Side Story 2: The Person Most Beloved by His Wife

“Do you two know each other?”

The innkeeper’s question to Kailro seemed to come from far away.

Eirene stood there dazed for a while at Kailro’s completely unexpected appearance, then suddenly remembered Siaran.

Kailro was the person living with Siaran.

“Youn—”

“We’re friends.”

Before she could say “younger brother,” Kailro explained they were friends.

“Then you came to this village through the teacher’s introduction?”

“No. I had no idea at all.”

“What kind of coincidence is this? Come in quickly. But how did you know the teacher was staying here?”

At the innkeeper’s gesture for him to come in, Kailro shook his head.

“I just need to talk outside for a moment.”

“Is that so? Go ahead then.”

Eirene went to the living room to look at Clive. He slowly closed and opened his eyes, meaning he gave permission.

It seemed he had known this would happen. Unlike the slightly warm interior, the outside air was cool. Kailro scratched the back of his head awkwardly and brushed off a spot with his hand for Eirene to sit.

After Eirene sat down, Kailro sat apart from her, looked at his fidgeting hands, then stared straight ahead.

“I’m living with Siaran.”

“I know. I went to Siaran’s house during the day. He didn’t tell me you lived with him, but seeing your face, I figured it out. Did Clive send you here?”

“Yes. His Highness the Grand Duke didn’t mention anything about me at all, I see.”

“He didn’t. I didn’t even know Siaran lived here. Did you come to the wedding?”

“I only showed my face briefly and left. Did you see me?”

“I think I caught a glimpse. When did you come here?”

“Not long after your wedding ended.”

It seemed Clive had found him after hearing that someone had seen Kailro. Why hadn’t he mentioned it until now? If they hadn’t chosen this as their honeymoon destination, she would never have known.

She couldn’t understand what Clive was thinking.

“Are you doing well?”

Kailro, who had been looking straight ahead the whole time, turned to look at Eirene and asked.

“Yes. You’re doing well too, aren’t you?”

“Do I look like it?”

“Your face says so.”

He smiled broadly. That bright smile she had seen at the door. It had been so long she couldn’t remember when she’d last seen it.

“Mother passed away.”

At Kailro’s sudden statement, Eirene quietly nodded. She had expected it. If he were still with Countess Phineas, Kailro’s face would look very different from now.

“She remembered what she had done to Aishe when she was a baby. And…”

She couldn’t hear what came next. She didn’t want to know the words that disappeared into his long sigh, so she didn’t ask.

They both fell silent.

Honestly, Eirene wasn’t happy to see Kailro. He and his family had been part of the long years she had suffered in pain. But now it was time to gradually let go.

For herself and her family.

“Kailro. This is a good place. There are many good people too.”

“Right. Not everyone is good, but most are.”

“You’re… a good person too.”

“That’s not true.”

“If anything from the past is holding you back, let it go.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I can say this to you because those I resented and hated are no longer here.”

Eirene, who had nothing more to say to Kailro, stood up first. If she came here again, perhaps they could have more conversations then.

“See you later if we get the chance.”

“Yes. Go inside. Next time I’ll call you Your Highness.”

Kailro didn’t leave his spot until Eirene smiled, turned around, went inside, and the door closed.

Countess Phineas had died in agony.

His mother, who hadn’t been in her right mind, remembered her mistake with young Aishe and also remembered k*lling the suffering Aishe with her own hands. She blamed Eirene until the end, but eventually suffered, saying she was the beginning of all problems, and took her own life.

That’s how Kailro found peace of mind.

Anyone who heard this would criticize him, but that was the truth. It felt like his parents’ punishment for their sins, like he had escaped from being bound together with them. Kailro, who sometimes wondered if it was okay to laugh among people, decided to let go a little.

Because Eirene said it was okay.

He hadn’t come seeking to hear those words but simply because he was happy to see her, yet it felt like receiving an unexpected gift.

I’ll pray until I die, Eirene.

That you and your people will all be happy.

Just like you have been until now.

Kailro slowly rose from the bench and took his steps while offering a prayer for Eirene.

* * *

They came up to the second floor.

It was obvious the innkeeper’s wife had hurriedly paid attention to details.

The bed’s blanket and curtains had changed to bright colors, and there were flowers that hadn’t been there before. On the small round table, she could see alcohol in a glass bottle.

Obviously the innkeeper’s wife had insisted on putting the alcohol that the innkeeper treasured there. Eirene sat across from Clive with the table between them and lifted the bottle to pour into Clive’s glass.

Just from pouring the alcohol, a subtle peach fragrance spread.

“The innkeeper’s wife really. I said it was fine, but she prepared all this in the meantime.”

“Still, isn’t it better than before?”

“It is. It reminds me of when I lived with Gemma before. Oh, what’s the story with Kailro?”

Clive filled Eirene’s glass.

The taste on her tongue was sweet, so she gulped it down, but her throat stung. Despite the fragrance, it was strong alcohol.

When Eirene coughed, Clive offered her water, but she refused and drank the remaining alcohol, emptying the glass.

When she held out the empty glass, he smiled and poured for her.

“I don’t care if I get drunk,” she said, then he answered her question.

“Since he appeared at the wedding, I looked for him, and when I found him and asked if he wanted to live here, he readily agreed, so I sent him.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you said you were done with connections to the Phineas family.”

