The empire welcomed a new royal family.
When Astin Targayel ascended to the throne, Shan, who had been the protagonist of the revolution, was given the title of Duke and became the Duke of Cirxus. Then, the question of what to do with the Targayel family arose.
If things were as they were, Shan should have abandoned the name Targayel and returned to Shan Cirxus. And Elze should have followed Shan's name, becoming Erzenes Targayel Cirxus.
But the name Targayel held a special meaning for Elze and Shan. It was more than just a surname; they viewed it as a symbol of their bond.
In the end, Shan decided to use Targayel as her middle name, and Elze decided to keep her original name rather than take the surname of Cirxus.
The Targayel Manor is officially called the Duchess of Cirxus's Residence, but internally it is simply called the Targayel Manor.
“You are best suited to be Erzenes Targayel.”
Shan commented as follows.
And the Targayel Empire began to move in earnest. Astin assumed office as Emperor, and Heyla as Empress.
Shan, who became the Duke of Cirxus, generously used his personal wealth to support the Targayel royal family.
Marle, who was Targayel's steward, decided to remain as the steward of House Cirxus, but to help with all aspects of the imperial administration. Thanks to the clever Marle, the imperial administration has made great progress and has also achieved tremendous cost savings.
Shan and Elze also seized military power, each leading a knightly order. Shan was in charge of the Imperial Knights under Liv. Elze formed a new special order of knights, which she named the 'Knights of Elijah'.
To bring the talented Elijah mercenary group into the Targayel Empire, a separate knightly order was created. In addition, the Elijah Knights formed a secret direct unit known only to members of the imperial family.
The protagonist of the secret direct unit was Kalia. Kalia belonged to the Knights of Elijah and was now carrying out missions and moving in secret. Tarkun summarized this large-scale formation in one word.
“Well, the captain is still the captain.”
What did the title matter to Elijah and Kalia? They didn't care where they belonged. They just wanted to be by Elze's side.
After finishing the internal and external arrangements, they went straight into preparing for the coronation and wedding. Strictly speaking, the coronation and wedding were important events that should have been held separately. However, Targayel's finances were still strained to hold two large events, so they were decided to be held at once.
The last day of May was set as the day of the festival, and Targayel sent out invitations to each country on the continent. While letters from each country were rushing back, expressing their intention to attend, a piece of news was heard from Heglatan.
It was news that the Prince's Rebellion had broken out in Heglatan.
The Prince's Rebellion, led by Prince Blahar, engulfed Heglatan in an instant. The Emperor and Crown Prince were easily subdued, and the imperial family fell into the hands of Prince Blahar.
Prince Blahar was not born of a legitimate son, but his origins were not a problem. Prince Blahar was much more popular than the Emperor and Crown Prince, who had a hereditary disease of madness and a hideous chin. Everyone welcomed him, but there was no particular opposition.
Blahar, who succeeded in the Prince's Rebellion, became the Emperor of Heglatan. He called himself Emperor and declared that Heglatan was no longer a kingdom, but an empire. The people of the Heglatan Empire cheered his bold actions.
And the situation on the continent, which suddenly welcomed two new empires, fell into complete chaos.
How Heglatan and Targayel, who share a border, would treat each other became a matter of keen interest. The nations watched the situation of the two empires closely, anxious for the possibility of a new Hundred Years' War.
Amidst the chaos, Heglatan responded to Targayel's invitation, congratulating him on the founding of the Targayel Empire and expressing his willingness to attend the coronation.
Black smoke rose from the blazing fire. A tearing scream echoed, and fear and terror settled down like a thick fog.
In all the red and black, dirty blonde hair mixed with brown and gold fluttered. The splendid sword-blade of Flamberge drew a long line. The one blocking the way met death without even uttering a final word.
"Ha..."
Blahar ran his hands through his blood-soaked hair. His red eyes sparkled with murder. Serev quickly approached Blahar. Blahar called out to him, shaking off his bloody sword.
“Kamish.”
Like Blahar, Serev was also in disarray. Serev, wearing clothes splattered with large blood, reported to Blahar in a calm voice.
“The palace interior is completely under control. The Empress has escaped, but we are in pursuit. And...”
He wiped the blood off his hands and took out a crisp letter from his bosom.
“This is a letter from the Targayel Empire. It appears to be an invitation to the coronation.”
"Ah."
Blahar answered roughly and accepted the invitation with his bloody hands. The once crisp white invitation was soon stained with blood. Blahar unfurled the stained invitation and burst into laughter.
"Coronation?"
He laughed briefly and then said again.
“Good, coronation.”
And then he muttered to himself.
“The Targayel Empire...”
Blahar fiddled with the invitation. It had now turned so red that it was hard to tell what its original color was. Blahar looked at the invitation he had dyed red with satisfaction and said,
“It’s a gathering of all the countries on the continent, so of course I should attend. I also need to announce that I have become the Emperor.”
Elze could also see it, and Blahar had no reason to refuse the invitation. Blahar said happily.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to go out to the warm south. Tell them I’ll be happy to attend, Serev.”
Serev knelt before Blahar. He answered in a soft voice.
