Of course, that unparalleled handsome man was none other than Aspeiran.

“Yo-Your Majesty?”

I hurriedly stopped my body that was running excitedly, almost falling backward.

If Aspeiran had not embraced my back at the perfect timing, I would have fallen pathetically and cracked the back of my head.

Aspeiran clicked his tongue lightly.

“Be careful.”

“Th-thank you. But what are you doing here…”

I looked up at Aspeiran, trailing off my words. The face I was seeing after five days was still as beautiful as a statue carved with an artisan’s soul.

Moreover, unlike usual when he was all in black, today he was wearing a white fur coat, which suited him so well that I wondered why he hadn’t worn it before.

Indeed, Aspeiran standing alone in the white snowy field looked like a masterpiece painting. Thinking about that, it’s not particularly surprising that white suits him well.

Aspeiran moved his hand that was supporting my back to my shoulder and answered.

“I was waiting for you.”

A low voice falls near my ear. My nape tickles, making me unknowingly scrunch up my neck like an otter.

Seeing that, Aspeiran laughed softly. Then he took my hand and brought it close to his lips.

“Would you spare me some time?”

Aspeiran’s lips almost touched the back of my hand. I absentmindedly nodded.

It felt like being enchanted by a demon.

Well then, let’s go. If our Aspeiran wants it, where can’t I go? I have to follow him even to the ends of hell.

I firmly resolved myself and entrusted my body to Aspeiran, but soon realized that there was no need for tension at all.

Judging from the direction we were going, his destination was none other than the dog sled training center inside the pine forest behind Kronen Palace.

The magic control device for the triplets must have been completed, so maybe he wanted to ride a dog sled after a long time.

‘How cute.’

I snuggled close to Aspeiran and whispered.

“Let’s enjoy an amazing speed together.”

“…? What are you suddenly talking about?”

As we approached the dog sled training center, Cutie jumped up and down excitedly. Because of that, I walked as if running and entered the training center faster than Aspeiran.

However, the sight of the training center that unfolded before my eyes was completely different from what I knew.

First, the site of the training center had more than doubled in size. Not only that, spacious walking paths were connected in all directions.

In one corner, there was a cozy pergola filled with soft cushions, and on the other side, there were three dog houses the size of a garage.

In addition, there were water facilities for puppy baths and low wooden platforms perfect for sitting and enjoying the sunlight.

It’s clear. This was no longer a dog sled training center. It was an expanded version of the triplets’ breeding facility!

Aspeiran approached me, who was speechless, leading Tiny and Awesome.

When I abruptly turned around, he asked in an amused voice.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes? Well, it’s a perfect breeding facility and it’s really nice, but how did this happen?”

“I thought new facilities would be needed, so I prepared them.”

Aspeiran unleashed Tiny and Awesome. The two excitedly sniff around the breeding facility.

I also unleashed Cutie, who was grunting. Cutie immediately joined Tiny and Awesome.

Watching that scene with me, Aspeiran said.

“Actually, the moonlight wolves should have already become adults. They were suppressed for some reason. But thanks to you, their growth has started again, so they will probably grow into adults soon.”

“Ah…”

“When that time comes, the current breeding facility will be too small. So I made a bigger one.”

It was a thoughtful consideration. I was just thinking that I should push for the expansion of the breeding facility soon.

So I should express my gratitude and be happy right away, but…

“…”

I looked at the triplets running around excitedly and bit my lips hard. I couldn’t smile at all because I felt so heavy-hearted.

It’s because after the triplets grow up and become adults, I will have to send them all to Veltraum.

When I didn’t say anything, Aspeiran bent his waist and looked into my face.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”

“No. It’s really nice, but…”

I hesitated for a moment and finally opened my mouth.

“When the moonlight wolves become adults, we have to send them to Veltraum for exploration. Thinking about being separated from them makes me a bit sad…”

“What?”

Aspeiran raised his right eyebrow as if it was absurd. He said.

“I have no intention of sending those kids to Veltraum.”

This time, it was my turn to be surprised.

“What? We tamed them for exploration in the first place!”

“That was the case at first. But Shuria, do you think those kids will listen to anyone else?”

I looked at the triplets who were roaming all over the new breeding facility. Our cuties who don’t let anyone but me or Aspeiran lay a finger on their bodies.

And finally, I realized.

“That’s right. Even if we send them to Veltraum, they won’t follow the orders of the exploration team…”

“You finally understood.”

“Then what will happen to the triplets? Should I just keep taking care of them?”

“Yes. Those kids will become the symbol of a new era by your side.”

“A symbol?”

Aspeiran beckoned to me. I entered the walking path with Aspeiran.

He continued.

“The moonlight wolves are the first case of humans taming monsters. In other words, they are proof and a symbol that humans and monsters can coexist.”

“Ah… I see what you mean.”

“And I’m thinking of entrusting the role of your guard to the moonlight wolves.”

Guard?

I looked up at Aspeiran. His deep, dark blue eyes were gazing at me intently.

“From now on, you will encounter many monsters. There will definitely be people who will attack you as well.”

“…”

“Moonlight wolves are one of the strongest monsters even in Veltraum. The kids you raised are particularly outstanding. They consider you like their parent, so they will prioritize protecting you no matter what happens.”

