Side Story 2

“The Emperor’s Palace and the Empress’s Palace being separated like this… it’s really inconvenient. To see you, I’d have to ride a carriage to get there.”  

“…Yes.”  

“I should clear out all those useless rooms in the Emperor’s Palace and… Vivian?”  

Thud. Vivian’s head fell onto Louis’s shoulder. Inside the carriage heading for their honeymoon, Vivian, who had been blinking her tired eyes, finally fell asleep, her face full of exhaustion.  

Had we overdone it last night?  

Louis briefly reflected on the previous night, wondering if what she had said was fine wasn’t actually fine for her.

While it had been a night he found regretfully short, it might have been an overwhelming one for Vivian.  

Watching Vivian scold him earlier, as she came out late after loading the luggage for their honeymoon into the carriage, Louis had been caught off guard.  

With her face flushed red, she had adorably grumbled about how embarrassing it would’ve been if it were summer, saying it was shameful for Tia and the other maids to see.  

Vivian wouldn’t know how hard Louis had to suppress his desire to abandon the honeymoon and return straight to the bedroom.  

“Mm…”  

Vivian quickly fell into a deep sleep.  

The journey to the Kingdom of Rakus, their honeymoon destination, wasn’t particularly far. Passing through the southern gate of the capital to the Polton region, it took about an hour and a half by carriage to reach Tezen, the capital of the Kingdom of Rakus.  

The choice of Rakus for the honeymoon was not only because it was famous for its exotic scenery but also because of a heartfelt letter from Bella, the Queen of Rakus and Louis’s cousin, who couldn’t attend the wedding.  

Bella had been the only relative to approach Louis openly and warmly during his prickly childhood as Crown Prince.  

Above all…  

• I want to meet her! I’m so curious about the kind of person she is! And I want to show her the Kingdom of Rakus too.  

Bella had been unable to attend the wedding due to health reasons. After reading her letter, which expressed her deep regret and sadness over missing the wedding, Vivian had suggested Rakus as their honeymoon destination.  

Louis, too, hadn’t seen Bella since she married into Rakus, and he was also concerned about the first line of her letter, mentioning her health issues, which made long-distance travel impossible.  

It was also an opportunity to discuss the longstanding issue of the Rakus sea route during their visit.  

The plan was to spend six days there, then cross over to Raspol for a few more days before returning to the capital.  

Louis frowned slightly, burdened with guilt over not being able to visit Duchess Daisy before the rushed wedding.  

A few strands of Vivian’s soft, brown hair tickled her cheek. Gently brushing them aside, Louis froze as he noticed her eyelids twitching. Without realizing it, he held his breath.  

When Vivian’s breathing returned to its even rhythm, Louis felt a sudden urge to wake her. But he quickly erased the childish thought and exhaled deeply through his nose.  

There was still some time left before they reached the southern gate, so he decided to let her sleep a bit longer.  

Louis enclosed Vivian’s small, pale hand, resting limply on her lap, in his large one. With every jolt of the carriage, Vivian’s scent tickled Louis’s nose.  

It was an incredibly peaceful moment.  

***

Vivian woke briefly before they passed through the gate but soon fell asleep again. It wasn’t until they had completely left Polton that she fully woke up, her large eyes blinking as she stared out the carriage window.  

“It’s even more fascinating to see it in person!”  

The Kingdom of Rakus was located at the southernmost tip of the Montfrey Empire. Even further south than Raspol, Rakus was renowned for its exotic landscapes.  

The trees, mountains, and fields were all different. As they neared the capital of Rakus, Tezen, the unique architecture of the buildings created a distinctive scenery.  

Entering the bustling streets of Tezen, the carriage slowed down. News that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of the Raspol Empire were visiting had reached the people of Tezen, and the townsfolk welcomed the carriage by scattering flower petals along its path.  

The Rakus Royal Palace was located on the western side of Tezen. For the couple who had come from a distant land, the golden gates of the palace were wide open.  

“Ugh… I’m a bit nervous.” 

Vivian said, glancing at Louis as the carriage entered the palace grounds. Louis, seemingly stiff in the neck, slowly rolled his head from side to side with his eyes closed.  

“I think I should be more worried than you, but still…”  

Louis opened his eyes. Just then, the carriage began to slow down and soon came to a complete stop.  

Louis stepped out of the carriage first.  

Vivian swallowed nervously and slowly peeked her head out of the carriage door. Accepting Louis’s escort, she stepped down from the carriage, her mouth slightly agape in awe.  

It looked completely different from Dovelia Palace. The palace, with its colorful domed roofs, left a striking impression.  

“Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince and Your Highness the Crown Princess of the Empire.”  

A considerable number of people had gathered to welcome Louis and Vivian.  

“Prosperity to the Kingdom of Rakus.”  

After Louis and Vivian graciously accepted their greetings, the King and Queen of Rakus, who had been bowing, raised their heads.  

