52: On the Day of the First Snow

The imperial palace, restored after five months, was more luxurious than before.

“Duke Hormons, you’ve worked hard. I’ll grant you a vacation.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“And…”

Kael stood before the emperor, who rose from his seat.

“I plan to hand this position over to Julius soon.”

“Your Majesty.”

“As you know, I’m already sixty. I no longer have the strength to sit in this position, and I want to spend my remaining years peacefully with my empress.”

Kael bowed his head before the emperor.

“Lord Kael.”

Kael looked at the emperor, who addressed him warmly.

“I ask you to be my son’s steadfast sword. There’s no one I trust more than you.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

“Hahaha! Thank you, truly.”

As the emperor expressed his joy, Kael was about to excuse himself to return to the ducal estate when—

Bang!

“Your Majesty!”

“What is the meaning of barging into the emperor’s office without knocking?”

“M-my deepest apologies! Your Majesty! The Crown Princess—”

“What has happened to my daughter-in-law?!”

Kael covered his ears as the emperor’s booming voice echoed throughout the room.

‘He’s gone from being a doting father and husband to being a doting father-in-law.’

Kael’s lips twitched into a faint smile before his eyes widened at the news of the Crown Princess’s pregnancy.

“Is it true? My daughter-in-law is with child?”

“Yes, Your Majesty! Congratulations!”

“Haha! Hahaha! Lord Kael! Did you hear that? My daughter-in-law is pregnant!”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

“Haha! This is no time to waste! Let us go at once!”

Kael followed the emperor, who hurriedly left the office, worried he might trip and fall.

Bang!

“Elena! My beautiful daughter-in-law!”

“Your Majesty, you’ll startle your grandchild.”

“Haha! My apologies. Empress, our daughter-in-law.”

“Father…”

Kael observed the emperor, who gently embraced the pregnant Crown Princess and expressed his gratitude. He then stood beside Crown Prince Julius, whose lips couldn’t stop curling into a smile.

“Congratulations, Your Highness.”

“Thank you. You’ve worked hard. Go see the Duchess now.”

“I was just about to.”

Kael bowed and then approached Crown Princess Elena.

“Your Highness, congratulations on your pregnancy.”

“Thank you, Lord Kael.”

“Ahem. Elena, call him Duke Hormons.”

“My, Julius, are you jealous? How unusual, hoho!”

“Mother… Ahem, Elena, don’t laugh.”

“Brother, your face is turning red~”

“Sister, stop teasing him. He’s getting scary! Eek! Scary!”

“Ah! Get away! It’s hot! Ren!”

Leaving the happy family behind, Kael quickly mounted his horse.

“Ella, wait just a little longer. I’ll be there soon.”

Riding swiftly toward the ducal estate, Kael’s eyes were filled with longing.

—

Aella visited Laura’s grave once a month, carrying lilies that Laura had loved in life, accompanied by Kina.

“Laura, I have good news to share today. Our Kina is getting married tomorrow. To a very handsome and dependable younger man. Isn’t our Kina amazing?”

“M-my lady!”

Kina blushed and squirmed shyly, making Aella laugh lovingly.

“Laura, I hope you can rest peacefully now. And when we meet again, I hope we can laugh, chat, and enjoy tea together like we used to…”

Aella closed her eyes, reminiscing about the happy times they had shared.

Even after losing her mother and grandfather, Aella had always had Laura and Kina by her side, steadfast and dependable. As she recalled those precious and happy memories, a smile graced her lips. She opened her eyes, placed the lilies before the grave, and stood up straight.

“My lady, now that the palace has been restored, the Duke should return today, right?”

“He should.”

“You must be so happy, my lady~”

“Hoho.”

As Aella blushed shyly, the first snow of the year began to fall, and she let out a small exclamation.

“My lady! It’s the first snow!”

“It really is. It’s falling quite early this year.”

“Wow! Snow!”

“You’re still such a child.”

Watching Kina jump up and down with her arms outstretched, singing in excitement as snow fell, Aella suddenly remembered something her mother had told her.

[If you watch the first snow with someone you love, you’ll be together forever.]

[Really?!]

[Yes.]

[Then I can stay with you forever, Mother.]

Aella recalled her mother’s slightly sorrowful face.

[My sweet Ella, someday you’ll find someone you love even more than me. If you live happily with that person, I’ll have no regrets.]

[You’ll stay with me too! We’ll live together for a long, long time!]

[Ella.]

[Mother!]

As Aella remembered her mother holding her close and whispering words of love, her eyes grew moist.

