When Louise awoke, it was almost dawn.
No, perhaps it was still in the middle of the night, and the moon had already passed. She couldn’t see anything.
Her mind was surprisingly clear. She couldn’t believe she was dreaming just a moment ago.
Dreaming…
Her mind lingered on that word. In the dream, she was inside the student council room of the Academy, the memory of it so vivid that she could recall even a small scratch on the wall. She had been working diligently, checking the inventory on the ink bottles, setting down the planned menu on Ian’s table…all the ordinary work of a student council member.
An amused smile spread across Louise’s face as she realized she had been laboring even in her dreams. She had been told many times in real life that she already had enough work.
Louise blinked her eyes to get them accustomed to the dark, and the room’s decor started to sharpen into view. The face of the sleeping person beside her did as well.
Ian looked completely defenseless as he rested. His serene appearance, without shadow of emotion or expression, was more akin to a delicate painting. The kind of painting that would make anyone fall in love with him.
Louise shifted slowly, taking care not to wake him. She paused for a moment to make sure he was still asleep, then quietly stepped out of bed with her bare feet. The floor was cold, but her feet were still comfortable from its residual warmth from under the blankets.
She picked up a thin shawl near the bed. She didn’t usually toss her clothes away like this, but, well…that was what the mood had been like yesterday. Perhaps the both of them had been a little too excited about the wedding.
She wrapped the soft shawl around her shoulders, and walked over to the window to push it open. There was a squealing noise—perhaps she shouldn’t have pushed it too slowly?— and she whipped her head back towards the bed.
Ian was still fast asleep. Louise gave a sigh of relief, and a spring breeze caressed her face.
She turned back to the open window again.There was light outside. Ian once told her on the Academy rooftop that he was never without light for security reasons. The palace was similarly illuminated, and because of that it was difficult to see the small glow of the stars.
When Louise poked her head out, she spied several soldiers making their quiet patrols. This was a place that never slept. Darkness had its role in growing trees and flowers, and this wasn’t a good environment for the plants. Humans needed darkness as well, especially Ian, who always had to endure under the light.
Louise recalled the words the king had spoken to her at dinner last night. He told her to be Ian’s shade, somewhere where Ian could relax and close his tired eyes. Perhaps Ian needed darkness as well, to help him grow.
Another gentle breeze kissed her hair.
“I want you to choose the season when we get married.”
Ian spoke those words to her one time. Her cheeks would turn red whenever she remembered that day. She would never forget it. He had given her a ring studded with gleaming jewels, and even treated her to a meal with many cheeses and desserts. It was delicious, as always.
‘I shouldn’t have eaten so much.’
She wished she could have told that to her past self. It was on that day that they agreed to a deeper relationship, and allowed themselves to be carried away by the heated, romantic atmosphere. That night, they whispered and moaned their confessions to each other many times over.
Afterwards, they talked about the wedding. Louise was playing with his fingers when she gave her reply.
“Spring. I love spring.”
He did not have to ask why. To her chagrin, he was able to correctly guess her reasoning.
“Because we don’t have anything to celebrate in spring?”
“How did you know?”
“Because you’re fair to the seasons. Summer has my birthday, fall has Simon’s, and winter is yours. But spring is empty.”
After he finished his explanation, he kissed Louise on the forehead and murmured his agreement at her suggestion.
Since then, Ian and Louise had been carefully preparing for their wedding. Royal weddings were largely traditional, and there was not much to organize other than simply following past precedent. There was nothing to add or take out.
They also had the added fortune of many friends to help out. Stella Lapis, in particular, had done much for Louise, traveling between the greenhouse and Louise and helping her coordinate the business. Sir Hesse always visited and told funny stories whenever Louise was tired, though it wouldn’t be long after until Ian would yell at him.
Claire, in the meanwhile, acted as both Ian’s assistant and Louise’s friend, and helped select Louise’ wedding dress and underwear. Claire’s taste in underwear was much bolder than Louise expected, and in the end Louise decided on something more practical.
Claire was happily married to Dean Crissis and was known as Mrs. Crissis. However, sometimes Ian would yell “Claire Iris!” at her, causing Dean to mutter in annoyance. It was a little fun to tease him.
“Louise Sweeney.”
There was a whisper in Louise’s ear, and she looked back in surprise. Standing right behind her was Ian, apparently awake.
“Mr. Audmonial.”
Louise reached out her hand to close the window, but Ian caught her wrist from behind. He gently pulled her hand over her shoulder and pressed his dry lips on the back of her hand. The wind still blew through the open window.
“You can leave it be.”
He mouthed at her skin, and she could feel his body heat radiating over her shoulder.
“Is the blanket too thick?”
“Well, a little.”
It was sometimes cold even in spring, so the blanket was quite heavy.
“Did I wake you?”
“No.”
He denied it immediately, and tilted his head to look at her.
“Well, maybe. I woke up with the bed feeling empty.”
“I don’t always sleep here, so how can it feel empty?”
Ian carefully wrapped his arms around her.
“It will be like that in the future, and I’m always quick to adapt.”
“I have my own room, too.”
“Then shall we sleep together in that room?”
“…So there’s no option to sleep separately?”
“I hope not.”
He rested his chin on her shoulder and murmured softly in her ear.
“Sometimes I wake up at dawn.”
He wanted to give an answer that she was familiar with, but first he had something else to say.
“I like to hear your breathing.”
He relaxed and gave a small smile.
“If I hadn’t noticed it from the beginning, I would have been fine.”
“Did I shatter Mr. Audmonial’s sense of independence?”
“Completely.”
“Alright. Then let’s do it.”
“My fiancée is so generous.”
He tilted his head around and kissed Louise’s slightly tangled hair.
