<The Final Chapter>
Diara walked along the flower-blooming waterside. The warm midday sun shone overhead, and her pure white feet leaped high, almost as if about to fly, and each time they landed, the clear water made a splashing sound.
She knew this place.
The place where Rahikan had taken her. It was the first oasis she had ever seen since birth. The day she wrapped herself in his cloak and was washed by his hands. The day she lay back against his strong arms and received him.
The golden sand, as soft as gold dust, rippled beneath the azure water. Even that was exactly the same as that day, with only one thing different: the flowers in full bloom, as if embroidering the water's edge. Flowers. Flowers.
Among the tens of thousands of flowers, there was one as red as her hair. The swaying petals brought a smile to Diara's lips.
She must take that flower to Rahikan. She must pluck the head of its lovely flower and gently place it in his palm. He will accept it with a smile.
But for some reason, Diara couldn't raise his hands. Not only his hands, but the soles of his feet were stuck to the floor, as if nailed to the floor, refusing to leave. The sound of the wind and the water stopped. And soon, darkness fell upon the surroundings.
Finally, a sharp, iron feeling pressed against her lower back. She knew where she was.
Diara hurriedly lowered her eyelids, which were about to flutter open without her realizing it. A faint light shone through the thin lids covering her cornea, but she still couldn't understand what was happening.
Even in old coffins, there were times when light would seep through the cracks like this.
In the silence that weighed on her chest, she held her breath as if she were dead.
Where am I? Is this a coffin? Is this Feldif?
...Where is he, Rahikan?
While she lay still, the desire to jump up and check on her surroundings and the desire to pretend not to know forever fought loudly.
In the silence that felt like eternity, she listened. She could hear the inaudible chirping of birds, so close she could almost hear them. A light breeze brushed her nose. The warm, soft scent of sand. This was the scent of Cardion.
Diara finally opened her eyes and slowly exhaled the air she had been holding inside her body, like a silkworm spinning out a thin thread.
The place where she lay wasn't an oasis, an iron coffin, or even the sand prison of Cardion she'd only heard of. In the brightly lit bedroom, as if it were midday, Rahikan leaned against the window, his figure catching sight.
The man's profile, his gaze fixed on the window, was serene. His eyes half-closed, seemingly sniffing the sunlight, he resembled a relaxed beast after a long hunt, or a cat leisurely basking in the sun.
The blowing wind ruffled his black hair. As Diara stared blankly at it, Rahikan's head turned as if sensing her gaze.
As if he didn't know she was awake, his eyes opened slightly wide and narrowed, revealing a languid smile.
“Has the rain stopped?”
"Yes."
The truth was obvious, even without asking. A dazzling white beam of sunlight was slicing across Rahikan's shoulders. Long, sparkling rays illuminated half of his face, causing him to frown slightly, as one might do when blinded by light.
"Yes," he replied. Rahikan continued, "The weather is very nice." As he approached, Diara's gaze sank lower and lower.
Diara crouched down, covering her exposed chest with the blanket. "Did you sleep well?" he asked, his hand brushing her forehead, a faint scent of blood wafting from it.
“You slept for three days.”
Her head tilted beneath the palm of his hand, as if trying to gauge his fever. His gaze lowered, peering intently into her eyes.
The man's hand, his fever gone, told her that the rain had truly stopped, and thus his suffering had ceased. "Thank goodness," Diara thought sincerely.
“Rahikan...”
"Hmm."
“Are you going to send me away now?”
"Are you going to abandon me?" She couldn't bring herself to ask. She couldn't. The words she swallowed with a bang, chilling her throat like a hot stone.
The sound of it came from far away as soon as she opened her eyes. The sinking voice was cold.
“...”
Diara's mouth snapped shut like a child being scolded. Her head, which had turned, was drawn towards him. As she stubbornly kept her eyes down, this time her chin lifted. Their eyes met at close range.
