Side Story 3.1

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“…It’s His Majesty, right?”

I asked without even opening my eyes, still buried in the blankets. The head maid answered with a hint of a laugh in her voice, as if she knew everything.

“Yes. He is waiting outside.”

“What time is it right now? Isn’t it time for the meeting to start?”

“He heard news of Your Majesty and promptly postponed it until the afternoon.”

“Ugh, my head…”

“Are you alright?”

“I was fine until I heard that, and now my head hurts.”

“Shall I call for a doctor?”

I waved my hand. Jeras was standing guard by the door. If a doctor came in and out, he would surely turn the palace upside down. That would only make my headache worse.

It seemed I had to give him a sharp lecture today. I was worried sick that the country would fall. I did not want to leave my name in history as the wicked empress who ruined an empire.

“Tell him to come in.”

“Eloe!”

No sooner had the words left my mouth than Jeras rushed in. How could he have heard me when the room was so big? It made me suspect that he had installed a listening device somewhere without my knowledge.

“I heard you collapsed during your walk. Are you okay?”

“Who told you… that? I didn’t collapse; I just felt dizzy for a moment and wobbled.”

“Everyone, out. Her Majesty needs to rest in peace.”

Jeras dismissed everyone after seeing me stumble over my words as I tried to use formal language. I needed to fix this habit. I kept reverting to an informal tone if I didn’t consciously try to be respectful.

“Wobbling like that is what you call collapsing. Let me see. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“The doctor this morning said it was just a mild case of anemia and not to worry, so listen to people for once.”

“You look pale. You’re even breaking out in a cold sweat. Don’t go outside today. Stay in your room.”

“The only reason my face is so white is because you always keep me cooped up in my room and I can’t get any sunlight!”

My patience snapped, and I finally exploded. For the past few days, he had been using every excuse under the sun—”the wind is chilly,” “the weather is cloudy,” “there’s a thin layer of ice on the ground”—to keep me from taking a single step outside my room.

Jeras blinked at my lion’s roar. He folded his eyes into his signature devilish smile.

“I’ll have to order an artificial sun artifact and place it in the room. Then there’s no worry about catching a cold from the wind, and you can get as much sunlight as you want. Why didn’t I think of that sooner?”

‘That’s enough already, you immature brat! What was I thinking, marrying a guy like this… I must have been out of my mind. I was crazy.’

“Relax, I’m just kidding. Do you really think I’d do something like that?”

“I think you would. I think you’ll order it the moment I leave the room. You haven’t already ordered it, have you?”

“Your Majesty knows me too well.”

“Cancel it right now!”

I sat up and wildly threw my fists at Jeras. Though he could have easily dodged, he took every one of my punches.

My resistance was useless. Only my hands hurt from hitting his hard muscles. It was like hitting a rock with an egg.

Jeras gently massaged my reddened hands. His warm and tender touch made my body go limp. ‘Ugh, I can’t let this happen.’

“They say this winter is going to be exceptionally cold. I’m worried.”

“It’s bearable for now. If it gets colder, I’ll just stay inside.”

“Are you cold? Shall I warm you up?”

…How did you hear what I said and come to that conclusion?

I was so dumbfounded by Jeras, who was standing there with his arms wide open, that I couldn’t speak. He even closed his eyes, saying, “Come on, hurry over here,” and I couldn’t tell if he was joking or serious. I glared at him.

“You have so much energy. Why don’t you put that energy into your work?”

“You’re so heartless, my wife. This energy is only for my wife…”

“Stop with the nonsense and go, okay? Do you want to see what ‘truly heartless’ looks like? Do you want to sleep alone starting tonight?”

“Alright, alright. I’m going. I’ll go. Just one last thing.”

Jeras gently stroked my stomach. He kissed my forehead, the tip of my nose, and my lips in turn, then asked with a tender look in his eyes, “I have a small villa in the southern region. I think it would be good to spend this winter there. What do you and our little one think?”

***

The southern region Jeras was talking about was the southernmost part of the continent, a place connected to the sea. It was a well-known resort area with a mild climate and beautiful scenery all year round.

It would take two weeks to get there by carriage from Rivai, but I felt no burden about the distance. We could get there in less than 10 seconds by using a magic circle.

And I was no longer the powerless me who had to depend on Jeras to move a magic circle.

After all! I was the youngest professor at Haiola Academy. Although I was currently on maternity leave because Jeras threw a fit…

‘It just came to my mind again.’

Back then, I really hated and loathed Jeras. If I could have, I would have beaten him to a pulp. I didn’t even want to see his face.

‘And that person is now right by my side.’

It was true that you could never know what would happen even an inch into the future.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Hmm? Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about the past.”

“What are you thinking about?”

“The thought that my first impression of you was truly the worst.”

“Don’t be shy. You fell in love with me at first sight.”

Oh, look at him. He’s putting on his own show, playing both the drum and the janggu. His narcissistic complex is definitely an incurable disease.

