It had been three days since Karan emptied a room in the palace to create a workshop. During this time, renowned craftsmen from Tetris had been coming and going from his room.
And news of this reached Elise’s ears. Of course, slightly embellished.
“He hasn’t slept for three days, working with artists?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Sir Haltbin is extremely worried.”
From Fiona’s account, it seemed Karan was in a state where death wouldn’t be surprising.
If she thought about it rationally, she would have known that such a robust person wouldn’t be greatly affected by just three sleepless nights. But since her pregnancy, Elise had become more emotional.
That’s why she had felt so hurt when Karan seemed unwelcoming of the pregnancy.
A child should be the fruit of a couple’s mutual agreement, but she hadn’t considered how shocked Karan might have been, no less than herself.
Realizing this belatedly, she felt sorry for ordering him out, but it was after rejecting his three attempts at reconciliation.
After that, Karan stopped coming.
Elise tried to seek out Karan but repeatedly failed. When she found a moment, guests would arrive, and when she finally made time, drowsiness would overwhelm her.
Time passed, and today arrived.
“I’m worried he might collapse. Even Lord Leber visited this morning.”
“Leber did?”
Elise was greatly surprised. Karan rarely fell ill, and even when he did, he tended to overcome it with his physical strength. He didn’t like seeing doctors…
“They say he called for him personally.”
Fiona watched Elise’s reaction. It was a subtle look, as if gauging Elise’s response, but Elise, her mind full of thoughts about Karan, didn’t notice.
“I see… Fiona, what’s my schedule for today? No, cancel everything regardless of the schedule.”
Unilaterally postponing appointments wasn’t courteous to others, but who cared about courtesy when Karan was ill?
The father of her child was sick!
Elise stroked her belly as she rose. Though her body wasn’t heavy yet, Regina approached to offer support.
Elise declined the helping hand and headed towards Karan’s room.
“Your Majesty, hello. What brings you here? Karan isn’t here, though.”
Only Haltbin was in Karan’s office.
“Then where is he?”
“In his workshop.”
“Right, he was in the workshop.” Elise muttered to herself. Then she asked,
“Where’s the workshop?”
“I’ll guide you.”
Haltbin took the lead. His pace was slow, making Elise impatient.
“Sir Haltbin, let’s walk a bit faster.”
Haltbin, who had been walking at his usual pace, looked back at Elise and began to stride vigorously, swinging his arms.
Elise finally relaxed her expression and followed Haltbin.
The workshop was located at the end of the first-floor corridor in the palace. Though she’d heard he was making something, it was completely silent inside.
‘Has he collapsed?’
Elise’s heart sank.
“Step aside.”
As Haltbin raised his hand to knock, Elise pushed him aside and knocked on the door herself.
“Karan, are you in there? Karan?”
Elise, whose anxiety had grown on the way to the workshop, looked urgent.
When a clattering sound came from inside, Elise pressed her ear to the door like a cicada.
“Karan, please answer me. Karan!”
Haltbin and Regina, who had followed this far, exchanged glances and quietly retreated.
When Elise was left alone in the first-floor corridor, the door clicked open.
Karan was inside the workshop. However, his condition was different from what Fiona had described.
Karan was the epitome of health, with his massive frame that could instantly intimidate others, his healthily glowing bronze skin, and his overwhelming gaze even without effort.
But Elise still managed to notice his slightly sharpened jawline in his perfect appearance.
This upset her greatly. As this emotion mixed with relief, her body weakened. As always, Karan firmly caught the swaying Elise.
“Elise, I’ve made something. Would you like to see it?”
Karan led Elise to a small table. Surprised by the sudden proposal, Elise moved as he guided.
A book was placed on the table.
The cover, made of tanned leather with gold embroidery, was impressive. It was clearly not a book for public distribution.
So this is what the artists and craftsmen had been working on.
“What is this?”
When Elise asked, Karan smiled sheepishly.
“It’s my true feelings.”
Karan said, touching Elise’s shoulder, that he made it because he couldn’t show what he felt inside.
As Elise tilted her head, wondering what exactly he had made, Karan guided her hand to the book’s cover.
“Open it.”
Elise didn’t want to see the book; she wanted to have an honest conversation with Karan. But seeing his earnest gaze, she couldn’t refuse.
What could this book be…
Elise carefully turned the cover.
As soon as she opened the book, a vivid illusion unfolded before Elise’s eyes. Just by opening the book, Elise felt as if she had entered a forest.
It was a book, yet not a book.
Elise was enveloped in the illusion.
Green trees filled the room, fresh grass sprouted on the floor, and bird songs could be heard.
