Side Story 2 – The First and Last Journey

The sudden blare of the train’s whistle startled Carnier, making her shoulders flinch.  

Though she had been hearing it since the journey began, its resounding volume still caught her off guard every time.  

‘What an incredible invention.’  

The cost of constructing just one of these trains, imported from the western Kingdom of Delva, was beyond imagination.  

However, the expected benefits it could bring were equally immense, leading many nations to compete to acquire it.  

The Asherit Empire was, of course, no exception.  

‘It saves both manpower and time while increasing the volume of transported goods. Truly revolutionary.’  

As it was not yet in full commercial use, the ticket prices were exorbitantly high.  

However, among the nobility, for whom such costs were no issue, train travel had recently become highly popular.  

One train, in particular, the “Pink Muhly No. 3,” was a dream for noblewomen, who hoped to ride it at least once in their lifetime.  

This beautiful train, reserved solely for honeymoon trips, was where Carnier let out a quiet sigh.  

“Servante, are you feeling okay?”  

“……”  

No answer.  

Judging by the rise and fall of his chest and shoulders, he was alive, at least…  

Carnier’s gaze softened as she gently patted the head of the man lying on her lap.  

The words of the Imperial physician echoed in her mind.  

• Please look after His Highness. He’s been complaining of severe headaches and nausea, and now he can barely open his eyes. What kind of illness could this be? 

• It’s motion sickness. 

• …Motion sickness?  

• Yes, motion sickness.  

• Are you certain? His Highness is skilled in horseback riding and has endured long-distance carriage travel without issue. And yet, motion sickness?  

• There are rare cases where individuals, despite being adept at riding or carriage travel, experience motion sickness on trains.  

• If you knew this was possible, why wasn’t it prevented beforehand…!  

• Well… His Highness, as well as myself, are both experiencing train travel for the first time… 

• ……

• I’ll prescribe some motion sickness medication. 

To Carnier’s knowledge, Servante’s only prior experience with trains was during the inaugural ride when the station was first completed.  

Even then, he had only briefly toured the interior before disembarking.  

Who could have anticipated that he would suffer from motion sickness?  

Rather than scolding the physician further, Carnier had focused on helping Servante take the medication.  

However, even after much effort to swallow the medicine, Servante was unable to regain his composure.  

• When will he feel better?  

• It will take some time for the medication to take effect. Ideally, motion sickness medication is most effective when taken before symptoms appear…  

• ……

• Ahem. The best remedy for motion sickness is rest. Please let him sleep as much as possible.  

Fortunately, this train was equipped with spacious sleeping quarters not found on other trains, making it easy for him to lie down and rest.  

Even so…  

Carnier pouted and tugged lightly at Servante’s hair.  

“It is our honeymoon, after all.”  

“……”  

“Did you know this would happen and tried to cram everything into last night?”  

“……”  

“Sigh…”  

He had passed out just after dawn broke.  

When he opened his eyes, they were already aboard the train, leaving her utterly bewildered.  

The thought of not being able to greet those who had come to see them off and instead being carried aboard was mortifying.  

Still, it was hard to stay angry at the cause of all this, as he looked utterly miserable and lifeless.  

‘He’ll probably never want to ride a train again.’  

Not that they would have the leisure for such trips once they returned.  

Carnier released the tension in his hair and let the strands fall.  

She gently brushed aside the loose locks, revealing his tightly shut eyelids.  

Though his complexion was still pale, his expression seemed far more peaceful than when he was awake.  

Feeling somewhat relieved, Carnier glanced around.  

After confirming that no one was watching, she leaned down slightly.  

Her lips lightly brushed against his temple, curving into a shy smile.  

“Don’t get sick… my dear.”  

Her face flushed at her own whisper. Carnier pretended to busy herself by tidying his hair again, feigning nonchalance.  

‘When else will I get to call him that?’  

