I reincarnated as an elf .......and married the yandere villainess.-Chapter 47: start preparing(bonus)

She stood at the doorway, white flowing hair messy from the wind, and a face that carried a resemblance to Atheline’s, Lady Arthena.

She had come unannounced catching the three off guard. Her eyes were filled with panic and fear, unlike those of the others, and her hands trembled despite her acting.

"I do not care about your accords, " she continued voice tight," or your rituals, or your balance of power..."

She turned her gaze to the quiet king, her desperation written all over her face.

"I want my son home with me."

Silence ensued because none of them could argue with her.

Atheline’s father stepped towards her slightly but she stepped back avoiding him.

"... he’s alive," he said softly.

"I heard you!" She snapped at him, "Alive does not mean he’s safe."

Her voice slightly broke at the thought.

"And now she says she’ll marry him," she continued," without his consent? Without ours?"

Her blunt nails dug into her palm.

"That is not a union, it is a claim."

No one tried to correct her since she wasn’t wrong. The king sighed and stepped from the balcony and into the chamber towards them.

"This cannot be contained," he said with authority. "If she has declared it publicly then it’s already in motion."

He turned to Lord Dusk, who was still fuming.

"Your son has been wronged. That will be acknowledged."

A flicker of satisfaction went through the man’s face.

The king turned to lord Helmer.

"And yours, " he paused, " has become the centre of a far more dangerous alignment."

Lord Helmer held his gaze as understanding flashed through his eyes. Words passed through their eyes and a small exhale left him.

".. it strengthens our position," he said quietly.

The words tasted bitter in his mouth, the thought of sacrificing his own child wasn’t comforting but he trusted his child would know what to do.

His wife turned sharply to him.

"How can you say that!"

There it was, the fracture between husband and wife. One held by duty while the other held by parental love.

He didn’t look at her immediately, he didn’t want her to see his eyes, he knew what she would see.

"If she binds herself to our line, truly bide herself," he continued coldly," then our power will shift."

The power will shift towards them and the kingdom as a whole. Atheline was one of their most talented individuals and the union would be matched unlike before.

"But at what cost?" she demanded.

He turned to look at her; for a moment, he didn’t feel like an advisor, but a father. A lump formed in his throat but he forced it down.

"... At his," he said quietly.

Silence.

There was nothing to refute because they all knew that that was the truth.

The king looked between the two of them then spoke.

"We will not act blindly," he said," she intends to come here."

That drew all their attention back.

"She wants to announce it herself, " he paused his gaze sweeping between the three," and we will receive her."

Tension spiked immediately.

Lord Dusk stepped forward.

"And you would welcome this?"

The king met his gaze.

"I will face it," he corrected calmly, " on our own grounds."

Lady Arthena’s voice came softer now, defeated.

"And him?"

The king’s gaze shifted to the horizon outside again.

"He returns with her," he answered honestly, "and when he does..."

Everyone held their breath.

"We will decide if this becomes a war.....or a union"

Lady Arthena held her hands to her chest a soft prayer to the god of light to protect her young child leaving her under her breath.

.

.

.

In an open courtyard near a small artificial lake. Laughter, an unfamiliar sound in the palace, filled the area.

Servants moved around quietly, carrying out their duties more diligently than usual as they organised for the departure unlike the last time, when things had been hurriedly prepared.

At the centre of it all was Lilith, seated on a comfortable black chair as she looked at Atheline standing before her as bouts of laughter escaped her.

"You’re holding it wrong."

She leaned forward and pulled him closer to her and she was met with no resistance.

Atheline frowned at the thin silver cloth in his hands.

"It’s a belt."

"It’s not a belt," she corrected and stood up," it’s a vow-binding sash."

"That sounds worse."

Her lips twitched.

"It is worse," she said and took the clithe from him," in our custom, if you tie this around someone yourself during the ceremony it means you’re taking responsibility for their life and future."

His brows raised," And you’re telling me this now?"

She smiled.

"You’ve already proposed without knowing that tying this wouldn’t be that big of a deal."

Atheline’s eyes widened as his arms came to her shoulders.

"When did I propose?"

She chuckled softly and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek before lifting her arm and showing him the gift he had given her.

Atheline touched it in surprise then looked at her then back to then to the bracelet.

"You’re kidding right?"

She smiled happily at him.

"No, you’re the one who proposed first so you have to take responsibility for me."

"And you’re telling me this now?"

She rolled her eyes.

"You were mine to begin with, that was just a formality."

He bit his lower lip in contemplation while looking down at her beautiful face.

"You’re terrifying."

"Mm."

She didn’t deny it instead she got out of his arms and stepped behind him stash at hand. Atheline followed her movements.

Her fingers brushed against his waist, soft and ticklish, as she wrapped them around him properly this time.

The silver glowed as her Aether settled in before it naturally wrapped around him.

Atheline let out an exhale and turned around to face her," So does this have another meaning for you or are we the same?"

Since they were basically from different species he wanted to see if there was any difference and she’s tricked him enough for him not to take most of her words on face value.

"It has the same meaning, there is no need to be so paranoid, " she said a small chuckle escaping her.

"You’re lying."

A small smile." I am."

She rubbed his waist softly before her hand moved up until it came to a stop above his chest.

Atheline welcomed the warm trickle into his core.

"How have you been feeling?" She asked.

Atheline looked beyond her at the lights hanging in the ceiling and took a deep breath. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"It’s holding up but the cracks aren’t disappearing, I’m not sure if this new core will ever adapt to my body," he whispered his worries to her.

She looked up at him with a small smile on her face that he didn’t notice.

She pushed more of her aether inside of him.

"It’s okay, I don’t mind doing this every day. "

Atheline smiled down at her and ran his hand through her hair softly.

"I don’t want to burden you," he whispered.

’I don’t want my power to depend on you too much... I should probably ask grandfather when I go home’

She rubbed circles on his chest absentmindedly.

"I don’t mind, I don’t mind at all."