The whole world is pure white.
Sepia's impression while looking at the snow-covered forest was short and clear.
Haa.
The short breath she exhaled turned into a hazy fog and disappeared from her sight.
Even the slurred breath was beautiful in the winter forest.
Sepia was walking through the pure white world with Roxanne.
Of course, since it was the season, she had not neglected her preparations.
She had meticulously put on waterproof boots, a winter cloak, and even gloves while riding on the saddle.
The white horse carrying the Empress lightly trotted.
Then Roxanne, who was riding a few steps ahead of the white horse, looked back.
"It's not piled up that deep, so it won't be too much. But be careful."
"I understand."
Sepia nodded and attached her horse to his black horse.
The white horse attached its head and rubbed the tip of its nose against the black horse's cheek.
The black horse's personality was fierce, but he was the only one who was kind to his master and his companion, so the black horse answered by blinking his long-lashed eyes.
Three years had passed since the exchange.
In the meantime, the news she had heard from Huron was more than she had expected.
Instead of the imperial power that had been pushed aside, the temple had once again established its power structure.
In this way, a clear generational change was taking place in her home country.
This was also the price that the royal family of Huron had to pay.
"You'll see it in about 30 minutes."
"I'm looking forward to it. A winter villa."
The two began to ride into the winter forest.
Winter was a seasonal rest period and a rest period for the imperial palace.
Since even those who ruled the empire had time to take a nap, the Emperor and Empress left their servants and went on a winter vacation to their villa.
There were many other winter villas besides this one, so the villa itself was nothing special.
It was a forest under the imperial domain, so they couldn’t come far, but the important thing was that the two of them were going to spend their vacation together.
Without any court ladies to help them, or any lovely children.
Sepia looked down at the white horse she was riding.
This pure white horse was so gentle and intelligent that even if she let go of the reins right away, it would guide the Empress to her destination without any worries.
Thanks to this, she could enjoy her husband’s company and the pure white scenery without any worries.
‘It’s quiet.’
Could the world be this quiet?
The sound of horse hooves digging into the snow. The noise of tree branches shaking off the snow as if they couldn’t bear the accumulated weight was all that could be heard.
It had been over ten years since the charity department had settled in the imperial palace.
Now, there were no imperial citizens who worried about winter.
That’s why the pure white world felt especially beautiful, and Sepia looked up at the sky.
“Ah, the snow...”
The clouds covering the cloudy sky dropped one or two snowflakes.
The snow that had stopped at dawn began to fall again.
Sepia received the snowflakes with her palm. The snowflakes falling one by one were quite heavy. The snow-covered clouds, which seemed dissatisfied even though the entire forest was already covered with snow, seemed to be pouring out what they had for a long time.
Roxanne, who had figured out the size of the snowflakes like her, hurried his steps.
“We’re almost there, but we should hurry a little.”
“I don’t know how much it’ll rain this time.”
It might be too much to leave the villa, but it was okay.
“I can see it over there.”
The shape of the building, with its triangular brown roof, was faintly visible between the trees.
After tying the horse in the stable attached to the villa near the mansion, they were ready to go in.
As soon as they opened the door, the warm air melted their frozen cheeks.
“It’s warm.”
The fireplace, which had been lit by firewood, was crackling in the center of the carpet inside.
There was evidence that the palace officials had visited the villa beforehand and stocked it with everything they had.
“Give me your cloak. If you wear it for too long because it gets wet with snow, you’ll catch a cold.”
“Oh, yes.”
When Sepia took off her cloak and handed it to him, he skillfully shook it out and hung it near the fireplace. It was not a maid but Roxanne who was taking care of her clothes.
Seeing the Emperor's hands skillfully arranging it brought back memories he had forgotten.
'Well, I spent a long time on the battlefield.'
That was already a long time ago. He realized anew how much time had passed.
Sepia, who was watching him tidy up his clothes, glanced at him and turned to the teapot.
“Then I’ll make the tea...”
“Your Majesty, don’t do anything. Didn’t we promise in advance that I would do all the chores here?”
The hand that was reaching for the teapot slowly backed away at the rather stern voice.
Half a year ago, after Sepia collapsed from overwork, Roxanne had been putting strict brakes on her health.
This vacation was no different.
Instead of bringing a court lady, he had already threatened to make Sepia unable to move a finger.
Sepia had no choice but to sit on the sofa and wait for the tea he would make.
Although he was the Emperor who was served every day, his tea-making and pouring skills were also excellent.
She carefully wrapped the cup he handed her.
“Thank you.”
The teacup that held the warmth was not as pretty or small as the ones used in the palace.
Rather, it was closer to a large, rough mug.
But holding the changed cup like this, it finally felt like she was on vacation.
The warm scent of the tea brought back memories of the first time he made her tea, and she smiled.
