Side Story: Family (4)

The Second Consort, Aroella Harpeon.

Born as the eldest daughter of the Border Earl, she had once been in love with Duke Escalante. At one time, they had shared a passionate romance.

Had Escalante not entered into a political marriage with a wealthy Marquis family, she might have become the Duchess.

<Hasn’t it been years already? It’s time for you to give up and come to me.>

Aroella was certain the Emperor had intervened, but there was nothing she could do. When the Emperor’s pressure on her family finally forced her to marry Kiberun Harpeon, she gave up all hope.

She wandered aimlessly until just before her marriage. No matter which banquet she attended, the flood of congratulatory remarks felt like salt in a wound, and she couldn’t endure it without drinking herself into a stupor.

One day, she accidentally entered the wrong room. It was purely by chance that she encountered her old lover, who was heavily intoxicated, and ended up sharing a night with him.

Calling it a tragedy would be more fitting.

From that single mistake, one she couldn’t even remember, she conceived a child.

<Congratulations, Your Majesty. You are with child!>

At first, she despaired, believing it to be the Emperor’s child. She considered ending her life several times but ultimately consoled herself, thinking, “What sin has the baby committed?”

However…

It was Escalante’s child. There was no other explanation.

Even in the midst of the pain and chaos following childbirth, Aroella desperately clung to the Emperor. She cried and begged, throwing herself before the sword poised to kill the baby.

K＊ll me instead. Escalante is innocent. What wrong could a newborn have committed?

The Emperor had no choice but to withdraw his sword when confronted by the Consort, who looked ready to harm herself.

All his fury was then directed toward Escalante.

And so, Aroella began a life of voluntary confinement.

Please, let my child live.

Please, spare Escalante.

Direct all your anger at me.

***

The Second Consort vanished from society. Officially, it was announced that she had fallen ill due to the shock of losing the Imperial heir.

Her life became increasingly desolate, and the only reason she continued to endure was for the sake of those she loved. She bore the Emperor’s wrath with her frail body, imagining Escalante, who was likely living far away in the North.

Would he hate me? How tall has the child grown? Does the child resemble me in any way? If I were to meet the child, would it be hard to recognize the child I once held?

***

Many years passed.

Tehis became a Grand Duke, Kaishan ascended the throne, and eventually, the Emperor, who had been declared deceased, released Aroella from her chains.

So much time had passed.

For the broken woman to gather the courage to seek out her son required immense strength.

It was her first outing in 29 years.

* * *

“We are married.”

He had grown well.

“She is the woman I love. And so, I will live happily with her, no matter what you say.”

He had truly grown into an extraordinary man.

Even though his mother had not been by his side.

Through tear-blurred vision, Aroella stared blankly at Tehis. His black hair, deep blue eyes, and sharp jawline resembled his father.

But his nose and lips seemed more like hers. Or perhaps they were also inherited from Escalante.

In truth, she couldn’t remember clearly. The face of the man she had once loved had grown faint in her memory.

There was so much she wanted to say. So much she wanted to hear. But, like a fool, she held her breath, focusing solely on observing Tehis.

“…Um, Your Majesty?”

When had he grown so much?

She had come after hearing news of his marriage, but she had still imagined a child who barely reached her waist.

“Excuse me, can you hear me?”

At some point, he had grown into a robust adult towering over her. Not only that, but he stood proudly, declaring his intent to build a happy future with the woman he loved.

How admirable and heartbreaking it was.

“Can she not hear us…? Tehis, do you know sign language?”

“I do not. If necessary, I will call someone who does.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

For the first time, Aroella spoke. Her voice caused Tehis and Chloe to turn their heads sharply.

The woman, her face wet with tears, offered a faint smile.

“Tehis, Escalante’s… Grand Duke.”

Her voice, slow and deliberate as though cherishing something precious, carried a gentle sweetness. Her eyes, once clouded in darkness, now held the light of dawn.

“I just wanted to see you. Congratulations on your marriage. And…”

Once the words started flowing, they came out smoothly, but then they stopped again. Her gaze, which had been carefully tracing Tehis’s features as if engraving them into her memory, softened.

Tears clung to the corners of her eyes.

“I hope you’ll be happy.”

My child.

Aroella turned away without hesitation. A sense of liberation, as though she had been freed from decades of chains, washed over her.

