LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 244
She proposed.
As usual, like a royal princess.
She confidently expressed her feelings, but Acella’s heart raced faster than ever.
The silver-haired man in front of her. He was the only person in this world that she could trust, lean on, and love.
There was no choice for Acella von Württemberg other than Lars Gothberg.
That conviction had never been wrong and would not change in the future.
So, please.
Hoping he would embrace her and wishing to share their future together.
No matter what words she used to express the affection she held for him, no matter how many sentences she formed, it would barely show even a millionth of it.
For now, she needed to return to that place.
Back to where it all began for the two of them.
She wanted to return to the state of being betrothed.
‘…What if he rejects me?’
She was always anxious.
She had always dreamed of the future with Lars, but thinking of their past history made her feel like he wouldn’t accept her.
As soon as she finished speaking, regret and worry washed over her. Maybe if she had built the atmosphere a little more…
In her excitement of reuniting with him, she had blurted it out too quickly.
‘…Even if Lars accepts.’
What if he showed an indifferent attitude like when she first confessed her feelings?
If he couldn’t truly love her during the time they would spend together.
It would definitely lead to a lifetime of heartache.
Acella had no idea what to do at that time. Her head was a whirlwind of thoughts in that brief moment.
…But this is right.
After all, it was Lars who declared his feelings first at their engagement ceremony before.
This time, she would be the one to do it first.
Even if the setting was somewhat shabby.
Yet, Acella’s anxiety vanished completely in less than a second.
At that moment, she felt as if she had not seen her reflection in the mirror. Lars’s expression was filled with conviction, clearly thinking the same way she was.
He took Acella’s hand and replied in a refreshing voice.
“Sure, Your Highness. Let’s get married.”
Only then did Acella let out a sigh of relief.
Seeing Lars’s expression made her certain.
Just as she loved him, he loved her too.
The feelings he conveyed felt like they were filling her heart to the brim.
“The rings are already on our fingers. Shall we have an exchange ceremony?”
Lars took off the engagement ring from his hand and placed it onto Acella’s.
It didn’t fit properly and was loose on her thumb.
“Pfft, what are you doing?”
“Doesn’t it look kind of nice?”
“I’m not a merchant’s wife. I liked it.”
Acella took off her ring and placed it on Lars’s finger, but it got stuck on his pinky, right at the second knuckle.
“It’s cutting off the circulation.”
“Just hold on until the wedding.”
“You’re going to have a groom with nine fingers.”
At Lars’s mischievous joke, Acella giggled and lightly brushed off his shoulder, leaning her body against him.
Whispering her wish into his ear, Acella said.
“Lars.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s be happy.”
She planted a feather-like kiss on his cheek and pulled back, extending her pinky.
“It’s a promise. I’ll make you happy.”
Lars clasped her finger with his, ring still on it, as he replied.
“Yes. I promise too.”
The two looked at each other deeply.
Just that alone made them happy.
How long had they been lost in that moment? Lars snapped his fingers.
“Alright, so to live happily ever after, we need to solve your lifespan issue, Your Highness.”
Lars connected a spell he had previously activated. Acella became a bit serious.
“My usage of lifespan was my choice. You don’t need to take responsibility. You need to use the elixir.”
“Your Highness’s body is my body. Of course, we need to fix it.”
“Oh boy.”
Acella’s hand on Lars’s shoulder tightened.
Seriously, he was very skilled at changing the subject and slipping away. It was obvious she’d get caught up in his pace like this.
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have come this far. This choice makes sense. As I said, I can develop candies, and I have various methods in medicine to solve this.”
“Liar.”
Acella immediately saw through Lars’s intentions. He shrugged.
“As we agreed, no more secrets. Yes, it was a lie. But I think we’ll find a way, one way or another. We at least have three years.”
“Three years? That’s all?”
Seeing Acella’s shocked reaction, Lars realized he had misspoken.
But since they were already here, it was better to reveal everything and brainstorm together.
After all, Acella’s mind was the best in the continent.
“Well, technically, it’s around the point when the world was supposed to end in the future.”
“A major fork. Right, there. What happens if we can’t find a way by then?”
Instead of answering, Lars stretched his lips into an awkward line. Acella furrowed her brows.
“My lifespan is certainly more than three years. Lars, you have to find a way to heal me after using the elixir.”
“As you know, my knowledge of magic is shallow. Last time, it took over three years. Especially since the side effects of high-level magic…”
“You can do it.”