“I will follow your orders, Your Majesty the Emperor.”
Time passed quickly as the members of Targayel worked frantically to stabilize the Empire.
And in early May, when the weather was in full spring, Elze was greeted by a delightful guest. Ilwooz, who had been away in Inesian for a while, had returned to Targayel.
Just as he had left, Ilwooz returned using the teleporter in the palace basement. But he was not alone.
“Your Majesty the Queen!”
Elze was surprised by the guest that Ilwooz brought. It was Queen Ryeo Hyeon of the Ryeo Kingdom who had come with Ilwooz. The Queen greeted Elze using the common language.
“Celebrating the founding of Targayel.”
Hyeon smiled faintly without saying a word. She spoke as if she realized it belatedly.
“Ah, now you are the Duchess of Cirxus.”
Hyein's eyes widened. She asked playfully with a smile.
“What should I do... Should I use formal language, ma’am?”
Elze followed her lead and burst into laughter. However, Elze asked Hyeon to just treat her like before. It was awkward, and above all, Hyeon was the woman who suited her the best.
She readily accepted Elze's request. Hyein said with a grin like a snake.
“I came a little earlier than the day of my invitation... but will you welcome me?”
How could they turn her away with such words? Targayel had no choice but to welcome the Queen.
The Queen brought only Ra-Sun, five or so maids, and female knights as her attendants. Hyeon decided to stay in the Targayel Empire until the coronation and then return. According to Hyeon’s wishes, she and Ilwooz stayed in the Targayel mansion instead of the palace.
Shan was disgusted by the sudden visit of guests, especially since the guests from the Kingdom of Ryeo, including Hyeon, were female supremacists.
There were many cases where some imperial men got into trouble for speaking to guests from the Kingdom of Ryeo without knowing what was going on.
Women who looked down on them with arrogance, saying that they were talking to a lowly man, were definitely unfamiliar to Baluar. Of course, it was fun for Elze to watch them.
And even though there were some inconveniences, the Queen's stay in the Targayel Manor was a great boon to the Targayel Empire. The countries of the continent were anxious to become friendly with the Queen of Ryeo, and the sight of her being so close was enough to make them envious.
Thus, the Targayel mansion became bustling with the Queen and the Pope.
In fact, Elze was secretly glad that Hyeon came to see her. It was because there was something she wanted to ask of her. Elze waited for the opportunity and made time to have a quiet conversation with Hyeon.
“What do you want to talk about that you’ve come here to make this place your home?”
Since she was alone with Elze, Hyeon spoke comfortably in Korean. She smiled broadly as if she knew everything.
"Of course, I'd be happy to share any conversation with you."
It seemed that Elze had already sensed that there was something she wanted to ask. Thinking that she really couldn't win, Elze spoke honestly.
"I have a favor to ask."
Elze cautiously asked Hyeon.
"Could you please take in one of my close friends?"
"A friend? Not you?"
Hyeon, who had thrown out a joke, listened carefully to Elze's words. What Elze had asked Hyeon for was Iarin.
She was the Crown Princess, and now she was going to hide her identity and be reborn as a new person. Iarin needed to be kept safe somewhere other than the Targayel Empire, but there was nowhere she could trust. The Kingdom of Britain was close, but Elze wanted to send Iarin to the most trustworthy place.
So, after much deliberation, Elze chose Ryeo Hyeon. If it was her, she could send Iarin with peace of mind.
"I see. She is your close friend."
Hyeon smiled generously and accepted Elze's request.
“You are most welcome. I will do my best to look after her... After this coronation ceremony, I will take her with me on my way back home.”
"Thank you."
After finishing the story about Iarin, Elze, and Hyeon talked about a few more things. As they continued their conversation which was almost like gossip, Elze felt that Hyeon also had something she wanted to tell her.
"But Erzenes, there's something I want to ask you."
So Elze wasn't surprised when Hyeon suddenly brought up a topic.
“Your soul came from somewhere else. That is also where the founding Queen of Ryeo came from...”
Hyeon paused for a moment, trailing off. She narrowed her eyes and asked Elze a question.
"Can you tell me about that place?"
Hyeon was talking about Elze's past life in Korea. Elze answered honestly.
“I’m sorry. Actually... I don’t remember much.”
As if someone was erasing it little by little, Elze's memories of her past life gradually disappeared. She used to remember quite a lot of things, but not anymore. The few memories that barely remained were now as faint as an old book. If it weren't for Hyeon, she might have even forgotten Korean.
"I see."
Hyeon looked at Elze for a moment in silence. She sighed softly and opened her mouth.
“As you might have guessed, there is a reason why I visited Targayel so early.”
Hyeon said with his black eyes shining brightly.
“I also have a favor to ask of you, Erzenes.”
“Your Excellency the Duke of Cirxus!”
Shan was a little slow to respond to the voice calling him. No matter how many times he heard the words, Duke of Cirxus, it was hard for him to get used to it. When he was called Count Targayel, it became familiar to him so quickly. Shan smiled faintly at the thought. And then he answered the one who had spoken to him.
“It’s been a while. You’ve been very courteous.”
