Side Story 1: Yun-ah’s Story. My Own Drama Begins Again (4)

As expected, the day after all the stressful events ended, she came down with a cold.

It was understandable that she would be exhausted after running without a break from the honeymoon to the school project to Ivester’s wedding.

It had been such a forced march that it would have been strange if she had remained perfectly fine.

She needed to get up, but sleep overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t open her eyes.

Charte gave her a kiss on the forehead and whispered,

“Rest well today. I’ll send the royal physician, so make sure you get examined.”

“Mmm.”

She answered half-asleep and drifted off again.

When she woke up, it was already well past noon.

“Your Majesty the Empress, I have prepared a meal. After you finish eating, I will bring in the royal physician.”

But today too, the food didn’t agree with her, and she couldn’t eat at all.

Judith, watching her, said with a worried face,

“I’ll prepare for you to see the doctor first.”

“It’s just a cold from being too tired. It’s not a serious illness, so don’t worry.”

The royal physician who had been waiting outside came in to examine her, then his expression turned serious.

“Your Majesty the Empress, I would like to perform a few more examinations.”

The always cautious royal physician’s serious, concerned expression made her feel scared.

‘I don’t have a terminal illness or something, do I? It’s such a cliché to fall into despair when you’re at your happiest. That’s what happened when I came here too. No, coming here turned out to be a blessing in disguise.’

Despite her tumultuous thoughts, the examination proceeded in tension and silence.

Judith’s expression grew even darker.

Everyone in the room—herself, Judith, and the maids—waited tensely for the royal physician’s words.

“Your Majesty the Empress, it seems……”

He paused briefly, as if tension was choking him.

“Speak freely. It’s alright.”

“You are with child.”

The royal physician was even on the verge of tears.

That’s why he had paused.

“What?”

The royal physician prostrated himself and offered congratulations.

“You are with child. This is a joyous occasion for the empire. Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“What did you say? Is that true?”

“I will need to examine you more precisely, but it appears you are about three months along.”

Hearing this and thinking about it, she realized there had been changes in her body.

She had just been too busy to notice.

At three months, it was clear that the child had come to them during their honeymoon.

A honeymoon baby.

Learning that she was carrying Charte’s and her baby filled her with such emotion that tears came to her eyes.

“I must inform His Majesty at once.”

Wanting to tell him herself, she hurried to the emperor’s palace.

Surprised by her sudden visit, Charte stood up with a startled face.

“Yun-ah, what brings you here so suddenly?”

“Charte!”

She rushed over and threw her arms around his neck.

Charte gently wrapped his arms around her waist and said,

“What’s going on? Why are you like this? Is it good news?”

“Yes.”

She whispered in his ear so that only he could hear,

“I’m pregnant. They say I’m three months along.”

At her words, Charte couldn’t react at all.

As if time had stopped, he froze, unable even to breathe.

“Charte?”

When she softly called his name, he exhaled his held breath.

“Yun-ah!”

He hugged her and spun her around in circles.

Then he suddenly stopped with a surprised face.

“I shouldn’t do this, right?”

Charte fidgeted anxiously before picking her up and carefully setting her down on the sofa.

“What should I do?”

He paced around the room nervously.

“What am I supposed to do? To think something like this would happen to me.”

Charte took both her hands in his and looked into her eyes.

“Thank you. Thank you. I don’t know how to express this feeling. Thank you, Yun-ah, for coming to me.”

The milk and honey of happiness were overflowing in the air right now.

Seeing him so moved and not knowing what to do made her eyes well up with tears.

“I’m the one who should be thankful. For loving me.”

Eventually, tears flowed, and they held each other for a long time.

Charte very carefully pressed his lips against hers.

And gently invaded within.

His trembling was clearly felt, making her heart pound unusually hard.

They shared a kiss mixed with sweet feelings and hot tears for a very long time.

From that day on, Charte’s excessive care began.

When she returned to the empress’s palace, he carried her there.

When she was with him, she never had a chance to set foot on the ground.

Prime Minister Whyman came immediately upon hearing the pregnancy news, and her father ended up shedding tears.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress. Congratulations. And thank you, Leila.”

“Thank you, Father. I’ll make sure to have a child who will continue the Whyman family line as well.”

According to imperial law, the first child would inherit the imperial family, and the second could inherit the Whyman ducal family.

Her father was surprised at first but soon looked relieved.

“Our family line must continue too.”

“I don’t know how to repay this gratitude to you.”

“Be a good grandfather and give lots of love. Give all the love you couldn’t give to Leila.”

Instead of answering, Whyman nodded.

Ivester and Ariel visited with flushed faces.

As soon as they greeted her, they sat down with sparkling eyes and immediately took out gifts.

After sharing congratulations, Ivester casually asked,

“So, have you decided on the godfather and godmother? Your Majesty the Empress.”

“It hasn’t been that long since we found out, how could we have already decided on something so important……”

Ivester and Ariel’s eyes sparkled again.

Seeing their expectant eyes made her laugh.

“Alright. I’ll discuss it with His Majesty. I can’t decide alone.”

