Side Story 10
The day of Elonia’s twentieth birthday finally arrived.
Elonia woke up and noticed the indentations on either side of her bed, her eyes blinking sleepily.
“Who is it…?”
“Happy birthday, our daughter.”
“Congratulations on becoming an adult, Elonia.”
“Huh?”
Elonia’s eyes snapped open. It was Artius and Philemon, both smiling at her with loving eyes.
“What are you doing here so early? You’re busy, aren’t you?”
They were supposed to be busy preparing for her engagement ceremony.
Artius and Philemon, feigning hurt, chuckled.
“We wanted to be the first to wish you a happy birthday.”
“It’s our only daughter’s twentieth birthday. We couldn’t miss it, could we?”
“Mom, Dad…”
“Take your time getting ready. We’ll be waiting. We love you, our daughter.”
Philemon kissed Elonia’s forehead and cheeks, then hugged her tightly. Artius also embraced her.
“I love you, my daughter.”
Elonia, showered with their affection, beamed.
“I love you too. See you later.”
Philemon and Artius, their faces radiant, left the room.
Elonia’s happiness lingered even after they left. Sarah and Vivian, entering the room, smiled at her.
“Good morning, Your Highness. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. Good morning, Sarah, Vivi.”
“We’re glad you’re in a good mood.”
How could she not be?
Philemon and Artius had reconciled, the sky was clear and blue… It was a perfect day. Sarah and Vivian, helping her get ready for the engagement ceremony, reminisced.
“Our little princess has grown so much… becoming the Crown Princess, and now getting engaged…”
“I know. It seems like just yesterday she was calling His Majesty an idiot… Why did she call him that, anyway?”
“Hey, don’t bring up the past!”
Elonia desperately tried to change the subject. Thanks to their nostalgic chatter, she was ready in no time.
She wore a white dress with a hint of lavender, a perfect match for her mint-green hair, which had been styled in bouncy curls.
“You’ve truly grown up…”
Sarah and Vivian felt a pang of emotion, realizing Elonia was finally an adult.
Elonia chuckled.
“I grew up well thanks to you.”
“Your Highness…”
Their eyes glistened with tears. Elonia wanted to thank Cecilia and Canaria as well, but Philemon’s death having been erased had also altered their relationship slightly.
Just then,
“El!”
As if they wouldn’t give her a moment to feel sentimental, two young men and a middle-aged woman burst into the room.
It was the Asta family.
They froze, seeing Elonia in her engagement dress. Duchess Asta was the first to speak, her voice filled with emotion.
“You’ve truly grown up, Your Highness…”
And then Llewellyn started wailing.
“Don’t get engaged, El! Live with your brother forever!”
“You idiot.”
Alberich silenced his brother’s childish outburst. Elonia burst into laughter.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be living here, even after I get married.”
“But still!”
Alberich, used to his brother’s antics, sighed and turned to Elonia, offering his congratulations.
“Congratulations on your birthday and engagement, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Alberich.”
Duchess Asta, snapping out of her daze, also congratulated Elonia.
“My, my, how time flies. Our little Elonia is getting engaged… Congratulations, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Aunt Rosalyne.”
“Don’t be nervous at the ceremony. We’ll be there.”
Elonia felt reassured by her words, but she also wondered why she would be nervous about a mere engagement ceremony. She nodded gratefully.
“Let’s go now.”
Duchess Asta and Alberich, wanting to avoid tiring Elonia further, turned to leave, but Llewellyn started fussing.
“Just a little longer, Mother!”
“You again?”
“Mother, just send Llewellyn home.”
Elonia, watching the chaotic Asta family, smiled and waved.
Duchess Asta was worrying too much. She wasn’t nervous about the engagement ceremony.
Trembling.
“Your Highness?”
Trembling uncontrollably.
“Your Highness.”
This felt familiar.
Standing before the doors to the Great Hall, where the engagement ceremony was being held,
Ethan and Ricardo, seeing their charge trembling like a leaf, exchanged amused glances. Ricardo, his voice laced with sarcasm, asked,
“Your Highness, you’ve already been through an inauguration ceremony. Why are you so nervous about a mere engagement ceremony?”
“You wouldn’t understand, you’ve never been engaged.”
Duchess Asta had been right to worry. Elonia, despite her earlier confidence, was trembling like a leaf.
Ethan, his voice gentle, reassured her.
“It’s not very impressive for the main character to look so weak, Your Highness.”
“That’s right. The main character should exude confidence and power.”
“Exactly.”
Elonia wanted to, but it wasn’t easy.
Her nerves were getting the better of her, her mind wandering.
‘Why am I here?’
This was strange. She should be in her office at this hour.
Just then, the herald’s booming voice, echoing from within the hall, snapped her back to reality.
“Presenting Young Master Cielun Luneus!”
They were entering the ceremony together.
Lucius’s name being called meant…
“Presenting Her Highness, Crown Princess Elonia Ainar Ravanta!”
“Gasp!”
Elonia’s mind snapped back to reality. The doors opened, revealing the brightly lit hall.
“Your Highness.”
“It’s time.”
Ricardo and Ethan stepped forward, offering their hands. Elonia looked at them, then at the open doorway.
Artius and Philemon were waiting for her, their faces filled with gentle smiles.