“Why?”
“I just like it.”
In the past, when she recalled the past, all she could think of were painful memories.
But now, when she looked back, only warm and precious moments shone through her mind.
That’s why every moment was precious.
Even now, when she no longer felt like the Empress.
“I don’t know if this is a strange thought, but... it feels like ‘I’ve become ‘me.’”
The villa was completely separated from the outside world.
There were only Roxanne and she here. Maybe that’s why she felt this way.
Before crossing the threshold of the villa, the Empress had been herself, but now she could only face him as ‘me. ’
The Emperor asked Sepia, who had her eyes closed, pleasantly.
“What are you thinking about?”
“The past days.”
“What do you think when you think back?”
Sepia finally opened her eyes and said with shining blue eyes.
“I’m sure that I’m the happiest right now.”
This was the only thing she could be sure of.
The certainty that this moment and every day that followed would be the happiest.
The sound of the campfire burning down shook the silence.
When the glass with her lips on it touched the table, he bent down and kissed her smudged lips.
Sepia looked into his eyes and muttered as if she were possessed.
“It’s strange.”
“What?”
With such an affectionate and ascetic face, with only her eyes sparkling.
...What would he react if she said that?
His arm pulled at her slender waist as if he had a bad thought.
As if he were reading her mind.
“I’ve been wanting to ask you this, do Beastmen have the ability to read minds?”
He often asked Sepia’s opinion, but strangely, he always seemed to know before she could answer.
“There’s no such thing.”
The hand that had been sweeping her collarbone moved up her neck.
That soft, languid hand grabbed Sepia’s chin.
“Just focus on me ”
His thumb brushed his smudged lips. His golden eyes, now clearly male, were holding Sepia.
“You can read it if you look at them like this.”
The hand that was wrapped around her chin was unusually hot.
Sepia realized belatedly that he was not like usual.
“Why...”
“Because I haven’t been able to touch you properly.”
Taking care of state affairs required more than ten bodies.
So the only time their bodies could overlap for a long time was during the period of liberation.
The afterimage of a burning flame was being added to the winter vacation that she had thought would be comfortable.
Thump.
Her eyes, which had been tightly shut, opened at the small but close noise.
She looked around with blurry eyes and saw Roxanne standing on the bed railing.
He was hammering nails into a collapsed pillar with his upper body naked.
“...Roxanne?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought the curtain would fall if I didn’t hammer the nails in.”
“It’s okay.”
When Sepia gave him a look telling him to continue, Roxanne moved his hand again.
“I’ll finish it right away.”
The hand holding the pillar moved without any unnecessary movements.
Sepia admired his appearance while still half-asleep.
'The Emperor Who Fixes Beds.'
The scratch marks she had made with her nails on his chest were clear.
His bare body looked wild, and his expressionless, focused face felt incongruous.
His actions, which seemed incongruous but also suited him, made her smile.
It had already been three days since they had stayed at the villa.
During that time, the only things they had done here were hot.
And furthermore, she had embraced his own wolf. Even if he had been careful about his actions after returning to his main body, such furniture would eventually become disposable.
Sepia couldn't take her eyes off him as he finished the repairs.
Because she was certain that she would love him no matter what he looked like or where he was.
'I love you.'
My companion. And...
Sepia was about to say those words outside.
"...Isn't that right?"
"That's right... I guess."
Sepia and Roxanne's eyes turned to the window at the same time as the whispering voice.
"Oh, get out of the way."
"I told you to stop!"
This time, it was a little clearer.
With a head peeking out the window.
“Erhi, Drohan?”
“It’s Mom!”
The child’s eyes sparkled as they found their target, then disappeared.
Boom!
The sound of someone running around frantically, as if looking for the door, could be heard.
“Princess, Your Highness, the Crown Prince!”
With the belated shout of Madame Remody.
There were three more days left in the vacation.
Sepia, who had seen the children peeking out the window, smiled helplessly. Roxanne washed his face behind her.
“I feel like I have a rival.”
“Maybe it’s not my imagination?”
While Sepia was glaring, Erhi, who had found the door, ran inside.
“Mom!”
“Erhi. How did you get here?”
“I looked at the map!”
The daughter, who had grown a little taller, shouted cheerfully.
She must have enjoyed the exciting adventure that brought her all the way here.
Through the open door, she could see Drohan trembling.
“I tried to stop her, but...”
Drohan mumbled as if making an excuse. Roxanne couldn’t help but laugh at his son’s attitude.
The snow that had been falling for a long time had long since stopped.
“Come here.”
When Sepia opened her arms, Drohan’s expression melted like snow.
The body temperature of the children in her arms was so warm.
Oh, such a warm winter.
Even the eyes of her companion, who was watching her and the children.
All the warmth that reached her was a blessing.
