15. Snow Moon Flower – 11
So, the two men and women ran away.
Leaving aside everything they had believed in, everything they had supported themselves with, and everything they were going to believe in, they fled far, far away, where no one knew them.
The man had all the pride he had as heir to the Duke of Estelle, the beautiful fiancée he was due to marry, and all the power he would enjoy as the Duke of Estelle.
The woman betrayed herself as a saint, all the time she had spent so far, the endless atonement for all the people who were dying helplessly in front of her eyes, and the last 20 years of living carrying their grudges, like a devoted partner.
Abandoning everything that made them up, the two fled to a faraway place.
Even knowing that there is no future, knowing very well that catastrophe is already planned, knowing very well what the end of this recklessness will be.
The man grasped the woman’s hand and held it. If the only ending left for us is destruction, he gently hugged the woman, saying that he would be with you until that destruction came, and that he would share even the countless sins that the woman would commit in the future.
That is its conclusion. The happiness he had attained at the end of betraying himself, betraying everything he had believed in, and sacrificing many lives was the very end.
This is the story of hope and love they were trying to create.
****
“…Huh, are you okay? really?”
A small rural village located in the southern part of the continent. And even in that village, an old hut that was built in a place that could be called the outskirts of the village and was already being torn down.
Looking at a couple of men and women who expressed their desire to purchase the ruins, which are well-spoken, the village headman unknowingly threw back a question.
“Think about it again. Even if the cabin is somehow repaired and made into a space where people can kill people, this area is a lawless area where you can hardly find anyone wandering around. Living in an unpopulated place may look good on the outside, but if you dig into the inside, there are not one or two uncomfortable things. So, why don’t you reconsider purchasing this cabin?”
The village headman must have accepted the purchase without looking back, bowing down to the fact that he could sell such malicious stock for money, but even so, it seemed that this was not a little bit.
This hut, or what was once called a hut, was in such a miserable state that it made me think that it was right for them to live for money, rather than give them money and sell it.
… Crucially, it was clear that the two men and women in front of the village headman had extraordinary personalities.
The man’s manner of speaking and every single action showed off his dignity, and he seemed very accustomed to dealing with people. Also, seeing that he was wearing a sword around his waist, it was assumed that he was from at least a knight or a nobleman.
‘… Huh. How could a person be born like that?’
As for the woman, she was an astonishingly beautiful woman whom the village chief had met for the first time even after living there for over 60 years. Rumor has it that the princess of the empire is so beautiful, but in the eyes of the village chief, the woman in front of him seemed to be no less beautiful than the princess. To that extent, the woman with purple hair was just indifferently beautiful.
The village chief did his best in his own way to get the two men and women to withdraw their intentions to buy it, as it might be something that could happen later if they paid and sold such garbage to such people.
“it’s okay. I rather like it. And since we both have our own armed forces, I don’t think there will be much concern about security.”
In the end, the village chief failed to withdraw their opinions. To be precise, it would be correct to say that I could not dare to disagree with the words of the two.
“…I can’t help it. If you need anything, come down to the village anytime. If it’s my you guys, I’m willing to help you at any time.”
Saying that, the village chief went down to the village, leaving only the tools and wooden boards to repair the hut. In front of the collapsed hut, no one except Cain and Ariel could be seen.
“Ariel.”
“yes? Why is that, Cain?”
On the journey from the Duchy of Estel, which could be said to be the northernmost point, to the south of the continent, Cain was able to put his horse at ease toward Ariel. Ariel still didn’t stop talking to him, saying that honorifics were comfortable.
“Are you really going to be okay? To be honest, no matter how much we became fugitives, sleeping in a dilapidated shack like this is a little…”
“What is it, have you lost your confidence now? Didn’t you say that you’ve been praised a lot by your father since you were young, saying that your dexterity is amazing? If that’s you, wouldn’t it be no problem to repair a cabin?”
Ariel tilted her head cutely and spoke carefreely, and Cain smiled bitterly when he saw it.
“It’s true that I’m good with my hands, but honestly, this isn’t about repairing a cabin, it’s about rebuilding it. It will take a week at the earliest to make this hut at least livable.”
“does not matter. If things don’t go well, we’ll set up a barrier and even sleep outdoors.”
From the outside, it looks like she hasn’t had a drop of water on her hands, but in reality, Ariel, who has experienced homelessness to the point of exhaustion during the expedition to subdue the ‘Winter Witch’, has become the owner of a sensibility that doesn’t mind sleeping on the street. .
“A cabin where you have touched from one to ten, that in its own way is really heart-pounding.”
