Leon approached Eila, who was sitting at her desk and writing a letter eagerly. Leon's hand wrapped around her shoulder. Eila put her pen down and kissed his cheek lightly.
“It’s a reply to thank the princess for the gifts she sent.”
Leon frowned.
“You don’t have to write something like that.”
“How could I not? She sent enough gifts to fill an entire room.”
Saying so, Eila looked at the corner of her study. The gifts were left here because there was not enough space to put the gifts even after the other room was full. Every gift had the recipient's name on it.
Alicia.
It was the name of the child born to Eila and Leon who would become Countess Dermund in the future. Yesterday was the child's first birthday. Now fully healthy, the Countess planned to throw a birthday party bigger than any other family in the Empire, and she been busy planning for months. Thanks to this, Alicia became a child who held a historic birthday party.
The princess brought several carriages full of presents, and she kissed Alicia on the forehead and spoke to Leon in an expectant voice.
‘All these gifts are investments in the future. If the child I give birth to becomes the imperial prince of princess later, your child will become a capable subordinate like you.’
Leon shouted at the princess, saying, “What kind of curse are you putting on a child who is only one year old now?!” To Leon, the princess avoided Eila's eyes and whispered, 'I’m keeping my eyes closed even though I know that Gordon lost his title because of you?' Hearing her words, a dangerous smile appeared on Leon's face for a moment and then disappeared. As long as he lives, he will never return to the capital again.
“I’ll give you more gifts, so write me a letter.”
Leon, who was receiving Eila's cheek kiss, said so, and this time he started kissing her all over her face. Eila burst into laughter at the ticklish feeling and to Leon's grumbling. Leon, who had been listening to her laughter for a moment, as if hypnotized by her, hugged her.
"I'm serious. I have only one letter from you.”
"Ah…….”
She knew what the letter was. A letter she sent a long time ago asking for a divorce. Feeling sorry, Eila hugged his neck and Leon asked again.
“Because it’s a letter from you, the longer it is, the better. You must write the word ‘To my love’ in front of my name.”
If anyone had the absurd words, they would have doubted that the person speaking now was Leon Dermund, who had a reputation for having no blood or tears in the Imperial Palace. However, Eila was now used to Leon being like this. From the day all their misunderstandings were cleared up, Leon told her his feelings openly. The words he said to her were always beautiful words, full of love and affection.
“I think it would be difficult to write such a long letter.”
At those words, Leon had a slightly disappointed expression on his face. Eila kissed his cheek.
“I will write a very brief letter for you. Such that I can just tell you now”
Having said that, Eila whispered.
“To my love, Leon.”
His arms embraced her.
“From Eila, who loves you more than anyone else.”
A short letter arrived in his ear. Her small laugh, attached like a PS, warmly penetrated his heart. Their lips met, without knowing who came first. When the lips that had been tasting each other for such a long time fell with regret, Leon opened the drawer as if he remembered something. Then he pulled out a piece of paper from inside. It was a piece of paper with something written on it.
“What is it?”
“Our marriage vows.”
Eila was surprised by his words and she looked at it. At the top were the marriage vows, and at the bottom were her and Leon's names. It even had her childish round signature.
“I don’t even remember signing this.”
“It can’t be helped. It was a very crazy situation back then.”
Leon, who had kissed Eila's cheek and shoulder again, pointed his finger at a part of the pledge.
“Can you see this part here?”
"This…… You two have the right and the obligation to respect and love each other for the rest of your life.”
When Eila read the sentence, Leon’s face looked very pleased. Then he grabbed her hand that was holding the marriage vows and kissed it. The wedding ring that the two of them had recently ordered a while ago was shining brilliantly.
“See? You signed it and I signed it too. So, please fulfill this obligation.”
“Really…….”
I love you this much, but you want me to love you more? Eila kissed him on the forehead with an expression of helplessness. He brought flowers for her this morning too. So she could do more than enough. Again a merry laugh filled the room.
After a while, she struggled to overcome his interruption but Eila finished writing her letter. She put it on her table, tightly sealed it, and she stood up, holding what Eila had placed next to her. Leon took her hand and looked at the vows held in her hand. The last sentence caught his eye.
The right and obligation to love.
His right and obligation, which he would fulfill with all his might and joy until the day he died, would not be taken away by anyone.