As Elise looked around, Karan pointed somewhere. Near the illusory trees, a woman who looked like her and Karan emerged, holding hands.
The couple spread a mat on the grass and took out snacks from a basket.
Amazingly, Elise could smell the sweet and savory aroma that tickled her nose.
This time, the illusory Elise and Karan looked at an empty space and talked. Though no one was there, their eyes shone with affection.
“In spring, we’ll hold our child’s hand and go on a picnic in the forest.”
As Karan snapped his fingers, flower buds appeared on the illusory trees, soon scattering petals.
A pink flower rain…
Elise was momentarily entranced by the magnificent sight.
Karan smiled lightly and urged her to turn to the next page.
Unconsciously, Elise turned the page.
This time, she heard the sound of water. A refreshing waterfall poured down right in front of Elise.
Elise lifted her skirt to keep it from getting wet and laughed helplessly. It was so vivid that she mistook it for reality.
Under the waterfall, Karan’s illusion was splashing water enthusiastically. To Elise, and to another.
“In summer, we’ll play in the water with our child.”
Elise realized Karan’s intention.
Although she didn’t know how he had created such lifelike illusions.
Karan was showing Elise the future.
The future they would share.
“In autumn, we’ll nap under a blanket of fallen leaves.”
Instead of the cherry blossom trees from before, this time huge trees with red and yellow leaves surrounded Elise.
Karan turned the page for Elise, who was overwhelmed by the scenery.
“In winter, we’ll make snowmen with our child. You’ll nag about the clumsy scarf I knitted.”
The whole world turned white. Three pairs of footprints were imprinted on it.
Elise was excited to see what scene would come next. But the next page was blank. And the one after that, and the next.
“Elise.”
Karan turned Elise’s body to the side. Then he knelt on one knee.
“Let’s fill in the blank spaces together. With our story. Mine, yours, and…”
Karan looked at Elise’s belly. He wasn’t sure what to call that tiny thing inside her.
“Our child.”
Elise provided the answer. But Karan couldn’t easily say those words.
Karan’s ribcage felt tight. As he rolled the words “our child” in his mouth, his nose tingled.
Tears rolled down the corners of Karan’s eyes. Elise wiped away his tears.
While making the book, Karan realized. What Elise desperately wanted, he desperately wanted too.
They both wanted a home. A warm family where their tired bodies and hearts could find comfort.
He said he would show Elise his true feelings, but in reality, it was just revealing Karan’s own desires.
But as always, Elise willingly accepted even his selfish desires. Elise pulled the back of Karan’s head. Karan’s forehead touched Elise’s belly.
“Thank you. For giving me your future.”
Elise’s heart pounded. She looked forward to tomorrow, the day after, a year from now. The future they would share as three.
****
The two returned to their daily lives.
Their displays of affection continued, seemingly hot enough to melt if watched from the side.
Karan now showered affection not just on Elise but also on the child in her womb, shamelessly talking to Elise’s belly constantly.
Amidst her happiness, Elise occasionally had a longing look in her eyes.
“I wonder if my mother was happy when she was pregnant with me?”
Becoming a parent made her miss her own mother. It’s natural to miss your parents when you become one.
Even the usually indifferent Karan visited his mother’s grave to announce Elise’s pregnancy.
“Why did she abandon me and leave?”
Karan silently pulled Elise into an embrace. Not knowing the details, he couldn’t offer clumsy consolation.
Instead, Karan diverted Elise’s attention.
“Shall we go make a book?”
Karan started making books for the child to read. Black and white shape books, animal encyclopedias, plant encyclopedias, and so on.
Elise watched his work process. Watching made her want to make books too.
But she encountered a problem.
‘What should I make? What do I have to pass on to the child?’
She couldn’t compete with Karan’s books on general topics.
She needed something uniquely her own. When she shared this concern, Karan easily suggested,
“You could make a magic circle book. Our child will surely use it well.”
It was a good idea.
Elise immediately started making a magic circle book for the child.
The first thing she did was to obtain samples.
“We should use the best magic circle book as a model.”
As Elise pondered which book to use, Karan provided the answer again.
“You have the best book right here. A book that’s helpful, fun, and practical for everyone from children to adults, regardless of age or gender.”
Karan pointed to Elise’s nightstand.
“‘Dictionary of Magic Circles That Are Terrifying When You Know It!”
Elise clapped her hands and retrieved the book. She examined it carefully.
She also called in Feu. Feu observed the book with his characteristically sharp eyes and asked,
“Did you know there’s an interesting mechanism on the book cover?”
