“Why, did you mess up your exams?”

Ali nodded timidly and defended herself in a barely audible voice.

“Your Majesty, I really tried hard. I even reduced my sleep during the exam period to study. But……”

“But your grades didn’t turn out as well as you thought?”

“Yes.”

“So you’re uncomfortable showing me your report card?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Arnica could completely understand the feeling of not wanting to show a poor report card to her guardian. And Ali was at an age where she would be sensitive about not only grades but everything else. Arnica smiled as if she understood everything and didn’t press further.

“Still, make sure to show it to your mother. If you show it to Patrick, you’ll get scolded.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ve already shown it to my mother. Of course, I got scolded a little.”

She explained that she was scolded for neglecting her studies at an academy she had entered with the sponsorship of none other than Her Majesty the Empress. Looking at the dejected Ali, Arnica felt both sympathetic and secretly found her cute.

Arnica motioned for Ali to come closer. When Ali stepped up to her, Arnica took her hand and lowered her head to meet her eyes.

“Ali, it’s okay if you’re not good at studying. I didn’t send you there to be the top student at the academy.”

“But…… my grades are too poor.”

“This is just the beginning. You’ve grown a lot already. You can even embroider such wonderful patterns by yourself.”

“But this is nothing, isn’t it?”

“There’s nothing in this world that’s meaningless. Everything has meaning and is precious. And this is a secret.”

Arnica leaned in and whispered near Ali’s ear. Curiosity lit up in her eyes.

“I still can’t embroider at my age.”

Ali opened her eyes wide in disbelief.

“What? Really?”

Goodness. The Empress, who had grown up as a noble lady, couldn’t embroider, which was an essential skill for noblewomen. It was simply unbelievable. Arnica winked and smiled at Ali, who could only open and close her mouth.

⁕⁕⁕

That night, after dinner, Arnica sat across from Theodore with a tea table between them and told him about what had happened with Ali.

“Such things have no meaning to me.”

Arnica had never imagined herself sitting still and embroidering a piece of cloth. It was also one of the few activities that didn’t suit her.

“I’ve seen you do much more impressive things with those hands.”

“It’s not that impressive.”

Arnica shrugged her shoulders as if embarrassed. Theodore, who had clearly seen her heal several injured knights, create what she wanted, and create an ice wall, didn’t want Arnica’s other talents to be buried under sewing, a minor hobby of noblewomen.

“It’s impressive to me. And amazing.”

“Your praise is excessive. It’s just an ability inherited from my ancestors.”

Arnica smiled slightly at the thought that Theodore was now feeling what she had felt when looking at Ali. Arnica recalled when she had awakened her holy power. When she tried to save Patrick, who had fainted from burns, and when she thought Theodore had died. The feeling of power boiling up in her chest, almost unbelievably, came back to life. Without knowing what was what, she had only thought one thing. The thought of wanting to save someone. The thought of wanting to explode her seething emotions of anger.

Now, through training, she could use her holy power freely to achieve whatever she wanted, but at that time, it had been shocking even to Arnica herself.

“It feels like a very long time ago.”

“Me too.”

Theodore looked at Arnica with gentle eyes. Today, the red flush on her clear cheeks looked even prettier. As he quietly gazed at her face, Theodore wished time would stop like this. The time spent casually talking about the day’s events, sharing each other’s feelings, and envisioning the future together was precious to him.

“Um, Your Majesty.”

Arnica put down the teacup she was holding and gently raised her eyes to gaze at Theodore. As the luminous eyes shone through her thick eyelashes, Theodore held his breath and stared intently at her. Whenever he looked at her smiling at him, he felt nothing in this world could frighten him.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Yes.”

Arnica hesitated for a moment and moved her lips. She was uncertain about how to bring it up.

“What is it?”

“I think we have good news.”

“Good news?”

“Yes.”

Theodore stared at Arnica with an expression that showed he had no idea what the news could be. From the moment he married her and began sharing a bed with her, every day had been a good day for Theodore. So his married life with her itself was good. It seemed like there couldn’t be anything better than that. Yet she mentioned good news.

When Theodore just blinked his eyes, Arnica smiled slightly and reached out her hand toward him. Theodore rose from his seat and willingly approached Arnica, taking her hand.

“What news?”

As Theodore took her hand, Arnica stood up from her seat. Then she gently placed Theodore’s hand on her lower abdomen.

“A baby has come to us.”

Theodore stared intently at Arnica’s stomach where his hand was placed, then raised his gaze. Seeing Arnica’s eyes full of joy, his heart pounded wildly. His breath caught with overwhelming emotion, and though he opened his mouth, no words came out.

“What do you think? Is it good news?”

Arnica carefully asked, looking at the dazed Theodore. Unlike the maids’ prediction that he would cheer and shout with joy, Theodore looked very solemn.

“Theo?”

Just as Arnica was about to ask again, Theodore embraced her deeply.

Arnica held her breath as she felt his rapidly beating heart. He’s happy.

“Really? We’re really having a baby?”

“Yes. I found out this afternoon.”

“Ah, thank you.”

A sigh of joy escaped his lips. Arnica gently patted Theodore, who didn’t know what to do and kept whispering words of gratitude and love.

This afternoon, Arnica had called a doctor for a checkup because she wasn’t feeling well, and that’s when she learned about the pregnancy. Wanting to deliver the good news personally, she had ordered the doctor and maids to keep silent. Throughout the long afternoon, by the time Theodore came, she was so eager to reveal the pregnancy that she could barely contain herself. Arnica was secretly happy that Theodore was so delighted.

Her heart swelled with the feeling that she and he were now connected as one through this new life. The worry about disappearing without warning from this place, just as she had left her previous life without warning, now seemed meaningless. The fact that a new life was growing in her womb made her feel rooted in this life. She was also happy thinking about the future she would create with her beloved Theodore, which seemed full of happy days.

“Thank you.”

Theodore looked up at Arnica as she expressed her sincere gratitude in this happy moment.

“I love you, Ari.”

Theodore whispered sincerely with overflowing eyes and kissed Arnica. Warm warmth spread throughout the room, following the deepening season.

⟨Side Story / End⟩