Vivian unconsciously gasped and held her breath.  

They looked identical.  

It was as if a long-haired version of Louis was standing before her. The only differences were the Queen’s more delicate facial features and her eyes, which were a light golden-brown rather than Louis’s golden hue.  

“Welcome! Truly, welcome! I’ve been waiting so long for this day!”  

The Queen of Rakus enthusiastically grabbed Vivian’s hands and shook them vigorously. Bella, who was a head taller than Vivian, was also surprisingly strong.  

“My Queen.”  

Seeing Vivian’s hands flailing helplessly, the King of Rakus called out to Bella urgently.  

“Since you must be tired from your long journey, let us escort you inside without delay.”  

At the King’s words, Bella finally realized that many people were watching. She awkwardly released Vivian’s hands and laughed.  

“I got too excited and behaved rudely. Please forgive my manners.”  

Bella spoke as they headed toward the reception room, which had been meticulously prepared for their distinguished guests days in advance.  

“No, thank you for such a warm welcome.”  

“Oh my!”  

At Vivian’s kind words, Bella placed her hand over her chest and exclaimed in admiration.  

Louis, narrowing his eyes as he watched Bella, asked the King of Rakus, 

“I heard that my cousin, the Queen of Rakus, is unwell.”  

“Ah, that’s…”  

The King of Rakus, who had just arrived at the ornate reception room doors, hesitated with an awkward smile.  

“It’s because I have a younger sibling on the way!”  

The one who answered was not the King or Queen but a six-year-old girl trailing behind them.  

The girl, who had the same deep blue hair as the King of Rakus, proudly stepped in front of Louis, her eyes shining.  

“Alisa.”  

The one who stopped her wasn’t the King or Queen but their eldest son and crown prince, Noah.  

Noah, like Alisa, had blue hair but resembled his mother more than his father. However, his stern gaze was unmistakably inherited from the King.  

“I apologize. My younger sister hasn’t yet learned proper etiquette. May I offer my apologies on her behalf?”  

At the eleven-year-old’s formal apology, Vivian stepped forward.  

“No, there’s no need to apologize to that extent.”  

When Vivian smiled warmly at Noah, Bella, who had been observing from the side with delight, flung open the doors to the reception room.  

“Please, come in. I’d like to clear up the Crown Prince’s concerns about my health over a cup of tea. And I’d like to introduce you to the children as well.”  

Following Bella’s lead, Louis and Vivian entered the reception room of the Rakus Palace. As soon as Vivian stepped inside, she couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.  

One entire wall was made of glass, offering a panoramic view of the vast, sparkling sea under the sunlight.  

“We always welcome our most distinguished guests here, as if to boast about it. What do you think?”  

“It’s absolutely stunning.”  

At Vivian’s genuine admiration, Bella beamed. Her laughter made Alisa, who had been brimming with pride at Vivian’s reaction, giggle as well.  

“Please have a seat. We’ve prepared some special tea.”  

The King of Rakus kindly invited the Crown Prince and Crown Princess to sit.  

As soon as Louis and Vivian took their seats, a maid poured the tea. The aroma of the tea quickly filled the reception room as the hot water touched the tea leaves.  

Bella suggested opening the windows since the weather was nice today, and the head maid eagerly complied.  

Softly, the windows opened, letting in a gust of sea breeze that blended with the tea’s fragrance.  

Once the tea was served, and the servants had left the room, Bella suddenly stood up and approached Vivian. She casually wedged herself between Vivian and Louis.  

“Welcome! Truly! I wanted so badly to attend the wedding, but I can’t ride in carriages right now…”  

Bella grabbed Vivian’s hands tightly. Louis frowned as he was pushed aside, but Bella paid it no mind.  

“I often heard about you from Empress Annette, Crown Princess. I used to wonder who would marry such a cold man, but—oh, no… Haha, I have such a sharp tongue, don’t I?”  

The King of Rakus called Bella’s name softly. Louis snorted and shook his head. Bella, pretending to compose herself, began introducing her children.  

“This is my eldest son, Noah Rakus. He’s eleven years old.”  

Noah stood and bowed politely. His perfect manners brought someone to Vivian’s mind, and a warm smile naturally spread across her lips.  

“I’m Alisa Rakus! I’m six years old!”  

As soon as Noah finished, Alisa eagerly introduced herself. Her adorable greeting made Noah’s eyes widen in surprise.  

“Alisa, you shouldn’t greet people like that…”  

“Alisa is getting a younger sibling! That’s why Mama can’t ride in carriages!”  

Before Noah could finish, Alisa explained why the Queen of Rakus hadn’t attended the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s wedding.  

With a serious expression, Alisa hopped off the sofa and ran to Bella.  

“Here! The baby is here.”  

She tapped the Queen’s belly with her small hand.