Chapter 4.2

She had always had to move from place to place, searching for where she belonged, and she was more familiar with being cast aside. Even when someone showed interest in her, it was always fleeting curiosity, never the kind of deep affection and commitment she was experiencing now. Let alone a promise for the future.  

And now, such an incredible man was promising her his love, offering her a place by his side. It made her happy, but it also made her afraid, as if this moment might vanish like a dream. Especially since his memories were still incomplete, the fear that this might one day become a regret for him lingered in her mind.  

“What if, someday…… your feelings change? What if you grow tired of me or come to regret this? I think that would hurt too much.”  

At her words, Lian called her name softly and pulled her into his arms. His embrace was gentle, as if he were holding something precious and fragile. He rested his cheek against the top of her head and spoke in a warm voice.  

“Hestia, that will never happen. I swear it.”  

“Lian……”  

“Don’t you know? If either of us is more desperate, it’s definitely me.”  

His voice carried a strong conviction. Hestia’s tears slowly began to subside. For the first time, she felt truly accepted by him. Her heart trembled.  

“Besides, you’re the one who saved my life. You’re the one who healed me. So, why not just take me as yours?”  

“That’s too much. Even without me, you surely would have―.”  

Before she could finish, Lian kissed her deeply, intertwining their breaths. It was as if he refused to listen to her self-deprecating words. When he finally pulled back, his amber eyes, shining like jewels, captured her face as he spoke.  

“No. I don’t care about anyone else. To me, you’re the only one who matters. So, please, accept me. Stay by my side. From now on, I’ll make sure you never get hurt…… and that you’ll always be happy.”  

Never get hurt? What did he mean by that? 

For a moment, Hestia felt puzzled, but the joy of the moment quickly made her forget. She decided to trust in his promise. Completely.  

“Thank you for saying that. Alright, let’s get married.”  

With her answer, she wrapped her arms around him tightly. She could feel his body trembling slightly with emotion. Then, he spoke again.  

“I used to only imagine this moment, but now it’s real. You have no idea how happy I am right now.”  

After holding her in his arms for a while, lost in thought, Lian began to repeatedly thank her, planting kisses filled with joy on her forehead, cheeks, and all over her face.  

“It tickles.”  

When Hestia let out a soft laugh, Lian pressed his lips against her skin again. His actions seemed to radiate pure love, almost as if it were visible. She wondered how she hadn’t realized it before.  

After that fleeting moment of ticklish happiness passed, a deeper desire for one another rose between them. Hestia quietly kissed him.  

By the time they emerged, both carrying the same scent, the water in the bath had grown cold after several shared moments of passion.  

***

“Ugh……”  

“So, it’s a cold after all.”  

The next day.  

Hestia ended up bedridden with a fever. Not only had she waited outside for him in thin pajamas for far too long, but she had also moved around in the cooling bathwater without realizing it.  

“I’m sorry. I should’ve made sure you didn’t overexert yourself. Are you in much pain?”  

Because of her stubbornness about not wanting to use his bed while she was sick, Hestia stayed in the small guest bed as usual. The truth was, she didn’t want to risk giving Lian her cold. Despite her wishes, Lian and Amber refused to leave her side. Thus, the three of them ended up huddled together in the small bed, just like before.  

Her fever had raged through the night but had finally begun to subside slightly by midday. Apparently, three doctors had come to check on her during that time. Lian dismissed all of them as quacks, though she did feel slightly better thanks to the medicine they had left behind.  

“Lian…… I’m sorry……. About yesterday…….”  

As soon as Hestia regained her senses, she immediately apologized to Lian. She remembered hearing that he had prepared various things for his proposal today.  

“Sorry? What for?”  

At her sudden apology, Lian’s eyes widened in surprise. The cold towel he had been changing slipped from his hand. His expression looked as if his heart had just dropped. Why was he so startled?  

“Yesterday, what? Don’t tell me you’re planning to reject my proposal now?”  

“Oh, stop it. Don’t say such foolish things…….”  

Hestia laughed weakly with her hoarse voice and held his hand.  

“That’s not it. Today…… was supposed to be an important day……. You said you prepared so much for it. But because of me, it’s been postponed…….”  

Only then did Lian visibly relax.  

Why was he so worried about being rejected? Hestia couldn’t understand. If anything, she was the one desperately clinging to him. Was it because his memories hadn’t fully returned yet? It felt like his self-esteem was at rock bottom.  

Feeling sorry for him, Hestia gripped his hand tightly and kissed the back of it.  

In response, Lian let out a low chuckle and embraced her as if to cover her frail body. Then, he spoke softly.  

“It’s fine. What’s so important about formalities?”  

“Even so……”  

“We already made a promise to each other yesterday. And we sealed it properly. That’s enough.”  

“Sea…… Ahem, you shouldn’t say things like that out loud…… Got it?”  

Embarrassed by his suggestive phrasing, Hestia scolded him. Lian chuckled, pressing a kiss to her feverish cheek, before continuing.  

“Don’t worry. Once your fever goes down, I’ll make it even better. I’ll invite more people and make it much grander.”  

“Okay. I understand……. But what were you planning for today……?”  

