My journey with Ascan was truly impromptu.

Just as I had previously warned that I would kidnap Ascan, we vanished one day without telling anyone.

Without bringing along a single person from our surroundings, just the two of us wandered wherever our feet led us.

When we encountered the sea, we swam; when we saw mountains, we hiked. We also tasted every local specialty cuisine wherever we went.

Foods I had never tasted before, curious sights to behold, and beautiful landscapes.

It was a healing time, as if compensating for the hardships of the past.

We didn’t reveal our names, fearing trouble if our identities were exposed, but since we were financially comfortable, we lacked nothing.

However, since this was a trip without a fixed itinerary, we occasionally found ourselves in difficult situations due to sudden circumstances.

And today was precisely one of those days.

Whooooosh—

We were touring a country where snow fell year-round. While traveling through deep mountains, a sudden landslide occurred.

Our carriage remained unharmed, but the path we originally intended to take was blocked, leaving us stranded with no way forward or back.

The sun set early, and darkness quickly descended. On top of that, a bone-chilling cold enveloped us.

Ascan gently brushed my pale lips and murmured softly,

“We can’t spend the night in the carriage. Wait here for just a moment.”

“No, where are you going—”

I tried to stop him since we were surrounded entirely by snow, but he gave me a look as if to say, “Just trust me,” then immediately turned away.

How much time had passed?

While I waited alone inside the carriage, Ascan returned.

By now, snow had piled up enough to cover the carriage wheels entirely, leaving visible footprints marking the path he had walked—from far in the distance all the way back.

“Luckily, I found a place suitable to stay for tonight.”

“Really?”

“Yes. There’s an unoccupied mountain lodge nearby.”

“I didn’t expect to find such a place deep in the mountains.”

“It seems like a temporary shelter built for people living in the mountains. Since no one’s around now, let’s take refuge there for the night.”

Each time Ascan spoke, white puffs of breath escaped his lips.

I readily nodded. Anywhere would be far better than spending the night inside the carriage.

Guided by Ascan, I struggled through the snow until we reached a cozy log-built cabin.

As soon as we hurried inside, Ascan brushed the snow off my body and said in a worried tone,

“Take off your wet clothes. You’ll catch a cold if you keep them on.”

Though we’d spent countless nights together since our marriage, undressing in this unfamiliar place made me inexplicably shy.

Blushing slightly, I nodded and removed my dress.

Ascan immediately fetched a blanket and draped it over my shoulders, leaving me in only my chemise.

It seemed no one had used this place for a long time—there was nothing available to start a fire. But it didn’t matter, because Ascan was here.

Whoosh—

Before I could even speak, Ascan summoned all nine of his undying flames.

Instantly, warm heat radiated from all directions. Still, as if thinking it insufficient, he pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me over the blanket.

At the same time I felt Ascan’s warmth from behind, his husky voice reached my ears.

“Are you still cold?”

“No.”

I couldn’t help letting out a laugh.

Somehow, the current situation felt slightly amusing.

It had been an unlucky day, yet hugging Ascan like this made it feel strangely romantic.

The world visible through the window was entirely white. Rather than feeling frightened by our isolation, I first thought how incredibly beautiful it was.

It was because Ascan was beside me. Strangely, whenever I was with him, nothing felt frightening.

While I quietly leaned into Ascan’s warmth, he asked softly,

“What are you thinking about?”

“Hmm… that even if today were the last day of my life, I’d be okay with it?”

Ascan flinched at my words. Frowning, he replied in a displeased tone,

“Why think such ominous thoughts?”

“It just means I’m enjoying this moment so much. Earlier in the carriage, I was only panicked, but now that I’ve calmly looked around, I realize we lack nothing. The scenery is beautiful, the surroundings are peaceful, and above all—you’re right beside me.”

Frowning still, Ascan laughed as if giving up on me. Pulling me closer, he murmured,

“If you think about it that way, isn’t every moment like that?”

“I guess so. I’m so happy being with you, but I can’t find the right words to express it.”

Though I’d said it after some thought, Ascan seemed unable to endure any longer—he turned my body to face him directly.

