Free Web NovelChapter 197: Miss Falck
Although she was officially the Wonderkul family’s bodyguard, Aluella was under no obligation to accompany Edmund, Lucian and Cordelia at all times. They had their own bodyguards, and since coming to Klento was practically a sightseeing trip for them, they wanted to walk up and down.
So Aluella and Victor spent the night in a more expensive hotel in the city to kill the nostalgia of the twenty years they hadn’t been able to be together.
When Victor woke up the next day, he could hardly believe his eyes.
Victor blinked, still sleepy, and tried to orient himself in the soft dimness of the hotel room. The faint light of dawn was beginning to filter through the heavy velvet curtains, casting long, lazy shadows on the dark wooden furniture.
Aluella, his orange-haired beloved, lay beside him, sleeping peacefully with her head resting on one of his arms. Seeing her like that, so serene and vulnerable, made Victor’s heart flutter as if he were still a young man.
There was a sublime beauty in the moment, something almost sacred in the intimacy they shared after so many years apart.
Victor smiled tenderly, his gaze fixed on Aluella’s delicate features. He could see the slight movement of her breath, the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest, and the way her long eyelashes cast delicate shadows across her cheeks.
Her orange hair, bright as a candle flame, was spread across the pillow, framing her face like a halo.
Gently, Victor lifted his free hand and brushed away a strand of hair that fell across Aluella’s face, revealing her perfect features. He didn’t want to wake her, but the touch of his fingers was enough to make her move her head, her eyes blinking slowly as she adjusted to the awakening.
"Good morning." Victor murmured, almost as if afraid to break the magic of the moment. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Aluella opened her eyes and a sleepy smile curved her lips.
"Good morning," she replied, her voice hoarse with sleep but full of warmth.
She stretched slightly, still lying down, and then turned to face him better, propping herself up on one elbow.
"I almost thought I was dreaming," Victor said, his eyes shining with a mixture of joy and disbelief. "After all this time, it’s hard to believe you’re really here, by my side."
"Even after I didn’t take it easy last night?" She said, amused by Victor’s embarrassed reaction as he looked away.
Victor smiled shyly as he looked away, embarrassment coloring his cheeks with a slight blush. However, the mischievous glint in her eyes brought a comforting warmth that reminded him of the warm dawn.
"Well..." he began, trying to regain his composure, "it was a... memorable evening, to say the least."
Aluella laughed softly, a melody that seemed to warm the atmosphere around them. She reached out and stroked Victor’s cheek, her touch soft and caressing. "I missed your reactions so much, Victor."
Victor held her hand against his cheek, closing his eyes for a moment to savor the touch he craved. "I missed you too, my love. Every day without you has been like a knife in my heart."
They were silent for a moment, absorbing each other’s presence. The morning light continued to slowly enter the room, illuminating the small particles of dust that danced in the air. The soft scent of clean sheets and Aluella’s floral perfume filled the room, creating an atmosphere of peace and intimacy.
Aluella sat up in bed, pulling the sheets around her as she looked out the window. "Today is a new day..." she said, her tone more serious. "The Wonderkul are spending the day on a boat trip to Edolens to visit other nobles. So I’m free to spend the day with you."
Victor raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You mean we can spend the day together, uninterrupted?"
She nodded with a small smile on her lips. "Yes. We can do whatever we want. The city is ours to explore."
Victor sat down beside her and looked out of the window. "Klento is a fascinating city. There are so many things to see and do. We could visit the market, walk along the waterfront... or perhaps do something more adventurous?"
Aluella tilted her head thoughtfully. "Adventure sounds good. After all, we haven’t had many opportunities for that lately."
Victor smiled, his mind already racing with possibilities. "There’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit. They say there are ancient ruins outside the city, near the cliffs. I always thought there would be something interesting to discover there. It might be good to have a good shooter at a distance."
Aluella laughed softly. "Always the explorer, Victor. That sounds perfect. Let’s do it."
By the time they left the hotel, the city of Klento was already awake and moving. The cobbled streets echoed with the sound of carriages and animated conversation. Shops began to open their doors, and the aroma of freshly baked bread and freshly brewed coffee filled the air.
Victor and Aluella walked side by side, enjoying each other’s company. They passed the market, where merchants displayed their wares - exotic fruits, colorful fabrics, and sparkling jewelry.
Aluella stopped to admire a delicate necklace with a sapphire pendant, and Victor noticed. As he approached, her face flushed, and she pulled him along to keep going.
Before they left town, they had to stop at Selvarum Manor to tell Luisa the good news.
They arrived at the majestic Selvarum Manor, an imposing building with gray stone walls and large windows that reflected the morning light. Victor paused and turned to Aluella with a look of anticipation.
"Ready to see you again?" he asked, trying to hide the tension in his voice.
She smiled and squeezed his hand gently. "With you by my side, all will be well."
As they entered the mansion, they were greeted by the muffled sound of voices coming from the dining room. Victor led Aluella down the spacious hallway, decorated with paintings depicting the rich history of the Selvarum family. Each step they took seemed to echo, mingling with the inviting smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked bread that filled the air.
When they reached the dining room, the scene was welcoming. Luisa Selvarum, Mari Dundragon, Frugeon, and Gracela were seated around a long table, enjoying a hearty breakfast.
Mari, with her tousled red hair, was laughing at something Frugeon, the sturdy mansion guard, had said. Gracela, a serious woman, was the first to notice the arrival of Victor and Aluella.
"Victor, you’re finally here!" exclaimed Luisa as she stood up. "Where have you been since yesterday?"
Victor felt a knot in his stomach. Luisa didn’t know about Aluella and he wasn’t sure how she would react. He pulled Aluella, who had also appeared under the door frame of the dining room.
"I was with Aluella. Everybody, this is Aluella. She’s... my wife."
Luisa raised an eyebrow, her gaze scanning Aluella from top to bottom.
"What? You have a wife, Victor?" Mari got up from her chair and walked toward them.
Gracela nearly choked on her food, and Luisa stood up as well.
Before Victor could say anything else, "A hero’s wife! Please sit down and join us."
"Actually..." Aluella wanted to say, a little shyly.
"She’s a hero too, Mari." Luisa said, putting her napkin on the table. "She is Aluella Falck, the only heroine blessed by the goddess of the hunt, Artemis."
Everyone in this mansion was used to the presence of a hero, because Victor was one, but Victor wasn’t blessed by a god, the only hero who wasn’t, so he had a different vibe than the other heroes.
Mari’s eyes lit up when she heard Luisa say Aluella’s last name. "Are you the famous Miss Falck, the best archer in the world, the Archer of a Thousand Bows?"
Aluella tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I have not been a hero for a long time. These days I’m just an ordinary woman."
Mari Dundragon, with her innate curiosity and eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, wasted no time in getting even closer to the couple. Her steps were so swift and silent that even Victor was impressed.
"Miss Falck, or rather, you’re more mature now, so should I call you Miss Falck or just Aluella like I do Victor?" Mari began quickly. "It’s such a pleasure to meet you. I have so many questions! What was it like to be blessed by Artemis? And your famous bows, do you still have them? What made you turn away from the life of a heroine? How was it to fight the war against the other demons? Do you still keep in touch with the other heroes?"
Aluella smiled softly, obviously touched by Mari’s enthusiasm, but before she could answer, another voice rang out.
"Calm down, Mari," Luisa, the natural leader of the group, interrupted. "Let Victor explain what happened. I’m sure there’s a story behind all this, and it’s important that we listen carefully."
