Chapter 13: Land to Take Root In (5)

Whether he noticed her reaction or not, Marquis Fridas wore a surprisingly softened expression—so unlike his usual austere self it was almost unsettling.

Larié stood frozen, unable to adjust to the sudden shift.

Rui, however, was clearly used to this side of the Marquis and beamed.

“Grandpa!”

“Yes, yes! It’s Grandpa! Still as gallant and adorable as ever, our Rui.”

Rui held his arms out without hesitation, and Marquis Fridas promptly scooped him up as if he’d been waiting all day.

At least the child wasn’t feeling any awkwardness—something Larié found quietly reassuring.

As she stood there in a daze, Grand Duchess Avnir approached with a smile.

“Dear, was the walk here difficult?”

“Ah… no. Hello. The way here was fine. Rui’s gotten quite good at walking through the woods lately.”

“He must take after his mother.”

The grand duchess’s warm voice helped ease the surprise in Larié’s heart.

…Perhaps.

“Shall we go in and play shoulder horse with Grandpa?”

“Shoul-durr! Yesh!”

Marquis Fridas seemed fully intent on hoisting Rui right onto his shoulders.

Larié, who had only ever seen the Marquis in his scholarly or meticulously formal demeanor, simply couldn’t adjust to the sight.

When she once again stared at him in bewilderment, the grand duchess beside her burst into hearty laughter.

Watching nearby, Susan gave a subtle clearing of her throat.

“Ahem.”

“Ah, ah… Hello, Susan.”

“Welcome. I’ve prepared the tea leaves you like.”

“Thank you. Grand Duchess, I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to stare. It’s just that… the Marquis seems to really… adore Rui.”

“It is a surprising sight, isn’t it?”

The duchess, still smiling, didn’t blame her.

Instead, she glanced at the receding pair and whispered softly.

“My brother has always been a bit soft-hearted, you know.”

Marquis Fridas was Grand Duchess Avnir’s older brother.

But it was the first time Larié had heard her speak of her family so casually.

It seemed today would be full of surprises.

“He went through quite the trouble raising Terian so strictly,” the duchess added. “The same goes for the other heirs of House Fridas. Come along now, let’s go inside.”

“Yes.”

With Rui and Marquis Fridas already ahead, the two women followed at a leisurely pace.

The back garden looked the same as ever.

Its large trees and neatly kept lawn had grown a bit bare for the winter.

Walking side by side with Larié, the duchess spoke again.

“Unlike before, Rui is a child your brother can pour affection into without restraint. That’s probably why he thinks there’s no need to be stern.”

Larié understood the duchess’s gentle explanation.

For nobles, raising heirs with strict discipline was expected.

Especially since Marquis Fridas had raised Terian fiercely after he lost his father early.

And with the late emperor as his primary threat, it was no wonder the marquess had gone to such lengths.

In such a situation, the Marquis had no choice but to maintain a strict educational policy. In the ruthless world of nobility, any flaw quickly became a weakness. The heirs of the Marquisate were no exception.

But things were different with Rui. Though Marquis Fridas was like a father to Terian, he was, strictly speaking, one step removed from Rui’s education.

Thanks to that, he could instead pour out such boundless affection without reserve. Larié understood the Marchioness’s words.

“I did tell him last time to tone it down a bit, but… it seems difficult for him.”

“Vrooom! Grandpa is coming!”

“Kyaaahaha…!”

“……”

It would take some time to get used to seeing him like this.

“By the way, Marchioness, thank you so much for protecting Rui.”

The purpose of today’s visit was to thank them. Had they not protected Rui while Terian and Larié were away, something truly terrible might have happened.

In particular, Marquis Fridas also lent his support to protecting Rui after handling the general mobilization orders.

It seemed Rui had become accustomed to seeing the Marquis like this since then.

“It was our duty. We’re the ones who are grateful that you entrusted Rui to us.”

Originally, she had wanted to visit earlier to offer her thanks, as she had done to Count Ventus in the imperial palace.

However, when Larié said she would bring Rui along, the Marchioness had gently dissuaded her. She had asked her to wait until all the traitors were captured and things were safer.

Then just yesterday, she had received word inviting her to visit the Grand Duchy anytime. Without waiting any longer, Larié came with Rui.

“Yes. Let’s sit and have some tea while we talk.”

The Marchioness said with a beaming smile.

Upon entering the drawing room, Marquis Fridas was now busy fussing over warming up Rui’s cold cheeks.

“It may take a little while for my brother to regain his composure…”

The Marchioness offered a reproachful remark toward the Marquis, though even she looked upon Rui with boundless affection.

Perhaps the fireplace had been lit long before, as the drawing room was filled with warm air. Letting herself sink into it, Larié let a faint smile bloom.

“Yes.”

She and Rui had such warm family surrounding them.

That alone brought her quiet happiness.

❖ ❖ ❖

The next morning.

Larié and Terian had breakfast together as usual. Perhaps because he had played so enthusiastically the day before, Rui had fallen back asleep after eating.

“…So in the end, Marquis Fridas insisted on putting Rui on his shoulders himself.”

