In 988 CE, as the war prolonged, the Emperor personally took command of the military campaign.
Prisoner 345, Maria Louisa Ravalley, died in Perunel mines.
Prisoner 346, Beatrice Ravalley, transferred from Perunel mines. Destination unknown.
****
Recently, sea routes have become dangerous due to the war. As a result, trade has become somewhat difficult.
Ostein and Lusenford, the rulers of the prosperous south and powerful north, did not participate in the war and were at odds with the Cranian Imperial Family.
However, unfortunately, while the Emperor’s interest and anger towards them were immense, they were inversely proportional as they had no interest in the Emperor.
The effects of war naturally reached both Ostein, which mainly focused on trade, and Lusenford, which possessed massive iron reserves, but money was still circulating and both territories remained peaceful.
This was natural. While Ostein didn’t send supplies and troops to the war, the money circulating there still nourished the entire Crania.
Moreover, the master of the mines frantically extracting iron for the war was the northern ruler whom the Emperor desperately wanted as his commander-in-chief.
The one who knew no defeat was now protecting Ostein and Lusenford.
Though the physical distance between the two territories was immense, their rulers miraculously achieved peace through a marriage alliance. The alliance became even stronger with the birth of an heir.
“Congratulations.”
Kaela smiled as she spoke to Evelyn, who was cooling her flushed cheeks.
“To think I’d even see a grandchild……”
“We were somewhat expecting this. That you’d be neck and neck with us. Though Ellie came first.”
Unable to express her embarrassment, Evelyn covered her face with her hands. She still looked youthful and pure. Perhaps this was why the former Emperor had been so obsessed with her.
Kaela thought of the former Emperor, who lay like a living corpse but was still forcibly made to hear recent news. Peon was an extremely thorough person.
He collected every mistake from Gregory’s continuous mismanagement and whispered them into the former Emperor’s ears, and prevented the flow of war from daring to encroach upon Ostein and Lusenford.
So he would surely whisper the news of his mother’s pregnancy into the living corpse’s ears too.
‘He’ll have a fit.’
Though the living corpse might die if he has a fit, with two dragons clinging to him, he won’t be able to die either.
He’ll keep hearing distressing news. Kaela’s expression hardened briefly as she recalled her life before the regression, when she only longed for death because of the former Emperor who had taken everything from her.
“How are you doing?”
Kaela turned her eyes at Evelyn’s question.
“How’s your health? Are you alright?”
When their eyes met, her mother-in-law’s flushed face showed glimpses of age and experience.
“I’ve become much healthier too.”
“……The men in this family are quite intense.”
Evelyn, who had recovered both physically and mentally through Gusalante’s pure love and affection to even carry a second child, knew well that her son was even more intense than her husband.
The dragon, who had gone through an abnormal growth process, gained more distinctive power and longevity than any other dragon upon awakening.
So he didn’t hesitate to feed his frail wife pieces of his lifespan. Because living the remaining time without his wife would be worthless.
“We’ll raise this child ourselves, so don’t worry about it. Don’t feel burdened at all. We’ll handle everything.”
“I know what you mean. Don’t worry.”
Kaela smiled at Evelyn, who was flustering with guilt and embarrassment.
“We were planning to just live by ourselves, feeling sorry towards Peon……”
“It’s something to celebrate.”
Understanding that feeling, Kaela nodded.
“It’s something to celebrate and be happy about. He said there’s no need to feel sorry either. He’s happy.”
Over there by the flowers, a cute little head tied up with fluttering ribbons was busily moving around.
Yesterday she was swinging around a wooden sword saying she’d become a knight, but today she was wearing an adorable dress with ribbons, saying she’d become a mother.
“I hope the baby becomes good friends with Ellie. Right now she thinks all the adults belong to her.”
The precious heir born to the only daughter of the Duke of Ostein, the first heir seen in Lusenford, and Gusalante’s beloved granddaughter Eleanor would naturally back up to sit with her bottom first when going to her father or two grandfathers.
Because their laps were naturally her place. Even now, upon seeing Gusalante, she immediately spread both arms wide. It meant he should hold her.
“What’s wrong with our Ellie? She’s kind and has a good heart.”
The grandmother was inevitably on her granddaughter’s side.
“She takes after you.”
