Chapter 52

After that, we immediately left the capital and returned to our territory, where we resumed our usual lives. We had yet to receive any news about the duke's actions.

As for me, I have a mountain of work as the lord. The relocation of the residents in the new settlement is complete, and we are continuing to support them while they cultivate the fields. I thought about helping out a bit at first, but both Patrick and the villagers put a stop to it.

It must be a show of their determination to do things on their own. It's not because leaving it to me would end in disaster.

Now, I am in the office, endlessly writing names and signatures on envelopes.

Not knowing what they are for, I ask Damon, who has been pushing a mountain of envelopes at me.

"Hey, what are these envelopes for?"

"That is... Have you been told yet?"

Damon, glancing at Patrick, who is sorting documents in the corner of the office, says.

Ah, I see. It must be the invitation for the "Congratulations, Patrick Level 99 Party." I wondered what it was about, seeing the names of the border lord and the king. The celebration is to be kept a secret until the last minute to surprise him. I can't let him figure it out with his sharp intuition.

Shaking my head, I pretend nothing is wrong and continue the conversation.

"Oh, invitations. What about the letter inside?"

"I will prepare that. This is just a notice that the event will take place in winter, so I only need you to write the names and signatures."

It's more than half a year away, but many of the invitees are busy people, so it's necessary to inform them in advance. But writing all the invitations is a hassle. I feel gloomy at the thought of the impending letter-writing hell.

Damon, as if remembering, reports on the party preparations.

"The dress is almost ready. You'll need to try it on, and then we'll make adjustments."

"Is it the white one?"

"That's right."

Do I really have to wear a white dress? It's a celebration for reaching level 99, but I'm not really looking forward to it.

And, we are preparing for this grand party, but what if Patrick doesn't level up in time? Even if it's also a celebration for me reaching level 99, it would be embarrassing for him.

I can't just sit here. After finishing my name on the last envelope, I stand up with a determined look.

"Damon, I'll leave the rest to you."

"Understood."

"Patrick! Let's go to the dungeon!"

"...What's the sudden change?"

I announce that we'll meet at the front gate in five minutes and rush out of the office. If I invite him this way, he will definitely come along.

Please forgive me this time; it's for your own good too.

◆ ◆ ◆

Near the bottom level of the Darkness Dungeon, one of the landmarks of the Dorkness territory, I watch Patrick battle from the side.

Dealing with each monster that appears one after another, Patrick says,

"It's rare for you to come today. You always say that dungeons are best tackled alone, don't you?"

"Well, it's good to do it sometimes. And I'm not getting in Patrick's way."

"It would be easier if Yumiera joined in too."

"If I did that, it would be less efficient. I don't want to hold Patrick back."

From an efficiency standpoint, this dungeon is not ideal. Most of the monsters that appear are dark-attribute, which doesn't match well with Patrick's wind and earth magic.

But despite its inefficiency, the dark dungeon is valuable simply because it's close.

There are also other strategies for efficient dungeon runs, such as how many attacks it takes to defeat a monster, but they are meaningless to me. They will soon be unnecessary for Patrick as well.

Following Patrick, who fights primarily with a sword and uses magic as a supplement, I walk through the dungeon.

Ha, is this one of the conditions of being a good wife, walking a step behind the man?

Avoiding a monster's charge from behind and redirecting it towards Patrick, I realize. I felt a sense of modesty just now.

Letting the man gain experience points. Wow, I'm perfect.

Patrick, who barely turned around to defeat the monster I let go, says slightly out of breath,

"Yumiera, you could have defeated that one too, right?"

"Well, you know, I'm modest and reserved."

"Huh?"

For some reason, he didn't understand, but I will keep trying my best. Because I'm a good wife!

After a while, the monsters stop appearing, and it's a good time to wrap up, so I call out to Patrick.

"Shall we end it here? I'll fight on the way back."

"Sure, let's go back. Before we do, I have something to give you."

Sheathing his sword, he takes a black box from his pocket. I've seen this before, haven't I?

Patrick opens the box in front of me to show its contents.

Inside the box is a ring. A silver ring with a transparent gemstone.

Why a ring? I'm curious, and he takes my left hand to put the ring on. Wow, it's beautiful.

"Yumiera, will you marry me?"

"Eh, ah, um, yes."

What's going on?

"Let's go back then."

Patrick says that and walks ahead. I look at his back and the ring on my left ring finger, thinking.

Was that a proposal?

Chasing after him in a panic, I feel tears welling up, and I bump into his back.

Patrick groans but stops, so I press my face into his back to hide my crying face. My words come out muffled.

"Hey, was that a proposal?"

"Yeah, I was advised that a sudden proposal in the middle of everyday life would be good."

"Why now? I wanted it to be more romantic!"

"You would have ruined it anyway if I had set up a special moment."

Hmm, he has a point. I wanted to argue, but I also half-agreed.

But, I want it to be in a proper place, in a proper way... Various thoughts race through my mind as he asks one question.

"So? Are you not going to marry me?"

There's only one answer to that.

"...Yes, I will."

I'll stop crying now. After blowing my nose loudly on his back, I think to myself.

There's a resting place right outside the dungeon. I made it years ago when I was coming here regularly.

We sit side by side on a log that I tried to make into a bench but ended up just shaving the surface.

In silence, I look at the ring on my ring finger.

I suddenly wonder about its name.

"Is this a wedding ring?"

"It's an engagement ring. The wedding ring is exchanged at the wedding ceremony."

There are two types. Is this a custom unique to this world...? Hmm? Didn't they exchange rings at weddings in my previous world too? I'm not sure.

The gemstone on the ring is more transparent than a glass bead and almost invisible unless you look closely. I know this, it's a diamond.

"Diamond... right?"

"No, you said you didn't want a diamond, so I got something else at the last minute."

"Did I say that?"

"Really... Yumiera..."

Sighing, Patrick smiles and pats my head. I don't run away but let him, resting my head on his shoulder.

I've done something bad, something selfish. I must have said it casually, and he understood... But Patrick is trying to meet my wishes.

Listening to his heartbeat with my right ear and his words with my left,

"This is a special magic stone that can contain a person's magic. You remember that suspicious merchant? The one who tried to sell us a monster-summoning flute. I bought it from him."

Ah, that merchant. I can't forget the one who triggered my embarrassing moment.

The ability to contain a person's magic means that in an emergency, the ring's magic can be used to cast spells. That's very...

"I can't imagine a situation where Yumiera would run out of magic, but it's not completely useless. I would be happy if you like it."

"Thank you, Patrick!"

Feeling elated by the best gift ever, I can't help but hug him. When I cling to him, he shyly turns his face away. Patrick is shy too, after all.

"Let me try putting some magic into it."

After a while, I pull away from him and pour my magic into the ring's gemstone. Carefully, little by little, so as not to break it.

The magic stone, filled with my dark magic, begins to emit a sinister black glow. It looks like a cursed item that could destroy the world.

Seeing the chaotic, desire-inducing light, we are speechless. What am I, to have such magic?

"...Maybe it's better to put Patrick's magic in? After all, it's a gift from you."

"...Yeah."

When Patrick's wind magic is added, the gemstone glows a green color like emerald. It's beautiful, like his eyes.

Yeah, it's good that it ended up looking beautiful.

When he proposed, I said "yes" without thinking. I don't know when it will happen, but I need to start preparing for the wedding. I need to send out invitations too.

Next week, the story will be from Elenora's perspective. The final episode is about to begin.