The nobleman who spoke to him was someone he did not know well. However, he and Shan talked to each other as if they had been friends for ten years. Shan was now quite adept at putting on a mask like this.
The opponent was anxious because he couldn't look good in front of Shan. The way he was fidgeting and constantly checking Shan's expression was almost cowardly.
And of course, the conversation was really boring. Shan cut him off appropriately. The other person quickly backed away, but he still managed to slyly drop a word.
“I hope we can meet again soon. It was nice talking to you, Your Excellency."
Shan gave him a quick greeting and finished speaking. After the humble conversation, he felt a little tired. A thought naturally came to his mind.
He miss Elze.
As if by conditioned reflex, Shan thought of Elze. Thinking of Elze made him miss the Targayel mansion. Shan took a quick look around the palace where he had been standing.
The construction of the palace was almost finished. The red marble that decorated the exterior walls was removed and sold, and it was finished with clean white marble, and then gilded decorations were added here and there.
The roof was painted a refreshing blue, and whenever Shan looked at it, it reminded her of Elze's eyes and made him feel good.
But no matter how much the palace changed, it was not as comfortable as the Targayel mansion. Shan hurriedly finished up his work and went home. The ride back to the mansion in the carriage was not so pleasant.
He had finished work early today and returned home early. He was so curious about what she was doing and what she was thinking about that his head was spinning. While sinking into the comfortable seat of the carriage, Shan, who was thinking about Elze here and there, recalled the doctor’s words.
As soon as he returned to the capital, Shan and Elze went to see a doctor. This was to solve Elze’s infertility, which had an unknown cause. Shan called several doctors to examine her. He was afraid that if he called only one, there might be a mistake in the treatment, so he gathered the opinions of several doctors. And all the doctors who took turns examining her gave the same opinion.
"Her Excellency is in perfect health. In this case..."
It was the same, hesitating for a moment before speaking and then spitting it out.
"Stress is most likely the cause."
"..."
At the word stress, Shan bit his lower lip.
His heart ached. Just thinking about it for a moment brought to mind dozens of things that had stressed Elze out over the years.
After sending the doctors away, Shan spent a long time reflecting. After that, he took care of Elze in many ways so that she wouldn't get stressed.
Most of the work that Elze had to handle was taken by Shan. In addition, various measures were put in place to protect her as much as possible, such as carefully adjusting the schedule that Elze had to handle so that it would not become too much.
But then the Queen of Ryeo suddenly came to the mansion and said she wanted to stay...
Shan frowned for a moment. She was worried that the Queen might be bothering Elze unnecessarily or making things difficult for her.
She was someone who needed to rest without stress, but when the Queen stayed in the mansion, she couldn't help but worry about taking care of this and that. If it were up to him, he would have kicked the Queen out right away. Along with Ilwooz.
Shan imagined the peaceful life in the mansion after the two men were kicked out for a moment. Just imagining it brought a smile to his face.
“...We should hurry up and hold the coronation ceremony, yes.”
After Astin's coronation, at least the Queen would be gone. He was anxious to get rid of at least one of the piles of luggage.
In the meantime, the carriage entered Targayel's mansion. As soon as the carriage stopped after passing the garden, Shan opened the door by himself and got out. The attendant who was about to open the carriage door was so surprised by the Duke's appearance that he almost fell backward. Shan, who ran as if he were running, looked for Elze as soon as he entered the entrance of the mansion.
“What about Erzenes?”
Butler Marle said as he took Shan's coat.
“Her Excellency is talking to Her Majesty the Queen.”
Shan answered after a moment of silence.
“...I see.”
The tone was dripping with displeasure. Marle quickly noticed Shan’s mood and asked a question.
“What are you going to do?”
“Even if it’s rude, I have to get involved.”
Marle smiled faintly at Shan's words.
“I knew you would feel that way, so I already told them that you would like to join them for the conversation.”
Marle knew Shan very well. Shan was very satisfied with the butler’s quick-witted handling of affairs. Guided by Marle, Shan headed to where Elze and the Queen were having tea time.
“Shan!”
Elze welcomed Shan happily.
“It’s Lord Cirxus.”
And Queen Ryeo Hyeon openly showed her displeasure. Of course, Shan felt the same way.
“Hello, Your Majesty the Queen.”
Although he greeted her politely, Shan's eyes were completely dull as he greeted her.
Hyeon and Shan looked at each other for a moment. In front of Shan’s gaze which seemed to be full of thorns, Hyein slowly opened the fan in her hand. Hyeon spoke while waving the fan with a golden dragon and peony design on black silk.
“So, why did you intervene in the women’s conversation?”
Hyeon then turned her head slightly and muttered quietly as if talking to herself.
“If it was the Kingdom of Ryeo, they would have yelled at me for daring to interfere in a women’s conversation, even though I was a man...”
Of course, she was just talking to herself, and it was something she wanted Shan to hear. Shan didn't care about the Queen's words and stubbornly sat down next to Elze. Shan smiled and said to Hyeon.
“Your Majesty, your language skills have improved by leaps and bounds.”
