CHAPTER 80: A FIANCÉ, A FLUSTER, AND A SURPRISE

[Regulfsson Mansion—Night—Leif’s POV]

"Hmm... what do you think of this, dear?" Mother held out a ring box with the kind of flourish that would make Broadway jealous. The green emerald inside sparkled like it had stolen all the moonlight.

I leaned in, narrowing my eyes like a detective interrogating a suspect. "...It’s... good. But..." I waved my hand dramatically, "it feels like... it’s missing something!"

Alvar, sitting across from us like he was auditioning for the role of World’s Chillest Human, sipped his tea. "Honestly, we should go with the Trivium core stone rin—"

"SHUT UP!"

Mother and I shouted in perfect unison. Our eyes locked on the rings as if daring anyone to interrupt our solemn, highly dramatic moment.

Alvar froze mid-sip, clearly realizing he was now in the crossfire of a supernatural mother-son alliance.

"We are choosing an engagement ring, not a wedding ring! You can pick a Trivium stone later for the wedding! Then it’ll feel... epic, unforgettable, the stuff of legends!"

I nodded, trying not to blush at the gentle way she phrased it. Meanwhile, Alvar sighed, leaning back like a man who had just agreed to walk barefoot across hot coals for love. He hovered over the ring boxes, finally pointing. "...Then chose the Yellow one."

Mother blinked. "The yellow one?"

Alvar’s face was pure calm and glanced at me, saying, "It matches his eye color."

. . .

. . .

My heart did a sudden, unprofessional flip. I nearly toppled over, my cheeks hotter than a summer oven.

I didn’t realize he always notices the little things... even the ones I thought no one cared about.

"T-then... it’s... settled." I stammered, flailing slightly as if my body didn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth.

Mother chuckled warmly, shaking her head. "My, my... even your father wasn’t this romantic. Where on earth did you learn that from?"

"FROM YOU!!!" Alvar said flatly.

They both stared at each other flatly, and meanwhile, me? I leapt to my feet, waving my hands like a conductor leading an orchestra of embarrassment.

"I... I’m starving! Let’s eat! I must taste Regulfsson cuisine before my soul withers!" I bolted toward the dining chamber, practically bouncing on the marble floors.

Alvar smirked, the picture of calm amusement. "Dining chamber is to the right, Leif."

"Yes... right..." I muttered, dramatically spinning toward the dining room. My cape (in my mind, I definitely had one) fluttered behind me as I prepared for a night of gastronomic glory.

My brain was yelling, "You’re literally swooning over your fiancé’s choice of ring and his smug face!"

Alvar’s chuckle followed me all the way to the dining chamber, and I was suddenly very glad I hadn’t yet eaten anything—I might have melted completely.

***

[Dining Chamber—Later]

"So... you’re going to stay for tonight, right, my dear?" Mother asked, leaning forward with a gentle smile.

I glanced at her, mouth full of dessert, and gave a muffled nod. "I...don’t mind," I said around a bite of something suspiciously sweet but heavenly.

Alvar smirked—that dark, slow, impossibly smug smirk. My stomach did a weird flip. Gosh...him and that damn smoldering look of his... not helping my blood pressure or brain cells.

I cleared my throat and turned to Mother, voice sweet but deadly: "Just arrange me a guest chamber, Mother."

Alvar’s eyes nearly popped out. "WHAT!? WHY!?"

I grinned, feigning innocence. "Then where do you want me to stay, Alvar?"

"...In my chamber, of course," he said, like it was obvious.

Cue the silent but amused chuckle from the maids and Mother. I leaned back in my chair, smirk fully activated. "Sorry, my dear fiancé. We’re not married yet. That’s a hard limit, okay?"

Alvar sputtered. "But... we stayed in one chamber at Frohnholm!"

I nearly snorted out my dessert. "...Because...back then, we had no choice. But now?" With a glint in my eyes, I said, "We have plenty of choices. And I’m choosing...not your chamber."

Mother chuckled softly, shaking her head and glanced at the butler, saying, "Very well. Clean the guest chamber."

The butler nodded, suppressing a smile, and left.

Alvar, on the other hand... I had never seen him like this. Trembling. Disbelief, outrage, and maybe a hint of excitement all rolled into one.

***

[Guest Chamber—Later]

The door creaked open behind me just as I was leaning over the balcony, sipping my well-earned glass of wine, enjoying the cool night breeze.

