Side Story: Family (3)

The projection extending from the crystal orb continued.  

-I went through a lot of trouble gathering memories from the exact times and places we visited. While you were away, I searched all over the Grand Ducal Mansion, and you didn’t notice at all, did you? 

He hadn’t noticed.  

Tehis nodded silently, unable to find his voice.  

-Well, since you prepared everything from the proposal to the wedding… I wanted to do something for you too. But this magic turned out to be harder than I thought.  

The translucent image of Chloe awkwardly scratched her cheek.  

-To be honest, it’s the night before the wedding right now. I didn’t tell you because I thought I’d have to gift it later if I couldn’t finish it in time, but I managed to complete it, so here’s your ‘surprise!’  

Chloe spread her arms wide and smiled. Around her, playful light popped and sparkled.  

-Anyway, I’ve rambled on for too long. What I wanted to say is…  

Tehis slowly lowered his hands from his face. The image of Chloe hesitating, awkwardly avoiding eye contact, was etched vividly in his mind.  

-I’m happy to marry you. 

Her peach-colored eyes turned forward again. The small smile on her face seemed faintly tinged with red.  

-I can’t even begin to count how much I’m grateful for. During the time I’ve spent with you, I’ve learned about love and discovered new happiness.  

Tehis felt the same. It was only because of Chloe that he understood love. For the first time in his life, he had experienced happiness.  

-When I looked back on our memories, I realized each one was so precious. That’s why I agonized over what to include here. It ended up being longer than planned, but I hope it wasn’t boring.  

It could never have been boring. Watching the projection had made his heart tremble so much it hurt, to the point where he had to hold his breath several times.  

-Our married life won’t always be smooth. After all, I’m a mage. Sometimes, I might make mistakes in our relationship, or I might be so focused on my research that I’ll be away for a long time.  

He had already prepared himself for this. Tehis, too, struggled with interpersonal relationships and had asked Chloe in advance to let him know immediately if he ever did something wrong. He promised to correct himself as soon as possible.  

-But no matter what, please remember one thing.  

Ah.  

From the way Chloe bit her lips, Tehis could sense what she was about to say.  

In the slowly flowing time, her radiant smile became engraved in his memory.  

It was a breathtakingly beautiful smile.  

-I love you, Tess.  

Pop—.  

The crystal orb lost its light.  

In the quiet stillness of the wedding hall, where the artifact had been retrieved, Chloe cleared her throat and turned on the lights.  

“Ahem, ahem. Well… that’s that. I tried my best to prepare, but seeing it now, it feels like there’s a lot I could have done better. I guess I just ran out of time…”  

“Chloe.”  

Tehis grabbed Chloe’s arm as she rambled, pulling her behind him so the guests couldn’t see. He leaned down.  

“Turn off the lights again.”  

“What?”  

Tehis didn’t answer her question. Instead, he kissed her.  

As the guests gasped in surprise, the lights went out again. In the now-darkened hall, his deep, resonant voice echoed moments later.  

“I love you too, Chloe. With all my heart.”  

* * *  

Although the sequence was a bit chaotic, their wedding concluded successfully. Amid the blessings of many, their union was officially declared.  

Da-dum, da-dum, da-dum-dum-dum…  

During the after-party, a song Chloe had secretly requested the day before was played. Couples danced and laughed to the lively rhythm.  

Elle and Ray, too, danced around the enormous cake, moving in steps that resembled a dance.  

「Exciting! So exciting!」

「Chirp! Chirp-chirp?!」

「Ahhh!」

The children, who stumbled, fell behind the cake and landed with a thud. From Phoenix, now buried in whipped cream, flames suddenly erupted.  

「This is bad! We’re going to get scolded!」

「Chirp-chirp!」

Water was dumped onto the flaming cake. Those nearby were drenched as well, causing chaos to erupt.  

「You little rascals…!」

By the time Lucas, who had belatedly grasped the situation, was struggling to restore order, Chloe and Tehis were on the other side, receiving congratulations from their acquaintances.  

“It was an impressive wedding. Chloe never disappoints.”  

“In a good way, right?”  

“Ha-ha, of course. It means I envy the Grand Duke.”  

“Your Majesty.”  

“…It was a joke, so please stop glaring at me like you want to kill me, Grand Duke.”  

“You brought it on yourself, Your Majesty.”  

“Helena, not you too…”  

As the cheerful conversation flowed, two figures in robes—one large and one small—approached.  

It was Isrion and Riel.  

“Chloe, are you having a good time?”  

“You look well.”  

“Master! Riel!”  

