Side Story 2.2

As he kissed her clasped hands, he smiled with his eyes.  

“If I’d known you liked being called that, I would’ve said it more often.”  

“N-no…”  

“You liked it that much? Little Pig.”  

“Stop it!”  

Even in her drunken state, Carnier realized she was cornered and shot to her feet.  

But as if waiting for this, he rose with her and pulled her close.  

Their bodies collided against the table, causing the dishes and glasses to wobble precariously.  

Before the glass could fall, he caught it and downed the remaining wine in one gulp.  

Then, holding her swaying face, he pressed his lips to hers.  

“Mmm…!”  

The same scent filled both their mouths.  

At first, Carnier tried to pull away, but soon, she followed the familiar scent and kiss.  

Her intoxicated body heated up faster than usual, prioritizing instinct over reason.  

Far from pushing him away, she clung to him.  

He lifted her into his arms.  

Plates and bowls caught on her skirt clattered noisily to the floor.  

Perhaps the sound could be heard outside, but no one entered to check.  

This train was for honeymoons, and the two in this cabin were newlyweds.  

As the wet sounds of their kisses continued, the clothes covering their bodies were shed one by one.  

“I’ve made you wait far too long. Truly.”  

Muttering softly, he tore away her inner skirt as if ripping it apart.  

Carnier, unwilling to let even that brief moment of kissing end, clung closer.  

Firm and soft chests pressed together, their heated breaths mingling once more.  

“If you know that, don’t make me wait anymore… my dear.”  

“Hah…”  

Despite having eaten little all day due to motion sickness, the weight in his lower body grew heavier.  

Biting her sweet lips, which babbled fearlessly, he whispered low.  

“Spread your legs, my wife.”  

“Ah…”  

Her eyes fluttered at the word “wife.”  

‘When he calls me that…’  

It felt as though they weren’t the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of a nation but simply a couple married out of love.  

At least, in this moment.  

Soon, the dining car was filled not with words but with sweet moans and wet sounds.  

* * *

The Pink Muhly No. 3 train, which had run nonstop for an entire day, finally came to a halt late in the afternoon.

In the western region of the Empire, in Allen Province, vast plains stretched endlessly.  

Beyond the newly constructed, pristine train station, pink muhly grass swayed like waves in the breeze.  

The pink spectacle explained why the train bore its name.  

At the end of a train journey, newlyweds are often captivated by the romantic scenery, marveling at it before immersing themselves in their private atmosphere. However, the circumstances of the newlyweds who had just arrived were a little different.

“Carnier, it’s time to get ready to disembark.”  

“……”  

“Carnier.”  

Servante looked awkwardly at the center of the bed, where the blanket was puffed up.  

Despite calling her several times, there was no response from the person buried under the pile of blankets.  

After waiting for a moment, he finally spoke up.  

“Little Pi—”  

“Don’t say it!”  

As if her silence had been a lie, Carnier bolted upright.  

Her flushed red face peeked out from beneath the discarded blanket, glaring at him resentfully.  

But instead of being intimidating, she only looked adorable.  

Servante tilted his head playfully.  

“Everyone outside must be anxiously waiting for our Little Pig…”  

“Ahh! I said don’t say that…!”  

In the end, a pillow came flying.  

Instead of dodging it, he caught it effortlessly and shrugged his shoulders.  

Carnier, who didn’t know what to do out of frustration, flopped back onto the bed.  

‘Alcohol is the enemy…!’  

Even if she had been drunk, she couldn’t believe she had spilled all of her most embarrassing secrets…!  

Having never been drunk before, she hadn’t known what kind of drunk she was.  

To make matters worse, she remembered everything she had said vividly.  

• When you called me… Little Pig…

• It’s your fault, Your Highness.

• Why does your voice have to sound so attractive?!

‘Argh, ugh! Ugh!’  

She wanted to erase all these memories if she could. No, she just wanted to disappear from this place entirely.  

And as she buried her head in her hands, his hand reached out to rest on her head.  

“Don’t drink alone next time. It worries me.”  

“I won’t drink at all…”  

“That would be a shame.”  

“……!”  

Carnier’s shoulders trembled at his calm yet direct words.  

When she cautiously looked up, Servante was gazing down at her with a serious expression.  

“Drink with me sometimes.”  

“What’s so good about seeing me drunk?”  

“If I didn’t like it, would I have held onto you all night?”  

Carnier’s face flushed as if on fire.  

It wasn’t just the things she had said. She remembered every detail of the previous night’s events vividly.  

‘How could we… on the dining table…’  

No matter how bold she might be, for Carnier, who had been raised as a proper lady, it was an undeniably wild and scandalous moment.  

And even after finishing their first round there, they had returned to the cabin and…  

“If you understand, it’s time to get up now.”  

Servante, who had seen the wandering look in her eyes and knew exactly what she was imagining, kissed her warm cheek.  

“Tell your maid to come in and help you get ready.”  

“…Alright.”  

Even though the maid hadn’t witnessed the events of the previous night, Carnier felt embarrassed just imagining her guessing what had happened. Still, she nodded.  

The train had already been stationary for quite some time, and people, including Beth, were likely waiting outside their cabin to assist them.  

‘Phew… Act like nothing happened. Stay calm.’  

As someone who had flawlessly played the role of the Crown Prince’s fiancée, Carnier calmed herself down.  

Just as she had composed herself, Servante, who was about to leave the cabin, glanced back.  

“See you later, Little Pi—”  

Thud!  

A pillow flew like an arrow and hit the back of Servante’s head this time.  

But it was just a soft pillow, so it didn’t hurt. He opened the cabin door with a composed expression as if nothing had happened.  

