Levi offered one final bow.
"It was a pleasure meeting all of you."
"The pleasure was ours, Lord Ravenholt."
One by one, the influential nobles exchanged their farewells.
Marquis Cedric raised his glass slightly.
"Should you ever find yourself in need of a merchant's perspective, do not hesitate to send a letter."
"And if you require roads built faster than your treasury believes possible, send for me."
Marquis Aldren added with a laugh.
Count Roland merely nodded.
"I look forward to seeing what becomes of Ravenholt."
Lady Beatrice offered a graceful smile.
"May fortune continue to favor you, Lord Ravenholt."
Even Tower Master Veritas gave a small inclination of his head.
Though his gaze lingered on Levi for a brief moment longer than the others.
As though he were still trying to solve a puzzle.
Levi chuckled softly.
"I'll do my best not to disappoint."
With that, he turned and excused himself.
The sounds of the banquet gradually returned as he stepped away from the gathering.
Laughter.
Music.
The clinking of glasses.
The lively chatter of nobles discussing everything from politics to trade.
The grand hall remained as vibrant as ever.
Yet somehow...
Everything felt a little different now.
Perhaps it was because tonight had gone far better than he ever imagined.
Or perhaps...
His gaze drifted toward the royal table.
Seraphina was there.
Seated beside her parents.
Though she appeared to be listening to whatever Duchess Celestine was saying...
Levi noticed her glance in his direction.
Their eyes met.
For only a moment.
Yet that was enough.
A small smile found its way onto her lips.
Levi found himself smiling back.
"..."
It still felt strange.
Not unpleasant.
Just strange.
For the past days, his thoughts had been occupied by Ravenholt.
Its people.
Its future.
Its burdens.
Now...
Someone else had found a place among those thoughts.
Someone he didn't mind thinking about.
Someone whose smile had a habit of lingering in his mind far longer than it should.
Levi let out a quiet laugh.
"Well..."
"That's new."
He continued walking toward the table.
Completely unaware that King Maverick and Duke Alaric had noticed the exchange.
The two men immediately leaned toward one another.
"Did you see that?"
"I saw it."
"They smiled."
"They smiled."
The two fathers looked as though they had just witnessed a historic event.
Meanwhile, Queen Aurelia buried her face in one hand.
Duchess Celestine sighed deeply.
"Please."
"For the love of the Goddess."
"Have some dignity."
Neither man listened.
Not even a little.
Levi, blissfully unaware of the conversation occurring at the table, finally arrived.
And the moment he did...
King Maverick's grin widened.
Far wider than it had any right to.
Levi suddenly had a very bad feeling.
"Welcome back,"
Queen Aurelia greeted with a knowing smile.
"Did the introductions go well?"
Levi nodded.
"Better than I expected."
Behind Levi, Theodore let out a quiet chuckle.
"I told you they would like you."
Before anyone could continue...
Seraphina quietly set down her teacup.
"...Levi."
He turned toward her.
She hesitated for only a heartbeat.
"...Would you..."
"...like to see the palace gardens?"
The table fell silent.
King Maverick and Duke Alaric exchanged a glance at eachother.
they nod at the same time.
"Go."
Queen Aurelia facepalmed.
"Why must you make everything dramatic."
Seraphina held out her hand to Levi.
Levi smiled and gently helped her to her feet.
As the two step foot into the palace gardens, Levi found himself slowing his pace.
it has been years.
since he had last walked the same path...
He was no older than fifteen.
Levi thought to himself.
'this place feels oddly familiar, is this cause ive accepted I am Levi? must be, ive never been to this place, yet my heart cant bare to call it home.'
Seraphina smiled at him.
"feels nostalgic isn't it?"
"I remember back then we were walking down this paths..."
She snickers.
"Though we weren't holding hands like now."
"it seems time pass by fast, sometimes too fast."
Seraphina let out a quiet chuckle, the sound as gentle as the evening breeze.
"I remember my daily stroll here when i was young like it was yesterday."
"Time truly do flies by fast, years could be a blur if you werent paying attention much."
A gentle smile crossed Levi's face, touched by a hint of nostalgia.
"It really do."
she looks at Levi and presses a small, fast peck at his cheek.
