“Ah.”

Ridiculously tiny fingers wiggled inside the blanket. The baby, who had opened her eyes drowsily, seemed to recognize her mother when their gazes met and shyly pursed her lips.

‘Amazing.’

These were wondrous moments that left one spellbound.

When she first learned she was pregnant, she hated the baby. When it stayed quietly in her belly, she was happy to have gained a family. When she writhed in labor pains near death, she blamed Achilleon and hated the baby again. But now…

Chubby cheeks. Wrinkled skin and wriggling feet. Pretty eyes that opened narrowly, exploring the world they had first encountered. Jewel-like green color and fluffy hair like golden fleece.

Taking all of that in, Hari realized she had met someone she would love with her entire life.

“Hari, may I become this child’s godmother?”

It seemed she wasn’t the only one with such thoughts. Geta was completely enchanted by the angel-like beautiful newborn and couldn’t take her eyes off her.

[Then I’ll be the godfather.]

Ipea, holding up paper like she was protesting, felt the same way.

Were the three pairs of sparkling eyes burdensome? The baby, who had been calmly wiggling her fingers and toes without crying, pressed her plump cheeks against Hari’s chest.

Like declaring her intention to cling only to her mother’s embrace. Geta and Ipea burst into laughter simultaneously. Hari smiled too. It felt like hot, fluffy pudding was filling her chest completely.

“But Hari, have you decided on the child’s name?”

* * *

Unable to avoid the nobles’ complaints any longer, Achilleon announced he would hold the long-delayed wedding ceremony. Until the first year, he had somehow managed with excuses about political chaos, but in the second year they constantly nagged him to marry. And in the third year.

“We cannot let this pass any longer, Your Majesty! If you don’t decide today, we will risk rudeness and have the council of elders choose a candidate.”

The nobles finally made threats. Since he knew they had been patient enough, he couldn’t call them presumptuous.

“Surely you’re not still delaying marriage because you can’t forget that woman from the defeated nation you once cared for.”

“No.”

“Without a queen, the people feel anxious. The matter of succession is important too. Especially since Your Majesty frequently travels to battlefields.”

A deep sigh escaped.

“…Fine, do as you wish.”

In the end, Achilleon gave in. The engagement ceremony with the woman the nobles had carefully selected was quickly held. Whatever the rush was, the wedding was set for a month later.

While responsible parties handled the numerous formalities like decorating the ceremony hall, announcing the marriage, and sending gifts to the bride, there were still bothersome tasks Achilleon had to handle personally.

He wrote personal letters to distinguished guests from various countries with a bored expression. After finishing one, the next task was waiting.

“Everything is ready, so tell them to come in.”

“Your Majesty, we’re entering.”

As soon as the order was given, employees and an exclusive designer came carrying dozens of fabrics and accessories in boxes. They had thick parchment and measuring tapes on both arms, and quill pens stuck in their hair tied up high in a ridiculous appearance.

“Like peacocks. I said it doesn’t matter what I wear.”

He watched the farcical situation with indifference and spoke curtly.

“Didn’t you say to match the bride’s outfit?”

“Yes, but the bride’s side said they couldn’t do that and would match Your Majesty’s formal wear instead.”

“Ha, really…”

Achilleon irritably picked a design that caught his eye. When the employees all withdrew, emptiness and fatigue hit him all at once.

“Are you alright?”

“There’s nothing scheduled after this, right? I need to take a walk.”

“I’ll escort you.”

“No need. If those peacocks come looking again, tell them my opinion isn’t needed for making clothes, so they should handle it themselves.”

“Peacocks?”

Ignoring the bewildered Rainan, he immediately left the palace. Achilleon walked alone through the garden dyed with sunset. He walked aimlessly to clear his stuffy mind, but when he came to his senses, he was in front of the temple.

Between the pillars carved with ram’s horns, he could see the statue of Goddess Igrito that he had brought from Lagonia. Achilleon stopped there for a moment and gazed at the white stone statue with an unfamiliar feeling.

“……”

When he approached like he was entranced, the statue’s appearance became clearly visible. He had never examined it closely before.