Now, what should I do? Should I return and sort through what little remains of my life?

“Your Majesty, um… Mother?”

Suddenly, a young woman’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

The unfamiliar title struck her like a bolt of lightning, and she turned blankly to see the bride smiling awkwardly.

“Tehis and I will visit the palace sometime. Please stay healthy.”

Aroella’s eyes widened slightly. This was an offer she hadn’t anticipated.

“Chloe.”

“Tehis, you’ll come with me, right?”

Tehis, who had been about to object, met Chloe’s warm gaze and fell silent. He glanced between Aroella and Chloe a few times before sighing in surrender.

“Fine. We’ll visit someday.”

“You’re wonderful, my love.”

“That’s a phrase I haven’t heard in a while.”

“Let’s say I’ve returned to my roots.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“Now that I think about it… maybe not.”

The lighthearted banter between the newlyweds came to an abrupt halt when Aroella began crying again. This time, she wept so hard she crouched down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Startled, Chloe hurried to her side.

“No, I mean, if you don’t want to, you can say no!”

“I’m just… so… happy…”

Hearing that she was crying from happiness, Chloe and Tehis exchanged glances. Chloe offered a faint smile, while Tehis opened his mouth to speak but then turned his head away.

He had not yet forgiven Aroella. The scars of the past were still too raw.

But perhaps, he could at least have a conversation with her.

And maybe someday, a day would come when everyone could be happy.

At least, Chloe believed so. Or she hoped so.

She wished for a day when the family Tehis had found could bring him strength.

…As for Chloe, who firmly believed herself to be an orphan, her own reunion with her biological mother would come much later.

***

Time passed quickly.

Chloe and Tehis, having successfully completed their wedding, experienced a passionate first night and an adventurous honeymoon. By chance, they ended up exploring the uncharted territories of the Sky Island and returned in a disheveled state, but both were satisfied with the unique memories they had created.

Summer passed, and the leaves began to fall.

Tehis devoted himself to the affairs of the Grand Duchy, while Chloe traveled between the Mage Tower and the North, embarking on new research. With the support of senior mages, she improved and distributed the existing growth potion, enabling the North to develop rapidly.

Even during the fierce blizzards of winter, the Grand Duchy remained warm.

To prevent anyone from freezing to death, Chloe cast a large-scale barrier. Although it could only be activated briefly at night, the people’s praise for her grew by the day.

When spring arrived, they took a week off.

Using Chloe’s birthday and the second anniversary of their relationship as an excuse, the two traveled to the Southern Kingdom. Aide Lisa’s remark, “But aren’t you already married?” was ignored. While exploring the deep sea near the coast, they encountered a Kraken, severed its tentacles, and fled.

The tentacles of the octopus-like monster turned out to be unexpectedly delicious.

And then, summer returned once more.

“Aaaaaah! Aaaahhh!”

“Just a little more! Push a little harder!”

Tehis had been pacing outside the door for hours. Every time Chloe’s screams echoed from within, he clenched his teeth so tightly that his gums throbbed.

Why wouldn’t this stubborn child just come out and stop torturing its mother?

As his misplaced frustration began to rise, the desperate screams finally ceased.

Thump, thump. The Sword Master’s heightened senses detected the presence of a new life.

“Your Grace, the child is—”

Bang!

“How is Chloe? What about the child?”

Lisa, staring blankly at the door that had just been blown off its hinges, let out a sigh mixed with laughter and replied,

“Both are safe. A healthy young master has been born.”

“Waaaaaah!”

At that moment, the baby, who had just been spanked by the midwife, let out a loud cry. As everyone’s attention turned to the source of the sound, Tehis approached Chloe.

“Chloe.”

“Tess…”

Tehis knelt on one knee and gently took Chloe’s hand, whispering softly,

“You’ve worked so hard. Thank you.”

“Next time, I’ll develop a potion to help with childbirth…”

Typical of a mage.

Her first words, spoken with an exhausted face, reassured Tehis. Lisa’s earlier assurances that everything was fine finally sank in.

“It’s a boy?”

“Here.”

At Chloe’s inquiry, Tehis called for the midwife. The baby, wailing loudly, was brought closer.

Black hair. Though his eye color couldn’t yet be confirmed, it was clear he had inherited Escalante’s bloodline.

“He looks like you.”