Chapter 16

The guardsmen are airheads, aren't they? ww

After walking around the capital for a while, Alvis brought Elina to a certain place. It was a high hill at the edge of the capital. Since it would be too much for Elina to walk up the hill in her current state, Alvis carried her in his arms, blushing. It was difficult to come here by carriage, but Alvis wanted to bring Elina to this place.

On top of the hill, there was only a small hut, with no other buildings. This place, where the vast grassland stretched as far as the eye could see, offered a view of the capital below. There were watchtowers in various parts of the capital, but this place was at the same height as them. The hut was built to serve the same purpose as the watchtowers. However, this place was rarely used unless something extraordinary happened, probably because it was completely visible from the watchtowers.

Alvis, still holding Elina in his arms, stood in a spot where he could overlook the capital.

"Wow!"

"I wanted to show you this view."

"It's beautiful."

This place, where one could also see the sunset, was now in the daytime. If they came here at that time of the year, the temperature on this high hill would be lower than in the capital. No matter how much they bundled up, there was a possibility of getting cold. Not getting cold was the most strongly emphasized caution from Foran. That's why they came here at a warmer time of day.

Alvis, still holding Elina, skillfully took off his coat and used it as a makeshift sheet. He then placed Elina down on it. Alvis sat next to her and lay down. This way, their eyes met, and they both laughed.

"It feels nostalgic."

"…Yeah."

"Do you remember?"

"Yeah."

The two of them then turned their gaze towards the capital. It felt nostalgic. Being here together on the grass like this reminded them of the time before Elina graduated from the academy, when they watched the sunset together. That place was where Alvis often went to unwind, a secret spot where he could be himself without being seen by others. He had brought Elina there.

"It doesn't feel like it was that long ago, but it also feels like it was a long time ago."

"That's because a lot has happened. Especially this past year."

Indeed, a lot has happened. Even after marrying Elina, there was hardly any time to settle down. There was Shrieta, Marana, and Lillian. On the surface, things seemed to be resolved, but it wasn't over yet. Especially what happened in Marana was something he needed to keep in mind. He didn't want to involve Elina, but since she was now part of the Rubelia royal family, he would eventually have to tell her.

As he thought about this, he felt a hand on his head. Alvis involuntarily moved his gaze to the top of his head. As expected, Elina was stroking his head.

"Elina?"

"A lot has happened for me too. But, I've been able to learn a lot about you this year."

"I did show you some pitiful sides…."

Even now, showing tears in front of Elina was something he felt ashamed of. He hadn't shed tears since that day. Elina had accepted everything about that incident. That's why he could cry in front of her.

"I was happy."

"I feel conflicted."

On one hand, he was glad that Elina was happy, but on the other hand, he didn't want to show his weak side. He didn't understand why she thought it was good. If he told anyone else, they would probably sigh dramatically and look at him with a disappointed face. He had already experienced this.

"By the way, did you often come here?"

"Yeah. Coming here makes me realize how small I am. After doing something foolish, coming here helps me not forget. Looking at the manor from here, I remind myself that it's my role to protect them… and that I need to use my strength for that."

"Alvis…"

"I came here before entering the academy too. I didn't intend to come back… even then."

He had gone to the capital with the resolve not to return, but he ended up coming back. He might not have come to this territory if it weren't for that resolve. Now, he thinks that's why he didn't come here. He was prepared. This was the last time.

"How do you feel now?"

"Nostalgic. No matter how much I prepared myself, this is my hometown. There's no denying that. Despite the many sad things, I'm glad I came back."

Elina nodded happily. She then played with Alvis's hair and turned her gaze back to the capital.

"By the way, I heard you didn't go to the Lituard Duke's territory much."

"Yes. I was told from a young age that I would marry into the royal family… My mother also said that it was better to learn to become a queen in the capital rather than create memories in the territory."

Even before they were officially engaged, Elina had been living in the capital. When her brothers returned to the territory, Elina stayed in the capital. She was often in the capital, even when her family wasn't there. She had only visited Ryngeberg a few times, and most of her memories were in the capital.

"I see."

"Even without anyone by my side, I always had Sarah. So I wasn't lonely. But, I do envy you a little."

"…"

He had almost no memories outside the capital. The memories he had of his family were in the capital, and the times he spent in the territory were few. He had never interacted with the people there.

"I didn't walk around the capital much either, so I don't have many memories. Now, I regret not going to the capital and the territory more often."

"Putting it bluntly, the previous Duchess of Lituard might not have allowed you to do anything."

"Yes. My mother is now calm, but before my engagement was broken, she would never have allowed it."

"Even if we involved Rhyatt, it would have been possible to escape, but the aftermath would have been scary."

Rhyatt cares for Elina more than he lets on. If Elina asked for help, he would have assisted her. But the consequences would have fallen on Elina herself. In such a situation, there was nothing they could do.

"If you had been my fiancé from the beginning, things would have been different, but it's complicated."

"If you had been my fiancé from the beginning, I might have been more selfish and capricious."

If Alvis had been her fiancé from the beginning, Elina, as the daughter of the head duke, would have been in a higher position even with the second son of the prince. Elina, who was spoiled as a child, was cute in her naivety. Even without the education to become a queen, she would have naturally grown out of it in her lady's education. Despite saying she would have been capricious, it was hard to imagine such an Elina. Alvis, still lying down, reached out to Elina's long hair and twirled the ends around his fingers.

"I would welcome Elina's caprices."

"You might really let me get away with it, and I might end up being spoiled too much."

Imagining it made it sound interesting. Alvis and Elina laughed together. Then, Elina naturally leaned in closer. Alvis closed his eyes and accepted her lips as they came down.