ㅤChapter 71: Epilogue
ㅤThat same day, Ruby and Theodore returned to the Imperial Palace.
ㅤFrom the end of their journey, they had no time to rest before Aquamarine’s attack and the rescue mission to the Underworld. With all of those matters now resolved, the two of them felt a deep sense of relief.
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ㅤ”Those were some hectic days. You must be exhausted, so please take it easy and rest for a while. From now on, our days will be peaceful.”
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ㅤTheodore, sitting on the sofa in the Empress’s room, comforted his wife, who was leaning against him, by stroking her head.
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ㅤ”No, it was all my sister’s fault. I truly apologize for involving Your Majesty.”
ㅤ”It’s alright. Everything turned out better than expected, so in the end, it was a good outcome.”
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ㅤHe hadn’t imagined even in the slightest that he would see a future where Langley would prosper under his reign.
ㅤMore than anything, Theodore was happy that he could ensure a good life for the people, who had endured so much hardship, in the near future.
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ㅤ”It’s all thanks to you, Ruby. Thank you for choosing me and this country.”
ㅤ”The feeling is mutual. I’m truly relieved that I didn’t have to divorce Your Majesty.”
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ㅤRuby returned a mischievous smile.
ㅤShe came to this country in place of her sister, and her disguise was exposed three seconds after they met. A year had passed in a flash since that day. It was a much shorter time compared to the years she spent living in the tower in her homeland, yet it was incomparably denser and more eventful.
ㅤWhile she could no longer spend her days leisurely without a care in the world, she now possessed many irreplaceable things. She realized that protecting them was her happiness and purpose in life.
ㅤTheodore gently touched her cheek with a loving expression, savoring their happiness.
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ㅤ”……Come to think of it, I haven’t properly conveyed it yet.”
ㅤ”What do you mean?”
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ㅤRuby was puzzled by Theodore, who suddenly knelt before her.
ㅤHe took Ruby’s hand and looked directly into her innocent eyes.
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ㅤ”Marry me. Ruby, I swear my eternal love only to you.”
ㅤ”……!”
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ㅤRuby gasped and held her breath.
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ㅤ”Your Majesty……”
ㅤ”Please, call me Theodore.”
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ㅤA ring, adorned with a large ruby, which he must have prepared beforehand, was slipped onto her slender, white finger. The delicate goldwork, as if protecting the sparkling jewel, resembled the color of Theodore’s eyes.
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ㅤ”—May I hear your answer?”
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ㅤWhen Theodore gently asked, Ruby’s cheeks flushed, and she bloomed a smile like a large rose.
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ㅤ”Yes! I also love you with all my heart, Theodore-sama!”
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ㅤ—Theodore gently embraced Ruby, and she responded in kind.
ㅤThey were finally united as a true married couple.
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ㅤFrom this day forward, Ruby continued to live in the Empress’s room. Although the log house in the forest was rebuilt, the Empress’s slow life became limited to her days off.
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ㅤ◇◇◇
ㅤ
ㅤ—Just a little glimpse into what happened after the story.
ㅤThe wedding ceremony, held six months later, became a grand national celebration, and monarchs from various countries wished to attend to witness the Grand Saintess of Deadly Poison.
ㅤHowever, the name of Ruby’s home country, the Belheim Kingdom, was not among them. The Belheim Royal Family, having lost both of their daughters, lost their influence, and a revolution was sparked by factions who had long been dissatisfied with their tyranny. A new nation was born, and it is said that the former royal family and the nobles who had been enjoying the sweet life were exiled to the frontiers.
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ㅤAquamarine, left behind in the Underworld, reluctantly bowed her head to the 『ugly monsters』 she detested and worked as a servant in the Demon King’s castle. Her figure, wandering the castle while muttering “This wasn’t supposed to happen” every day, is rumored to be a “mimicry of the Underworld’s vengeful spirits.”
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ㅤThe Langley Imperial couple continued to interact with the Underworld, and the Demon King was often seen enjoying vacations in the human world.
ㅤThe couple was also blessed with many children. The friendly and cheerful family was beloved by the people and was passed down through generations as the beginning of a long and peaceful era.
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ㅤ（The End）