Chapter 37
You are my wife now
Hearing Eivass’s words, Lulu’s body visibly relaxed.
“…Mr. Fox!”
She whispered Eivass’s codename, but the moment the words left her lips, she hesitated again, “Are you really… Mr. Fox?”
For some reason, she sensed a faint sense of danger from him. It felt as if she were about to be deceived or poisoned… yet she couldn’t detect any hostility or killing intent.
“I’ve already used the Illuminate Spell. I believe that’s sufficient proof of my identity.”
“Ah, you’re right…”
After Lulu calmed down, she quickly realized how foolish her question was, which made her feel ashamed and regretful. Shame because she felt she was too nervous and might not only be unhelpful but also become a burden to her partner. Regret because this was a simple deduction she should have easily figured out, but now her mind felt completely blank.
“—Shh.”
Eivass suddenly raised a finger to his “wife’s” lips. The sudden physical contact from the opposite sex made her eyes widen abruptly. The young woman with white-gold hair revealed the innocence and shyness of a pure maiden in her eyes.
It was only then that she looked at the “husband” before her, the father of her child, for the first time. Let alone the opposite sex, she rarely even had friends of the same sex. People might not fear her because of her identity, but they would definitely stay away due to the precarious situation of the Royal Family being on the verge of extinction and her being at risk of being cursed to death at any moment. No one wanted to court trouble, especially trouble they couldn’t handle. She had not dared to look at him until now. It was because he was too close.
Lulu didn’t even know what she looked like at this moment… but the young man before her, with black curly hair and deep blue eyes like the sea, was at most in his early twenties and was clearly handsome. His ceremonial robe as a high priest gave him an ascetic and solemn sense of security.
In that instant, Lulu subconsciously wanted to paint him. It wasn’t out of any special feelings. It was purely because her “Vision of Beauty” perceived the [Inspiration] at this moment—wearing a white ceremonial robe, the standing collar adorned with golden roses blocking his Adam’s apple. One strong arm easily held a four-year-old child in a single hand, while the other hand reached out to shield his lips. Around him, the Great Cathedral of the Candle Holder cast light upon him… a paradoxical light that was dim yet radiant. His features were as profound as Mycenaean sculptures, and his deep blue pupils reflected the flames burning on the candelabra behind Lulu, shining with a red radiance like sea-blue sapphires facing flames.
There was a solemn compassion on the man’s face, yet Lulu vaguely sensed a casual “playfulness,” a sense of hidden motives, much like his codename “Fox.” But at the same time, she could perceive that he had no ill intentions, but rather pure goodwill and the strong sense of security that a capable adult male provided.
Seeing Lulu suddenly quiet down, Eivass said nothing more and merely glanced towards the front of the cathedral. Following his gaze, Lulu realized her voice might have been a bit too loud.
“…I’m sorry, Mr. Fox.” She said, sounding annoyed, “I can’t do anything right…”
“Of course not.” Eivass said nonchalantly. “If you could do everything right, I wouldn’t be reassured. Just be obedient. Leave the rest to me.”
Lulu saw the man in front of her retract his right hand and gently stroke the back of her child’s head. Warm radiance spilled out from between his fingers again, his fingers looking as if they were outlined in gold. It was like golden sunlight passing through a stained-glass sculpture in the Silver and Tin Hall, casting a light ring inscribed with runes on the wall. It wasn’t dazzling or scorching. His fingers seemed to be pierced by the light, becoming almost transparent and emitting a reddish-golden glow. It was like the setting sun, or the rising morning sun. This color… the color of [Illuminate], I’ll remember it.
“—All right.”
Just as she was lost in observation, Eivass suddenly said softly, “The curse has been dispelled by me.”
“That’s amazing… Wait, wait, you used the Illuminate Spell with your right hand?”
It was only then that Lulu realized something, “Are you already this proficient?”
