Epilogue.1 – Arhadan

It had already been a month since she arrived in Arhadan. So much had happened in that short time. When Karl discovered that she still suffered from wrist pain, he caused a huge commotion. He gathered all the famous doctors in Arhadan, demanding that they cure her. Thanks to his efforts, the pain disappeared, but his overreaction made her face flush with embarrassment every time she saw a doctor.

Adjusting to Arhadan’s culture wasn’t easy. In fact, she still hadn’t fully adapted.

People in Arhadan walked around nearly n*ked. Though it was because of the heat and strong sunlight, she always struggled to find somewhere to look when faced with their exposed skin. Karl, seeing her discomfort, would look puzzled, saying it wasn’t anything extreme. Only then did she realize that when he had undone a few buttons in Chevrem, it had been an extremely modest action by Arhadan standards.

The children, having grown up in cold Chevrem, struggled with the heat in Arhadan.

“It’s so hot, so hot…”

Selina, in particular, couldn’t handle the heat and needed to bathe in cold water at least twice a day.

It wasn’t just the heat or clothing that was different; their way of thinking was also vastly different. She had already noticed this when she met Karl’s mother, Amina, but the people here were much more open and free-spirited compared to those in Chevrem. While this could be seen as a positive trait, to someone like her who had spent her entire life in Chevrem, they seemed excessively promiscuous. Hans offered a quiet explanation, almost as though he were making excuses.

“It’s mostly the imperial family and a few nobles in Arhadan who are like that. The common citizens aren’t like them. You can see that from me.”

Hans proudly thumped his chest, boasting about how much he loved his wife and cherished his children. He was known as a devoted husband even here in Arhadan.

After she arrived in Arhadan and legally registered her marriage with Karl, Hans’s attitude towards her changed significantly. He treated her with more respect than he did Karl. While she found it somewhat displeasing that his attitude only changed after she officially became Karl’s wife, she decided to let it slide, given how polite he had become. After all, aside from Karl, she didn’t know anyone else here. She had heard that Ronan had been dismissed and exiled from the imperial city.

Aside from the heat, the clothing, and the lack of acquaintances, she found Arhadan fascinating and new. Since both Chevrem and Arhadan shared a common language, Slevian, communication wasn’t an issue.

Unexpectedly, Karl held an important position in the imperial city. Originally an administrator, he had been promoted to Lord of the Privy Council for successfully negotiating in Chevrem. This meant he often spent time with the Emperor and the Crown Prince, which also meant he was busy.

While Karl was away, she would explore the imperial city of Arhadan or go for walks outside with the children. Each time, several knights would follow her. Feeling uncomfortable, she told them not to follow her, but they would shout in alarm.

“That’s absolutely impossible, Madame!”

They warned her that if she went out alone, she could at least expect to be pickpocketed, and at worst, even lose her clothing. Reluctantly, she had no choice but to take the knights along on her walks.

Whenever she went outside, she could feel people staring at her. Rumors about her had already spread far and wide. After all, the prince who had gone to Chevrem for negotiations had returned with a foreign bride. It was the perfect topic for gossip.

She only learned the extent of it after reading the newspapers. That was when she found out that Karl had been quite the playboy. Though she had somewhat expected it, seeing his past relationships laid bare in the newspapers shocked and even betrayed her. As soon as she learned about his past, she confronted him fiercely.

“Karl, were you a playboy? What’s this interview? Is it true?”

“No, Leti. Wait. It’s all exaggerated. I did have a few short flings in the past, but they were very brief.”

“So, you’re admitting it was true?”

Karl’s face turned pale. Flustered, he waved his hands in the air.

“Leti, now it’s only you. You know that, right? Hmm?”

“And this article? Is this one true too?”

Each time she pulled out a newspaper, his eyes wavered. Looking troubled, he rubbed his forehead and sighed.

“Those bastards…”

He muttered a curse under his breath. She immediately caught it and glared at him.

“I’m sorry, Leti. If I’d known I’d meet you, I wouldn’t have lived like that. Really. Now, I don’t even look at other women. It’s only you.”

True to his word, Karl only had eyes for her. Even so, she couldn’t help but feel annoyed every time she came across those newspapers. Sighing, she said,

“Then make sure nothing like this ever gets published again.”

“Alright. I’m sorry.”

He hung his head low in response. Seeing him so dejected, her anger quickly subsided. She placed a hand on his slumped shoulder. He immediately leaned into her, rubbing his cheek against her neck.

The more she got to know him, the more she discovered unexpected sides to him. He cried easily, got angry more often than she thought, and had quite a range of emotions. He was also surprisingly affectionate and liked to act spoiled.

Once, Hans had witnessed Karl acting spoiled toward her. The moment he saw it, Hans was so shocked that he bolted out of the room. Karl, however, didn’t seem to care about Hans at all.

“It’s time to go, Karl.”

She coaxed him, knowing he needed to leave for work soon. Though he pouted and whined about not wanting to go, she firmly sent him off.

After he left, she headed to the children’s room, where the nanny was with them. As she walked down the corridor, she encountered a man who both resembled and didn’t resemble Karl. He was a beautiful man with striking golden hair. The moment their eyes met, he smiled warmly and approached her.

“Greetings, Madame.”

“Hello.”

Though she didn’t know who he was, she returned the greeting. Without asking for permission, the man grabbed her hand. Before she could pull it back, he kissed the back of her hand.

“I’ve been wanting to meet you. I’m Asar, Karl’s brother.”

His soft, curved eyes met hers. His smile reminded her of when she first met Karl; their smiles were strikingly similar.

“Technically, I’m his half-brother. Same father, different mothers.”

In other words, he was an illegitimate child. Karl’s parents were the legitimate couple.

“I see.”

“I thought you’d be happier to meet me. After all, we’re quite similar.”

His gaze scanned her, as though pointing out that they were both illegitimate. Awkwardly, she forced a smile and pulled her hand away.

“You’re obviously from Chevrem.”

He remarked as he released her hand. When she furrowed her brows, he waved his hands with a smile.

“Oh, no. I didn’t mean it as an insult. It’s a compliment. Your skin is so fair and soft.”

“…Thank you. I’ll be going now.”

She nodded politely and started walking toward the children’s room. However, he blocked her path.

“Madame, how about having tea with me? There’s much I’d like to discuss with you—about Karl.”

A strange feeling of unease crept over her. After hesitating for a moment, she shook her head.

“No, thank you. The children are waiting for me, so I’ll be going now.”

The smile on his face cracked. She glanced at the broken smile and turned away. She could feel his gaze following her back, but she ignored it.

As soon as she opened the door to the children’s room, they ran to her as if they had been waiting.

“Mom!”

Killian and Selina clung to her legs. She bent down and embraced them.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes!”

Killian and Selina replied with cheerful voices. She nodded in gratitude to the nanny who had been taking care of the children.

Taking the children by the hand, she headed outside. Today, she planned to go for a walk beyond the palace walls again.

During her walks with the children outside the palace, she learned something. Arhadan had a significant number of foreigners. It wasn’t uncommon to encounter foreign merchants while walking along the streets. Occasionally, she even saw people from Chevrem.

New places brought new experiences and perspectives. With each new discovery, she felt herself growing richer in spirit.

She didn’t regret coming to Arhadan at all. She resolved to enjoy life here with a more open mind.