YED Extra 10

In 990 CE, the East rises in rebellion. Rumors spread that the North is behind it.

Duke Ostein refuses the Emperor’s summons.

The Grand Duke of Lusenford refuses when the Emperor assigns him to lead the rebel suppression forces.

In 992 CE, the Empire fell completely into civil war.

The 49th Emperor Vincent Ferdinand Henrik, year of death unknown. Disappeared while ill in Soleil Palace. His body was never found. Thus, both members of the ill-fated couple vanished.

Taking advantage of the civil war, forces attacking Ostein increased. Rumors of the North being behind the civil war naturally faded. While Count Langher and five lords were in the North with the Grand Duke of Lusenford, they declared war on Ostein.

Count Langher demanded as a condition of surrender that the Princess of Ostein divorce the Grand Duke and marry him instead. Such incidents of wielding military force to obtain wealthy heiresses and their territories occurred frequently throughout the Cranian Empire.

Thus began an era of lawlessness and strife as nobles rose up in arms.

****

Peon thought the human brain was quite fascinating. Truly fascinating, wasn’t it?

That brain commits all sorts of acts and implements all manner of outlandish ideas. Often without any trace of careful consideration or calculation in the process. It was fascinating because it was truly inconceivable.

“How remarkable.”

He admired purely. No, it wasn’t just pure admiration – he was also angry. Honestly, he was so angry his vision was turning red.

“I’m amazed such an idiot has managed to keep breathing until now.”

Peon ripped off Count Langher’s arm, which he had saved for last. The army that Count Langher had brought was long since annihilated.

Rumors were already spreading on the Ostein castle walls that the Grand Duke of Lusenford wasn’t human. It didn’t matter. Rumors about the Princess of Ostein’s husband not being human needed to spread to prevent more bastards like this from crawling out.

“What made you do something so stupid? Ah, right.”

He rummaged through Count Langher’s head while simultaneously ripping off and throwing away his other arm. Blood splattered and flesh flew. Peon sighed in the middle of the battlefield where only smoke rose.

“Kaela is beautiful. Yes. That’s reason enough to declare war.”

Kaela de Chasser was indeed someone worth waging war to possess.

But even while wearing an understanding expression, he kindly ripped off one more of Count Langher’s legs. The Count was now unable to either faint or die, and could only endure it all. It was truly strange.

“But why are you so pathetically weak?”

The violet eyes asked, full of doubt. The remaining leg came off.

“You need to at least survive this much to be worthy of being by her side.”

Count Langher had lost the ability to think rationally by that point. With a crack, his head separated from his body.

Peon carelessly threw the corpse he held in both hands to the ground. Count Langher and the five foolish lords who planned to backstab him after taking Ostein to claim Kaela all met the same end.

Finding it pathetic that they aimed for the finest lady with such low standards, Peon made an example of them with his bare hands. If anyone survived being torn apart, they would have at least proven minimal qualification, and he’d be willing to duel them then.

He frowned as he stared expressionlessly at the blood covering his body.

This wasn’t good for the children’s mental health. But it couldn’t be helped. Even though they were married with several children, fending off Kaela’s suitors would be a lifelong duty as her husband. Because Kaela was worth it.

Peon turned toward the castle. Kaela, who had been watching him fight from the very edge of Ostein, had opened the castle gates.

“Don’t come.”

Peon shook his head as he called out to his distant wife. The ships were half-destroyed before even approaching the Ostein strait, and the siege didn’t even begin at the first land gate leading to Lanpalar Palace.

The enraged dragon merely pretended to lead armies while clearing everything else alone. Whatever rumors spread no longer mattered.

The Empire had proven its own incompetence and collapsed, and now this vast land was in chaos. It was better to have rumors of a terrifying being protecting Ostein and Lusenford, protecting Kaela de Chasser.

He simply didn’t want Kaela to see the horrific things he had done.

But when a knight appeared by Kaela’s side leading a horse, Peon had no choice but to sigh and walk toward the castle gate.

“I’ll come to you. Stay there.”

Even from a distance too far to hear his voice, he could see Kaela nodding. He quickly returned to the castle gate.

“Salvage whatever can be saved and form an army. We march to Langher from here.”

“Y-yes… yes, Your Highness. We will do so.”

The terrified knights barely managed to answer. Peon ignored them and strode past to reach Kaela, who stood anxiously waiting.

“I’m fine. But I’m covered in blood…”

Before he could finish saying to not come closer, Kaela ran and embraced him without hesitation. She knew he wasn’t injured. Honestly, she hadn’t even worried about her husband who had left laughing after hearing the declaration of war and surrender conditions.

But she wanted to go out to meet and embrace him. Because she knew how angry he had been. It was something only she could do, and it was also essential for calming the Light Dragon who was likely to lose his rationality in this state.

