60: Love Only Me Forever (Final)

It had been a long time since they had dinner at the imperial palace. The Duke and Duchess met with the retired Emperor and Empress Dowager, who were enjoying a peaceful life in the detached palace. The retired Emperor looked so youthful that his twenty-year age difference with the Empress Dowager was hardly noticeable, which Aella found fascinating.

As the meal was nearing its end, Julius began discussing the engagement between his son, Terry, and the youngest daughter of the Hormons family, Claire, with his father, Derek. It was then that Princess Mai spoke up.

“I have something to say as well.”

“Is there something going on, Mai?”

“Hoho, Father, I’ve met someone I want to marry.”

“M-Marry?! Sister, are you serious?”

“Of course. Do you think I’d joke about wanting to get married? Mother probably knows who it is.”

At Princess Mai’s words, everyone turned their attention to Empress Dowager Alenoa, who smiled awkwardly.

“My dear, why didn’t you give me any hints about this?”

“Because I asked her not to. If word got to you or my brother, that person’s life might be in danger.”

“Who exactly is this man?! Mai, speak up immediately!”

“Father, we’re not alone here. The young lord and lady of the Hormons family are present as well. Please maintain some decorum as the Emperor.”

As Princess Mai spoke, tossing her hair gracefully, Aella couldn’t help but marvel at how the once ten-year-old princess had transformed into an elegant eighteen-year-old.

‘Compared to her, Prince Ren hasn’t changed at all. I wonder if he’ll ever find someone to marry.’

Aella held back her concerns and remained on edge, aware of the tension in the room.

“Mai, who is this person you want to marry?”

“Ahem! It’s Emperor Kyron Roam Bozert of the neighboring kingdom.”

“!”

“Mai! Are you out of your mind?! Marrying that man?! He’s twelve years older than you and has three daughters!”

“Father, I don’t think you’re in any position to say that.”

At his daughter’s sharp gaze, Derek, feeling a pang of guilt, turned his head away.

“He may be twelve years older, but you’re twenty years older than Mother! And those princesses already adore me, calling me ‘Mother.’ They’re so sweet! Anyway, I’ve already made up my mind. After my birthday banquet, I’m going to Bozert to become their Empress. So please, just accept it~ Now, I need to go for a skincare treatment~”

“S-Sister! You’re not seriously going to him, are you?! Sister!!!”

As Ren chased after his sister, the dining room fell silent.

“Sigh, Julius, how did Mai end up falling for a man like that?”

“She wanted to attend a masquerade ball in the Bozert Empire, so I let her go. It’s my fault.”

“Well, it’s done now. She’s old enough to make her own decisions. Let her handle it.”

“What a wonderful decision, my dear.”

“Ahem.”

Aella smiled faintly as she noticed the retired Emperor blushing at his wife’s praise.

“Since the twins’ eighteenth birthday banquet is in two days, how about we finish the banquet and return to the duchy afterward?”

“Your Majesty! Is that really alright?”

“Of course, our future daughter-in-law.”

“…”

Kael barely managed to restrain himself from glaring daggers at the Emperor, who seemed intent on provoking him.

“Ayla, my dear.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I hear you can now freely control both divine power and magic?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Hoho, I’d like to help you refine your magic and make it easier to control. Would you like to take lessons from me?”

“R-Really?! I would be truly honored, Your Majesty!”

Aella had never seen her eldest daughter’s eyes sparkle so brightly before. Seeing her like this, Ayla finally looked her age, if only a little.

Later, Claire argued that since she and Terry were going to be engaged anyway, there was no harm in sharing a room. Her father, Kael, raised his voice, exclaiming that young children shouldn’t be sharing rooms. In the end, both father and daughter were scolded by Aella, who silenced them with her firm authority.

Thus, Claire ended up sharing a room with her sister Ayla, while Noah shared a room with Crown Prince Terry, who insisted on sleeping in the room next to Claire’s.

When Aella entered the room, she placed a hand on Kael’s shoulder as he muttered to himself. Startled, Kael turned to her, and she asked if he had done something wrong.

“W-What wrong…? Ahem.”

“Kael, can’t you try to get along with His Majesty, even a little?”

“With that…! Even if I try, nothing will change as long as he keeps acting like that.”

“Sigh. I thought you were more broad-minded, but you’re just like the Emperor…”

“Just like him?! Who are you calling just like him?!”

“Kael, are you raising your voice at me?”

“…I’m sorry, Ella. I shouldn’t have raised my voice. My apologies, my dear wife!”

Aella secretly enjoyed Kael’s reactions, but she kept that to herself as her little secret.

“Kael, we’re adults. Shouldn’t we set an example of maturity for our children?”

“…Fine.”

“Hoho, thank you, Kael. I love you, dear.”