Ariel gazes at the collapsed cabin with hazy eyes. And, of course, Cain couldn’t understand Ariel’s ‘romance’ at all.
“From my point of view, buying a whole house built in the village is a less expensive way to do it.”
Cain grumbled so lightly, as if he didn’t like having to work as a carpenter, which he didn’t even have to live with, but he knew better than anyone that he couldn’t really go down to the village and live together like everyone else. They were definitely fugitives, and they always had to keep in mind the possibility that a pursuer might be pursuing them.
“Because I ran away in a hurry, I couldn’t even have a humble wedding with you, but that wasn’t enough, and I had to sleep with you in such a small and shabby house…”
The scenery around the hut built in the middle of a small forest was as beautiful as a picture, but inversely proportional to it, the hut they would be staying in was very modest and shabby.
In Cain’s opinion, a woman named Ariel Thiers was not a woman who would live with such treatment. Wasn’t Ariel the woman who could be said to be the representative of God and the noblest human on earth? Even a decent number of nobles would not dare to raise their heads in front of Ariel, but to think that she had to live in a shabby cabin like this.
“…well, actually I’m fine. No, to be honest, I don’t think a house like this is bad.”
“yes?”
“The smaller the house, the closer you can be to the person you are. I can feel your body temperature and your traces more clearly.”
Ariel stealthily grabs Cain’s hand, who was standing next to her. Through their hands facing each other, they desperately feel each other’s body temperature. To be precise, Ariel was just smiling brightly, but Cain’s neck turned bright red for some reason.
“Of course, there will be many inconveniences as it is a small house, but isn’t that the way newlyweds are originally? A time when everything is lacking and nothing is abundant, but we can overcome everything with mutual consideration for each other. So what can I do? Even for a husband who lacks money, as a wife with a broad heart, I have to put up with it.”
Even though she’s saying that, Ariel seems to be in a really good mood, and she smiles as brightly as she’s never seen before.
“In addition, Cain, you even gave me a ring as a gift. Even though we couldn’t have a wedding ceremony, instead, you promised me eternal love and even gave me a ring as a gift. I think that is enough.”
Ariel quietly stroked the back of Cain’s hand with her other hand.
“Cain, do you know why men and women get married?”
“…Well.”
“That’s because of the tacit promise made between a man and a woman.”
“promise?”
“Yes. When a marriage takes place between a man and a woman, the man and the woman bring everyone they know and present them as notaries to make a promise. In this lifetime, I will only love you. I will only look at you until the day this world ends. Even if this body disperses and disappears, the promise of that time that is eternal and immortal remains in this place-”
“…I know it well. Eternal love is nothing but a dream-like story. I know very well that they are nothing more than futile, like fluttering petals, and fleeting like clouds floating in the sky. But, but.”
Ariel was looking at his face with vague eyes somewhere. She was looking at his face now, but her vision was focusing on something other than his face.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about how beautiful it would be if such a thing actually existed. Is it really funny?”
“…..”
In the end, Cain couldn’t show any expression in front of her.
“With such promises that cannot be kept, a man and a woman exchange rings. In order not to forget even a little the oath we shared that day. To bring back even a little bit of the feelings we had together that day. And to keep forever the fact that we are in love now.”
“So, that’s enough. I never wanted a spacious house from the beginning, and I never wanted a lavish wedding. I am happy enough just to have you by my side and love me.”
Ariel smiles as she looks at the small ring on the ring finger of her left hand. That ring must have been a piece of happiness that a woman named Ariel Thiers had obtained even while betraying her everything.
“So, Cain. Instead of a wedding ceremony, share a promise with me right now. Even though there is no one here to stand as a witness, instead, make a promise to heaven and earth.”
“Let’s cherish and love each other. Sometimes you’re angry, sometimes you’re sad, sometimes you’re fighting—”
“Let’s support each other, look straight at each other, and never regret coming to love each other.”
Watching Ariel talk about a future that will never be kept, Cain also gently held her hand. No, I had no choice but to hold on to it.
To Ariel Thiers, who betrayed everything, even herself, and chose only to love Cain von Estel, Cain was like everything in the world.
If even Cain didn’t hold her hand, there wouldn’t be a single place she could turn to in this world.
So, at least Cain von Estel had to be the only one on her side. Even if it were hypocrisy, that would be the only mercy towards Ariel, who was heading for ruin.
“…Yes, I promise. No matter how much time passes, no matter what happens to us in the future, I will never let go of your hand. I will do my best only with you, and with all my sincerity. because we already-”
“…because they’re a couple.”
On that day, Cain and Ariel swore eternal love to each other.