“The things that make me flustered and curious are similar.”
As Carson continued to speak, Ines’ smile deepened.
“It’s also because it doesn’t move as I want.”
“How could I have done that?”
Carson laughed incredulously at her innocent expression. Ines asked again, her face relaxed as if bewitched by his smile.
“Ugh, ugh.”
He pressed on without giving her a chance to speak.
“And we’re a bit late.”
“What, what?”
Carson buried his lips in the nape of her neck as if he had no intention of answering. The night of the imperial couple, who had erased all their anxiety, grew deeper and deeper.
***
One year later. Ines looked at the scene before her eyes with delighted eyes.
“Do you like it?”
“Again?”
“It’s true that you become surprisingly strong in times of crisis.”
Ines was already sitting on his lap. When she nodded, he kissed her deeply.
Ines stretched out her arms and put them around his neck. She tried to coax Carson into postponing the ceremony, but Ines was also getting impatient because the waiting time felt long.
“Sometimes, you make me laugh with your strange words...”
When she heard those words, she remembered his face, smiling like a refreshing autumn breeze. Carson’s words continued to sneak into Ines’ teeth.
“And you always make me want to cry.”
But Ines couldn’t laugh anymore at the words that followed. She had never seen him cry before. She couldn’t picture it in her head.
If her own God couldn’t overcome some emotion and cry, how on earth was Ines supposed to watch him?
“Again?”
“It’s true that you become surprisingly strong in times of crisis.”
Ines was already sitting on his lap. When she nodded, he kissed her deeply.
Ines stretched out her arms and put them around his neck. She tried to coax Carson into postponing the ceremony, but Ines was also getting impatient because the waiting time felt long.
“Sometimes, you make me laugh with your strange words...”
When she heard those words, she remembered his face, smiling like a refreshing autumn breeze. Carson’s words continued to sneak into Ines’ teeth.
“And you always make me want to cry.”
But Ines couldn’t laugh anymore at the words that followed. She had never seen him cry before. She couldn’t picture it in her head.
If her own God couldn’t overcome some emotion and cry, how on earth was Ines supposed to watch him?
Ines pulled away and looked at him. Carson’s face looked comfortable, but her heart still ached.
She reached out and touched his cheek. When her cold fingertips touched his soft cheek, she couldn’t help but ask.
“Was there a time when you wanted to cry because of me?”
“Yes.”
He answered calmly, then took her hand that had touched his cheek and buried it in his lips.
Did she know? That there were days when the sensation that arose anew every time he saw her was so strong that he cried first.
There were many days when he couldn’t shed tears every time he had to lose her, and his throat tightened and he couldn’t breathe.
That Ines Swenden was emotion itself to Carson.
Carson carefully wiped away Ines’s tears, not knowing how to cry.
It was dawn when the thin moon adorned the sky.
It was a day when the still-cold scenery outside the window made the tip of his nose tingle just by looking at it.
The former Empress, who had tormented Carson so much as a child, was found hanging in a shabby house.
The former Emperor was facing his regrets in the castle of his dead mother, vomiting blood, and his younger sister was probably sleeping soundly, holding two black cats in her arms, unaware of anything.
In Landhill, the longhorn would sound to announce that goods were coming soon, and in Edmont, it was time to ring the bell for the priests on duty.
The large lake that appeared in his dreams would still be rippling, embracing the forest landscape, and in Monstera, the dry wind would still make the season pale.
And now, Ines was in front of him.
Carson grabbed her chin with his large hand and stroked her cheek.
Here, now, and Ines.
What more did he need?
“I love you.”
Ines’ heart thumped in response to the confession that was uttered like a breath. Instead of shedding tears, he finally smiled a familiar smile.
It was a perfect smile that never failed to captivate Ines.
“Don’t even think about sleeping, even if you’re tired.”
When Ines’ face turned red at the trivial words, he pressed his finger on her cheek. When he asked her why with surprised eyes, he laughed out loud.
She reached out and touched his cheek. When her cold fingertips touched his soft cheek, she couldn’t help but ask.
“Was there a time when you wanted to cry because of me?”
“Yes.”
He answered calmly, then took her hand that had touched his cheek and buried it in his lips.
Did she know? That there were days when the sensation that arose anew every time he saw her was so strong that he cried first.
There were many days when he couldn’t shed tears every time he had to lose her, and his throat tightened and he couldn’t breathe.
That Ines Swenden was emotion itself to Carson.
Carson carefully wiped away Ines’s tears, not knowing how to cry.
It was dawn when the thin moon adorned the sky.
It was a day when the still-cold scenery outside the window made the tip of his nose tingle just by looking at it.
