Page 27

EPILOGUE

B eneath a canopy woven with blooming star flowers—the very same that had lit our path in the darkest depths—Darcel and I exchanged our vows, the air charged with magic and joy, as if the land itself shared in our happiness. I smiled at the blossoms’ whispery congratulations that only I could hear.

It was a smaller ceremony than normally befit a prince, but all our closest companions were in attendance. My beloved father—whose once sallow skin now glowed with health—beamed from his front-row seat where he sat in his finest kuromontsuki that he had worn at his own wedding. I blinked back tears to see him so strong, yet another gift from Lumis. Unbeknownst to me, when my lantern had directed me to collect herbs in the cavern and in the cherry grove, it was enabling me to fulfill not only my quest for our kingdom’s health, but my personal quest to heal my father.

Next to Darcel’s brother King Ciaran sat his queen Aurora holding their newborn daughter, their golden heads conspicuous among the predominantly dark-haired Lumerians. Though I was just coming to know them, I felt a kinship with the monarchs who had been the first to dispel the darkness that Darcel and I had fully defeated. Lastly, I smiled affectionately at Sir Jiang and Kael, our comrades throughout the quest.

Father was the first to congratulate us, his eyes brimming with pride as he embraced me. “You've honored our family well, my dear daughter,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “And more so, you’ve honored yourself. You’ve grown beyond the herbalist I taught to become a true healer of lands and hearts.”

“Meanwhile, I may need to hire your father as a diplomat,” King Ciaran spoke up, pausing to take his tiny daughter and urge Aurora to sit down. “He is absolutely fearless and relentless in his missions. You may recall that I received no fewer than nine missives while you were gone, demanding my safe return of his daughter and lecturing me on my unethical coercion for this quest that caused you to take his place.”

Darcel winced and glanced anxiously at Father, seeming relieved when Father chuckled. Their relationship had gotten off to nearly as difficult a start as my own with Darcel, but Father had been able to see the prince’s true contrition, and as a guardian of kingdom magic himself had understood the need that had propelled Darcel.

I hugged Father tightly, grateful for his endless support and faith in me. “I hope to continue my work, not just as a princess who works with her husband on behalf of the people, but as an herbalist. There’s still so much more to learn.”

“I have no doubt that you will,” Darcel said from beside me, his voice firm with the confidence of a prince who had found his own path. “Together, we'll help my brother build a kingdom that values knowledge and courage as much as heritage and honor.”

The sky was dimming by the time our greetings and the formalities of the celebration had concluded, and Darcel led me away from the bustling crowd to a secluded grove on the edge of the palace gardens. I stepped into a vision straight out of a dream. The grove had been transformed into a private sanctuary, illuminated by dozens of delicate paper lanterns that hung from the branches, one of which was Lumis. They swayed gently in the evening breeze, casting a soft, enchanting glow that mirrored the twinkling stars that glistened above.

Petals of star flowers and moon blossoms scattered the ground, creating a carpet of silver and pale blue that muffled our footsteps; with every step their sweet fragrance filled the air, enhancing the ethereal atmosphere.

A small circle of stone benches surrounded a clear pool in the center, its still surface reflecting the lantern-lit boughs and capturing the starlight, amplifying their glow and enveloping us in a cocoon of light and shadows. We sat together, our reflections mingling in the water before us. This time no dire voice spoke from the pool, but peace reigned.

“Do you remember this place?” Darcel’s eyes shimmered with a blend of love and playful mischief.

Puzzled, I looked around. Though this was the first time we’d ever entered this grove, the setting was familiar, echoing a beautiful memory. Above us, the branches formed a natural dome, framing a view of the night sky, reminiscent of the first night we’d spent beneath its starry canopy.

That moment had marked a turning point in our relationship when we had truly begun to trust each other, allowing us to open our hearts to share stories of our pasts and dreams for the future, a foundational moment in our growing bond.

“This is where we celebrated our first successful milestone on the quest.”

My husband squeezed my hand. “You win this round. That night was the first time I realized that there was no better friend to have by my side, not just in moments of success but through every challenge. As such I thought it appropriate to commemorate our wedding with our own piece of the night—a place to dream, to plan, as well as to celebrate all the paths we’ve walked and those we have yet to explore.”

I cuddled up to him and rested my head against his shoulder, relishing as his arm came up around me. “It feels like a lifetime ago. I thought I was merely embarking on an adventure.” One that had turned out to be much more than a simple quest, a journey that had not only traversed mountains and valleys, but contained a multitude of discoveries of the heart.

Darcel chuckled softly, drawing me closer. “And I thought I was simply gaining an herbalist. Instead, I found not just a partner, but a love that transcends any adventure I could have ever imagined.”

He kissed me beneath the glow of lantern light, the gentle scent of blossoms wafting in the air sweet with the promise of endless days and nights to come.

“I hope you’re not done with quests,” I said. “Else my wedding gift to you will start gathering dust.”

He looked at me, eyes sparkling, clearly as delighted as any child at the thought of a gift. Standing, I took his hand and led him inside to the newly renovated chambers that were now ours to share.

“I bribed a servant to hide it in here,” I confessed, reaching for the ornate door handle. But before I could open it, I was whisked off my feet.

“Not so fast,” Darcel said in a mock scolding voice. “You’re officially royalty now, so every ceremony must be observed.” He opened the door and carried me in, gently depositing me on a settee. He smirked at me. “Now, where is this gift hidden?”

