Her heart was beating unsteadily. Faster.
Sepia asked as if nothing had happened.
“Do you know who it is?”
“She’s a cousin from the deer family. I heard she’s very sickly and is only now preparing for her debutante.”
Sepia’s mind pictured her appearance.
A delicate and beautiful flower deer whose figure was the very definition of loveliness.
Mrs. Wild Rat fussed at Sepia’s silence as if telling her not to worry.
“It’s not a double name, it’s a one-sided name. It won’t be a big deal.”
Sepia asked as if nothing had happened.
“Do you know who it is?”
“She’s a cousin from the deer family. I heard she’s very sickly and is only now preparing for her debutante.”
Sepia’s mind pictured her appearance.
A delicate and beautiful flower deer whose figure was the very definition of loveliness.
Mrs. Wild Rat fussed at Sepia’s silence as if telling her not to worry.
“It’s not a double name, it’s a one-sided name. It won’t be a big deal.”
“That’s right. It’s not common. His Majesty must have gone to see it because he was curious.”
She was right. A woman with his name. He couldn’t help but be interested.
“Of course.”
Sepia nodded.
Suddenly, the dream she had today felt like a precognitive dream.
Tea time ended a little early in a slightly awkward atmosphere.
Even as the sun set and the night grew dark, there was no news from Demios.
Sepia looked out the bedroom window.
The rumor must have already spread throughout the palace.
She looked out at the night sky and tried to synthesize the information she had obtained during tea time.
'Adopted by the Count of Louvre.'
Originally, they were cousins, but they had recently registered with the Louvre.
It was not uncommon for nobles to adopt adult relatives.
The condition was usually someone the family needed. Since she had been an orphan for a long time, it was likely that the Count had noticed that the Emperor's name was engraved on her and adopted her.
That's how special a woman who bore the Emperor's name was.
A sigh that Sepia couldn't hold back escaped like a silence from the corner of her mouth.
'A name.'
A name is an act of engraving someone on the body.
Those who have a name have the power to give a sense of stability to those who have that name and make them feel a strong attraction.
There was one more important thing left.
Is it a one-sided name? Or is it a double name?
The perfect combination of the two would bring about different results depending on the situation.
Sepia was hugging herself and patting her arm.
'It's okay. You don't know yet.'
The other person's name could appear anywhere on the body.
It is said that the name gradually appears on the skin over about a month.
At first, it seems as if it is a trace of something, but after a few days, you realize that it is an imprint.
'Even I don't know about his body.'
In the world, Sepia and Demios were known as a friendly couple.
They kept each other's line and sometimes seemed a little affectionate.
As an Emperor, he was willing to grant Sepia's wishes, and as an Empress, Sepia was the same.
However, that was not all that was known.
Sepia lowered her eyes.
Her sighs took their place on the window, becoming floats of breath.
The Beastkin Empire was a country that preserved the four seasons.
Perhaps because it was entering fall, the temperature difference between the inside and outside was particularly clear.
The sighs on the window sill would slowly fade away and oxidize into the air.
Unlike the anxiety that had already taken hold of her heart.
“It’s time for you to go to bed now.”
The maid approached Sepia, worried that she had been standing by the window for a long time, and put a shawl on her.
When she looked back, all three maids had worried expressions.
‘You must have heard the news.’
By this time, there would be no one outside the palace who didn’t know her tomorrow.
Sepia forced a smile and nodded.
“Would you please prepare a cup of warm tea? I’ll just drink that and lie down.”
“I’ll bring it over right away to help you sleep.”
The maid quickly left to prepare the tea as if she were happy that Sepia had asked her for something.
Sepia drank the steaming tea and fell into thought again.
Name engraving was not just romantic.
If you think about it, isn’t it closer to tragedy?
A twisted relationship due to an unchangeable fate. If that’s not the main character, then it’s just suffering.
The subject matter that has long been loved in art such as plays and operas was even colder than the supporting role in reality.
'It's okay though.'
Because I will remain the Empress.
Sepia sighed in relief.
Suddenly, the dream she had today came to mind along with the past that did not appear in that dream.
The Empress of the Huron Empire.
