You Are My Wife Now

"Lu Lu's" body visibly relaxed a lot upon hearing Iver's words.

"...Mr. Fox!"

She softly called Iver's codename, but hesitated the moment the words left her mouth: "Are you really... Mr. Fox?"

For some reason, she sensed a faint feeling of danger from him.

It was as if she was about to be deceived or poisoned... but she didn't actually sense any hostility or killing intent.

"I already used the Illumination Spell. I think that's enough to prove my identity."

"Ah, you're right..."

After calming down, Lu Lu quickly realized how foolish her question had been—which made her feel ashamed and regretful.

She was ashamed because she felt too nervous, and that she might not be able to help much this time and would only be a burden to her partner; she regretted that she should have been able to easily think of such a simple deduction, but now she only felt that her brain was blank.

"Shhh."

Iver suddenly raised a finger and placed it on "his wife's" lips.

The sudden physical contact with a member of the opposite sex made her eyes widen abruptly, and the white-gold-haired young woman revealed the innocent shyness of a pure maiden.

Only then did she look at her "husband," the father of her child, for the first time.

Not to mention members of the opposite sex, she didn't even have any friends of the same sex. People might not fear her because of her identity, but they would definitely stay away from her because of the trouble that the royal family was close to extinction and that she could be cursed at any time—no one wanted to cause trouble, especially trouble they couldn't afford.

She hadn't dared to look at him all this time, because the distance was too close.

Lu Lu didn't even know what she looked like at the moment... but the young man with black curly hair and deep blue eyes like the sea was at most in his twenties, and was obviously young and handsome. And the Priest's robe he wore gave him a sense of abstinence and solemnity.

In that instant, Lu Lu subconsciously wanted to draw a picture of him.

Not because she harbored any special feelings.

It was purely because her "aesthetic vision" sensed the [inspiration] at this moment—

Wearing a white Priest's robe, the gold rose-trimmed collar stood up, blocking his Adam's apple. One strong arm easily held a four-year-old child, while the other hand reached out and blocked her lips. The Candle Holder Cathedral also provided light for him... a dim yet glorious contradictory light. With Mycenaean sculpture-like deep features, his deep blue pupils reflected the flames burning on the candlesticks behind Lu Lu, shining with a red glow like sapphire facing the flames.

The man's face had a compassionate solemnity, but Lu Lu vaguely sensed a kind of casual "teasing," like his codename "Fox," giving a sense of sinister intentions. But at the same time, she could sense that he had no hostility, but rather a pure kindness, and the strong sense of security brought by a reliable adult male.

Looking at Lu Lu, who had suddenly quieted down, Iver didn't say anything, but just glanced towards the front of the cathedral.

Following the man's gaze, Lu Lu realized that her voice seemed to have been a little loud.

"...I'm sorry, Mr. Fox."

She was a little frustrated: "I can't do anything right..."

"How could that be?"

Iver said casually.

If you could do everything well, I wouldn't be at ease.

Just be willing to follow orders.

I'll take care of the rest.

Lu Lu watched as the man before her retracted his right hand, gently stroking the back of his child's head. Warm light overflowed from between his fingers once more, as if his fingers were outlined by a golden halo. Like golden sunlight shining through the stained-glass sculptures in the Silver and Tin Palace, reflecting a halo filled with runes on the wall.

It was neither dazzling nor scorching.

His fingers were pierced by the light, as if they were about to become transparent, exuding a slightly reddish-golden glow. Like the setting sun about to fall, or the rising sun about to emerge.

This color... the color of Illumination, I've memorized it.

"—Alright."

Just as she was engrossed in watching, Iver suddenly said softly, "I've dispelled the curse."

"So amazing... Wait, hold on, Illumination Spell used with your right hand?"

Only then did Lu Lu realize something: "Are you already so proficient?"

Being able to use the Illumination Spell with the right hand for ten seconds without interruption, stably outputting two standard units of mana, was one of the graduation standards of the Seminary at the Royal Academy of Law. Because the right hand was inherently inclined towards darkness, there was a chance of self-interruption when outputting light-attribute mana if one's mind wandered even for a moment.