“Ella!”

‘Am I hearing things because I miss him so much?’

Aella chuckled softly, but Kina’s shout of “My lady, the Duke!” made her snap her eyes open and turn around. There, she saw Kael running toward her, calling her name.

“Ah, Kael!”

“Ella!”

The two ran toward each other and embraced tightly. Kael lifted Aella off the ground and kissed her.

“Kael…”

“I missed you so much, my Ella.”

“I missed you too.”

As the Duke and Duchess shared another deep kiss, Kina shook her head in exasperation.

“No matter how happy they are… doing this at a graveyard, geez~”

“Kina.”

“Eek!”

Kina blushed as she met Ian’s eyes, who had hugged her from behind.

“Tomorrow, we’ll finally be married.”

“Are you that happy?”

“Of course. Aren’t you happy, Kina?”

Feeling guilty for Ian’s slightly disappointed expression, Kina turned to him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and stood on tiptoe to kiss him.

“K-Kina?!”

“That’s my answer… Eek! Ian?!”

“We’ll head inside first, Duke.”

“Go ahead.”

“Ian! Put me down!”

“No.”

“What do you mean, no?! Ian!”

As Ian carried her away, Kina’s protests faded into the distance. Aella covered her mouth, laughing softly, until Kael’s gentle voice called her name, and she turned to face him.

“Kael? Do you have something to say?”

“The Crown Princess is pregnant.”

“!”

Aella covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide, as Kael kissed her forehead.

“Let’s have a child too, Ella.”

“…Kael.”

“We’ll have a lovely daughter.”

“Hoho, Kael, we can’t decide what kind of child we’ll have.”

“Did you know, Ella?”

“Know what?”

Kael lifted Aella like a princess and gazed at the snow-filled sky.

“They say if you make a wish on the first snow, it’ll come true.”

“What’s your wish, Kael?”

“To become parents before the Crown Prince. You should wish for a daughter.”

“Haha! Kael, you’re not supposed to say your wish out loud!”

“Go on.”

As Kael kissed her cheek repeatedly, Aella laughed and clasped her hands together, making a wish.

‘Please bless us with a strong son who resembles Kael.’

“Did you make your wish?”

“Yes!”

“Thank you, Ella.”

“Hoho~”

“Why are you laughing?”

“It’s a secret.”

Though Kael found Aella’s smile suspicious, he couldn’t take his eyes off her as she reached out to the falling snow, her joy as pure as a child’s. Without realizing it, Kael laughed along with her.

—

After washing up, Kael approached Aella, who was sitting at her desk, and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m writing a letter to the Crown Princess since I can’t visit her tomorrow.”

“Ella, did you know?”

“Hm?”

Aella turned to face her husband, who looked unusually upset.

“What’s wrong, Kael?”

“Every time you open your mouth, it’s about the Crown Princess. It feels like you like her more than me.”

“Ah. Haha! Kael, are you jealous of the Crown Princess?”

“Ahem! It looks like you’ve finished your letter. Now, let’s…”

“Eek! Kael!”

Kael carried Aella to the bed and gently laid her down. As he leaned over her with a heated gaze, Aella felt her body flush.

“K-Kael…”

“I love you, my Ella. My eternal goddess.”

“Hoho, Kael…”

“Ella.”

“Ah… Kael!”

Feeling Kael’s warm breath and his tender yet passionate touch, Aella spent a fiery night with him.

When she finally fell asleep late into the night, Aella had a mysterious dream.

She stood in an open field under the night sky, marveling at the countless stars above her. Suddenly, three large, beautiful stars descended rapidly toward her and embraced her before entering her abdomen.

Waking from the vivid dream, Aella stroked Kael’s head as he lay sleeping beside her.

“Mm~ Ella.”

“You look like a child when you’re asleep.”

Smiling softly, Aella looked down at her stomach and placed her hands over it.

“What could that dream mean? Really… what could it mean… Somehow, it feels good… Eek?! Kael?!”

“Good morning, Ella.”

As Kael flipped her onto the bed and their eyes met, Aella’s face turned bright red.

“D-did you have a good dream, Kael?”

“Of course. Thanks to you, I had a wonderful dream.”

“Hoho, that’s good. K-Kael?!”

As Kael lightly climbed on top of her, Aella’s voice rose in flustered surprise.

“It’ll be quick, Ella.”

“But today is Kina and Ian’s wedding!”

“It’s in the afternoon. I love you, Ella.”

“Kael~!”

And so, Aella had no choice but to start her morning completely drained by her husband’s overflowing affection.