Roshan returned to the palace only by morning. After saying he would not have breakfast, he shut himself in his room and clutched his head in agony.

Was it because of the fear that exceeded his limits? Everything looked pitch black whether his eyes were open or closed.

‘No.’

Pale and trembling with anxiety, he was only able to get up just before the sun reached the middle of the sky.

‘This won’t do.’

He couldn’t lose his wife like this. Just as he had hidden things until now, he simply needed to find a solution. Roshan looked out the window with cold eyes and recited inwardly.

‘I must find a way. Sitting here won’t solve anything.’

He had barely managed to hold onto her. He couldn’t give up now. Roshan was about to summon clerics and scholars when he began to consider how to respond if his wife recovered her memories.

Just as he bit his lip, trembling at the mere thought of that situation, someone knocked on the door.

“I said not to disturb me.”

“Roshan.”

No sooner had Roshan’s cold voice ended than Yerena’s voice was heard. Then the door opened without permission, and the twin princes burst in.

“Father.”

At the sight of his wife in an unprepared state, Roshan quickly lowered his eyes. Then he saw the faces of his still-small children. The twin princes, who had inherited his red eyes, chattered with clear faces.

“Why didn’t you come to eat with us?”

“We were worried, Father.”

The children’s eyes were full of trust and affection for him. The mother of my children, my wife, would be the same. But if these things were to disappear now…… Roshan gently pinched the twins’ cheeks with both hands.

“……I had some business.”

Though he tried to fake a bright voice, he couldn’t hide how drained he felt. The twin princes glanced back at their mother, noticing their father’s unusual demeanor. Yerena spoke to the children in a gentle voice.

“Cairo. Louis. Give your father a hug and then go. It’s almost time for your studies.”

At their mother’s words, the twins immediately spread their arms and hugged their father. Roshan embraced both children at once in his large arms. They burrowed into their father’s embrace as usual but struggled with the slightly stronger force than normal. Roshan noticed this and quickly released his arms.

“Mom. You have to come see me later. Brother, let’s go.”

“Yes. We’ll see you later, Father. Mother.”

Louis, sensing the atmosphere was different from usual, extended his hand to his brother instead of making a fuss. Cairo nodded and took his younger brother’s hand as they left.

Even after the children disappeared, Roshan couldn’t raise his head. He was too afraid to look at his wife. What should he do if his wife recovered her memories right now, just like Frederick? His mouth went completely dry.

“Roshan.”

How long had they been like this? Yerena approached him. But because her pregnancy made it difficult to bend down, she hesitated briefly before placing her hand on his head as he knelt.

At the small hand on his hair, Roshan finally raised his head to look up at his wife. His eyes were filled with desperate earnestness, like someone who had committed a sin and was begging God for forgiveness and salvation.

After looking at Yerena’s face, he lowered his gaze to her swollen belly and stood up. He immediately guided his wife to the couch. Yerena followed his instructions without saying anything.

After seating his wife on the couch, he considered the floor and the couch before sitting beside her. Then he pressed close to her and whispered.

“Yerena. Please hold me.”

It wasn’t a difficult request, and it was one she received often, so Yerena readily embraced Roshan. She wrapped her arms around his waist and, nestled in his familiar embrace, raised her hand to stroke his cheek. Roshan closed his eyes and silently moaned at his wife’s touch. Although guilt and anxiety boiled inside, blackening his insides, knowing his wife was beside him made it bearable.

“Roshan. Is something really wrong? I was worried when you suddenly went out. Where did you go?”

Yerena waited until Roshan opened his eyes before carefully asking. Looking into his wife’s concerned eyes, he inwardly condemned his disgusting self. But without showing it, he answered her.

“To the temple……”

“The temple?”

“I fell asleep briefly and had a nightmare.”

Telling his wife a lie felt like thorns piercing not only his mouth but his throat as well. But unable to tell the truth, Roshan lied smoothly.

“It was a trivial nightmare, but I was worried about you and the child in your womb…… I couldn’t bear it, so I went to see the prophet.”

“Oh, you.”

Despite it being a complete lie, Yerena believed Roshan without the slightest doubt. She patted his shoulder a couple of times and smiled prettily.