Evelyn lovingly watched her granddaughter who kept asking ‘why?’ while clinging to her grandfather.
“People say she takes after her father though.”
“That’s just her looks. Everything else is all you.”
Eleanor, who had finished asking everything she was curious about while hugging her grandfather’s neck, pointed towards her mother and grandmother. She wanted to go there. And so the big dragon moved accordingly.
“Grandmother, can I say hello to the baby?”
Eleanor was slightly faster than her peers in every aspect. She spoke more fluently and was clever.
People said it was because she took after her intelligent parents, but Kaela was thinking it might be because she was a dragon. Evelyn nodded.
“Of course.”
Though she got permission, Eleanor hesitated to get too close to her grandmother. Kaela smiled seeing Peon, who had somehow appeared beside her, reach out to hold her hand.
“Ah, hello, baby.”
As it was her first greeting to a newly recognized dragon, Eleanor waved at Evelyn’s belly while being a bit shy. With rosy cheeks that resembled Kaela and Peon, the child was adorable to anyone who saw her.
“Grow up well and let’s meet later. I’ll teach you piano, and um, coloring, um, um, and read you picture books too!”
The adults all laughed at her childlike way of speaking. Eleanor continued chattering beside Evelyn for a long time after that.
The Grand Duchess of Lusenford was excited after recognizing a new dragon. She was so excited that her face was still flushed even until bedtime.
“Dad, today was really fun, right?”
Her violet eyes, inherited from Gusalante and Peon, sparkled like stars. The child who had spent the day rolling around Gusalante’s lair with the squirrel monster was extremely happy. Peon smiled slightly.
“Grandpa dragon’s place is the most fun. And I’m happy about getting a dongsaeng too. It’s father’s sibling but younger than me. I want my own sibling too. Not father’s sibling but my sibling. I want to be big sister Ellie.”
Peon quietly opened a picture book.
“If Ellie gets a sibling, you’ll have to give everything up to the baby.”
“That’s natural since I’m the big sister.”
“You’ll have to give up grandpa dragon and grandma and maternal grandpa too. Ellie, you’ll soon get upset and cry saying you hate the baby. So you don’t need a sibling.”
“Ellie’s not a crybaby. And mom said okay.”
Not noticing her father suddenly looking up at those words, Ellie giggled. While wiggling her toes, she looked at her father and giggled again. Her father smiled back and stroked her forehead.
“Dad, give Ellie lots of kisses.”
Peon lowered his head and kissed his daughter’s forehead. Tap tap, after getting more kisses by patting her cheeks, Eleanor fell asleep with her eyes gently closing even before he could read the picture book.
She took after her mother who would just collapse and fall asleep. After putting the picture book back in its place and covering her feet that had poked out from all the wiggling with the blanket, he headed straight to the bedroom.
“Is Ellie asleep?”
Kaela, who was brushing her hair in front of the dressing table, asked Peon who had suddenly appeared.
“Yes, she is.”
He approached, smoothly took away the brush, and suddenly hugged her. A satisfied smile appeared on his lips whenever he held her.
She had gained a bit of weight compared to their wedding year. Though it was a subtle difference, Peon, who always carried his wife, could tell right away. He sat on the bed, trapped Kaela in his arms, and started brushing her hair.
“I heard the Duchess of Monde died.”
After a brief pause, Kaela responded slightly late.
“……She lasted long.”
Though death was inevitable since she had been mining and carrying iron while suffering from withdrawal symptoms at Perunel mines, she only died now.
“She did last long.”
“What about her daughter?”
“She complained about how miserable it was to work without seeing the sun, so I sent her to the coast now that she’s seen her mother’s death. Now she can see plenty of sun.”
Beatrice Ravalley would carry salt while suffering from the scorching heat. This was only the second of many punishments she would endure in her lifetime. Peon hadn’t forgotten anything, and hadn’t missed anything.
How meticulously would such a person take care of his wife’s health, whom he cherishes most preciously? Even young Eleanor knew very well that “mom needs to rest a lot because she gets tired easily.”
“I see…….It’s strange. I had completely forgotten. How did I forget?”
To think she forgot about those terrible mother and daughter pair, of all people. Kaela found it incredible herself. Peon put down the brush and kissed Kaela who was wondering. His large hand gently stroked her face.
