Joy's Unhappiness

Or Rather...

Joy's Happiness

Epilogue

Dear Lilah

How have you been doing? No, what a silly question, of course you must be happy! You're on your honeymoon with your darling Caelan! You guys must having lots of fun (if you know what I mean)!

I'm sorry about not writing to you since your wedding. Deofia is only starting to recover, you know? And I've been doing all I can to help it recover.

Thank goodness our kingdom has been vastly improving. I visit the towns and villages regularly just to check how they are doing. The mood is much better and I see more and more smiles everyday. It won't take long for it be like it was before. No, scratch that, I will try to make it better than before! I'll become the best ruler this kingdom has ever had!

Hee, hee, watch me surpass you guys, ancestors!

We have established a connection with Fairadore by the way. Deofia has never made a connection with any other kingdom so it will be interesting to see how this turns out.

Darwin was the one who suggested it. He talked it over with me then we brought it up together in the next meeting. It sounded like a good idea. Both kingdoms would benefit. Deofia will receive exports from a bigger range of other kingdoms due to Fairadore's links. Fairadore will be more informed about agriculture and our farmers are giving tips to their farmers how to get better yields.

Overall, the citizens of Deofia has been seen being more friendly to foreigners and enjoying a little bit more luxury than before and Fairadore's greens has been looking more lusher and more pleasant surroundings.

Haha, it seems like as if the two kingdoms have merged. Normally that would happen if the royal families marry into each other...

… I can't believe I just wrote that.

It's not like I'm married to Darwin or anything! Hmm, I can just hear you ask coyly: 'I didn't mention Darwin, did I?' Well, I say: Who else could the candidate be but Darwin? Besides if I was married (again), you would be complaining about why I didn't invite you to the wedding.

But... After saying that this may sound odd...

Just the other day...

Darwin proposed to me!

I really was happy. Honest! I mean, I told you how I felt about him at your wedding, so you know that I would be leaping for the moon after hearing his proposal.

It's just that... Deofia is still in rambles, after the events taking place here. Yes, it is recovering rapidly but we shouldn't push it. Also, Darwin and I haven't even known each other for a year! Isn't it too early?!

Ah, but people say it's not the time we've spent that counts... It's the moment we've shared. To an extent, I do agree with that.

Darwin really is a sweet guy. He was there for me when Father passed away, letting me know that I will never be truly alone. There are a few things that I can't tell you... But... I would never swap these precious moments we had together for anything in the world!

At first, I thought the way he tried his best no matter what was adorable, but he is worth much more than that. Now that he has come into my life, I can't imagine being without him. Not without wasting my life away...

How could I not accept his proposal?

Before you rush over here, excitedly planning for our wedding, I beg of you, please don't! At least, not yet. You'll understand why it will be postponed, right?

And don't tell anyone. Caelan is an exception though. Our engagement is a secret, just until things smooth over here in Deofia.

Okay, enough about me. It's your honeymoon after all! I'm making you use up your time reading when you should spending that much valued time with Caelan!

Tell me about it in your letter! Oh yes I do need to know, Lilah! No matter how embarrassing it is! I told you my love life, now it's your turn to tell me yours!

Love Joy ~

xxxxx Third POV xxxxx

"Ow!"

Joy frowned disapprovingly at the bead of blood starting to form on the tip of her finger, like as if she was reprimanding a misbehaving child.

"I need more practice..." she murmured to herself.

She put down her embroidery to avoid staining her work and got up to rescue her finger. Just as she began to dress her wound with some cloth, she saw a flash of light by her window.

A figure gradually materialised in her room and Joy watched it curiously. Something about the glow told her that, whatever the thing is, it wasn't harmful.

The figure, became clear, revealing a tall lady in an elegant dress with even more elegant wings on her back. The wings were large, almost taking up the entire space of her room. Intricate patterns decorated the wings. Joy gasped in surprise as she recognised the face that belonged to the fey.

"Arryn? Is that you?"

The fairy smiled warmly and nodded. Joy immediately encompassed her in a short hug.

"Long time no see!" she chirped giving Arryn a big grin. "So this is your real form?"

"Yes, I thought you might want to know the truth. I'm a sort of fairy godmother who comes to those who suffer from depression. Gave you a shock didn't I?"

"You sure did! Why did you appear so small when we first met?"

"Because I look more approachable that way." Arryn snapped her fingers and she turned into the smaller form from before. "See?"

"Yeah! You're so cute!"

Arryn giggled and turned back into her original form. "I usually prefer the smaller form though. It's more convenient."

"I suppose so. No matter how pretty they are, those wings are huge!"

"Uh, y-yeah..." Arryn also had a different reason but she figured it didn't matter. "So how are you now?"

"Much better, thank you! You were right that time. If I had given up back then, nothing would have progressed. But now, Father came back to his senses and is with mother. I also got to meet Darwin..."

"I can see that you're happy. Where did you get such lovely earrings I wonder?" Arryn innocently inquired.

The pink faced Joy, gently fingered the snowdrop earrings she was wearing. It was the gift Darwin gave to her at the festival. However he gave it to her while she was Cat-skin so it was a pity she could only wear it when Darwin was in Fairadore.

"You already know who I got them from don't you?" Joy asked, already knowing the answer.

Arryn chuckled. "Maybe."

Suddenly they heard a tinkling noise, kind of like a bell but not quite. It sounded rather... magical if it could be put into words.

"Ah, that means I got a new job. I should go now." Arryn approached the window preparing to fly away.

"Wait! Could you do me one last favour?" Joy pleaded.

Arryn looked at her inquisitively. "What is it?"

Joy opened a drawer and took out a nutshell. "This contains the dresses my father gave me and the cloak I wore as Cat-skin." she said. "Can you please take them away with you?"

Arryn nodded wisely, accepting the magic nutshell, understanding why Joy would want to get rid of them. "But are you sure you wouldn't want to wear one of these dresses on your wedding? They really are beautiful."

"I am very sure. I don't want to cling on to Father so much. Besides, it's not right for me as a human to wear something so mythical. It was made with magic wasn't it?"

"Yes." Arryn, felt like it may be better if she didn't tell her that wearing magic items would do her no harm.

The fairy noticed something else in the room. "So you are still keeping the snowdrop?"

"Oh! Yes I am. Snowdrops are the symbolic flowers of hope. There are still so many things I hope for. A prosperous kingdom, acceptance of the wedding and... a brilliant new beginning. Is that too selfish of me?"

Arryn shook her head. "It's perfectly normal." Her wings shook. "Well, It's time for me to go. Goodbye!" She jumped out of the window and flew high in the sky, turning into a sparrow as she did so.

"Ah!" Joy ran to her windowsill. "Goodbye! And don't forget to visit once in a while!" she yelled, waving her hand. She watched the sparrow fly until she could no longer see it.

A new beginning... A fresh start... Joy could see her life shifting to improve from now on and she looked forward to it.

She saw a familiar carriage moving down the path towards the castle. Joy beamed at the sight of it.

"Darwin's back!"

A/N: It's over! Sorry if the ending disappointed you a little. Romance isn't really the main theme... Not to me, at least. Readers can think for themselves what the moral is. I'm too tired to post a really long author's note but I can tell you that the next story will be hilarious! It includes an (extremely) arrogant prince and a mysterious female bear!

Also, a big thank you to everyone who kept up with my idiocy! Especially to Pokemonchen who rose my spirits up (by pressuring me*cough*) so I could keep writing! I still have much to learn but, again, thank you all for reading this far!