Chapter 341: A Safe Place by His Side
"I never imagined they had that kind of relationship," Edmund murmured as he sat beside Primrose in the front yard, leaving Lorelle and Leofric alone inside the house.
Even though Lorelle had promised not to fall in love again, Primrose had a gut feeling it would all end up meaningless or maybe not. Honestly, she couldn’t tell, since they could still remain close as sworn siblings.
Alright, no—better not to use the word siblings. It really sounded strange now.
"They kept it hidden. Of course you wouldn’t know," Primrose said, lifting the cup of tea Edmund had made for her. She took a small sip, and to her surprise, it tasted wonderful. "But you know now."
Edmund let out a long sigh and leaned his back against the wooden bench. He lifted a hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight.
"I’m always clueless when it comes to feelings, aren’t I?" he asked quietly.
Primrose giggled. She could tell he wasn’t only talking about Leofric and Lorelle, but also about the two of them ... about their own past together.
"Don’t worry. I’m just as clueless as you are, husband." She smiled and lifted her cup toward his lips, letting him drink from the same cup she held.
In a way, it was fortunate her husband knew nothing about them, so he had never been dragged into their love drama. After all, his own love life was complicated enough without carrying the weight of someone else’s.
"Perhaps it would be good if we brought Lady Lorelle to the palace," Primrose suggested. "I don’t know if Lady Naveer has a way to heal her, but if her time truly is running out, then at least she should spend it surrounded by family."
Her voice grew softer, almost a whisper. "That’s what I wished for myself once."
Edmund immediately took her hand, holding it a little tighter, as though apologizing without words.
"I’m fine now," Primrose said with a gentle smile. "Truly, I am fine."
She was relieved that Edmund finally knew all the secrets she had once hidden from him. Yet sometimes, she still wondered if it might have been kinder for him not to know about their first life at all.
It was because every time she spoke of it by accident, she could see how much it hurt him.
"Leofric spoke to me earlier," Edmund said at last. "After thinking it over, he agreed we should bring Lorelle to the palace. But we must be careful. If others hear of her condition, they might try to use her."
"She could stay in a room on the same floor as ours. That way, if anything happens, I can be there right away." His tone grew cautious as he asked, "But ... that’s only if you agree to such an arrangement."
Primrose nodded with a gentle smile. "Of course, I agree." She added, "Lady Lorelle is my friend now, so I would actually be happy if her bedroom is close to mine."
Edmund fell silent for a moment at the way his wife said the word friend. Then, almost without realizing it, a thought slipped through his mind. [My wife is truly incredible. She can connect with new people so easily.]
Primrose let out a soft laugh. "No, I’m not that incredible. I still get nervous speaking to strangers."
"Really?" Edmund tilted his head, as though doubting her words. She didn’t look like someone shy at all.
"Yes," she admitted with a shy smile. "When I’m in a place that feels unfamiliar, I can’t bring myself to speak first or relax so quickly." She lowered her gaze, biting her lip before whispering, "Just like ... back then, when I couldn’t find the courage to talk to you first."
Before Edmund could say anything, she quickly went on, "But now I feel like Noctvaris is a safe place for me, especially with you!" She smiled softly. "As long as you’re by my side, I’ll never think of my surroundings as frightening."
It was because her husband always tried his best to shield her from anything cruel or unkind. He had become her safe place, the anchor that kept her calm no matter how uncertain the world around her seemed.
Edmund’s eyes softened at her words, his lips curving into a quiet smile. "Then I’ll make sure you never have a reason to feel afraid," he said firmly, his voice low but filled with warmth.
He was about to lean closer to kiss her, but the sound of someone clearing their throat made him stop. Edmund clicked his tongue softly and turned to glare at Leofric, who had just stepped out of the house.
"I didn’t bring you here for a date, Your Majesties," Leofric said dryly. The way he spoke Your Majesties carried no respect, it almost sounded like he was mocking them. "Please, spare a little kindness for a lonely soul like me."
Primrose let out a quiet hiss, her patience thinning. Maybe it was Lorelle’s influence on her, but she couldn’t help thinking that his face looked irritating.
"How’s Lorelle?" she asked, forcing herself to stay calm. "Is she alright?"
Leofric’s expression softened as he nodded. "Yes. She’s fine now. After crying for so long, she finally fell asleep." When he stopped in front of Primrose, his voice dropped to a gentler tone. "Thank you, Rosie. You did this all on your own."
Primrose frowned immediately. "Only Lorelle is allowed to call me that. You, Sir Leofric, are stuck with ’Your Majesty.’"
Leofric arched a brow, the corner of his lips tugging upward in a sly smile. "Ah, how cruel. Even after I praised you."
Leofric reached into his pocket and pulled something out, holding it toward Primrose. His lips curved faintly. "Here’s your prize."
Primrose frowned, her brows knitting together as she stared at the object in his palm. At first glance, it gleamed like gold, but the texture ... It looked a bit weird.
A scale? Was that a golden scale?
"What ... what is this?" Primrose asked.
Leofric’s eyes glimmered as he watched her reaction. "The thing I promised you earlier," he said slowly. "Something that will help you hide your ability ... from heaven itself."