It wasn’t something she could say in front of others, and even when they were alone, the term felt embarrassingly intimate.  

Still, she had wanted to try it just once.  

Having fulfilled her secret wish, Carnier grinned to herself, her face still red.  

In doing so, she failed to notice the faint flutter of his eyelids beneath her hand.  

* * *

Inside the train speeding through the night, Servante blinked slowly.  

‘It feels like… I had a dream.’  

It was a dream about an adorable little piglet.  

The piglet, adorned with a red ribbon, danced toward him, its bright eyes sparkling as it whispered in a familiar voice.  

Don’t get sick… my dear.

“……”  

Honestly, it was rather endearing.  

Servante closed his eyes again.  

But realizing there was no guarantee he would dream the same dream, he opened them once more.  

‘Come to think of it, where is Carnier…?’  

The rhythmically swaying cabin was empty save for the wide bed he had been lying on.  

Servante stepped off the bed and crossed the cabin.  

Though the train continued to shake, he no longer felt the headache or nausea that had plagued him earlier. The medication seemed to have finally taken effect.  

‘I left her alone on the first day of our journey.’  

Guilt pricked at him as he imagined how Carnier must have spent the day by herself while he was unconscious.  

Determined to apologize and make up for lost time, he went to find her.  

Fortunately, she wasn’t far—she was in the dining car.  

“Oh? You’re up. Hiccup!”  

“……”  

For some reason, she was thoroughly drunk.  

As soon as he entered the dining car, Servante froze in place.  

Luca and Beth, who had been with her, exchanged apologetic glances with him.  

‘We’re sorry we couldn’t stop her…’  

‘This is all because you left our lady feeling lonely, Your Highness…’  

Suppressing a sigh, Servante gestured for them to leave.  

The two immediately disappeared, leaving only him and Carnier in the dining car.  

Taking a seat across from her, he spoke gently.  

“I apologize for keeping you waiting.”  

“Hiccup, it’s fine~ I’m used to it!”  

“……”  

“My oh-so-perfect husband… always makes me wait! But it’s okay~ I knew that and still loved you!”  

“……”  

Hearing her unfiltered sincerity, Servante felt a strange mix of emotions.  

He glanced at the table.  

The food, though perfectly arranged, was cold.  

Two empty wine bottles stood beside the plates.  

Imagining her waiting alone, skipping dinner, and drinking by herself while he lay unconscious filled him with regret.  

“…I’m sorry.”  

“Hic… If you’re sorry, then tell me the truth.”  

“About what?”  

“When did you start liking me?”  

Carnier tilted her flushed face to the side, her lips curving mischievously.  

‘This is serious.’  

Even her drunken state was adorable, leaving him at a loss.  

Feeling an odd hunger, Servante picked up a piece of bread, tore it, and took a bite.  

Meanwhile, Carnier leaned forward, her playful expression urging him on.  

“Well? Hmm? Tell me~.”  

“…I don’t see why you’re suddenly curious about that.”  

“Of course I’m curious! You’re my dear husband!”  

“…Husband?”  

“Hiccup! I really had no idea… When did it start? Hmm? Hmm?”  

It seemed the dream he thought he had was no dream at all.  

Staring intently at her lips, which babbled on without fear of the world, Servante chewed on his bread thoroughly.  

If he didn’t, he feared he might lose composure and bite into something else entirely.  

“Well… even if I told you now, would you remember it?”  

“I’ll tell you mine, too.”  

“The day I fell for you.”  

Switching gears effortlessly, Servante’s eyes curved into a smile.  

“It was, quite sinfully… the day my mother passed away.”  

“…The day Her Majesty the Empress passed away?”  

“Yes, the day you comforted me.”  

The Empress’s frail health had long foretold her end.  

The morning the news of her passing came, not only others but even her son, Servante, were not particularly surprised.  

Everything had been prepared as if her death could come at any time. The funeral proceeded, and clad in black mourning attire, Servante calmly carried out all the necessary procedures by the Emperor’s side.  