As Aella nestled into his arms, resting her hand on his chest and kissing him, Kael felt his heart race. Her alluring gaze under the soft moonlight made him gulp unconsciously.

“Kael, after the banquet, let’s take the children to the villa. Or better yet, we’ll go to the villa ourselves. What do you think?”

“A-Ahem. That sounds good.”

“Hoho, but you’d better behave until then. If you make even one mistake, your back will be in for some serious pain.”

Although Kael loved his wife dearly, the sight of her smiling menacingly while cracking her knuckles filled him with dread. To save his back, he could only nod fervently.

—

Kael endured the next two days admirably. The mischievous Emperor, who had tried to provoke him, ended up being dragged away by the Empress after receiving a stern scolding and a slap on the back. Watching this unfold, Kael secretly cheered, knowing the final challenge was still ahead.

At the banquet, dancing and drinking were inevitable. Despite being married for eight years and having triplets, Aella’s beauty still attracted plenty of attention from young, energetic men in their twenties and unmarried men in their thirties. Knowing this, Kael struggled to suppress his rising anger, determined to keep his promise to Aella. He wanted to enjoy sweet moments with her rather than face her wrath.

Just as Kael was barely holding himself together, a commotion broke out.

“You thief! How dare you go after my sister!”

“Ren! What are you doing?! Your Majesty, please forgive my younger brother’s behavior.”

“Haha, he’s just a spirited brother-in-law. I understand.”

“Understand?! What did you do to seduce my sister, you bastard—”

“Enough, Ren. If you interfere any further, I’ll never speak to you again.”

“Ugh! Sister, I hate you more than anyone in the world!”

Seeing Ren’s unwavering love for his sister, Kael thought to himself that Ren’s chances of getting married in this lifetime were slim. When Aella followed Ren out of the hall, Kael quickly followed her.

“Your Highness.”

“Duchess… Why are you here? I didn’t want you to see me like this.”

“I just wanted some fresh air.”

“…”

Standing beside Ren, who was staring down at the garden below, Aella began to speak.

“I’ve heard that twins share a deep connection. Even with my triplets, if one of them is hurt, the other two often feel it too.”

“Well… sometimes…”

“Her Highness Princess Mai is probably feeling what you’re feeling right now.”

“…”

“I know it might seem rude to say this, but Your Highness wants your sister to be happy, doesn’t he?”

Ren nodded silently, and Aella pointed to Princess Mai, who was dancing happily with her partner inside.

“How does Her Highness look to you right now?”

“She looks… happy. She seems so excited. I’ve never seen her like this before.”

“Then what should Your Highness do?”

“I know. No one can stop my sister’s stubbornness—not even Father. But still, he’s a widower with children and so much older!”

“I was surprised too, but Your Highness, there are many kinds of love in this world. Even if we can’t fully understand them, we shouldn’t deny them.”

Aella smiled warmly at Ren as she continued.

“Family is about supporting and understanding the people we love most. Even if it’s difficult, we stand by them and help them when they need it. That’s what family means to me.”

“Duchess… Thank you so much.”

When Aella returned to the hall, she apologized to the Emperor with a deep bow. She then watched Ren embrace his sister and cry, her own eyes glistening with tears.

“Ella.”

“Kael?”

When Kael approached her, Aella smiled and asked.

“What about the children?”

“Our eldest daughter is glued to the Empress Dowager’s side, and as for Claire… well, you can guess.”

Laughing at her husband’s resigned expression, Aella nodded.

“Noah seems to have secretly contacted Ian to bring Siana over. They’re playing together over there.”

“Hoho, Noah’s been fond of Siana since he was a baby.”

“True. I wonder who he takes after… Why are you looking at me?”

“Who else could he take after?”

“Sigh, fine. He takes after me—even in how he can’t hide his feelings for the girl he likes.”

Standing in front of her exhausted husband, Aella took his hands in hers.

“Kael, thank you for holding back. It must have been hard.”

“Ella.”

“I’m always grateful to you.”

“I should be the one thanking you… for loving someone as flawed as me.”

“Kael.”

As Aella leaned into his embrace, Kael glared at the young men eyeing her, sending them scurrying away with a single look.

“Ella.”

“Yes, Kael?”

Under the soft moonlight, Kael looked more handsome than ever, and Aella found herself captivated all over again.

‘I’m falling for him all over again.’

“Ella, you look even more beautiful tonight.”

“Oh, hohoho. I was just thinking the same thing about you… Mmph.”

As Kael wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her deeply, Aella returned his kiss, her breath slightly quickened as they pulled apart.

“Ella.”

“Yes?”

“Love only me.”

“…”

“Forever, only me. I’ll do the same.”

“You fool, of course. I love you, Kael.”

“I love you more, Ella.”

Beneath the beautiful moonlight, the Duke and Duchess shared their sweet love in a place where no one could disturb them.

– The End –