“Ah…”

“Aristena, I missed you.”

At the familiar voice she had longed for, Aris’s eyes flickered rapidly. She felt the grip and warmth from their joined hands. This was certainly not a dream. Not a hallucination, not an auditory illusion.

“Kalaian…?”

He was similar yet subtly different from how she remembered seeing him last. It was the atmosphere he gave off.

As Aris gazed at him blankly, warmth tenderly stroked the back of her hand.

“Finally we meet. I was so worried… but I’m glad to see you’re healthy.”

“Is it really… you?”

“Yes, Aristena. It’s me.”

Kalaian quietly smiled. Aris gently traced his warmth in their joined hands. Finally letting out a sob-like breath, Aris threw herself into Kalaian’s arms. His embrace filled with vivid warmth.

Repeatedly stroking his back as if confirming his existence, Aris spoke, unable to hold back tears.

“I missed you… I missed you, Kalaian… I kept believing you would return.”

Kalaian smiled with relief as he carefully embraced her.

“I’m sorry for being late. I’m truly… glad I could keep my promise.”

Aris sobbed, leaning against his chest. She had so many things she wanted to tell Kalaian. Even more so because she had constantly thought of and longed for this moment. She had even organized what to say to him someday while imagining this day, storing it in her mind.

But she realized such things were completely useless. The first words she needed and wanted to say were already determined.

Hugging him tighter as she embraced him, Aris spoke.

“Do you remember… when I said I needed time to think about our future?”

She said that due to her vague fears about becoming Empress. To which Kalaian had answered without showing his feelings that he would wait forever.

“I remember.”

Hearing his voice filled with firm conviction, Aris raised her head. His blind trust like this reassured her.

Looking into Kalaian’s eyes, Aris spoke.

“This is enough… I’ve already thought plenty while waiting for you. Let’s get married now…”

At her straightforward confession, Kalaian looked surprised for a moment. But soon his expression softened as he raised his hands to cup Aris’s face.

“Let’s do that. I want to spend my whole life with you from now on.”

“Yes, me too…”

Aris smiled with overwhelming joy. She leaned into Kalaian’s embrace again. She heard his heart beating fast and irregularly.

Feeling the miracle had come true like a wish she had made long ago, she closed her eyes. To remember this moment forever.

* * *

Belvaiden erupted in cheers at the news that Kalaian had returned alive.

Though everyone had unanimously declared it impossible, the hero who had saved the country accomplished that impossible feat and finally returned. It was a moment that further solidified his achievements as a hero.

Upon his return, instead of immediately reclaiming the authority delegated to the Regent, he took some time to rest. Simultaneously, Kalaian immediately began preparing for his marriage with Aristena.

People could hardly contain their interest in the fact that his partner was Aristena Eldeiz, who had refused his proposal long ago.

However, supportive reactions outweighed negative public opinion. This was because word spread that she had refused the Crown Princess position at the time in order to become a scholar and contribute to Belvaiden’s safety.

In conclusion, both of them were undoubtedly heroes who had saved Belvaiden.

No one voiced objections to these two people choosing to share their future together. Rather, people were moved, calling them dramatically united lovers.

Their love story and his experiences over the 3 years were subjects of great interest to many. Stories passed around bit by bit became topics of conversation. Such stories were even prominently featured in newspapers.

However, only those directly involved knew whether these were pure truth or exaggerated tales.

* * *

“So? You wandered for many years… trying to find where I was?”

Aris, who had been quietly listening to his story in his arms, opened her eyes wide. Her shock showed so clearly that Kalaian softly laughed, finding her rabbit-like eyes adorable.

Then he continued his story.

Following the sword’s advice, Kalaian had to find the world where she existed. The rift’s interior was entangled with countless timelines.

Therefore, numerous entrances existed there connecting from ancient times to the present. Those timeline entrances were what had allowed him to see the footsteps of distant ancestors.

Starting from the distant past of several hundred years ago, Kalaian had to check each entrance of the jumbled timelines one by one to find the world where she existed.

“It seems time flows differently between here and there. While trapped there, I kept thinking decades must have easily passed outside. In the worst case, I thought… you might already be gone.”

He tucked Aris’s hair behind her ear as they lay facing each other.

“Fortunately, when I got somewhat close, the brooch reacted. I can’t tell you how happy I was at that small response. It became my guide… and let me meet you like this. If magic could have been used too, I would have moved in an instant, but that wasn’t possible.”

“But you still found your way here. Thank you for not giving up and returning… Thank you for keeping your promise.”

“I’m grateful too. For believing in me and waiting.”

Kalaian smiled gently as he pulled Aris into his embrace. He carefully stroked her hair strand by strand as if confirming her existence.

“Aristena.”

“Yes.”