I hadn’t noticed while he was behind me, but facing him now, I suddenly realized:

Ascan’s abyss-like eyes held a heat even deeper than his undying flames—a gaze burning with intense desire for me.

“Madam, aren’t you cold?”

“No. I already said I’m fine—”

“You might still get cold like this. Let me warm you up more thoroughly.”

Ascan captured my lips as he spoke, pouring into me a kiss so deep and passionate that his desire for me was unmistakably conveyed.

I laughed at his ridiculous antics. Given that the flames he’d conjured were already more than sufficient, his insistence on sharing body warmth felt unnecessary.

But since I desired him too, I decided to pretend I didn’t notice.

Slowly, I placed my hand on the nape of Ascan’s neck. Staring straight into his eyes, I whispered seductively,

“Darling, no need to rush. The night is long, after all.”

At my words, Ascan’s eyes curved into a smile. He’d always especially loved it when I called him “darling.”

“For us, it’ll be too short.”

Without either of us initiating first, our bodies collapsed together onto the floor.

On a quiet night blanketed by snow, in an unplanned mountain lodge, we burned fiercely together.

The journey continued.

Sometimes we slept in luxurious inns, other times in shabby lodgings without even a roof—but nothing mattered. Traveling with Ascan was simply joyful and happy.

Across both my past and current lives, I’d never experienced such leisurely, carefree days. These were immensely satisfying times.

Once again, riding in a carriage without a destination, something caught my eye.

“Darling.”

At my call, Ascan, who had been gazing out the carriage window, turned his head and smiled beautifully, his eyes curving gently.

“Why are you calling me?”

I pointed toward a charming lodging visible in the distance and said,

“Look over there—it’s quite pretty. Shall we stay there tonight?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ascan nodded immediately. Pulling me close, he kissed my forehead and replied,

“Anywhere you wish, my lady.”

The carriage promptly headed toward the lodging I’d pointed out—a place brimming with atmosphere, surrounded by lavender fields.

We reserved the most VIP room there—a completely private detached cottage, like a standalone house.

Unlike the old mountain lodge we’d stayed in after the recent landslide, this place was extravagantly luxurious.

Purposeless travel had its pros and cons, but this aspect was part of its charm—not knowing where we’d sleep tonight or what tomorrow would bring.

Had I traveled alone, I might have felt anxious, but with Ascan beside me, even that uncertainty became thrilling.

While unpacking our luggage in the room, Ascan suddenly remembered something and spoke up.

“Oh, I heard a meteor shower will pour down tonight. They say it’s a spectacle visible only once every eighty years—shall we go watch it later?”

“Really? That’s wonderful! They say if you make a wish upon a shooting star, it comes true.”

“You actually believe in such childish nonsense?”

“Of course. Isn’t it true that anything you earnestly wish for will come to pass?”

At my confident declaration, Ascan chuckled as if utterly exasperated.

“Let’s have dinner first. I noticed they have lobster dishes on the menu—your favorite.”

“You remembered I like lobster dishes? Impressive.”

“Did you think there’s anything about you I don’t know? I even remember you hated carrots as a child.”

I was genuinely astonished. I hadn’t expected Ascan to remember such minute details.

Seeing my reaction, Ascan shook his head with an expression of amused disbelief.

Thus, we shared dinner together. Ascan personally prepared all the lobster for me, allowing me to eat comfortably.

Since the private cottage we were staying in had a swimming pool, Ascan and I swam for a long time after dinner, playing until we were exhausted by the water’s edge.

Though Ascan had once claimed he’d never properly learned to swim, he now displayed skillful, confident strokes.

Before I knew it, the day had swiftly passed, and night had fallen.

Wrapped in cozy blankets, Ascan and I sat atop the roof, waiting to watch the promised meteor shower.

As I gazed fixedly at the night sky, Ascan, seated beside me, spoke.

“Somehow, this brings back old memories.”

“Which time are you talking about?”

“The day you first showed me the night sky. I’d lived my whole life without even knowing such things floated above the heavens.”

Suddenly, I recalled how, when we were young, I’d abruptly dragged Ascan outside to show him the night sky.

—Have you ever looked up at the night sky like this?

—……No.