On the surface, it sounded like a compliment. But if you look inside, it was a criticism of why she pretended not to be good at the common language when she was so good at it.
But Hyeon was no easy opponent. Hyeon answered with a shameless smile.
“You were already doing well. I just pretended not to know because it was annoying.”
“...”
Shan was speechless at Hyein's answer. Elze, who was watching, couldn't hold it back and laughed softly. Hyeon looked satisfied with the fact that Elze had laughed. She folded the fan she had opened with a thud and said.
“I’m going to go now.”
Shan looked at Hyeon, wondering what was going on when Hyeon announced her retirement. Hyeon responded with a very kind expression on her face.
“We’ve already shared everything we wanted to share, so let’s not interrupt your time together. I’d like to have a cigarette, too.”
She looked back at Elze one last time and said something in Ryeo's language that Shan couldn't understand.
"Please. It's only you."
Hyeon walked away leisurely, dragging the hem of her ample clothes. Shan watched Hyeon’s back with displeasure. And as soon as Hyeon disappeared, he asked Elze.
“What did Her Majesty say?”
Elze answered Shan, who asked in a rush, with a smile on her face.
“I was asked to do me a favor.”
At Elze's words, Shan immediately frowned.
“Favor? What favor?”
Shan reacted sensitively. He was nervous that the Queen might carry Elze away. Elze burst out laughing at Shan's appearance. Elze tapped Shan's arm and said.
“Why are you so grumpy?”
Shan just narrowed his eyes without saying anything. Of course, Elze knew why he was doing that, so she smiled and got to the point.
“It’s not a big favor. It’s just something small, so don’t worry too much.”
"...Can’t you tell me what it is?”
"Hmm."
Elze thought for a moment. She couldn't tell him right away. Shan felt a little depressed at Elze's unresponsive appearance.
Elze had something to do with the Kingdom of Ryeo and Queen Hyeon. But when asked about it in detail, it was always like this. Elze avoided answering, and the Queen only made meaningful moves, turning Shan's stomach upside down.
...I was anxious.
Unable to hold back his feelings, Shan told Elze.
“Don’t keep secrets from me.”
There was a dark aura in the words. Shan looked at Elze, revealing his aura without hiding it.
But as soon as he met her eyes, Shan became embarrassed. The blue eyes that held him were clear and refreshing. And they were full of affection for Shan.
How come her blue eyes are so clear and vivid?
His own eyes must have been clouded and darkened. Shan could easily imagine his own eyes forming a stark contrast to Elze's.
But even though he knew it was shameful, he couldn't bear it. Elze always felt like she wasn't holding it in her hand. It was like it was scattering from her hand like a grain of sand.
Unfulfilled possessiveness brought about various emotions. Shan unconsciously grabbed Elze's wrist. Her slender wrist was a handful. Shan held onto that wrist as if it were a lifeline and said.
“...Don’t hide from me.”
It was an ambiguous tone that sounded like a request or a threat. It was such a dark voice that Shan was worried that Elze might be surprised even after she said it.
But Elze burst into laughter. She laughed brightly for a long time. Then she looked at Shan and said.
“I’m sorry. It was my fault. I’ll tell you everything. Let’s just settle this one issue....”
Then, she kissed Shan's cheek with a soft sound. Their soft lips touched and then parted lightly.
Funnily enough, the anger that had been boiling over just a moment ago suddenly melted away with one lip.
Shan hugged Elze tightly. And let out a deep sigh. A tingling and languid sensation spread throughout his body. The feeling of being held in her arms filled Shan to the brim.
“Elze, Elze, Elze.”
Shan called Elze's name several times in a row. Elze responded by calling his name in return. Shan kissed Elze's lips and said.
“I don’t know what the Queen has asked of you, but... Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“I will do that.”
“I told you to be careful about stress.”
“Yes?”
“The doctor.”
"Ah."
As Elze made a belated expression of realization, Shan said.
“And I tell you over and over again, I don’t need children.”
But Elze opened her eyes wide and retorted.
“I want to have it?”
Elze said with a bright smile.
“A son who resembles you, a daughter who resembles me. I think the opposite would be okay too.”
Elze was sincere, Shan said, running his hands through her hair.
“I asked Ilwoox about that problem too...”
“Ilwooz? When did you ask that?”
Shan shrugged his shoulders without saying anything. Shan, worried that Elze might not be able to conceive because of him, went to see Ilwooz separately and told him the story. Shan was concerned that Elze might be having difficulty conceiving because her constitution had changed as she approached the millennium.
And Ilwooz decided to find out if any stories related to him were being told.
“Come to think of it, Ilwooz hasn’t said anything even though he went to Inesian.”
Elze blinked at Shan's muttering. Then, something suddenly occurred to her and she abruptly stood up. Shan looked at Elze in bewilderment as the pleasant atmosphere was suddenly shattered.
“Shan! I’ll go to Ilwooz for a bit!!”
But Elze left Shan behind and ran out. Shan, who was left alone, could only stare at Elze's back as she left.
“...”
And Shan made up his mind. As soon as the coronation ceremony was over, he would pack up the two bundles of luggage and send them away.