"you really do have a way with words you know?"
"I guess so."
touching the same spot where Seraphina pecked.
Seraphina then turns back.
She pointed toward the old oak tree standing proudly atop a gentle mound.
"Remember that?"
Levi followed her finger.
The ancient tree stood exactly where it always had.
Its branches stretched wide beneath the moonlight.
For a moment...
The years melted away.
In his mind's eye...
A young boy sprinted up the grassy mound, laughter echoing through the gardens.
Behind him, a little girl chased after him with all the determination she could muster.
"Levi! That's cheating!"
"You said first one to the top!"
"I never said you could start before me!"
The boy laughed triumphantly as he reached the oak first.
Only for the girl to tackle him from behind, sending the both of them tumbling down the soft hillside.
Their laughter rang through the night.
Then...
The memory faded.
The hill was quiet once more.
Only the old oak remained, standing silently beneath the moonlight.
Levi's lips curved into a small, wistful smile.
"...I remember."
Seraphina smiled as well.
"You cried."
Levi blinked.
"...I did not."
"You absolutely did."
"I scraped my knee."
"And cried."
"I was eight."
"You still cried."
Levi sighed in defeat.
"...I did."
"But..."
Levi glanced up at the old oak.
"Do you remember the time you climbed that tree..."
"...And cried because you couldn't get back down?"
Seraphina froze.
"..."
"..."
Her confident smile slowly disappeared.
He remembered?
She had been so certain...
That he'd forgotten.
Levi looked at her with the faintest hint of amusement.
"You insisted you were brave enough to climb it yourself."
"...Then you spent nearly half an hour refusing to come down."
A deep blush spread across Seraphina's cheeks.
"...I..."
Levi continued mercilessly.
"If I remember correctly..."
"You kept yelling—"
"'Levi! Don't tell Father!'"
Seraphina's eyes widened.
"...Y-you remembered that too?!"
Levi couldn't suppress a quiet laugh.
"Every word."
Seraphina covered her face with both hands.
"...Please."
"...Let me keep at least a little dignity."
Levi smiled, a small, nostalgic smile.
"I've known you since we were children."
"I don't think either of us has any embarrassing stories left to hide."
Peeking through her fingers, Seraphina let out an exasperated sigh.
"...You're impossible."
"And yet..."
A tiny smile escaped her.
"...I'm glad you remembered."
"I've got a good memory, Seraphina."
"Oh?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"For embarrassing moments?"
Levi rubbed the back of his neck.
"...Perhaps."
A smug smile spread across Seraphina's face.
"Back then, you were always forgetting things."
Levi chuckled.
"...Touché."
The two shared a quiet laugh.
With no destination in mind, they wandered over to the old oak tree.
Just as they had countless times as children.
Levi lowered himself onto the soft grass beneath its shade.
Seraphina followed, sitting beside him.
A gentle silence settled between them.
She looked up at the sprawling branches overhead, a fond smile gracing her lips.
"...We used to fall asleep under this tree whenever you came to visit."
Levi nodded.
"I remember."
"Mother would always scold me afterwards."
She laughed softly.
" 'You two would've been covered in ant bites.' "
She looked around the base of the tree.
"...Though it somehow never happened."
Levi glanced at the ground as well.
"...Now that you mention it..."
"I don't think I've ever seen ants here."
Seraphina rested her chin on her hand, pretending to ponder the mystery.
"Hm..."
"Perhaps they were afraid of me."
Levi raised an eyebrow.
"I doubt ants experience fear."
"...Then maybe they simply admired my beauty."
Levi couldn't help but laugh.
"I somehow doubt that as well."
Seraphina pouted.
"...You're no fun."
She looked around once more.
"...Eh."
"I give up."
Without another thought...
She leaned sideways.
Resting her head gently against Levi's shoulder.
Levi stiffened for only a heartbeat.
Then...
A small, shy smile appeared on his face.
He didn't move away.
Instead...
He relaxed against the old oak tree, allowing the comfortable silence to settle once more.
The night breeze stirred the leaves above them.
For a while...
Neither felt the need to speak.
Some moments...
Were perfect simply because they were shared.
The night breeze gently stirred the branches above them.
