Chapter 169: True Symbol Of Marriage
Azel hadn’t really seen her this happy once in his life.
Well... maybe.
He thought back.
There had been a few rare times.
When she first marked him as hers, that possessive moment when her pride swelled and her smile was unstoppable.
Or when he stubbornly continued training in the swordsmanship of the Hero, refusing to give up even when he was bleeding, and she praised him for his spirit.
Yes, perhaps then she had shown joy.
But this was different than that time.
She wasn’t just happy.
She was vibrant.
Alive in a way that melted the cold aura she usually carried around her.
It was almost unfair how cute she looked.
Her icy-blue eyes sparkled, her lips trembled with suppressed laughter, and her whole face softened into something Azel could only call human.
And when someone looked that cute, that full of life... you couldn’t help but want to protect it.
Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "How did you get it... Esteemed Husband?"
Her breath hitched, and for the first time Azel thought she might cry not out of sorrow, but out of overwhelming relief.
That thought alone tugged at his chest.
He wanted to reach out and hug her.
But instead, he grinned and puffed his chest.
"I had to take down an entire hive of Rank 3 monsters," he said, flexing his muscles dramatically, "but I’m glad it made you happy."
Nyala, who had been leaning quietly against his shoulder, giggled at his antics, covering her mouth with her fingers like a playful maiden.
But Kyone... Kyone didn’t laugh.
At least not right away.
Instead, her lips quivered. Then, slowly, a smile bloomed across her face.
A genuine, warm smile — something he didn’t see often especially from her.
She reached out and nudged him with her hand.
"Esteemed Husband," she whispered, her tone soft in a way that made his chest tighten, "could you wear the right one on me?"
Her voice was so tender, so unbearably cute, that Azel reacted on instinct.
He immediately sat upright, looking at the pair of earrings that floated in his palm.
They were nearly identical, two snowflakes carved in divine detail, their light shimmering faintly.
But there was a difference.
On closer inspection, he noticed that one of the earrings carried a faint swirl of silver along the center, spiraling clockwise, while the other curved counter-clockwise.
Subtle, delicate, but unmistakable once he looked closely.
That was how he knew which one was meant for the right ear.
Without hesitation, Azel picked up the correct one and leaned toward Kyone.
The goddess closed her eyes, tilting her head slightly, almost shy in her anticipation.
Azel carefully brushed her pale hair aside, revealing the curve of her ear.
His fingers lingered for a moment on her soft skin before he placed the earring against her lobe.
The moment it touched, light flared.
A brilliant glow radiated outward, the snowflake sinking into her skin and fusing perfectly.
Kyone’s lips curled into a fervent smile.
She grabbed both his hands and held them tightly, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
"Thank you, Esteemed Husband~" she breathed, her voice shaking with happiness. "Now, even if both of us die~ we’ll be together forever."
Azel’s eyes widened slightly. The System hadn’t told him that.
But if Kyone said it, that was the final feature of these earrings, a truth hidden even from him: a bond that tied their souls beyond death itself.
Before he could react, another voice piped up.
"Nooooo, me toooo!" Nyala whined, puffing her cheeks in exaggerated protest.
Her golden hair framed her face perfectly, and in her pouty expression Azel had to admit — she looked adorable.
"Esteemed Husband, please put it on her ear," Kyone said gently, though there was amusement in her voice.
Azel chuckled and complied.
He lifted the second earring and placed it carefully against Nyala’s ear.
The result was different this time.
Instead of a cool blue glow like Kyone’s, the snowflake shimmered into a warm golden light, fusing with her as though it had always belonged there.
Nyala’s pout melted instantly.
She pressed herself against his arm, clinging like a spoiled cat.
She nuzzled her face against him, her warmth seeping into his body, and for a moment Azel just enjoyed the simple comfort of it.
But he still had a question nagging at him.
"Hey Nyala," he asked softly, looking at her with genuine curiosity, "are you mad at me?"
Her golden eyes blinked open, wide with confusion.
"About?" she asked, tilting her head, then snuggled closer as if nothing was wrong. "I could never be angry at you."
Azel frowned slightly. "But... you don’t answer me sometimes. When I call out to you."
Nyala froze for a moment.
Then she blinked again and her lips formed a small "oh."
Her face flushed with a touch of guilt, and she pouted.
"I’m sorry about that," she admitted, tracing little circles against his arm. "I wasn’t ignoring you. I was preparing something for when you got to the Empire."
Azel raised an eyebrow. "Preparing something?"
But before he could press her further, she raised a finger and wagged it teasingly.
"Ah, ah, ah. It’s a surprise," she said playfully, her smile returning.
Then she grabbed his hand tightly, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Come on. Before you start your training, let me show you the pool we made at the back here."
Her enthusiasm was infectious.
Even Kyone smiled faintly, watching her older goddess cling to him like an excited child.
...
When he finally returned to the waking world, the peace lingered in his chest.
Time with the goddesses had changed something in him.
He could feel it in his very core — literally.
His holy energy core was fully saturated, brimming with power.
His ice core, too, thrummed with strength, he would check later.
’I haven’t even been using magic much lately,’ he thought, a little surprised at how far his growth had come.
But when he tried to stand, he couldn’t.
Something warm and soft held him down.
He opened his eyes and froze.
Edna sat there, leaning over him, her soft silver hair brushing against her cheeks as she gazed at him with a look that made his chest ache.
Her eyes glistened, her lips parted slightly as though she’d been holding back her words for too long.
"Hey, darling," she said sweetly, biting her lip just a little.
Her voice carried a mix of playfulness and relief. "I missed you. Are you feeling better now?"
Her words were simple, but the way she said them melted his defenses completely.
Azel smiled faintly.
He leaned up just enough to kiss her forehead, lingering there softly before pulling back.
His hand slid down gently to her stomach, and his expression softened even further.
She was about two months pregnant now.
Her belly had only just begun to show, a small yet undeniable curve.
Edna’s cheeks turned pink as his palm rested there.
"You can kiss it like you want," she pouted, her eyes narrowing in mock jealousy. "Like you do every time. I’m starting to think you’re loving the unborn baby more than their mother."