The pupils, once pitch-black, had narrowed again, returning to their original golden hue. Contrary to the cold tone of voice, the eyes, almost believably affectionate, made her heart flutter.
Should I plead, "I was wrong?" Rubbing my cheek against his hand and begging, he'd always listened. Just this one last time, please let me stay by your side. Even if I'm imprisoned and punished for the rest of my life, please just let me stay by your side. As Diara pondered this pointlessly, tears began to trickle down her face.
“If I tell you why I’m crying, will you listen?”
“Of course not.”
Rahikan frowned and laughed, as if he couldn't believe it. Then, with a yelp, her waist was pulled back. She collapsed back onto the bed.
“Are you trying to run away with my child?”
“...A child?”
“Yes, my child. Our child is in this belly.”
He spoke with emphasis on each word, as if trying to prevent anyone from even making excuses for mishearing.
As he looked down into those wavering, turquoise eyes, the unhealed back of his neck began to throb again. They said it would take at least several months for the venom that had poured in like a flood to completely drain away.
Had it not been for those shining eyes, he would have died instantly without even a groan. After everything was sorted out, the doctor, summoned, spoke with a fearful expression, as if he were dealing with a monster. It was truly fortunate that even a venomous snake bite could be treated as nothing more than a minor wound.
And there was another piece of good news. This time, it wasn't from him, but from the female doctor who examined Diara.
Not only was she exposed to the cold rain and put in an ice bucket, but she was also held in his arms all night, so her health was probably not in good shape. The doctor called in to prepare medicine couldn't hide her face from the excitement as soon as she felt Diara's pulse.
He cut his fingertip to confirm. The blood that fell into the bowl of cloudy liquid dissolved into a faint light before solidifying.
"Your Majesty, she are pregnant. We congratulate you." Led by the prostrate doctor, the maids and servants standing outside the door all shouted in unison. "We congratulate you, Your Majesty."
The seed sown in her belly through the crack in the instantly torn shackles took firm root that night. It was the first imperial celebration in decades. The entire capital, from the palace itself, was turned upside down. The palace, which had been bloody after days of extensive purges, was instantly transformed into a celebratory atmosphere. His enemies, dragged away in chains, trembled with despair at the news of the Princess's pregnancy.
And Rahikan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. What had he been so desperate to return so quickly? Because of this, his plans for a thousand days of leisurely, lustful bonding had been ruined in a spectacular way.
Anyway, he was impatient. Whether she knew how sorry he was or not, the woman started talking nonsense the moment she saw him.
“I told you I'd give you a child.”
Diara walked along the flower-blooming waterside. The warm midday sun shone overhead, and her pure white feet leaped high, almost as if about to fly, and each time they landed, the clear water made a splashing sound.
She knew this place.
The place where Rahikan had taken her. It was the first oasis she had ever seen since birth. The day she wrapped herself in his cloak and was washed by his hands. The day she lay back against his strong arms and received him.
The golden sand, as soft as gold dust, rippled beneath the azure water. Even that was exactly the same as that day, with only one thing different: the flowers in full bloom, as if embroidering the water's edge. Flowers. Flowers.
Among the tens of thousands of flowers, there was one as red as her hair. The swaying petals brought a smile to Diara's lips.
She must take that flower to Rahikan. She must pluck the head of its lovely flower and gently place it in his palm. He will accept it with a smile.
But for some reason, Diara couldn't raise his hands. Not only his hands, but the soles of his feet were stuck to the floor, as if nailed to the floor, refusing to leave. The sound of the wind and the water stopped. And soon, darkness fell upon the surroundings.
Finally, a sharp, iron feeling pressed against her lower back. She knew where she was.
Diara hurriedly lowered her eyelids, which were about to flutter open without her realizing it. A faint light shone through the thin lids covering her cornea, but she still couldn't understand what was happening.
Even in old coffins, there were times when light would seep through the cracks like this.
In the silence that weighed on her chest, she held her breath as if she were dead.
