Kkii.
The iron gate, which seemed firmly closed and would never open again, moved with a sound. The man, who had buried his head in the darkness, flinched and trembled at the noise scratching his eardrums.
“It’s a transfer.”
“W-uh, uhh.”
There were no explanations about where he was going or why he had to go. Those who opened the iron gate and entered the prison roughly lifted the man, who was lying on the ground.
With his arms held down and unable to move, the man shook his head in confusion at the sudden situation.
“Uhhhhh.”
What’s happening? Where am I going? There were many questions he wanted to ask, but all that came out were indistinguishable, slurred sounds.
“Shut up, be quiet.”
“Ugh.”
The knights mercilessly kicked the man who was trying to resist being dragged away. As he was trampled and stomped on, he repeatedly collapsed to the ground and was lifted again.
“Do you still think you’re some noble royal? You’re just a sinner who can’t even die on your own terms.”
“Ugh…”
The man, clutching his abdomen and rolling on the floor, continued to groan in pain.
The man’s name was Franz. Once a noble prince, he bore the middle name Albrecht, the symbol of the imperial family, but he had been stripped of all titles and was simply called ‘sinner.’
“Ugh, ugh uhh, ugh.”
“What are you saying?”
“Ughhh…”
“You need to be understandable to speak. What are you trying to say without a tongue?”
The man had lost his tongue and forgotten how to speak.
“Ugh.”
Hot tears flowed from the man’s deeply bowed head. A life where death seemed preferable. For the crime of daring to harm his family, the Emperor had sentenced the man who instigated the rebellion to the punishment of losing his eyes and tongue.
‘If it’s going to be like this, just kill me!’
The man tried to resist being dragged to the execution ground, but it was useless. The more he strained his body to resist, the more he had to endure being mocked in a pitiful state in front of the crowd.
In the end, like a beast captured for slaughter, the man collapsed in despair.
“To remove the tongue means silencing him so he can no longer sin against people.”
“To remove the eyes means forcing those who have caused harm to atone in darkness for a lifetime.”
But the punishment imposed on the man didn’t end there. The emperor allowed him to be taken out of the prison once a month, on days like today.
Even if he stepped outside the prison, there was nothing for the man to see. What awaited him outside was nothing but public condemnation and mockery.
Once, he had commanded respect and reveled in his status and power, but now, as a blind man crawling on the ground like a stray dog, he became a spectacle for the crowd.
“Ugh….”
This was also the moment when Franz felt most miserable.
He begged, please, please do not drag me out. Rather, leave me locked in this prison forever. But his pleas transformed into unintelligible groans the moment they left his lips.
***
One afternoon, on a day when the sunlight sparkled particularly beautifully, Pulcheria ventured out after a long time. The person accompanying her was not someone she was used to seeing.
“Now our Max can rest peacefully,” said a familiar voice.
The only one who would call the late Emperor Maximilian so affectionately was his mother, Monica. Pulcheria nodded quietly.
The two were on their way to commemorate their children on this sunlit day.
When members of the imperial family pass away, a memorial space is established separately from their graves. Pulcheria and Monica visited that place whenever they missed and wanted to see their children.
Pulcheria calmly nodded. The lovely blonde woman who had always been by her side to support and assist her was nowhere to be seen.
Monica did not ask a single word about Laila’s whereabouts.
Pulcheria didn’t feel the need to bring up the topic either, and during their time together, they joyfully talked solely about their children and the current emperor and his family.
Though they had shared many years together, it was impossible not to think of Laila. Habitually, Pulcheria placed her right hand over her left arm and then lowered it with a somewhat sad expression.
Laila, who had always supported Pulcheria as her legs grew more unsteady with age, suddenly came to Pulcheria’s mind, and she felt a pang of longing.
To not remember would be undoubtedly a lie. For Pulcheria, who was heartbroken over the loss of her daughter, Laila perhaps represented a daughter or even something more.
There might come a time when they reminisce about the past and meet that child again, but that time was not now.
