DISCLAIMER: The author's imagination and passion are the only sources of inspiration for this novel, which is a work of dedication. Parallels between these pages and the past or present may be apparent to some readers, but they are completely coincidental. You are free to interpret this art anyway you see fit, and it is meant for your enjoyment.
Giywon had the second day. He was a man of gold leaf and dragon fire, known throughout the globe as the Sun of the Empire. However, he was not dressed in his formal robes as he guided Reinn to the southern boundary of the Hylde estate. He appeared more like a country gentleman than a monarch in his plain linen shirt and riding pants.
Giywon stated, "I have spent my life in palaces built of cold marble and colder expectations," as he led Reinn's horse past a grove of blossoming cherry trees. "For our first date of the 'Vow,' I wanted to show you the only place that ever felt like mine."
He guided her to a remote, renovated villa tucked away at the foot of the mountains. Built of stone and warm cedar, it was modest by imperial standards and had large windows overlooking a private lake.
She was not taken to a throne room by Giywon. In the gentle afternoon light, he led her to a room at the rear of the home. With the exception of a solitary, exquisitely carved wooden cradle in the middle, it was devoid of any furnishings.
Giywon muttered, "I spent the last month restoring this," as his fingers traced the intricate carvings of lions and dragons intertwined in the wood. With a quiet intensity in his golden eyes, he gazed at Reinn and said, "In the Empire, a royal child is a political asset. They are surrounded by tutors and guards before they can even walk. But here... our children would just be children. They would know the smell of the grass and the sound of the lake before they ever heard the word Majesty."
He turned to face her and grasped both of her hands. "I am ready to abdicate my primary duties to the Council, Reinn. I don't want to be a Future Emperor who visits his family. I want to be a father who is present for every first step. I want to build a dynasty of happiness, not power."
A startling, muted thump from the kitchen broke the serious moment.
When they entered, Giywon had tried to make a "Homestead Lunch" without any help. A very perplexed-looking chicken was standing on top of a heap of burned veggies on the flour-covered table.
"I... I followed the manual Ji-Hoon gave me on Basic Culinary Skills for the Non-Technical," Giywon said, his face flushed regally. "I believe I may have overestimated the heat required for a simple stew."
The sound of Reinn's laughter reverberated throughout the deserted home. "Giywon, you tried to cook a stew with dragon-fire magic, didn't you?"
He murmured, "It seemed more efficient at the time," and shooed the chicken from the table sheepishly.
Later, while enjoying a much simpler supper of fruit and cheese on the porch, their conversation shifted to the reality of their future.
Reinn remarked, "If I choose you, Giywon," as she gazed out at the lake. "Our children will always have a target on their backs. The blood of the Dragon is too famous to ever truly hide."
Giywon said, "I know," in a serious tone. "That is why I am not just offering you a home. I am offering you a new law. I have already begun drafting the 'Sovereignty of the Hearth' act. It would legally separate our family from the line of succession. We would be the start of something entirely new—the House of Hylde-Edryyion."
His forehead touched hers as he leaned forward. "I'm not looking for a consort to help me rule, Samantha. I'm looking for a woman to help me live. I want to grow old watching you in this garden. I want to be the man who fixes the fence and tells the stories. Can you see that life with me?"
Reinn glanced to the cradle in the adjacent room before turning back to face the man who had offered to set his own kingdom on fire for her. The concept of "Princess" didn't feel like a trap for the first time. It seemed like a decision.