Special Side Story Episode 6

I asked, not bothering to hide my displeased feelings, and Xenon flinched, waving his hands in protest.

"No, it's not that. It's just..."

I could see Xenon's face gradually turning red. He hesitated, his lips moving wordlessly, then cautiously asked in a careful tone.

"When you say 'home,' are you referring to Veladia Castle?"

"Of course."

Where else would you have a home?

When I answered as if it were obvious, Xenon closed his mouth again. He looked somewhat dazed and bewildered. I quietly observed his reaction, then narrowed my eyes and asked.

"You don't consider Veladia Castle your home?"

"Well... Lately, I haven't been managing the castle properly, and strictly speaking, since Lady Anelli is the owner of Veladia Castle, I'm just a kind of... long-term lodger, I suppose..."

Xenon trailed off toward the end, scratching his cheek and glancing at me cautiously. He seemed worried that I might feel hurt by his words.

"Hmm. So you feel like a guest."

When I muttered awkwardly, Xenon flusteredly began to explain.

"No, it's just that objectively speaking, that's the case. After all, I am officially affiliated with the Magic Tower..."

Certainly, Xenon's point had merit. He was officially the Tower Master, so anyone would consider the Magic Tower his home. That was likely why his master kept nagging him to return to the Tower.

But just because his position was Tower Master didn't mean he had to reside there. A workplace cannot be a dwelling place.

"But that doesn't mean I dislike Veladia Castle! As I mentioned earlier, if possible, I'd like to commute there daily...!"

"Then it's simple."

I rubbed my chin and spoke in a bright tone.

"Shall we get married?"

Instantly, Xenon's pupils dilated to an unprecedented size. I had seen him surprised many times, but this was the first time I had seen him so utterly shocked. For some reason, that sight evoked a strangely pleasant feeling.

"If you become my official spouse, you can confidently say that Veladia Castle is your home."

Xenon froze, his mouth agape. I knew he would be surprised, but I didn't expect him to be left speechless and frozen like that. I had even wondered if he might be moved to tears, but the current Xenon seemed too stunned to even cry. That was how shocking my words were. And I, on the contrary, found it more intriguing that he hadn't anticipated this.

After all, it was none other than he himself who had brought me the news of Heinri's royal marriage.

"Marry me, Xenon. You just need to bring yourself. We already have a place to live, and I have more than enough ability to provide for you in the future."

I took out the ring I had hastily prepared. It was a ring with a dazzling diamond wrapped like a flower. As I produced the ring, Xenon's already large pupils shook violently.

"This ring..."

"A crow brought it."

I had considered whether telling the truth was right, but hiding it wouldn't change the ring's origin, so I confessed honestly. This truly was a ring a crow had brought.

Since I had only decided to propose to Xenon a short while ago, I hadn't had the leisure to prepare a ring properly, so there was no other choice.

I had many jewels, but they were somewhat lacking to present during a proposal. As for going to a jeweler, I rarely went outside without Xenon in the first place.

Since I couldn't summon a Dullahan in front of others, the only one I could take on external errands was Pallides in her human form, but if I went to a jeweler with Pallides, her boisterousness would surely spread rumors far and wide. Unless I intended to openly signal my plan to propose, there was no need to create such a situation.

Moreover, I wanted our wedding rings to be chosen together at a jeweler, carefully selecting a design that suited our hands and having them precisely sized and crafted.

I couldn't bear the thought of choosing on my own and having the other dislike it—though Xenon would likely like any ring I gave him—or having it not suit their hand.

Thus, while I was hastily searching through jewels, a crow kindly offered help upon seeing my plight.

"When I said I was looking for the most beautiful ring in the world, it brought me this."

True to a crow's deep expertise in shiny things, the ring it brought was astonishingly beautiful. Most surprising was that this ring was a top-tier diamond ring, presumably crafted recently.

There was no way to know how it obtained such a ring in the mountains, but the crow refused to tell, claiming it was a trade secret. It only insisted that there would be no problem gifting this and not to worry.

Animals do not lie. Moreover, the crow, with whom I had maintained a good relationship, had no reason to say anything harmful to me. Therefore, I trusted the crow and took this ring.

"Since a ring is essential for a proposal, I'm proposing with this for now. We should choose the real wedding rings together at a jeweler."

Xenon stared at the ring placed before me for a long time with an unreadable expression. Seeing his reaction, I felt uneasy inside.

