The Saintess Returned to the Emperor’s Arms – Chapter 152

Author: Chewyy

Into the Emperor’s Embrace

“Her Majesty the Empress sent a letter to the temple herself. You truly didn’t know?”

A letter… from Riela herself?

At Amelia’s calm reply, Herhan grew even more confused.

Seeing his expression, Amelia quickly understood the situation and smiled softly.

‘So even now, they’re still caring for each other without the other knowing…’

“In her letter, Her Majesty said…”

In a warm voice, Amelia conveyed Riela’s true feelings written in the letter.

Herhan tried to listen calmly, but his patience didn’t last long.

The moment Amelia finished speaking, he sprang from his seat and rushed out of the council chamber—no longer an emperor, but simply a man overwhelmed by deep love for someone.

* * *

“Where is Riela?”

“She’s resting in the inner room.”

Herhan ran up the stairs to the second floor.

He had rushed so fast he forgot all about imperial dignity, yet when he reached the door, he paused, catching his breath with a hand over his chest.

Inside—

By the sunlit window in the sitting room, Riela was sitting at the table.

That was *her* place.

When she offered tea to Herhan after his meetings.

When she sat chatting brightly on quiet days.

Or when she waited for him late at night, nodding off sleepily.

She was always there.

And today, too, she was there, reading a book.

“Oh? Your Majesty! When did you arrive?”

Riela looked up and smiled brightly.

Like the sun too dazzling to look at directly— that was what Riela felt like to Herhan right now.

As he lowered his gaze slightly, he noticed the book she was reading.

“A storybook… you mentioned it.”

Amelia’s words echoed in his mind.

“You wrote the last line of your favorite story. ‘Enril and Antu loved each other and lived happily.’”

At first, he hadn’t understood.

Isn’t that how all fairy tales end?

But then—

“She said it doesn’t end with ‘They saved the world,’ but with ‘They loved each other.’ That what An truly had to do was that. More than bringing peace to the whole world, bringing peace to one precious person was more important to her.”

“How could I possibly go against Her Majesty’s will?”

Amelia had smiled like she was dreaming.

“Our Empress… isn’t she truly pure and kind?”

Herhan stared at Riela.

Amelia was right.

Not just pure and kind— she was unbelievably lovable… and astonishingly great.

“…Your Majesty?”

Herhan stepped closer and, naturally, knelt before her.

Riela’s eyes widened in surprise, but this time, she didn’t tell him not to kneel.

She simply smiled gently.

‘You’re about to confess your love again, aren’t you?’

“Did I pressure you into this?”

“What do you mean?”

She asked softly, then quickly realized.

“…Ah.”

“Because I asked you to stay by my side. Because you knew I was greedy and wanted you all to myself… Did you make that choice for me?”

“It wasn’t because of you. It was my choice.”

Riela gently cupped Herhan’s cheek.

“I chose what I truly wanted. I don’t want to be someone else’s savior. Even if it sounds selfish… I just want to be yours.”

This time, Herhan held her soft hand tightly.

This must be what she truly wanted—

This peaceful moment, the two of them holding hands under the sunlight.

“I love you, Riela.”

“…Me too. I love you.”

Their exchanged words brought natural smiles.

All of it— moments too overwhelming to even deserve.

With gratitude, Herhan lowered his head.

Riela lifted him up again— Not to send him away, but to pull him closer.

“Your Majesty, since you’re here… will you stay with me today?”

“Yes. I will.”

“That’s a relief. I’m actually really nervous about the wedding.”

“What?”

“I was fine until yesterday, but now that it’s just two days away… and we have to move the night before… so that means it’s basically tomorrow night!”

Herhan blinked, then let out a small laugh.

He thought she was joking, but her cold fingertips showed she was serious.

He held her hand tighter, finding her trembling self too adorable.

“Is this enough? Just staying by your side? Do you need anything else?”

“You’re enough. Just stay with me.”

Relieved, Riela answered.