Moonlight slipped through the leaves, painting shifting patterns across the grass beneath the old oak tree.
Levi closed his eyes for a brief moment.
He could hear the distant music from the palace ballroom.
Soft.
Faint.
As though the celebration belonged to another world.
Here...
There was only silence.
And Seraphina.
Still resting against his shoulder.
"...Comfortable?" Levi asked quietly.
"Mhm."
She answered without lifting her head.
"Very."
Levi smiled to himself.
"...Good."
Another comfortable silence followed.
One that neither of them felt compelled to fill.
It wasn't awkward.
If anything...
It was peaceful.
Seraphina found herself listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing.
It was strangely calming.
She had imagined this moment countless times over the years.
What it might feel like to simply sit beside him.
To speak without worrying about appearances.
To enjoy his company without wondering if he would disappear again.
Yet...
The real thing somehow felt even better.
She smiled to herself.
"...Levi."
"Hm?"
"...Thank you."
He looked down at her.
"For what?"
She laughed softly.
"I don't know."
"There are too many reasons."
"For saying yes."
"For coming back."
"For staying."
"For... being here."
Levi's expression softened.
"I should be thanking you instead."
Seraphina blinked.
"Me?"
He nodded.
"I've spent so much time worrying about Ravenholt..."
"...That I forgot life could be this peaceful."
His gaze drifted toward the moon hanging high above them.
"I never really stopped moving."
"There was always another report."
"Another village."
"Another problem to solve."
"I told myself I'd rest later."
"When everything was finished."
He let out a quiet laugh.
"I don't think I ever realized..."
"...There would always be another tomorrow waiting with more work."
Seraphina listened quietly.
Then...
Without saying a word...
She gently intertwined her fingers with his.
Levi looked down at their joined hands.
"..."
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"...Perhaps."
He smiled.
"...I should start making time for moments like this."
"You should."
She answered immediately.
"Not because you're Lord Ravenholt."
"But because you're Levi."
The words lingered in the cool night air.
Levi looked at her for a long moment.
Then smiled.
"...You really do know what to say."
She grinned triumphantly.
"I've had years to practice."
"You practiced conversations?"
"...Maybe."
Levi laughed.
"...That's adorable."
Her triumphant grin vanished.
"...D-don't call me adorable."
"Why not?"
"It makes me sound cute."
"You are."
"I am not."
"You climbed a tree and cried because you couldn't get down."
"..."
"That was years ago."
"You also tried convincing me ants were afraid of you."
"...I was making a scientific observation."
Levi raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"They feared my overwhelming beauty."
Levi couldn't hold back his laughter.
Seraphina puffed out her cheeks.
"You're laughing."
"I am."
"I was being completely serious."
"I'm sure you were."
She lightly bumped his shoulder.
"...You're mean."
"And yet..."
Her voice became quieter.
"...I missed hearing you laugh."
Levi's laughter gradually faded.
He looked toward the stars.
"...I missed this."
He admitted.
"The palace."
"The gardens."
"My parents."
"...You."
Seraphina's cheeks warmed.
Neither spoke for a while after that.
Words felt unnecessary.
Their hands remained intertwined.
The cool breeze carried the fragrance of blooming flowers through the gardens.
Somewhere nearby...
A fountain quietly trickled beneath the moonlight.
Crickets sang in the distance.
For the first time in years...
Levi allowed himself to simply exist.
Not as Lord Ravenholt.
Not as the rebel prince.
Not as the man burdened with rebuilding an entire territory.
Just...
Levi.
A young man sitting beneath an old oak tree with the woman he loved.
Seraphina smiled to herself.
If this moment could have lasted forever...
She thought she would have been content.
Neither of them noticed the hours slowly slipping by.
Nor did they notice the ballroom music growing quieter as the celebration carried on without them.
Tonight...
The kingdom could wait.
The world could wait.
For now...
They had found something far more precious than either of them had expected.
Each other.
Far beyond the palace gardens...
Hidden among the shadows beyond the
palace walls...
A lone blind figure nodded as his contracted spirit of some sort colored dark purple with long black hair, whispers something in his ear.
"...So."
"Lord Ravenholt."
A faint smile crept across his lips.
"I've found you."