CHAPTER 85: THE NIGHT OF RINGS AND RUIN

[Regulfsson Mansion—Leif’s POV — Continuation]

The ceremony was finally over. Rings exchanged, vows spoken, endless congratulations received. If one more noble tried to hand me another "symbolic token of eternal happiness," I might’ve screamed.

Sure, the gemstone-studded goblets and ancient artifacts were nice—but none of them compared to the ring now resting on my finger. A silver band etched with a faint glow, simple yet impossibly elegant. It wasn’t just jewelry. It was his promise.

Somewhere down in the garden, chaos was blooming.

"Come back here, fluffy demon!" Alina’s voice rang out.

"Catch me if you can, mortal!" Zephyy shot back, fur glinting furiously as he ran through the moonlit air.

Alina darted across the lawn, laughing as Zephyy narrowly dodged her every attempt. The sight was so absurdly wholesome that a small laugh escaped me.

I leaned on the marble balcony rail, the cool night air brushing against my face. For the first time all evening, I felt my chest loosen—like the glitter and noise below finally faded into something real.

"Leif..."

His voice wrapped around me before his arms did.

Alvar’s hands came from behind, sliding gently across my waist until they rested against my chest. His chin brushed my shoulder, and I felt his breath against my ear.

"What are you doing out here?" he murmured.

"Just watching my sister giggle," I said softly, eyes still following Alina and Zephyy darting through the garden lights. "It’s been long since I have seen her; she’s been smiling more often since I came here."

Alvar’s lips curved into a faint smile against my skin. "She takes after you, then."

Before I could roll my eyes, he pressed a light kiss to my cheek. "Soon," he whispered, "after we set the date, you’ll be my official spouse. My wife. My everything."

I turned slightly, just enough to catch the warmth in his eyes. "You sound confident," I teased.

"I have every reason to be," he murmured, his tone somewhere between amusement and devotion. "Are you excited?"

I nodded, though my voice came out barely above a whisper. "Yes."

That one word seemed to break something open in him.

He turned me fully toward him, his hand cupping my jaw with an almost reverent gentleness. For a heartbeat, neither of us spoke. The moonlight poured over his features—turning his usually sharp expression into something softer, almost fragile.

And then—he kissed me.

Slowly at first. Tender. Like he was memorizing the shape of me all over again. His lips were warm and steady against mine, tasting faintly of champagne and something far more dangerous—himself.

The world fell away. No music, no applause, no titles or duties—just the quiet rhythm of two people finding home in each other.

When the kiss deepened, I felt his fingers slide through my hair, his thumb brushing my jaw in silent affection. I didn’t even realize my hands had found their way to his chest until I felt the steady beat of his heart beneath my palms.

When we finally pulled apart, breathless, the night air felt colder than before.

He didn’t let go right away. Instead, Alvar wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close again, his chin resting lightly atop my head.

His voice came out in a low murmur, roughened by emotion."You came into my life like something out of a dream," he said. "A fantasy I never thought I’d get to live in... and somehow, I landed right inside it."

I smiled softly, feeling the warmth of his chest against my cheek. My fingers curled into the fabric of his coat as I whispered, "Then I suppose I should be the one saying that, shouldn’t I?"

He chuckled quietly, his breath tickling my hair. "Maybe. But I’ll still say it first."

I don’t know why, but in that moment, something in me ached.

Because somewhere deep inside—beneath all the laughter, the teasing, and the endless chaos—I was still Renji Takeda.

A man from another world.Someone who had never truly been loved.

And yet here I was—held by someone who did.

Maybe... being Leif Thorenvald really was a blessing.

"Leif."

His voice brought me back, gentle and grounding. I tilted my head up to meet his gaze, and his eyes were softer now—like moonlight caught in glass.

"So... that’s tomorrow, isn’t it?" he asked quietly.

I blinked. "What?"

He brushed his thumb against my cheek, the gesture tender enough to make my breath hitch. "You’re leaving for Frojnholm tomorrow, right?"

I nodded slowly. "Yes. I have to return."

Alvar hummed, pulling me even closer until there was no space left between us. "Good," he murmured, pressing a light kiss to my forehead. "You’ll be safe there."

