“Didn’t I say I would contact you separately?”

Carlisle made no effort to hide his displeasure.

It was clear that those gathered in the Empress’s drawing room were closely connected to Cornelia, but right now, he had no room in his mind to care about that.

“She is my younger sister.”

“Before she is Her Majesty the Empress, she is my daughter.”

Adrian and the former Marquis of Olsen spoke out at the same time.

Carlisle’s gaze swept over Adrian, whose face was full of dissatisfaction, and then the expressionless former Marquis of Olsen, who was staring fixedly at the door where the Empress was.

Their faces bore emotions not so different from Carlisle’s.

“This isn’t the first time, it’s the second. Don’t you all think you’re making a bit too much fuss?”

Adrian’s eyes sharpened at Carlisle’s remark.

“Just because it’s the second time, doesn’t mean one can get used to it.”

“Marquis.”

“I heard you’ve gone to great lengths to block access to the palace. I presume Your Majesty’s heart is just as restless and loud as ours?”

‘He never backs down.’

Carlisle let out a deep sigh.

He couldn’t help but press his fingers to his temple.

Having fallen in love and made Cornelia—who had stood at the center of the opposition—his Empress, Carlisle had earned a reputation as a romantic of the century. Even after marriage, he had continued to act in ways that solidified that image.

This was one such time.

To ensure the safe delivery of a new life, the Empress’s palace was locked down by imperial order, allowing only midwives and essential aides to be present.

Even blood relatives like the princess or members of the Olsen family were no exception.

Carlisle’s sharp gaze turned toward the head lady-in-waiting stationed at the door.

‘Surely Her Majesty must have given prior consent.’

Startled by the intensity of the Emperor’s sharp, sensitive presence, everyone quickly bowed their heads.

At that moment—

“His Majesty is generous enough to understand.”

All eyes turned toward the source of the calm voice.

Camilla, former Marchioness of Olsen, was sitting comfortably on the sofa sipping her tea, a serene smile curling her lips.

Perhaps it was because she had gone through childbirth herself.

Considering how she had usually treated Cornelia, one would have expected her to be the most restless of them all.

Yet surprisingly, she was the calmest among everyone present.

Her gaze—so like Cornelia’s—turned to the former Marquis of Olsen.

“Watching the one you love give birth will always be nerve-wracking.”

At her words, the former Marquis let out a cough and turned his head.

“He was the same when I gave birth to Ad and Cori. It’s all still vivid, like it happened just yesterday.”

“Dear…”

As Camilla smiled softly while reminiscing about the past, the former Marquis fidgeted nervously.

With that warm smile, she added,

“Still, thanks to that worry, the children were safely born.”

Camilla’s composed intervention, born of years of experience, had a surprisingly soothing effect.

The tense atmosphere in the drawing room gradually relaxed.

But it didn’t last long.

Murmur. Murmur.

The unusual noise from outside, loud enough to be heard in the drawing room, caused Carlisle’s face to harden ominously.

The head chamberlain quickly moved toward the door, and at that moment—

BANG! The large door flew open.

“Mother—!”

“Your Highness! Please wait—! You can’t go in now… oh, no…”

Carlisle pressed his forehead again as he watched Princess Lia burst into the wide drawing room shouting, followed by a line of frantic handmaidens.

***

A day had passed since news spread that the Roman Empress had gone into labor for the second time, and a new life was born.

“Hooray—!”

“Long live Her Majesty the Empress! Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Glory to the Roman Empire—!”

Flags of the Empire fluttered throughout the streets, and trumpets sounded the joyous news across the realm.

Citizens visited temples to bless the newborn prince’s future.

Delegations from foreign nations began arriving one after another with their congratulations.

“So tiny…”

“Amazing, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Totally.”

“How can anyone be this small? Cori, if I faint right now, it’ll be entirely my angelic nephew’s fault. Got it?”

She seemed more composed with age, but—

Cornelia’s nose crinkled at Roselia’s candid, unfiltered words.

‘Ah… If my belly contracts, that’ll be a problem.’

She pressed her lips together and tensed her face, but it was hard to suppress the smile that kept slipping out.

Whew—

Cornelia steadied her breathing to calm herself.

Thankfully, it worked.

“Thank you. It must’ve been tiring coming all this way.”

Roselia, who had been gazing at the baby, turned to look at Cornelia.

“Tiring? You were giving birth—of course I had to come. Everyone else came and went, and I was the last to arrive.”

Cornelia looked up at Roselia as she drew closer.

“Rosie, the others were in the capital of the Roman Empire. You were all the way out in Luclin, far from the Empire. Realistically, it couldn’t be helped that you were the last.”

“Still. It’s annoying that I was the last.”

That temperament, honestly…

“Did you come as part of the Isariel Empire’s diplomatic delegation?”

“That’s not my job.”

Roselia shook her head at the quiet question. Then she lowered herself close to Cornelia’s face and stared intently.

“What?”

“They say everyone looks exhausted and swollen after giving birth. But Cori, how are you still so pretty?”

“…What?”

Momentarily speechless in disbelief, Cornelia could only stare as Roselia added,

“Totally unfair.”

Pfft.

Though she grumbled with her words, Roselia’s face was filled with a mixture of pride, joy, concern, and gratitude.

“It’s just that the one looking thinks I’m pretty, so that’s how I look.”

Cornelia smiled.

Roselia’s face bloomed with the same beautiful smile as she returned the gaze.

