The Monster Duke Mistook Me for His Wife Chapter 142

The time to part with Tippy had finally come.

“Ria, you’ll come visit again, right?”

“Of course. I’ll come see you every year.”

“Really? Promise!”

“I promise.”

Avoiding Dillian’s gaze, I gave Tippy a tight hug.

“See you next time!”

With Tippy sending us off, we descended the mountain and headed straight to the substitute temple.

It was time to meet the divine beasts who had been eagerly waiting for Arest’s return.

“Arest, go greet the others properly. They were all worried about you.”

“Hmph, it’s not like I died. They’re just overreacting.”

Whether it was embarrassment or guilt for worrying them, Arest pouted and grumbled.

‘Never honest, that one.’

That gruff attitude didn’t change even after we reached the temple.

“Arest!”

Spotting him, Hanisha ran toward him in tears—but Arest coldly sidestepped her.

“Don’t cling to me. It’s gross.”

Maybe he felt awkward showing weakness. Or maybe he was just shy after causing everyone worry. Either way, he reacted more sharply than usual, brushing the divine beasts off.

But the divine beasts weren’t ones to stay put.

In fact, the more you told them not to do something, the more they had to do it.

Sensing the opportunity, they all rushed in, and Arest shrieked as he tried to escape.

“Wh-What are you doing?!”

“We just want a family hug! Don’t run!”

“Are you insane?! What kind of family hugs like this?!”

“Human families do that.”

Samiel spread his large wings and grabbed Arest.

Even though Arest was a raptor like the rest of them, he couldn’t overpower Samiel, who was a divine beast in the form of an eagle.

“Stop it! I said don’t!”

“You’re still the same grump, Arest!”

As Samiel hugged him tight, Hanisha and Mika opened their wings too.

“Arest! I’m so glad you’re alive!”

“Yeah. Sometimes, a reunion hug isn’t so bad.”

“Let’s all hug for the first time in ages!”

Finally, Nathan joined in, wrapping his wings around Arest.

Crushed in their arms, Arest twisted and shouted.

“Aaaah!”

Anyone watching would’ve thought he was being tortured. All that over a simple group hug.

“He really hasn’t changed, has he?”

“Seriously. Being too shy is a problem too.”

Pretending he hated it, while clearly enjoying it—it was obvious from his nearly exploding red face.

“It’s a nice sight, isn’t it?”

Aaron approached me with a warm smile, like a grandfather watching over his grandkids.

“Arest is… being overwhelmed.”

Aina’s eyes were wide and trembling, clearly unaccustomed to such a wild display.

“Your Highness, Lady Ria. Thank you for everything.”

“No, really, it wasn’t that hard. Everything that happened was good.”

After all, Dillian had regained his memories.

I smiled and held Dillian’s hand.

“So that’s why you look so happy.”

“…Is it that obvious?”

“This is the happiest I’ve seen you since I met you.”

I rubbed my cheek and gave a sheepish laugh. I didn’t think it showed that much.

“Oh, have you set a date for the wedding?”

“What? No, not yet…”

“What? A wedding? Already?”

Aina blurted out, raising her voice unintentionally.

Immediately, the divine beasts who had been fawning over Arest perked up their ears like rabbits.

“Wedding? W-E-D-D-I-N-G?!”

Nathan exploded and flew straight at us, with the others close behind.

No words were needed—we all knew who their next target was: Dillian.

“A wedding, huh. Well, I guess it’s about time.”

“Still, isn’t it too early?”

“Exactly! You haven’t even—!”

As Samiel, Hanisha, and Nathan ranted about the wedding, the only one who remained composed, Mika, quietly greeted Dillian.

“I didn’t get to greet you properly last time. You haven’t changed, Lysandro.”

“It’s Dillian.”

When Dillian corrected him, Samiel stroked his chin and nodded.

“Hm, right. That was your name.”

“Hmmm.”

“Hmmmmmm.”

The divine beasts began humming weirdly as they circled Dillian.

Like children dancing in a circle.

Priests nearby watched the rare sight of divine beasts circling a tall man with curiosity.

With all the attention suddenly on him, Dillian raised an eyebrow and pushed the divine beasts aside.

“Move aside. Don’t block Ria’s path.”

“Hmph, same attitude as ever.”

“It’s fine. He’s really handsome.”

