As Dion left the garden, the sun was setting, and the evening glow was as red as blood.
Todd looked up at the sky and saw a thick cloud slowly drifting in from the sea, accompanied by faint rumbles of thunder.
The last rays of the setting sun were quickly swallowed by dark clouds, and the warm air soon turned cold and damp.
In the blink of an eye, large raindrops poured into the entire city. In the distance, all the scenery became indistinct, and everything in front of us was as if veiled by a gauze curtain, with the sky a gray blur.
As the noise of the city was gradually drowned out by the sound of rain, Todd sat on the bench, letting the rain pour down on him and flow into streams at his feet, without moving an inch.
After an unknown amount of time, a huge cloak was unfurled and placed over Todd's head.
Deirdre, accompanied by two maids, hurriedly came to Todd's side and carefully opened her cloak to shield him from the wind and rain.
Seeing Todd's rain-soaked face, Deirdre knelt down with a pained expression, wiped the raindrops from his face with a dry towel, and said softly, "Your Majesty, let's go back..."
Todd lowered his head, looking at the water splashing on the ground, and said softly, "Nobody knows when this rain will stop."
Deirdre smiled and said, "But we still have home, with a fireplace, a deck chair, and hot soup. No matter how heavy the rain is, if we stay at home, the rain will eventually stop."
Todd turned to look at Deirdre, gave a self-deprecating laugh, then stood up, put his arm around her waist, and slowly walked towards the royal city.
Late that night, Deirdre, her face flushed and covered in sweat, struggled to get out of bed, panting heavily, to prepare her toiletries.
Todd gently pressed Deirdre's shoulder and pulled the blanket up to cover her silky smooth, milky white skin.
Glancing at Todd, who showed no signs of fatigue, Deirdre lowered her head and said almost inaudibly, "If you need, I can have someone pass a message to Evie or another woman..."
Todd put his arm around Deirdre and whispered, "There's no need for that. Let's talk for a bit."
The latter responded softly, but her eyes revealed undisguised joy.
How is Aurora doing lately?
Deirdre first adjusted her position in Todd's arms, then said, "Everything... is fine. She's growing up little by little. Although she always tells me she wants to be with you, she doesn't dare to bother you when you're busy with your work."
Todd nodded slightly: "She's always been a good girl."
Deirdre said with a slightly worried tone, "But I've noticed that recently she's been secretly transforming into a dragon and flying towards the northern sea, always leaving the Valkyries who are supposed to protect her behind. And when she comes back, she won't tell me where she went."
Todd had a sudden thought.
Ever since Aurora visited the heavenly realm on Shadow Isle, she seems to have developed a particular interest in it, visiting it every few days.
But perhaps this isn't such a bad thing.
Thinking of this, Todd gently patted Deirdre's smooth, forged back: "Let her be."
"But……"
"I will speak with the people in the north; they will take good care of her."
Deirdre heard Tode's firm tone and stopped trying to persuade him.
"Did you know? Muxi University plans to establish a new junior academy, specifically to recruit children who have extraordinary talent in a single subject," Deirdre said with a smile. "The university hopes to hire me as a visiting professor to train children with special abilities related to the soul."
Todd nodded in approval, saying, "In the entire kingdom, only you possess the ability to summon spirits. If someone with similar abilities could be found, it would be a good thing for the whole country."
Deirdre said with a look of longing, "You know what? When I see those children, I always feel a sense of regret."
"Pity?"
Deirdre placed Todd's hand on her flat, toned stomach and said softly, "I've been wondering why we haven't had a second child yet?"
Todd paused for a moment.
Deirdre leaned as close to Todd as possible: "I hope to have a boy."
Todd frowned and asked, "Aurora is an excellent child, why would you still have such thoughts?"
“Aurora yearns for freedom and adventure; she has no interest in any of the kingdom’s affairs.” Deirdre’s words sounded full of helplessness and sorrow: “She has told me more than once that her greatest dream for the future is to travel to every corner of the world and explore those undiscovered secrets.”
Todd was puzzled: "What's wrong with that?"
Deirdre began, “I told her that her goal should be to become a proper princess and make her father proud.”
Todd realized something and asked directly, "Deerdely, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Deirdre turned around, wrapped her arms around Todd's neck, and slowly brought her exquisite and beautiful face closer, as if afraid that he would disappear.
"You are my husband, my everything. If you leave me, my body and soul have no reason to continue existing."
Todd stared into Deirdre's eyes: "Who told you what?"
"You come from the realm of the gods, and do not belong to this world. Sooner or later, you must make a choice: to leave or to stay."
Deirdre rested her head on Todd's chest: "I know that any words of pleading are pale, and it would be selfish to coerce you to stay by using yourself. I just beg you, before you make a decision, please think of Aurora, she cannot live without her father."
Todd felt a headache coming on: "Deirdre, we've discussed this before, and I've never said anything like I'm going to leave."
Deirdre's voice suddenly turned low: "But that woman, she's been urging you on."
"That woman?"
Deirdre pronounced the name word by word: "Rui-Chi-er".
The voice contained resentment, anger, and even hidden hatred. Todd's eyes twitched involuntarily when he heard it.
“I will not leave this kingdom. This is not only because of my affection for you and Aurora, but also because of my responsibility as king.”
Todd hugged Deirdre and whispered in her ear, "Stop overthinking, go to sleep."
Deirdre was silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Not long after, Todd saw Deirdre close her eyes and lean against him, so he gently placed her on the bed and covered her with the blankets.
Todd retrieved casual clothes from the wardrobe, dressed neatly, glanced back at Deirdre's exquisite, flawless sleeping face, stood there in a daze for a moment, and finally blew out the candle and left the room.
The moment the door closed, the woman who had been "sound asleep" suddenly opened her eyes.
Staring at the closed door, Deirdre gripped the sheets tightly with both hands, tears welling up in her eyes.
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