Side Story 5 – The One and Only Person I Could Never Win Against (Part 1)

Ria stepped outside, shading her eyes with her hand as she looked up at the sky. When she had entered the Imperial Palace to see Eden off, the sun had been at its peak, but now it had dipped considerably lower.

As a cool breeze blew past, Ria tucked her wind-tousled hair behind her ear and lowered her gaze, letting out a small sigh.

In the end, they had spent the night at the Carlisle Estate. After a night of relentless passion that began in the greenhouse and continued to the bathroom and bedroom, they had only managed to wake up around noon. In a rush, she had hurried him to the Imperial Palace.

On the way to the palace, she had learned that he had used an emergency teleportation stone to come to her—something that left her utterly speechless. Surely, that’s not what those stones were meant for!

Still, she couldn’t scold him, knowing it was her own lack of self-control that had spurred him on. The thought of Emperor Ritan Den Liberté’s likely exasperation made her bury her face in her hands.

Unlike her, Eden seemed completely unbothered. If anything, he clung to her side, touching her hands and face and stealing kisses as if he still hadn’t had enough.

When they visited the Imperial Mage in charge of managing teleportation stones so Eden could return to his post, he had dawdled for over an hour, unwilling to leave. The Imperial Mage’s increasingly sour expression seemed invisible to him.

Ria, worried the entire day would slip away, had tried to reason with him, saying that delaying his departure would only push back his return date. Though he nodded in agreement, he refused to let go of her, holding her as tightly as a child who agrees to eat but never comes to the table.

In the end, Ria had resorted to a bold move: 

‘When you return, I was thinking of taking Lionel and Rizer to the greenhouse at the Carlisle Estate. But if you keep delaying, it’ll get colder, and we won’t be able to go.’

Only then had Eden finally moved. Releasing her from his embrace, he firmly promised to return quickly.

Of course, even as he activated the teleportation stone, his eyes lingered on her, filled with longing and reluctance. It seemed he had hoped she might ask him to stay, but Ria waved him off without exception.

Afterward, she went to visit Emperor Ritan and Empress Elisha.

Eden had mentioned that, at some point the previous day, he had informed Rune and Kahin that he would be staying at the Carlisle Estate, so there was no need to worry about the children. However, she knew the Emperor and Empress would feel slighted if she left the palace without seeing them, especially since she bore some responsibility for the situation.

Fortunately, she had brought coffee with her—Eden, even while recklessly using an emergency teleportation stone for personal reasons, had thoughtfully packed a small amount for her. She hoped sharing it over tea would help smooth things over.

Her efforts paid off. Though they found the situation a bit absurd, they didn’t say much. After all, each destination was allotted only one emergency teleportation stone, so Eden wouldn’t be able to use another during this assignment. In fact, they speculated that the current situation might motivate him to complete his work more quickly and return sooner.

Being both intelligent and efficient, Eden always delivered excellent results. His work benefited the Empire, so it wasn’t a loss. More importantly, considering how irrationally he behaved when it came to Ria, they were just relieved he had returned after only one night. Lately, they had given up reacting to his antics, treating him as if they had gained three more unruly sons.

Thus, their tea time, filled with the fragrant aroma of coffee, concluded with the Emperor suggesting they invite Lionel and Rizer for dinner. Ria nodded and left the palace to visit Cherta, whom she hadn’t seen in days due to work. That brought her to the present.

‘Should I bring him some coffee?’

There was still half a bag of beans left, enough to share with Cherta and even Rune and Kahin. Stretching her stiff shoulders, Ria tapped them lightly before setting off at a leisurely pace.

As she pondered which dessert to bring along, she found herself in the central garden. Seeing the Crown Prince’s Palace in the distance, she quickened her steps. Just as she rounded a corner through the bushes, she collided with a running child.

“Ouch!”

Ria quickly steadied herself and caught the child, who was about to fall on his bottom. The boy, rubbing his nose, kept his head down.

“Are you alright?”

Ria knelt to meet the child’s eyes and asked gently. Though the collision didn’t seem too severe, the boy might still have been shaken.