Blushing, Hanisha settled on Dillian’s shoulder and rubbed her head against his cheek.

“Your old face was handsome too, but this one’s just as nice.”

Her eyes sparkled, clearly starstruck.

“Hanisha, get a grip. Guys with faces like that always cause trouble. Don’t you remember he made Ria cry?”

“Oh, right! He did!”

At Samiel’s reminder, Hanisha shrieked and spread her wings threateningly.

“If you make Ria cry again, I’ll kill you!”

“…Is she bipolar?”

Apparently not hearing my mutter, Hanisha lifted her chin.

“Kaah! No matter how handsome you are, hurt Ria and you’re dead!”

She looked like she was about to spit on him—like some neighborhood thug.

“Ria! If that guy makes you cry again, come straight to my temple. I’ll take care of you!”

Hanisha shouted proudly, but her mouth fell open at Dillian’s calm reply.

“Hm, now I get it. She’s just like Nathan. Just as bullheaded.”

“What?! Just like Nathan?! That’s an insult to divine beasts! How dare you compare me to that stubborn mule!”

Apparently deeply offended by the comparison, Hanisha stomped and demanded an apology.

And then, Nathan—who had been standing quietly—snapped and leapt into the air.

“What did you say?! Hanisha! Who are you calling a mule?!”

“Well, it’s true! You and Samiel are totally rigid!”

“Why drag me into this? If anything, Mika’s no better!”

“…You’re all getting old. So much noise.”

“Seriously. This is driving me nuts.”

With each jab Dillian threw, the divine beasts started growling and fighting like children.

“Everyone, please! You can’t fight in here!”

Aaron and Aina panicked as they rushed in to break up the sudden chaos.

Dillian, stepping away from the ruckus, wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“Seems like they’re aging backward, doesn’t it?”

Hardly. I gave a dry laugh and poked him in the side.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Did what?”

“You provoked Nathan and Hanisha to make them fight.”

And just like that, once Nathan and Hanisha clashed, everyone else got dragged in like dominoes.

There was no way memory-recovered Dillian hadn’t planned it.

“Well done, right?”

Of course. Instead of denying it, Dillian brazenly smiled and asked for praise.

“That was the only way to shut them up.”

“You mean the part about me crying and going to Hanisha’s temple if you make me sad?”

Judging by the wrinkle between his brows, I’d hit the mark.

It had just been a casual joke to me, but clearly not to him.

“I don’t even want to imagine you crying because of me.”

Dillian gently brushed beneath my eye with his thumb.

“You’ve already cried enough. I won’t let it happen again.”

He spoke like he was making a promise to himself.

“I’ll make you happy. I’ll make sure you always have reasons to smile.”

“…You already do.”

Just being able to laugh and talk like this was enough for me.

“You don’t have to try so hard. If you’re happy, then I’m happy too.”

I laced my fingers through his and smiled brightly, hoping my feelings would reach him.

Dillian, staring blankly at me, eventually lowered his head with a look of defeat.

Running a large hand down his face, he let out a soft sigh.

“…I give up. I can’t win against you no matter what.”

“Of course not. You never will. The one who loves more always loses.”

“Then I’ll lose forever.”

He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it.

His crimson eyes shimmered like waves.

“I promise you, I’ll love you more than you’ll ever love me.”

“We’ll see. My love for you isn’t any weaker.”

“That’s just as good. I’m so happy I could kiss you right now.”

“That’s not allowed.”

When I rejected him firmly, Dillian chuckled as if he expected it.

“It’s getting late. Let’s leave those idiots behind and go home.”

I nodded, glancing at the divine beasts who were still brawling.

“Yeah. Let’s go home.”

Holding Dillian’s hand tightly, I turned with him.

The sun was setting. It was time to go home.

Together, we walked in step under the crimson twilight.

Toward our home.

 

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

I had a dream for the first time in a while.

A stranger’s face I’d never seen before welcomed me. I immediately recognized who he was.

“Father.”

“You’re here? Come over.”

I went to the other side of the obelus, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

I gasped in awe at the vast land stretching out behind him.

“It’s beautiful.”

“This is your first time here, isn’t it?”

“Yes. It’s the first time you’ve called me here.”

As I looked around, I took the tea the obelus handed me and asked,

“Why did you call me?”