Epilogue – That Winter (Part 1)

Life at the villa was better and more enjoyable than expected.

Though it was still large by Ria’s standards, compared to the mansion or the Imperial Palace where she had lived until now, it felt cozy. Encounters with the staff were rare, giving the impression of a newlywed home.

There wasn’t anything particularly special about their daily routine.

They ate meals together, strolled through the garden, enjoyed tea time, and walked along the beach.

Sometimes, they even built sandcastles like children. When a large wave would destroy their creation, they’d look at each other with wide eyes before bursting into laughter.

When they had collected enough relatively intact seashells from the beach, they drilled holes through them, stringing them together as charms for wish bracelets.

Though simple, the fact that Ria had painstakingly made them herself, using threads matching the color of each of their eyes, made these bracelets as valuable to them as the handkerchiefs they had received during the hunting festival.

At first, they treasured the bracelets so much that they didn’t even want to wear them. Ria had to make them wish on the bracelets and personally tie them onto their wrists. She didn’t forget to mention that the wish would come true if the bracelet broke.

Even so, they cherished the bracelets more than the wishes, wearing them with utmost care.

Of course, there were times when they couldn’t be so careful.

‘Ah… stop, stop… please…’

From the moment they planned the trip, their minds had been filled with ulterior motives. There was no way they would let this opportunity slip away.

Day or night, it didn’t matter—they clung to Ria, not even limiting themselves to the bedroom.

The bathroom was their second favorite location after the bedroom. Other places included the hallway, the terrace, the garden, and even, on one occasion, the beach. They pressed their overwhelming presence against her, undeterred.

No matter how much Ria shook her head or backed away, against the towering figures of the four men—nearly twice her size—there was little she could do but feebly resist.

In hindsight, it seemed obvious that the reason they had instructed the staff to stay away from the villa and the beach was precisely for this purpose. It wasn’t just a suspicion—it was a certainty. But what could she do about it now?

To their credit, they always stopped when she firmly refused. They didn’t act forcefully. Though they would sulk like drenched puppies and gaze at her with desperate eyes, they never crossed the line without her consent.

In the end, whether it was because she couldn’t resist their pitiful expressions or for some other reason, Ria eventually allowed them to have their way in those outrageous places.

As a result, she spent very little time awake and clear-headed. Even now, as the New Year arrived after nearly a month, she was still recovering.

“Hmm…”

Ria, resting her head on Eden’s shoulder, let out a soft hum.

The lush green leaves that once filled the view outside the window were now sparse. The two of them were on their way to the port in the Earl’s territory next to the villa.

Ria held Eden’s large hand, idly playing with his palm as she sank into thought.

Not long ago, she had seen Rune, Eden, Cherta, and their aides carrying an enormous pile of documents. Their faces were pale, all showing the same exhausted expression.

When she approached Rune’s aide, the one she was most familiar with, to ask how he was doing, he sighed deeply, said he was fine, and trudged away wearily.

Curious, Ria had quietly followed him, trying to overhear the conversation outside the office. All she caught was something about skipping the New Year’s festival before Rune caught her.

‘I didn’t know there was a New Year’s festival.’

Ria, who had crossed into this world during the spring, was experiencing her first New Year here.

Back then… well… she had been dragged into their arms from the afternoon of the previous day, overwhelmed until she fell asleep. She barely managed to wake up before midnight. Wrapped tightly in blankets, they had all gone out to the terrace to watch the moon. At the stroke of midnight, they had watched fireworks launched from both territories.

After that… well, there was no need to elaborate.

Clearing her throat, Ria’s cheeks turned slightly red as she recalled New Year’s Eve. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she wasn’t sure whether she had celebrated the New Year with humans or beasts.

“Eden.”

Lost in thought, Ria finally called out to Eden, organizing her thoughts.

Eden, who had been smiling while watching her tiny hand move across his palm, responded with a soft 

“Hmm?”

Ria lifted her head from his shoulder.

“Don’t you think it’s time to go back?”

“We just left. Are you tired?”

“No, that’s not it. I mean, shouldn’t we return to the capital?”

Eden blinked. For a brief moment, he tried to guess why she was saying this.

“Do you want to go back to the capital? Hmm, are you bored of the villa?”

“I’m not bored of the villa. The sea is different every time I see it. I just thought you all seemed busy, so maybe it’s time to go back.”

It’s already been a month since we’ve been here.

Hearing her soft-spoken reasoning, Eden kissed her forehead.

“It’s fine. We’re not busy.”

He lied as naturally as if it were the truth.

To be fair, it wasn’t entirely a lie. They had been handling their usual workload, so it wasn’t overwhelming. Moreover, the experienced Knox had been filling the sudden vacancy left by Marquis Melbourne, ensuring everything ran smoothly.

Although they did receive daily letters from the capital, practically demanding their immediate return.

Just as Ria opened her mouth to respond, the carriage came to a stop. Eden placed the bonnet he had set aside on her head, tying the ribbon into a bow as he spoke.

“Really. Why would I lie, knowing you’d worry? Don’t worry about it anymore and focus on spending time with me.”

His sweet voice was enough to reassure her. After all, the Eden she knew was always this kind and gentle.

“So, stop worrying and focus on us.”

After carefully tying the bow under her chin, he leaned down and placed a light kiss on her lips. The soft “smack” sound made Ria’s cheeks flush.

She took his hand and stepped out of the carriage. The scent of the sea and the bustling sounds of the port greeted her, making her brown eyes sparkle.

For over a month, Ria’s world had been limited to the villa and the nearby beach.

This was her first time seeing the distinct atmosphere and people of the southern region.

Even in the capital, a simple outing to the marketplace had delighted her like a child. Now, seeing a place so different from the capital or the north, her excitement was palpable. Eden felt his gaze soften as he watched her.

The port’s liveliness had a different energy from that of the capital.

Ships arrived and departed, while travelers prepared for journeys abroad or returned home. On one side of the street, shops sold freshly caught seafood, while others offered southern specialties made from those ingredients. Scattered throughout the area were street vendors selling snacks, reminiscent of festival markets.

Hand in hand, the two strolled through the bustling port.

Given the variety of people passing through, their presence didn’t draw much attention.

Though they had dressed as inconspicuously as possible, the quality of their clothing and their demeanor still stood out. Occasionally, some people turned to look at them.

Of course, anyone who lingered too long on Ria quickly averted their gaze when they met Eden’s fiery red eyes.

One man, who had stopped in his tracks to stare at Ria, was sent scurrying away under Eden’s sharp glare. Sighing internally, Eden adjusted the bonnet on her head. Well, if he found her so irresistibly lovely, how could others not feel the same?

Still unable to suppress his burning jealousy, he wrapped an arm around her waist and asked,

“What was it you wanted to buy again?”

“Hmm. We already have vegetables, so maybe eggs, sausages, or ham? I’d like to try some seafood too, but since I don’t know how to prepare it, that should be enough.”

Ria nodded as she folded her fingers one by one, deep in thought.

The purpose of this outing was to buy ingredients for the picnic lunch they would take on the following day.

Since it was just the group of them, Ria thought it would be fun to prepare and pack the lunch herself. It was also an idea that came to her while looking for something to do, given how idle she was compared to the others who occasionally worked on documents.

She had tried embroidery a few times, but her skills never improved beyond the handkerchiefs she had made for them. She kept pricking her fingers, and despite her efforts to hide her attempts, they quickly found out and forbade her from continuing.

“We’ll buy the eggs last. Let’s look around first.”

Since the port had many shops selling provisions for departing ships, it was the perfect place to buy what they needed. Most shops stayed open late, so they had plenty of time.