—Then today is your first time?

—Yes.

—I’m glad I brought you. Look up whenever you want to see it again. By the way, stars aren’t clearly visible in bright places—you need darkness like this to see them distinctly.

—Why?

—Well, stars are just like that. They only shine in darkness. Isn’t it beautiful?

—……Yes.

—I’ll teach you many more good things. Didn’t I promise to show you what enjoying life truly means? From now on, let’s have fun together.

Thinking back now, that too was a cherished memory. Admittedly, though I’d promised fun, I’d mostly just made him suffer—so a small part of me still felt guilty.

As I smiled unconsciously, recalling those times, Ascan, seemingly also reminiscing, softly continued,

“When I had amnesia, looking at the night sky always made my heart ache. Only after regaining my memories did I understand why I felt that way….”

Naturally, our gazes met in midair. Leaning slightly against the roof, he tenderly brushed my face.

“It was because I missed you.”

Thump. Even after so much time had passed, he remained the only man who could still make my heart race.

I smiled happily at Ascan, grateful for the fact that we’d reunited and were together again.

At that moment,

I saw the meteor shower beginning to pour down like rain across the night sky.

“Ah! The meteor shower’s starting!”

Instantly, Ascan and I gazed upward, spellbound. The sight of countless falling stars was breathtakingly beautiful.

After a brief moment, I snapped back to my senses, clasped my hands together, and tightly closed my eyes—to make a wish upon the shooting stars.

‘Please let me be with Ascan forever, happily for a long, long time.’

Casually glancing sideways, I saw Ascan—who claimed not to believe in such childish superstitions—also silently wishing for something.

When he opened his eyes, having finished his wish, I asked with a puzzled expression,

“I thought you didn’t believe in this stuff. What did you wish for?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Come on, there’s no such thing!”

Curious, I grabbed Ascan’s sleeve and shook it. He sighed as if resigned, then spoke.

“What about you? Tell me yours first, then I’ll tell you mine.”

“Me?”

When I tried to voice the wish I’d just made, I suddenly felt shy. Among countless possibilities, it was the clearest, most heartfelt desire I held.

Seeing me hesitate, Ascan’s eyes narrowed playfully.

“What kind of wish are you hiding that you can’t say it?”

“Well… ahem, I just wished to be happy with you for a long, long time.”

As my voice grew quieter, Ascan gazed at me with an expression that said, “You’re adorably cute.”

“Why hide such a wonderful wish?”

“You have no sense of embarrassment at all. Now it’s your turn—what did you wish for?”

At my words, Ascan chuckled, then softly answered,

“I wished… that in this life, the next life, and every life after that—for all the lives I will live, let me spend them all with you.”

“…!”

For a moment, I was speechless.

Somehow, my nose tingled. I could feel so clearly just how immense Ascan’s love for me was—his heart laid bare before me.

As I silently stared at him, he seemed slightly embarrassed and averted his gaze before speaking.

“Didn’t I tell you when we married? About the one wish I’ve held since long ago.”

Of course, I remembered.

The single wish Ascan had cherished since childhood.

—I wanted to secure a promise from you, no matter what, to always keep me by your side. Because I wanted to be with you forever.

Though countless meteors continued to fall above our heads, my eyes saw only Ascan.

Ascan gazed again at the night sky, then suddenly asked as if remembering something,

“Oh, by the way—how long do you plan to keep traveling?”

“Hmm… until we get tired of it?”

“We’re still far from that.”

Ascan smiled faintly, evidently pleased that the journey would continue.

Whoosh—I boldly climbed atop Ascan, who was leaning sideways against the roof.

Then, seductively, I whispered,

“Shall we kiss?”

At my question, Ascan stared at me with momentarily surprised eyes, then frowned slightly as he replied,

“That’s not even a question worth asking.”

In an instant, Ascan lifted his upper body and stole a kiss from my lips—the one now seated atop him.

Thus, a deep, intense kiss followed.

Long ago, I had resolved: I would absolutely make this novel’s ending a happy one.

Only today did I finally realize—our story had truly reached its happy ending.

No matter what future awaits us, as long as Ascan and I are together, we will always be happy.