The mourners all carried handkerchiefs, but none shed a tear. Though they spoke of offering their condolences, their eyes brimmed with greed, wanting to catch the Emperor’s attention.  

It was nothing new, so it neither shocked nor angered him.  

But she alone was different.  

• Your Highness. 

With a pale face devoid of makeup, dressed in black mourning attire, she hesitated briefly before taking his hand.  

• I know it must be difficult for you after the Empress’s passing. Please… let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.

It wasn’t an empty formality. Her voice trembled, holding back tears.  

The warmth of her hand reminded him of her mother’s, who had once held his hand as if he were just an ordinary child.  

Genuine worry and affection.  

The vivid sincerity of her emotions made his heart stop.  

He almost instinctively clasped her soft, warm hand tightly.  

“That day, I realized it. That I truly saw you as a woman.”  

“……”  

“I thought it might be fine to marry you, pretending not to know.”  

He didn’t want to let go of the hand of this beautiful person who looked only at him.  

But.  

• …I’ll manage on my own.

• Your Highness…?

• Thank you for your concern, but I have matters to attend to…  

Overwhelmed by self-loathing, he didn’t know what to do.  

He let go of her hand and drew a clearer line, keeping his distance from her ever since.  

“At the time, even harboring feelings for you felt like committing a sin. Sigh… talking about this now…”  

“That’s so unfair… I lost.”  

Carnier, who had been quietly listening as if the story were serious, suddenly raised her glass.  

Startled, Servante grabbed the glass and stopped her.  

“Wait, Carnier. I think you’ve had enough. No more…”  

“It’s unfair!”  

“What is?”  

“Liking you first, confessing first—it was all me!”

When her glass was blocked, Carnier pouted, reaching out with both hands to grab his face.  

And then she stretched it.  

“Ca-Carnier?”  

“You’re mean! You’re too much!”  

“Haah…”  

Servante’s eyes wavered violently as he experienced the “cheek-pulling” for the first time, even as a child.  

But soon, realizing something, he held her hands firmly to stop her.  

“You said you liked me first?”  

“Yes! Hic…”  

“When was that?”  

Still holding her fidgeting fingers, he tilted his head.  

“When did you start having feelings for me?”  

“…Ugh.”  

“Are you not going to tell me? I just told you everything.”  

As if contemplating something, her already flushed face grew even redder.  

This was a story he wouldn’t hear unless it was now.  

Sensing this instinctively, Servante’s eyes gleamed.  

“Hmm?”  

“…When.”  

“When?”  

“When you returned… from the academy.”  

Servante’s expression turned peculiar.  

“Six years ago?”  

He was twenty-one, and she was only fourteen at the time.  

Surprised by how far back it was, he paused briefly.  

But unable to avoid his grasp, Carnier, whose lips quivered, finally mumbled.  

“When you called me… Little Pig…”  

“What…?”  

“Ugh… It’s your fault, Your Highness.”  

The more she spoke, the more embarrassed she felt. And the more embarrassed she felt, the more indignant she became.  

‘Why! Is it always! Just me!’  

Finally, Carnier, far too honest under the influence of alcohol, burst out.  

“Why does your voice have to sound so attractive?!”  

“……”  

“Why did you have to make me swoon with such words?!”  

She glared at him resentfully, saying she couldn’t tell anyone out of embarrassment.  

Servante, who had been listening with wide eyes, quietly lowered his head.  

“Pfft…”  

“Don’t laugh!”  

“Pfft, no… just… haha…”  

“I said don’t laugh!”  

Carnier tried to pull her hands away in indignation, but even while laughing, he didn’t let go.  

In fact, he held on even tighter.  

“I see… I’ve done a lot wrong. I’m sorry.”  

“Hmph! If you know that, then from now on…”  

“Little Pig.”  

“…!”  

She flinched, her shoulders trembling.