At his soft call, Aris peeked her head up from his embrace.

Kalaian fell silent after calling her. Instead, he quietly pulled up the corners of his mouth in a smile. His eyes overflowed with indescribable affection.

Without needing to ask again, Aris felt she knew what he wanted to say. So she too simply smiled brightly in response.

Me too.

I love you too.

I love this moment. This miracle. Everything in the present that involves you.

Her brightly crinkled eyes shone vibrantly with the color of summer greenery.

* * *

Their wedding proceeded magnificently.

It was the royal marriage that finally came after several years since Kalaian ascended to the throne. Perhaps because of this, even residents from frontier regions came to see the couple, making the capital overflow with crowds.

Knowing all the attention focused on them, Aris couldn’t relax at all. Her hands holding the pure white bouquet had been trembling for a while.

‘I wasn’t this nervous even when presenting at academic conferences…’

It wasn’t comparable from the start. There were several times more people here now.

After the ceremony, Aris would become the Emperor’s wife. So the gathered crowds must have come both to celebrate the royal marriage and to see the new Empress.

That thought kept making her back stiffen with tension.

‘No, get it together. Don’t tremble, Aristena…’

As she took deep breaths before entering, a low laugh sounded beside her.

“Are you nervous?”

“A little shaky…”

Then a gentle warmth brushed against her beautifully made-up cheek. Aris looked up. Kalaian spoke to her with soft eyes, as if giving her solid reassurance.

“I’ll be by your side, so don’t worry. Now, during the upcoming ceremony, and every day, I’ll share all the emotions you feel.”

Aris blinked at him and gradually released the tension in her body. As her nervousness melted away, she smiled softly.

“Then I’ll share Your Majesty’s current feelings too. It’s unfair if I’m the only one giving you tension.”

Kalaian chuckled.

“Then I’ll gladly share with you. I’m very happy right now.”

The two laughed together like children.

They soon stood before the grand doors of the ceremonial hall. They had promised to enter together to not miss even a single moment together.

Finally, the voice announcing their entrance was heard, and the tall doors blocking their view smoothly opened. Sacred music and bright light poured in from beyond.

The two entered the chapel leaning on each other. Gazes touched them from both sides.

Just as Aris started getting nervous again, she suddenly felt that this situation was similar to one from her past life. The day she first married him. Many things were similar to then. But at the same time, many things were different.

The two stopped at the end of the wedding aisle. Aris took a shallow breath and raised her head. Then, someone suddenly spoke in a loud voice.

“Before proceeding with today’s joyous ceremony, I would like to make one important announcement.”

It was Duke Renion Erix, the Regent and the Emperor’s brother.

Aris looked at him in confusion at the unexpected situation. This hadn’t been discussed beforehand.

The audience murmured in puzzlement. Renion continued resolutely, paying no mind.

“Please listen without surprise. After much deliberation, His Majesty the Emperor has decided to abdicate the throne and pass the position to me. Accordingly, though the coronation ceremony hasn’t been held yet, as the appointed heir to the throne… I will bestow the title of Grand Duke of Baveloire upon Kalaian Etenbarke, who holds such great achievements.”

Aris, who had been listening blankly, turned to look up at Kalaian. Her eyes held bewilderment at what she had just heard.

The people in the chapel couldn’t hide their surprise at the sudden, shocking news.

Amidst the commotion, Kalaian gave her a faint smile. Looking into Aris’s eyes, he announced to everyone as if confessing to her.

“I intend to spend my remaining life solely for my wife-to-be. Though I know it’s difficult to accept suddenly, I hope everyone will understand generously.”

Aris’s parted lips quivered occasionally. Kalaian drew a slow smile as if he had expected her surprised reaction.

She had been staring at him blankly and finally let out a deflated laugh. Her body, which had been gripped by vague fear, relaxed with a sense of liberation.

“We will now proceed with the ceremony.”

The wedding continued according to the officiating priest’s words. While listening to the officiant’s address, she looked down at the white lisianthus bouquet. Similar yet subtly different memories washed over her again.

Both then and now were filled with unforgettable moments.

While immersed in memories, the time for the oath-sealing kiss arrived. Aris gently turned to face him. When their eyes met, he wrinkled his eyes like gentle sunlight.

Kalaian cupped her blushing cheeks and whispered before kissing her.

“Since we’re newly forming our marriage bond, I hope we can build only good memories from the start this time.”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Hot warmth settled on her lips, emotionally smiling. As their breaths intertwined, Aris slowly closed her eyes.

As if blessing the couple’s vows, bright light poured down on them from the chapel’s high windows.

The hearts of these two people who had reached each other after such a long and winding journey only had brilliantly continuing days ahead, as everything felt like a miracle.

After all, happiness achieved more solidly than anything else would not wear away for a very long time.