"Hmm," I hummed softly, closing my eyes. "And you?"

"I’ll come soon," he said, his tone steady but laced with something I couldn’t quite name. "There’s something I still need to find here... but once I do, I’ll return to you."

I smiled faintly, tracing a circle on his chest with my finger. "You’d better," I whispered. "Or I’ll come drag you back myself."

That earned me a quiet laugh, the kind that rumbled against my ear. "I’d like to see you try, my love."

We stayed like that for a while—no words, no promises left unsaid. Just the quiet rhythm of our hearts and the silver glow of the moon washing over us.

Maybe tomorrow would bring distance.But right now, in this fleeting moment, I belonged entirely to him—and he to me.

***

[Thorenvald Estate — The Next Day]

The carriage wheels clattered softly against the cobbled road, the afternoon sun painting long shadows across the passing fields. I slumped against the carriage door, half-dead and wholly exhausted.

If I had the energy, I’d declare that social events should be outlawed. Or at least require a two-day recovery period by royal decree.

"Miss Alina cried a lot," Nick said from across the seat, his voice careful but amused.

I groaned. "Don’t remind me."

Alina’s tear-streaked face flashed in my mind—her tiny hands clinging to me like a koala that refused to be relocated. Letting her go had been harder than I’d expected. Much harder.

"I should ask Father to bring her to Frojnholm once everything’s settled," I muttered.

Nick smiled softly. "That would make her happy, my lord."

Then his eyes flicked toward my lap. "But there’s someone else who seems to miss her too."

I followed his gaze.

Zephyy was slumped across my knees, wings drooping, looking like a deflated pillow of sorrow.

"I really miss her..." Zephyy mumbled, voice small and pitiful. "She was the most innocent soul among you all..."

"Among us all?" I raised an eyebrow. "You’re including yourself?"

Zephyy didn’t even react. Just sighed dramatically and buried his tiny head into my robe. I couldn’t help but smile faintly. But then suddenly—

Something in my chest shifted.

It started small—just a faint tightening beneath my ribs. I brushed it off, leaning my head against the window.

But then... the pressure grew.

It wasn’t the kind of pain you could describe easily. It was like invisible hands were pressing against my heart—squeezing, twisting, trying to reach something buried deep inside me.

I frowned, clutching at my chest. "That’s... weird."

Nick glanced at me instantly. "My lord? Are you alright?"

"I’m fine," I said, though my voice came out thinner than I’d like. "Just... feels like someone’s sitting on my lungs."

Zephyy lifted his head suddenly, his tiny eyes wide—unnaturally wide. His fur bristled, and for the first time since I’d known him, I saw fear flicker in them.

"Master..."His voice trembled. "Someone’s... crushing your divine power."

My heart skipped a beat. "Wh—what?"

"It’s faint," Zephyy said quickly, panic creeping into his tone. "But it’s there—something is trying to suppress your divine energy. The seal around it—it’s cracking under pressure."

"What are you talking ab—"

The words died on my tongue.

A surge of pain ripped through my chest, hot and sharp, stealing the air from my lungs. My hand shot to my heart as the world blurred for a second.

"Hah—Nick—"

"Lord Leif?!" Nick’s voice was distant and distorted, like it came from underwater.

My vision flickered. The air around me shimmered faintly, and for a split second, I thought I saw something—golden light swirling beneath my skin, writhing like it wanted to break free.

Zephyy’s voice echoed, frantic and small. "Master, hold on! Don’t let it burst open—someone’s trying to destroy it from the outside—!"

But I couldn’t respond. The pressure only grew. Every heartbeat sent a jolt of pain through my ribs. Something deep inside me—something ancient, something I’d almost forgotten—was stirring.

And it wasn’t happy.

The carriage jolted violently as Nick shouted, "STOP THE CARRIAGE!!!!"

I could barely hear him. The world dimmed at the edges, the pain in my chest pulsing like a drumbeat.

Crushing your divine power...

Whose hands were doing it?And... why now?

The last thing I saw before darkness edged in was Zephyy and his panicked voice echoing through the haze—

"Master—stay awake—please—!"

And then everything went silent.