Chapter 255: Already Husband and Wife
Rhodes had been like this from the very beginning.
He had never been in a rush to declare his feelings. Instead, he had first sought a way to ensure he could stay by the Great Mage's side forever.
Fortunately, he found it.
This allowed him the luxury of a long span of time to slowly work his way into Serie's heart, to the point where she eventually grew accustomed to his affection.
"Rhodes," Serie said suddenly. "We should be... using human terminology... considered husband and wife now, correct?"
Serie recalled the wedding they had encountered previously.
At that time, the bride and groom had sealed their lifelong promise with a kiss.
Recently, she had been kissed by this man quite a few times. To some extent, could they be considered a married couple by human standards?
"Theoretically, not yet. After all, we haven't held a formal wedding."
"How troublesome."
Serie shook her head, showing absolutely zero interest in the wedding Rhodes mentioned.
Not only would she have to wear a white dress that was inconvenient for movement, but she would also have to invite a large crowd of people to watch. Just thinking about it made Serie feel uncomfortable.
More importantly, she couldn't invite that many people anyway.
Serie did a mental headcount. It seemed there were only Ela and the other two. Moreover, there was one person among them she didn't dare invite, for fear the girl might do something irrational.
Hearing this, Rhodes chuckled lowly, the vibrations of his body transmitting to Serie through their joined fingertips.
He knew naturally that the Great Mage had no interest in tedious human etiquette. In a sense, Serie was actually quite lazy.
She hated trouble and usually couldn't be bothered to move. She was even somewhat of a shut-in.
Back in the forest, she could go hundreds of years without taking a single step outside, spending every day flipping through grimoires or conducting experiments on new magic.
Such a dull life would have driven an ordinary person mad long ago, but Serie had persisted for a millennium.
However, even her persistence had its limits. Even Serie had begun to feel a little bored recently—until Rhodes proposed the Magic Association, giving her a new goal.
"Indeed, it is troublesome," he agreed, his fingers gently twirling a lock of her golden hair. "However, for us, those rituals are irrelevant."
He lowered his head, resting his forehead against hers, and gazed into her clear golden eyes. "In my heart, from a long, long time ago, you have been my only partner. Whether there is a ceremony or not, that will not change."
Serie gazed back at him quietly, seemingly pondering his words.
For her, the concept was far more important than the form.
She recalled the long years she had spent with Rhodes—the moments fighting side by side, the silent understanding, the magical exchanges, and the recently escalating intimacy.
The bond built by all of this was far more profound than a noisy human wedding.
"Mn." She eventually gave a soft hum of agreement, accepting his statement.
For her, this was the final confirmation.
She thought for a moment, then added, "Then, by that logic, have we been... husband and wife... for a long time?"
This phrasing made Rhodes chuckle.
"Yes," he laughed, patting her head. "It is just that a certain dense elf only realized it now."
Serie frowned slightly, seemingly wanting to argue that she wasn't dense.
But upon careful reflection, she realized it had indeed taken her a very, very long time to roughly understand these emotions. She swallowed her words and merely glared at him somewhat indignantly.
That little expression, tinged with a hint of tsundere, made Rhodes's heart itch. He couldn't resist wanting to kiss her, but Serie gently pressed a finger against his lips.
"Then," she looked at him, her eyes filled with pure curiosity, "since we are already husband and wife, according to human custom, what should we do next?"
Rhodes was stunned by her sudden question, then laughed.
It was a waste of such a romantic atmosphere.
"Well..." He dragged out the word. "There are many things human couples do. Actually, what we usually do isn't much different. The only thing we haven't done is probably... bearing and raising children?"
If it were any other human woman, hearing such a blunt statement from Rhodes would have made her blush furiously.
But unfortunately, this was Serie.
As expected, Serie's frown deepened immediately. Her face showed clear disapproval, even disgust.
"Reproducing offspring? I feel it would interfere with the exploration of magic. It is a completely unnecessary and troublesome step. Besides, theoretically, you and I cannot produce offspring."
A human and an elf were destined to be unable to have children.
This was the law of the world, a natural rule. It was impossible for different species to procreate.
Her reaction was entirely within Rhodes's expectations. "I know you have no interest in that." He paused, then reassured her, "We do not need to follow any human steps. Just being like this—being together, doing what we both want to do, researching magic, building the Association, and dealing with future threats—is enough. That is our way."
Serie listened and thought for a moment. Finding this plan reasonable and feasible, she nodded. "Good. Then let it be so."
At least for now, she had absolutely no desire to reproduce.
For elves, the thought of having children might not occur for thousands of years. Although the Elven Kingdom had been advocating for it over the millennium, the results were minimal.
If elves' views on reproduction could be changed so easily, the continent would have been overrun by elves long ago.
After all, for a race that was nearly immortal and naturally gifted, conquering the continent would not be difficult if they had the numbers.
Serie's response was simple and direct, but Rhodes was already satisfied.
This was his Serie.
No flowery vows needed, no grand ceremonies required. Once she decided on something, she would exist in his life in an incomparably pure and steadfast way.
"However," Serie spoke again suddenly, pointing at the sky, "tonight you must watch the stars with me. I heard there is a meteor shower, the kind that happens once every fifty years."
Rhodes's heart moved. He said softly, "Alright. I will find the perfect spot. And from now on, every fifty years, I will watch it with you."
This was a promise belonging to the long-lived—a promise only the long-lived could make.
Serie looked at him and said nothing more. Instead, she actively reached out, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her face gently in the crook of his neck.
It was a gesture with obvious reliance.
Rhodes was slightly stunned, then tightened his arms, hugging the elf in his embrace tightly, feeling the real warmth beneath her cool aura.
Time was peaceful, and the years were long.
For them, who possessed an endless future, the title of "husband and wife" was perhaps truly less important than the warmth of holding each other in this moment.
After all, to cross a vast expanse of time, to finally walk into the deepest part of each other's hearts, and to decide to walk hand in hand from then on... that in itself was already the grandest and most eternal ceremony.
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