After that day, a new history was written in the kingdom.

The sword-wielding queen. On the battlefield, the sharpest blade guarding the king’s back; in the palace, the only sanctuary soothing the king’s solitude. 

People called them ‘the Sun and the Shadow.’ But it wasn’t a hierarchical relationship. It meant a perfect pair that couldn’t exist without each other.

Three years later. The palace gardens filled with children’s laughter.

“Got you! Brother, stop right there!”

A little child with silver hair ran away while a black-haired girl chased behind. Twin siblings who were the spitting image of Isolet and Kyrie.

“Lucian! Ella! I told you not to run!”

Kyrie shouted as she ran over. She still wore comfortable pants, but her expression looked much softer and more relaxed than before. Color bloomed in her cheeks, and though her rough hands still bore calluses, they were warm from holding the children.

“Leave them. That’s just how kids are.”

Isolet followed behind, laughing. He naturally wrapped his arm around Kyrie’s waist. Having completely shed his boyish air over the years, he’d become the empire’s most attractive and dignified emperor. But in front of Kyrie, he was still just a man in love.

“They’re fearless because you spoil them.”

“What’s wrong with being fearless? They’re spirited like their mother. I like it.”

Isolet planted a kiss on Kyrie’s cheek with a smack.

“Papa! You’re kissing again!”

Lucian stopped and pointed. Ella giggled and covered her eyes with her tiny hands.

“If you’re jealous, do it yourselves.”

“Show some dignity, Your Majesty.”

“When it’s just us two, there’s no such thing as dignity.”

Isolet pouted and leaned his head on her shoulder. Warm sunlight, children’s laughter, and the body heat of his beloved. Isolet suddenly recalled his past self. 

Those days burning with vengeance in a rat-infested fortress, those cold and bitter winter days when he’d picked her up from a pile of corpses. Back then, he couldn’t even imagine a day like this would come.

He took Kyrie’s hand. It was rough from gripping sword hilts, but to his eyes, it was the most beautiful hand in the world.

“…I love you.”

Isolet whispered. Kyrie smiled softly and squeezed his hand back. They didn’t need words to know. How much fierce bloodshed this peace had cost.

That night, after putting the children to bed, only soft moonlight circulated in the emperor’s bedchamber. Isolet leaned against the headboard reading documents. Kyrie emerged from the bathroom, shaking out her wet hair after bathing.

The soap scent wafting from her stimulated Isolet’s nose. Isolet set down his documents and reached out, but tonight Kyrie moved faster than usual.

Thud—

She snatched the documents Isolet was reading and placed them on the nightstand.

“Kyrie?”

“Don’t work tonight.”

Normally she would’ve said ‘You’re tired, go to sleep quickly’ and turned over to lie down. But tonight Kyrie was different. She crawled onto the bed and settled between Isolet’s legs.

Isolet’s blue eyes widened in surprise. Kyrie’s amber eyes rippled in the moonlight. That gaze was as resolute as when cutting down enemies on the battlefield, yet infinitely deep and hot.

“…Are you seducing me?”

“If I seduce you, will you fall for it?”

Kyrie smiled faintly. At that unfamiliar smile, Isolet’s Adam’s apple bobbed sharply.

“More than falling—I’m dying to be devoured.”

Isolet hastily tried to pull her waist close. But Kyrie pushed his shoulders back, stopping him.

“Stay still. Tonight, I’m in charge.”

“…What?”

“You’ve always been the one doing it. Driving me like you were trying to confirm my body, my heart.”

Kyrie’s rough fingers traced down Isolet’s handsome jawline and explored his firm chest. Each time her touch landed over his thin silk pajamas, Isolet’s body flinched.

“Tonight I’ll confirm it. Whose man you are.”

Those words were enough to snap Isolet’s reason. But he clenched his fists and endured, deciding to watch what his woman would do. This was the first time she’d been so proactive.

Kyrie slowly pressed her lips over Isolet’s. If their previous kisses had been Isolet’s one-sided craving and obsession, tonight’s kiss was gentle comfort and sweet confession. 

Her tongue cautiously delved into his mouth, and Isolet willingly opened to accept her.

“Mmm…”

Their saliva mixed and breaths tangled. Kyrie pulled his neck closer and delved deeper. Her heartbeat transmitted to Isolet’s chest.

Kyrie pulled away and unbuttoned Isolet’s pajamas one by one. On the revealed firm chest remained faint scars—from protecting her from an assassin, from going into Mana Rampage for her sake. She kissed each scar.

“These wounds… my heart aches every time I see them.”

“They’re glorious wounds. The price I paid to have you.”

“I won’t let you get hurt anymore.”

Kyrie raised her head and met his eyes.

“Just as you protected me, I’ll protect you. On this bed and on the battlefield.”

She boldly pushed Isolet down and climbed over him. Isolet lay beneath her, looking up with an expression of ecstasy. Sitting with moonlight behind her, she was beautiful like a goddess of night. Disheveled black hair, flushed cheeks, and those amber eyes holding only him.

“Kyrie… my queen.”

Isolet groaned and reached up to cup her cheeks.

“I love you. With all my soul.”

“I know.”

Kyrie rubbed her face against his palm and answered quietly.

“I love you too. Isolet.”

The moment she called his name, not his title. The last thin wall remaining between them crumbled. As she slowly lowered her hips, their bodies connected seamlessly as one.

“Haah…!”

Isolet threw his head back at the overwhelming fullness and let out an involuntary cry. It was a tremor beyond physical pleasure, like souls joining. 

Kyrie braced her hands on his chest and moved slowly. Isolet breathed in rhythm with her movements, tenderly caressing her waist and hips.

“Feel it? Kyrie, I’m inside you.”

“Yes… I feel it. It’s warm.”

It was lovemaking where tenderness preceded intensity. Without avoiding each other’s eyes for even a moment, they shared every sensation. Isolet felt his eyes growing hot. 

The small creature he’d picked up from the cold snowfield long ago had now become a complete woman embracing him. All he’d given was restraint and obsession, yet she was returning it as love.

“Thank you…”

At the moment of climax, Isolet pulled her into a crushing embrace and whispered.

“Thank you for living. Thank you for not abandoning me.”

“…Same goes for me.”

Kyrie kissed his sweat-soaked forehead and collapsed into his embrace.

“Without you, I would still be a nameless blade.”

The two caught their ragged breaths and felt each other’s body heat. Isolet’s heart and Kyrie’s heart touched, beating as one rhythm. A night stronger than any sword in the world, softer than any flower in the world.

Much later, in the quiet bedchamber. Isolet held the sleeping Kyrie in his arms, stroking her hair. Blue dawn light seeped through the window.

He suddenly took her hand. A hand roughened from countless battles. But now this hand had become not a sword that killed people, but a hand that protected loved ones and caressed children.

“…Sleep well. My shadow.”

Isolet kissed her forehead. Even in sleep, Kyrie burrowed into his embrace and murmured.

“…My sun.”

Shadows don’t covet light.

Because shadow and light had become one, creating a complete world where they illuminated each other.

Above the palace’s high spire, their two flags fluttered side by side. 

Seemingly proving last night’s passionate love, and blessing their ordinary yet special happiness that would continue for a long, long time.

Everon’s winter had ended. Now their season was eternal spring.