“You really haven’t changed at all from back then.”

“Of course. How could my handsome looks change?”

“Yes. I see. What a shame that your handsome looks are of no use anymore. What a pity.”

“And my love for you hasn’t changed either.”

“…No, it has. You weren’t so greasy at first. You were brazen, but not this greasy.”

My face flushed at his unexpected line. Jeras chuckled and moved his face closer to mine. Ugh! Why, why are you doing this! Get away from me!

“My looks are useful for this, so there’s no pity.”

“I, I won’t fall for a honey trap! I don’t know the location of the secret base!”

“Eloe, you’re so easy to read. Let’s go now. It must be hard for you to stand for so long.”

Jeras chuckled, stepped onto the magic circle, and held out his hand. Even though my belly wasn’t showing yet, Jeras was treating me as carefully as if I were a sculpture made of glass.

His overprotectiveness was sometimes suffocating, but it mostly made me happy. It made me feel what it was like to be loved.

The moment I took his hand, I felt the movement of mana. In less than 10 seconds, the familiar scenery changed to a new one.

“You’ve arrived safely, Your Majesty the Empress. I was worried, but I’m relieved.”

“…Mom? Dad? How did you two get here?”

“So you finally came.”

Jeras muttered to himself. His tone suggested he had expected my parents, who were smiling at me.

What? What is this? Did the three of them conspire behind my back, and I just got played with my eyes open?

“Was your trip difficult? Are you feeling alright?”

My mom asked, enveloping my hand with both of hers. There was nothing to be tired about! We arrived in just a few blinks of an eye!

“We came after hearing the news that you’ll be spending this winter in a warm place. We thought it might be more comfortable to have your mother’s hands on you than a stranger’s.”

“That’s true, but… you two must be so busy right now. I heard there’s a lot of snow in the duchy and the roads are blocked.”

“Don’t worry about the duchy. Our dependable son said he would take good care of it. It’s about time for Siliya to gain some experience as the future Grand Duchess, anyway.”

The Grand Duke laughed heartily. Ahhh… I can see it, I can see it. I can see my mom and dad who dumped their work on Sion and Siliya as if they were threatening them!

Sion must be shedding tears and stamping endless documents right now.

“Your Majesty, forgive me for interrupting, but an urgent message has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”

“Now now, Your Majesty the Empress, come this way. Though it’s the south, the winter wind can still be chilly.”

While Jeras was being held by his aide, my dad and mom tried to lead me away.

But Jeras wasn’t so easy. He held onto my hand tightly and didn’t let go. Soon after, a warm energy from his hand spread, enveloping my body.

“I’ve cast a spell on Her Majesty. It won’t take long, so you don’t have to worry too much, Grand Duke.”

“There was a study that said being exposed to too much of another person’s mana during pregnancy is not good. It seems Your Majesty has not heard of it yet?”

That was a research finding I had never heard of before. I couldn’t help but laugh at my dad, who was saying anything just to take me away.

“…You have a lot to do. It would be best for you to return to the Imperial Palace.”

“I just arrived, and you’re telling me to go back? I don’t want to.”

Jeras’s expression as he answered sharply was serious. The aide was sweating profusely. Ahem.

“Don’t say ‘I don’t want to’ so carelessly. Go quickly.”

“I don’t want to. I’m not going. It hasn’t even been five minutes since I got here.”

“You’re going to be a father soon, yet you’re acting like a child. Go quickly. You can come back in the evening after you’re done with your work.”

“You want me to last until evening without you? I can’t do it.”

Just, just! Stop saying such cringe-inducing things and go, you rascal!

I slapped Jeras on the back and pushed him back into the magic circle. And before he could retort, I injected mana into it.

“Eloe, how could you do this to me! Are you already tired of me?”

“I’ll have some cozy time with my parents. Have a safe trip. Bye.”

I sweetly ignored Jeras’s wailing and waved my hand.

“You’re abandoning me!”

With that last cry, Jeras was sent back to the Imperial Palace.

He was so incredibly immature. Should I really entrust the future of the empire, my life, and the life of our unborn child to a guy like him?

‘Just you try to act pathetic again. I’ll take the baby and go back to the duchy.’

“Eloe, is there anything you want to eat?”

As soon as Jeras disappeared, my mom asked in an incredibly gentle voice and stroked my hair. Hehehe. I hugged my mom.

“I love all the food you make, Mom. Oh, especially peach sherbet! I want some peach sherbet.”

“I can make it for you, but I don’t know if you should eat cold food. Have just a little so you don’t get sick. Okay?”

“Yes!”

“Then I, your father, will read you a book to help with the prenatal care.”

“Okay. Don’t just stand here, let’s go.”

I walked between them, holding onto their arms with both hands. The love in their eyes and voices was much warmer and softer than the warm air of the southern region.

I had a feeling this would be a fun and relaxing vacation.