When working in the church, it was not always possible to use the left hand to cast spells. There would always be special circumstances where the left hand could not be used, and at this time, the proficiency of casting spells with the right hand would be tested.

The man before her had even used the Illumination Spell with his right hand for fifteen seconds, effortlessly. The light did not extinguish or even dim once, nor did he show any signs of strain or fatigue.

That was a continuous output of three standard units of mana...

"...So, Mr. Fox, you've actually already graduated, haven't you?"

She lowered her voice, leaned in, and asked, "Have you joined the church?"

For some reason, that sense of tension had vanished without a trace. Replaced by curiosity and frustration.

More than half of her own second year had already passed, and she had not yet completed her advancement... while this possible "senior" had already reached the excellent standard that even graduates found difficult to achieve.

I'm so weak...

"It's nothing."

Iver said calmly.

He really didn't think there was anything wrong with it. Although Bishop Mathers had reminded him when teaching him the Sacred Art to try to use his left hand as much as possible, until he was so proficient that he could use it casually without having to concentrate on visualizing it, before practicing with his right hand.

But Iver had successfully cast a spell with his right hand and healed Yulia that very day—he didn't even realize he was using his right hand at the time, he just subconsciously reached out with his dominant hand.

"It's not a complicated curse. Rather than wanting to kill someone... it's more like a form of tracking. Now that I've broken this curse, perhaps I can stall the enemy for a while.

"Also," Iver extended his finger and flicked a ray of light towards Lu Lu's eyes, scaring her into closing them, before saying casually, "Don't inquire about things in the real world. Otherwise, don't blame me for coming after you."

"...I'm sorry."

Lu Lu obediently nodded and apologized.

"I forgive you."

Iver said with a smile.

The worship service was coming to an end, and he naturally grasped Lu Lu's hand. Lu Lu shrank her fingers in fear for a moment, but quickly remembered her mission requirements and pretended to naturally hold his hand.

And Iver took it a step further, interlacing his fingers with hers. And pulled her directly up from the stool.

Like dancing a ballroom dance, leading his dance partner.

"Don't be so stiff, and don't be afraid."

Iver said calmly, "You are my wife now."

"...Yes, yes."

He carried the child and led Lu Lu away from the main hall of the Candle Holder Cathedral. But he didn't leave; instead, he found a small, empty chapel and led his wife inside.

The moment he closed the door, Lu Lu felt her heart skip a beat.

Her eyes suddenly widened.

...What, what is he going to do? "Here, hold the child."

Iver's voice was low and gentle as he handed over the boy in his arms.

Lu Lu subconsciously, and carefully, took Little Iver.

Little Iver seemed a little sleepy now because the curse had just been lifted. It was like taking a hot bath when exhausted. As the discomfort dissipated, sleepiness and a sense of security surged into his heart.

He had been curled up in his father's warm embrace, filled with the fragrance of musk, sandalwood, and vanilla, listening to the long, droning service. His eyes would open slightly for a moment, then close for even longer.

When his father handed him over to his mother, he briefly woke up for a moment.

"Good, good boy..."

Lu Lu looked at the child's tender and lovely face and couldn't help but reveal a shallow smile from the bottom of her heart.

She said softly, holding the still milk-scented boy in her arms.

She had taken care of her younger brother before, so she knew how to hold a child. But even so, Lu Lu held him very carefully... as if she were holding someone else's child, afraid of accidentally dropping him.

"Let's practice a little first, you can't go out on the street like that. People will think you kidnapped the child."

Iver put his hands in his pockets, leaned against the door, tilted his head slightly, and pressed one ear against the door. He squinted his eyes as if dozing off.

At the same time, he opened his mouth and asked softly, "Can you sing a lullaby, Lu Lu?"

"Yes."

This time Lu Lu said firmly, her tone full of confidence.

"Put the child to sleep first, then we'll leave."

Iver added, "Make the child sleep soundly... use your full strength."