“I’m confident that the two wise individuals will make the right decision.”

Ivester’s words finally made her burst into laughter.

And not long after, a celebration party was held.

All the nobles of the empire attended, kneeling to pray for the prosperity of the imperial family.

Grand Duke Heinz, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, was genuinely happy about having a niece.

He already looked like he was going to be obsessed with his niece.

Gifts and letters brought by the nobles piled up like mountains.

And all the citizens of the empire rejoiced and celebrated the conception of an heir to the imperial family with one heart.

* * *

After all the public celebration events ended, she focused on prenatal care.

There was still work to be done with the school, but after construction and interviews, it seemed the first enrollment would be after the birth.

It was fortunate that she only needed to handle administrative tasks.

Her morning sickness was severe, and when she couldn’t eat, he stubbornly insisted on fasting with her.

“How can I eat when the empress cannot?”

At these words, everyone in the room, including Catano, looked at her with shocked faces.

“Your Majesty must eat. You need strength to protect me and the baby, don’t you?”

With a displeased face, Charte nodded.

One day, as she was growing thinner from not being able to eat, Charte appeared with a tray of soup.

“Charte, what brings you here at this hour?”

“Yun-ah, I made this myself. Would you like to try some?”

“What? What did you say? You made it? By yourself?”

Charte, who had been looking at her with warm eyes, nodded with a shy face.

“I was so worried because you couldn’t eat at all.”

“Charte, thank you.”

Strangely, she could eat the soup Charte had made.

After she ate well for the first time in a long while, Charte continued to make food for her himself.

Although she said it was fine, he kept going to the kitchen until her morning sickness ended.

Thanks to Charte, she was able to overcome this difficult period.

Around this time, Ariel also became pregnant, and they often spent time together.

After the difficult morning sickness ended, the time of food cravings came.

Charte would rush out even in the middle of the night if she just mentioned something.

When he moved personally, it meant that the imperial guards, servants, and maids all moved together.

Thinking that dozens of people were mobilized just to get strawberries she wanted made her uncomfortable even when sitting still.

She tried to stop him, saying she felt sorry for those around them and that he should just give orders instead of moving himself, but it was useless.

Her belly grew gradually, and Charte massaged her feet and legs every night and was considerate of her comfort.

Every moment was happy.

And as time passed, contractions began.

“Charte. Charte.”

Awakened by her urgent voice, he looked at her with a worried face.

“What’s wrong? Are you in pain? Is it contractions?”

“I think it’s contractions. Please get ready.”

After more than ten hours of labor, the first imperial princess of the Oneroad Empire, Hereis, was born.

Hereis inherited Charte’s hair and eye color completely, while her nose and mouth resembled her mother.

She was flawlessly lovable.

Charte couldn’t bear to leave Hereis’s side.

If there had been a parental leave system in the empire, he probably would have been the first emperor to apply for it.

Even after finishing his arduous duties during the day, he took care of Hereis himself at night rather than leaving her with the nanny.

She was worried he might collapse at this rate.

* * *

A few months after Hereis was born, Ivester and Ariel’s child, Dave, was born.

Since Ariel had to go to work at the school, Ivester always brought Dave to the palace.

Of course, Dave had a nanny too, but she had suggested it because she wanted him to grow up with Hereis.

She didn’t know what kind of relationship they would have in the distant future, but she wanted the princess, in her lonely position, to have a true friend.

Dave, who was still crawling around, would smile brightly whenever he saw Hereis.

He followed Hereis everywhere as she began to walk on two feet.

Hereis found Dave, who followed her everywhere, very annoying.

Seeing this, Ivester would say despairingly that the future seemed already determined.

* * *

Soon, Hereis’s first birthday approached.

The palace became busy because they were preparing a grand birthday party.

Under the sunlight more beautiful than a painting, our family was sitting in the quiet rear garden.

It was for painting a portrait of herself, Charte, and Hereis.

Hereis sat on Charte’s lap, and she sat beside them.

When she tried to hold Hereis, Charte objected.

He stopped her, saying that they would have to maintain the same posture for quite a long time, and just sitting would be tiring enough.

After being in the same position for more than half a day, as Charte had said, just sitting was exhausting.

As both her body and mind were growing tired, the court painter who was painting the portrait said,

“Your Majesty the Emperor, I don’t know if I dare say this, but you look truly happy.”

The middle-aged painter had been painting Charte since his childhood.

The paintings she had seen when she had a one-sided crush on Charte were all works from this painter’s hand.

A contented smile spread across the face of the painter who had closely observed Charte’s face for a long time.

“You look the most relaxed I’ve ever seen you.”

Charte, with his already outstanding face, answered with a bright smile.

“I am happy. Truly.”

After love is fulfilled and the drama ends, I had always wondered.

What were their lives like? Does marriage eventually turn everything into an ordinary life?

Now that I’ve lived it, I understand.

Even when it became everyday life, my love remained unchanged.

Perhaps they too were happy for a long time with unchanging love.

Because I’ve been happy for a long time since then.

And I will continue to be happy.

Forever with the people I love.