Side Story 3 – The Gift Left by the Delegation (Part 1)

As May came to an end, the weather began to heat up, heralding the arrival of summer.

Kahin raised his head and looked at the bright blue sky, filled with blazing sunlight. Then, he turned and walked back into the mansion. With his long strides, it didn’t take him long to reach the room.

“–Pa!”

When he cautiously opened the door and stepped inside, Lionel, who was sitting on the soft rug-covered floor with a cloth toy in his mouth, spotted him and smiled brightly.

Kahin’s face softened naturally as he swiftly picked up Lionel and met his gaze.

“Little Prince, have you been behaving well and not troubling your mother?”

When he kissed Lionel’s soft cheek, the child giggled happily and called out, “Pa, Pa,” addressing him as his father.

The children, who were now nearing two years old, could clumsily pronounce a few words. Mostly simple ones like “Mama,” “Papa,” “food,” “hug,” and so on.

Among these, the word “Papa” was used not only for Rune and Eden but also for Kahin and Cherta.

“Let’s see how your teeth are coming in.”

Kahin glanced at Lionel, who had put the toy back into his mouth, and gently lifted his lips to check the tiny teeth growing in. As their teeth began to appear, the children started putting everything into their mouths. It was so adorable that no matter how often he saw it, it never got old.

“Kahin, you’re here?”

At that moment, Ria appeared from the inner door, holding the sleeping Rizer in her arms. Kahin immediately approached her, intending to take Rizer, but Ria declined, saying she was fine.

“Has the delegation left?”

“Yes. Things should be quiet for a while now.”

Kahin planted a brief kiss on Ria’s forehead, holding Lionel securely in one arm while wrapping his free hand around her waist and guiding her to the sofa. Naturally, the two of them sat side by side on the sofa, each holding a child.

However, Lionel pointed to the toys scattered across the rug and made noises, prompting Kahin to stand up again as soon as he sat down.

Ria smiled as she watched Kahin play with Lionel, holding various toys in his large, sturdy hands with surprising care. There was something slightly endearing and amusing about the sight. Lionel, laughing brightly as he played with his father, was also utterly lovable.

Last year, when the children turned one, they finally held their wedding.

Originally, when the news of Ria’s pregnancy broke, the Emperor and Empress had suggested quickly preparing for the wedding. However, the four men firmly refused to do anything that might strain Ria, even in the slightest, so the wedding was postponed until after the birth.

Their wedding was modest—or at least, modest by the standards of everyone except Ria.

The Crown Prince, two Dukes, Kahin, known as the Empire’s greatest swordsman, and Ria, who had become part of the family of Verdnandi, the rulers of the North—all these dazzling backgrounds made most people assume the wedding would be held on a grand scale. In fact, the Emperor, Empress, and Knox had planned to prepare such a wedding.

But Ria wanted a ceremony with only her family and close friends. She preferred receiving heartfelt blessings from those she cherished over superficial congratulations masked by flattery.

She also didn’t want to become a spectacle for those who still whispered and gossiped about her black hair, as if she were an animal in a cage.

Naturally, the four men followed her wishes.

Of course, they wanted more than anything to make her the centerpiece of the grandest and most splendid wedding. They had even secretly begun preparing for it. But, as always, Ria’s opinion came first. Knowing her and her tendency to desire so little, they had already anticipated this to some extent.

More than anything, just having her officially become their wife and stand by their side was enough to make them feel like they had the world. Whether the wedding was grand or simple—what did it matter?

In the end, the Emperor, Empress, and Knox reluctantly gave in to the strong opinions of the main parties involved.

Instead, Ria proposed an idea to them: why not use the budget initially set aside for their wedding to help those in need?

The Emperor, Empress, and Knox readily agreed to her suggestion. After all, the primary reason for planning a large wedding had been to solidify Ria’s position and prevent anyone from overstepping their bounds. Gaining the goodwill and support of the Empire’s citizens was a far more effective way to achieve that.

Furthermore, this gesture would undoubtedly increase the favorable sentiment toward both the Northern territories and the Imperial Family. It was a smart solution on Ria’s part.

Thus, on a sunny and warm day, a cozy and beautiful wedding took place in the outdoor garden of the Imperial Palace, surrounded by the blessings of family and close friends.

The Imperial Mage scattered flowers from the sky, and Elpis added its blue light to the mix. The sparkling floral rain reflected the sunlight, making it shine even brighter.

Amidst the scene, Ria, dressed in a pure white wedding gown and veil, looked so beautiful she seemed like a goddess. The four men were so mesmerized by her that they forgot they were at their own wedding.

Standing before Elpis, they exchanged vows of a lifetime commitment. Finally, they placed newly crafted rings, made of black diamonds, on each other’s fingers. Knox, holding the infant Lionel and Rizer, shed tears.

As a result, the four men, who also cried when Ria whispered her love to them, shared a secret that no one else would ever know.

“Ugh…”

At that moment, Rizer stirred in Ria’s arms, cooing softly and breaking her reverie. Clenching his tiny fists, he let out small noises as if dreaming. Ria gently patted his small back, a happy smile gracing her lips. Life was so blissful it felt almost undeserved.

***

That evening, the entire family gathered to celebrate Kahin’s birthday.

When Ria first arrived in this world two years ago, there had been so much going on that she hadn’t even known their birthdays. She only met Rune once every three months, so there was no time to learn about his birthday. Even if she had known, it wouldn’t have coincided with his visits, so she couldn’t have celebrated it.

In any case, she was glad to be able to celebrate their birthdays now, before it was too late. Life had become peaceful after the children were born, and celebrating special days with loved ones brought even more happiness.

As Ria began to put effort into commemorating these occasions, the four men also started valuing these days, which they had never considered particularly special before. Having a day to receive heartfelt congratulations from someone dear to them brought a warm wave of emotion to their hearts.

For Rune and Kahin, who had lost their parents early, it was a forgotten feeling. For Eden, who had grown up lonely under neglectful parents, it was a new sensation. Even for Cherta, who had grown up in a family-oriented environment but had always been surrounded by grand banquets and insincere flattery due to his position as the Crown Prince, it was an unfamiliar feeling.

If not for Ria, they would never have known this.

Thinking about this made them cherish her even more. Their love for her continued to grow day by day.

***

One of the best things about celebrating birthdays for the four men was the nights they got to spend alone with Ria. On those nights, they would yield to one another, ensuring no one interrupted their time with her. They even personally tended to the children to avoid any disturbances.

This year, Kahin’s birthday was no exception.

After Ria’s pregnancy announcement, Kahin had moved his quarters from the upper floor of the knights’ barracks to a room within the mansion. After a light shower, he emerged with a towel draped over his still-damp hair and reached for the wine set on the table.

He had personally gone to the bustling marketplace to buy the wine, selecting one he knew she would enjoy, just for tonight.

Unable to suppress the smile that tugged at his lips at the thought of spending the evening alone with Ria, Kahin eventually set the wine down and pressed a hand to his mouth. However, it had been so long since such a moment that his heart felt as if it were floating in the clouds, making it impossible to contain his excitement.

With a soft cough, he cleared his throat, ran the towel over his hair one last time, and sat on the sofa. At that moment, he felt something pressing against him from his pants pocket.

With a puzzled expression, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small glass vial. Kahin stared at it intently.

Inside the vial was a shimmering liquid, a mesmerizing blend of silver and navy hues, reminiscent of the moon and stars in the night sky.