“He said he has something very important to tell you both. A decree has been prepared, so it would be best for you to kneel before His Majesty.”

“Oh, I see.”

Alec and I quickly stood up.

We knelt down in front of Ridit, and Andrew handed him a decree sealed in red.

Ridit briefly glanced over the contents, then looked at Alec and me. The atmosphere suddenly grew very solemn.

“I, Ridit, hereby restore both of you to your original titles.”

“…Excuse me?”

“The Duke and Duchess of Brent.”

“…”

Oh.

Now that I thought about it, we were still technically viscounts. I had completely forgotten about the titles.

Ever since the previous emperor’s death, people had silently acknowledged us by our original titles as dukes.

Ridit’s small lips moved once more.

“And I name you the Grand Duke and Duchess of our empire.”

“…?”

Huh?

Grand Duke?

“I hereby grant you the title of Grand Duke of Wiltsbrook, named after this very castle.”

“…!”

I looked at Ridit in shock, then turned to Alec. He was already looking at me.

So, we’re going to become a grand duke and duchess now?

It felt surreal and thrilling to receive such an impressive title so unexpectedly.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“And lastly…”

Ridit opened his mouth to speak again but paused for a moment. Then, he stood up from the sofa.

He approached us and, as if to match our height, knelt down before us.

I was startled and tried to help him up, but Ridit took both mine and Alec’s hands.

“Your Majesty.”

“…”

Ridit swallowed hard, as though holding back tears, and finally spoke.

“Please, be my godparents.”

“…!”

“What?”

We were both utterly stunned.

Andrew and Brooks were just as shocked.

“Your Majesty!”

It seemed even they hadn’t expected Ridit to ask us to be his godparents.

Ridit’s eyes glistened, filled with the loneliness and sorrow of a child who had grown up as an orphan.

…Oh.

Why am I tearing up?

Before a tear could fall, I pulled Ridit into a tight hug.

The magic stone ring on my hand shimmered as I gently patted his small back.

“Of course. Whenever you need us, you can always rely on us. We’ll always be here for you. Right, Alec?”

I looked at Alec, and Ridit turned to face him as well.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Alec nodded reassuringly.

“Of course.”

Ridit hugged him as well.

“Thank you, Alec. Thank you, Louise.”

And at that moment, the emperor, who had been so composed, finally broke down in tears.

* * *

“It seems we’ve gained a son overnight.”

This was shortly after our guests had all left the north.

Alec and I sat on a nameless mountain, watching as the emperor’s entourage disappeared in the distance.

We were sitting so high that the clouds seemed to float around us.

Alec ran a hand through his hair and answered nonchalantly.

In this lofty, radiant place, his profile seemed even more striking.

“He’s still only eight or nine. By the time he’s a teenager, he might forget all about us.”

“Do you think so?”

I chuckled, and Alec smiled too.

I looked out over the vast northern lands again.

“Now that I think about it, we’re not really old enough to have a son that age, are we? Maybe we should’ve just been his uncle and aunt…”

“…”

I didn’t get to finish my sentence.

His soft, moist lips pressed against mine without warning, and his large hand gently cradled the back of my neck.

…Oh.

A surprise kiss?

Somehow, it felt even more thrilling this way, catching me off guard.

I quickly calmed my startled heart and relaxed.

Reaching out, I wrapped my arms around his strong waist.

Through his shirt, I could feel every firm contour of his body.

He was firm and warm.

When his tongue swirled inside my mouth, it tasted sweeter than any syrup or cotton candy.

Just as I felt like I might melt from the sensation and my eyelids grew heavy, his lips retreated slightly.

With our foreheads touching, he spoke in a heated breath.

“It’s been over 10 hours since I last kissed you, all because Andrew and Brooks kept me busy last night.”

“Has it really been that long?”

I was a little breathless too.

“Yes. I was starting to get anxious.”

“No wonder I was feeling a bit restless too.”

“Haha…”

At my heartfelt joke, he let out a sweet laugh.

Does he know just how miraculous and happy I feel watching him smile?

It felt as though all the painful memories from before had been washed away, like a fading dream.

“That place… where you were.”

“…”

“It was just like the place where I lived in my past life. How did you end up there?”

“…”

He was silent for a moment.

But soon, he gave me the answer I had been longing to hear.

“I think I unconsciously understood your secret. I always dreamed of understanding you, of knowing more about you. And it seems my power found that place and brought it to life.”

“…Is that so? That’s amazing.”

“…”

“Truly remarkable.”

With that, I wrapped my arms around his neck.

He knew my world, and I was living in his.

There were no secrets between us now.

He now knew everything about me.

Who else could possibly come between us?

“I never imagined you’d know so much about me. I never thought you’d love me like you do now.”

“You’ve been the only one for me from the very beginning, Louise. Even now, you shine so brightly that my heart feels small by comparison.”

“You know why? It’s all because of you, Alec. Without you… I think my heart would wither.”

“…”

“The fact that I can breathe and that I shine in your eyes… it’s all because you exist.”

“Louise…”

“…”

I smiled warmly.

How comforting it is to know each other so well.

Now that he understood the secret I had kept to myself, it truly felt like he was the other half of my soul.

It was deeper than love—something stronger, more fated.

I gazed into his eyes, lost in the moment.

“I love you, Alec. I wish there were words that could express something even deeper.”

“…”

His eyes wavered, and I could feel that my confession had struck deep within his heart.

“Louise.”

He called my name tenderly, his voice choked with emotion.

“Do you know how heavy my heart feels every time I hear those words from you?”

“Does it?”

“If there were words deeper than love, I think my heart would burst from the weight of it.”

“…”

I felt the same way.

“Just keep loving me. I’ll handle the deeper part.”

“…”

I burst into laughter again.

Even without words, I could feel the profound, overflowing love that filled his heart and reached me.

This is what they mean when they say love isn’t just expressed through words—there’s so much more.

In fact, I was already feeling the intensity of his love through his fingertips and gestures.

Feeling a little excited, I looked at him mischievously.

“I like those surprise kisses, like the one earlier. You should do it more often.”

“Every moment, if you’d like?”

“Of course.”

“…”

He sighed softly as he lowered his head, our noses brushing together, lips almost touching.

Even just his breath made my heart tremble.

“I love you, Louise.”

‘More than you could ever love me.’

‘More than all the love in this world combined.’

As if whispering those words, his lips met mine.

At last, the true beginning of our love as husband and wife had arrived.

~End of the Main Story~

TL NOTE: The side story will be on the site in a few days. Visit dusk blossoms to bookmark the story to be updated on its release.