“How can Riella be so pretty and lovable!”

After the princess was born, Melissa practically punched in her attendance at the imperial palace almost every day.

Like someone who would face serious consequences for missing even a day of seeing Riella’s face, she trained intensely after waking up in the morning, and immediately after finishing lunch, she rode straight to the imperial palace.

Because Melissa brought large and small gifts every time she came, they had to prepare another large room just for Riella.

Half of the gifts that came for Riella were from Melissa. Only after receiving a gift ban from Stella did Melissa start coming empty-handed.

Today too, she had come to see Riella right after eating lunch.

Riella, who had shown extraordinary beauty since birth, had gained chubby cheeks, thicker hair, and even rounder eyes.

Melissa marveled at Riella’s fairy-like cute appearance every time she saw her.

Riella wasn’t fussy either. She ate well, slept well, and smiled sweetly. Every time Riella laughed with a giggle, Melissa would make a huge fuss, like she was ready to faint.

“Riella, I’m your godmother. Say godmother. Hmm?”

Melissa hugged Riella tightly and kissed her soft cheek with a smooch before rubbing her cheek against it. The soft and smooth feeling of her cheek made Melissa feel like she was melting with happiness.

“Didn’t you say you’re leaving soon for the knights’ regular training?”

At Stella’s question, Melissa sighed deeply, her expression suggesting the world was ending, and hugged Riella more preciously. She smelled like the unique milk scent of babies.

Melissa held Riella close for a long time and sniffed, seemingly trying to memorize the smell. Riella giggled because it tickled, making Melissa melt once again.

“I’ll be gone for a month, how will I handle missing our Riella so much?”

Melissa was already worried sick. She felt she might not be able to stand missing her during training and might come running back.

Melissa, who had never poured such blind love toward anyone before, felt she could even die in Riella’s place.

Stella, who had been quietly watching Melissa fussing over Riella, put down her knitting yarn and said,

“When you have your own child, they’ll be even prettier and more lovable, you know?”

While Stella felt grateful that Melissa cherished and loved her child, she also wanted her dear friend Melissa to experience the joy of holding her own child.

“I’m not getting married or anything like that.”

“Why?”

“It’s bothersome.”

“But you wanted to marry Kai before.”

At Stella’s question, Melissa narrowed her eyes and looked at her with an expression suggesting Stella was being mean.

“Your Majesty seems to have quite the grudge.”

Stella burst into laughter that she had been holding back at Melissa’s reaction and asked again.

“I mean, didn’t you want to get married back then?”

“That was because I wanted to win against Kai.”

“How is marrying him winning?”

“Of course it’s winning. Because Kai didn’t want to marry me. The moment we got married according to my wishes! It would end in my victory!”

Stella gaped blankly at Melissa’s strange logic before asking, “Then did you lose to Kai now?”

“No, I won.”

“How? You didn’t marry Kai.”

“No, I achieved an even more valuable victory.”

Melissa smiled meaningfully as she looked at Stella.

“I gained a friend I want to be with for life. And I also got precious Riella who’s as dear as life itself.”

Stella felt tears welling up at Melissa’s answer. Stella also treasured Melissa dearly. At one time, she had been someone so far above that even looking at her felt burdensome, but somehow she had suddenly come close and become a friend.

Though Melissa and Stella had completely opposite personalities, they had never hurt each other’s feelings because of it. This happened because Stella usually only said what was right, and Melissa never wanted to fight with Stella.

To Melissa, Stella was not only a friend but also someone she wanted to protect.

Even Melissa herself often wondered why she had such fond feelings for Stella. She had pondered why, but there was only one conclusion.

Because she liked Stella. Very much so!

It remains the same now.

Knock, knock.

While the two enjoyed a pleasant conversation, there was a knock. It was Rudina.

Rudina, who had become noticeably prettier lately, sometimes received date requests from knights, but each time James would act like he planned to k*ll that knight, so nowadays no one could approach Rudina.

“Your Majesty, Scholar Crot has arrived.”

“Teacher?”

As Stella got up happily, Melissa puffed up her cheeks and made a dissatisfied expression.

“It seems you’re happier to see him than me, Your Majesty?”

Stella looked at Melissa, who was grumbling like a child, and said one thing.

