A Life-Risking Vow
Dong- Ding- Ding-.
The lonely toll of bells rang from afar. Helena looked up at the sunset sky as if she could see the spreading resonance.
“That’s from the chapel direction. Was there something happening today?”
Gelda answered indifferently beside her.
“If it’s church bells ringing on a day that’s not Sunday, it can only be one thing.”
She was in the process of bringing out Ian’s youngest knight, Odyssey.
Odyssey, whose eyes met Helena’s, turned his head away with a sullen expression.
From their first meeting, Helena’s presence had been nothing but uncomfortable for him. The memory of her pale face fleeing as if he were some kind of demon was still vivid.
However, being young, he was also simple-minded. When Gelda handed him some jerky, Odyssey immediately smiled brightly and asked back.
“What is it?”
“A wedding.”
Soon Helena also forgot her discomfort about Odyssey. It wasn’t naturally forgotten—Gelda’s single word had made it so.
‘…A wedding, she says.’
The place where she had her wedding ceremony with Eugene was also a temple. Though Evergale had its own wedding venue, Eugene had stubbornly insisted on the temple.
[You are my most precious and sacred being. It’s never too much for you.]
Dong- Ding- Ding-.
The bells rang once more. The gentle breeze that blew was sweet.
A pure white wedding dress began to unfold against the sunset. It was the only clean thing in her faded memories.
It had been a day that shone without a single stain.
The marble wedding aisle laid around the pristine white spire she had never seen in her life, the glossy camellia flowers scattered throughout the streets, the luxuriously set guest tables.
Helena carefully walked hand in hand with Eugene. At the end of the flower path they reached, the wedding ceremony continued. After reciting a long blessing, the officiant proceeded with the marriage vows.
“Do you, Eugene Evergale, take Miss Helena Owen as your wife, and swear to always love and respect her in all circumstances, fulfilling your duty as a faithful husband to create a happy home?”
Eugene answered “Yes” in a clear voice. Then the officiant moved his head diagonally downward to ask Helena the same question. But Eugene stopped his words and asked instead.
“Helena. I want you to be the happiest bride on this earth. Would you please continue to be with me from now on?”
Today Eugene wore a blue-toned black morning coat formal wear. He was like an elegant black panther walking through the wilderness. Helena, captivated by his gaze alone, nodded as if entranced.
“Gladly. I’ll gladly be with you.”
As the answer fell, the officiant proceeded with the final ceremony.
“Eugene Hyde von Evergale and Helena Owen have firmly sworn to become husband and wife who will share joy and sorrow for life.”
The ceremony finally came to an end with the declaration of marriage.
“I hereby declare that these two have officially become husband and wife.”
It was a wedding that even heaven seemed to bless.
Helena couldn’t even blink frequently. Each moment was too precious to let even a single fragment slip away.
“Helena. Helena Evergale.”
Eugene repeatedly called her new name as if he couldn’t contain his joy. His dazzling smile showed through the pure white veil.
The embrace that welcomed her was as warm as spring sunshine. The voice that tickled her ear was gentle enough to bring tears.
Finally, the kiss that came as he lifted the veil melted softly away.
In contrast, Eugene’s large hands were big and firm. They covered her cheeks and reached to her ears. The sound of their lips meeting and their mingled breath echoed more nakedly in the hollow.
Helena felt as if she owned the whole world. Her heart was so full. She was so happy she worried it might burst.
Unable to bear the overwhelming feeling, she gathered her hand that had been placed on Eugene’s chest. Then their lips parted.
“This heart seems to exist only for you.”
Eugene whispered, releasing his heated breath. Her entire vision was filled with him.
Helena felt her heart pounding so hard her ribs might break. So when you suffocate from happiness, your vision turns completely white. She barely held onto her flickering sight and parted her lips.
“My heart has been that way from the beginning.”
It had been Eugene’s from the start. She was only now returning it. She had carefully protected and treasured it until it swelled to the point of bursting, and finally managed to offer it.
Eugene pressed his lips against hers again as if crushing them. The deeper, denser breath clung to the roof of her mouth. The hand that had been cupping her cheek slid down, tracing her nape and collarbone.
A firmness that made her willing to throw everything away wrapped around her waist.
Helena put her arms around Eugene’s neck to support her body that was gradually being pushed backward. Clinging like that, she told him with her eyes, putting all her affection into her gaze.
‘I like you so, so much. I will love only you.’
It was a life-risking vow. Like red camellias, it bloomed lushly and burst its buds with a pop, pop.
‘As if that were my destiny, as if it were the reason I live and breathe.’
Helena swore.
‘I will love you like that until I die.’
Dong- Ding- Ding-.