Aspeiran stopped walking and lifted my left wrist. He strokes the magic stone embedded in the bracelet with his finger.

“That’s why I made arrangements for you to be able to control the magic of the moonlight wolves.”

“…”

I see.

I was always aware that I could be in danger to any extent in the future.

And I know well that our triplets, no matter how cute and pretty they are, are overwhelmingly stronger monsters than me, and they are not ordinary puppies that I can hug and kiss for life.

So I didn’t say things like how His Majesty uses monsters as guards or that I feel sorry for the triplets.

Instead, I brought up something else.

“Your Majesty.”

“What.”

“How should I teach combat to the triplets, no, the moonlight wolves?”

“…”

“I want to raise our kids to be the strongest so they won’t get hurt or lose to anyone.”

Aspeiran was at a loss for words. He dry-washed his face a few times, looked up at the sky, and did it again.

Only after taking a few steps after starting to walk again did Aspeiran finally regain his words.

He muttered softly.

“Yes, this is the kind of person you are.”

“Pardon?”

When I asked again because I couldn’t hear properly, Aspeiran shook his head. And he gave an answer to my question.

“Combat is instinctive for monsters, so there’s no need to specifically teach them, but I will still take a look from time to time.”

“Thank you!”

“Sure.”

“And I should try to become stronger myself. So that I can handle most dangers on my own before our kids step in.”

At my determined declaration, Aspeiran fell silent again and only spoke after a long time.

“…Yes. Well done.”

Aspeiran took me around the forest and showed me the new breeding facility.

“I turned the entire pine forest between Matap and the research institute into a breeding facility.”

“I-I see.”

“I set up a boundary around it so they can’t go outside the pine forest, so you can freely unleash them here. No one other than you and I can just enter. How is it, this size shouldn’t be lacking, right?”

“Of course. …It’s huge.”

So huge that it’s scary to think about how big an adult moonlight wolf will be.

After briefly looking around the breeding facility, instead of returning to where the triplets were waiting, Aspeiran led me somewhere.

“There’s one more place I want to show you.”

I widened my eyes seeing the direction Aspeiran was heading.

The forest behind Kronen Palace is divided into three areas in total.

While other areas are freely accessible to anyone, the forest in the center was strictly prohibited from entry.

So even I, who had been in and out of the forest several times for walks, had never been to the center even once.

But Aspeiran was currently heading straight to that center. It couldn’t help but be a heart-fluttering moment.

Around the time we reached the central forest, Aspeiran asked me a question.

“For generations, the royal family of Roakin called this forest the Hermitage Forest. Do you know why?”

“Oh, no.”

“It’s because of this.”

At the end of the walking path, transparent ice vines were hanging. When he brushed them aside like drawing a curtain, the vines collided with each other, making a clear ringing sound.

Aspeiran took my hand and entered beyond the vines. There…

“Wow…!”

There was a large lake, sparkling beautifully as if ice fairies were playing.

Tall trees joined hands and made a round roof over the lake. Sunlight poured down brilliantly through the gaps between the branches.

It was a breathtaking sight. I whispered as if sighing.

“It’s really pretty…”

“Quite impressive, right?”

I approached the edge of the lake, following Aspeiran, who was smiling with satisfaction. The lake was frozen solid.

I squatted down and tapped on the lake. Aspeiran said beside me.

“It has never melted even once since the moment Belloi Castle was built. So this lake is called proof that the power of Nix Roakin, the ancestor and transcendent of the Roakin family, is still protecting Roakin.”

“Oh, then I shouldn’t.”

“What?”

I furtively glanced at Aspeiran. Actually, from the moment I confirmed that the lake was frozen, there was one thing I wanted to do.

“Well… I thought it would be really nice to ice skate here.”

Aspeiran stared at me without saying a word. I felt my face heating up in an instant.

Yeah, he must find it absurd to even think of ice skating in a symbolic sacred place.

But then, he suddenly burst into a refreshing laughter.

“This is the first time I’ve seen someone who thinks of ice skating here. But well, why not.”

“Pardon?”

Aspeiran, who took off his fur coat and threw it, lifted me up. When my feet touched the ground again, transparent skate blades had appeared under my shoes.

Aspeiran, who also created skate blades under his own shoes, took my hand.

“Let’s go.”

“Ah, wait a moment!”

Aspeiran’s skating skills were very excellent. Led by his hand, we could reach the center of the lake in an instant.

I staggered and shouted urgently.

“Yo-Your Majesty. Your Majesty! Is this really okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be okay?”

“What if the Ancestor takes away his power, saying it’s irreverent!”

“Then I’ll just freeze it again. By the way, try to keep your balance better. You confidently bragged about skating, but your skills are quite lacking.”

“What did you say? No way! I’ll have you know, I was once called the flying squirrel on the ice!”

I let go of Aspeiran’s hand and properly took a stance. Aspeiran follows, chuckling.

The refreshing wind touching my cheeks, the ice vines dancing to the wind with a jingling sound, the sunlight warmly settling on my eyes.

When I look back, there is Aspeiran scattering his dark blue hair in the air amidst the sparkling ice crystals.

Aspeiran looks at me. I also looked at Aspeiran.

No matter what happens in the future, just with the memory of now, I can get up again and again.

It was a lovely moment.