The white hand touching his cheek was flawless. Therefore, Roshan couldn’t dare bring his own hand to his wife.

“I’m sorry.”

He offered a useless apology to his wife, who smiled with her eyes beautifully curved. Yerena tilted her head at Roshan’s sudden apology. He smiled bitterly and confessed another lie.

“……For worrying you. I should have told you before I left.”

Finally understanding her husband’s words, Yerena nodded. Then she raised both hands and gently held Roshan’s face.

“You’re a lovely person.”

She whispered softly, closed her eyes, and lifted her head. Unable to resist this force, Roshan lowered his face obediently.

Their lips met without any gap.

Unlike Roshan, who watched his wife with his eyes open throughout, Yerena only opened her eyes after the kiss ended. She blushed with embarrassment but made an honest confession.

“I love you, Roshan.”

Their eyes met exactly. And only then did Roshan find his answer.

Whether the truth remained buried forever or was revealed, he shouldn’t do anything. The anxiety eating away at him and the potential catastrophe ahead were entirely his burden to bear. He couldn’t harm the woman before him again just to avoid them.

Over the years, his wife had suffered many nights over memories that wouldn’t surface. How many times had he seen her crying secretly, stifling her sobs?

He had already killed the princess once for his own greed. Erased her from this world. Transformed her into a woman solely for himself.

‘Whatever happens, let her do as she wishes. Let her act according to her own will.’

While he might have been able to do it to the princess, he couldn’t do it to his current wife. Those trusting eyes. That smile full of affection. If he erased his wife, those would disappear too. Besides, she and the children were two, soon to be three.

His wife loved the children just as much. As much as the former princess had loved her dead family. So he couldn’t take away family from his wife a second time.

His heart still ached with the anxiety of possibly being caught for his sin. But Roshan acknowledged that this was his burden and met his wife’s eyes. He took her hands on his face and whispered.

“……Me too.”

“……”

“I love you too, Yerena.”

* * *

“Rejoice for the birth of Her Highness the Princess!”

A joyous occasion befell the Empire. A princess was born six years after the twin princes.

People’s interest in the baby princess ran deep. Commoners were curious about the princess who was said to already show the beautiful empress’s appearance, while nobles envied families with children of similar age.

Commemorative coins were scattered in the streets, and by the emperor’s special order, festivals continued for ten days. The imperial palace was also filled with a warm atmosphere, with all palace staff working with smiles.

But no one rejoiced more than the emperor. Looking at his little daughter, who had inherited both her mother’s platinum blonde hair and blue eyes, he wore a bright smile. It was remarkable considering that ten years ago, rumors circulated that he had a disease that prevented him from smiling.

“Thank you, Yerena. And I love you.”

Looking at the baby who couldn’t even hold her head up properly, the emperor thanked his wife countless times. The empress, still in recovery and confined to bed, also wore the happiest face in the world as she looked at her husband, twin sons, and newly born daughter.

* * *

“Louis. Cairo. It’s time to go now. I heard everything yesterday. You both neglected your homework?”

“But Mother. That’s because we were looking after Aisha……”

“Louis is right, Mother. We just didn’t have enough time because we were taking care of our sister.”

“Cairo. Louis. There are nannies specifically assigned to look after Aisha.”

The Ivory Palace was bustling from early morning. The princes, who tried to rush to their little sister right after breakfast, had to follow the palace staff to their lessons with gloomy faces of reflection after their mother’s scolding.

Roshan burst into laughter watching this scene before rising from his seat. He too needed to leave for his official duties.

But as always, he found it difficult to depart. Wondering if he could postpone his work for about an hour, he approached his wife.

“No.”

“……”

“I want to rest alone. So Roshan, you need to leave too.”

Yerena firmly pushed him away. Since he couldn’t disobey his wife’s words, Roshan withdrew with a regretful expression.

“Aisha. I’ll see you soon.”

Just before leaving, Roshan greeted his still-sleeping daughter and lightly kissed Yerena.

“I love you, Yerena.”

Instead of responding to his usual greeting, Yerena smiled prettily and kissed Roshan’s cheek. When her lips touched him, he hesitated again, reluctant to leave. But he soon exited the room when his wife’s expression grew stern.

“Take Aisha with you.”