When Astin Targayel ascended to the throne, Shan, who had been the protagonist of the revolution, was given the title of Duke and became the Duke of Cirxus. Then, the question of what to do with the Targayel family arose.
If things were as they were, Shan should have abandoned the name Targayel and returned to Shan Cirxus. And Elze should have followed Shan's name, becoming Erzenes Targayel Cirxus.
But the name Targayel held a special meaning for Elze and Shan. It was more than just a surname; they viewed it as a symbol of their bond.
In the end, Shan decided to use Targayel as her middle name, and Elze decided to keep her original name rather than take the surname of Cirxus.
The Targayel Manor is officially called the Duchess of Cirxus's Residence, but internally it is simply called the Targayel Manor.
“You are best suited to be Erzenes Targayel.”
Shan commented as follows.
And the Targayel Empire began to move in earnest. Astin assumed office as Emperor, and Heyla as Empress.
Shan, who became the Duke of Cirxus, generously used his personal wealth to support the Targayel royal family.
Marle, who was Targayel's steward, decided to remain as the steward of House Cirxus, but to help with all aspects of the imperial administration. Thanks to the clever Marle, the imperial administration has made great progress and has also achieved tremendous cost savings.
Shan and Elze also seized military power, each leading a knightly order. Shan was in charge of the Imperial Knights under Liv. Elze formed a new special order of knights, which she named the 'Knights of Elijah'.
To bring the talented Elijah mercenary group into the Targayel Empire, a separate knightly order was created. In addition, the Elijah Knights formed a secret direct unit known only to members of the imperial family.
The protagonist of the secret direct unit was Kalia. Kalia belonged to the Knights of Elijah and was now carrying out missions and moving in secret. Tarkun summarized this large-scale formation in one word.
“Well, the captain is still the captain.”
What did the title matter to Elijah and Kalia? They didn't care where they belonged. They just wanted to be by Elze's side.
After finishing the internal and external arrangements, they went straight into preparing for the coronation and wedding. Strictly speaking, the coronation and wedding were important events that should have been held separately. However, Targayel's finances were still strained to hold two large events, so they were decided to be held at once.
The last day of May was set as the day of the festival, and Targayel sent out invitations to each country on the continent. While letters from each country were rushing back, expressing their intention to attend, a piece of news was heard from Heglatan.
It was news that the Prince's Rebellion had broken out in Heglatan.
The Prince's Rebellion, led by Prince Blahar, engulfed Heglatan in an instant. The Emperor and Crown Prince were easily subdued, and the imperial family fell into the hands of Prince Blahar.
Prince Blahar was not born of a legitimate son, but his origins were not a problem. Prince Blahar was much more popular than the Emperor and Crown Prince, who had a hereditary disease of madness and a hideous chin. Everyone welcomed him, but there was no particular opposition.
Blahar, who succeeded in the Prince's Rebellion, became the Emperor of Heglatan. He called himself Emperor and declared that Heglatan was no longer a kingdom, but an empire. The people of the Heglatan Empire cheered his bold actions.
And the situation on the continent, which suddenly welcomed two new empires, fell into complete chaos.
How Heglatan and Targayel, who share a border, would treat each other became a matter of keen interest. The nations watched the situation of the two empires closely, anxious for the possibility of a new Hundred Years' War.
Amidst the chaos, Heglatan responded to Targayel's invitation, congratulating him on the founding of the Targayel Empire and expressing his willingness to attend the coronation.
***
Black smoke rose from the blazing fire. A tearing scream echoed, and fear and terror settled down like a thick fog.
In all the red and black, dirty blonde hair mixed with brown and gold fluttered. The splendid sword-blade of Flamberge drew a long line. The one blocking the way met death without even uttering a final word.
"Ha..."
Blahar ran his hands through his blood-soaked hair. His red eyes sparkled with murder. Serev quickly approached Blahar. Blahar called out to him, shaking off his bloody sword.
“Kamish.”
Like Blahar, Serev was also in disarray. Serev, wearing clothes splattered with large blood, reported to Blahar in a calm voice.
“The palace interior is completely under control. The Empress has escaped, but we are in pursuit. And...”
He wiped the blood off his hands and took out a crisp letter from his bosom.
“This is a letter from the Targayel Empire. It appears to be an invitation to the coronation.”
"Ah."
Blahar answered roughly and accepted the invitation with his bloody hands. The once crisp white invitation was soon stained with blood. Blahar unfurled the stained invitation and burst into laughter.
"Coronation?"
He laughed briefly and then said again.
“Good, coronation.”
And then he muttered to himself.
“The Targayel Empire...”
Blahar fiddled with the invitation. It had now turned so red that it was hard to tell what its original color was. Blahar looked at the invitation he had dyed red with satisfaction and said,
“It’s a gathering of all the countries on the continent, so of course I should attend. I also need to announce that I have become the Emperor.”
Elze could also see it, and Blahar had no reason to refuse the invitation. Blahar said happily.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to go out to the warm south. Tell them I’ll be happy to attend, Serev.”
Serev knelt before Blahar. He answered in a soft voice.
