31. Gift Exchange

Edward returned to his office immediately after inspecting the Kayaneuman Mountains.

“The Tower Master sent what I requested?”

“Yes. I placed it on your bedroom desk.”

“Bring it here now.”

“Yes.”

“Trix.”

As Trix answered briefly and was about to leave, Edward called out to stop him.

“I’ll be going to Abella Palace tonight.”

Trix nodded with a smile and left the office.

Edward, who had been in a meeting with his aides, raised his hand to pause the discussion when Trix returned with a small box. Edward carefully opened the box that Trix handed him.

It was a bracelet that looked exactly like the sketch he had drawn. For something crafted by a wizard with no interest in aesthetics, it was an impeccably beautiful bracelet. Edward found himself unconsciously smiling in satisfaction.

“With a perfect sketch, it’s only natural the result would be good…”

Marquis Argen, who had seen Edward’s sketch before, frowned at Edward’s self-praise.

Given Edward’s drawing skills, it was nothing surprising for Marquis Argen. The fact that it was made just from the sketch was a testament to Ferma’s human triumph.

It was almost as if something was created out of nothing. But Edward believed it was all thanks to his sketch. Marquis Argen shook his head in disbelief.

Edward eagerly waited for nightfall. He glanced out the window several times, wishing the sun would set quickly.

As dusk fell, Edward hurried toward Abella Palace.

Upon entering Larael’s bedroom and seeing her face, he recalled the day of the last banquet. Until he saw her, his mind had been filled with the thought of giving her the gift. But the moment he saw Larael, those memories resurfaced. Edward thought to himself that he was truly a foolish man.

“I greet the Sun of the Empire.”

Larael greeted him with perfect composure. Before seeing her, he had wanted to embrace her so tightly he might crush her, but now that she was before him, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

‘What was I doubting, and how did I make such a mistake with her?’

Embarrassed, Edward couldn’t meet Larael’s gaze. He sat on the sofa with a stiff expression. Larael watched his face and sat across from him.

“I have something for you.”

As soon as Larael sat down, Edward handed her the prepared gift. Larael, surprised by the unexpected situation, looked at Edward with wide eyes, then quickly accepted the box and placed it on the table. She then stood up and brought out the gift she had prepared for Edward.

“I also have a gift for you.”

“A gift?”

“I wasn’t able to give you a birthday present…”

At the mention of his birthday, Edward was momentarily speechless. He hesitated before finally speaking.

“Larael, I’m sorry about that day.”

Seeing the earnest look in Edward’s eyes as he met her gaze, Larael nodded lightly and gave a faint smile.

“It’s all right. Please, open it.”

Larael urged Edward to open the box quickly. If she didn’t shift the topic, Edward might end up endlessly apologizing to her again.

At her urging, Edward opened the box Larael had given him.

Watching his reaction, Larael blushed. Edward took out the book Larael had made and opened it. Although clumsy, it was clear she had made the notebook herself, and the poems, written one letter at a time with care, as well as the decorations, were all evidently her handiwork.

Edward had never received a gift like this before. He was genuinely moved. The thought that someone had cared for him so much, paying attention to every little detail, warmed his heart. With each page he turned, Edward felt a lump rising in his throat.

“Larael, did you make this yourself?”

“Yes.”

Unlike her usual calm demeanor, Larael answered with unusual shyness.

Seeing her like this, Edward couldn’t sit still, overwhelmed by how adorable she was.

With a broad smile, Edward got up from the sofa and sat beside Larael. Just his sitting next to her made Larael’s face flush bright red.

“Open my gift.”

Edward gently stroked Larael’s soft, luscious hair and spoke in a tender voice.

Larael picked up the box from the table and carefully opened it.

“Oh… a bracelet…”

“Yes. It’s a bracelet made from the first mana stone mined in the Kayaneuman Mountains. It’s a meaningful item, so I wanted you to have it.”

Edward took her hair and kissed it. Larael turned her head to look at Edward. Her red eyes glistened with moisture. Meeting her gaze, Edward spoke again.

“That’s how much you mean to me.”

Startled by his words, Larael dropped the box containing the bracelet onto her lap.

Larael’s anxious, trembling gaze and Edward’s earnest, longing eyes tangled in the air.

“I… Your Majesty, I…”

‘I am not worthy of Your Majesty’s love.’

Edward picked up the box from Larael’s lap and took out the bracelet. He took Larael’s hand and fastened the bracelet around her wrist.

“I didn’t say that expecting an answer from you. You don’t need to be so flustered. Actually, there’s something I need to confess.”

Larael, who had been staring blankly at the bracelet on her wrist, suddenly looked up in surprise.

“It definitely has a teleportation function, but I don’t know how to use it.”

Larael burst into laughter, but quickly bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

“If you want to laugh, you can.”

Edward leaned back on the sofa and turned his body completely toward Larael. He gently stroked Larael’s still-flushed cheek.

“Compared to Your Majesty’s gift, mine feels so insignificant. I feel sorry.”

Larael bowed her head deeply. Edward’s hand slid down her cheek and gently lifted her chin.

“Who said that? That it’s insignificant?”

“Pardon?”

“Of all the gifts I’ve ever received, none have moved me like this. The fact that you spent so much time and care thinking of me makes me so grateful I could cry.”

Something sparkled in Edward’s eyes. At first, Larael thought she was mistaken. But as she saw tears welling up in Edward’s eyes, her heart pounded and she felt a shiver run through her body.

‘What should I do? What am I supposed to do with you?’

Larael wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with trembling hands. As her hand touched his face, Edward closed his eyes.

The lighting deepened the shadows around his eyes. Edward’s breath brushed against her hand. He took Larael’s hand, turned his head, and kissed it. His soft, warm lips pressed against her palm, making Larael let out a low m*an at the ticklish sensation.

‘I may not deserve your love, but is it not okay for me to love you?’

Unable to hold back her surging emotions, Larael began kissing Edward’s lips. Startled by Larael’s sudden kiss, Edward’s eyes widened. His pupils shook in surprise, but only for a moment. Edward let out a low, rumbling laugh.

At the sound of his laughter, Larael pressed him even further. She pushed Edward down onto the sofa and, on top of him, explored every corner of his sweet mouth. Only the sticky sounds of saliva and their heated breaths echoed through the bedroom.

“Larael…”

Edward didn’t want to stop her, but he couldn’t endure any longer. As he called her name in a low voice, Larael, who had been biting his lower lip, suddenly pulled away in surprise. Gasping for breath, Larael stared down at Edward with wide, red eyes. Her silver hair tickled Edward’s face.

“Shall we move to the bed and continue?”

Edward averted his gaze with a mischievous expression, his face shyly lit by the lamp.

Larael realized her position. The memory of her bold kiss flashed through her mind. She quickly moved to the opposite end of the sofa, her face burning as red as her eyes. Edward smiled and slowly approached her.

“Let’s finish what we started.”