Chapter 443: Happy or Sad
"Welcome, honoured guest. Do you have a reservation?"
"No."
The attendant’s smile stiffened slightly, "Then may I ask—"
"I am here to see Aria Moon."
The moment he said that name, the attendant’s expression changed; it was subtle, but Elion could see the recognition in his eyes, so he definitely knew either Aria or the Moon name itself.
That confirmed for him what he already suspected. Given the setting, it wasn’t hard for him to guess that this was where Aria and her family were staying.
The attendant glanced toward one of the guards, then back at Elion, "May I ask who is requesting to see Lady Aria?"
Elion looked at him, "Elion Nova."
The attendant froze as a deep frown appeared on his face.
’That name, where have I heard it before?’
He felt like he should know the name, but no matter how many times he tried to recall where he had heard it, he just couldn’t place it.
"Elion... Nova?"
"Yes."
Elion tilted his head slightly, "Should I repeat it again?"
"N-No, honoured guest. Please wait a moment." The attendant hurried inside, and Elion waited while standing there calmly with his hands in his pockets.
A short while later, the attendant returned, sweating profusely and also visibly out of breath, "Lady Aria will see you."
Elion smiled faintly, "Good." Even though he hadn’t waited for long, he really was starting to get impatient.
The attendant stepped aside quickly and allowed Elion to enter the inn.
The interior was just as lavish as the outside suggested. Polished floors, hanging lamps, fragrant incense, soft carpets, and carved pillars decorated the spacious entrance hall.
The attendant led him up a wide staircase and down a quiet corridor on the second floor. The closer they got, the stronger the harem seal link became.
Elion’s expression softened slightly despite himself. He let out a shuddering breath as some of the worry building up inside him eased somewhat. It wouldn’t be long now.
The attendant stopped in front of a large door and knocked, "My lady, I have brought him." For a brief moment, there was silence, and then the sound of hurried footsteps came from inside.
Elion had only just raised his eyes when the door was suddenly thrown open with a loud bang.
The attendant flinched.
Before Elion could even properly see into the room, a familiar figure rushed out and crashed into him.
"Elion!"
Aria threw herself into his arms without the slightest care for dignity, propriety, or the fact that there were people watching.
Elion caught her by instinct. Her arms wrapped around his neck tightly, and her face buried itself against his chest.
"Elion... Elion... Elion..."
She repeated his name again and again, her voice growing fainter with every word. She started sobbing in his arms, like someone who had spent far too long holding herself together and could no longer bear the weight of it.
Elion smiled, his expression softened, and he wrapped his arms around her properly, "I am here," he said quietly. "I am back."
Aria only cried harder.
Inside the room, three people stared at the scene in shock.
Lord Moon stood near the centre of the suite, his mouth slightly open as though whatever words he had planned to say had died before leaving his throat.
Beside him, Aria’s mother looked just as startled, though her expression softened after a moment.
They had known, of course, that their daughter’s feelings for this boy were nothing to scoff at. It was impossible not to know.
Aria had been restless, furious, and frighteningly agitated ever since Elion disappeared. She had snapped at servants, ignored meals, stared out of windows for hours, and nearly started a disaster at the academy because someone had insulted him.
So yes, they knew, but even then... Was this not a little too much?
Their little Aria was now clinging to this boy in the corridor like a lost child who had finally found her way home.
Lord Moon’s expression twitched, and Aria’s mother gave a small, helpless smile. A few steps behind them, Aurora looked at the scene with wide, confused eyes as she tilted her head to the side cutely.
"Mommy," she whispered, "is Big Sister crying because she is happy or sad?"
Aria’s mother’s smile turned even more wry, "Both, I think."
Elion heard that, but he did not look away from Aria. He simply held onto her. Her fingers dug into his clothes as though she was afraid he might vanish again if she loosened her grip even slightly.
"Elion," she sobbed. "Elion, Elion..."
Elion’s hand rose and rested gently against the back of her head. "I am sorry." Aria shook her head against his chest.
For a while, that was all she could do. Cry, hold him, and say his name multiple times, and Elion let her, and her parents did not have the courage to stop them, though Lord Moon was looking at Elion with narrowed eyes.
He allowed sentiment to bubble up in him only briefly; now his mind was already spinning, considering the implications of Elion’s sudden return.
The attendant had long since retreated down the corridor, pretending very wisely that he had seen nothing, as was expected of him.
Lord Moon cleared his throat once, perhaps intending to regain some order over the situation, but his wife lightly touched his arm, so he had no choice but to let this little reunion play out.
"Aria needs this." She whispered to him. Even he could see that much, but really, how long were they going to stand out here?
After a while, Aria’s sobs slowly began to quiet.
Her breathing was quick, and her face was flushed from crying, but she pulled back to look up at Elion with wet, red eyes that were still trembling with everything she had failed to say.
Elion gave her a small smile, "Hello, Aria, how have you been?"
For some reason, those simple words made her eyes water again. Before anyone could react, Aria grabbed the front of his clothes, pulled herself up, and kissed him deeply without shame or even the slightest concern that her parents and younger sister were standing right there watching.
Lord Moon’s eyes widened, and Aria’s mother covered her mouth lightly, though her shoulders shook with a silent, helpless laugh.
Aurora tilted her head to the other side, "Oh."
Elion blinked at first, clearly caught off guard. Then his eyes softened, and he returned the kiss, but he kept it modest and soft.
Aria closed her eyes and clung to him even tighter. All she could feel was Elion’s warmth, the strength and broadness of his frame, and the tenderness of his lips on her own lips.
The moment she had been longing for this past month was finally here. When she finally pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, but she did not look embarrassed at all.
Instead, she looked at him as though daring the world itself to try taking him away again.
Elion exhaled softly, "Missed me?" He asked.
"I missed you so much..." She hiccuped.
"Everything is fine now. I am here," he repeated.
"Please don’t ever leave me again..."