“I will follow your orders, Your Majesty the Emperor.”
***
Time passed quickly as the members of Targayel worked frantically to stabilize the Empire.
And in early May, when the weather was in full spring, Elze was greeted by a delightful guest. Ilwooz, who had been away in Inesian for a while, had returned to Targayel.
Just as he had left, Ilwooz returned using the teleporter in the palace basement. But he was not alone.
“Your Majesty the Queen!”
Elze was surprised by the guest that Ilwooz brought. It was Queen Ryeo Hyeon of the Ryeo Kingdom who had come with Ilwooz. The Queen greeted Elze using the common language.
“Celebrating the founding of Targayel.”
Hyeon smiled faintly without saying a word. She spoke as if she realized it belatedly.
“Ah, now you are the Duchess of Cirxus.”
Hyein's eyes widened. She asked playfully with a smile.
“What should I do... Should I use formal language, ma’am?”
Elze followed her lead and burst into laughter. However, Elze asked Hyeon to just treat her like before. It was awkward, and above all, Hyeon was the woman who suited her the best.
She readily accepted Elze's request. Hyein said with a grin like a snake.
“I came a little earlier than the day of my invitation... but will you welcome me?”
How could they turn her away with such words? Targayel had no choice but to welcome the Queen.
The Queen brought only Ra-Sun, five or so maids, and female knights as her attendants. Hyeon decided to stay in the Targayel Empire until the coronation and then return. According to Hyeon’s wishes, she and Ilwooz stayed in the Targayel mansion instead of the palace.
Shan was disgusted by the sudden visit of guests, especially since the guests from the Kingdom of Ryeo, including Hyeon, were female supremacists.
There were many cases where some imperial men got into trouble for speaking to guests from the Kingdom of Ryeo without knowing what was going on.
Women who looked down on them with arrogance, saying that they were talking to a lowly man, were definitely unfamiliar to Baluar. Of course, it was fun for Elze to watch them.
And even though there were some inconveniences, the Queen's stay in the Targayel Manor was a great boon to the Targayel Empire. The countries of the continent were anxious to become friendly with the Queen of Ryeo, and the sight of her being so close was enough to make them envious.
Thus, the Targayel mansion became bustling with the Queen and the Pope.
In fact, Elze was secretly glad that Hyeon came to see her. It was because there was something she wanted to ask of her. Elze waited for the opportunity and made time to have a quiet conversation with Hyeon.
“What do you want to talk about that you’ve come here to make this place your home?”
Since she was alone with Elze, Hyeon spoke comfortably in Korean. She smiled broadly as if she knew everything.
"Of course, I'd be happy to share any conversation with you."
It seemed that Elze had already sensed that there was something she wanted to ask. Thinking that she really couldn't win, Elze spoke honestly.
"I have a favor to ask."
Elze cautiously asked Hyeon.
"Could you please take in one of my close friends?"
"A friend? Not you?"
Hyeon, who had thrown out a joke, listened carefully to Elze's words. What Elze had asked Hyeon for was Iarin.
She was the Crown Princess, and now she was going to hide her identity and be reborn as a new person. Iarin needed to be kept safe somewhere other than the Targayel Empire, but there was nowhere she could trust. The Kingdom of Britain was close, but Elze wanted to send Iarin to the most trustworthy place.
So, after much deliberation, Elze chose Ryeo Hyeon. If it was her, she could send Iarin with peace of mind.
"I see. She is your close friend."
Hyeon smiled generously and accepted Elze's request.
“You are most welcome. I will do my best to look after her... After this coronation ceremony, I will take her with me on my way back home.”
"Thank you."
After finishing the story about Iarin, Elze, and Hyeon talked about a few more things. As they continued their conversation which was almost like gossip, Elze felt that Hyeon also had something she wanted to tell her.
"But Erzenes, there's something I want to ask you."
So Elze wasn't surprised when Hyeon suddenly brought up a topic.
“Your soul came from somewhere else. That is also where the founding Queen of Ryeo came from...”
Hyeon paused for a moment, trailing off. She narrowed her eyes and asked Elze a question.
"Can you tell me about that place?"
Hyeon was talking about Elze's past life in Korea. Elze answered honestly.
“I’m sorry. Actually... I don’t remember much.”
As if someone was erasing it little by little, Elze's memories of her past life gradually disappeared. She used to remember quite a lot of things, but not anymore. The few memories that barely remained were now as faint as an old book. If it weren't for Hyeon, she might have even forgotten Korean.
"I see."
Hyeon looked at Elze for a moment in silence. She sighed softly and opened her mouth.
“As you might have guessed, there is a reason why I visited Targayel so early.”
Hyeon said with his black eyes shining brightly.
“I also have a favor to ask of you, Erzenes.”
***
“Your Excellency the Duke of Cirxus!”
Shan was a little slow to respond to the voice calling him. No matter how many times he heard the words, Duke of Cirxus, it was hard for him to get used to it. When he was called Count Targayel, it became familiar to him so quickly. Shan smiled faintly at the thought. And then he answered the one who had spoken to him.
“It’s been a while. You’ve been very courteous.”
