"A person?"
Erhi's eyes widened at the sudden question.
Sepia met her daughter's eyes and spoke affectionately.
"Yes. Those who are not beastmen."
Biologically identical beings to Erhi and herself.
Erhi seemed to be absorbed for a moment, then exclaimed.
"I'm curious!"
Erhi's eyes widened at the sudden question.
Sepia met her daughter's eyes and spoke affectionately.
"Yes. Those who are not beastmen."
Biologically identical beings to Erhi and herself.
Erhi seemed to be absorbed for a moment, then exclaimed.
"I'm curious!"
"I see."
Sepia smiled at her daughter's innocent reaction and patted her small head.
Then she asked back. To observe Erhi's reaction carefully.
"Because she and Erhi are the same species?"
"Um, no?"
However, this answer was unexpected for Sepia.
The hand stroking her head stopped for a moment.
At that moment, Sepia and Roxanne exchanged glances, but Erhi did not notice.
“I’ve met deer, wolves, and cuckoos, but this is the first time I’ve met a human being besides my mom! I think it’ll be really amazing.”
Sepia was silent for a moment.
For Erhi, the distinction between species was not a binary distinction like black and white, but rather a more detailed structure, so this answer was also unexpected.
“And. Everyone has a mom and a dad, right? Then my mom would have a mom and a dad, too. I think you’ll miss them. A lot.”
The affectionate, innocent, and therefore lovable words of consideration were clearly harmless.
Nevertheless, Sepia couldn’t respond naturally.
“Mom?”
When Sepia didn’t answer, Erhi tilted her head and called her.
Then, Roxanne, who had been carrying Drohan on his neck all this time, suddenly picked Erhi up in that state.
"Erhi is smart. As expected, you're my daughter.”
“Huh? That’s right. I’m kind, smart, and pretty!”
Erhi, who had blinked at the incomprehensible compliment, immediately smiled in agreement.
“But Dad, if you carry both me and Drohan, isn’t it heavy?”
Instead of the innocent questioner, Drohan scolded him.
“Of course. Drohan is a god.”
Erhi narrowed his eyes and bit Drohan’s ankle, perhaps not liking the answer.
Drohan, who had just bitten his flesh, cried out in disgust.
“It hurts! Are you an animal?!”
“I’m a human? You’re the wolf!”
Once again, the children began to meow on Roxanne’s body.
“Enough. How long have we been reconciled?”
The Emperor’s appearance, warning his children not to get hurt, was the epitome of a loving father.
That peaceful scene relieved Sepia, who had been frozen.
Erhi, who had reconciled in the meantime, pointed to a nearby tree.
“Dad, there’s a red fruit over there. Look at Mommy!”
“Yes. Where? Show Mommy too.”
Soon, Sepia regained her smile and approached Erhi.
A gentle breeze swayed in the sun-filled garden. A precious moment that should never change. Sepia decided to put her dizzy head aside for a moment.
The night after dinner.
The children were staying in the Empress’s Palace.
“Good night.”
The children began to use separate rooms when they were around three years old.
Sepia, who entered Drohan’s room first, kissed the child’s forehead.
“Good night, mother.”
Perhaps because he had been fighting with Erhi all day, including falling into the lake, Drohan’s eyes looked sleepy.
However, seeing her son, who had not lost his adultness, made her laugh for no reason.
“I always love you. Have a good dream.”
Sepia whispered in her child’s ear the words that were not enough, even if she said them every day and turned off the light.
Even though she had not yet fully exited the room, his breathing could be heard from behind her.
The next place to go was Erhi’s room.
When she opened the door, a pale, pastel pink room came into view.
“Mom!”
Unlike Drohan, who quickly fell asleep, Erhi was waiting for Sepia with the lights on.
Seeing her daughter, who was as lively as during the day, Sepia couldn’t help but smile.
She turned off all the lights except for one and approached the bed.
“Can’t you sleep?”
“Uh, a little bit. And I remembered something I heard from Mom earlier!”
“What did you hear from me?”
When Sepia tilted her head, Erhi said with sparkling eyes.
“Nanny Remody said that there might be an exchange festival this time. Then Mom’s Mom might come!”
Rumors of a possible exchange event had spread throughout the palace to the point where everyone knew about it.
So it wouldn’t have been surprising if it had reached the child’s ears.
The relationship between the Empress and her family was unknown.
So it wasn’t Madame Remody’s fault either.
It was more likely that she had intentionally brought it up to distract the child, who kept whining.
