Chapter 68: Bonus Chapter

KAMORA

It was the eve of the Winter Light Festival, and Maroke Manor gleamed with festive decorations. Lamps glowed in every corner, and magic-infused chandeliers cast a cold, blue light, like frost.

The manor shimmered in a beautiful blend of orange gold and icy blue. Bundles of flowers floated in every room, their branches adorned with jewels.

Maids hurried about, arms full of trays of food, colorful fabrics, and ornaments that still needed to be placed. Jarosh dashed out of his room, his heart full of excitement.

“Oh, Mother! This is all so splendid! Father and I have never celebrated the holidays like this!” His eyes sparkled as he took in the lively scene, but his attention was quickly caught by a passing maid carrying a tray of snacks.

He reached out eagerly, but Kamora swatted his hand away before he could grab one.

“Those are for tomorrow,” she scolded lightly, and he pouted in response.

From the balcony, they watched the flurry of activities below.

Several maids approached Kamora, updating her on their progress with the preparations.

“My love,” came Lord Maroke’s warm voice from behind her.

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck. Jarosh grimaced.

“I’ll never get used to that,” he muttered.

Kamora smiled and turned to face her husband, looping her arms around his neck.

“You’re home early. I thought you wouldn’t be back for another hour or two,” she said.

“I couldn’t stay away. It’s our first Winter Light Festival as a family—I had to make it on time,” he replied.

Kamora kissed him on the lips.

“I’m happy you’re here.” She pulled away from his embrace. “Now, you can help with the preparations. I’ve got my hands full—”

A commotion below interrupted her.

The maids and servants were struggling with a large floating tree, its branches trembling slightly.

“Mother, what kind of tree is that? And why are they bringing it inside?” Jarosh asked, his curiosity piqued.

“It’s a decoration,” Kamora replied.

“I placed a little spell on it when it arrived. I didn’t think it would cause them this much trouble.” She frowned. “Now I feel a little guilty.”

Lord Maroke chuckled.

“Don’t worry, my love. Look at them—they’re laughing.” He gestured toward the servants, who had finally gotten the tree upright, giggling as one of them tripped.

“This manor has seen its share of tough times. Trust me, no one minds the extra effort. You’ve brought life back to this place, and for that, we’re all grateful.”

He kissed her temple, her chin, and finally her lips. “My love for you only grows stronger,” he whispered, resting his forehead against hers.

Kamora smiled, her heart swelling with warmth.

She cherished his unwavering support, especially for a celebration she’d never experienced growing up. If his love was a steady flame, hers was an inferno.

She kissed him again—once, then twice, before deepening the embrace, pouring all her emotions into it. Lord Maroke held her closer, his arms circling her waist, while she tightened her hold on his shoulders.

They parted only slightly, and she whispered, “I love you too.”

“Yuck,” Jarosh groaned, pulling a face.

Kamora walked around the manor. Jarosh was quick on her heels.

“Mother, what was it like celebrating the Winter Light Festival before you married Father?”

Kamora’s mind was focused on unfinished chores. “I’m not sure. I’ve never celebrated the Winter Light Festival before.”

“Really?” Jarosh exclaimed, shocked, following her as she headed down to the kitchen. “This is your first time too?”

“You could say that.”

“So you don’t have a favorite memory then?” he asked.

Kamora sighed. She turned around to face him, knowing he would keep asking if she didn’t answer.

“I’ve never celebrated the Winter Light Festival before, but I do have a favorite memory.”

“What is it?”

“I was a young lady, just a few years older than you are now.” She glanced at the large paintings of Lord Maroke’s ancestors on the walls.

“I had worked hard that day and finally earned my pay.” She thought back to her younger years, when everything seemed bleak.

Her father always took her earnings, telling her it was his for raising her, so he knew exactly how much she made. Imagine her surprise when she collected her salary that day and received extra as a holiday gift.

She had been ecstatic.

“The lady I worked for paid me extra, so I had more money to buy whatever I wanted.”

“Mother, were you poor?”

“Yes. Have you forgotten I was once a maid here?”

“I know. I thought that was because you lost your memory. I can’t imagine you being poor. You look anything but.”

Kamora sighed. She really needed to work on her son’s classist mindset.

“So, what did you buy with the money?”

“Food.” Kamora smiled as she thought back. “I bought lots of food. Maybe you got your love of eating from me.”

“I don’t eat that much,” Jarosh grumbled.

Kamora raised an eyebrow in mock doubt. “Really?”

Jarosh sighed. “So that’s your favorite memory of the Winter Light Festival?”

“Was my favorite memory. I’m about to make a new one.” She bent down and kissed his head. “Why don’t you go ask your father about his favorite memory?”

“My favorite memory?” Lord Maroke said from behind her.

Kamora jumped. “Why do you always appear behind me?” she exclaimed, placing her hand on her chest to calm herself.

“I’m sorry,” he said. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “So, what are you two talking about?”

“I just asked Mother about her favorite Winter Light Festival memory. She said it was when she was younger and bought a lot of food,” Jarosh answered, taking his father’s hand. “What’s your favorite memory?”

“That would be when your mother agreed to marry me.”