Herhan pulled a chair closer and sat beside her, looking out the window together, wrapping an arm around her small shoulders.

“When you first held my hand… back at Riota Palace. The flowers in that garden were so pretty.”

Riela leaned her head against him.

“It’s winter now, so there are no flowers. That’s a bit sad.”

“No need to be sad. You’re more beautiful than any flower.”

Riela muttered under her breath.

*Seriously… if you’re going to say things like that…*

“Don’t worry. Our wedding will be the most dazzling day in the world.”

Riela nodded.

Even if he sounded exaggerated sometimes,

he had never once broken a promise.

“It will be beautiful… just like you said.”

* * *

At last, the day of the imperial wedding of the Elshvaik Empire arrived.

The palace was overflowing with envoys who had come from all over to celebrate.

There were too many people to fit indoors, so a grand wedding arch was set up in the center of the palace courtyard.

As if blessed by everyone’s wishes, the weather was warm and bright—almost like spring.

It was a magnificent day of celebration.

Everywhere you looked, people were smiling, exchanging congratulations—

And yet, the only one with a stiff expression was Herhan.

“…This is driving me crazy.”

“You must not go crazy, Your Majesty.”

“…Any news from Riela’s side?”

“Didn’t you ask the same thing five minutes ago? She’s waiting at the checkpoint. Once the noon cannons fire, she’ll depart immediately with the procession.”

Asion gave the exact same answer as five minutes earlier, word for word.

Of course, it wasn’t annoying yet—his lord would surely ask again in another five minutes.

“Have the roads in the capital been properly prepared? Security is tight? Any other reports?”

Just like this.

“Try to understand. He hasn’t seen Her Majesty for a whole night.”

At that moment, Jess—dressed sharply in formal wear—cut in.

Anyone could tell he was teasing, but Herhan didn’t even hear it.

Just as Jess said, he hadn’t seen Riela since last night.

According to imperial wedding tradition, the bride had to stay outside the palace for at least one night, then enter the capital in a formal procession with an official delegation.

She would circle the outer grounds of the capital—Bahaborden—before finally appearing before her future partner.

“Everything is perfectly prepared, just as you ordered. I even saw Her Majesty early this morning, so there’s nothing to worry about. Ah, but you haven’t seen her yet, right? She was so beautiful it took my breath away.”

This time, as Asion teased him, Herhan’s eyes flashed and he reached out—

He was about to read Asion’s memories just to see Riela.

“Ah! Absolutely not! You know you’re not allowed to see her before she passes through the gates! It’s a long-standing tradition!”

Asion quickly stepped back, provoking him further.

And then—noon arrived.

Just as announced, dozens of soldiers lined up before the gates fired the ceremonial cannons all at once.

Boom!

The sound echoed through the entire capital, joyfully announcing the beginning of the celebration.

* * *

At that same time, Riela’s luxurious bridal procession entered the outskirts of Bahaborden.

“Your Majesty the Empress!”

“Congratulations on the royal wedding!”

“Eternal blessings upon Empress Blinite!”

The moment her procession entered the capital, overwhelming cheers erupted from all directions.

Even inside the tightly closed carriage, the noise rang in her ears.

Riela clenched her dress tightly, unable to calm her nerves.

“They said a lot of people gathered… Is it like when we did the parade with His Majesty before?”

“It’s about ten times that.”

“Ten times?!”

“Yes. Back then, people only gathered in the square. This time, every street in the capital is filled.”

Hearing that explanation the night before had only made her more nervous.

Every street filled…It was something to be grateful for, but still—

“What if something happens? What if the crowd causes the carriage to tip over…?”

“Hahaha!”

The captain of the guard had laughed heartily at her worries.

“That will never happen, Your Majesty. We will protect you with our lives. And…”

“And?”

“…You’ll understand tomorrow.”

What had he meant by that?

Now that the day had come, Riela still didn’t know— until she looked out the window.

And then she understood.