Elonia, as if in a trance, stepped forward. Ricardo and Ethan moved aside as she entered the hall. She turned her head and saw Lucius standing beside her.
“Your Highness.”
He smiled shyly and offered his arm.
‘Ah.’
Her trembling ceased instantly.
Her mind went blank.
She took his arm, and they slowly walked towards the platform.
The orchestra’s majestic music and the guests’ applause filled the hall, a symphony of celebration.
They stopped before the thrones where Artius and Philemon sat. The music and applause faded. Elonia and Lucius turned to face the Emperor and Empress and bowed.
“Crown Princess Elonia Ainar Ravanta, I present myself before His and Her Majesty to announce my engagement.”
“Cielun Luneus, eldest son of Duke Luneus, I present myself before His and Her Majesty to announce my engagement.”
They straightened up, and Artius asked,
“Do you swear your love for each other is unwavering?”
“We do.”
They answered simultaneously, their voices firm and steady.
Philemon asked,
“Do you swear to share joy and sorrow, to be happy together, forever?”
“We do.”
Their unwavering response echoed through the hall.
Artius, his voice filled with emotion, though he tried to maintain a formal tone, declared,
“Crown Princess Elonia and Young Master Cielun, today, you promise your future to each other through this engagement.”
“Exchange rings.”
Philemon continued. Garnethia and Valerian, emerging from a corner of the hall, presented the rings to Elonia and Lucius.
They turned to face each other, their hands meeting.
Despite the hundreds of eyes watching them, they felt like they were the only two people in the world.
Elonia looked at Lucius’s face.
‘…Handsome.’
She had always thought so, but he looked even more stunning today. They had both dressed up for the occasion, but Lucius seemed to have put in extra effort.
Lucius gently took her left hand and slipped a thin but ornate ring onto her ring finger.
“It suits you, Your Highness.”
He smiled. Elonia also placed a ring on his finger.
“It suits you too.”
Lucius blushed.
She could hear someone sniffling. Philemon, ignoring the emotional Emperor, declared,
“With this exchange of rings, we pronounce you engaged. May your future be filled with blessings.”
“Congratulations, Your Highness!”
“Congratulations, Young Master!”
Cheers and congratulations filled the hall, mixed with the sounds of joyful tears.
Elonia and Lucius, their hands clasped together, their faces beaming, left the hall.
Their engagement ceremony, witnessed and celebrated by countless people, had ended.
Night had fallen by the time the coming-of-age ceremony and engagement ceremony ended. Lucius accompanied Elonia back to her room.
They were officially engaged now.
The silence between them, alone in her room, was awkward, but Lucius, breaking the silence, said,
“Congratulations on becoming an adult.”
Elonia, her shoulders tensing nervously, then pouting slightly, disappointed by his rather mundane greeting, asked,
“Is that all?”
Lucius smiled gently and, taking her hand, kissed it softly. He looked up at her, his voice a soft caress.
“I love you, Elonia.”
Elonia beamed, as if she had gained the whole world.
His beautiful red eyes were fixed on her lips.
Lucius had once tasted the sweetest candy in the world. And as they say, a known pleasure is more tempting. He had only tasted it once, and the memory, the lingering sweetness, only intensified his craving, even though he knew it would burn his tongue, leaving him wanting more.
“Elonia.”
His hand gently cupped her cheek, and Elonia’s heart pounded wildly. His warm gaze, his passionate red eyes, made her feel a flutter of butterflies in her stomach, a warmth spreading through her chest.
“…!”
Lucius leaned closer, and Elonia, startled, quickly kissed his cheek, a soft “peck” echoing in the quiet room.
“I love you too, Lucius.”
She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
Lucius’s heart pounded wildly at her unexpected kiss, the lingering sensation on his lips a sweet torment. He wanted more, a deeper taste of that sweetness.
“…!”
Elonia’s eyes widened.
Lucius kissed her, a deep, lingering kiss that erased his earlier hesitant peck, his mouth hot and demanding. The butterflies in Elonia’s stomach fluttered wildly, taking flight.
He finally released her, just as she was about to run out of breath.
Elonia, her cheeks flushed, her eyes glistening with tears, glared at him playfully.
“…You…”
Lucius, burying his face in her hand, smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Your lovely fiancé, at your service.”
“…!”
He was a fox. A silver-haired fox wagging its tail. Her heart ached, and the warmth of his breath against her palm made her feel a surge of affection. She stroked his cheek gently and commanded,
“Stay the night.”
“As you wish.”
He smiled, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
They gazed at each other for a long moment, Lucius’s emotions finally overflowing.
“I feel like I’ve lived my entire life for this moment.”
Elonia felt the same.
Happiness and sorrow were proportional. They had both suffered immensely. Was that why they could feel such intense joy now?
But this wasn’t the end for them.
“We’ll be even happier in the future.”
Lucius looked at her, surprised, then smiled, as if finally understanding.
“Yes. We’ll be even happier. I’ll love you even more tomorrow than I do today, and you’ll love me even more, as I strive to become worthy of your love.”
Elonia blushed and smiled.
They gazed at each other adoringly, then closed their eyes and kissed again, a long, slow kiss that promised a future filled with happiness.
Elonia, at this moment, was truly happy.
<Born as the Daughter of the Enemy Emperor – End>