Book 3: Chapter 36
“Your highness…”
I don’t know how long we were locked together, but when we separated, my lip was slightly numb. We released each other. I looked at Lucia who wouldn’t raise her head due to embarrassment. I smiled and pulled her tightly into my arms. Lucia let herself fall into my embrace. Her hands moved from my back to my chest. She grabbed my clothes and spoke with a coarse voice: “Your highness… I was so scared… I was scared… I was scared… I was scared I wouldn’t see you again…”
“I know, I know. I was scared too… I too was scared I wouldn’t ever see you again….”
I hugged the young girl in my arms tightly. My voice was coarse too. I was truly afraid. I was truly scared when I was leaning against the stone wall. I wasn’t afraid of death. I was afraid I’d never see Lucia again. Lucia suffered so much after I got wounded. She shouldered such a heavy responsibility with her small and thin body.
I participated in the deer hunting festival to marry her. I wanted to give her a wedding ceremony where she would get to marry a hero. But now I must absolutely give her a wedding ceremony. It doesn’t need to be heroic or anything. It doesn’t matter how many people give us their blessings, and it doesn’t matter if they are supportive of it or not. From the moment Lucia put me on her back, I swore that I had to be together with her.
She truly loves me. She loves me so much she wouldn’t abandon me. I must be without a conscience to betray her love. I witnessed how deep and persistent her love was. I managed to earn the most beautiful love during the deer hunting ceremony.
Lucia nodded while in my embrace and she tightened her grip on my chest. She leaned on me and in a coarse tone said: “Your highness… Sorry… S-… Sorry… It was all my fault… It was all my fault… I let you suffer so much… Sorry… Sorry… I didn’t protect you properly… Sorry….”
She grabbed me tightly. It seemed like she could no longer hold her sobs in. I shook my head, hugged her tighter, and said: “No, it’s fine, Lucia… It wasn’t your fault… To the contrary, you showed me your love for me, and you showed me your loyalty. You carried me on your back for thousands of yards. That’s when I swore that I would accompany you for my entire life. When the day comes where you can’t walk, I’ll carry you as we continue to walk.”
“Your highness… Your highness… Your highness….”