“That was during Winter Light?” Kamora asked, genuinely surprised as she tried to recall the moment.

“Mm-hmm,” Lord Maroke said. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget that day, and today, we’re making a new favorite memory for our family.”

***

It was time for dinner.

The whole Maroke family sat at the dining table, with maids serving food.

Petal set a dish down in front of Kamora and winked at her before leaving to continue her duties.

“You made all this, Mother?” Jarosh asked, his voice filled with awe.

“Mm-hmm. They’re my recipes, but I had some help.”

Jarosh gently picked up a slice of cake and groaned in satisfaction.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.”

“My wife is a great cook, isn’t she?” Lord Maroke chimed in, his eyes shining with happiness as he ate from his plate.

The rest of the night passed with small banter and laughter.

Kamora looked at her family and smiled. Her heart filled with joy.

***

After dinner, they gathered in the bedroom Lord Maroke shared with Kamora. The small family sat together on the bed.

“What’s next?” Lord Maroke asked, while Jarosh happily bounced next to him.

“Next is gift sharing. We exchange gifts during this holiday, and apparently, it’s the most important part.”

Jarosh’s face fell. “But I didn’t prepare anything!”

“It’s okay,” Kamora said, gently caressing his cheek. “I prepared something for you, so that’s enough for me.”

“Well, like Jarosh, I didn’t know we were supposed to prepare anything,” Lord Maroke said bashfully. “But I do have a gift I’ve been planning to give you. I never could, because I wasn’t sure if it was the right time. Maybe now is the moment.”

“What is it?”

Lord Maroke stood up and went to his drawer, pulling out a long red rectangular box. He climbed back on the bed and handed the box to Kamora.

Excited, Kamora opened it and was stunned by what she saw inside. Jarosh, curious, peered over her shoulder.

“My love!” Kamora exclaimed, looking up at him in awe as she pulled out the necklace.

It was pure silver, with an onyx wing attached. She could only imagine how expensive it was.

“It’s a pair,” Lord Maroke said, pulling up his sleeve to reveal a bracelet with a charm hanging from it. “They’re both enchanted. That way, we can never lose each other again.”

Kamora leaned over and kissed him deeply. Her hand went around his neck as she pulled him closer.

Lord Maroke groaned into the kiss, reciprocating her feelings as he gently held her waist, his hands dangerously close to her chest.

Kamora ran her hands through his hair. Just as she wanted to push him down onto the bed, a cough interrupted them.

“Did you forget that you have a child sitting right next to you?” Jarosh said dryly.

Kamora blushed, easing away from her husband. “Thank you. I love the gifts so much.”

With a flick of her finger, a small box appeared. She handed it to her husband.

Lord Maroke opened it and was surprised to find it filled with a special glittering powder. “What is this?” he asked, staring at her curiously.

“You once mentioned that you don’t like flying because it brings too much attention, even though it’s faster for you. The only time you can fly in peace is at night, but because of the curse, you’ve gotten used to not enjoying your gift.”

Lord Maroke stared at her, waiting for her to continue.

“With just a small sprinkle of this powder, you’ll be able to fly peacefully, day or night, without attracting attention. No one will notice you unless you want them to, even if you’re only a few meters away from them. Also, when you fly, you won’t feel tired. You might be exhausted in other ways, but when you want to fly, you’ll suddenly feel strong. A sprinkle lasts for up to two weeks.”

“Thank you so much,” Lord Maroke said, his eyes wide with genuine appreciation. “How did you come up with this? So many Fae with flight skills would kill for this.”

“That’s why you’re the only one lucky enough to have it. Because you’re my husband.”

Lord Maroke leaned over and kissed her quickly.

“Okay, what about my gift?” Jarosh asked, eager.

Kamora grinned. “You’ll get a whole tray of all the food you’ve wanted to eat this year.”

“More food for me?” Jarosh exclaimed, his eyes practically glowing.

“Is that a good thing?” Lord Maroke asked, looking slightly concerned.

“Don’t worry, it’s the Winter Light Festival. This is the only day he gets to do this.”

Jarosh jumped onto the bed, giddy. “This is the best day ever!” he said, clapping his hands. “Father, why don’t I fly with you this evening? I want that to be my gift.”

Lord Maroke sighed, though a soft smile played on his lips. “Okay then.”

“And here’s my gift to both of you.” Quickly, Jarosh hugged them both tightly and kissed them on the cheek. “I love you both so much!”

***

It was finally the end of the Winter Light Festival. The manor was quiet, and everyone had gone to bed.

Lord Maroke had taken his wife and son to the roof of their home after flying them both around the house for the rest of the evening. They huddled together, side by side, staring at the stars in the sky.

Kamora’s head rested gently on her husband’s chest, with their son lying on her lap.

“This is the best day ever,” Jarosh said, breaking the silence. “I hope we do this every year.”

“We definitely will,” Lord Maroke promised. Kamora hummed in agreement.

“This is just the beginning of our new traditions together,” Kamora said. “Not only will we celebrate Winter Light, but we’ll also make new traditions every year.”

“I can’t wait,” Jarosh said. They all smiled, staring at the sky as happiness and joy surrounded them.