Free Web NovelChapter 544: Until We Meet Again (I)
"We will return to Noctvaris with them tomorrow," Edmund said as he walked toward Primrose, who was standing by the window.
He had asked Callen to give them some privacy, leaving only the two of them in the quiet hallway. When he stopped beside her, he followed her gaze and looked down at the people playing in the snow below.
"Tomorrow?" Primrose said softly. "I didn’t expect us to leave so soon."
So much had happened over the past few days that she barely had time to enjoy being back in Illvaris.
She hadn’t explored the city as much as she wanted and she hadn’t spent enough time with her friends either.
She hadn’t even had the chance to talk properly with Rowena, and from what she had heard, Rowena and her husband had already returned to Elandria earlier that morning.
"If I had a choice, I wouldn’t want to leave this soon either," Edmund admitted. "But this matter is urgent."
He placed his hands on her arms and gently rubbed them, trying to warm her up.
"There are a lot of documents and reports that need my attention," he continued. "It will be much easier to handle everything once we’re back in Noctvaris."
If circumstances had been different, Edmund would have gladly let Primrose stay in Illvaris for a few more days.
Unfortunately, things were still too unstable and more than anything, he didn’t want to be separated from his wife right now.
"I understand," Primrose said with a small nod.
After a brief silence, she changed the subject. "How is the Moretz family?" she asked. "They must still be shaken up, right?"
A sigh escaped Edmund’s lips.
"They are," he admitted. "But I believe they’ll be alright eventually. The trauma won’t disappear overnight, but as long as they’re together again as a family, they can help each other heal."
Primrose lowered her eyes. For a while, she remained silent, and then she finally spoke. "I think..." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "It will be difficult for them to forgive my kind for what was done to them."
Edmund nodded. "It will be difficult."
Stepping closer, he wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin lightly on top of her head. "But they still feel grateful to have you as their queen," he murmured.
Primrose’s eyes widened. "What?" she asked in surprise. "But they—"
"I told them the truth," Edmund interrupted gently. He tightened his arms around her. "I told them that without you, we probably wouldn’t have been able to save their daughter."
His voice remained calm and steady. "Without you, we probably never would have entered the Azmeria Palace so easily."
After all, the Azmeria Kingdom had always been deeply hostile toward beastkins. If it weren’t for Primrose, Edmund likely would never have set foot inside that palace.
"That’s why they asked me to pass on their apology," Edmund continued. "They weren’t angry at you. They were angry at what happened to them."
He paused before adding quietly, "So I hope you can forgive them."
Primrose held her breath. Without realizing it, her fingers tightened around Edmund’s sleeve.
"I don’t need to forgive them," she said at last. Her voice was soft, but there was sincerity in every word. "Because I was never angry with them in the first place."
She looked out at the snow-covered courtyard below. "Seeing them together again as a family is already enough for me."
Slowly, Primrose turned around and wrapped her arms around Edmund. The moment she did, Edmund pulled her closer. One hand rested against her back while the other gently stroked the back of her head.
"You’re doing well, my wife," he whispered. When he felt her shoulders tremble and heard her soft sobs, he tightened his embrace. "My people are lucky to have you as their queen."
Those simple words broke something inside her, not in a painful way, but in a healing way.
All of her doubts and guilt for not being able to do more suddenly disappeared the moment she found herself in her husband’s embrace.
For the first time in days, Primrose allowed herself to relax. Because no matter what challenges waited for them in the future, one thing would never change; they had each other and as long as they stayed together, everything would be alright.
===
The next morning, the Duke Illvaris Manor was filled with tears and sniffles. And the biggest source of all that crying was none other than the Duke himself.
"My daughterrrr..." Lazarus wailed dramatically. "Why do you have to leave so soon?"
He wrapped his arms around Primrose so tightly that she could barely breathe. Her green bonnet was nearly knocked off her head from the force of the hug.
"Father, Father, calm down!" Primrose whispered sharply, trying to pry him off. "Aren’t you embarrassed? Everyone is staring at you!"
"Oh, let them stare!" Lazarus scoffed without a hint of shame. "They have eyes, don’t they? Why should I care whether they watch me or not?"
He tightened his hold even more. "Besides, why would I worry about other people when my precious daughter is about to leave me?"
Primrose could feel a headache coming. She pressed her lips together and let out a long sigh. "Father," she said patiently, "I’m only going back to Noctvaris. It’s not like I’m leaving for some distant corner of the world where nobody can find me."
That argument, however, did absolutely nothing to comfort Lazarus.
"In my heart, it’s the same thing!" he declared dramatically.
Primrose was actually just as sad as her father. But with so many people from Noctvaris watching, she didn’t want to break down and cry in front of everyone.
At the very least, she had to maintain her image as their queen. Though she was fairly certain she would end up crying the moment she was alone inside the carriage.
"Y-Your Majesty... are you leaving us here?" A small voice suddenly called out.
One of the children hesitantly stepped out of the manor. From the looks of it, the children had been peeking through the doorway the entire time, secretly watching the farewell. They just hadn’t been brave enough to come out until now.
Primrose finally loosened her father’s grip and turned toward the child. Meanwhile, the boy looked nervous, almost as if he was afraid of asking the question.
A soft smile appeared on Primrose’s face. Slowly, she crouched down until she was at the same height as him.
"I have to leave because there are many important things I need to take care of," she explained gently. "But don’t worry. Sir Vester will stay here to protect you and play with you."
