Moments later, they arrived at their destination. The rustling of leaves greeted them as the carriage slowed to a stop beneath the shade of tall, ancient trees. Nestled between a quiet lake and the forest's edge stood a charming stone villa—modest in size but elegant in design, with ivy climbing its pale walls and soft sunlight filtering through the canopy above. The air was fresh and still, carrying the scent of pine and blooming wildflowers.
The door was opened for them, and they stepped out of the carriage. The graceful scenery invited them to walk through the forest.
As soon as they disembarked, they were momentarily captivated by their surroundings. Lucien raised his hand, gesturing for Seraphina to take it. She smiled and gently took his hand, flustering Lucien slightly.
The two of them began walking, following the path before them. Neither had truly explored this area before, and they were intrigued to discover it. The knights kept their distance, ensuring the couple had their privacy while also maintaining their protection.
Seraphina glanced at Lucien, filled with deep curiosity. She had noticed subtle changes in him the moment she returned to their estate, but the more time she spent with him, the more "out of character" traits she observed.
'What happened when I wasn't at the estate?'
Seraphina was curious, but she understood the underlying reason. Though they hadn't been together long, she could see that Lucien was someone who worked harder than anyone else. He might stumble, but he always found a way to get back up.
Lucien noticed Seraphina glancing at him. Confused, he turned his head towards her.
"What's wrong?"
Seraphina was silent for a while. "Nothing. It's just that you've really changed a lot."
Lucien was slightly surprised by her statement.
'She's said that countless times already.'
'Does she fear a negative change in me?'
"I will always be Lucien," he said with a gentle smile, causing Seraphina's cheeks to redden.
The air around them grew stronger and colder, adding to the graceful scenery. Trees swayed in the wind, and blossoming flowers fell around them, making their moment even more romantic.
'Lunaria Grove?'
Lunaria Grove was known as one of the most enchanting groves in the kingdom—home to rare Lunaria trees, whose pale violet blossoms glowed faintly at dusk, casting a soft, dreamlike light across the clearing. It was also Lucien's favorite tree.
Suddenly, Lucien froze, startling Seraphina. "What's wrong?"
Lucien gazed motionlessly at the enchanting tree. A thought formed in his mind.
"Seraphina, why don't we eat here?"
Seraphina seemed confused. "I thought we were going to eat near the lake?" she asked, curious, as Lucien had previously suggested they dine by the lakeside.
"The lake is just in front of us; it's within our view. I just thought eating before this graceful tree would be symbolic in a way," Lucien said persuasively, eventually convincing her.
"Alright."
Lucien then took something from his pocket: a sleek, dark leather pouch, no larger than his hand. Silver-stitched runes circled the flap, glowing faintly when opened. It was tied with a thin, enchanted string that never frayed.
It was a Magical Storage, used for holding belongings of any kind. Lucien then whispered for their picnic equipment, and it magically appeared in his hands: a soft blanket, fine foods, wine, and fruits prepared by their trusted chefs.
Soon, they sat on the soft blanket under the beautiful view of the Lunaria Grove tree.
Seraphina was preparing their meal, arranging everything neatly. Lucien helped, of course. As soon as they finished, Lucien stood up rather quickly and headed towards the tree.
The reason Lucien had suggested they dine under the Lunaria Grove wasn't simply because it was his favorite tree, but because it reminded him so much of Seraphina.
Seraphina was seemingly confused by Lucien's strange behavior yet again.
'What is he up to now?'
Lucien stood beside the beautiful tree, staring at it for a while. The graceful image of the tree reflected in his soft-blue eyes as he gently touched it.
Suddenly, the tree glowed—a soft shimmer pulsing beneath his fingers, as if responding to the quiet storm of emotions within him.
Seraphina's pupils trembled in awe. A realization clicked in her mind.
'Did he choose this location for this?' she wondered.
The soft petals gracefully flowed in the air, illuminating her red-rose eyes.
Lucien's hand was still placed on the Lunaria Grove tree, admiring the glowing tree before him. He had come to love this spell as well, for some reason. It was too symbolic; it felt like it moved something in his soul.
He then turned his head towards Seraphina, her smile adding to the beautiful glow of the tree. She was silent and still, unsure what to say. It felt like she was looking back at a certain past event; her soft smile suggested as much.
Lucien slowly approached her, sitting down on the soft blanket across from her.
"Let's eat."
He had cast the spell to last longer than before. After weeks of training, he had finally managed to grasp the basics of magic. Well, he only learned it faster because the original Lucien had already understood it; he just had to re-familiarize himself.
Seraphina was momentarily in a daze, then she chuckled. "I remember. You showed this to me last time."
Suddenly, Lucien's cheeks began to redden.
'Please don't make me remember it!'
That moment had been very embarrassing, even for the original Lucien. He had looked so pathetic, trying to impress her back then. At one point in his life, when he first learned how to cast the Radiant Blossom spell, he wanted to show it to her.
However, instead of a glowing, lovely flower, he produced a dead one. In front of her friends, too, which made it even more humiliating.
Noticing that Lucien's ears and cheeks had reddened, she immediately began to explain herself. "Don't be embarrassed. Though it was funny, at the same time I was happy to see you trying your best. Also, I was having a bad day then; you helped me lighten my mood."
Lucien lingered for a moment. "Why don't we eat already?" he said, trying to change the topic. Seraphina could tell he didn't want to keep talking about it anymore, and so she simply went along with it.
With that, the two of them enjoyed their meal, idly chatting under the glowing tree.