Elia knew Rockfort’s visit would be delayed, yet she waited without changing her clothes, nodding off.

Considering his heart that must have been troubled in many ways lately, she thought it would be better to convey this joyful news as soon as she had made up her mind.

Above all, Elia wanted to tell him quickly.

“Your Majesty.”

At Hannah’s whisper, Elia, who had been dozing off without realizing it, lifted her heavy eyelids.

“His Majesty the Emperor will be arriving soon.”

“……Is that so? What time is it now?”

“It’s almost midnight.”

They say pregnant women become sleepy, and Elia was no exception.

“Bring some refreshments to the bedchamber.”

“Yes.”

Elia said, barely gathering her wits.

“And……”

While she trailed off, her head still foggy with sleep, the lamps carried by the emperor’s procession brightly illuminated the night outside the empress’s quarters.

“It seems His Majesty has arrived more quickly than the messenger.”

Both Rockfort and Elia would prefer to spend all day together if they could, but they regretted the time they spent apart while handling the emperor’s official duties and various matters.

Due to that regret, Rockfort seemed to have forgotten the emperor’s dignity and rushed to the empress’s quarters as soon as he finished his official duties.

“The night dew is cold. We will greet His Majesty, so please remain in the bedchamber.”

If Elia had been alone, she would have thrown on a shawl and gone out to greet him, but now she could only nod obediently at Hannah’s words.

Human hearts are truly fascinating—things that hadn’t mattered before she knew about the child now made her cautious and careful in everything.

“Then, I will escort His Majesty.”

After bowing deeply at the command, Hannah quietly left the empress’s bedchamber as usual. Left alone, Elia looked down at the emperor’s entourage visible through the window to help herself wake up.

Looking closely, it seemed he had illuminated the darkness with lamps and came on horseback himself. Today, Rockfort’s impatient heart filled Elia’s heart with joy.

It was natural, as it was proof that their feelings of longing for each other were the same.

“His Majesty the Emperor arrives.”

The familiar voice of the grand chamberlain sounded outside the bedchamber, and soon the door opened and Rockfort strode in.

“……I told you not to wait if I was late.”

Though his smile upon seeing Elia contained traces of apology, the warmth of their hands clasping immediately was as warm as always.

“It’s all right. I took plenty of naps today.”

Rockfort brushed Elia’s hair with a loving hand, then sat beside her on the sofa in the bedchamber with his arm around her waist.

“Is it not uncomfortable staying with the princess?”

“How could it be? I’d like to continue living like this from now on.”

Though he already knew about their relationship well, hearing it directly from Elia’s lips brought a smile of relief to Rockfort’s face.

“By the way, I heard from the princess…… that your birthday is coming soon.”

“I plan to spend it quietly this year.”

No matter how great an emperor’s birthday might be, since his parents had died not long ago, a banquet or feast would be inappropriate, and Rockfort himself wasn’t inclined to hold one.

“The nobles who enjoy banquets might be disappointed, but I find myself looking forward to this year’s birthday more.”

Rockfort’s large hand gently caressed Elia’s white hand.

“Putting aside useless customs, it will be a rare occasion to spend intimately with family.”

At those words, Elia nodded.

As long as Rockfort was emperor, all his affairs, great and small, were imperial matters and official duties. Considering the fact that he had been crown prince since childhood, perhaps this year’s birthday spent only with family would be more precious.

“Elia, I have you, and Leticia and Kaya too. ……And I probably can’t stop that fellow Rils from rushing over.”

Elia looked at his purple eyes for a moment before parting her pink, clear lips.

“There might be…… one more.”

Rockfort made a puzzled expression before nodding.

“Rils is hasty by nature, so he might come with his new grand duchess by then.”

That Rils had given his heart to Louisa and taken her to the Grand Duchy of Amid was unexpected even to Elia, but it was a fortunate outcome.

However, today Rockfort’s guess was wrong.

“In my opinion, that participant might not be of such a mature age.”

“Didn’t we already count Kaya?”

“Younger than Kaya…… perhaps, a small life not yet even born.”

Elia spoke as calmly as usual, but her heart pounded as she watched Rockfort’s reaction.

Of course Rockfort would be delighted, but she was curious about everything—what he would say, what expression he would make.

“……Was there such a person? ……Ah.”

Rockfort blinked slowly.

“So…… no, that is……”

Though he understood Elia’s hint, his head was already half-frozen when it came to expressing it in words.