Now the Empress Dowager, she had called Sepia every morning and repeatedly abused her mentally.
'You are a useless child, and that fact will never change even when you grow up.'
Those words had always isolated the young Sepia.
But not anymore.
Sepia put down her glass and clenched her fists.
'I have become the most useful person, and I will protect that position.'
Although that place was not her home country, it was now definitely her place.
And it was a place that the foreign goddess had personally occupied.
So Sepia had to stay here.
No matter what.
Sepia ended up staying up all night with countless worries.
The cause of her worries.
It was the afternoon of the next day when she was finally able to face her husband.
A quiet afternoon.
Autumn roses were in full bloom in the main garden of the imperial palace.
Sepia changed into an outdoor dress and headed to a secret place in the rose garden.
It was because of the Emperor's tea time invitation.
Tea time took much less time than meal time.
Drinking tea instead of a meal, and even outside, meant that the time he wanted to devote to Sepia was very short.
That fact was bitter, but she couldn’t show it.
Sepia headed toward a wooden maze with her maid.
The Emperor’s direct attendant greeted Sepia.
“Your Majesty, this way.”
She followed the attendant’s guidance and entered the wooden maze.
The fragrant scent of roses and tea wafted in the air.
In the center of the maze, hidden by the maze, was a pure white round table, and beyond it sat a beautiful man. When he moved his head, silver hair poured out.
His pure white skin and red eyes were in perfect harmony with his sensitive appearance.
The first ruler of the Beastkin Empire and the most beautiful man.
Demios Baroque Drodien.
He was a great divine beast.
“You come.”
Red eyes like ruby stared at Sepia.
His hair and eye colors were the same, but unlike when he was young, his appearance was cold. But the fact that he was Sepia’s precious childhood friend remained unchanged.
“Meet His Majesty.”
She politely sat down on the chair the maid had given her.
A beautiful tea table was already set on the table.
As the servant poured tea, the maid poured hot tea into Sepia’s cup.
“Have some.”
“Yes.”
The conversation was much shorter than usual.
Sepia lowered her eyes.
Judging by the green color and scent, it was mint tea that suited Demios’s taste.
The tea was so strong that her mouth and head felt cold at the same time after taking a sip.
It wasn’t her taste, but after drinking the strong tea, she finally felt like she was facing her husband.
Thanks to that, Sepia was able to take a few more sips of tea.
Rather, her head was forced to clear, giving her courage. She let out the first words she had been holding back.
“I heard the news about Your Majesty. Is it true?”
Not from you, but from someone else.
Sepia swallowed her words.
Demios nodded only after elegantly putting down his teacup.
“Yes.”
It was merely confirming what he already knew.
Nevertheless, her heart, which she had vowed not to waver, seemed to be being swept away.
The words that followed pushed Sepia away like a larger wave.
“Attraction and stability. I thought it was nonsense, but it was true. It was a cozy embrace. It was warm and soft.”
Demios’s eyes softened as if he was drawing a woman’s embrace.
He suffered from severe insomnia.
Even if he did fall asleep, he was constantly plagued by nightmares.
The woman with Demios’ name was embracing him.
Something Sepia could not do.
“Thank goodness.”
Her heart was sinking into the mud, and her vision was dizzy.
But it was okay for now. The important question was about to come.
“...Then did Your Majesty imprint it?”
“No.”
Sepia looked surprised at the answer that came out so quickly. She barely held back a sigh of relief.
“I see.”
She thought she spoke as calmly as possible.
However, the sensitive red eyes were looking at her closely as if trying to figure out Sepia’s intentions.
“You seem to be concerned.”
I couldn’t say no.
Even if.
‘Even if we were a couple in name only.’
The love of the young lovers in the past was no more.
Because.
The two had never slept together.
Only Sepia and the Emperor’s direct maids knew this fact.
Not a single piece of the feelings they had once harbored would remain.
Nevertheless, the reason Demios proposed to Sepia was because of a revelation from the temple of the Beastkin Empire.
‘The Star of Ishtar.’
This special destiny of reviving the Empire was born in a human body.
The Star of Ishtar became the mate of the Emperor for generations.