Being able to use the Illuminate Spell with the right hand for ten seconds without interruption, stably outputting two standard units of mana, was one of the graduation standards for the Seminary of the Royal Law Academy. This was because the right hand was naturally more inclined towards darkness; if one’s focus wavered for even a moment while outputting light-attribute mana, it could cause the spell to break. When working for the Church, it wasn’t always possible to cast spells with the left hand. There were times when the left hand couldn’t be used, and in such situations, the proficiency of right-hand casting was tested. This man before her had even cast the Illuminate Spell with his right hand for a total of fifteen seconds, with effortless ease. The light had not flickered or dimmed once, and he showed no signs of strain or fatigue. This was a sustained output of three standard units of mana…
“…So, Mr. Fox, you’ve actually graduated already, haven’t you?” She lowered her voice and leaned in to ask, “Have you joined the Church yet?”
For some reason, the sense of nervousness had vanished. It was replaced by curiosity and frustration. She was already more than halfway through her second year and hadn’t completed her advanced studies, while this potential “senior” had already reached an excellent standard that even graduates found difficult to attain. “I’m so weak…”
“It’s nothing.” Eivass said indifferently. He truly didn’t think there was anything wrong with it. Although Bishop Mathers had advised him to primarily use his left hand when teaching him Sacred Skill, and only practice with his right hand once he was skilled enough to cast spells without needing intense concentration. However, Eivass had successfully cast spells with his right hand to heal Yulia on the very same day—he hadn’t even realized he was using his right hand at the time, simply extending his dominant hand subconsciously. “It wasn’t a complex curse. Rather than trying to kill you… it was more like a positioning. I’ve now broken this curse, which might delay the enemy for some time.”
“Also,” Eivass extended a finger and shot a wisp of light towards Lulu’s eyes, startling her into closing them shut. He then said nonchalantly, “Don’t inquire about real-world matters. Otherwise, don’t blame me for coming after you.”
“…I’m sorry.” Lulu nodded obediently and apologized.
“I forgive you.” Eivass said with a smile.
The church service was nearing its end, and he naturally took Lulu’s hand. Lulu flinched, instinctively retracting her fingers, but she quickly remembered the requirements of her mission and feigned naturalness as she held his hand. Eivass pushed his advantage, interlacing his fingers with hers. And he pulled her up from the stool. Like dancing a ballroom dance, leading his partner.
“Don’t be so stiff, and don’t be afraid.” Eivass said calmly, “You are my wife now.”
“…Yes, yes.”
Holding the child, he led Lulu out of the main hall of the Great Cathedral of the Candle Holder. But he didn’t leave; instead, he found a deserted small chapel and led his wife inside. The moment he closed the door, Lulu felt her heart skip a beat. Her eyes widened abruptly.
…What was he going to do?
“Here, hold the child.” Eivass’s voice was deep and gentle as he handed the boy in his arms over. Lulu subconsciously and carefully took “Little Eivass.”
“Little Eivass,” having just had the curse removed, looked somewhat sleepy now. It was like having a warm bath after being exhausted. As the discomfort faded, a sense of sleepiness and security washed over him. He had been curled up in his father’s warm embrace, filled with the fragrance of musk, sandalwood, and herbs, listening to the prolonged prayers. His eyes would open slightly for a moment, then close for longer. When his father handed him over to his mother, he briefly woke up.
“Good, good boy…” Lulu looked at the child’s young and adorable face and couldn’t help but let out a genuine, faint smile. She said softly, holding the milk-scented boy in her arms. She had taken care of her own younger brother before, so she knew how to hold a child. Even so, Lulu held him very carefully… as if holding someone else’s child, afraid of accidentally dropping him.
“Let’s get some practice in first. You can’t go out like this. People will think you kidnapped the child.” Eivass said, hands in his pockets, leaning against the door, tilting his head slightly, one ear against the door. He squinted as if dozing. At the same time, he asked softly, “Can you sing a lullaby, Lulu?”
“Yes.” Lulu said firmly this time, her tone full of confidence.
“Lull the child to sleep first, then we’ll leave.” Eivass added, “Make sure the child sleeps soundly… with all your might.”
