Though she clearly disrupted the emperor’s hunt, it didn’t bother him in the slightest.
On the contrary, Ludwig even tore off a piece of his robe to give to that beautiful woman.
Honestly, it was the first time in his life he had ever acted so boldly.
I need to keep my clothes intact for when she returns.
He wasn’t willing to be interrupted or killed over such a trivial annoyance.
“Consider yourself lucky.”
Ludwig sneered, pressing the blade near her throat in a threatening manner.
“As much as I want to cut that throat…”
His crimson eyes flickered with a strange yearning.
“Right now, I have a reason not to discard this robe.”
With a sharp turn, Ludwig left Liliana behind without another word.
I don’t understand what’s going on.
Strangely, the face of a certain woman kept dominating his thoughts.
Have I ever remembered someone so vividly before?
As he walked, Ludwig placed a hand over his chest, sensing his heartbeat.
Could this really be happening?
Late behind him, the imperial steward hurried after Ludwig.
“Your Majesty, we shall punish the insolent Lady Valentine’s daughter as you wish.”
“That’s enough.”
Ludwig looked at the steward with indifference.
“Find a woman.”
The steward’s eyes filled with confusion.
A woman? What woman?
The emperor was known for keeping no women close, so the steward had no clue who Ludwig referred to.
But Ludwig, instead of explaining, roughly tousled his hair and shoved his robe into the steward’s arms.
“No, don’t search.”
“Huh?”
“If a woman arrives with this piece of cloth, report to me immediately.”
Ludwig’s dark crimson eyes gleamed fiercely.
“If any trouble arises, you won’t keep your head on your shoulders.”
“Y-Yes, understood!”
Dumbfounded, the steward accepted the garment and nodded.
“But Your Majesty, who is this woman?”
Ludwig’s blazing red eyes deepened.
They seemed to be stained with some unusual emotion.
After a long silence, Ludwig whispered,
“…A woman who concerns me.”
Meanwhile, Cedric and Iris were packing their belongings at the Lilac Manor.
“Time flew by too fast. It’s a shame.”
Margaret looked regretfully at the workers moving the luggage.
“They’ll come again, so what’s there to be sad about?”
“You always say that, Master, but you never come because it’s a bother!”
Margaret snapped at the indifferent Cedric.
Cedric frowned, as if thinking,
Was that really me?
“Ugh, that laziness of his…”
Margaret shook her head, then grabbed Iris’s hands tightly.
“Since the master’s hopeless, please, Lady Iris, make sure you come back again.”
“Of course. Don’t worry.”
It seemed Cedric truly felt lonely alone in the capital.
Margaret, half doubtful but relieved at Iris’s promise, sighed with relief.
From afar, a porter shouted loudly that the remaining luggage was loaded.
“Safe travels! I’ll contact you through the communication channel when you arrive.”
“Make sure to come again. Stay well until then.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Iris bowed to Margaret and climbed into the carriage.
Cedric followed with the light grace of the wind, entering the carriage.
Iris, waiting for Cedric, smiled softly.
“You didn’t have to rush in like that.”
“I just wanted to see my wife sooner.”
Cedric shrugged casually.
“The longer we have this time alone, the better, don’t you think?”
His sunlight-red eyes warmly gazed at Iris.
“That’s true.”
Meeting his eyes, Iris briefly reflected on everything that had happened during the Sacred Festival.
There’s still much to uncover about the Sacred Sword.
But there had been some progress.
Though they had been apart at times, Iris never felt lonely.
Because I always felt Cedric’s presence.
She moved forward recalling the words Cedric had given her during difficult moments.
If she had achieved anything, it was because he was there.
“I’m so glad we came together to the Sacred Festival banquet.”
“Likewise, I’m happy to make new memories with you, my wife.”
Cedric smiled broadly, then suddenly raised his eyebrows as if recalling something.
“By the way, if we head north this time, there’s a place I want to take you with me, my lady.”
“Is it something serious?”
Iris asked with a trace of concern.
“It’s not the kind of serious matter you’re imagining.”
Cedric shook his head lightly with a gentle laugh.
“Actually, there’s a northern landscape I’ve been wanting to show you before spring fully arrives.”
“A northern view?”
“Yes. It’s a place I’ve been thinking about ever since I met you, but the preparations took a bit longer than expected.”
Cedric had been quietly preparing something for Iris all this time.
‘Just like with the gifts.’
He always tried to offer her something meaningful.
Iris felt grateful but also worried if it was alright to keep receiving so much.
‘I wonder if I’m someone who can ever repay all this.’
Iris nodded carefully at Cedric.
“Thank you, Cedric.”
“That’s quite natural now. Just like that.”
Cedric’s smile was clear and youthful, like a young cultivator tasting a fresh aura.
“I spent so much time preparing secretly because I wanted to hear you say that name.”
“How long did you prepare?”
Cedric furrowed his brow and answered playfully,
“Since the moment I met you.”
But despite the teasing tone, his crimson eyes met hers honestly and sincerely.
“Are you joking?”
“Is it a joke?”
“What does that even mean?”
Iris blinked wide, lost in thought, and seeing her like that, Cedric raised his hands in surrender, flustered.
“You’ll understand why I said that once we arrive.”
