R4STWH - Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Only after emerging from the dungeon did Elias understand why Ilesha had said it wasn’t good to stay inside for too long.
The mana circulation inside and outside the dungeon was completely different.
The mana density within the dungeon was much higher and swirled unpredictably like the wind. While beneficial for growth, it was clearly not conducive to recovery.
The changes he could feel in his own body were also startling.
“Your Excellency!”
“Lady Ilesha!”
“Are you alright? What in the world…?”
A crowd, including the Saintess, Crow, and Kallen, was gathered near the large pillar that served as both the entrance and now the exit of the dungeon.
“Count Lakdel, is Her Highness inside? Did you not see her?” a maid attending the Princess asked anxiously. A barrage of questions followed.
“What happened in there?”
“When will the others come out?”
“It said entry was restricted due to exceeding capacity. Can we go in now?”
Just as Elias frowned, trying to decide what to say,
“Step aside!”
The crowd parted hurriedly, startled by the roar.
“Head of the Family.”
Gerent strode through the opened path and slapped Elias across the face.
Although he could have dodged or blocked it, Elias took the blow. He knew Gerent’s anger wasn't directed at him personally.
A heavy silence fell over the crowd as Gerent’s voice boomed,
“How could you be so reckless?! Don’t you know you’re the only one left to support this family?!”
There was more to Gerent's reprimand than simple anger. Understanding this, Elias bowed his head in apology instead of defending himself.
“…I apologize for causing you concern.”
“Follow me. I need to examine you and see if you’re injured.”
Elias glanced at Ilesha before following Gerent.
“I’m fine. I’m not hurt at all.”
He had felt Ilesha tense, ready to intervene, when Gerent raised his hand.
“It was for my sake, after all.”
Ilesha looked up at him at his quiet words.
“Still, I don’t like it. Seeing you hurt.”
Elias bit his lip, looking at her worried expression as she examined his cheek, which probably didn’t even have a mark.
If he hadn’t, he would have smiled. He was happy that Ilesha cared about him so genuinely and selflessly.
“I’ll tell him not to do that again.”
Ilesha’s expression softened at his gentle words.
“Let’s go. It’ll get bothersome if we stay here any longer.”
“Okay.”
Elias walked alongside her, following the path Gerent had made.
Perhaps because Gerent had deliberately slowed his pace, they caught up to him quickly.
The silence, unusual considering the number of people present, continued until they boarded the carriage.
There was a minor incident on their way back to the castle. Herodia attempted to seal the outer gate.
She must have seen Elias and Gerent’s absence as a golden opportunity.
However, Herodia’s rebellion was swiftly and effortlessly quelled. The knights had turned against her.
They presented Herodia and her cohorts’ heads to Gerent.
Did they lack the loyalty to stay on a sinking ship, despite having served as Pilien’s enforcers for so long?
Or had they finally realized who their true master was?
Either way, they had no other choice now. Only Elias, whom Gerent had personally declared the “sole pillar of Tenaclad.”
“Foolish women,” Gerent murmured bitterly after examining their heads without a flicker of emotion, then turned away.
I couldn't understand him.
‘If he wanted to protect them, he should have sent them away sooner.’
Why had he hesitated instead of expelling them immediately? Did he actually believe Herodia and the others were victims, inherently good at heart?
I found his naivety pathetic.
In any case, I had more pressing matters to attend to than those women who were no longer within my reach, so I decided to put them out of my mind.
‘There’s nothing I can do about the dead.’
Elias seemed to feel similarly. He kept staring at me, lost in thought.
Although Elias was probably curious about the dungeon and many other things, Gerent suggested they rest first.
It was for the best. I had a lot to discuss with Elias.
After Elias underwent a perfunctory examination by the physician, we left the acting head’s office.
As I naturally headed towards the stairs leading down, Elias gently turned me around.
“You don’t have to go back to the annex anymore.”
“Huh? Why?”
“We’ll stay together, somewhere safe.”
He took my hand and led me upstairs.
The fifth floor of the main house.
Knights guarded the entrance, preventing anyone from entering.
“Your Excellency.”
The knights who bowed respectfully were from Lakdel, not Tenaclad. He must have summoned them; it seemed they were now stationed at the main house as his personal guard.
We passed through the doors and were finally alone.
‘This is where we’ll stay together…’
While the guest room where I’d been confined for a few days had been luxurious and opulent, this place exuded the history and dignity of the Tenaclad family.
Although the carpet, bedding, and other such items were new, the furniture, such as the bed and dresser, and the tapestries on the walls seemed to have been used for generations.
Yet, instead of feeling old and faded, they were elegant and refined.
“What do you think? Do you like it?”
“Yes, very much!”
My heart pounded with excitement at the thought of sharing this space with Elias.
“This floor is only accessible to the rightful heir of Tenaclad and his wife. It can’t be used without the Head of the Family’s permission, so my uncle and aunt coveted this place.”
He paused, staring at me, then looked down at our joined hands.
“So…”
I followed his gaze as he traced the line of my ring finger.
“Shall we get married tomorrow?”
“……!”
I looked up at him, startled by his sudden proposal, and felt something being placed on my ring finger.
It was a beautiful ring with a clear gemstone!
“Didn’t you say… we needed permission…?”
Marriage was a step further than being a concubine. It was the formal recognition of a Pair under the laws and customs of this world, and the process was said to be quite complicated.
“That doesn’t matter anymore,” he said, gently kissing my forehead. “If you still want to be with me.”
I stared at him, speechless.
‘This is like a dream.’
He was proposing to me.
The same man who had called me strange and slammed the door in my face when I'd asked him to be my Pair.
‘He finally understands now.’
Looking into his blue eyes, seeing my reflection in them, I knew without a doubt.
That he felt the same way. That he truly accepted me as his Pair.
“Of course I do. I’ve been telling you that from the beginning.”
A wave of exhilarating excitement washed over me, as if I had just eaten a mouthful of sweet chocolate.
My heart ached with happiness, and I felt tears prickling my eyes, even though I wasn’t sad. Not in the slightest.
“With the Saintess officiating, we’ll hold a small ceremony and receive the religious order's recognition. Then, even the Imperial family won’t be able to interfere.”
“If anyone objects, I’ll punish them.”
“Yes, please do.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, a joyful sound that filled the room.
I hugged him tightly, nuzzling my cheek against his neck, and his strong arms wrapped around my shoulders and waist.
“I’ll stay by your side all day today. Let’s spend some time together,” he whispered, his lips brushing against mine.
His words, so sweet and tender, brought tears to my eyes.
I realized then that excessive sweetness, excessive joy, excessive happiness, could also make you cry.
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