The nobleman who spoke to him was someone he did not know well. However, he and Shan talked to each other as if they had been friends for ten years. Shan was now quite adept at putting on a mask like this.
The opponent was anxious because he couldn't look good in front of Shan. The way he was fidgeting and constantly checking Shan's expression was almost cowardly.
And of course, the conversation was really boring. Shan cut him off appropriately. The other person quickly backed away, but he still managed to slyly drop a word.
“I hope we can meet again soon. It was nice talking to you, Your Excellency."
Shan gave him a quick greeting and finished speaking. After the humble conversation, he felt a little tired. A thought naturally came to his mind.
He miss Elze.
As if by conditioned reflex, Shan thought of Elze. Thinking of Elze made him miss the Targayel mansion. Shan took a quick look around the palace where he had been standing.
The construction of the palace was almost finished. The red marble that decorated the exterior walls was removed and sold, and it was finished with clean white marble, and then gilded decorations were added here and there.
The roof was painted a refreshing blue, and whenever Shan looked at it, it reminded her of Elze's eyes and made him feel good.
But no matter how much the palace changed, it was not as comfortable as the Targayel mansion. Shan hurriedly finished up his work and went home. The ride back to the mansion in the carriage was not so pleasant.
He had finished work early today and returned home early. He was so curious about what she was doing and what she was thinking about that his head was spinning. While sinking into the comfortable seat of the carriage, Shan, who was thinking about Elze here and there, recalled the doctor’s words.
As soon as he returned to the capital, Shan and Elze went to see a doctor. This was to solve Elze’s infertility, which had an unknown cause. Shan called several doctors to examine her. He was afraid that if he called only one, there might be a mistake in the treatment, so he gathered the opinions of several doctors. And all the doctors who took turns examining her gave the same opinion.
"Her Excellency is in perfect health. In this case..."
It was the same, hesitating for a moment before speaking and then spitting it out.
"Stress is most likely the cause."
"..."
At the word stress, Shan bit his lower lip.
His heart ached. Just thinking about it for a moment brought to mind dozens of things that had stressed Elze out over the years.
After sending the doctors away, Shan spent a long time reflecting. After that, he took care of Elze in many ways so that she wouldn't get stressed.
Most of the work that Elze had to handle was taken by Shan. In addition, various measures were put in place to protect her as much as possible, such as carefully adjusting the schedule that Elze had to handle so that it would not become too much.
But then the Queen of Ryeo suddenly came to the mansion and said she wanted to stay...
Shan frowned for a moment. She was worried that the Queen might be bothering Elze unnecessarily or making things difficult for her.
She was someone who needed to rest without stress, but when the Queen stayed in the mansion, she couldn't help but worry about taking care of this and that. If it were up to him, he would have kicked the Queen out right away. Along with Ilwooz.
Shan imagined the peaceful life in the mansion after the two men were kicked out for a moment. Just imagining it brought a smile to his face.
“...We should hurry up and hold the coronation ceremony, yes.”
After Astin's coronation, at least the Queen would be gone. He was anxious to get rid of at least one of the piles of luggage.
In the meantime, the carriage entered Targayel's mansion. As soon as the carriage stopped after passing the garden, Shan opened the door by himself and got out. The attendant who was about to open the carriage door was so surprised by the Duke's appearance that he almost fell backward. Shan, who ran as if he were running, looked for Elze as soon as he entered the entrance of the mansion.
“What about Erzenes?”
Butler Marle said as he took Shan's coat.
“Her Excellency is talking to Her Majesty the Queen.”
Shan answered after a moment of silence.
“...I see.”
The tone was dripping with displeasure. Marle quickly noticed Shan’s mood and asked a question.
“What are you going to do?”
“Even if it’s rude, I have to get involved.”
Marle smiled faintly at Shan's words.
“I knew you would feel that way, so I already told them that you would like to join them for the conversation.”
Marle knew Shan very well. Shan was very satisfied with the butler’s quick-witted handling of affairs. Guided by Marle, Shan headed to where Elze and the Queen were having tea time.
“Shan!”
Elze welcomed Shan happily.
“It’s Lord Cirxus.”
And Queen Ryeo Hyeon openly showed her displeasure. Of course, Shan felt the same way.
“Hello, Your Majesty the Queen.”
Although he greeted her politely, Shan's eyes were completely dull as he greeted her.
Hyeon and Shan looked at each other for a moment. In front of Shan’s gaze which seemed to be full of thorns, Hyein slowly opened the fan in her hand. Hyeon spoke while waving the fan with a golden dragon and peony design on black silk.
“So, why did you intervene in the women’s conversation?”
Hyeon then turned her head slightly and muttered quietly as if talking to herself.
“If it was the Kingdom of Ryeo, they would have yelled at me for daring to interfere in a women’s conversation, even though I was a man...”
Of course, she was just talking to herself, and it was something she wanted Shan to hear. Shan didn't care about the Queen's words and stubbornly sat down next to Elze. Shan smiled and said to Hyeon.
“Your Majesty, your language skills have improved by leaps and bounds.”