“I told you I’m dirty.”

“I don’t care.”

Kaela shook her head and pulled his blood-splattered face closer. The noble lady kissed the knight who had fought for her.

All expectations were shattered from those who thought the frail Grand Duchess would surely faint at this sight. They kissed deeply, and for a long while pressed their foreheads together, feeling each other’s warmth.

“You’ll finish this today?”

Kaela asked resignedly.

“I was just saying we needed a title to give to Ellie anyway. This works out well. Langher is close and suitable.”

Peon spoke fiercely. This time he needed to make a proper example to ensure there wouldn’t be any more fools who would underestimate them and pick fights like this. Kaela had no intention of stopping him either. Sometimes, necessary things must be done.

“Be careful out there. Don’t push yourself rushing.”

“You’re the one who shouldn’t push yourself taking care of all the children while I’m gone. Just handle things here. I’ll be back quickly. No need to worry or concern yourself. You know that, right?”

He cupped Kaela’s cheek, which still seemed young despite having borne children, after removing his glove. From the beginning she had just been a younger sister he needed to take care of, so even now he felt like he should carry her around.

“Is there anything you want?”

Kaela shook her head.

“Alright then. I’ll be back. Don’t skimp on sleep, go to bed on time.”

Peon kissed his wife once more before turning away. He returned in five days after conquering six territories.

****

The history of the Cranian Empire’s civil war is incredibly complex, with thousands of battles fought over its vast territory and long duration.

Among them, the most famous wars would be the five wars surrounding Kaela de Chasser Ferraro, the Grand Duchess of Lusenford.

Of course, while she was one of the few imperial branch family members, her legitimacy was weak, and she already had several children with the Grand Duke of Lusenford at the time.

Many scholars cite Ostein’s wealth and geographical characteristics, as well as conflicts of interest between various factions due to the unstable civil war, as reasons why wars using the Grand Duchess as a condition continued five times.

But the popularly favored reason is simply that the Grand Duchess was that beautiful.

The fact that Ostein was invaded five times, with declarations of war each time demanding the Grand Duchess be given as wife despite already having children, even though her husband, the Grand Duke of Lusenford, was an undefeated strategist and brilliant commander, proves it wasn’t simply targeting Ostein.

Of course, the Grand Duke of Lusenford, who proved his qualification to be the Grand Duchess’s husband by winning all those wars, was as famous for brutally killing the enemy commanders who declared war as he was for his outstanding appearance.

Every time he won a war, he dedicated all conquered territories, titles, and spoils to his wife.

In 995 CE, the Cranian Empire ceased to exist. The 50th Emperor Gregory Eustace Luke was left with only five territories after losing 145 out of 150 titles.

****

Even as time passed, the Cranian Empire remained in chaos.

Only the sounds of children playing filled Lanpalar Palace and Lusenford Castle. Kaela recalled the Craine Imperial Palace which had been so quiet.

The days of wandering looking for Peon with no one to play with were both joyful and lonely. She must have been truly lonely to even call Beatrice “sister”. That long-forgotten name surfaced again, then faded away once more.

‘She must have survived even this war.’

Peon surely would have arranged something. Even when Craine fell, he had immediately smuggled out the former emperor and handed him over to his father Gusalante.

Lost in such thoughts, she went to find her husband who had recently brought back another newly conquered title for their second children.

Upon confirming that the declaration of war from some alliance “again” included demands regarding Kaela, he had quietly left and returned with an irritated expression after hanging the heads at the castle gate.

While Kaela couldn’t understand the reason at all, Peon seemed to understand it clearly.

It’s the privilege and duty of your husband. If he can’t do it, he should just die.

That was his attitude about killing all the enemies.

I married the most perfect woman in the world, so isn’t it natural?

She still couldn’t understand. No, she was trying her best to understand even a little. Today she even looked in the mirror and thought ‘Am I really that pretty?’

“Dad. Daddy. Daddyyyy.”

“Alright.”

The man famous for tearing off enemy commanders’ heads was now surrounded by children.

One was climbing up his firm, broad back, another had already settled on his broad shoulders and was grabbing his black hair to climb higher. Yet another was squirming to get under his arm.

But Ellie was already half-lying against Peon’s lap with an open book. From Peon’s younger brother who visited his older brother’s house more often than Gusalante’s lair, to the little dragons – they all loved him too much.

It was natural. Unlike mommy, daddy had so much stamina he could play physically with them.

“Mom!”

Ellie’s head shot up and she immediately rushed toward Kaela with her book. No, she tried to rush but was caught by daddy.

“Ellie. Don’t run in front of mommy. Tristan, get down.”

While Kaela immediately lost track of what the children were doing, Peon somehow managed to keep track of exactly where each child was and what they were doing.