Where am I? Is this a coffin? Is this Feldif?
...Where is he, Rahikan?
While she lay still, the desire to jump up and check on her surroundings and the desire to pretend not to know forever fought loudly.
In the silence that felt like eternity, she listened. She could hear the inaudible chirping of birds, so close she could almost hear them. A light breeze brushed her nose. The warm, soft scent of sand. This was the scent of Cardion.
Diara finally opened her eyes and slowly exhaled the air she had been holding inside her body, like a silkworm spinning out a thin thread.
The place where she lay wasn't an oasis, an iron coffin, or even the sand prison of Cardion she'd only heard of. In the brightly lit bedroom, as if it were midday, Rahikan leaned against the window, his figure catching sight.
The man's profile, his gaze fixed on the window, was serene. His eyes half-closed, seemingly sniffing the sunlight, he resembled a relaxed beast after a long hunt, or a cat leisurely basking in the sun.
The blowing wind ruffled his black hair. As Diara stared blankly at it, Rahikan's head turned as if sensing her gaze.
As if he didn't know she was awake, his eyes opened slightly wide and narrowed, revealing a languid smile.
“Has the rain stopped?”
"Yes."
The truth was obvious, even without asking. A dazzling white beam of sunlight was slicing across Rahikan's shoulders. Long, sparkling rays illuminated half of his face, causing him to frown slightly, as one might do when blinded by light.
"Yes," he replied. Rahikan continued, "The weather is very nice." As he approached, Diara's gaze sank lower and lower.
Diara crouched down, covering her exposed chest with the blanket. "Did you sleep well?" he asked, his hand brushing her forehead, a faint scent of blood wafting from it.
“You slept for three days.”
Her head tilted beneath the palm of his hand, as if trying to gauge his fever. His gaze lowered, peering intently into her eyes.
The man's hand, his fever gone, told her that the rain had truly stopped, and thus his suffering had ceased. "Thank goodness," Diara thought sincerely.
“Rahikan...”
"Hmm."
“Are you going to send me away now?”
"Are you going to abandon me?" She couldn't bring herself to ask. She couldn't. The words she swallowed with a bang, chilling her throat like a hot stone.
“Far away.”
"When you barged in uninvited, you didn't care, but now you want me to send you away."
"Why are you crying? I'm the one who wants to cry right now."
The pupils, once pitch-black, had narrowed again, returning to their original golden hue. Contrary to the cold tone of voice, the eyes, almost believably affectionate, made her heart flutter.
Should I plead, "I was wrong?" Rubbing my cheek against his hand and begging, he'd always listened. Just this one last time, please let me stay by your side. Even if I'm imprisoned and punished for the rest of my life, please just let me stay by your side. As Diara pondered this pointlessly, tears began to trickle down her face.
“If I tell you why I’m crying, will you listen?”
“Of course not.”
Rahikan frowned and laughed, as if he couldn't believe it. Then, with a yelp, her waist was pulled back. She collapsed back onto the bed.
Far away? What? A growling laugh covers her mouth.
“...A child?”
“Yes, my child. Our child is in this belly.”
He spoke with emphasis on each word, as if trying to prevent anyone from even making excuses for mishearing.
As he looked down into those wavering, turquoise eyes, the unhealed back of his neck began to throb again. They said it would take at least several months for the venom that had poured in like a flood to completely drain away.
Had it not been for those shining eyes, he would have died instantly without even a groan. After everything was sorted out, the doctor, summoned, spoke with a fearful expression, as if he were dealing with a monster. It was truly fortunate that even a venomous snake bite could be treated as nothing more than a minor wound.
And there was another piece of good news. This time, it wasn't from him, but from the female doctor who examined Diara.
Not only was she exposed to the cold rain and put in an ice bucket, but she was also held in his arms all night, so her health was probably not in good shape. The doctor called in to prepare medicine couldn't hide her face from the excitement as soon as she felt Diara's pulse.