Their morning walk that had begun in the empress’s garden now continued on toward the imperial palace.

At her words, Terian let out a small laugh. Larié, enchanted, found herself staring at his gently relaxed profile.

“He’s always been a man of deep affection. Though he restrains himself most times out of duty.”

Having heard the details of what happened at the Grand Duchy, Terian continued to smile faintly.

Then, sensing her gaze, he turned to Larié with a gentle look in his eyes.

“I suppose he felt there was no need to hold back with Rui.”

“The Marchioness said something similar.”

Larié, still unable to take her eyes off him, quickly responded. She went on to explain in more detail what the Marchioness had told her the day before.

Terian nodded from time to time, listening attentively to her.

Then, Larié suddenly found herself curious—about what he had been like as a child.

“Were you like that as a child too, Your Majesty?”

To her question, Terian tilted his head slightly, as if unsure.

Then, with a playful gleam in his eye, he said:

“Hmm. There were a few times I was secretly doted on. I suppose they thought I wouldn’t remember.”

“Ahaha.”

At that unexpected joke, Larié burst into laughter without realizing it.

The joy that had left her chest painted the air with soft, white breath. She couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed like that.

“……”

Terian silently watched her until that radiant smile began to fade.

Then, before the lingering joy had completely left Larié’s face, he suddenly extended a hand toward her.

It was impulsive—he just couldn’t help it.

“Please hold my hand, my lady.”

He now asked her to take his hand not even in the forest, but here, in the open. Larié felt another burst of laughter rising inside her.

It was such an oddly cheerful day. So she chose, just this once, to tease what she had long pretended not to notice.

“You know you won’t get lost even without holding my hand. And this isn’t a forest.”

“Yes, I know.”

Terian briefly lowered his gaze to the ground and let out a soft laugh.

That easy smile once again stole Larié’s attention.

“Even back when you first went to the cabin, the forest always brought me straight to you.”

His next words surprised her a little.

“I just wanted to hold your hand, so I made up an excuse.”

“Oh…”

“So please pretend not to notice, and just take it.”

He looked up again and reached his hand toward her. The smile in his eyes was infectious.

She tapped the ground with the tip of her shoe, hesitated, then turned her head slightly.

And then—pretending not to know—she reached out her hand.

The warmth that slid gently into hers was comforting.

“……”

“……”

A curious silence wrapped around them. They walked onward, hand in hand.

By the time they reached the far end of the imperial garden, the forest came into view. And with it, Terian’s earlier words resurfaced in her mind.

“Back then, too… did the forest show you the way?”

Even though the question came out of nowhere, Terian answered without hesitation.

He began to explain how he used to rush into the forest, led only by the desire to reach her.

“Yes. At the end of that path, it was always you.”

His certainty stirred something in Larié once again.

She had always thought the forest only helped Rui come and go—because she had always wanted to see him. Because she wished that little child’s journey wouldn’t be hard.

She had truly believed that.

And yet, Terian had always said the forest guided him too.

So Larié slowly realized—

Back then, too… she had always wanted to see Terian.

Suddenly, the words from the book she’d read the other day came to mind.

The ones she hadn’t yet shown him.

The ones that spoke shamelessly of “true love.”

Just then, a breeze passed gently between them.

The day was unusually warm for winter, and the breeze played with her heart as if it were spring.

Their eyes met again.

Terian’s lake-blue gaze quickly filled with concern, perhaps confused by her sudden silence.

As she plunged into those waters once more, Larié thought—

Ah, I’ve been loving this man all along.

“Are you cold, my lady? Shall we head inside?”

Perhaps from the very beginning.

‘Terian Laxtreen.’

When she first met him at the wedding, he had reminded her of the night sky, of a lake, of starlight.

She had thought he looked like a demigod from myth.

And when that fantasy clashed with reality and came crashing down, the pain had been unbearable.

So that was why.

“My lady?”

“There’s something I want to say.”

“Please do.”

The realization spread through her soul like sunlight melting snow.

It dyed her—gently, irreversibly.

It came late.

She mourned that a little.

But the more she held onto it, the more she knew: what mattered was from now on.

In this bright morning filled with winter’s scent—

She wanted to say it clearly, boldly.

“I want to stay by your side.”

“……”

“Please… give me that chance.”

“A chance to walk forward with you.”

At her sudden words, Terian’s expression froze for a moment. His lake-like, sometimes starlit eyes wavered faintly.

But his surprise settled soon after, replaced by the same radiant smile Larié had shown just moments ago.

“It was always your place,” he said softly.

He gave her hand a gentle pull, and Larié followed his lead without resistance.

Then, like diving into a forest, she fell into his embrace.

Their heartbeats thudded as one.

As they quietly shared each other’s pulse, Terian whispered beside her ear—

His voice thick with emotion.

“Thank you, for coming to me.”

Larié gave no reply. Instead, she simply raised her head.

Close enough to share each other’s breath.

“Larié.”

“…Terian.”

And then, they kissed—exchanging breaths, melting the frost from her lips with the warmth of his.

In this season where the forest curled inward, waiting for spring’s return—

Larié had finally found where to set down roots.