“How cute.”

“What? Me?”

Melissa doubted her ears at hearing the word ‘cute’ for the first time in her life. Even her parents had called her pretty, excellent, and wonderful, but never cute.

‘Am I actually cute?’

She really was a friend who suited her perfectly.

Every time he met her, Crot couldn’t help but be amazed at how much the princess had grown. To grow this much in just a month! Honey dripped from Crot’s eyes as he looked at Riella.

“Teacher, why do you look even worse than before?”

Stella welcomed Crot happily but asked worriedly when she saw his face with dark circles reaching the middle of his cheeks.

“It’s fine. I just stayed up for several nights. I’ll feel better after getting some good rest at home. I’m really benefiting a lot from Golden Bloom tea. It’s so effective for fatigue relief that when I drink a cup and sleep, I feel as energetic as when I was young the next day.”

“Me too! Golden Bloom tea is really amazing! Can’t you see my skin has improved?”

“Yes, you look very well.”

Crot, who had been smiling at Melissa, turned to Stella with a desperate expression and asked,

“Your Majesty, would it be alright if I held the princess for a moment?”

“Of course. Riella likes you very much too.”

“Really?”

Crot approached Melissa, who was holding Riella, with genuine joy and spread his arms. It meant he wanted her to hand over Riella now. But Melissa turned her head sharply and refused.

“No. I’ve only been holding Riella for an hour.”

She could only spare a few hours a day to come see Riella, and to have even that time interrupted by someone else! It was absolutely unacceptable.

“But Marchioness, you’ve already been holding her for an hour!”

“I’m telling you it’s only been an hour!”

“My arms are weak, so I just need to hold her for a few minutes.”

“Liar! Last month you said the same thing and held her for over 10 minutes!”

“Not today. I stayed up for three nights, so I can’t manage 10 minutes. I’ll just hold her for 9 minutes.”

“I said no!”

Stella shook her head watching the two bicker over Riella.

Even though Riella was born with a gentle nature, she thought the child might grow up spoiled with such doting people around.

Unable to watch anymore, Stella approached the two, and Riella reached out both arms toward her mother.

“Riella, come here!”

“Muh…mma!”

For a moment, silence fell among the three people.

“Did you just hear that?”

Melissa was the first to react. Stella smiled brightly as she took Riella in her arms with an emotional expression.

“That’s right, Riella. I’m mama!”

“Oh my goodness! Our Riella must be a genius! Saying mama so early? Wow! She’s so pretty and smart too? What could possibly be lacking in Riella! This is driving me crazy!”

Melissa made a huge fuss, reacting as though she had been the one called mama.

“Crot! Why aren’t you saying anything? How can you maintain such a calm expression at such a historic moment when you’re here with us? Even if you can’t shed tears, I’m really disappointed in you.”

When Melissa spoke excitedly, Crot reluctantly smiled and nodded.

Well-versed in not only herbology but also medicine, Crot knew well about children’s development according to their age. He had studied more since the princess’s birth.

“That’s right. Our princess is very intelligent.”

Even as Crot answered, he shuddered at the emperor’s face that kept overlapping with Marchioness Melissa’s. After playing cutely among the three people for a while, Riella started nodding off and fell asleep.

When Rudina came and took Riella away, Crot and Stella had time to talk quietly.

Melissa had to leave the palace first due to her afternoon schedule. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to peek at the soundly sleeping Riella.

Milky steam rose from the pretty teacup on the table. The subtle tea fragrance seemed to calm even her heart.

“I heard that the medicine you made saved many lives when the epidemic broke out. That’s really admirable.”

Stella had heard rumors about the antibiotic Crot had made. That medicine had really saved many dying people’s lives. The medicine was named Crota after his achievement.

Because it cost less than other medicines while being very effective, the medicine sold like hot cakes and Crot had now become much wealthier than before.

“It was all thanks to Your Majesty. If you hadn’t cultivated the plants used in the medicine, I could never have made it.”

Crot bowed deeply toward Stella, feeling grateful anew.

* * *

On a sunny day, Kai, Stella, and Riella went on a picnic together after a long time.

Because Kai’s busy schedule prevented them from going far, they had to visit a small hill inside the imperial palace, but the family of three looked very happy just with that.