“Aren’t you busy with school? Didn’t the dean complain about you being away?”

Roselia shook her head.

“I’ve been preparing for it since a month ago, so it was fine.”

“Really? That’s not what I heard.”

At the follow-up question, the ends of the silver hair hidden under her hat fluttered restlessly.

“No, listen to me. I said I was going, so why would they try to stop me?”

‘They?’ The distorted white face overlapped with the young dean of Luclin, whose face she had once seen.

“It’s just a few days away. After a few nights of sleep, I’d be back. Saying I can’t go because they can’t wait a few days—does that even make sense?”

“It’s exam period. From the dean’s perspective, students come first.”

At Cornelia’s calm reply, Roselia snapped back.

“There are plenty of people who can cover for me.”

“That may be true, but when it comes to ancient linguistics, Roselia Popland is the best.”

At that clear conclusion, Roselia pouted and stomped her foot.

A soft smile appeared at the corners of Cornelia’s lips.

She could understand why Roselia had rushed here despite the strain, even though she could have visited later.

“Rosie. I’m okay. The birth went well, and the prince is healthy.”

“I know.”

“I’m not bedridden for days like I was with Lia. I’m sitting up, talking to you just fine.”

“I know that too.”

“Then, you should consider going back tomorrow. When vacation comes, we can spend plenty of time together.”

There was no reply to that last statement.

The deep crease in Roselia’s brow remained unchanged.

She shook her head.

“No. Since I’ve already come, I’ll stay as long as I want before going back.”

“Rosie…”

“Don’t worry. They wouldn’t be so petty over me being gone for a few days, right? And if they are, I’ll just quit that Luclin Academy! I don’t need a professorship! I’ll just ask my brother to give me a seat at the Popland Merchant Guild!”

‘Good grief. What am I going to do with this wild girl?’

It had been the current dean who’d pushed through opposition from other professors to recommend Roselia and settle her in Luclin.

“I can clearly picture the dean holding the back of his neck since you went to Luclin.”

“He just has a stiff neck from sitting too long. Like I’m the only reason he’s hurting? Neck stretches now and then are actually good. Not a bad thing at all.”

At her bold words, Cornelia couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.

‘Who could ever stop her personality?’

Come to think of it, the fact that she was a professor at all might be a miracle.

***

As the sun set and darkness fell, magical lights lit up the imperial palace.

Soft yellow lights also came on throughout the now quiet Empress’s palace, for the sleeping Cornelia.

“Your Majesty?”

At the faint sound, the head lady-in-waiting turned around and gasped, quickly bowing her head in surprise.

Carlisle put a finger to his lips and said,

“Shh. No noise. Everyone, leave.”

At the firm command, the head lady-in-waiting and those guarding the Empress’s bedchamber quietly retreated.

Carlisle opened the tightly closed door to the Empress’s bedroom.

The sound of footsteps on the marble floor faded into the expensive carpet imported from the Kingdom of Itar.

The room was low in saturation overall.

Under the soft lighting, a baby’s cradle stood.

Golden thread that sparkled like stars, lips of a light pink hue, and tiny clenched fists.

There wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t beautiful.

As he looked at the baby gently squirming, Carlisle’s heart ached.

With a heart about to burst and ears ringing dully, he even forgot to breathe.

“Hello… little one.”

The words barely made it out, as if his throat were blocked, and the baby responded with a soft, meaningless sound.

“Carlisle…?”

“Lia.”

Leaning on the cradle, he moved to Cornelia’s side in an instant and kissed her.

“When did you get here?”

Waking from sleep at the sound, she slowly lifted her heavy eyelids and asked.

“Just now.”

At the familiar warmth, a smile spread across her face in relief.

“How are you feeling?”

“Maybe because it’s the second time, it was easier than with Lia.”

Cornelia spoke in an exaggerated tone, hoping to ease his worries.

His gentle laugh matched the sentiment in her heart.

Her clear, light brown eyes were filled with the image of one man.

Their gaze lingered on each other, long and deep, reflecting their matured affection.

Cornelia reached out and ran her fingers through Carlisle’s hair at the nape of his neck.

“You know… When I was young… I thought the world, or God, was just unfair.”

A person who had supported her with unwavering trust and affection from beginning to end.

“Even with powers that others might envy, I never asked for them. Everything I endured felt like a burden. That’s why I think I broke down quickly, doubted my feelings for you, and got scared.”

Whenever unexplained anxiety and wavering emotions suddenly surfaced—

He would sense it instantly and embrace her kindly from behind like a steadfast support.

Tears welled up in Cornelia’s eyes as she looked at Carlisle.

“Now that I think about it, I rushed to a conclusion too quickly.”

Her chest swelled with emotion, and it ached.

“God, the world… they weren’t unfair to me. It was my lack of faith—faith that at the end of the waiting, happiness would be there.”

He lowered his head and gave her a long kiss on the lips. Then, to the woman choking on emotion, he gently asked,

“Lia. Are you happy now?”

Clear tears streamed from her eyes.

“You and I. Let’s meet ten times. Then you can decide—whether having me as your lover is reasonable or not.”

“Trust me and take my hand.”

That choice had been the right one.

The warm touch that pushed away the bitter winter was transmitted through their tightly held hands. In her once cold and barren heart, fresh and beautiful flowers bloomed.

“Yes, I’m very happy—more than anything.”

~~End of the Side Story~~