Acella caressed Lars’s cheek.
“Because you’re my attending physician.”
Lars nodded.
“Right. …Let’s create this first and think about it.”
Lars completed the circle. He began casting.
He succeeded in activating [Formation]. The alchemical recipe for the elixir was complete. He checked the messages that popped up on the status window.
“Production time… It’ll take a whole day. Shall we rest until then?”
Acella sighed.
“Sure. Let’s go out and check the situation. The Demon King’s army should have scattered and retreated, but there are still remnants left in various places in the human realm.”
At that moment, additional messages popped up on Lars’s status window.
―――――――――――
· Both talents have reached the level of mastery.
· Debuff has risen to A rank.
―――――――――――
“Oh damn.”
Lars clicked his tongue. Acella looked at him with concern.
“Lars, what’s wrong?”
“I’m going to faint for a bit, but don’t worry too much. I’ll wake up soon…”
―――――――――――
· Due to the A-rank talent debuff, you will faint for one year.
· Due to the A-rank talent debuff, you will faint for one year.
· The same debuff has occurred multiple times. Its effects strengthen.
· [Fainting (3 years)] is activated.
―――――――――――
Lars felt cold sweat trickle down his back after seeing those numbers. He urgently grabbed Acella’s arm.
“Acella…!”
—Thud!
Lars lost his balance and collapsed from the chair.
Acella rushed to catch him as he fell.
“Lars?”
Calling his name, she received no answer.
Pssst, the formation he was casting for the elixir lost its efficacy and began to dissipate.
“Lars.”
In the quiet room, Acella embraced him as he lay motionless, waiting for Heike to arrive.
*
For a long while, Lars didn’t wake up.
Even when the Allied Forces celebrated their victory over the remnants of the Demon King’s army.
During the medal ceremony for the Hero Party.
When the human realm was engulfed in a month-long celebration.
Even when any number of specialists from the Inner Palace came to treat him or family came to visit.
He simply drew weak breaths in the treatment room set up in the Moonlight Palace.
And Acella remained by his side the whole time.
When the war ended and daily life returned, there were suggestions to move Lars to the former country to treat him. The former country would take better care of him than the empire.
Deciding to send Lars to the former country, Acella made her resolve.
Gathering the court members of the Moonlight Palace in one place, Acella began her final address.
“From today onwards, I formally relinquish my succession rights. The future operations of the Moonlight Palace will be entrusted to the secretary.”
Acella’s declaration was somewhat expected, so no one was surprised. However, a sense of disappointment filled the palace.
“There will be those disappointed by my choice. Many may have chosen me to serve the emperor. I deeply apologize for not meeting your expectations.”
Acella scanned the assembled knights and court members in front of her.
“Those who seek honor should head to Mokhwi Palace. I have prepared the words for reorganization.”
The commander of the Moonlight Palace Knights stepped forward.
He was the man who had quietly led the escort and the royal guard since her childhood.
He knelt before Acella and spoke.
“Though it may not be recorded in history, many already know that it is thanks to your noble sacrifice that humanity’s future continues.”
The commander’s gaze was resolute.
“Thanks to your loyalty, our Moonlight Palace Knights have already earned a reputation as high as the heavens.”
Acella gestured to him.
“Rise.”
With a crisp motion, the commander straightened up.
“I extend my gratitude for the loyalty you have shown.”
The commander saluted. All the knights present followed suit, raising their hands toward Acella.
As they welcomed her farewell, Acella left the Moonlight Palace.
Upon arriving at the former country, Acella began a new life. Her younger sister, who had inherited the position of head of the household at a young age, warmly welcomed Acella.
Living in the Marquis’s Estate, she took care of Lars every day.
At the same time, she continued to explore, search, and research what methods there were to heal him.
Before the candies he used up ran out, she learned alchemy and succeeded in creating medicine with the same effects as the cliff flower.
She also went on adventures with the barbarian heroine, the protector of the former country, to find artifacts for him.
Maintaining the flower garden for him was essential. Every spring, when the garden bloomed bright yellow, Acella would remember their first meeting.
“Lars.”
Every night, she would sit beside the bed where he lay, brushing back his hair.
Though she said it would be a moment, he was taking a long time to wake.
When would he awaken to embrace her with these arms again?
Even if she wanted to know, she could no longer use clairvoyance as her lifespan was no longer sufficient to pay the cost.
A year passed,
Two years passed.
Three years had now passed since their last conversation.
Acella continued to guard that flower garden.