Ilyin looked at the full moon which was still as bright as in his dream.
“Isn’t it a loss for the Merchant to visit the nobles without an appointment?”
“You don't have to worry about Acid,” Aden comforted her.
It was as he expected.
Ilyin was someone who always thought of others, even if something bad happened to her.
‘You could be a little more, no, a lot worse and selfish and it still wouldn’t be bad.’
“You promised me at the beginning of the day,” Aden whispered in his ear, “you have everything in winter, as long as you are in Biflten forever.”
‘Don’t feel bad about using what you are given.’ He thought about how he helped Ilyin onto a horse.
“Now, just worry about yourself,” Aden looked at her after getting on the horse.
"Thanks."
‘Always, indeed.’ Ilyin held his hand that was holding the kingship.
Thanks to the blue cloth, the morning air was not cold despite the horse's rapid movement.
In fact, Ilyin even felt a growing heat that she knew was due to nerves and fear.
She leaned against Aden on the horse, his arm seemed so trustworthy even though it was the only thing she had to hold on to.
Ilyin closed his eyes and leaned against him.
When she opened her eyes, the sky and Aden's shoulders and jaw filled her vision.
Even though he was riding a horse, every time Ilyin opened his eyes, he would turn to smile at her to calm her down.
It was just a moment to Arlen's mansion.
Aden passed through the summer border he saw earlier in the day and quickly approached the mansion.
Ilyin remembered again the time she left the mansion in the symbolless carriage, she didn't expect to return.
Ilyin shook Aden's hand despite herself.
Aden kissed the top of Ilyin's head.
It was a softer comfort.
“Is everything going to be okay, Aden?” Ilyin asked again.
“Of course,” Aden nodded.
He continued after a short pause, “Whatever you’re afraid of, it’s okay.”
“If I go to see my mother, they will know the relationship between the Acid Merchant and me.”
This could not be avoided.
This also meant that Aden's face would be revealed, which in turn, could have an impact on Biflten.
If that happened, if Ilyin's father found out that she was married to Aden, the Duke of Biflten, he would definitely try to exploit it to his advantage.
“Stop right there!”
The soldiers asked to stop aggressively.
They could go back if they wanted, Ilyin tightened his grip on Aden's hand.
Since she was wearing the blue cloth, they couldn't have seen her face.
If they turned around now, if she chose to believe the prediction was just a nightmare, she would still be El de Acid Merchant, and there would be no trouble caused to the Merchant and Biflten.
“Winter is not that weak,” Aden gently stroked Ilyin's head as if reading her mind.
From the top of her head, his warmth covered her.
“Don’t worry and do what you want.”
The soldiers approached, they were still not able to see his face.
She had to decide.
Ilyin, who had his head down, lightly kissed Aden's cheek.
It was an impulsive gift, enough to clear Aden's mind momentarily.
Ilyin got off the horse alone.
The blue cloth that Aden had carefully placed over her covered her face below her eyes.
She approached the soldiers.
Behind them, she could see a knight looking at her.
Ilyin slowly raised his hand to the top of his head.
She grabbed the veil that covered her and without hesitation removed it.
Her beautiful silver hair shone in the moonlight.
The mouths of the knight and soldiers opened wide in surprise.
“Let us through,” she ordered firmly after revealing her face.
***
The Arlen mansion was buzzing, the news that Ilyin of Arlen, who had disappeared, had returned, spread quickly like wildfire.
To the world, she was seen as a noble immature young girl, who was raised with all the love and affection in the world, but was left against her father's wishes to find love in the north.
The rumors started from the mansion and the choice of the rumor that would be spread was entirely Viscount Arlen's.
“I chose my wedding venue.”
"Where?"
“The north.”
The viscount tried hard to find out which family she married into, the daughter who left without saying a word actually disappeared without a trace.
Arlen's mansion originally didn't have much communication with the north.
To be precise, they had no reason to be friends.
At the very least, if they had communicated more, the viscount would have known who Ilyin had married.
Not knowing which northern family she married into, Viscount Arlen had to steer clear of questions regarding Ilyin's whereabouts whenever guests visited the manor.
He was worried about who she married.
There were not many known families from the north.
There was only one family that was widely known and that was the Duke of Biflten's family and unless they were crazy, they would never accept a mere young viscount into their family.
Biflten was in the winter region, so if she really went there, it would be quicker to forget her stupid daughter.
For Ilyin, who was raised in Arlen – which was as hot as the south around the capital – Biflten was too cold a place for her to survive.
Furthermore, wasn't Biflten a land of monsters?
‘There’s no way.’ Viscount Arlen dismissed even the idea that he was possibly the Duke of Biflten and was slowly looking for other northern families.
Starting a deal with Acid Merchant, who was in charge of the north, was an absolute turning point.