“Mom, what does this mean? What does it say?”

Ellie, who had once cried saying she didn’t want siblings, was now absorbed in books regardless of the twins rolling around.

While teaching Ellie new words and hugging back Philippe who had climbed down from daddy to silently embrace her, Kaela stroked his thick platinum blonde hair and looked at the sky.

“Winter is coming.”

“Winter’s coming?”

The days were gradually growing cooler. Though they had endured and endured for the children to play outside as long as possible, it seemed winter would inevitably arrive this time too. Peon, who had been watching her intently, stood up.

“Shall we go to the sea?”

To the sea where summer still lingers fully and winter hasn’t yet arrived. Wow! The children all jumped up on their own, and Peon reached out his hand to Kaela who had just sat down, then grinned.

“Want me to carry you?”

“No, it’s fine…!”

Kaela glared at him as she tried to stand up. But he picked her up anyway. While saying with her eyes ‘I said I was fine’, she wrapped her arms around his neck with practiced familiarity.

First of all, her body was too used to being held. And the children, no, the dragons, were used to spaces changing instantly.

After just a few steps, they were running wild on the white beach that spread before them, squealing and jumping into the water.

The baby dragons were brave and vigorous, and Kaela loved watching the children play happily. Even when they tripped on the sand, the children didn’t cry but jumped right back up and ran again.

“Aren’t you cold?”

Even now, he always took tender care of Kaela and was sensitive about health issues. Only fools let their guard down.

Peon hadn’t forgotten anything, and he wasn’t negligent about anything.

To not lose this happiness of children playing and Kaela in his arms, he had to hold on tight and devote all his attention. Besides, that suited his nature.

“This is just right.”

Peon’s body temperature was a bit higher than Kaela’s, and he was always warm.

“Then I’ll have to keep holding you.”

“The children…”

“Those kids cling to me constantly now, but just wait until they grow a bit. They’ll all drift away.”

He wanted his wife to look at him rather than watching the children.

“This was your place even before they were born.”

He could hold his wife with just one arm and kiss her passionately while dedicating everything to her. He pressed his hot lips to hers as if desperately pledging his very soul.

Kaela smoothed out his furrowed brow with her finger. Peon closed his eyes at her touch.

Every time his anxiety flared up, this slight weight he checked, the volume, the weak arms embracing back – everything was in his arms.

They had experienced death and come this far, living in the present. This was reality. Even with children, the fruit of their relationship, climbing all over him and making demands, it still felt like an anxious dream.

Sometimes he needed to hold Kaela directly like this and confirm everything one by one to recognize reality and suppress his madness.

“Where shall we go this winter?”

Some feelings change, and some feelings are forgotten. Time is a fearsome force that fades and wears away everything, but at the same time there are feelings that ripen and fill more as time passes.

The couple who had spent more time together than the 4 years they had lost could now understand each other’s thoughts just by seeing their expressions and subtle gestures.

“We have many territories now, so many places to go. We can visit one each year.”

He meant he would take her anywhere. So that the season she feared wouldn’t be frightening. Through the many winters they had spent as husband and wife, Peon had never left her side.

It would be the same this time too. He was a man who knew well that sometimes that cold comes not from outside, but emerges from within to make her terribly chilly.

At such times, Peon would hold Kaela in his arms and gently massage from her tiny feet up. Without saying anything, he would massage and hold her until her whole body warmed up.

The quiet man would then whisper, barely audibly, as sleep approached. That he was sorry. Very sorry.

Hearing those words, warmth would return to her chilly heart, until it finally filled to bursting.

“Isn’t it a bit troublesome having too many places to go?”

While she had expected civil war, Kaela, who thought they would just need to simply protect Ostein and Lusenford, was feeling a bit overwhelmed lately by the exponentially increasing territories and titles her husband brought back along with his blood-covered appearance.

“The more the better. It will always be different.”

Together for a long, long time like this, enjoying even these moments until they become memories and more. Kaela looked up at her husband, who remained unchanged just like her, while watching the children laugh brightly.

“Won’t the children be cold?”

“They won’t be cold.”

The children were already sweating from the heat. They would directly embrace, always stay beside, protect and love them so they would never know the deprivation and sorrow their parents had felt. That’s how it had always been until now.

“…It’s good.”

Kaela hugged his neck and smiled faintly.

“Living is good.”

Sometimes there were moments when she felt glad she hadn’t died. This was one of them.

The children coming to show her seashells saying “Mommy, look at this”, her husband who would slightly startle then eventually furrowed his brow and nodded with burning eyes, the blue warm sea meeting the sky at Ostein.

“Yes, it is.”

We did well to live. So let’s go.

Into a new winter we’ve never experienced before.

~Fin~