Epilogue.2

‘Why did I even say that?’  

Since they hadn’t been able to go on a proper honeymoon, Hazel thought this was the perfect opportunity to enjoy some time together.  

Thanks to the help of the Marquisate’s butler and head maid, who had grown quite close to her, she was able to prepare everything in secret from Enoch.  

‘I’ve only decided on the location, but I haven’t planned what we’ll do there. Will this be okay?’  

In truth, it only took an hour to finalize their vacation plans together.  

It was possible because Enoch, when it came to matters involving Hazel, would lose all sense of independence.  

‘He’s never really said no to me before.’  

Though he had occasionally tried to divert the topic by asking if it was really necessary, in the end, he always went along with what she wanted.  

Hazel glanced at Enoch, who was following her closely, and said, 

“I already told them to pack our things, so we can leave right away.”  

“Alright, got it.”  

“Still, if there’s anything you absolutely need, make sure to grab it.”  

“No, I don’t need anything. As long as I have you, I’m fine.”  

Hazel flinched at his sweet, affectionate words. Feeling embarrassed, she cleared her throat awkwardly and changed the subject.  

“Well, if there’s something missing, we can always buy it later.”  

“You’re right. As long as I have you, everything’s perfect.”  

See? He turns into a complete fool.  

Hazel stopped in her tracks and gave him a sharp look. His willingness to agree with everything she said was annoyingly adorable.  

Startled by her sudden glare, Enoch stammered, 

“Wh-what’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?”  

He had done something wrong, all right. With his bear-like size, he had committed the crime of being too cute.  

Knowing that saying it out loud would only inflate his ego, Hazel let out a small huff and turned away.  

When they reached the front entrance where the carriage was waiting, Enoch shyly held her hand with a bright smile.  

“I’m really nervous right now.”  

“Are you that excited?”  

Seeing his giddy expression made Hazel smile with satisfaction, feeling her preparations had been worthwhile.  

Enoch, who had been clinging to her with endless affection, looked at her with hopeful eyes and asked, 

“Is this trip for that… purpose?”  

“Of course not. I don’t have any plans for that until things settle down.”  

Hazel pointed toward Enoch’s lower abdomen as she spoke.  

He still hadn’t removed the contraceptive magic sigil he had engraved when he joined the Knights’ Order.  

The excuse that their business needed at least two years to stabilize was just that—an excuse.  

In truth, Hazel still harbored fears about having children and felt some regret about marrying without having experienced a proper romantic relationship.  

Though dating wasn’t everything in a relationship, Hazel wanted to create memorable experiences with Enoch outside of the bedroom.  

‘Even though we’ve already done plenty, considering how busy we’ve been.’  

The thought made Hazel’s face darken slightly. Just remembering those times drained her energy.  

As soon as the two boarded the carriage, it began its journey out of the Marquisate Mansion. The thought of heading to a quiet place where no one could disturb them made her heart race.  

“So, where are we going?”  

“You’ll find out when we get there.”  

Her short and concise reply made Enoch pout as if asking why she couldn’t give him a hint.  

Seeing his expression only made her want to keep the destination a secret even more. Hazel suppressed her laughter with some effort.  

Once the carriage left the capital, Enoch seemed to briefly consider the direction they were heading before giving up.  

His demeanor suggested he was happy to anticipate wherever she planned to take him.  

Humming a cheerful tune, Enoch played with Hazel’s hand, looking like the happiest man alive.  

Thinking she had made the right decision to take time off, Hazel leaned her head against his shoulder.  

Startled, Enoch glanced at her with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, as if he were up to something.  

Knowing exactly what that look meant, Hazel sighed inwardly.  

‘So much for a peaceful trip.’  

Though his preferences could sometimes be a bit unusual, Hazel was generally satisfied with their relationship.  

As long as it wasn’t something extreme, like asking her to hit him, she was willing to indulge him.  

“Enoch.”  