The former Empress, who had tormented Carson so much as a child, was found hanging in a shabby house.
The former Emperor was facing his regrets in the castle of his dead mother, vomiting blood, and his younger sister was probably sleeping soundly, holding two black cats in her arms, unaware of anything.
In Landhill, the longhorn would sound to announce that goods were coming soon, and in Edmont, it was time to ring the bell for the priests on duty.
The large lake that appeared in his dreams would still be rippling, embracing the forest landscape, and in Monstera, the dry wind would still make the season pale.
And now, Ines was in front of him.
Carson grabbed her chin with his large hand and stroked her cheek.
Here, now, and Ines.
What more did he need?
“I love you.”
Ines’ heart thumped in response to the confession that was uttered like a breath. Instead of shedding tears, he finally smiled a familiar smile.
It was a perfect smile that never failed to captivate Ines.
“Don’t even think about sleeping, even if you’re tired.”
When Ines’ face turned red at the trivial words, he pressed his finger on her cheek. When he asked her why with surprised eyes, he laughed out loud.
“How come you get angry so quickly every time?”
Her face turned even redder at the mischievous words. Then as if it were a habit, he pulled and bit her lower lip.
The moment Carson reached out to pull her lips away, Ines pulled her face away from him. This time, Carson smiled and asked why.
Instead of answering, she went straight to his lips. When Carson, flustered by her approach, paused, Ines whispered in his ear.
“It’s dawn anyway. It’s wrong to sleep.”
This time, Carson raised his eyebrows and bit his lower lip.
All of a sudden, his vision flipped upside down, and soon, two beams of sunlight looked down at Ines.
Carson’s eyes lit up at the bold words she had spoken with some courage.
“More and more.”
“That’s true.”
“Yes, and from now on, we’ll share a room.”
Ines’s brow furrowed.
“There’s no such law in the world..”
Her face turned even redder at the mischievous words. Then as if it were a habit, he pulled and bit her lower lip.
The moment Carson reached out to pull her lips away, Ines pulled her face away from him. This time, Carson smiled and asked why.
Instead of answering, she went straight to his lips. When Carson, flustered by her approach, paused, Ines whispered in his ear.
“It’s dawn anyway. It’s wrong to sleep.”
This time, Carson raised his eyebrows and bit his lower lip.
All of a sudden, his vision flipped upside down, and soon, two beams of sunlight looked down at Ines.
Carson’s eyes lit up at the bold words she had spoken with some courage.
“More and more.”
“That’s true.”
“Yes, and from now on, we’ll share a room.”
Ines’s brow furrowed.
“There’s no such law in the world..”
However, her feeble resistance was soon eaten up by Carson.
“Who would dare to block the decision of the Emperor, who is anxious about what might happen to the Empress?”
Noah also looked up proudly at the results of his efforts with a pleased face.
“I can’t believe that this building was built in just one year.”
“Isn’t it all thanks to the stable and functioning bureaucracy? It’s all thanks to Her Majesty the Empress.”
He often praised Ines’ accomplishments openly. Every time he did, Ines felt a little embarrassed, not knowing how to react.
“Besides, there’s no longer any force that can oppose what the imperial family does.”
Ines nodded and put strength into her legs. Now that there was no one who could stop the imperial family, she thought that the one sbd had to be on guard against was herself.
“You’ll be able to select students soon, right?”
“We’ve announced it to every corner of the empire, so there will be applicants.”
“It won’t be easy.”
What was more frightening than the law was custom. There were still many negative views about commoners receiving education.
People living in an unjust and unequal world were reluctant to reach out even when opportunities were right in front of them. It was natural for them to be on guard and afraid.
However, all the changes had already begun.
“Is this all?”
Louis squeezed Ines’ hand, who was lost in thought at that moment.
“Your Highness the Princess.”
Louis nodded at the maid’s comment and sat up slightly.
“Oh, is this all, Your Majesty the Empress?”
Ines smiled brightly, finding her cute. Since they often spent time alone together, it wasn’t easy for Louis to be polite and respectful in front of people.
“Not yet. We’ve only just completed one building.”
“Ah...”
“Three more buildings will be built in the future. But I still want to attract students first.”
“Why so quickly...?”
“I’m in a hurry.”
Ines answered and looked down at Louis. No, now, if she just lowered her gaze a little, she could see the child’s face.
When did she grow so big? Just as Carson said, the more she grew up, the more she resembled her mother. Louis was becoming more beautiful every day.
Looking at her, Ines bit her lip. A prickling sensation pierced her chest. She felt greedy, but she wished she would grow a little more slowly.
“What’s bothering you?”
