The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Laria couldn’t say anything.

Zenox’s gaze was so firm that it seemed nothing she said would shake him.

Her heart ached knowing that it was all because of her.

Laria’s lips trembled finely as she lowered her eyes.

“I’ll wait for you.”

In the past, she would have insisted on going with Zenox. But now she wasn’t as anxious as before because she trusted him.

“If you’re late, I’ll come running right away.”

Zenox smiled faintly.

“I might return even sooner.”

Seeing him treat the rebels like insignificant remnants, her tension eased.

Wasn’t he the man called the world’s strongest in terms of force? Surely he would return safely without any injuries.

Shaking off her anxiety, Laria reached into her pocket and took out the gem.

It sparkled blue like the surface of a lake in the winter sunlight.

“I haven’t finished it yet, but it will help.”

Zenox flinched as he received the gem.

It felt like touching the fox orb.

His eyes narrowed instantly.

He had clearly said that just touching Laria made his mana overload disappear, so why had she made this?

As he quietly examined her, trying to read her inner thoughts, Laria murmured softly:

“You never know what might happen to me.”

At those words, Zenox stiffened.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m just hypothesizing. We might be separated again, like this time…”

Laria had always been bothered by the fact that Zenox was bound to her.

“I thought it would be good to use temporarily when needed. We’re always together anyway.”

Only then did Zenox swallow a sigh of relief.

He was satisfied that at least it wasn’t made to distance herself from him.

“I’ll return it later.”

“You can keep it, you know?”

“I won’t need it then anyway.”

Laria’s cheeks turned red at his declaration that he would stay constantly by her side when he returned.

Zenox held the thumbnail-sized gem up to the sunlight.

The blue gem was almost identical to the color of Laria’s eyes. That alone made him like it more than any expensive jewel.

Putting the gem in his pocket, Zenox kissed Laria’s soft cheek.

“I’ll send letters.”

* * *

The next day, Zenox left for the North.

Though she thought she would be gloomy, busy days rushed in, leaving no time for that.

“Head!”

Laria stopped in her tracks at the sound of someone calling her.

Though two months had passed since she took the head position, being called ‘head’ still felt awkward.

As Laria turned around, a sorcerer she was acquainted with approached with quick steps.

“There’s a spell formula I can’t solve. Could you spare some time?”

“What kind of formula is it?”

After checking the formula, Laria immediately began explaining.

There was no sense of formality in their interaction at all.

“Thank you!”

The sorcerer who had gotten his answer bowed with a bright smile.

“If you have any questions, come to my office.”

“Yes!”

As she was about to take a step, she felt the gazes around her.

In the past, she would have felt uncomfortable, but now she knew it was goodwill.

Of course, she wasn’t welcomed by everyone from the start. Being the youngest head, quite a few sorcerers were wary of Laria.

But Laria didn’t assert her authority or divide people by rank like Banesion had.

She mingled so casually that she felt more like a colleague than a head.

Above all, when Laria demonstrated her magic at the inauguration ceremony, all controversy completely disappeared. No one could argue after seeing her overwhelming skill.

Though Laria herself went around saying it was a temporary position, everyone thought:

There would never be a more perfect head than this in the future.

“…”

As Laria walked, people’s gazes naturally followed her.

Everyone was itching to talk to her but held back.

It was an unspoken agreement.

As Laria disappeared at the end of the corridor, the sorcerers all let out the breath they had been holding.

“Ah, wasn’t she too perfect again today?”

“I really wanted to talk to her but held back. Praise my patience.”

“I want to join the HLFC today…”

There were many groups in the Sorcery Office, but the one that recruited the most members by far was the HLFC.

Short for ‘Head-Loving Fan Club,’ it would remain the group with the most members until its disappearance in the not-too-distant future due to Zenox.

“It’s especially busy today.”

Entering her office, Laria checked her schedule first. There were two seminars today, and in the afternoon she had to attend an elixir research meeting. In between, she had to do personal research and meet with Solike…

Out of habit, Laria fiddled with the fourth finger of her left hand.

There was nothing there now, but the habit wouldn’t go away easily.

‘I need to get a new ring made too.’

The ring she had matched with Zenox had shattered while breaking the brainwashing spell.

Since then, she had been too busy to bring up the topic of rings.

Still, now that they were officially a couple, it would be nice to get rings again.

‘When Zenox returns, should I subtly bring up engagement?’

Though she was sufficiently satisfied now, she wanted to become even more special to Zenox.

Her family also seemed curious about when they would get engaged…

‘The proposal should be done properly.’

Since the confession had been rushed, she wanted to do the proposal properly at least.

Zenox said he would return around spring, so she could prepare until then.

Laria looked up and gazed out the window.

The capital was mild year-round, so they hadn’t seen snow this year either. The chill was already fading, and the end of winter was approaching.

‘It must still be snowing in the North?’

She had heard it snowed quite often except in midsummer.

Though she wanted to go see Zenox right away, Laria held back.

Instead, she took out and read the letter Zenox had sent a few days ago.

Upon returning to the North, Zenox had immediately formed an army and smoothly suppressed the rebels.

She had worried a lot, but it was a one-sided battle from the start, with victory assured. Zenox’s military power was so overwhelming that even his family teased him about who he was worried about.

Currently, Zenox was chasing the fleeing remnants. His principle was that the roots had to be pulled out completely.

‘Will he come next month?’

Zenox hadn’t given a clear answer about when he would return.

It seemed he didn’t want to in case something suddenly came up.

‘I miss you.’

Even with her eyes closed, Zenox’s face lingered. A few days ago, she even had a dream about him.

Laria finally couldn’t hold back and got up.

As she cast a spatial movement spell, she instantly returned to her bedroom in the Rohan mansion.

The wolf doll Zenox had left was placed on the bed.

As she picked up the doll, a sense of calm came over her.

As Laria was about to return to the Sorcery Office, she suddenly raised her head.

‘Somehow it seems a bit noisy outside.’

Did a guest come?

Peeking out slightly, she saw an unfamiliar carriage.

As Laria was examining the carriage, she suddenly stopped.

Unable to even breathe, she hurriedly went down to the entrance like someone being chased.

“Miss! Be careful!”

Though she heard warnings to be careful not to fall, Laria’s steps only quickened.

Instantly reaching the entrance, Laria panted.

“Haa, ha…”

Laria stared blankly at the man standing in the sunflower field, unable to catch her breath properly.

Sensing her presence, he slowly turned around.

The late winter sunlight brilliantly illuminated the man she had missed so much.

“Laria.”

A voice like the spring breeze called out to Laria.

As she stood frozen, Zenox strode over.

Unable to even blink as if in a dream, Laria stammered:

“When, when did you come?”

“Just now.”

Zenox smiled, his eyes crinkling.

“I wanted to surprise you.”

“I was surprised. Really.”

Her heart nearly dropped when he appeared without any notice.

Looking at Laria as if she were cute, Zenox whispered:

“I’m back.”

“…Welcome back.”

Belatedly, emotions welled up.

There was so much she wanted to say that she couldn’t say anything at all.

In the end, Laria closed her parted lips and just embraced Zenox.

Their bodies fit tightly together without any gaps, as if finally finding their place. Listening to each other’s heartbeats, the two shared and savored each other’s warmth. Endlessly, until their temperatures became the same.

After a long while, Zenox released Laria and held out a single flower.

It was a lushly blooming sunflower.

“How did you get this in winter?”

“I brought it from the South… but only one survived.”

He rolled his eyes sheepishly, saying he had clearly brought a bouquet at first, but they all withered.

At that sight, Laria burst into laughter.

Even the great Zenox found it difficult to keep flowers alive, it seemed.

“I guess only the prettiest flower survived.”

Laria smiled as she received the sunflower.

Zenox quietly gazed at Laria cradling the bright yellow sunflower.

Bathed in sunlight, Laria herself shone like the sun.

“I know the meaning of sunflowers now.”

Waiting, adoration, and…

“I love you, Zenox.”

As Laria responded, Zenox’s eyes wavered greatly.

The man who knew no defeat could only lose to the small fox before him every time. Even now, just one ‘I love you’ made him want to kneel down.

As if guided by a great destiny, Zenox’s body slowly crumbled.

Kneeling on one knee, Zenox took out a small box from his pocket and opened the lid.

A pair of matching rings lay nestled inside.

The rings were adorned with the blue gem Laria had given him.

It was meant for when Laria might not be there, but Zenox thought it unnecessary.

If Laria disappeared, he would have no reason to stand on this earth either.

With those feelings, he split the gem in two and set them in the rings.

“I want to be by your side for life.”

Zenox said he would follow wherever Laria went.

Staring blankly at the rings, Laria’s lips curled up in a smile.

Instead of accepting the ring, Laria immediately stretched out both hands, cupped Zenox’s cheeks, and kissed him.

Pop, jet-black wolf ears popped out, and Laria burst into laughter.

Once, she had misunderstood that Zenox didn’t partially transform because he controlled his emotions well.

But that was truly a misunderstanding.

His ears or tail always popped out when she kissed him first.

There probably wasn’t anyone else who controlled their emotions so poorly.

The couple, wearing matching rings, held hands and talked intimately.

“We should have a simple engagement ceremony before the wedding, right?”

“We’ll have a big engagement ceremony too.”

“I wonder if we can invite everyone from the Sorcery Office…”

As the two went inside, the front door gently closed.

Their laughter seeped through the door crack.

Spring was finally coming.

( Main Story: THE END )

Tl/note: There was an announcement that the author also wants to write a side story. It’s not released yet, but I’ll be waiting for it and will translate it as soon as it comes out.