The Reason for Marriage

“Well… it seems like love that didn’t have any meaning at all.”

Everything she said was right.

“I guess it meant nothing at all. Even if it is something that no one can understand.”

Even if no one understood… he loved her. It wasn’t like he loved her for a reason. It was the first time he had such a blind feeling. All of his emotions and actions have been overflowing with logical reasoning, but looking at her, he couldn’t think of anything that mattered when it came to her.

Rather, he thought it was fortunate that she could share her weak and dark past with him where he would be able to comfort her through all the times she had to overcome by herself.

He would make her happy. Sitting on the queen’s seat would put her in dangerous and difficult situations, but Daniel was certain that it would bring Iveca happiness.

Like Queen Eve, who has made tremendous reforms, Iveca would also go down in Amethan history.

And like King Carl, his greatest achievement would be to discover her.

“Because of the way I’m dressed…. I can’t show you everything, but…”

One day in the gym, she pulled two daggers out of the sorted weapons and threw them without hesitation. A small dagger was pierced into the center of the target, one after another.

Right here, she trembled, saying she couldn’t throw any more daggers. He felt like his heart was breaking as he looked at her dagger that couldn’t leave her hand.

Forgetting all the trauma, she was smiling at him as brightly as before. He felt a little sad, recalling the memories he had alone.

He was a King who had no enthusiasm in the first place, and he had never thought deeply about becoming a King since he was young. To be honest, he had only one real goal. For her to grow old peacefully and play line ball together, without getting caught up in the horrors of war again.

He was a selfish King who thought only about Iveca to the bone—that her life flowed beautifully and peacefully by his side. Paradoxically, that’s why it was Iveca, not him, who really had to change this era.

***

It was only natural for him to be alone, loneliness was something that he had to accept.

But she shouldn’t feel that way. He did his best for her. Of course, when she looked at him with distrust, his stomach turned when she still talked about her “utility” in a timed manner.

It was not anger, it was sadness.

If only she could remember him. If they could talk about those times they spent together. He wouldn’t have to have her by his side with this one-sided feeling.

There were things that she could see after it was all over. There were words that could only be said over time. There were so many memories he wanted to share with her. There were so many things he couldn’t say.

He had heard that Lake Menata was so beautiful, but that day, when they walked hand in hand, she was prettier than the sunset reflected in the waves… That afternoon when she brought her report, he was so excited to prepare some tea and food… Now that he thought about it, it was clear that they liked each other in the conversations that they had. And he was so touched that she was throwing her dagger again…

There was nothing that he was desperate for, but with a lot of things to say, he had to be wary of her surroundings.

He knew better than anyone else that she was constantly in danger as she listed the Great Constitution, and he couldn’t believe anything that surrounded her. That included the Bureau of Investigation, which rights have been drastically reduced because of the Constitution. He wasn’t sure if the Bureau of Investigation would still keep her as a colleague.

It was inevitable for him to not assign Anriq, who had the best skills among all guards, to her.

He had to remember her alone, protect her alone, and love her alone.

“I think I get lonely when I love people by myself.”

Inevitably, he had no choice but to be lonely, because the memories he embraced were his. He had to express only some parts of his heart without telling the truth because he was afraid that she would suffer now.

The anguish and loneliness that only he knew, the frustration and sadness of his heart that he couldn’t convey, the sudden surge of injustice and the endlessly pouring thoughts…

When he looked at her sleeping in his arms, he felt as if his chest tightened. Anriq had called her Eve. The name “Eve Jean” must have been coined for her memory with him. He couldn’t and didn’t want to call her Eve ever again.

If it’s not love, I would let her leave me and let myself alone.

Daniel was never a stranger to loneliness, and all things similar to that. It was natural for him. So for a very long time, it was okay to be alone with just the two of them like this.

It was an endless wait anyway.