Hestia raised a heavy arm to wrap it around his neck and asked. At that moment, Amber meowed and squeezed between them, rubbing her fur against Lian’s face. Lian let out a short laugh, scratching the cat, before answering.  

“Actually, I had invited musicians, flower boys, and actors to perform a play. They said it’s common at weddings these days. I also arranged for a priest to read the marriage vows for us. I sent them all back earlier, but they said they could come back anytime if needed.”  

“That’s a shame…… It would’ve been fun.”  

Hestia spoke in a disappointed tone.  

In truth, it wasn’t the grand spectacle she regretted missing, but the vows she had wanted to exchange with him. The rings, the kiss, and the clear promise to be together forever.  

Then, as if something suddenly came to mind, Lian exclaimed, “Ah, right. There’s still that.” He quickly got up and looked at her with a playful glint in his eyes. “Wait here for a moment,” he said before rushing out of the room.  

What’s he up to now? 

Hestia wondered, puzzled.  

Moments later, Lian returned, his arms full of something.  

“Flowers?”  

He was holding a large bouquet. Hestia immediately recognized it as a bouquet from the fluttering ribbon tied around the stems.  

“Could it be…….”  

“It’s a bouquet. Do you like it?”  

Even the lingering haze of her fever seemed to vanish instantly. Hestia sat up unsteadily in bed and accepted the bouquet. But then, something else happened.  

Lian slipped something onto her left ring finger. It was a ring.  

A beautiful yellow gemstone, the same color as his eyes, was set into it. As Hestia blinked in surprise, Lian extended his hand to show her his own ring. His was the same design, but the gemstone was a teal color.  

Could it be? 

She looked up at him, and their eyes met. Lian smiled warmly and explained.  

“They say the gemstone should match the other person’s eye color. Do you like it?”  

“Wow……!”  

Overwhelmed with emotion, Hestia hugged him with one arm while holding the bouquet in the other.  

At that moment, she knew for certain. Even without grand music or vows in front of a priest, they were making a promise to each other right now—a promise to recognize each other as partners.  

Hestia pressed her feverish cheek against his cool neck and repeatedly confessed how happy she was. But Lian seemed unconvinced. He muttered that it didn’t feel right without music, flowers, a grand venue, or a spectacle.  

“I’m so happy. I don’t need any events in the future. This is more than enough for me.”  

Hestia replied slowly.  

After all, wasn’t marriage a promise between the two of them? Besides, their cat was watching them like a witness, which was more than enough for her. She truly felt that this moment alone was enough. The happiness she received now would sustain her for a lifetime.  

When she expressed her feelings, Lian let out a low laugh and hugged her tightly. Then, he spoke, as if making a request.  

“There’s one thing I’d like to ask of you in advance.”  

“What is it?”  

“No matter what happens, trust me.”  

To promise to stand by each other and trust one another was part of any marriage vow.  

So, Hestia thought that was all he meant. She had no idea there was a deeper meaning, hidden intentions, or untold stories behind his words. She couldn’t even imagine that it was a warning about the storms that would shake her heart in the future.  

“In the future, I might seem unfamiliar to you. The more my memories return, the more it might feel that way. But no matter what, I’ll never betray you. I’ll never hurt you. ……Hestia, can you promise me that?”  

Feeling the sincerity in his unexpectedly serious confession, Hestia loosened her embrace and looked at Lian. Her gaze silently asked if there was a deeper meaning behind his words. In response, he gave a bittersweet smile and explained.  

“My status tends to draw attention. I’m worried that unnecessary rumors or incidents might upset you in the future. Especially since there are some noisy busybodies around us.”  

As he spoke, Lian looked at her as if seeking reassurance, silently asking if she would be able to endure such things and stay by his side no matter what happened.  

“Of course. I will.”  

Her tender feelings for him made it easy to give an unwavering answer. Hestia replied confidently, leaning in to kiss his cheek.  

“I’ve already braced myself for that. As long as we don’t have to part, I’ll take anything.”  

Lian smiled brightly at her firm response, clearly pleased. Gently, he helped her lie back down on the bed, placing the bouquet beside her. Then, he sat next to her bed, holding her hand as he gazed at her. His smiling face was breathtakingly beautiful.  

“Don’t forget that promise.”  

“I won’t.”  

At that moment, Amber leapt lightly over Hestia and settled beside Lian’s knee, gazing at her as well. Surrounded by their affectionate eyes, Hestia slowly closed her eyes as sleep began to overtake her.  

“Hey, do you think this might be a dream? It feels so strange to be this happy……. But I hope it’s not a dream…….”  

“It’s not a dream. Don’t worry. I’ll be right here until you wake up. Sleep peacefully.”  

“Mm…….”  

She could feel his gentle touch as he softly brushed her hair aside. Even as she drifted off to sleep, his affectionate caresses continued, tender and unbroken.  

Ah, so this is what it feels like to truly become a married couple. From now on, only happiness lies ahead, doesn’t it?  

With that excited thought, Hestia fell asleep, holding his hand tightly. She believed that, having crossed the greatest hurdle in their relationship by marrying, nothing else could stand in their way.  

How wrong she was.