I gestured at the long box that lay on a table nearby and he eagerly opened it, drawing out two ornate swords, one a little larger and heavier than the other. Each had the outline of an ancient tree engraved on its hilt, a reminder of our successful quest…as well as what the quest meant for us personally.

“They’re beautiful,” Darcel marveled. “But why two?”

“Well, the training you gave me on our journey was very helpful,” I said. “But I don’t think I’m quite proficient yet. So I thought maybe we could continue?”

Darcel was silent for a moment before clearing his throat to steady his voice. “I suppose I could make some time in my busy schedule to take on an apprentice. But if we’re to make use of these, there’s something else we need.” Ducking into the adjoining room, he returned and handed me a beautifully bound book. “I may have convinced a servant to bring something here as well. I thought we might start a new chapter.”

Opening it, I found the pages empty except for the first, which bore a single line in Darcel’s strong handwriting: “ Our Quests: The Adventures of Darcel and Mei .”

Laughing, I looked up at him. “Are you planning more adventures already?”

“Only the best ones,” he assured me. “This time, every step we take will be as partners, in both the light and in whatever shadows we might encounter.”

Darcel seemed to already have our first adventure as husband and wife planned to fill in the first page of our new chapter together. The morning after our wedding, he insisted on leading me through the palace grounds under the guise of showing me some minor renovations he had overseen. Hands entwined, I humored him, curious but distracted by the whirlwind of our celebrations. When he opened the doors to reveal my surprise, I froze, captured by wonder.

As the doors swung open to reveal my surprise, I stood rooted to the spot, utterly captivated by wonder. Before me stood the most exquisite apothecary lab I could have ever imagined, complete with sprawling benches lined with every conceivable tool and ingredient an herbalist might dream of. But it was the attached greenhouse that truly took my breath away. Its glass panels sparkled in the morning light, housing an array of plants that shimmered like a living emerald tapestry.

“I thought you might like to start our new life together by planting something special.” His eyes sparkled with the thrill of a shared secret as he led me further inside, where a small ceremonial plot had been meticulously prepared. “I was hoping you could teach me how to plant this, so that it grows strong and healthy, just like us.” He motioned to the starlight herb he had procured, its leaves shimmering subtly as if dusted with flecks of silver.

I quickly caught on to his ploy of spending more time together under the guise of needing ’gardening lessons.’ His pretend ignorance was too endearing to challenge, but as it had already been woven deeply into the playful fabric of our relationship, I couldn't resist rising to his charming bait by playing along.

I smiled. “I’ll indulge you, but you must promise to pay attention—I’m a strict teacher.”

He winked. “I’ll be your most attentive pupil.”

Together we knelt side by side on the fertile earth, the air rich with the scent of moist soil and blooming flowers. Darcel handed me a small, ornate spade and our fingers brushed; his warm smile crinkled the corners of his eyes in response.

“First, we need to loosen the soil,” I instructed, gently guiding his hands as we dug around the designated spot. He carefully followed my movements, exaggerating each motion with deliberate precision, which drew laughter from me. His eyes sparkled with mischief every time he feigned difficulty in turning the soil, reminiscent of the playful incompetence I had once pretended during our last sword training session.

“Like this?” Mock uncertainty laced his voice as he made a theatric show of aerating the soil, picking up clods and letting them crumble between his fingers.

“Exactly like that, though perhaps with a bit less dramatic flair.” I shook my head in mock disapproval, but was unable to hide the warmth filling my voice; even the simplest interaction became an adventure with him.

We reached for the starlight herb that had been chosen not only for the memories associated with it, but for its resilience and beauty, much like what we hoped to cultivate in our life together. Handling the delicate plant with care, together we guided it into the ground. A surge of emotion filled me as I patted the soil around its base, Darcel’s hands covering mine.

I looked up to see Darcel watching me intently, his face a picture of concentration tinged with an unwavering tenderness that only deepened my affection for him. My breath caught at the intensity of his gaze as he reached out a gentle finger to brush a crumb of dirt off my cheek. He then leaned forward to examine the small plant, encircling me with his arm as he shifted even closer to me.

“How often do we need to water it?” he inquired in a low, husky voice, still playing along with our lesson.

A delightful shiver rippled up my spine. “Just enough to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. It’s all about balance.” I smoothed the dirt and planted a small marker next to the herb. The simple act felt deeply symbolic, a tangible representation of the life we were building together—filled with challenges but always overcome with mutual support and laughter.

As we stood back to admire our handiwork, Darcel wrapped an arm around my waist to nestle me close, his breath warm against my ear. “Thank you for teaching me, dear Mei…though I suspect this was all just an elaborate ruse to keep me close.”

I leaned back into his embrace, feeling the truth of his words resonate within me as I looked up into his eyes. “Maybe,” I admitted with a playful shrug. “But remember you’re the one who suggested these lessons. I expect you to return for another not only tomorrow, but every day henceforth.”

He chuckled, the sound resonant and joyful. “I look forward to many more lessons with you, my love.” His lips met mine in a tender kiss that spoke of promises and countless days spent side by side, nurturing not only the garden we had started but the love and life we shared.

In that kiss within the serene greenhouse surrounded by the promise of growth, I knew that every challenge we had faced throughout our journey together had led to this moment. From here every step forward would lead us to a future as lush and vibrant as the garden and light surrounding us. No matter what quests lay ahead, our greatest adventure had already begun.