This time, it was none other than Sepia.
The destiny that was originally meant to be born to a beastkin was taken on by a human.
She only learned this fact after setting foot on the Beastkin Empire.
Sepia became the Empress of a foreign land and worked hard not to recall her past memories.
A piece of memory that allowed her to breathe even in pain.
It was only after a long time that she was able to recall the painful memory without being hurt.
“Because she has Your Majesty’s name. As the Empress, I cannot help but be concerned.”
It was the same even now.
‘You must not show it.’
Because there was no love between him and Sepia.
“Of course.”
Sepia nodded.
Suddenly, the dream she had today felt like a precognitive dream.
Tea time ended a little early in a slightly awkward atmosphere.
Even as the sun set and the night grew dark, there was no news from Demios.
Sepia looked out the bedroom window.
The rumor must have already spread throughout the palace.
She looked out at the night sky and tried to synthesize the information she had obtained during tea time.
'Adopted by the Count of Louvre.'
Originally, they were cousins, but they had recently registered with the Louvre.
It was not uncommon for nobles to adopt adult relatives.
The condition was usually someone the family needed. Since she had been an orphan for a long time, it was likely that the Count had noticed that the Emperor's name was engraved on her and adopted her.
That's how special a woman who bore the Emperor's name was.
A sigh that Sepia couldn't hold back escaped like a silence from the corner of her mouth.
'A name.'
A name is an act of engraving someone on the body.
Those who have a name have the power to give a sense of stability to those who have that name and make them feel a strong attraction.
There was one more important thing left.
Is it a one-sided name? Or is it a double name?
The perfect combination of the two would bring about different results depending on the situation.
Sepia was hugging herself and patting her arm.
'It's okay. You don't know yet.'
The other person's name could appear anywhere on the body.
It is said that the name gradually appears on the skin over about a month.
At first, it seems as if it is a trace of something, but after a few days, you realize that it is an imprint.
'Even I don't know about his body.'
In the world, Sepia and Demios were known as a friendly couple.
They kept each other's line and sometimes seemed a little affectionate.
As an Emperor, he was willing to grant Sepia's wishes, and as an Empress, Sepia was the same.
However, that was not all that was known.
Sepia lowered her eyes.
Her sighs took their place on the window, becoming floats of breath.
The Beastkin Empire was a country that preserved the four seasons.
Perhaps because it was entering fall, the temperature difference between the inside and outside was particularly clear.
The sighs on the window sill would slowly fade away and oxidize into the air.
Unlike the anxiety that had already taken hold of her heart.
“It’s time for you to go to bed now.”
The maid approached Sepia, worried that she had been standing by the window for a long time, and put a shawl on her.
When she looked back, all three maids had worried expressions.
‘You must have heard the news.’
By this time, there would be no one outside the palace who didn’t know her tomorrow.
Sepia forced a smile and nodded.
“Would you please prepare a cup of warm tea? I’ll just drink that and lie down.”
“I’ll bring it over right away to help you sleep.”
The maid quickly left to prepare the tea as if she were happy that Sepia had asked her for something.
Sepia drank the steaming tea and fell into thought again.
Name engraving was not just romantic.
If you think about it, isn’t it closer to tragedy?
A twisted relationship due to an unchangeable fate. If that’s not the main character, then it’s just suffering.
The subject matter that has long been loved in art such as plays and operas was even colder than the supporting role in reality.
'It's okay though.'
Because I will remain the Empress.
Sepia sighed in relief.
Suddenly, the dream she had today came to mind along with the past that did not appear in that dream.
The Empress of the Huron Empire.
Now the Empress Dowager, she had called Sepia every morning and repeatedly abused her mentally.
'You are a useless child, and that fact will never change even when you grow up.'
Those words had always isolated the young Sepia.
But not anymore.
Sepia put down her glass and clenched her fists.
'I have become the most useful person, and I will protect that position.'
Although that place was not her home country, it was now definitely her place.
And it was a place that the foreign goddess had personally occupied.
So Sepia had to stay here.
No matter what.
Sepia ended up staying up all night with countless worries.
The cause of her worries.