Rudina and James walked behind the three family members walking side by side. Watching the princess giggling in the emperor’s arms, Rudina couldn’t help but smile.

Looking at the princess reminded her of when she first met the Empress. Back then, they were both young and weak, getting through each day by depending on each other.

“I’m so glad the Empress has become happy.”

Rudina’s eyes suddenly became moist as she recalled the past days. James, who had been walking silently beside her, quietly took Rudina’s hand. Rudina’s hand in James’s grip was relatively small, almost like a baby’s hand.

Rudina stared down at James’s hand holding hers before asking with a sudden expression.

“Why do you like me so much?”

It was something she had wanted to ask for a long time. Seeing how happy the Empress looked made her want to have a family like that too. But she wasn’t yet sure if James was the right partner.

“Because you’re Rudina.”

“What?”

“There’s no reason. I like you because you’re Rudina. It can’t be any other woman.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s what I decided.”

Rudina, who had been quietly listening to James’s words, sighed softly without answering. Though Rudina hadn’t completely opened her heart to him yet, James wasn’t impatient.

He felt confident he could make Rudina happy, and above all, he had no intention of letting any male near Rudina.

“Would you be okay if I married another woman?”

James asked with a desperate expression. Rudina listened quietly before shaking her head.

“…No.”

“Me too. Just imagining another man by your side makes my blood boil. I don’t want any other man besides me coming near you. I want to be the only one who can hold your hand, kiss you, and embrace you.”

Though it wasn’t the first time James had confessed, Rudina’s heart strangely fluttered. Meeting James’s warm and passionate gaze as he looked down at her made her feel like she had become someone truly precious and important.

“So Rudina, marry me. Please.”

Rudina, who had been staring at James, turned her head again to look at where Stella was sitting.

By her side, Kai busied himself arranging Stella’s skirt, and Riella appeared occupied playing with the pink fairy who always stayed by her side.

The four earth fairies didn’t come along, saying they had to look after the jewel fruit seed. They seemed relieved that both the baby fairy and James were going together.

The pink fairy was named ‘Ella’ after Riella’s name. It was a name the pink fairy had chosen herself. Ella shared every moment with Riella.

As Riella grew, Ella was also growing little by little. Stella, who had been smiling while looking at her lovely daughter, suddenly raised her head and stared at Rudina.

“Okay. I will.”

“R-really?”

“Yes. James. I like you too.”

At Rudina’s confession, James jumped up on the spot before hugging Rudina and spinning around.

“Eek!”

When the startled Rudina screamed, James quickly put her down and held her tight in his arms. Today was the thirty-seventh time James had proposed.

A bright smile spread across Stella’s face as she watched Rudina being held by James. Seeing Rudina so happy made Stella’s heart so full she almost teared up.

Kai carefully wiped away the tears gathering in his beloved wife’s eyes with his fingertips and pulled her close as he asked,

“Are you happy?”

Stella nodded and kissed Kai’s cheek.

“Yes, enough to make me cry.”

At his beloved wife’s answer, Kai smiled softly and kissed her lips.

It was a perfectly happy moment with the gentle breeze, warm sunshine, and Riella’s laughter added to it.

Epilogue

The gardener who came to clean up where the imperial family had their outing tilted his head in confusion when he noticed something strange.

“Huh? Why is this place like this?”

From the traces, it was clearly where a blanket had been laid. But if so, the grass where the blanket had been should have been flattened or bent.

But rather, the grass where the blanket had been appeared greener and more lush than elsewhere. Moreover, wildflowers that weren’t supposed to bloom yet were blooming prettily in clusters.

—

T/N: This marks the final side story, so nothing more will be posted after this. I still can’t believe it’s over. If you’re reading this and have made it to the end, thank you so very much. I can’t express how deeply I love this story. What began as a simple “why not?” turned into “it’s over? no!”

I’ll miss Stella and her crew immensely. It’s that feeling of emptiness you get after finishing a really great K-drama. I’ll miss the earth fairies, Kai, Crot, the Verdura staff, Melissa, Harman and his hilarious antics (he’s secretly my favorite), and everyone else!

If you enjoyed the novel, I have a small favor to ask: please write a review on NovelUpdates. It would help others discover the story too.

Until then, see you in my other works!