Luca and Beth, who had been eagerly waiting outside, hesitated when they saw him.  

“Her Highness ahem, help her prepare quickly.”  

“…Yes, Your Highness.”  

Why was the meticulous Crown Prince standing there with messy hair, suppressing a smile? And why was there a pillow lying on the floor by the door?  

Their curiosity was short-lived as they hurriedly carried out his orders to prepare for disembarkation.  

The sweet yet slightly chaotic honeymoon was still ongoing.  

* * *

Servante and Carnier’s honeymoon had been planned to last ten days.  

Of course, as with any royal marriage, they couldn’t spend all ten days in private.  

They had to meet with local lords and their families and personally inspect whether the policies implemented in the capital were being properly carried out.  

The honeymoon also served as an official inspection tour.  

However, Servante made sure to carve out moments for just the two of them amidst their official duties.  

For instance, spending a night at a hotel overlooking a field of pink muhly grass.  

Or exploring a newly constructed stable and galloping across the vast plains together.  

Or discovering a beautiful spot adorned with water and flowers and using the entourage’s rest as an excuse for a short stroll.  

Thanks to these efforts, Carnier’s initial sulkiness quickly melted away, and Servante found joy in watching his young wife’s delighted expressions.  

Even Luca and the other attendants, who were initially surprised by the Crown Prince’s relaxed demeanor, grew accustomed to it as the days went by.  

As the long yet short journey neared its end, the Crown Prince and Princess transferred from the train to a carriage to visit their final destination—the Raymore Duchy.  

Specifically, the family mausoleum where the late Duke and Duchess rested.  

‘It’s been so long.’  

Walking along the path leading to the mausoleum behind the main estate, Carnier couldn’t help but feel a sense of unfamiliarity.  

Though it was called the duchy, both the Duke and Carnier had spent more time in the capital.  

And after coming of age and fulfilling her duties as the Crown Prince’s fiancée, she hadn’t been able to visit for several years.  

“The Madam ensures everything is well-maintained by visiting annually. That magnolia tree over there was personally chosen and planted by her last year.”  

Hearing the words of the estate’s butler, who was leading the way, Carnier turned her gaze to the magnolia tree.  

Although it wasn’t blooming now, it wasn’t hard to imagine the white blossoms that would bloom at the end of its branches each year.  

Magnolias had been her late mother’s favorite flower, often planted in the garden of their capital residence.  

Carnier smiled faintly, touched by her sister-in-law’s thoughtfulness.  

“This way.”  

Although it had been a long time, she had never forgotten the path to her parents’ graves.  

Recognizing the graves before the butler could even finish speaking, Carnier stopped in her tracks.  

Servante, who had been walking quietly beside her, also paused.  

Without exchanging words, the two stood silently, gazing at the graves and headstones side by side.  

‘Father. Mother.’  

Carnier offered a silent greeting to her parents.  

The little girl who used to cry endlessly over their absence was no longer here.  

Now, having lived longer without her parents than with them, she had grown into an adult who didn’t dwell excessively on sentiment.  

‘I’m married now. To someone I love.’  

Placing her hand on the headstone that had been meticulously maintained without a trace of moss, Carnier closed her eyes briefly before opening them again.  

‘He loves and cherishes me deeply too. So please don’t worry and rest peacefully where you are.’  

Knowing that entering the Imperial Palace would make it even harder to visit this place, Carnier etched the moment deeply into her memory, both visually and through touch.  

Servante, standing silently beside her, watched over her without a word.  

The cool breeze ruffled their hair and clothes several times.  

“…Would you mind going ahead? There’s something I must say to them alone.”  

Breaking his silence, Servante spoke softly. Carnier tilted her head in slight curiosity but soon nodded.  

Leaving him behind, she exited the mausoleum with the butler.  

In truth, Servante likely had far more vivid memories of her late father than she did and probably had more to say as well.  

‘Especially since he thought that even holding me in his heart was a sin. He might have things he wants to say in private.’  

Carnier decided to wait, giving her husband the time he needed to sort through his thoughts.  

However, the situation soon changed due to the sudden arrival of Luca and Beth, who had hurriedly run all the way from the main estate.  

“Huff, huff! Your Highness, there’s urgent news from the Imperial Family…!”  

“……!”  

The urgent message they delivered turned Carnier’s face pale. Without hesitation, she quickly turned and dashed back toward the mausoleum.  

Her hurried steps soon faltered, though.  

Along the narrow path, she saw her husband already returning, walking toward her.  

“Servante!”  

“……Carnier.”  

Servante, startled by her frantic call, glanced briefly at Luca and Beth, who were panting heavily behind her. Then, he composed himself and put on a calm expression.  

He walked up to her leisurely and gently took her hand in his.  

“It seems something urgent has happened.”  

“Huff! Your Highness… An imperial courier has just arrived. His Majesty the Emperor has ordered your immediate return to the palace!”  

Despite Luca’s urgent tone, Servante merely raised an eyebrow and showed no significant reaction.  

‘This man…’  

Watching his response, Carnier suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.  

‘The words he wanted to say to my parents… Could it be…?’  

Whether he noticed her thoughts or not, Servante immediately issued a commanding order with regal authority.  

“There’s no time to waste. Prepare to depart immediately! We must return to the palace as quickly as possible.”  

“Yes, Your Highness!”  

Although their original plan had been to return leisurely the day after tomorrow, no one objected to the sudden change in schedule.  

Carnier, too, tightened her grip on his hand.  

The eighth day of their dreamlike honeymoon.

The sweet, almost surreal moments of their honeymoon had come to an abrupt end.