“My daughter, are you curious about your grandmother?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m curious. Your mother is coming. It’s so cool!”
Erhi clenched her small fists in excitement.
While she loved her daughter, Sepia had to carefully choose the words she could say from the ones that were on her lips.
“It’s not set in stone yet. And you should go to bed now. It’s already late at night.”
“Hmph, I’m not sleepy.”
Erhi buried his face in the pillow and started to move her feet.
“Then should I read you a book until you get sleepy?”
“Yeah, fine! Please read this to me today.”
As if she had been waiting for those words, Erhi quickly took out the storybook she had hidden under her pillow and showed it to Sepia.
Sepia burst out laughing at her hidden behavior.
The child’s interest quickly shifted to something else.
Sepia took the storybook with cute sheep, birds, and turtles and read it carefully.
“Once upon a time...”
A beautiful voice flowed through the pink room with soft lights.
Erhi’s eyes, which had been straining their ears as if they would stay up all night, kept closing.
Before Sepia could even turn halfway through the storybook, she heard even breathing.
The child was asleep.
Sepia closed the storybook and looked down at her sleeping daughter with complicated eyes.
“There are still many things in the world that Erhi doesn’t need to know.”
For example, the fact that there are families that are worse off than others.
In reality, the Duchess did not commit any physical violence against Sepia.
She used her as a shield and left all authority over her daughter to the Empress of Huron.
However, neglect was also abuse.
However, she did not want to tell that to the child who was excited that her mother's mother might come.
Sepia quietly got up from her seat and turned off the remaining light.
When she closed the door and went out, a quiet hallway appeared.
Why did she feel so alone at this moment?
Everyone has roots that are necessary for growth in their childhood.
However, Sepia's roots had melted and fallen repeatedly in the distant past, and were almost half-dead.
Even so, the fact that she was still alive must mean that she had grown by giving herself new flesh instead of roots.
The empty steps had already arrived in front of the bedroom.
Before opening the door, Sepia discovered a light leaking out from a small gap.
When she finally opened the door, Roxanne was seen under the small light.
"Are you here?"
He got up from his seat after finding Sepia.
There were wine and glasses on the table next to the Emperor.
Sepia walked forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave him a short kiss.
“Thank you. I just wanted to drink.”
A glass of good red wine would help her sleep well.
Roxanne filled her empty glass as they sat across the table.
Seeing the sloshing red liquid, her mind was once again at peace.
Sepia sipped the wine as if ignoring her feelings.
The sweetness and pleasant acidity on her tongue made her focus solely on her taste for a moment.
“It tastes good.”
“It was presented to me this time. I told them to prepare it because I thought it would taste like the Empress.”
Those words seemed to clear her complicated mind.
In fact, it was the same earlier this afternoon.
The Emperor, seeing her confusion, deliberately diverted Erhi’s interest in a different direction.
Her complete ally.
Although he had grown up in an unfortunate past and family, he now had a respectable husband and a precious family.
It was the result of her long-held desires, efforts, and love.
Sepia poured out her feelings as she put down her glass.
“I thought it would be good to show Erhi before she had a chance to choose, but I’m still not sure.”
“Isn’t the child still very young?”
“I know that. But...”
She was surprisingly not homesick.
But her daughter didn’t know. She might be too young to feel lonely now, but one day, she might miss the very existence of people.
She wondered if she was worrying too much about the distant future, but amidst the immediate worries, this was an inevitable conflict.
Sepia, who had filled Roxanne’s glass, quickly put down the bottle and said,
“I will hold an exchange.”
However, this decision was not because of Erhi.
In order to minimize the conflict between the empires that might arise, it was most important to find out the inside story of the Huron Empire.
Sepia’s gaze deepened. It was the gaze of an Empress, not a woman.
“The two empires are not equal in size, but they are too large. If even the smallest problem occurs, it will immediately lead to war. I will make this exchange a safety net for the future.”
Whether necessary or not, war brings blood and tears.
Sepia was considering even the worst option.
Finally, the Emperor gave permission.
“As the Emperor, I will approve the exchange.”
The two glasses clashed.
As she drank the remaining liquid in her glass, she finally realized that she had made a decision.
“Thank you for trusting me.”
“Thank you for making the decision.”
Sepia opened her eyes wide at his words and smiled.
Her anxiety was based on the past.
But even in that past, Roxanne was by Sepia’s side.
Sepia got up from her seat and stood in front of him. Then she kissed his straight forehead and along the bridge of his nose.
“I love you.”