The clear resonance flowed, mixing with the sunset, then gradually faded. Helena stood in place until the bell sound completely stopped.
Until the sound of her own violently beating heart settled down, until the face of someone who had smiled so brightly became blurred.
She stood there as if time would solve everything.
****
Spencer Hotel located on Retail Street. The entire second and third floors of the hotel owned by Lord Garta were all empty guest rooms.
By Eugene’s order, even footmen and managers did not come and go. The wide corridor was as quiet as the thick red carpet laid upon it.
A man moved briskly down that emptily stretched path. Walter, who was guarding Eugene’s door, confirmed his identity and knocked on the door.
“Your Grace. Dr. Ben has arrived.”
When Eugene’s permission was given, the man entered the room. He was a doctor wearing a coat over his white gown.
Instead of having him examine Eugene, Eugene ordered him to report on the patient he would have already treated.
“Any problems?”
“None except for minor bruises. The area invaded by poison was also fine.”
“…Poison?”
The doctor adjusted his round glasses and explained in detail.
“Yes, there was a stab wound on the neck. Since magical beast poison doesn’t spread quickly, it’s important to suck it out early. Fortunately, whoever was accompanying her responded well, so major harm was avoided.”
Eugene exhaled smoke while holding the butt of a half-burned cigar between his teeth.
‘So the bite mark on her nape was…’
Having finished his report, the doctor took out a tightly bound bundle from his briefcase. The sound of small glass bottles clinking leaked through the cloth. He set it down in front of Eugene and said.
“I didn’t expect there to be poisoning, so I unavoidably only prescribed recovery medicine. When the patient returns, please make sure she takes it. I’ve written detailed prescription instructions on a note.”
Then Eugene let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“Returns? Who?”
“Pardon…?”
Eugene pulled the cigar from between his lips. Even at that small action, the doctor flinched. Eugene stabbed the cigar into a glass to extinguish the smoke and tilted his head.
“You may go now. I’ll… deliver the medicine.”
The doctor hurriedly bowed and rushed out of the room. Before the door he had flung open could close, Walter entered. Walter watched the fleeing doctor with puzzled eyes.
Eugene suddenly dropped a question to draw his attention.
“Walter. Have you had unforgettable moments?”
“…?”
Walter’s gaze wandered through the air for a moment, not understanding the intention. But soon it found its way and began gathering old memories piece by piece.
“Yes, there were. Many of them.”
His lips curved gently beneath his grizzled beard. Seeing this, Eugene raised his eyebrows, creating wrinkles on his forehead.
“How about bringing out a few?”
Walter’s expression became even more tender. He rubbed his gaze on the Persian rug as if the scenes from his mind were unfolding on the floor and said.
“Even now, just thinking of that time makes my rusty heart tremble. The day I first took the knight’s oath. I think it’s because the weight of the sword I held that day was engraved in me that I’ve been able to come this far.”
Walter’s rough hand caressed his sword hilt as if stroking a beloved child. The reminiscence continued without pause.
“And the year after Your Grace was born, I was appointed as captain. The first day I commanded the knight order is also vivid. It was the day I realized that what was placed in my hands wasn’t just my sword alone.”
Walter paused, whether out of breathlessness or because too many memories clogged his throat. When he spoke again, his breathing had become somewhat heavy.
“But what I remember most of all… yes, it was the moment I first gently placed my ear against my wife’s belly and felt my daughter’s kicking. And when a very small and soft hand, not a hard sword hilt, grasped my finger. I will never forget that until the day I die.”
Walter, having gathered the lingering feelings, gradually raised his eyes from the rug. It was indeed an answer that looked back on life.
However, Eugene was not looking at Walter.
He had taken out a medicine bottle the size of his pinky finger from the bundle the doctor had left. Tilting it, Eugene spoke like a hollow laugh.
“Yes, the first time.”
The bottle didn’t leak even when turned upside down. Unlike himself, who was constantly dripping regrets.
Eugene put the bottle back in the bundle and leaned back against the sofa.
“Helena said I was her first. If that’s true…”
Eugene’s voice gradually faded. Walter couldn’t tell what expression he was making.
Even in the pleasant afternoon sunlight, he chose to cover his eyes with the back of his hand and exist in a dark world.
After a moment, he tilted his head back fully, and his protruding Adam’s apple trembled. Eugene muttered in a barely audible voice.
“She must still be unable to forget?”
Watching such Eugene, Walter suddenly became curious. What could be seen in that dark world? What was he looking at that made him speak in such a chilling voice?
Walter couldn’t answer this time. However, Eugene didn’t ask further either. He simply added as if to himself.
“That would be right.”