Enoch flinched, as if caught doing something wrong.  

“Why?”  

His slightly trembling voice betrayed his unease.  

“Keep it reasonable.”  

Her warning made his eyes flash with a hint of disappointment. Hazel met his gaze squarely and added, 

“Not in places where there are people.”  

“Does that mean it’s okay in places where there aren’t?”  

“…”  

“Hazel?”  

“Think whatever you want.”  

Her response, which was practically an approval, lit up Enoch’s face instantly.  

How could someone look like they had the whole world just from hearing, “Think whatever you want”? 

She still wasn’t used to it.  

Could he really be that happy just imagining what we might do?  

Even though the past, where she had firmly forbidden him from doing anything due to their busy schedules, came to mind, she couldn’t help but worry about the future.  

‘Still, he listens to me well enough, so it should be fine, right?’  

Hazel felt a strange sense of unease, as if she were deliberately ignoring the trouble she might face in the near future.  

Turning her gaze to the window, Hazel let out a small sigh.  

Since it would still take some time to reach the villa, she thought about taking a nap.  

But just then, the carriage jolted violently.  

“Ahhh!”  

Her body was flung forward, stopping precariously close to the edge. If Enoch hadn’t caught her, she would have slammed her face into the seat.  

Too shocked to even make a sound, Hazel gasped for air.  

Pulling her closer with firm arms, Enoch asked urgently, 

“Are you hurt anywhere?!”  

“N-no, I’m fine. I was startled, but it’s nothing serious.”  

His heart was racing just as fast as hers.  

Though his expression had remained calm, it seemed he had been just as alarmed.  

As she adjusted her awkward posture and tried to understand what had happened, the coachman, whose face had turned pale, rushed over.  

“Are you both alright?”  

“We’re fine. What happened?”  

“One of the horses seems to have injured its leg. I think we’ll need a farrier, but there isn’t one nearby…”  

The coachman’s face grew darker.  

After a brief silence, Enoch scanned their surroundings.  

“There should be a small village not far from here. It’d be better to find a farrier there. Separate the injured horse and take it there. I’ll take responsibility for this side.”  

At Enoch’s words, the coachman’s face crumpled with a mix of gratitude and frustration for not fulfilling his duties properly.  

“You stay here. The luggage isn’t too heavy, so the carriage should manage with one horse.”  

“And you?”  

“I’ll lead the carriage from the front. It won’t take long to reach the village, so don’t worry.”  

Enoch jumped down from the carriage and walked to the front with the coachman.  

The sound of metal clinking echoed as they worked to unhitch the injured horse.  

Hazel opened the small window near the coachman’s seat.  

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”  

Enoch turned back and replied, 

“Of course. Trust me. Isn’t this the kind of thing that makes for a great memory? I can tell our kids someday that I personally led a carriage while traveling with their mom. How romantic does that sound?”  

“We don’t even have kids yet.”  

Grumbling, Hazel pursed her lips.  

Enoch smirked and whispered playfully, 

“Not ‘yet,’ anyway.”  

His tone, implying he’d do his best if she wanted, made Hazel slam the window shut with a loud bang.  

His laughter echoed faintly through the glass.  

Sure, it wouldn’t stay that way forever.  

But Hazel knew how painful childbirth could be.  

She had stayed by Vanessa’s side during her delivery back in their hometown, and the experience had left her shaken.  

Having a child was a noble thing, but it came with immense pain.  

Even while teaching noblewomen that it was their duty to bear children for their families, Hazel had always felt uncomfortable.  

It felt strange to tell others to take responsibility for their family’s lineage while conveniently glossing over the harsh realities.  

She had always reminded herself that it was just another part of noble etiquette.  

If she had to choose between wanting a child or not, she would choose the former.  

Though the process of childbirth seemed terrifying, the thought of having a child who looked just like her and Enoch made her heart flutter.  

She wanted to have a child, not for the sake of producing an heir, but because it was something they both genuinely desired.