For believing in her and for being by her side.
Words that could not be expressed in words lingered in her mouth.
As if he knew it, he hugged Sepia’s waist and sat her on his lap before kissing her.
The scent of wine and a sweet kiss.
To open the back of that sweet and hot night, she needed the courage to face a face she had forgotten.
Sepia smiled at her daughter's innocent reaction and patted her small head.
Then she asked back. To observe Erhi's reaction carefully.
"Because she and Erhi are the same species?"
"Um, no?"
However, this answer was unexpected for Sepia.
The hand stroking her head stopped for a moment.
At that moment, Sepia and Roxanne exchanged glances, but Erhi did not notice.
“I’ve met deer, wolves, and cuckoos, but this is the first time I’ve met a human being besides my mom! I think it’ll be really amazing.”
Sepia was silent for a moment.
For Erhi, the distinction between species was not a binary distinction like black and white, but rather a more detailed structure, so this answer was also unexpected.
“And. Everyone has a mom and a dad, right? Then my mom would have a mom and a dad, too. I think you’ll miss them. A lot.”
The affectionate, innocent, and therefore lovable words of consideration were clearly harmless.
Nevertheless, Sepia couldn’t respond naturally.
“Mom?”
When Sepia didn’t answer, Erhi tilted her head and called her.
Then, Roxanne, who had been carrying Drohan on his neck all this time, suddenly picked Erhi up in that state.
"Erhi is smart. As expected, you're my daughter.”
“Huh? That’s right. I’m kind, smart, and pretty!”
Erhi, who had blinked at the incomprehensible compliment, immediately smiled in agreement.
“But Dad, if you carry both me and Drohan, isn’t it heavy?”
Instead of the innocent questioner, Drohan scolded him.
“Of course. Drohan is a god.”
Erhi narrowed his eyes and bit Drohan’s ankle, perhaps not liking the answer.
Drohan, who had just bitten his flesh, cried out in disgust.
“It hurts! Are you an animal?!”
“I’m a human? You’re the wolf!”
Once again, the children began to meow on Roxanne’s body.
“Enough. How long have we been reconciled?”
The Emperor’s appearance, warning his children not to get hurt, was the epitome of a loving father.
That peaceful scene relieved Sepia, who had been frozen.
Erhi, who had reconciled in the meantime, pointed to a nearby tree.
“Dad, there’s a red fruit over there. Look at Mommy!”
“Yes. Where? Show Mommy too.”
Soon, Sepia regained her smile and approached Erhi.
A gentle breeze swayed in the sun-filled garden. A precious moment that should never change. Sepia decided to put her dizzy head aside for a moment.
The night after dinner.
The children were staying in the Empress’s Palace.
“Good night.”
The children began to use separate rooms when they were around three years old.
Sepia, who entered Drohan’s room first, kissed the child’s forehead.
“Good night, mother.”
Perhaps because he had been fighting with Erhi all day, including falling into the lake, Drohan’s eyes looked sleepy.
However, seeing her son, who had not lost his adultness, made her laugh for no reason.
“I always love you. Have a good dream.”
Sepia whispered in her child’s ear the words that were not enough, even if she said them every day and turned off the light.
Even though she had not yet fully exited the room, his breathing could be heard from behind her.
The next place to go was Erhi’s room.
When she opened the door, a pale, pastel pink room came into view.
“Mom!”
Unlike Drohan, who quickly fell asleep, Erhi was waiting for Sepia with the lights on.
Seeing her daughter, who was as lively as during the day, Sepia couldn’t help but smile.
She turned off all the lights except for one and approached the bed.
“Can’t you sleep?”
“Uh, a little bit. And I remembered something I heard from Mom earlier!”
“What did you hear from me?”
When Sepia tilted her head, Erhi said with sparkling eyes.
“Nanny Remody said that there might be an exchange festival this time. Then Mom’s Mom might come!”
Rumors of a possible exchange event had spread throughout the palace to the point where everyone knew about it.
So it wouldn’t have been surprising if it had reached the child’s ears.
The relationship between the Empress and her family was unknown.
So it wasn’t Madame Remody’s fault either.
It was more likely that she had intentionally brought it up to distract the child, who kept whining.
“My daughter, are you curious about your grandmother?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m curious. Your mother is coming. It’s so cool!”
Erhi clenched her small fists in excitement.
While she loved her daughter, Sepia had to carefully choose the words she could say from the ones that were on her lips.
“It’s not set in stone yet. And you should go to bed now. It’s already late at night.”