It was the afternoon of the next day when she was finally able to face her husband.
***
A quiet afternoon.
Autumn roses were in full bloom in the main garden of the imperial palace.
Sepia changed into an outdoor dress and headed to a secret place in the rose garden.
It was because of the Emperor's tea time invitation.
Tea time took much less time than meal time.
Drinking tea instead of a meal, and even outside, meant that the time he wanted to devote to Sepia was very short.
That fact was bitter, but she couldn’t show it.
Sepia headed toward a wooden maze with her maid.
The Emperor’s direct attendant greeted Sepia.
“Your Majesty, this way.”
She followed the attendant’s guidance and entered the wooden maze.
The fragrant scent of roses and tea wafted in the air.
In the center of the maze, hidden by the maze, was a pure white round table, and beyond it sat a beautiful man. When he moved his head, silver hair poured out.
His pure white skin and red eyes were in perfect harmony with his sensitive appearance.
The first ruler of the Beastkin Empire and the most beautiful man.
Demios Baroque Drodien.
He was a great divine beast.
“You come.”
Red eyes like ruby stared at Sepia.
His hair and eye colors were the same, but unlike when he was young, his appearance was cold. But the fact that he was Sepia’s precious childhood friend remained unchanged.
“Meet His Majesty.”
She politely sat down on the chair the maid had given her.
A beautiful tea table was already set on the table.
As the servant poured tea, the maid poured hot tea into Sepia’s cup.
“Have some.”
“Yes.”
The conversation was much shorter than usual.
Sepia lowered her eyes.
Judging by the green color and scent, it was mint tea that suited Demios’s taste.
The tea was so strong that her mouth and head felt cold at the same time after taking a sip.
It wasn’t her taste, but after drinking the strong tea, she finally felt like she was facing her husband.
Thanks to that, Sepia was able to take a few more sips of tea.
Rather, her head was forced to clear, giving her courage. She let out the first words she had been holding back.
“I heard the news about Your Majesty. Is it true?”
Not from you, but from someone else.
Sepia swallowed her words.
Demios nodded only after elegantly putting down his teacup.
“Yes.”
It was merely confirming what he already knew.
Nevertheless, her heart, which she had vowed not to waver, seemed to be being swept away.
The words that followed pushed Sepia away like a larger wave.
“Attraction and stability. I thought it was nonsense, but it was true. It was a cozy embrace. It was warm and soft.”
Demios’s eyes softened as if he was drawing a woman’s embrace.
He suffered from severe insomnia.
Even if he did fall asleep, he was constantly plagued by nightmares.
The woman with Demios’ name was embracing him.
Something Sepia could not do.
“Thank goodness.”
Her heart was sinking into the mud, and her vision was dizzy.
But it was okay for now. The important question was about to come.
“...Then did Your Majesty imprint it?”
“No.”
Sepia looked surprised at the answer that came out so quickly. She barely held back a sigh of relief.
“I see.”
She thought she spoke as calmly as possible.
However, the sensitive red eyes were looking at her closely as if trying to figure out Sepia’s intentions.
“You seem to be concerned.”
I couldn’t say no.
Even if.
‘Even if we were a couple in name only.’
The love of the young lovers in the past was no more.
Because.
The two had never slept together.
Only Sepia and the Emperor’s direct maids knew this fact.
Not a single piece of the feelings they had once harbored would remain.
Nevertheless, the reason Demios proposed to Sepia was because of a revelation from the temple of the Beastkin Empire.
‘The Star of Ishtar.’
This special destiny of reviving the Empire was born in a human body.
The Star of Ishtar became the mate of the Emperor for generations.
This time, it was none other than Sepia.
The destiny that was originally meant to be born to a beastkin was taken on by a human.
She only learned this fact after setting foot on the Beastkin Empire.
Sepia became the Empress of a foreign land and worked hard not to recall her past memories.
A piece of memory that allowed her to breathe even in pain.
It was only after a long time that she was able to recall the painful memory without being hurt.
“Because she has Your Majesty’s name. As the Empress, I cannot help but be concerned.”
It was the same even now.
‘You must not show it.’
Because there was no love between him and Sepia.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment