Chapter 170: Side Story 7 |
Tap, tap.
Before going to bed, someone came to Janice’s room while she was combing her hair.
It was a late hour when the moon hung high above her head.
There weren’t many people who could find their way to her room at this time.
The maid who was gently combing Janice’s hair sensed the situation and stopped combing, stepping back.
At the same time, the closed door opened, and Louismond entered.
Dressed in a nightgown, with neatly combed hair, Janice greeted Louismond.
“What’s the matter, Louismond?”
Louismond entered with a smile, holding a bottle of wine in his hand.
The maid closed the door quickly and left quietly.
Louismond personally opened the cork of the wine bottle he brought, pouring wine into a transparent glass on the shelf.
The wine flowed into the glass with a tempting sound.
Janice received the wine glass he offered and spoke.
“I prefer whiskey.”
“You have quite daring taste.”
“I don’t like weak alcohol.”
After sipping the wine, Janice approached the terrace with leisurely steps.
The gentle breeze coming through the slightly opened window felt refreshing.
Louismund, who had taken a sip of wine, gazed at Janice’s hair, which had grown longer.
Neatly combed and cascading to one side, her hair sparkled under the moonlight. What would her hair, so beautiful now, have been like just three years ago?
“When I first saw it, I was really surprised.”
“Hmm? About what?”
“Your hair. When I first saw it, your appearance back then.”
“Oh, right. It must have been surprising.”
Janice chuckled and agreed.
As if recalling the past, she looked at somewhere in the empty space and smiled.
“But you didn’t show much surprise. You were so calm that I was even more surprised.”
“In that case, we must have surprised each other enough at our first meeting.”
Louismund embraced her from behind and gently pressed his lips against her slender neck, wetting it with his lips. He spoke softly.
Janice comfortably rested her head on his back, feeling the warmth he emanated.
“It may sound strange to bring it up now… but what did you think when you first saw me?”
In response to Janice’s question, Louismond detached his lips from her neck and smiled as he spoke.
“Can I be completely honest?”
“By saying that, it sounds like it’s going to be something meaningful.”
“Well… don’t think I’m teasing you. I’ll tell you quite plainly.”
Janice glanced down at Louismond’s face, as if finding it amusing.
Louismond, whose lips met Janice’s chin as he turned to face her, moved his lips to her earlobe.
The small, playful kisses continued like droplets pouring down.
They were light but not playful, intense but not suffocating.
Just as Janice’s cheek touched the corner of his jaw, Louismond spoke:
“Was it… overwhelming?”
“Hmm?”
“I thought you were an incredibly beautiful woman. Your flashing purple eyes were so mature that it made me feel like a fool… and the wounds on your hands and feet bothered me so much that I wanted to keep holding on to you.”
“Louismond, you’re trying to make me feel good, aren’t you?”
Janice chuckled.
At that time, she looked like a beggar to anyone who saw her.
Her worn-out hands and feet were covered in dirt, and freckles that turned red against her sun-drenched but poorly cared-for skin stood out.
Her unruly, uneven hair and her dress that emanated an unpleasant odor, her shoulders slouched from not having a proper meal—everything about her was unimpressive.
Her appearance must have been so pitiful that even her own relatives wouldn’t dare say it looked alright. Yet, he called her beautiful.
When Janice cast a doubtful glance, Louismond pressed his lips against her eye corner and whispered.
“No, really. It was shocking. It was overwhelming in that way. Your shabby appearance didn’t undermine the dignity you displayed.”
“…”
“And… I also thought that these eyes were incredibly beautiful.”
Janice turned her body, and Louismond looked straight into her eyes.
He was a young man who looked too upright and honest to be called an Emperor leading this vast Empire.
He had experienced all sorts of storms during his prince days, so she knew that his character wasn’t as simple as it appeared. But even so, there were times when he would just be a man in front of her.
She swept away the corner of Louismond’s eye with her fingertips and spoke.
“Then, what did I think on the day I first saw you?”
“What did you think?”
Louismond held her hand, kissed it, and asked.
Janice smiled and gently caressed his smooth jaw, pulling him closer as she spoke.
“…Lips that I want to kiss.”
Chu.
“The next emperor of Rojas is really handsome.”
Chu.
“To make me think of such things even now, you’re too handsome.”
Chu.
“…You’re crazy, Janice.”
Their lips met, overlapping and then separating.
Louismond, who received her kisses in a dazed state, laughed.
“It wasn’t just me, then.”
“We’re destined for each other. So, even though you knew I was the one who sent the servants away from that island, you pretended not to know.”
“Oh, did you know?”
Janice chuckled, wrinkling her nose as if finding it amusing.
In the past three years, Louismond had visited Nathan under various pretexts.
One day, guided by her, he had visited the island of Romuni owned by the Nathan royal family.
It was a secluded island with a small castle built on it and breathtaking scenery, where the royals sometimes enjoyed their relaxation.
Suddenly, one of Louismond’s companions fell ill, and they sent him away from the island on the only available boat.
Coincidentally, it started raining heavily.
Thunder and lightning accompanied a torrential downpour.
Naturally, Janice and Louismond were stranded on the island, and they didn’t manage to leave until about three days later.
During those three days, many things happened between the two of them. Many, many things.
“Why were my servants on the boat you sent away that day?”
“Surely not?”
“Someone must have ordered them to leave, leaving only the minimum number of companions behind.”
She casually remarked and playfully shrugged her shoulders.
Belatedly realizing the truth, Louismond let out a helpless laughter.
He had found it strange that the servants had hurriedly left the island, leaving only the Emperor behind.
They had taken only the essential personnel, such as a cook, a steward, and a few guards, and left the rest.
“But at that time, you clearly said that you didn’t know why the servants were gone, right?”
“Hey, Louismond. Should I have answered with my own mouth, ‘I sent them away. I felt like you were suspicious of something, so I wanted to play along’?”
In response to her cheeky reply, Louismond eventually laughed and spoke.
“Janice, how can I win against you?”
Louismond pulled Janice close with all his strength.
Janice also embraced him in return.
“I’m happy, us.”
“I will strive to be a good husband.”
“Thank you. Be as good an Emperor as you are a good husband.”
“Both are so challenging.”
“But you’ll excel at both.”
They smiled at each other and lightly kissed.
Some people said that there are those who, upon seeing a particular person, immediately think, ‘I want to be with that person.’
When Louismond saw Janice, he felt that.
Janice also felt the same upon meeting Louismond.
“You should do what you want to do too, Janice.”
“…Thank you, Louismond. I won’t become someone who belongs to you and your country.”
Louismond, gently stroking her cheek as he looked up at her, whispered in a puzzled tone.
“What should we do? I don’t want to go back to my chamber…”
“I don’t want to send you away either… But I have to go to the temple in the early morning.”
“Huh, should I go to the temple without even getting a wink of sleep? Am I being too much?”
In the end, Janice laughed and lightly tapped his shoulder.
“Do you go to the temple because of that vow?”
“Did you hear about it?”
“Hmm, but it’s a bit strange. The Black Dragon is gone now, isn’t it? At least to my knowledge.”
“But there is a White Dragon. In fact, I didn’t even know that the existence of a White Dragon was possible until I saw Drea.”
Louismond nodded in agreement.
It seemed better to ask someone who knew more about it than him.
“I should ask that person.”
“If it’s that person… Ah.”
Janice nodded her head, thinking of someone.
“Rojas has a reliable Queen. I envy that.”
“It can’t be denied.”
Louismond smiled and replied. What other nation could have a Fairy King’s descendant as their Queen?
She was truly a presence that would leave a mark in the history of this country.
* * *
“…The oracle.”
Louismond gathered Kalia and Simon and talked about the oracle that had been made a few days ago.
Those who remember the past will save the world from the desires of the Black Dragon.
Oh, hero, remember the oath of the white flower.
‘Desires of the Black Dragon’ or ‘Salvation,’ they said.
The timing was unsettling; the day the oracle was revealed happened to be Shaik’s birthday.
Kalia instinctively felt uneasy.
Somehow, she had a premonition that Shaik would eventually be involved in this oracle.
Just then, Shaik, who had been playing with Drea on the terrace, turned to look at her.
Kalia waved her hand towards the smiling baby she had spotted and turned her gaze back to Louismond.
“I understand. I will ask Kalexia about the Black Dragon.”
“Thank you, Kalia. There’s no one else who knows more about dragons than him.”
“I’ll look into it from the Mage Towers’s side as well. Oh, and there’s news about a new magicians legion forming near the borders…”
“That…?”
The casual conversation became longer than expected.
With many tasks ahead, the three of them had a lengthy discussion.
Shaik, who had been eavesdropping on the adults’ conversation, flew off to another place as soon as the talk about the oracle was over.
Shaik’s heart pounded fiercely.
Those who remember the past will save the world from the desires of the Black Dragon.
Oh, hero, remember the oath of the white flower.
The one who remembers the past clearly referred to Shaik.
If that’s the case, his newly born mission was undoubtedly to save the world from the desires of the Black Dragon.
‘…As expected.’
Fate didn’t leave him idle.
But this time, Shaik felt content with the real oracle that had been revealed.
He only wished to fulfill his mission and find eternal peace.
When this life ended, he wanted to attain true tranquility.
However, there was one concern…
‘My parents would be sad… Yes. Until I complete this mission, I’ll be a good son to them. I have to repay their love without any regrets.’
That was the best he could do for his beloved parents.
And there was one more concern.
‘…Drea.’
That child liked Shaik too much.
Perhaps it was due to their bond, but regardless, Drea’s fondness for him troubled his heart.
‘I don’t know when the desires of the Black Dragon will manifest… I’m not certain when I will die, and if I leave it like this, that child will give me too much affection.’
He disliked it, found it bothersome, but in truth, Drea was an incredibly adorable to Shaik.
Even if his heart was made of stone, he couldn’t help but feel fondness for the child who begged him so lovingly.
But his fate had always been cruel, and Drea shouldn’t be entangled in it, Shaik thought.
‘That child shouldn’t be involved with someone like me.’
So let’s detach more coldly.
‘…That fool wouldn’t even know about my feelings and cry over it.’
Sigh.
Shaik rubbed his forehead with his small finger and shook his head sadly.
The Black Dragon, he didn’t know when they would meet, but Shaik would definitely find them to ensure that this world, restored to peace through his parents’ efforts, wouldn’t be destroyed.
‘I will destroy you, Mad Dragon!’
His determination flared up.
Somehow, his heart became restless.
He had to train his body and improve his skills.
‘Tomorrow, I’ll start training!’
Come at me, Black Dragon!
However, the Black Dragon that Shaik desperately sought didn’t appear for six years, and Shaik safely turned nine years old.