Louis was still able to read the other person’s emotions with keen awareness. Her gaze followed Ines, her beautiful black hair fluttering.
“Louis.. .”
Instead of answering, Louis’ eyes sparkled.
“These days, you know. Women don’t get married as quickly as they used to.”
“Huh?”
“So what I’m saying is... If you want to be the Princess, you can study more.”
“...”
“You can see the wider world. Of course, you can’t go too long.”
Louis chuckled at Ines’s explanation.
“I’m not leaving you behind.”
“Yes?”
Louis glanced at Ines’s belly.
“I’m not going anywhere until my nephew is born and calls me aunt.”
“Oh, I think the Princess doesn’t know much about it... Children speak faster than you think.”
Since she had already revealed her true feelings, Ines didn’t hold back on her words. Of course, she knew that Louis couldn’t stay in the palace forever.
The late Emperor had already vacated the palace. He had expressed his intention to spend the rest of his life in the place where Carson’s mother was born.
Carson, who heard him, sarcastically said that the late Emperor had become a pure man, but it was easy to see that he didn’t really hate it. Once the child in Ines’ belly was born, Louis would naturally have to vacate the palace. He had heard that it was impossible for someone called a Prince or Princess in the palace to not be a member of the royal family born in the same generation.
So, for the Princess to continue to stay in the system, it was necessary to marry one of the nobles of the system. That’s why Ines was looking at many children of the family, but none of them matched her surname.
It wasn’t that there weren’t any great lords. She just didn’t want to let her go.
Even though she knew that she couldn’t change her mind easily. Louis and Ines didn’t express it much to each other, but they were very special.
Louis stopped her by grabbing her arm, perhaps because she looked very anxious.
“First, let’s go to the school, Your Majesty.”
Louis, who was deep inside, would definitely choose the outcome of sacrificing herself for the imperial family. Ines followed Louis’s steps a little late, thinking about what to do.
When she entered, the wide-open hall gave her a sense of freedom. Louis must have felt the same way because he stood for a moment and looked around.
There were no fancy chandeliers like those seen at the Imperial Academy. However, there were plenty of lights that would allow her to study at night like day.
The library, although not covered with marble, was prepared to be comparable to the academies of nobles.
“Ines.”
Louis called her name casually, looking at the group following them standing a little far away.
“I want to go to the Academy.”
Ines’ eyes lit up at the unexpected words.
“I’ve been preparing for a long time. So the exam will be fair.”
Trying not to show her surprise, Ines smiled gently. But Louis wasn’t looking at Ines.
“Do you have an academy in mind?”
“Pentium.”
Pentium was the best educational institution in the empire, requiring a total of ten years of regular courses to be completed before being eligible to take the exam, even if you were from a local territory and not an institution.
The late Emperor had already vacated the palace. He had expressed his intention to spend the rest of his life in the place where Carson’s mother was born.
Carson, who heard him, sarcastically said that the late Emperor had become a pure man, but it was easy to see that he didn’t really hate it. Once the child in Ines’ belly was born, Louis would naturally have to vacate the palace. He had heard that it was impossible for someone called a Prince or Princess in the palace to not be a member of the royal family born in the same generation.
So, for the Princess to continue to stay in the system, it was necessary to marry one of the nobles of the system. That’s why Ines was looking at many children of the family, but none of them matched her surname.
It wasn’t that there weren’t any great lords. She just didn’t want to let her go.
Even though she knew that she couldn’t change her mind easily. Louis and Ines didn’t express it much to each other, but they were very special.
Louis stopped her by grabbing her arm, perhaps because she looked very anxious.
“First, let’s go to the school, Your Majesty.”
Louis, who was deep inside, would definitely choose the outcome of sacrificing herself for the imperial family. Ines followed Louis’s steps a little late, thinking about what to do.
When she entered, the wide-open hall gave her a sense of freedom. Louis must have felt the same way because he stood for a moment and looked around.
There were no fancy chandeliers like those seen at the Imperial Academy. However, there were plenty of lights that would allow her to study at night like day.
The library, although not covered with marble, was prepared to be comparable to the academies of nobles.
“Ines.”
Louis called her name casually, looking at the group following them standing a little far away.
“I want to go to the Academy.”
Ines’ eyes lit up at the unexpected words.
“I’ve been preparing for a long time. So the exam will be fair.”
Trying not to show her surprise, Ines smiled gently. But Louis wasn’t looking at Ines.
“Do you have an academy in mind?”
“Pentium.”
Pentium was the best educational institution in the empire, requiring a total of ten years of regular courses to be completed before being eligible to take the exam, even if you were from a local territory and not an institution.
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