Chloe greeted them with a bright smile. Isrion patted her shoulder, and Riel lightly tugged at the sleeve of her dress.  

“Your artifact-making skills have improved. Selectively embedding memories is incredibly difficult.”  

“I told you it was hard! I was so nervous about not finishing it in time.”  

“Where are you going for your honeymoon?”  

“Kaishan lent us one of the Imperial Family’s islands. We’ll stay there for a few days and then visit the Sky Island.”  

Chloe’s voice, unusually buoyant, chattered on about how she had found a fantastical place while exploring restricted areas as a Council Mage. Her excitement made Isrion and Riel exchange a brief glance and shrug.  

“You do know why restricted areas are restricted, don’t you, Chloe?”  

“Don’t worry. We’ll be careful. We won’t do anything reckless.”  

“Good luck.”  

Riel thought their honeymoon might turn into an adventure but didn’t bother to stop them.  

That insolent Grand Duke. Let him suffer a little for stealing our treasure.  

As everyone harbored their own thoughts, the chatter continued. Lucas, having cleaned up the mess, approached hesitantly. After a deep sigh, he offered his congratulations.  

As the sun set and the hall emptied…  

An uninvited, unexpected guest came to see Tehis.  

* * *  

“The Second Consort?”  

“Yes, Your Grace. She has requested a private audience with you.”  

Tehis met Chloe’s gaze. Her blinking, startled eyes seemed to reflect his own feelings.  

The wedding had been deliberately held in private, without even inviting his maternal relatives. It was a declaration that they considered each other their only family.  

But now, after the wedding was over, his birth mother had come. A woman with whom he had no public connections.  

“Refuse her.”  

“Wait, Tess. Didn’t you say you’ve never met her in person?”  

“I have no desire to.”  

“Still… If you’re going to end things, wouldn’t it be better to do it yourself? Rather than leaving it unresolved?”  

Tehis sighed at Chloe’s advice, rubbing the back of his neck with a reluctant expression. She made a suggestion.  

“Let’s meet her together. If you don’t want to speak with her, I’ll handle it for you.”  

“Do I have to?”  

“It’s your choice. But if my mother were alive, I think I would’ve wanted to talk to her. Even just to find out what kind of person she was.”  

Chloe, who had cast a soundproofing spell in time, held Tehis’s hand with a smile.  

“I just don’t want you to regret anything today. It’s the happiest day of your life.”  

“….”  

Tehis silently clasped Chloe’s hand in return. He gazed into her eyes for a long moment before nodding slowly.  

Refusing Chloe’s words had never been an option for him.  

“All right. Let’s meet her together.”

***

The Second Consort had insisted on meeting Tehis alone, but when informed that Chloe already knew everything, she acquiesced. Perhaps it was the threat that Tehis would outright refuse the meeting if Chloe wasn’t present that worked.  

Either way, Tehis and Chloe walked arm in arm, moving together in harmony. They had changed out of their elaborate wedding attire into more comfortable clothing.  

“Are you ready?”  

“Yes, Chloe. Let’s go in.”  

The two paused briefly in front of the reception room. After knocking to announce their arrival, they opened the door. Before they could even take a single step inside, the woman waiting for them stood up abruptly.  

“My child…!” 

“We greet Her Majesty, the Second Consort.”  

“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Your Majesty.”  

Chloe glanced at the Second Consort, who was staring at them with bated breath.  

She was a beauty with sorrowful features and blue hair. Her frail frame, thinner than most mages, and the dark circles under her blue eyes drew attention.  

‘They said she was too ill to attend any official events.’

That was the explanation Chloe had received when she asked why the Second Consort hadn’t been present at the Empire’s founding anniversary or the Emperor’s birthday banquet.  

Indeed, the woman looked as unwell as the rumors suggested. However, it seemed her mental state was in even worse condition than her physical health.  

The moment she saw Tehis, tears began streaming down her face.  

Silently, without even a sob.  

“……”  

“……”  

An awkward silence filled the reception room.  

Tehis asked no questions, and the Second Consort said nothing. The two simply stared at each other, mother and son, in complete silence.  

Caught between them, Chloe awkwardly darted her eyes around.  

‘Did I make a mistake by getting involved in this?’  

She decided to leave it at the fact that she had brought them together.  

Quietly, she tried to release her arm from Tehis’s and step back to give them space, but her waist was suddenly held in place.

“……!”  

“We are married.”  

It was a blunt statement. Without any preamble, Tehis declared it outright as he pulled Chloe into his arm and addressed his mother.  

The one feature they shared, the color of their eyes, clashed in midair.  

“She is the woman I love. And so, I will live happily with her, no matter what you say.”