As the carriage moved forward, Iris pondered deeply.
‘Since the moment I first met him?’
She asked quietly, but Cedric only smiled and said, “You’ll see when we get there.”
Seeing her confusion, Cedric’s voice softened as he explained,
“I wanted to see the surprise on your face, so I prepared for a long time.”
Hearing that, Iris had no choice but to keep wondering.
‘What exactly has he prepared?’
Was it something different from before?
She calmly recalled all Cedric had done—
The small bouquet he had picked just thinking of her, the moving birthday party, even the engagement ring.
Touching the ring she wore around her neck, Iris realized she was filled with expectation.
‘Is this… excitement?’
The carriage passed through the Warp Gate and slowly approached Leontheim’s grand duchy in the northern lands.
The sky was already leaning toward the day’s end.
Cedric looked at the contemplative Iris and asked,
“Are you feeling very tired, my lady?”
“No, I’m fine.”
She had rested for a day before departure and hadn’t exerted herself much, so she wasn’t weary.
‘If it were in my past life, I probably would’ve been more exhausted.’
Perhaps this life allowed her more ease—her body didn’t tire so easily no matter what she did.
Cedric carefully observed her condition, then smiled softly.
“Understood.”
After that, the carriage began heading in a slightly different direction.
‘This isn’t the way to Leontheim’s grand duchy.’
Iris widened her eyes and looked at Cedric.
Cedric smiled gently.
“Just wait a little longer.”
“Are we going now? Though it doesn’t seem like we’re going completely off course…”
Iris tried to guess what might be nearby.
There were no famous sights or tourist spots around here.
‘I really don’t know.’
Though Iris, as the Duchess of Leontheim, knew the northern lands well, this puzzled her.
Cedric’s expression grew more satisfied as he watched Iris’s curious face.
“Are you very curious?”
“Honestly, yes.”
“You still won’t tell me, will you? That would ruin the surprise.”
Cedric chuckled mischievously. Iris smiled along without realizing it.
‘I’m looking forward to it.’
Normally, Iris would have given up on this anticipation, but this time she embraced the fluttering excitement.
‘Because it’s something Cedric prepared.’
Even this moment of hopeful worry felt like a gift from him.
Cedric always showed her moments she’d never experienced before.
‘I never knew I could expect something like this.’
Expectations always brought pain to Iris before.
Her family called her hopes nothing but greed.
‘I don’t think they meant it that way on purpose. In times like this, it’s just proper for me to accept things graciously.’
‘Ah! I forgot. Then it’s fine if Sister Iris just does it.’
So Iris had tried to forget about expecting anything—
Because misguided hopes only ever brought wounds. “But if it’s Cedric...”
Iris felt as if even if she were to be hurt again, she would be glad.
“We’ve arrived.”
Cedric, eyes barely open, gazed at the sky while firmly holding Iris’s hand as they stepped out of the carriage.
Outside was an ordinary forest. No sign of the ‘preparations’ Cedric had mentioned.
Where could it be hidden?
As Iris glanced around, Cedric burst into a cheerful laugh.
“No matter how much you look, it’s not here.”
“Really?”
“Yes. We must go deeper.”
He led her further into the wilderness.
This place is quite treacherous.
It was clear from the rough terrain that few had ever set foot here. What on earth had he prepared in such a place?
“We’ve arrived.”
After climbing over a massive boulder blocking their view, a small lake appeared beyond it.
“Ah...”
Iris was captivated by the breathtaking vista.
So beautiful...
The sky, dyed a deep violet, blended the last traces of sunset with the coming night.
Layered clouds stretched across the horizon like brushstrokes of a master painter, releasing mysterious shades of purple.
The elegant sky perfectly complemented the lake Cedric had prepared.
I never imagined such a lake existed in the northern lands.
The northern region had just passed early spring, and ice was slowly melting. This lake was likely formed temporarily from the broken ice.
The pale blue water shimmered as the wind rippled its surface.
Soft lavender petals floated gently, casting a subtle contrast against the sky-colored lake.
It was as if the sky’s hues had touched the water, dyeing it in a magnificent display.
“I’ve never heard of a lake like this.”
Perhaps this stunning sight could only be witnessed at this very moment—when the northern snow melts, gathering into this fleeting lake.
A place where ephemeral beauty lingered.
“What is the name of this lake?”
“I don’t know the name. No one ever thought to notice a lake here.”
“Why not?”
Iris found it astonishing that such a nearby lake remained unseen by others.
Cedric shrugged.
“Because this used to be a place infested with beasts. People deliberately avoid it.”
“Ah, I see.”
Monsters frequently roamed the northern forests.
People shunned those areas to protect themselves.
Even though Cedric, the Duke, had cleared those beasts, the threat could always return.
Still holding Iris’s hand firmly, Cedric asked,
“How do you find this scenery?”
“…It’s beautiful.”
“Even though no one knows about this place?”
Iris answered with a voice full of wonder.
“Just because people don’t see it doesn’t mean its value disappears.”
“Exactly. The beauty of this place doesn’t vanish just because people ignore it.”
Cedric bowed slightly to meet Iris’s gaze.
“And the Iris I see is the same.”
Chapter 77