“This is…”

A path of flowers.

Along the road her carriage traveled, countless silver-white flowers were scattered like freshly fallen snow.

“Winter flowers…”

Silver roses that bloom only in winter. Rare and expensive—so rare that only a few could be used for her bouquet.

“His Majesty ordered it himself. There used to be barriers along the road, but he had them removed and replaced with flowers instead.”

“Flowers instead of barriers?”

“Yes. And even after the wedding, they’ll be left there so the citizens can take them home.”

That was why, despite the massive crowd, her carriage could move safely— instead of fragile fences, the road was lined with precious flowers no one would dare step on.

Riela flung open the carriage window and leaned out.

Even the guard, who had insisted she keep it closed, didn’t stop her now.

“…Ah.”

She breathed in deeply.

The entire capital was filled with the sweet scent of winter flowers.

When she leaned out further, she saw smiling faces welcoming her—

and thousands upon thousands of flowers decorating the path she would walk.

At the end of that path— Herhan stood waiting at the palace gates.

The silver carriage came to a stop.

Dazzling from head to toe, Riela stepped out and walked forward, looking only in one direction.

The bridge leading to the gates felt like walking on clouds.

With every step, her smile grew brighter.

Herhan stood still, as if rooted in place— waiting only for her.

“Your Majesty… I’m a bit late, aren’t I?”

Now just three steps away, she stood before him.

Herhan, momentarily lost in her beauty, snapped back at her shy greeting and simply laughed.

At last, his lips curved upward freely, without worry.

Seeing that, Riela continued—

“It was quite a long way here.”

“I see.”

“It took a long time to prepare, too. Last night was a bit scary alone… And at first, the carriage shook a little. People blocked the road, so it took longer…”

‘But then— At some point, you laid flowers where I would step. So I could walk safely, without getting hurt.’

Herhan reached out his hand.

Just like that bright day— when he first held out his hand to her.

“Then… shall we go in, my Empress?”

Riela didn’t hesitate any longer and took the hand extended to her.

At last, the two—whole again—stepped forward together into the dazzling sea of blessings.

The courtyard of the imperial palace was filled with people, all welcoming the Emperor and Empress who would lead a new era, their faces bright with joy.

Finally, beneath the arch decorated with winter flowers and crystal, Herhan and Riela stood facing each other.

A long, quiet silence gathered the moment into one.

Then, the solemn voice of the elder standing before the arch rang out.

“Before all gathered here as witnesses, you shall vow your marriage.”

As if he had been waiting, Herhan spoke first.

“I, Herhan Linhart von Bielsbach, take Riela Blinite as my Empress and my one and only partner, and I swear to love and cherish her for the rest of my life.”

There was not a trace of hesitation or fear in his voice.

Riela smiled.

Because she felt exactly the same.

“I, Riela Blinite, take Herhan Linhart von Bielsbach as my Emperor and my one and only partner, and I swear to love and protect him for the rest of my life.”

At her clear vow, Herhan narrowed his eyes slightly.

The practiced vow had been *“love and cherish”*— but Riela had changed it to *“love and protect.”*

He noticed.

“The sacred union is complete. I hereby declare that you are now husband and wife, and that Riela Blinite is officially the Empress of the Elshvaik Empire.”

The moment the elder finished, the cannons roared once more.

Fireworks shot high into the blessed sky, announcing to the world that their love had finally come to full bloom.

The people—witnesses to this marriage—who had watched in solemn silence now cheered together with one heart, offering their loudest blessings.

At the very center of it all, where the light shone brightest, Herhan pulled Riela closer and asked,

“So… you’re the one who’s going to protect me?”

“Of course. You can’t live without me, can you?”

Riela shot back without losing.

“I’ll always stay by your side and love you, Herhan.”

At the sound of his name at the end of her words, Herhan’s eyes widened.

No matter how much Riela loved him, he had always believed it could never surpass how much he loved her.

So he thought no confession could ever shake him.

But—