Pulcheria, trying hard to conceal her sorrow, began to speak about her daughter.
Her face broke into a long-overdue peaceful smile as she recounted how her child had sparkling, beautiful eyes and what kinds of food she had enjoyed.
***
A quiet countryside village. A painful sound echoed from a secluded house on the outskirts, where the village met the mountains. The cries were gasping and frantic, then quieted, only to return again after a short while.
Just as the cycles of sounds seemed to shorten, an unexpected cry of a baby erupted.
“It’s done, she’s finally out, Laila!”
A middle-aged woman with gray-streaked hair held up the baby with an excited expression.
“She’s strong. It’s a boy.”
“A boy…?”
The woman, drenched in sweat and struggling to catch her breath, looked at the other woman holding the baby between her legs.
The golden hair, tousled from sweat, and her flushed face from the effort made her somehow still appear ‘beautiful.’
“Yes, Laila. The baby looks just like you, with that golden hair…”
Golden hair. Perhaps he takes after his father. Laila gazed at the baby with sad eyes. As the midwife said, the newborn was red and wrinkled, yet had bright blonde hair.
Noticing Laila’s gaze, the midwife hurriedly tidied the umbilical cord and placed the baby in Laila’s arms.
The baby, just learning to breathe, cried out intensely, almost as if struggling to take a breath.
Laila looked in wonder at the tiny life nestled against her chest.
Amidst the extraordinary feeling of giving birth, the stark reality hit her that the baby would never meet his father, stirring a pang in her heart.
“Sweetheart…”
The baby, who had cried loudly enough to shake the house, became quiet as Laila raised her hand to stroke his head. Instinctively recognizing his mother, he burrowed deeper into her warm embrace.
With the tiny movements against her body, Laila finally let the tears she had been holding back flow freely.
***
“Stop it, Valerie!”
A stern voice chased after the child.
“I told you not to run.”
Regardless, the child dashed joyfully through the meadow, ignoring her mother’s command.
“You really don’t listen. I wonder who you take after.”
The woman, fatigued yet shaking her head, had the same purple hair as the child. The previously small child had grown enough to reach her mother’s waist.
“Well, I suppose I was told I was very obedient to my mother when I was little.”
“Are you implying that the child behaves like me, all wild and reckless?”
“There’s a possibility she takes after her mother, if not her father.”
The man, leisurely sipping his tea, bore an expression entirely different from his usual cold demeanor.
“You may want to stop trying to tease me daily, Karl.”
“Tease? What are you talking about, Your Majesty? How could I not cherish and respect you?”
“If that’s your view, it seems I need to redefine what respect means going forward.”
Feigning dislike, Celeste rolled her eyes. Despite her attempt at disapproval, all Karl saw was affection.
Setting down his teacup and laughing heartily, Karl naturally reached out to embrace his wife.
“There are many eyes watching. Be careful.”
“It’s not just one or two days; it’s impressive how you repeatedly say the same thing, Your Majesty.”
“It’s not just a day or two; you’ve a husband who truly doesn’t listen, after all.”
Neither daughter nor husband listens at all! Celeste grumbled, twisting her body to avoid his arms wrapped around her waist.
Though she knew it was futile, her movement to evade him felt almost like a protest.
It was a display of the punishment she would inflict, one that terrified him most: “No touching.” No hugs, no kisses, and…
“If you keep this up in front of others, I’ll be sleeping with Valerie tonight.”
No sleeping together.
“That was wrong. Is it alright now?”
Karl’s hand quickly dropped away. However, his gaze still lingered with intensity. With a face filled with longing, Karl offered a gentle smile.
It was a peaceful afternoon. The events that had transpired felt distant, like reading a poignant novel. The scent of flowers wafting in from somewhere brought comfort to her heart.
A loving husband and a delightful child. She hoped this peaceful and beautiful afternoon with them would continue forever. Returning Karl’s smile, Celeste slowly closed her eyes.
-The End-
