The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 98

It was the tail end of the harvest festival. Crimson twilight painted the earth, and the evening air was faintly laced with the sweet scent of fruit and the aroma of baked honey bread.

Yulania stared at Santia, her eyes wide as if she still couldn’t grasp reality. In his hand was a snowflake-shaped, blue ring. The ring, engraved with a subtly glowing sacred stone, was beautiful enough to momentarily take her breath away, and at the same time, too sudden.

“Will you spend the rest of your life with me?”

His voice was quiet, but an undeniable tremor laced the end of his words. As soon as he finished speaking, Santia knelt on one knee and offered her the ring. His usual resolute and cold expression was gone, replaced by a somewhat nervous look as he awaited her answer.

Yulania paused, about to say something. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. It was an unexpected moment.

Just a few hours ago, Santia’s eyes had seemed somehow distant, his words fewer, and his knights had been exchanging whispers with tense faces. She had taken all those signs as an ominous premonition.

Tears welled up in her eyes. He couldn’t possibly be unaware of her feelings, so why was he so quiet today, why was he wearing such an indifferent face? The anxiety that had been gnawing at her heart burst forth at this moment.

In the end, she covered her mouth with both hands and burst into tears.

“Why are you doing this?”

She managed to open her mouth with difficulty.

“You startled me.”

For a moment, Santia was flustered and couldn’t even look her straight in the eye. He looked anxious, as if his plan had failed.

“You’ve been acting cold all along, you seemed to be in a bad mood, and then the knights came with serious faces. I thought something had happened.”

Only then did Santia rub his cheek once. His face flushed slightly, and an awkward, breathy laugh escaped him.

“Ah! Hyron told me to do it in secret.”

Yulania wiped away her tears and frowned.

“Who on earth?”

“Hyron.”

At that answer, Yulania burst into laughter and tears at the same time. Her voice trembled like someone who was crying and laughing at the same time.

“Ha, haha! You too…”

Santia cautiously looked at her like that, then lowered his head. His long eyelashes trembled slightly in the darkness.

“Since when have you been so good at listening to your subordinates?”

He answered a beat later.

“I’ll listen to anyone if it’s for you.”

Yulania couldn’t say anything more, and looked down at him with tearful eyes once again. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, but her emotions were not easily calmed.

Santia gently wrapped her hand in his. His fingertips were slightly cold, but even that temperature felt sincere.

“I didn’t intend to say anything grand from the beginning.”

He whispered in a low voice.

“I just wanted to confess anything if I could be alone with you in this quiet time.”

Yulania looked into his eyes for a moment. Then, she nodded slightly and carefully took his hand. Yulania took a small breath. And she quietly rested her head on his shoulder and remained still for a long time without saying anything. Only his breath and her heartbeat embraced each other and flowed.

Then Santia whispered quietly.

“I want to keep you by my side forever. Will you allow it?”

Yulania placed her hand on his chest and answered slowly.

“I already allowed it a long time ago, Santia.”

Yulania finally calmed down after crying for a long time. Her eyes were red and swollen, and the tip of her nose was also slightly red, but her expression seemed much more relaxed than before. It was a sign of relief, as if something that had been weighing on her heart had been lifted.

Santia waited silently for her to calm down. Even as he stood beside her without a word, his hand did not leave hers, and from time to time he carefully stroked her back or arm with his fingers. That warm movement made Yulania’s eyes moist again, but this time no more tears flowed.

She sniffled and smiled softly.

“Thank you anyway. I’m touched. I didn’t know you were this kind of person.”

Santia listened to her words quietly and then smiled.

“How’s the ring?”

Yulania looked at her fingertips for a moment and then nodded quietly.

“It’s so pretty. Put it on for me.”

He moved. Yulania carefully held out her left hand, and Santia picked up the ring again. Each movement was filled with careful touch. It was a cautious but confident movement, as if it might break. The ring fit smoothly on her left ring finger.

Yulania tilted her head slightly and raised her hand above her head as if to block the sunlight. The low-lying sun seeped over the ring, and the blue gemstone sparkled slightly.

“It’s like a snowflake has landed on my finger.”

At her words, Santia nodded briefly and said.

“That’s right. I thought about making it in Makaridaun.”

Yulania turned her head in surprise and looked at Santia.

“Oh my, you made it yourself?”

“Yes.”

With that short answer, he held out his own hand this time. There was also a ring on his left ring finger. It looked clearly thicker and sturdier than Yulania’s, but anyone could tell that they were made as a pair. The same colors and patterns, the same snowflake motif. She stopped breathing for a moment.

“You made them together. You were serious.”

Santia didn’t answer those words. He was just quietly looking at her, slowly taking in the emotions contained beyond his sparkling eyes.

He carefully continued.

“I hope you wear it when you go to see His Majesty.”

Yulania repeated his words as if to recall them. She looked at him and smiled, small but clear.

“Okay.”

After finishing lunch, the festival was in full swing. Various shops, performances, and people were merrily mixed along the central square of the village and the roads nearby. Yulania led Santia with a light step that was unlike her usual self, as if she had become a different person.

“Look over there, they’re apple jam fries! I haven’t seen those before?”

She pointed to a stall with her finger and said. Then, without hesitation, she approached and bought a small fry, held it in her hand, and held it out to Santia.

“Try it. I think it’ll be just your taste?”

Santia carefully took the fry, which was hot at a glance, and took a bite while feeling her gaze. A savory and sweet scent filled his mouth, and Yulania burst into laughter as she watched.

“How is it? Delicious, right?”

“Hmm… It’s sweeter than I thought. Like you.”

Yulania was flustered and lost her words for a moment, then soon blushed and pushed him away.

“What are you saying, all of a sudden.”

The ring he had given her was still sparkling on her hand. Every time she recognized the existence of the ring, Yulania’s heart started beating again. It wasn’t just a simple ornament, but his heart and his vow.

They also watched a small performance. Children were drumming and singing, and some merchants were drawing customers with raffles and prizes. Yulania carefully put her hand into the raffle box and took one out.

“Oh my, this, I won!”

What she received with joy was a small, round pendant. She looked at the pendant and silently put it around Santia’s neck. It was a very simple accessory, but her gaze was filled with a strange affection.

“This is a reward. For everything you’ve done for me today.”

Santia looked at Yulania while stroking the pendant. Then he whispered in a low voice.

“Seeing you smile makes me think that the work I’ve been preparing for months hasn’t been in vain.”

Yulania smiled. Unlike the morning when she had been tearful, she was now smiling more brightly than anyone else. Santia also slowly smiled as he looked at her.

Yulania slowly stopped walking in the middle of the crowded festival. Then, holding Santia’s hand tightly, she said.

“I never thought this day would come.”

Santia turned his head and looked at her.

“I was just grateful that we were spending each day together. When a day like today comes, my heart is overwhelmed.”

Santia held her hand tightly without saying anything. Then he quietly kissed her forehead. Amidst the crowd, amidst the sparkling lights and the laughter of people, they were firmly connected. Yulania tilted her head slightly and whispered.

“I’ll never take this ring off, forever.”

Santia answered very quietly, but clearly, to those words.

“There’s no need to.”

When Yulania raised her head in surprise, Santia added softly.

“Because my heart can’t leave you anyway.”

Yulania had no idea that this day would be the last few days she would belong to the Tinley Kingdom, from the unconventional discussions with the King until this point.

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