The boy looked up at her question, his eyes widening.

“Wow, you’re so pretty.”

His voice was nasally from rubbing his nose, but he seemed too focused on staring at Ria to notice. Startled by his words, Ria blinked in surprise.

At that moment, a young boy emerged from the bushes. Seeing the smaller boy, his eyes widened.

“Alan!”

“Big brother!”

The younger boy, apparently named Alan, turned away from Ria to run to the older boy, who immediately scolded him.

“How many times have I told you not to run around corners like that? What if you got seriously hurt?”

“I’m sorry…”

Alan fidgeted, clutching his brother’s sleeve as he mumbled an apology. The older boy sighed and softened his tone, carefully inspecting Alan’s face.

Only after Ria approached and spoke did he seem to notice her presence.

“Are you hurt? Do you need to be checked?”

Startled, the older boy turned to Ria. Blinking a few times, he let out a small “Ah” and bowed politely.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Asin Edinvel of the Marquisate of Edinvel. I deeply apologize for any offense caused by my younger brother.”

His demeanor was so mature that it was hard to believe he was still a boy. Ria, recalling the name Edinvel, remembered that it was one of the Empire’s three remaining marquisates.

The Edinvel family was known for its integrity and diligence, quietly fulfilling its duties without seeking attention or profit. Their status had risen after the demotion of the Melbourne family to baronage.

‘I’ve heard the heir to the Edinvel family is particularly brilliant. It seems the rumors are true.’

Ria bent slightly at the waist.

“Do you know who I am?”

His earlier apology implied he recognized her. While her unique hair and eye color made her unmistakable among the nobility, it was rare for children to know her, as she seldom attended social gatherings.

“Our big brother knows everything! He studies really hard too!”

The answer came not from Asin but from Alan, who stretched his arms upward in a proud gesture. Embarrassed by his younger brother’s outburst, Asin’s face turned red.

“He always comes first at—uh, where was it?—Aca-something!”

“Alan, that’s enough…”

Asin covered his face with his hand, trying to stop his brother. But Alan, eager to boast about his amazing big brother, didn’t stop.

Watching the two brothers, Ria couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Hearing her clear, melodious laughter, both Alan and Asin fell silent, staring at her. The sunlight and breeze seemed to frame her, making her appear even more radiant in their eyes.

“Your parents must be very proud.”

Ria, having composed herself after laughing, spoke to the two boys. Asin, finally regaining his senses, nodded with a face flushed red. Words that had come easily before now seemed stuck, his lips tightly shut. He held onto his younger brother, who was bouncing around, calling her a goddess.

Spotting an attendant passing through the garden, Ria called out to them and knelt to meet the two brothers at eye level.

“Just in case, you should get checked by the palace physician. I’ll let the attendant know. And if you feel unwell later, please contact the Astina Estate. I’ll inform your parents as well.”

“Oh, no, it’s alright. My younger brother bumped into you while running, so just letting him get checked is more than enough.”

“Still, if your parents hear that he saw the palace physician, they’ll feel reassured.”

With a gentle smile, Ria relayed instructions to the attendant who had approached. Asin, in the end, bowed politely—making sure his younger brother did the same—before following the attendant.

Watching the two brothers walking away hand in hand, Ria found her thoughts drifting back to the second child she had been thinking about earlier.

Every time she brought up the topic, the conversation would shift, or they’d express concern for her health and firmly refuse. They seemed resolute, ensuring she never missed her contraceptive injections and checking multiple times to confirm.

No matter how much she tempted or coaxed them, it was pointless if contraception was already in place.

‘I want to give them a sibling…’

Unconsciously placing her hand on her stomach, Ria blinked slowly. The image of Asin and Alan overlapped with that of Lionel, Rizer, and a child she had yet to hold.

At that moment, her eyes caught sight of the palace physician from the First Imperial Palace walking by with a silver tray.

Ria instantly recognized what was on the tray. It must be the day for Cherta’s contraceptive injection.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind.

Ria quickly walked toward the palace physician, almost running. This was her chance.