Was proposing with a ring brought by a crow really that bad? Or was it the location? I had deliberately proposed when visiting the Magic Tower to avoid interference from Monsters or Dullahans, but perhaps to Xenon, it might have seemed thoughtless—a realization that came to me belatedly.

Would it have been better to prepare something at the castle while Xenon was away? But then, nothing would have gone smoothly due to the Monsters and Dullahans...

Moreover, there was one more reason I had come to the Magic Tower to have this conversation.

"Actually, I intended to ask your master for your hand today, but I couldn't say it since he was absent. Surely we don't need to get his permission to marry, do we?"

If anyone played a role akin to parents for Xenon, it was his master, Secian. So I had planned to ask for Xenon, to promise to feed and care for him well.

It was regrettable that I couldn't, but Secian's absence wasn't a reason to postpone the proposal. Xenon and I were adults, fully capable of proceeding with the marriage based on our own will.

Xenon stared blankly at the ring no matter what I said. Then, finally regaining his senses, he asked in a dazed voice.

"I'm being proposed to right now?"

"...What have you been listening to all this time?"

"No, it's just... you seemed rather uninterested in marriage before."

Ah, was that the problem? I calmly replied.

"From now on, I wish you would return to my side as a matter of course, without needing to promise when you'll come back."

Upon hearing the news of Heinri's royal marriage, I had thought: Ah, that is indeed the surest method.

The way to firmly impress upon everyone that the place Xenon returns to is by my side would be that marriage vow.

By publicly declaring to the world the relationship that officially brings us closest, I could reduce the desolation of waiting for Xenon when he returns late at night.

I wouldn't have to spend nights sleepless with useless worries about whether he might not return or be taken away by a new position.

"You taught me loneliness, so you must take responsibility."

Confessing my long-standing loneliness was, for me, a rather embarrassing resolution, but Xenon's expression brightened instead. His flushed cheeks showed he was now extremely excited. Seeing that expression, I could guess the answer to my proposal even without hearing it.

I hadn't thought he would refuse my proposal in the first place, but confirming this positive, silent answer finally put my mind at ease.

It seemed I had been somewhat nervous inside after all. Proposing at the Magic Tower was indeed the right choice. If anyone at Veladia Castle had witnessed this state, my awkwardness would have been talked about for ages. The mere thought was dreadful.

While I was briefly lost in vain thoughts, Xenon finally picked up the ring. Xenon, trying to force the small ring onto his ring finger, eventually put it on his index finger.

Perhaps he found it ridiculous himself, for he chuckled for a while looking at his hand. Then, suddenly, he murmured in a voice tinged with laughter.

"You're right. I will return to your side for the rest of my life. Even without a promise, as a matter of course."

The warm hand of the man wearing the ill-fitting ring cupped my cheek. The lips that followed were cautious yet warm.

It was a warmth that would keep me warm for the rest of my life.

* * *

"Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from Veladia Castle."

"From Veladia Castle?"

At the unexpected news, Heinri immediately set down the pen he was holding. Since it was practically unheard of for Anelli to contact him first, he couldn't contain his curiosity and promptly opened the envelope.

After reading the letter in one go, Heinri let out a soft laugh.

"Hah, really."

With an absurd look, he checked the contents he had read several times, then shook his head. Holding his forehead, he gazed out the window with a hollow expression, then set down the letter with a wry smile.

In the center of the luxurious stationery, elegantly flowing handwriting was revealed. Below the main text, a postscript was added in a completely different handwriting.

Anelli and Xenon pledge to live as eternal companions. Our pledge shall be fulfilled under the blessing of all life upon this land, and we widely share this joy.

P.S. Please announce so that all across the continent may know that the Tower Master and the Resurrected One are husband and wife.

P.S.2. We trust in Your Majesty's proven ability to spread news of royal marriages throughout the continent.

"What does it say?"

"...It's exactly like the writers."

Heinri spoke nonchalantly. Imagining the two bickering while writing the letter, he could only laugh wryly. He didn't know whether to be glad or not that he was the only one who knew that the great Tower Master and Resurrected One, praised by the world, were such people. But one thing was certain: it was a happy ending.

"It's absurd, but something you can only laugh off."

Well, since the ending is good, all is well.

<Don't Look for the Resurrected Villainess> Special Side Story, Conclusion.