Side story episode 7
The inexplicable emotional exchange continued for a while, and after a while, Silian ran towards me with a big smile and hugged me.
I tried to pick Silian up with a bewildered expression, but he trembled and fled from my embrace. Just as I was about to express my disappointment, Silian spoke in a bright voice.
“There is a baby in your stomach, so I shouldn’t make it difficult for my mother!”
"What...?"
"This pretty fairy said, 'There's a very, very small baby inside Mommy's belly. She can see it.'"
My fingertips trembled. I had been anxiously waiting to have another child since giving birth to Silian. It was for Julian's happiness, for Silian's happiness, but also for my own.
And now, seven years later, the story is that our second baby has finally arrived.
Julian wrapped his arms around my shoulders. Unlike my first pregnancy, when I was too scared to rejoice, at this moment, I was filled with nothing but happiness.
A family of four sat at a large table covered in a white cloth. Silian had turned fifteen a few months ago, and the academy's summer break had recently begun.
Although Silian's grades at the academy were so good that he practically didn't need to attend, he decided to graduate from it step by step, like any other student his age. This was to fulfill my wish to have the opportunity to socialize with peers before entering the Magic Tower.
At first, I was worried that my personal greed might be hindering Silian's passion for learning, but fortunately, Silian was making many friends and enjoying his time at the academy.
And sitting next to Silian was a girl with raven-black hair, just like Julian. She dipped a forkful of meat into the sauce.
"Elena, you should dip your fingers in the sauce. It's not good for your health."
Even though I spoke as if I were trying to persuade her, Elena quickly stuffed the meat into her mouth and smiled with satisfaction. Elena looked at me, her lips coated in steak sauce. Her emerald eyes, resembling mine, sparkled lovingly.
When I looked at Elena, I thought for the first time that my eyes were beautiful. My heart swelled as I thought that Julian felt this way every time he looked at me.
While I was overcome by Elena's loveliness, the child smiled brightly and quietly put down the fork.
“Mom, Dad! It’s my birthday soon.”
“What do you want to receive?”
Julian asked with a gentle smile on his lips. Elena sat down at the table, her eyes wide. Then she spoke in a very serious voice.
“Please give me a box of rare magic stones from the Grand Duchy's mine!”
Startled by those words, I almost dropped the knife I was using to cut meat. A box of rare magic stones was incredibly valuable, but that wasn't what surprised me. It just seemed odd that an eight-year-old child would ask for rare magic stones for her birthday, instead of a dress, a sword, or a toy.
Julian placed his hand on the back of my hand, as if trying to calm me down. Then he turned to Elena and asked her cautiously.
“Why do we need rare magic stones?”
“Mr. Philip!”
Mr. Philip was Elena's tutor.
"Master Philip said rare gems are infinitely valuable. I heard ruby prices recently plummeted. But I don't think that will ever happen to rare gems."
Elena's witty remark made me laugh, but I held it back. I hoped the child wouldn't mistake me for a laughingstock. Even Silian was looking at Elena with a serious expression, so the child gained more confidence and continued speaking.
"So, I'll keep a box and take it out if the Grand Duchy is in danger. I'll sell it to the imperial family and distribute the money to the Grand Duke's servants and the Grand Duchy residents. I'll also build Mom and Dad a nice cabin!"
Elena's words contained no concrete plans. Elena was clearly not a once-in-a-millennium genius like Silian.
However, Elena was curious about everything, and based on that, she created what she wanted to do and spared no effort to make that dream come true.
Above all, Elena was proud of the Duchzan Territory and the honor of the Duchzan Grand Duchy. This was somewhat different from Silian's pure love for Duchzan, as his hometown.
Last year, Ruin lifted Elena into his arms, exchanged a few words, and then burst into a rare, loud laugh. Then he looked at me and smiled.
'I'll have to raise my twins well at home. The Princess is here to support them.'
Elena's behavior became increasingly evident, and recently she even began to press for more tutors. She wanted to enroll in the academy, which admitted only the most honorable and talented students in the empire.
Julian looked at Elena, thought for a moment, and then nodded.
“I’ll give you that as a birthday present this year.”
“Really? You promised!”
"In return, Elena, you must promise your father. You will never waste the rare magic stone and only take it out when absolutely necessary."
“Of course!”
Elena's mouth fell open in excitement, and she burst into laughter. It seemed like a child could be so happy to receive a rare magic stone that she couldn't even use it right away.
Elena rose from her seat in excitement. Then, lifting the hem of her skirt with one hand, she danced around the table in circles.
A girl with Julian's face, but who looked as confident and happy as a child her age, happily kicked her feet beside us. And Silian, now grown into a mature man, gazed at Elena with the same fondness as my husband and I.
I wanted to frame this scene and record it forever. I wanted to remember, even in my next life, Layla Duchzan, living with her loved ones, not Belina Duchzan, crying out for love and not being ignored.
Moonlight hung like a silver curtain on the bedroom terrace. I stood between the curtains, enjoying the night breeze. Leaning against the railing, I hummed a tune as Julian came out onto the terrace and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Your body is cold.”
