***

It was late at night when Allenan came to find me.
After wrapping up the council meeting, Allenan Cartain boarded a ship heading straight for Crothasone. It took him two and a half days before he could finally reach the palace where I was staying.

“Myrthi.”

It was a night that reminded me of the time we visited the night market together.
He had been tossing small pebbles to catch my attention from outside my window.

Wearing my home dress, I smiled softly.
Tap, tap—the sound of pebbles against the glass echoed as I saw Allenan waiting near a tree.
It was the very tree he used to climb as a child.

‘Renan? Isn’t that dangerous?’
‘I’m fine, Myrthi.’

Bathed in the gentle glow of moonlight, his hair still shone with that familiar lustre.
He was looking at me with a weightier presence than before, different from his childhood days.
His blue eyes, reflecting the moonlight, sparkled just like back then.
He gave me a small smile, but this time, it wasn’t entirely cheerful.

Yet somehow, his face was still dazzling.

When I opened the door and stepped onto the terrace, he greeted me brightly.
“Myrthi.”
“Renan, you’re already here?”
“Yes, I came running.”
“Did you make the ship sail faster or something?”
“I ran all the way, even on the ship.”

He laughed heartily, then quickly turned serious.
Perched on the tree, his dusky skin made him look like a forest spirit, glistening like obsidian under the moonlight.

“I suppose I can’t ask you to hold me anymore.”
“It’d be improper for a lady.”
“Indeed. You’ve grown so much. Then may I request a walk instead, my lady?”

He extended his hand.
I placed mine gently on his and smiled.
“With pleasure.”

I could now walk through the garden alone without needing him to hold my hand.
Orzet had long since fallen asleep, and the guards wouldn’t stop me from wandering through my own garden at night.
Somehow, I had reached a point where I could claim what was rightfully mine.

With a light robe draped over me, I headed to the garden.
Below, Allenan was standing silently, gazing at the moon.
I walked briskly toward him, hiding my hands behind my back, and popped my face out from behind him.

“Renan.”
“Myrthi! Haha.”

He greeted me with the same familiar smile as always, a smile I had known since childhood—bright, puppy-like, and clear.

But now, his face seemed to hint at something beneath the surface, like waves concealing their depth.
He took my fingers in his hand, gripping them a little more firmly than usual.

“Myrthi.”
“Yes, Renan.”
“I missed you.”
“You missed me?”
“I missed you so much.”

Then, as if handling something precious, he gently caressed the back of my hand.
A strange silence settled between us.

“Myrthi.”

He broke the silence. I stood still, listening.

“Congratulations on becoming an adult.”
“You already congratulated me.”
“But I mean it. I never thought our engagement would last until you came of age.”

He smiled faintly.

The moonlight bathed the quiet night in its glow, and under its spell, I found myself unable to speak, simply watching his soft laughter.

Gone was the wagging tail of the cheerful puppy I used to know.
Now, he had the face of a royal heir.

“What would you say if I proposed to you again now?”

“Renan…”

“A storm is coming, Myrthi.”

I understood the meaning behind his words.
And I couldn’t help but wonder if he was bothered by Mikhail, the knight who had sworn allegiance to me.

I soon got my answer as he continued speaking.

“I thought I could let you go if there was someone you loved.”

His blue eyes, which had been gazing into the distance, turned back to me.
He was smiling faintly, as he always did.

The boy who once carried the scent of a summer ocean had grown into a young man with the depth of a vast and tranquil sea.

But now, the smile faded from his face.
“But, Myrthi…”

“Renan.”

“Don’t let me go. Don’t let me go.”

His grip on my hand tightened.
Then, he brought my hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to my palm.

His long eyelashes cast shadows over his cheeks, creating a picture-perfect moment.
A warm, tingling sensation spread through my palm.
And in that moment, he knelt on one knee.

“If I were a knight, I would swear a knight’s vow.”

His blue eyes, like precious jewels, slowly rose to meet mine.
In them, I saw my reflection.

“If I were your servant, I would pledge my loyalty.”

At last, he smiled again, softly and warmly, as he stood, still holding my hand.

“But I am your fiancé, so I will make a vow of love.”

“Renan…”

“I love you, Myrthi. Always and forever.”

The wind carried the faint scent of lilacs, making my hair dance in the breeze.
Under the moonlight, the scattering petals created a scene that seemed like a painting.

A man swearing his love under the gentle glow of the moon.
Beautiful, jet-black curls. Deep blue eyes.

I couldn’t say a word.
The fragrant breeze continued to blow.

At nineteen, on the night I became an adult, I received his confession of love.

***

//eek finally!