NOVEL NEXT Volume 6 Chapter 18: Let’s Get Married
Volume 6 Chapter 18: Let's Get Married
(Chuck)
She's now nothing but a piece of fleeting beautiful memories.
Our past rivalry, our unforgettable moments, the love and hatred we share, all buried with her death.
Initially, the reason for why I was leaving was to make a career outside, to gain influence, to change the country, and to pay tribute to her who left so abruptly back then.
However, after surviving the [Flame Labyrinth], I realized something.
It turns out that I just...can't forgive myself for who I was back then.
After figuring it out, it was time to go back. Ten years had passed since I left.
Ten years, enough to dilute many things.
Our encounters at the research academy seemed vivid to me. It's a place where we keep competing with each other and supporting each other; from initial hostility that we both mutually felt, to budding love, friends, and then lovers…
But that was all in the past.
Between one rocky peak and another, the "Azure Queen" followed by two "[Steam Motion Armor]" units moved slowly forward.
After bidding farewell to Watson, Chuck sat on the shoulder of the "Azure Queen" and followed these people back to the military headquarters on the mountaintop.
Finally, in the lounge of the military camp, Chuck awaited a slightly shorter woman than himself.
In blue ethnic attire, the standard shawl indicated her military status, and her face was covered by a thin cloth—a custom for all unmarried women in the city.
"Long time no see, Leica, you look different," Chuck said with a smile. "From your blue shawl, I guess you hold a Tier 3 Military Rank? Never thought you'd join the army."
"...Thanks to your departure, I was able to graduate as the top of the class and be swiftly accepted into the army without any problem. Ah, by the way, you are right, now I'm at Tier 3, and this mountain is now under my command," the woman named Leica said coldly.
For some unknown reason, her words were filled with dissatisfaction, and even through the veil, one could feel her sharp gaze.
Chuck smiled helplessly, shrugged his shoulders, and faced Leica.
"Where have you been all these ten years?" Leica paused, her voice trembling slightly.
"I've been to many places, seen many things, the people outside are like giants when compared to our people, I always have to be careful when I turn a corner, lest I fall headlong into some lady's skirt," Chuck said jokingly.
Leica was taken aback, but after a while, the two looked at each other and suddenly laughed in unison.
"Welcome back, Lord Chuck," Leica said, finally reverting to the title she was accustomed to ten years ago.
"Miss Leica of the Bartunell line, my dear fiancée, thank you for welcoming me back." Chuck said politely, bowing.
Leica Bartunell took a step forward, Chuck opened his arms, and the two embraced tightly.
Yes, ten years are indeed enough to dilute many things, but some things remain unchanged.
If only my past self could see this.
"Wait, Lord Chuck, although I really want to interrogate you about why you had abandoned me in the past, I have other questions, such as... have you had other women outside?" Leica asked suspiciously, her words dripping with jealousy.
"In this case, I can use the price of my own honor as a guarantee. I have always only had your sister in my heart, and there is no room for anyone else." Chuck solemnly swore.
"Hmph, your honor isn't worth much, but if what you say is true... I think, my dear departed sister would be glad to hear that." Leica said.
"... I also hope you can be happy," Chuck suddenly took a step forward, and Leica found herself back in Chuck's embrace, "I won't just live mesmerized by the past, I also want to live while cherishing the people around me."
"Uh, Lord Chuck?"
"Ah, sorry, let me be frank, Leica, let's find some free time for the both of us and get married," Chuck said.
"W– Wait! L–Lord Chuck! If you are proposing, you need to do it the proper way! Y–You can't just say such a line like that!" Leica pushed Chuck away, though he couldn't see her face, he could feel her embarrassment.
"Haha~ sorry, I've seen too much outside, the giant called [Human] is very forward with what they want, living for so long with them has rubbed such a trait into me." Chuck said.
"Hmph! Are you sure that trait is not something you're born with?" Leica snorted, turning her head away. "By the way. have you made prior plans regarding the [Ore God Festival] Martial Art Tournament, Your Excellency?"
"About that, actually, I was planning to—-"
Chuck was about to say something when suddenly, there was a knock on the door of the lounge, and a soldier's low voice came from outside.
"Sir! Ballhan here to report! the person in the rampaging [Steam Motion Armor] is found dead too. Not unlike those from the previous."
Upon hearing the soldier's report, Leica frowned.
"I see, I'll go over immediately," Leica replied, then turned to glance at Chuck, sighing.
As the heir to the throne, Chuck was not foolish, and he naturally caught onto something unusual from the recent message.
"The previous?" Chuck inquired.
"There have been a lot of rampages happening in the last few months, this is the fifth one this month alone. So far, all of the perpetrators of the rampage found inside the [Steam Motion Armor] have died before we can do any interrogation. Although it's not clear so far about what is happening, I think there might be something big happening behind the scenes."