It was still true that his first words began with worry. I turned slightly and looked into Julian's eyes. His crimson eyes, filled with starlight, looked as beautiful as the Milky Way. I stroked Julian's cheek and smiled softly.
“I am happy now.”
Just having a meal with my family, and standing on the terrace at night with my husband, who still seemed like a lover, I felt a surge of happiness. As if agreeing with my words, Julian hugged me tighter around the waist.
"I couldn't have imagined 15 years ago that I would be this happy now..."
“You will be happier in 15 years.”
Julian spoke with a firm resolve. I could sense his determination to make it happen. I looked at him and asked.
“And 15 years from now?”
“You’ll be happier. You’ll be happier with each passing day.”
I kissed the chin of the lovely man. The moment our eyes met, I asked him subtly.
“Will you make me happy in the next life too?”
“As much as you want.”
Julian said it as if it were obvious. I bit my lower lip and smiled, then placed my hand on Julian's chest. Then I asked again.
“Will you love me in the next life too?”
Julian leaned in close to me, brought his lips close to mine, and whispered.
“I don’t know how not to do that.”
We kissed on the terrace, bathed in moonlight. Our kiss, held tightly as if we would never leave each other, was sweet and poignant.
With my eyes closed, I felt for Julian's hand around my waist. Then I circled his ring finger with my index finger.
At that moment, Julian pulled his lips away from mine and looked at his hand. On the ring finger of his left hand, besides his wedding ring, he wore another ring.
It glowed softly, as if crafted from stars. I opened my palm before Julian and drew a small, round circle with my index finger. Another ring of light was placed on my palm.
Julian didn't ask anything about the ring. He simply took it from my palm and raised my left hand. The moment he placed it on the tip of my ring finger, I asked again.
“Even if I’m not beautiful in my next life, even if I’m much older than you, even if I’m born poor, even if I’m not healthy... Will you still remember me and love me? Even in the next life, and the next life after that?”
It was as if the voice was warning him. It was as if it was telling him, one by one, what would happen the moment I put the ring on. But as soon as I finished my story, Julian smoothly put the ring on.
Then, the two rings on Julian's and my ring fingers began to glow with a brilliant light and then slowly dispersed like dust.
Julian whispered, his forehead pressed against mine.
“I lived this life to love you, but in the next life I will be born to love you.”
I closed my eyes and held his arm. We danced very slowly, hand in hand, on the terrace. We didn't need an orchestra. The sound of the insects alone was enough to create the most romantic dance.
The inexplicable emotional exchange continued for a while, and after a while, Silian ran towards me with a big smile and hugged me.
I tried to pick Silian up with a bewildered expression, but he trembled and fled from my embrace. Just as I was about to express my disappointment, Silian spoke in a bright voice.
“There is a baby in your stomach, so I shouldn’t make it difficult for my mother!”
"What...?"
"This pretty fairy said, 'There's a very, very small baby inside Mommy's belly. She can see it.'"
My fingertips trembled. I had been anxiously waiting to have another child since giving birth to Silian. It was for Julian's happiness, for Silian's happiness, but also for my own.
And now, seven years later, the story is that our second baby has finally arrived.
Julian wrapped his arms around my shoulders. Unlike my first pregnancy, when I was too scared to rejoice, at this moment, I was filled with nothing but happiness.
***
A family of four sat at a large table covered in a white cloth. Silian had turned fifteen a few months ago, and the academy's summer break had recently begun.
Although Silian's grades at the academy were so good that he practically didn't need to attend, he decided to graduate from it step by step, like any other student his age. This was to fulfill my wish to have the opportunity to socialize with peers before entering the Magic Tower.
At first, I was worried that my personal greed might be hindering Silian's passion for learning, but fortunately, Silian was making many friends and enjoying his time at the academy.
And sitting next to Silian was a girl with raven-black hair, just like Julian. She dipped a forkful of meat into the sauce.
"Elena, you should dip your fingers in the sauce. It's not good for your health."
Even though I spoke as if I were trying to persuade her, Elena quickly stuffed the meat into her mouth and smiled with satisfaction. Elena looked at me, her lips coated in steak sauce. Her emerald eyes, resembling mine, sparkled lovingly.
When I looked at Elena, I thought for the first time that my eyes were beautiful. My heart swelled as I thought that Julian felt this way every time he looked at me.
While I was overcome by Elena's loveliness, the child smiled brightly and quietly put down the fork.
“Mom, Dad! It’s my birthday soon.”
“What do you want to receive?”
Julian asked with a gentle smile on his lips. Elena sat down at the table, her eyes wide. Then she spoke in a very serious voice.
“Please give me a box of rare magic stones from the Grand Duchy's mine!”
Startled by those words, I almost dropped the knife I was using to cut meat. A box of rare magic stones was incredibly valuable, but that wasn't what surprised me. It just seemed odd that an eight-year-old child would ask for rare magic stones for her birthday, instead of a dress, a sword, or a toy.
Julian placed his hand on the back of my hand, as if trying to calm me down. Then he turned to Elena and asked her cautiously.