“You should forget. When you’re happy, you should forget everything.”
Kaela leaned into his hand and smiled brightly.
“You’re right. I’m happy. I’m so happy about you getting a sibling too. Aren’t you happy?”
“I don’t have any particular thoughts. My parents will handle it, and I’m content with just you and Ellie.”
Peon lifted his wife’s chin. His gaze was sharp. But Kaela showed no signs of being scared or shrinking back. She would never be like that with Peon.
“Did you tell Ellie you’d give her a sibling?”
“It’s about time, isn’t it?”
“Kaela.”
“Don’t you want to if I want it?”
The woman who had tried to escape to death because everything was too frightening pushed her husband, whom she had feared most. She pushed him until he lay down completely. Peon briefly squeezed his eyes shut at his wife’s bright sun-like smile pouring down on him mercilessly.
“I’m healthier and happier than when I had Ellie.”
That was true. Kaela had become healthier by drinking all of his life force, and Eleanor was a joy. Laughter filled Lanpalar Palace and Lusenford Castle, and Kaela was happy seeing Peon laugh out loud while holding their daughter.
Peon thought he rather preferred their newlywed days. At least then he could attempt illogical arguments against those words.
Now he couldn’t even open his mouth. Ellie had grown so much, yet why did he still feel like a teenage boy in front of Kaela? When he was actually a teenager, he had no problem talking while taking care of young Kaela.
“Kaela.”
“You promised.”
“Yes. That I’d give you many children.”
He, who had practically raised Eleanor alone, lay on the bed, lifted his gaze to look at Kaela, and reached out his hand. His furrowed brow and narrowed eyes were full of anguish.
Even while becoming a father and raising a child himself, he had become more mature and deeper. Whenever he wavered, Kaela somehow felt thirsty.
“There’s a high chance it’ll be at least twins. I’m trying to avoid it but the possibility is too high.”
“……Twins?”
Words become reality. Peon couldn’t even scold Kaela and desperately nodded. They say dragons are born very rarely, but that doesn’t seem to apply to Peon.
“Oh my, then is this one time the end of our family planning?”
“No, Kaela.”
“You’ll do it anyway.”
The moment their eyes met, Peon smiled coldly and immediately reversed their positions.
“Do you think I’m a complete fool?”
“Not a fool, I just know you love me too much.”
Kaela smiled at him.
“Don’t you?”
****
At a dark hour too late, just before sunrise. A child’s cry cut through the corridor.
Eleanor got down from her bed crying and ran aimlessly. At times like this, no one – not the nanny, not the maid, not the knight – could comfort her. The child ran down the cold corridor while sobbing and hiccupping.
“Ah, Dad, Mom!”
At the end of that corridor, a door opened and Peon came out tying his robe’s knot and picked up Eleanor.
“Dad, Mom, where’s Mom? Mom, I don’t want a sibling!”
He held the crying child who was shaking her head and slightly looked back while closing the bedroom door. He blocked his daughter’s sharp crying from entering the bedroom, so Kaela would sleep quietly.
“Why don’t you want one?”
“Mom took the sibling and left, left Ellie behind……”
“You had a scary dream. It’s just a dream, Ellie. Even if you get a sibling, Mom won’t leave Ellie behind.”
“I don’t want a sibling, no sibling.”
The young daughter wouldn’t understand that it was already too late.
“Even with a sibling, Mom and Dad will always love Ellie and always be together, so what should we do if you keep saying no and make us sad?”
Peon muttered while walking back to his daughter’s bedroom with an expression that wasn’t sad at all. His touch as he wiped her wet cheeks and kissed her was very affectionate.
“What if Dad says he doesn’t want another baby? Would that work? Since Mom loves Dad very very much.”
Dad laughed looking at the ceiling instead of answering.
“It won’t work?”
“I’m not confident.”
“Why?”
“Because Dad loves Mom more.”
“Ellie too?”
“Of course I love Ellie a lot too.”
****
In 989 CE, the Ashumia-Crania War ended in victory for the Cranian Empire. Though the Emperor returned triumphant despite injuries, the victory was attributed to pouring funds until the imperial treasury was depleted. The Emperor’s lacking leadership and charisma became issues of concern.
The Grand Duchess of Lusenford gave birth.
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