"I knew you’d be drinking," came that low, familiar voice.

"Huh?" I turned, only to see Alvar striding in, all tall, handsome, and dangerously bossy. Before I could even blink, he reached for my glass, snatched it, and held it high.

"What! Hey—!! Give that back!" I jumped, stretching, but gods above, this man was built like a damn tower.

"Alvar... this is bullying!" I glared, fists on my hips.

He smirked, tilting the glass. "If this is bullying, then what you did earlier counts too."

My jaw dropped. "That’s—That’s self-defense, okay?!"

His brows lifted. "And from whom, exactly?"

I shot back without thinking, "Of course from your monster dick! I wouldn’t be able to walk if I didn’t defend myself. And after your birthday celebration, I need to actually travel back to Frojnholm. I need energy to survive, thank you very much."

. . .

. . .

Alvar just stared. Then glared. Then sighed, shoulders dropping. "So... you decided to go back."

"Of course," I replied, folding my arms. "I have a damn territory to handle and Baron can’t handle everything alone. I’ll leave after your birthday and our engagement ceremony."

He stood there silently for a moment, the weight of my words sinking in. Then, without warning, he stepped closer—so close I could feel his breath against my hair—and pulled me into his arms.

"I want to freeze the time," he murmured against my ear, voice trembling just a little, "so you won’t have to go."

My heart stopped for a beat. Damn him. Damn that tone.

For a second, I didn’t even breathe. Then I snorted softly, half flustered, half teasing. "What are you, a magician now? Planning to stop time with your jawline?"

He chuckled, low and rough. "If that’s what it takes."

I snuggled closer, resting my cheek against his chest. "You’re such a clingy husband, aren’t you?" I teased, brushing my lips against his collarbone.

He grinned. "Yes. Only for you."

I smiled faintly, tilting my head to watch the rise and fall of his chest. "Just... come with me. We could live together..." I smirked mischievously. "...and I can dump all my work on you."

. . .

. . .

Alvar blinked and laughed, leaning down to gently bite my nose. "How come you’re so lazy?"

I puffed my chest with pride. "Laziness, my love, is a pure art form."

He chuckled, shaking his head, and pulled me closer, letting the warmth of his body settle around me. "I wish I could, my love. But I have to find the Divine Dragon... and his chosen vessel."

My chest tightened.

Fuck.

Sweat pricked my brow. I tried to keep my tone casual, but my brain was running at full speed.

"Since... the Saintess Selection was postponed. We now have to locate the chosen vessel so that person can take the place." Alvar’s fingers tightened slightly on my waist. "And we don’t have much time. The Empire cannot wait."

I felt my pulse spike.

Do I tell him? If I reveal that I already awakened the Divine Dragon and—surprise—I’ve got some divine magic myself... I could either be a hero or ruin everything.

And honestly... Alvar wouldn’t exactly take it calmly. Should I tell him that I’m the fucking Iron Man they’ve been searching for? He won’t make me the Higher Saint, right? ... ... Okay. I can at least trust my man.

"Um... Al... Alvar..." I murmured, fidgeting with his shirt button like it was a life-saving distraction.

He looked down, eyebrow quirked. "Yes, my love?"

I swallowed hard, voice small. "What if... you already saw the Divine Dragon... and... called him ugly?"

Alvar’s eyes narrowed. "I met and called the Divine Dragon ugly?"

I nodded, still twisting the button nervously. "...Yes and... you even... threw him away... to hug me instead."

Alvar froze, his jaw tightening as his brain whirred like a malfunctioning cogwheel. "...What are you saying, Leif?"

I bit my lip, cheeks heating, and gulped. "I... I very much unintentionally... awakened the Divine Dragon. And now... he’s... living with me. As... a blue kitty."

. . .

The silence was deafening. Even the wind outside the guest chamber seemed to pause.

Alvar’s voice finally cut through the silence, trembling slightly. "Wait... you’re saying... you’re the Chosen Vessel? And that blue kitty that’s always perched on your shoulder... is actually a Divine Dragon?"

"Yes... he was an ugly lizard," I admitted, eyes wide, trying to read Alvar’s reaction. "But I asked him to change his appearance... so now he’s this adorable blue kitty."

He stared at me, face pale, lips slightly parted, like he’d just swallowed a thunderstorm. Horrified. Absolutely horrified.

And just like that... I realized I had officially destroyed any sense of calm in the room.

I swallowed nervously. "So... uh... surprise?"