“Why do we need rare magic stones?”
“Mr. Philip!”
Mr. Philip was Elena's tutor.
"Master Philip said rare gems are infinitely valuable. I heard ruby prices recently plummeted. But I don't think that will ever happen to rare gems."
Elena's witty remark made me laugh, but I held it back. I hoped the child wouldn't mistake me for a laughingstock. Even Silian was looking at Elena with a serious expression, so the child gained more confidence and continued speaking.
"So, I'll keep a box and take it out if the Grand Duchy is in danger. I'll sell it to the imperial family and distribute the money to the Grand Duke's servants and the Grand Duchy residents. I'll also build Mom and Dad a nice cabin!"
Elena's words contained no concrete plans. Elena was clearly not a once-in-a-millennium genius like Silian.
However, Elena was curious about everything, and based on that, she created what she wanted to do and spared no effort to make that dream come true.
Above all, Elena was proud of the Duchzan Territory and the honor of the Duchzan Grand Duchy. This was somewhat different from Silian's pure love for Duchzan, as his hometown.
Last year, Ruin lifted Elena into his arms, exchanged a few words, and then burst into a rare, loud laugh. Then he looked at me and smiled.
'I'll have to raise my twins well at home. The Princess is here to support them.'
Elena's behavior became increasingly evident, and recently she even began to press for more tutors. She wanted to enroll in the academy, which admitted only the most honorable and talented students in the empire.
Julian looked at Elena, thought for a moment, and then nodded.
“I’ll give you that as a birthday present this year.”
“Really? You promised!”
"In return, Elena, you must promise your father. You will never waste the rare magic stone and only take it out when absolutely necessary."
“Of course!”
Elena's mouth fell open in excitement, and she burst into laughter. It seemed like a child could be so happy to receive a rare magic stone that she couldn't even use it right away.
Elena rose from her seat in excitement. Then, lifting the hem of her skirt with one hand, she danced around the table in circles.
A girl with Julian's face, but who looked as confident and happy as a child her age, happily kicked her feet beside us. And Silian, now grown into a mature man, gazed at Elena with the same fondness as my husband and I.
I wanted to frame this scene and record it forever. I wanted to remember, even in my next life, Layla Duchzan, living with her loved ones, not Belina Duchzan, crying out for love and not being ignored.
***
Moonlight hung like a silver curtain on the bedroom terrace. I stood between the curtains, enjoying the night breeze. Leaning against the railing, I hummed a tune as Julian came out onto the terrace and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Your body is cold.”
It was still true that his first words began with worry. I turned slightly and looked into Julian's eyes. His crimson eyes, filled with starlight, looked as beautiful as the Milky Way. I stroked Julian's cheek and smiled softly.
“I am happy now.”
Just having a meal with my family, and standing on the terrace at night with my husband, who still seemed like a lover, I felt a surge of happiness. As if agreeing with my words, Julian hugged me tighter around the waist.
"I couldn't have imagined 15 years ago that I would be this happy now..."
“You will be happier in 15 years.”
Julian spoke with a firm resolve. I could sense his determination to make it happen. I looked at him and asked.
“And 15 years from now?”
“You’ll be happier. You’ll be happier with each passing day.”
I kissed the chin of the lovely man. The moment our eyes met, I asked him subtly.
“Will you make me happy in the next life too?”
“As much as you want.”
Julian said it as if it were obvious. I bit my lower lip and smiled, then placed my hand on Julian's chest. Then I asked again.
“Will you love me in the next life too?”
Julian leaned in close to me, brought his lips close to mine, and whispered.
“I don’t know how not to do that.”
We kissed on the terrace, bathed in moonlight. Our kiss, held tightly as if we would never leave each other, was sweet and poignant.
With my eyes closed, I felt for Julian's hand around my waist. Then I circled his ring finger with my index finger.
At that moment, Julian pulled his lips away from mine and looked at his hand. On the ring finger of his left hand, besides his wedding ring, he wore another ring.
It glowed softly, as if crafted from stars. I opened my palm before Julian and drew a small, round circle with my index finger. Another ring of light was placed on my palm.
Julian didn't ask anything about the ring. He simply took it from my palm and raised my left hand. The moment he placed it on the tip of my ring finger, I asked again.
“Even if I’m not beautiful in my next life, even if I’m much older than you, even if I’m born poor, even if I’m not healthy... Will you still remember me and love me? Even in the next life, and the next life after that?”
It was as if the voice was warning him. It was as if it was telling him, one by one, what would happen the moment I put the ring on. But as soon as I finished my story, Julian smoothly put the ring on.
Then, the two rings on Julian's and my ring fingers began to glow with a brilliant light and then slowly dispersed like dust.
Julian whispered, his forehead pressed against mine.
“I lived this life to love you, but in the next life I will be born to love you.”
I closed my eyes and held his arm. We danced very slowly, hand in hand, on the terrace. We didn't need an orchestra. The sound of the insects alone was enough to create the most romantic dance.
"The Monster Duke Has Been Fooled. I'm on a Time Limit" Side Story Complete
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