Sepia's impression while looking at the snow-covered forest was short and clear.
Haa.
The short breath she exhaled turned into a hazy fog and disappeared from her sight.
Even the slurred breath was beautiful in the winter forest.
Sepia was walking through the pure white world with Roxanne.
Of course, since it was the season, she had not neglected her preparations.
She had meticulously put on waterproof boots, a winter cloak, and even gloves while riding on the saddle.
The white horse carrying the Empress lightly trotted.
Then Roxanne, who was riding a few steps ahead of the white horse, looked back.
"It's not piled up that deep, so it won't be too much. But be careful."
"I understand."
Sepia nodded and attached her horse to his black horse.
The white horse attached its head and rubbed the tip of its nose against the black horse's cheek.
The black horse's personality was fierce, but he was the only one who was kind to his master and his companion, so the black horse answered by blinking his long-lashed eyes.
Three years had passed since the exchange.
In the meantime, the news she had heard from Huron was more than she had expected.
Instead of the imperial power that had been pushed aside, the temple had once again established its power structure.
In this way, a clear generational change was taking place in her home country.
This was also the price that the royal family of Huron had to pay.
"You'll see it in about 30 minutes."
"I'm looking forward to it. A winter villa."
The two began to ride into the winter forest.
Winter was a seasonal rest period and a rest period for the imperial palace.
Since even those who ruled the empire had time to take a nap, the Emperor and Empress left their servants and went on a winter vacation to their villa.
There were many other winter villas besides this one, so the villa itself was nothing special.
It was a forest under the imperial domain, so they couldn’t come far, but the important thing was that the two of them were going to spend their vacation together.
Without any court ladies to help them, or any lovely children.
Sepia looked down at the white horse she was riding.
This pure white horse was so gentle and intelligent that even if she let go of the reins right away, it would guide the Empress to her destination without any worries.
Thanks to this, she could enjoy her husband’s company and the pure white scenery without any worries.
‘It’s quiet.’
Could the world be this quiet?
The sound of horse hooves digging into the snow. The noise of tree branches shaking off the snow as if they couldn’t bear the accumulated weight was all that could be heard.
It had been over ten years since the charity department had settled in the imperial palace.
Now, there were no imperial citizens who worried about winter.
That’s why the pure white world felt especially beautiful, and Sepia looked up at the sky.
“Ah, the snow...”
The clouds covering the cloudy sky dropped one or two snowflakes.
The snow that had stopped at dawn began to fall again.
Sepia received the snowflakes with her palm. The snowflakes falling one by one were quite heavy. The snow-covered clouds, which seemed dissatisfied even though the entire forest was already covered with snow, seemed to be pouring out what they had for a long time.
Roxanne, who had figured out the size of the snowflakes like her, hurried his steps.
“We’re almost there, but we should hurry a little.”
“I don’t know how much it’ll rain this time.”
It might be too much to leave the villa, but it was okay.
“I can see it over there.”
The shape of the building, with its triangular brown roof, was faintly visible between the trees.
After tying the horse in the stable attached to the villa near the mansion, they were ready to go in.
As soon as they opened the door, the warm air melted their frozen cheeks.
“It’s warm.”
The fireplace, which had been lit by firewood, was crackling in the center of the carpet inside.
There was evidence that the palace officials had visited the villa beforehand and stocked it with everything they had.
“Give me your cloak. If you wear it for too long because it gets wet with snow, you’ll catch a cold.”
“Oh, yes.”
When Sepia took off her cloak and handed it to him, he skillfully shook it out and hung it near the fireplace. It was not a maid but Roxanne who was taking care of her clothes.
Seeing the Emperor's hands skillfully arranging it brought back memories he had forgotten.
'Well, I spent a long time on the battlefield.'
That was already a long time ago. He realized anew how much time had passed.
Sepia, who was watching him tidy up his clothes, glanced at him and turned to the teapot.
“Then I’ll make the tea...”
“Your Majesty, don’t do anything. Didn’t we promise in advance that I would do all the chores here?”
The hand that was reaching for the teapot slowly backed away at the rather stern voice.
Half a year ago, after Sepia collapsed from overwork, Roxanne had been putting strict brakes on her health.
This vacation was no different.
Instead of bringing a court lady, he had already threatened to make Sepia unable to move a finger.
Sepia had no choice but to sit on the sofa and wait for the tea he would make.
Although he was the Emperor who was served every day, his tea-making and pouring skills were also excellent.
She carefully wrapped the cup he handed her.
“Thank you.”
The teacup that held the warmth was not as pretty or small as the ones used in the palace.
Rather, it was closer to a large, rough mug.
But holding the changed cup like this, it finally felt like she was on vacation.
The warm scent of the tea brought back memories of the first time he made her tea, and she smiled.
“Why?”