He cut his fingertip to confirm. The blood that fell into the bowl of cloudy liquid dissolved into a faint light before solidifying.
"Your Majesty, she are pregnant. We congratulate you." Led by the prostrate doctor, the maids and servants standing outside the door all shouted in unison. "We congratulate you, Your Majesty."
The seed sown in her belly through the crack in the instantly torn shackles took firm root that night. It was the first imperial celebration in decades. The entire capital, from the palace itself, was turned upside down. The palace, which had been bloody after days of extensive purges, was instantly transformed into a celebratory atmosphere. His enemies, dragged away in chains, trembled with despair at the news of the Princess's pregnancy.
And Rahikan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. What had he been so desperate to return so quickly? Because of this, his plans for a thousand days of leisurely, lustful bonding had been ruined in a spectacular way.
Anyway, he was impatient. Whether she knew how sorry he was or not, the woman started talking nonsense the moment she saw him.
“I told you I'd give you a child.”
She said she gave him a family. Has he forgotten already? A low voice pressed down on my warm lower abdomen as it questioned me.
"Forgiveness?"
Rahikan asked, his expression as if he'd heard something so peculiar. His eyebrows rose as if to ask, "What did you do wrong?" Could it be that you'd forgotten? Surely not.
“You know. Because of me... Your Majesty...”
“It’s not because of you. It’s because of what I gave you.”
“But if I... if I hadn’t asked so unreasonably...”
“Nonsense.”
“...”
“Do you think I wouldn’t have taken that much risk by putting a poisonous snake in my hand?”
Had she given him a flower instead of a snake, his enemies might have planted poisonous thorns in it. Or buried a scorpion in the wine cup she poured for him. Or perhaps they would have set fire to the palace and claimed that her red hair resembled a blazing flame.
Therefore, it was not worth looking back on. If she had any fault, it was simply that she had caught the eye of a man who had many enemies from birth.
"The only time you should ask for forgiveness is when you need an excuse to kiss me. Don't you know that yet?"
Was she oblivious? Or was she knowing but feigning ignorance? Confusion surged through the woman's eyes, watery as she sighed.
“I don’t understand.”
The voice she spoke in was small and muffled.
“So you’re saying you won’t hate me no matter what I do?”
Even if something like this happens again.
“How can you do that?”
She kept crying like an idiot.
Fear burned within her, not knowing what he was thinking. Even a generous god wouldn't do this. She thought she knew him to some extent, but it occurred to her that maybe not. For the first time, she felt like she didn't know him.
Why on earth is Rahikan acting like this? How could he do this? How could he forgive her so easily when he almost died because of her?
This wasn't the love she knew. Love wasn't easily forgiven. It was hated. It was ultimately withered and abandoned. But if it wasn't love, she didn't know what else to call it.
"Well."
Her eyelids, fluttering open like a child's, pushed away tears. Rahikan quietly looked down at the woman who asked how he came to love her.
It wasn't a difficult question. He was just unsure what to say to convince her.
It was like asking someone who had wandered the desert their entire life to describe the feeling they had when they first encountered an oasis. He was dying of thirst, and there she was. Within his reach, incredibly simple, was what he had been searching for his entire life.
It was something he longed for without even knowing what it was. The days of wandering without even knowing such a thing existed are long gone.
“I looked up, and you were there. That’s why it happened.”
“That’s weird.”
Rahikan laughed at Diara's protest. Her voice, as if she'd just realized the obvious, was innocent and loving.
“Yeah, that’s crazy.”
The man's tilted mouth overlapped the sobbing woman's mouth.
“And unfortunately, you got caught by a crazy man.”
So, there was nothing she could do. The sun was shining on the smiling man's cheek. A soft breeze wafted through the window, carrying the scent of an unknown flower. Only then did it dawn on her that the rain had truly stopped.
It was spring in the desert. Her lips, once tightly shut, parted slightly. Diara breathed, like a flower just beginning to bud.
Comments
Post a Comment