“Hmph, I’m not sleepy.”
Erhi buried his face in the pillow and started to move her feet.
“Then should I read you a book until you get sleepy?”
“Yeah, fine! Please read this to me today.”
As if she had been waiting for those words, Erhi quickly took out the storybook she had hidden under her pillow and showed it to Sepia.
Sepia burst out laughing at her hidden behavior.
The child’s interest quickly shifted to something else.
Sepia took the storybook with cute sheep, birds, and turtles and read it carefully.
“Once upon a time...”
A beautiful voice flowed through the pink room with soft lights.
Erhi’s eyes, which had been straining their ears as if they would stay up all night, kept closing.
Before Sepia could even turn halfway through the storybook, she heard even breathing.
The child was asleep.
Sepia closed the storybook and looked down at her sleeping daughter with complicated eyes.
“There are still many things in the world that Erhi doesn’t need to know.”
For example, the fact that there are families that are worse off than others.
In reality, the Duchess did not commit any physical violence against Sepia.
She used her as a shield and left all authority over her daughter to the Empress of Huron.
However, neglect was also abuse.
However, she did not want to tell that to the child who was excited that her mother's mother might come.
Sepia quietly got up from her seat and turned off the remaining light.
When she closed the door and went out, a quiet hallway appeared.
Why did she feel so alone at this moment?
Everyone has roots that are necessary for growth in their childhood.
However, Sepia's roots had melted and fallen repeatedly in the distant past, and were almost half-dead.
Even so, the fact that she was still alive must mean that she had grown by giving herself new flesh instead of roots.
The empty steps had already arrived in front of the bedroom.
Before opening the door, Sepia discovered a light leaking out from a small gap.
When she finally opened the door, Roxanne was seen under the small light.
"Are you here?"
He got up from his seat after finding Sepia.
There were wine and glasses on the table next to the Emperor.
Sepia walked forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave him a short kiss.
“Thank you. I just wanted to drink.”
A glass of good red wine would help her sleep well.
Roxanne filled her empty glass as they sat across the table.
Seeing the sloshing red liquid, her mind was once again at peace.
Sepia sipped the wine as if ignoring her feelings.
The sweetness and pleasant acidity on her tongue made her focus solely on her taste for a moment.
“It tastes good.”
“It was presented to me this time. I told them to prepare it because I thought it would taste like the Empress.”
Those words seemed to clear her complicated mind.
In fact, it was the same earlier this afternoon.
The Emperor, seeing her confusion, deliberately diverted Erhi’s interest in a different direction.
Her complete ally.
Although he had grown up in an unfortunate past and family, he now had a respectable husband and a precious family.
It was the result of her long-held desires, efforts, and love.
Sepia poured out her feelings as she put down her glass.
“I thought it would be good to show Erhi before she had a chance to choose, but I’m still not sure.”
“Isn’t the child still very young?”
“I know that. But...”
She was surprisingly not homesick.
But her daughter didn’t know. She might be too young to feel lonely now, but one day, she might miss the very existence of people.
She wondered if she was worrying too much about the distant future, but amidst the immediate worries, this was an inevitable conflict.
Sepia, who had filled Roxanne’s glass, quickly put down the bottle and said,
“I will hold an exchange.”
However, this decision was not because of Erhi.
In order to minimize the conflict between the empires that might arise, it was most important to find out the inside story of the Huron Empire.
Sepia’s gaze deepened. It was the gaze of an Empress, not a woman.
“The two empires are not equal in size, but they are too large. If even the smallest problem occurs, it will immediately lead to war. I will make this exchange a safety net for the future.”
Whether necessary or not, war brings blood and tears.
Sepia was considering even the worst option.
Finally, the Emperor gave permission.
“As the Emperor, I will approve the exchange.”
The two glasses clashed.
As she drank the remaining liquid in her glass, she finally realized that she had made a decision.
“Thank you for trusting me.”
“Thank you for making the decision.”
Sepia opened her eyes wide at his words and smiled.
Her anxiety was based on the past.
But even in that past, Roxanne was by Sepia’s side.
Sepia got up from her seat and stood in front of him. Then she kissed his straight forehead and along the bridge of his nose.
“I love you.”
For believing in her and for being by her side.
Words that could not be expressed in words lingered in her mouth.
As if he knew it, he hugged Sepia’s waist and sat her on his lap before kissing her.
The scent of wine and a sweet kiss.
To open the back of that sweet and hot night, she needed the courage to face a face she had forgotten.
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