“I just like it.”
In the past, when she recalled the past, all she could think of were painful memories.
But now, when she looked back, only warm and precious moments shone through her mind.
That’s why every moment was precious.
Even now, when she no longer felt like the Empress.
“I don’t know if this is a strange thought, but... it feels like ‘I’ve become ‘me.’”
The villa was completely separated from the outside world.
There were only Roxanne and she here. Maybe that’s why she felt this way.
Before crossing the threshold of the villa, the Empress had been herself, but now she could only face him as ‘me. ’
The Emperor asked Sepia, who had her eyes closed, pleasantly.
“What are you thinking about?”
“The past days.”
“What do you think when you think back?”
Sepia finally opened her eyes and said with shining blue eyes.
“I’m sure that I’m the happiest right now.”
This was the only thing she could be sure of.
The certainty that this moment and every day that followed would be the happiest.
The sound of the campfire burning down shook the silence.
When the glass with her lips on it touched the table, he bent down and kissed her smudged lips.
Sepia looked into his eyes and muttered as if she were possessed.
“It’s strange.”
“What?”
With such an affectionate and ascetic face, with only her eyes sparkling.
...What would he react if she said that?
His arm pulled at her slender waist as if he had a bad thought.
As if he were reading her mind.
“I’ve been wanting to ask you this, do Beastmen have the ability to read minds?”
He often asked Sepia’s opinion, but strangely, he always seemed to know before she could answer.
“There’s no such thing.”
The hand that had been sweeping her collarbone moved up her neck.
That soft, languid hand grabbed Sepia’s chin.
“Just focus on me ”
His thumb brushed his smudged lips. His golden eyes, now clearly male, were holding Sepia.
“You can read it if you look at them like this.”
The hand that was wrapped around her chin was unusually hot.
Sepia realized belatedly that he was not like usual.
“Why...”
“Because I haven’t been able to touch you properly.”
Taking care of state affairs required more than ten bodies.
So the only time their bodies could overlap for a long time was during the period of liberation.
The afterimage of a burning flame was being added to the winter vacation that she had thought would be comfortable.
***
Thump.
Her eyes, which had been tightly shut, opened at the small but close noise.
She looked around with blurry eyes and saw Roxanne standing on the bed railing.
He was hammering nails into a collapsed pillar with his upper body naked.
“...Roxanne?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought the curtain would fall if I didn’t hammer the nails in.”
“It’s okay.”
When Sepia gave him a look telling him to continue, Roxanne moved his hand again.
“I’ll finish it right away.”
The hand holding the pillar moved without any unnecessary movements.
Sepia admired his appearance while still half-asleep.
'The Emperor Who Fixes Beds.'
The scratch marks she had made with her nails on his chest were clear.
His bare body looked wild, and his expressionless, focused face felt incongruous.
His actions, which seemed incongruous but also suited him, made her smile.
It had already been three days since they had stayed at the villa.
During that time, the only things they had done here were hot.
And furthermore, she had embraced his own wolf. Even if he had been careful about his actions after returning to his main body, such furniture would eventually become disposable.
Sepia couldn't take her eyes off him as he finished the repairs.
Because she was certain that she would love him no matter what he looked like or where he was.
'I love you.'
My companion. And...
Sepia was about to say those words outside.
"...Isn't that right?"
"That's right... I guess."
Sepia and Roxanne's eyes turned to the window at the same time as the whispering voice.
"Oh, get out of the way."
"I told you to stop!"
This time, it was a little clearer.
With a head peeking out the window.
“Erhi, Drohan?”
“It’s Mom!”
The child’s eyes sparkled as they found their target, then disappeared.
Boom!
The sound of someone running around frantically, as if looking for the door, could be heard.
“Princess, Your Highness, the Crown Prince!”
With the belated shout of Madame Remody.
There were three more days left in the vacation.
Sepia, who had seen the children peeking out the window, smiled helplessly. Roxanne washed his face behind her.
“I feel like I have a rival.”
“Maybe it’s not my imagination?”
While Sepia was glaring, Erhi, who had found the door, ran inside.
“Mom!”
“Erhi. How did you get here?”
“I looked at the map!”
The daughter, who had grown a little taller, shouted cheerfully.
She must have enjoyed the exciting adventure that brought her all the way here.
Through the open door, she could see Drohan trembling.
“I tried to stop her, but...”
Drohan mumbled as if making an excuse. Roxanne couldn’t help but laugh at his son’s attitude.
The snow that had been falling for a long time had long since stopped.
“Come here.”
When Sepia opened her arms, Drohan’s expression melted like snow.
The body temperature of the children in her arms was so warm.
Oh, such a warm winter.
Even the eyes of her companion, who was watching her and the children.
All the warmth that reached her was a blessing.
Empress's Beast Selection < END >
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