On the surface, it sounded like a compliment. But if you look inside, it was a criticism of why she pretended not to be good at the common language when she was so good at it.
But Hyeon was no easy opponent. Hyeon answered with a shameless smile.
“You were already doing well. I just pretended not to know because it was annoying.”
“...”
Shan was speechless at Hyein's answer. Elze, who was watching, couldn't hold it back and laughed softly. Hyeon looked satisfied with the fact that Elze had laughed. She folded the fan she had opened with a thud and said.
“I’m going to go now.”
Shan looked at Hyeon, wondering what was going on when Hyeon announced her retirement. Hyeon responded with a very kind expression on her face.
“We’ve already shared everything we wanted to share, so let’s not interrupt your time together. I’d like to have a cigarette, too.”
She looked back at Elze one last time and said something in Ryeo's language that Shan couldn't understand.
"Please. It's only you."
Hyeon walked away leisurely, dragging the hem of her ample clothes. Shan watched Hyeon’s back with displeasure. And as soon as Hyeon disappeared, he asked Elze.
“What did Her Majesty say?”
Elze answered Shan, who asked in a rush, with a smile on her face.
“I was asked to do me a favor.”
At Elze's words, Shan immediately frowned.
“Favor? What favor?”
Shan reacted sensitively. He was nervous that the Queen might carry Elze away. Elze burst out laughing at Shan's appearance. Elze tapped Shan's arm and said.
“Why are you so grumpy?”
Shan just narrowed his eyes without saying anything. Of course, Elze knew why he was doing that, so she smiled and got to the point.
“It’s not a big favor. It’s just something small, so don’t worry too much.”
"...Can’t you tell me what it is?”
"Hmm."
Elze thought for a moment. She couldn't tell him right away. Shan felt a little depressed at Elze's unresponsive appearance.
Elze had something to do with the Kingdom of Ryeo and Queen Hyeon. But when asked about it in detail, it was always like this. Elze avoided answering, and the Queen only made meaningful moves, turning Shan's stomach upside down.
...I was anxious.
Unable to hold back his feelings, Shan told Elze.
“Don’t keep secrets from me.”
There was a dark aura in the words. Shan looked at Elze, revealing his aura without hiding it.
But as soon as he met her eyes, Shan became embarrassed. The blue eyes that held him were clear and refreshing. And they were full of affection for Shan.
How come her blue eyes are so clear and vivid?
His own eyes must have been clouded and darkened. Shan could easily imagine his own eyes forming a stark contrast to Elze's.
But even though he knew it was shameful, he couldn't bear it. Elze always felt like she wasn't holding it in her hand. It was like it was scattering from her hand like a grain of sand.
Unfulfilled possessiveness brought about various emotions. Shan unconsciously grabbed Elze's wrist. Her slender wrist was a handful. Shan held onto that wrist as if it were a lifeline and said.
“...Don’t hide from me.”
It was an ambiguous tone that sounded like a request or a threat. It was such a dark voice that Shan was worried that Elze might be surprised even after she said it.
But Elze burst into laughter. She laughed brightly for a long time. Then she looked at Shan and said.
“I’m sorry. It was my fault. I’ll tell you everything. Let’s just settle this one issue....”
Then, she kissed Shan's cheek with a soft sound. Their soft lips touched and then parted lightly.
Funnily enough, the anger that had been boiling over just a moment ago suddenly melted away with one lip.
Shan hugged Elze tightly. And let out a deep sigh. A tingling and languid sensation spread throughout his body. The feeling of being held in her arms filled Shan to the brim.
“Elze, Elze, Elze.”
Shan called Elze's name several times in a row. Elze responded by calling his name in return. Shan kissed Elze's lips and said.
“I don’t know what the Queen has asked of you, but... Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“I will do that.”
“I told you to be careful about stress.”
“Yes?”
“The doctor.”
"Ah."
As Elze made a belated expression of realization, Shan said.
“And I tell you over and over again, I don’t need children.”
But Elze opened her eyes wide and retorted.
“I want to have it?”
Elze said with a bright smile.
“A son who resembles you, a daughter who resembles me. I think the opposite would be okay too.”
Elze was sincere, Shan said, running his hands through her hair.
“I asked Ilwoox about that problem too...”
“Ilwooz? When did you ask that?”
Shan shrugged his shoulders without saying anything. Shan, worried that Elze might not be able to conceive because of him, went to see Ilwooz separately and told him the story. Shan was concerned that Elze might be having difficulty conceiving because her constitution had changed as she approached the millennium.
And Ilwooz decided to find out if any stories related to him were being told.
“Come to think of it, Ilwooz hasn’t said anything even though he went to Inesian.”
Elze blinked at Shan's muttering. Then, something suddenly occurred to her and she abruptly stood up. Shan looked at Elze in bewilderment as the pleasant atmosphere was suddenly shattered.
“Shan! I’ll go to Ilwooz for a bit!!”
But Elze left Shan behind and ran out. Shan, who was left alone, could only stare at Elze's back as she left.
“...”
And Shan made up his mind. As soon as the coronation ceremony was over, he would pack up the two bundles of luggage and send them away.
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