the words “marriage pledge” came out of Theo’s mouth, his eyebrows twitched.
The Empire was already in chaos due to the sensational newspaper reports about Liriope—who had supposedly died—returning alive, and now a marriage pledge on top of that made his head ache.
“Didn’t I tell you before? That we should follow the proper procedures—”
“I can give my elemental power to Theo, Father.”
Liriope cut him off.
“Did you know too, Father? That some people of the Steyla family are born with the rare ability to let their elemental power flow into someone else?”
“Yes, I knew. However, there are things not written in the ancient book the Grand Duke read.”
“Things not written?”
At Liriope’s puzzled question, the Duke explained that even someone born with the ability to give their elemental power still had to meet several conditions to properly transfer it.
“First, the partner’s ability must be greater than that of the Steyla who gives the power.”
“Oh, Theo’s ability is far greater than mine.”
Liriope answered brightly.
“And they must use the same fire attribute.”
“Theo can use all three attributes.”
Seeing Liriope respond cheerfully again, the Duke continued with a dissatisfied expression.
“And they must possess a strong body capable of accepting another person’s elemental power—”
But the more he explained, the more perfectly Theo seemed to fit, and the Duke eventually furrowed his brow and stopped.
“…So he meets every condition.”
Theo lifted the corner of his lips slightly as he looked at the Duke.
“Still, submitting a marriage pledge without even having the wedding—”
“Father. While you’re worrying about procedures, countless people in the North are suffering. Can you really focus on formalities while your people are in pain? Or are you saying Northerners aren’t your people? If that’s the case, I’d be deeply hurt.”
“No—of course not, Liri. I don’t think that at all. I, too, sincerely wish for the people of the North—where my daughter will live—to be happy and safe.”
As the Duke shook his head, Liriope’s eyes sparkled.
“Then you’re saying it’s okay to submit the marriage pledge first?”
Before he could even ask how the conversation had come to that conclusion, Liriope had already rushed over to his desk and grabbed his seal.
She placed the Duke’s seal directly into his hand, then turned to Theo.
“Hurry. Take out the marriage pledge.”
At her words, Theo swiftly pulled the marriage pledge from inside his jacket and presented it to the Duke.
When the Duke saw Liriope’s and Theo’s signatures already written side by side, the corner of his eye twitched.
He snapped his head up and glared at Theo—who was more than a head taller than him—
with the look of a man staring at a thief who had seduced his innocent daughter.
Theo simply smiled with narrowed eyes.
“Please, Father-in-law.”
Seeing this tall, handsome man take his daughter away made the Duke’s heart ache in many ways.
Once he stamped the marriage pledge, Liriope would no longer be his young daughter under his protection.
She would become—
The Grand Duchess of Arteine.
A true person of the North.
I should have made her the head of the family back then.
Since Liriope had always insisted she had no interest in becoming head of the house, he had never considered it.
But had he known he would have to hand her over to such a sly thief, he would have forced the position on her just to leave some kind of connection.
I wanted to send her off properly, step by step…
Because the wedding had been ruined by a black magician, the Duke had been planning a grand and luxurious ceremony to make up for it.
That was why it hurt to see his daughter willing to set aside that perfect wedding just to submit the marriage pledge first.
“It would be better to properly conclude the failed wedding and then submit the marriage pledge.”
“We will have a proper wedding later.”
“That ‘proper’ wedding should come first. That’s the correct order, isn’t it?”
When the Duke clicked his tongue at Theo’s words, Liriope narrowed her eyes.
“Why do you keep going on about procedures, Father? Given the situation, we’re submitting the pledge first, becoming family, and then holding the wedding later.”
Annoyed by his obsession with formalities, Liriope spoke bluntly.
The Duke fiddled with the seal awkwardly.
“I just want you to live happily. In the end, beginnings are important in everything—and marriage is no exception. You already skipped the engagement ceremony, so having a proper wedding is important for your happiness—”
“Father.”
Liriope interrupted him and stepped closer.
She gently took the hand holding the seal and spoke softly.
“I’m already happy. And delaying the wedding a little won’t suddenly make me unhappy.”
“……”
“You’ve seen it yourself. He’s someone who values my life more than his own.”
At her words, the Duke looked at Theo standing behind her.
“When I died, he stayed by my side without thinking about his own death.”
—If you take Ripe away, I’ll die. I’m the one who’ll die, Father-in-law.
The Duke recalled Theo crying like a child when he had tried to take Liriope away.
—Please let me breathe. Please, save me.
He had begged, saying he couldn’t live without her—not even her lifeless body.
As those memories of Theo’s vulnerability resurfaced, the Duke’s resolve finally crumbled.
“He’s someone who grants all my wishes. Someone I trust without a doubt to make me happy for the rest of my life. What more certainty do you need?”
That her future with Theo would not be unhappy.
That even if unforeseen misfortune came, Theo would block it.
That even within misfortune, he would find happiness.
Moved by Liriope’s firm conviction, the Duke finally nodded and reached out to Theo.
Theo handed him the marriage pledge, and the Duke accepted it and stamped his seal without hesitation.
He then returned it to Theo and said,
“You’d better be confident you can keep that heart unchanged until death.”
Theo answered without hesitation.
“I am confident.”