She remembered saying that to Clive after seeing Kailro at the wedding.

“Then why did you look for Kailro?”

“In case you might be curious about him or want to see him someday?”

Was he answering or asking?

She didn’t understand the meaning of the following question.

“When you eventually looked for Kailro, I wanted to tell you he was doing well. So your heart could be at ease.”

“What if I never looked for Kailro?”

“Then you wouldn’t. To me, Siaran and Kailro seemed like unfinished business for you. Optional tasks, but ones that made you uncomfortable whenever you thought about them. So I took care of the task for you.”

How could he know so precisely?

Like he had gone into her head and come back out.

Grateful and sorry feelings. Good and somehow embarrassed, she teased him.

“Tell me honestly.”

He filled Eirene’s empty glass again.

“What?”

It was only the third glass, but she felt good. The alcohol was getting to her.

“You didn’t want me to worry about Kailro later, right? If Kailro lived comfortably, I’d think ‘he’s doing well’ and forget about him.”

“Hmm? Why is the conversation going that way?”

“You’re even jealous of Karl.”

“Shouldn’t I be?”

“Where can you find a father who’s jealous of his own son?”

Somehow Kailro had disappeared from their conversation.

“There are probably more than you think. They just don’t show it.”

“There are probably fewer than you think. There are no such fathers.”

“Then I’m the only father jealous of his son, so what.”

Eirene glared at Clive.

When he drank his alcohol with an expression like it was no big deal, Eirene emptied her glass almost simultaneously.

“Puhup!”

She didn’t know why laughter came out.

Was she really drunk already?

Actually, she had been genuinely angry at Clive for being jealous of Karl. She couldn’t understand having such feelings toward a baby, not even a grown child.

But looking at it now, it wasn’t just something to be angry about.

“Will you be jealous for life?”

“They say when a person changes, it’s time to die.”

“What if Karl dislikes you?”

“That will absolutely never happen. It’s hard to have a father as outstanding and cool as me.”

His desire to be the person most beloved by his wife was endearing. At the same time, his confidence that he could be a good father to the child was reassuring.

Eirene got up with her glass and sat on Clive’s lap. She put her arms around his neck and briefly kissed his cheek.

“My wife has gotten drunk after a long time.”

She also kissed his lips.

“I feel slightly good, but I’m not drunk.”

“You’re giving me this service without being drunk?”

“You’re talking like I never do this normally.”

“You didn’t do it much.”

“Please speak correctly. You always pounced first, so I had few opportunities to do it.”

Clive readily admitted it.

“Got it. I’ll try to stay still today. I’m looking forward to it.”

Eirene put her glass on the table. She hugged Clive’s nape tightly with both arms.

“Even if I gain more weight than now, even if I get more wrinkles, please continue to love me like this.”

“Yes.”

“Even if Karl comes first for me sometimes, your feelings shouldn’t change.”

“This isn’t what I was expecting.”

“Answer.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Then from now on, shh. This house has poor soundproofing.”

Eirene pressed her lips to Clive’s forehead, his eyelids. When she slowly went down his face kissing him, Clive grabbed Eirene’s hands and brought them down.

“I can’t do it after all. I’m too impatient to wait.”

Because of Clive’s impatience, Eirene’s service was ruined again this time too.

“Don’t make noise.”

He grabbed the back of Eirene’s head and kissed her deeply.

Today too, he had no choice but to pounce first. It made no sense to endure with such a lovable wife.

* * *

Twelve years had passed since Clive met and married his wife.

At dawn, Eirene gave birth to their third child, who had a large age gap with their first child Karl, and fell into a deep sleep. Everyone in Dervel Palace spent a sleepless night.

At news of his sibling who had seen the world’s light, Karl, who rarely got excited, shouted with joy, and needless to say, Julian was the same.

But the joy was brief.

Soon after hearing about their mother’s condition, their faces turned pale.

Clive was the same.

When he heard the pregnancy news, knowing that although Eirene had divine power, she became particularly weak during pregnancy and for some time after childbirth, he had briefly opposed it. Of course, she said that was nonsense.

When the doctor told him she had fainted and couldn’t wake up, all kinds of thoughts flashed through his mind.

Should he have opposed it to the end?

No, only the thought that it was his fault came to mind.

Fortunately, when he heard she had regained consciousness, he breathed a sigh of relief and rushed to stay by his wife’s side.

Gemma, who had helped with the birth, showed him the newborn baby.

A daughter who resembled Eirene.

Tears welled up. He felt sorry for having opposed such a beautiful child.

“Clive.”

Eirene, who had woken from sleep, called him.

“Why did you wake up already? Sleep more.”

“What about our third child?”

“She’s sleeping over there.”

Clive moved his body to show the baby’s crib. Like this, another family member had been added.

“She… looks like me.”

“Yes. I saw.”

“She’s pretty, right?”

“Yes. Pretty. Very, very pretty.”

“…I thought so.”

Eirene muttered and closed her eyes again. He brushed her disheveled hair to the side and took her hand to place it against his cheek. It was brief, but thinking he might have to live without her, he thought he was going crazy.

It felt like a dark world with nothing in it.

How did he live when she wasn’t here?

He couldn’t even remember those times now.

“I can’t live without you.”

So let’s live happily together for a long, long time.

My wife.

My Eirene.

I Grant You Permission for Revenge | The End

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