Though the statue broken in various places had been restored by employing the best sculptors, it didn’t have the same majesty as before. The statue that had shone so sacredly in the Lagonian temple now stood shabbily in a shadowy place.

“Hari.”

Achilleon muttered unconsciously. The memory of invading the desert, destroying the temple, damaging the goddess statue, and dragging that woman away like a beast in front of her hometown people clawed sharply at his chest. A heavy, dull pain surged.

He didn’t believe in gods. He had never believed for even a moment. But now he wanted to kneel and pray. He hoped that the gods, that Margharita, would know he was repentant. 

Achilleon quietly knelt before the statue. For the first time, he faced the goddess statue’s face that resembled Hari, which he had simply passed by until now due to inexplicable displeasure.

“I am…”

At that moment, Achilleon’s focus blurred. He breathed shallowly and bent his body close to the ground. His heart pounded like being struck with a drumstick. His almond-shaped pupils tore into triangular shapes and deepened in color. Cold hissing sounds flowed from his open mouth.

“I am.”

In some afterimage, Achilleon was a black snake. A beast craving the daughter of the god who looked down on him arrogantly. He craved the fruit’s sweet voice, perfect beauty and fragrant scent, the attention of the noble one, a woman’s love.

He was such a lowly beast that he thought if he received the noble woman’s love, he could stop the hatred. He thought he could see himself as beautiful.

‘Do you think your ugly nature would change just from that?’

The white snake whispered smoothly.

‘Stop the ridiculous talk of love and just devour her instead. Who knows? If you eat that thing, your filthy hide might become useful.’

Sharp cynicism echoed. Even when he climbed the sacred tree to drink the fruit’s juice and was buried in the ground with his jaw cut off as punishment.

‘Do you think the most noble woman in the world was sincere toward someone like you? Stupid beast. You were played by that woman.’

His body was beaten to pulp, the world’s order was broken, and arrows of blame pierced him who had self-destructed from greed. Feeling like nothing would remain if he didn’t at least have the fruit, Achilleon dragged his body covered in bloody tears and chased the woman.

He would never covet what was beyond his station again. He would never love that woman again.

Chewing over and over again.

If I meet you again, I’ll defile you. I’ll hurt and destroy that woman who is the most noble in the world.

He repeated endlessly with his heart torn to shreds.

“…Because I don’t want to admit it.”

Achilleon knelt and pressed his head to the temple floor. Sounds resembling sobs leaked out in gasps.

“Because I don’t want to admit that I’ve come to love you again.”

A lonely wind circled in the empty temple. For the first time, Achilleon prayed earnestly to the gods. To let him be by that person’s side.

Even if it was a wish that had come too late, all he could do was pray.

The dusky twilight illuminated the goddess statue looking down on Achilleon. As the sun tilted toward the horizon, the backlight gradually brightened the dark beast’s body.

‘Return to the one who loves you.’

Achilleon prayed for a long time.

* * *

On the wedding day, while everyone was excited, only the groom’s expression was dark.

“You seem nervous, unlike yourself, Your Majesty.”

Nervous?

Achilleon chuckled and turned around. Following his movement, the splendid accessories on his formal wear sparkled painfully bright. The noisy jingling sounds were also irritating. The nobles beaming with expectation toward him were bothersome too.

The bride? Was she from the Esope family? He remembered seeing a portrait. No, he seemed to have met her face-to-face for about thirty minutes. The nobles unanimously praised the future queen’s beauty and wisdom, but unfortunately, he couldn’t remember anything.

Her face, age, family relations, what she had said, nothing.

Achilleon stared out the window emptily. Wind still carrying cold air circled the garden that had become desolate during winter.

“It’s spring.”

“Yes, the weather will warm up soon. It’s a good time to go on a honeymoon with Her Majesty the Queen.”

Travel.

‘That woman’ who had clawed at his heart and left inevitably came to mind. The woman’s name that had somehow become taboo. They must be watching their words to avoid crossing Achilleon’s mood.

At first, Achilleon thought so too. If he didn’t hear the name, he wouldn’t think of her either. He was wrong. The more everyone hushed about it, the more he thought of that woman. If no one called her name, wouldn’t even he end up forgetting Margharita?

He worried needlessly about such things.