The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 79

Yulania took slow steps. Her smile was warmer than the sunlight, and Santiago deeply relieved by that one smile, took her hand.

“You can look forward to it.”

“I already am, very much.”

Yulania held his hand tightly and led him into the castle. Newly replaced wallpaper and curtains, glass windows that transparently drew in sunlight, and warm-toned furniture placed throughout. A subtle fragrance lingered in the reception room, and cushions she had personally chosen were placed by the fireplace.

“Did you choose all of this?”

“Yes, though of course, I didn’t install it myself.”

Santiago slowly turned his head. The castle’s atmosphere, softened to an unfamiliar degree, and Yulania’s face in the middle of it, strangely harmonized.

As she opened the door leading to the garden, the outside air rustled, greeting the two. The fresh scent of grass, as if green was alive and breathing, lightly tickled the tip of his nose, and Yulania reached out her hand to lead Santiago.

“Come on, this way.”

With the sound of her skirt brushing through the flowers, the garden, bathed in spring sunlight, filled his vision. They headed into the garden. Salvia, marigolds, pink carnations, and baby’s breath were nestled in the newly created flower beds. The flowers, imbued with the energy of the Holy Stone under the sunlight, shimmered subtly, and the gentle breeze shook the petals, crossing the boundary of the seasons.

The Holy Stones shone like small lights among the dazzlingly bright flowers. The Holy Stones hanging below the flower heads or at the ends of branches sparkled like stars at dawn, and emitted light as they swayed gently in the soft breeze.

Santiago stopped walking. He inhaled deeply without a word for a moment, then slowly looked around the garden and said quietly.

“It’s really changed beyond recognition.”

Yulania smiled softly and stood beside him. Then, leaning into his arms, she asked.

“Do you like it?”

Santiago was silent for a long time. But the next moment, he gently hugged Yulania and carefully brought his forehead to rest on her head.

“It’s really wonderful. You must have worked hard.”

Yulania burst into laughter in his arms.

“I wanted to hear you say that.”

And the two began to stroll through the garden, hand in hand. The breeze shook their hair, and flower petals lightly brushed and fluttered at their feet. Before they knew it, Yulania, who had entered the middle of the garden, raised her hand slightly and pointed.

“Look over there, that flower.”

Santiago’s gaze followed to where a cluster of yellowish marigolds bloomed. They were a little shorter than the other flowers, but they stood out particularly in the garden.

“This is?”

“It’s a marigold. I planted it thinking of the baby. This flower has a strong vitality like the sun. Its flower meaning is also ‘health’.”

Yulania’s fingertip lightly brushed over her belly. It wasn’t yet visible on the outside, but a faint maternal love permeated her voice and expression.

Santiago followed her gaze and nodded silently. Then, he carefully took out a small box from his pants pocket.

“Actually! I have a gift too.”

Yulania blinked and accepted the box. Inside the small, thin wooden box was a hair ornament decorated with delicate gold and silver threads. And in the center of the ornament, a Holy Stone of a suitable size was subtly embedded. She gasped.

“You know, this is the first time you’ve given me a gift like this?”

Santiago turned his head, seemingly embarrassed, but Yulania looked straight at him and asked.

“Put it in for me.”

After speaking, she turned her back and let her hair down so it would be easy to tie up. Santiago couldn’t hide his flustered expression, but he soon carefully raised his hand and gently swept up her hair. His unfamiliar hand movements were awkward, but Yulania waited silently. Even the trembling of his fingertips that carefully approached her head was lovely.

Santiago tied it as neatly as possible, put in the hair ornament, and stepped back.

Yulania carefully turned around. And looking at him with sparkling eyes, she asked.

“How is it? Does it suit me?”

She twirled around once. In the sunlight, her skirt fluttered softly, and the Holy Stone ornament in her hair sparkled.

Santiago blinked, feeling breathless, and opened his mouth.

“It’s perfect.”

He was sincere. Yulania, standing before him, was dazzlingly beautiful like a flower blooming in the middle of the garden, and at the same time, she was his whole world.

The warm atmosphere between the two did not last long. Santiago had to go on another expedition. His face was marked with deep fatigue and regret, and his desire to stay even a little longer was revealed in his gestures.

Yulania quietly looked at him and reached out her hand first.

“I’ll be waiting here. I’ll also take care of the Holy Stone so you can fight with peace of mind.”

The Holy Stone she had personally selected and crafted now had a much clearer and deeper light. Holding the Holy Stone in her hand, she felt as if the emotions of the demons were transmitted through her fingertips. Their pain, resentment, anger, and injustice permeated her, and Yulania learned to accept and comfort their emotions through the Holy Stone.

“Now the Holy Stone is not just a tool. It’s the power to heal them and send them away.”

Santiago accepted the Holy Stone from her hand and nodded quietly.

“I will return soon. To this place with you and our child. I must.”

With a much lighter heart, he set off on his final expedition.

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