“Yes, there is.”

At the firm answer, Rockfort’s face froze like stone.

Elia suppressed a smile with effort and took his hand, placing it on her lower abdomen where nothing was yet visible.

“Here.”

Again, Rockfort blinked a couple of times.

Like someone who had completely forgotten how to speak, his lips moved silently several times.

“They say it’s about two months now.”

Elia said shyly.

“It’s our…… child.”

Rockfort’s emotion and joy were far greater than Elia had imagined. He remained frozen for a long while, unable to even speak, then suddenly pulled Elia into an embrace.

“Our…… child is here with us now……?”

His voice resonated hoarsely in Elia’s ear.

“Yes. The three of us are already together.”

At those words, Rockfort embraced Elia even more tightly.

It was the only way he could express his overflowing emotions right now.

“Elia.”

Rockfort barely loosened his embrace and looked at Elia’s face.

Her blue eyes, which he loved over and over again, shone like jewels.

“Just having you in my life…… I considered it more happiness than I deserved……”

Quite rarely, Rockfort’s voice was choked with emotion.

Having ascended to the position of crown prince at a young age, he thought he had discarded all tears, but now his eyes stung.

“I thought…… my happiness as a man was over.”

“I once thought so too.”

Elia answered honestly.

Both of them, having been entrusted with such strong fates, were often forced to abandon their lives as individuals.

“But we…… didn’t give up, did we?”

Elia gently caressed Rockfort’s cheek, which looked like it might shed tears at any moment.

“It was possible because you were by my side.”

Rockfort firmly held Elia’s hand that rested on his cheek.

“Elia, you are the only person who has shown me what sincerity is, what affection is.”

The two chose a different path from Reyan and Cassandra. They chose to face each other and share pure affection. Though the words were very simple, the two had accomplished something difficult for anyone in the imperial palace.

“When our child is born and grows up, tell them that story.”

At last, Rockfort let a single tear roll down.

All his feelings were contained in that tear, which he hadn’t shed during any trial, even when his parents died.

“Everything, everything…… I will tell them and teach them everything. Especially, how important it is in life to meet and protect a beloved companion.”

For the first time, Elia wiped away Rockfort’s tears.

At the same time, her heart swelled, and she felt like crying herself, but she deliberately held back with a smile.

“And that forever, the most precious and lovable person to me is you, Elia.”

The child born between them would undoubtedly be very lovable.

But Rockfort’s heart was already ruled by Elia.

“No matter how much you tell me to prioritize the child, even if…… you come to look only at the child instead of me.”

To think of competing for affection with a child not yet born—today, Rockfort appeared like a young man of his age.

“It’s all right.”

Elia took his hand again and placed it on her belly.

“As this child grows, our love will grow too. When they’re born, when they walk, talk, laugh, and cry, then even more……”

There was no need to compete for affection.

As long as this family existed, love would spring forth endlessly—how could there not be enough?

“I will love you even more. Elia, you.”

Rockfort whispered as he kissed her forehead.

“No matter how much love increases…… you come first to me.”

More than the calm vows at their wedding, the words and promises they exchanged daily in their everyday life made the meaning of being a couple and the existence of marriage more solid.

These were things they realized solely through their love and trust for each other.

“I love you too, Rockfort.”

Now there was no hesitation in her confession. Rockfort looked at that lovely face and lightly kissed her lips.

“But I will always love you a little more. On that, I cannot yield.”

All their past trials were fading in this moment.

Here and now, there were only a husband and wife who loved each other, and a child not yet born.

“All right, that much.”

As Elia smiled her beautiful smile, Rockfort was already smiling a smile that resembled hers.

“I have loved, I love, and I will love.”

Rockfort whispered softly, holding Elia’s hand tightly.

“Forever.”

Elia also held his hand in return.

More than any vow, each word Rockfort spoke now was being engraved in her heart as a firm promise.

“Elia, I will love you and our child.”

It wasn’t a promise he’s making as emperor. It was simply the instinct led by his heart.

“I will too.”

The wounds and scars left by past pain seemed to disappear completely. Finally, Elia had found happiness with her own hands and could correct past mistakes and let them go.

“Forever.”

Rockfort cupped both of Elia’s cheeks and pressed his lips deeply against her pink lips.

Their lips were making vows to each other.

That they would love each other…… forever.

—The End—