IYAMD 151
Someone, a brave soul, finally spoke up.
“If the Imperial Family provides support…”
Bang!
Before he could finish, Marsilia slammed the table. The loud noise reverberated through the conference hall, enough to make the more faint-hearted nobles clutch their chests.
“Do you think the Imperial Knights can handle this vast empire on their own?”
Marsilia ground his teeth as he glared at the flinching nobles one by one.
“The Imperial Knights are the property of the Imperial Family. No one here is ignorant of the fact that their very purpose is to protect the royal family and the palace. I led them into the battlefield, not so that you could call upon them whenever it was convenient for you! As ministers who should prioritize the safety of the empire above all else, you don’t even think about preparing for the future and instead try to use the knights, who are sustained by the Imperial treasury, for your own convenience?”
His voice boomed across the grand hall. The emperor, who had been smirking like a toothless tiger just moments ago, now roared with anger, causing everyone to shrink like turtles.
“If there aren’t enough people, then you should be thinking about how to fill that gap! Do you mean to tell me that while I led my knights, risking our lives to exterminate monsters, you lived comfortably in your mansions in the capital without feeling a thing? Do you have no idea why my knights and I shed blood and sweat, desperately striving to protect this empire?”
Lowering his voice, Marsilia ground his teeth and declared,
“From now on, the Imperial Knights will not provide aid to the territories of those who oppose the establishment of the new academy. And that goes for me as well. Protect your lands however you like with your oh-so-noble ways.”
Having said all he needed to, he abruptly stood up.
“This concludes today’s meeting. The establishment of the private academy will proceed by imperial decree, so be aware of that.”
His tone left no room for argument. Then, turning to Jaha, he extended his hand.
“There’s no need to waste any more time arguing with these fools.”
Marsilia had even dropped the formal address, referring to the nobles as “fools” instead. But when he looked at Jaha, his usual smile returned.
“You’ll support me, won’t you?”
Jaha smiled, his eyes curving in amusement. He could see right through Marsilia’s intent—shielding him while hiding the fact that Jaha was the one who had originally proposed the academy.
Jaha took Marsilia’s hand and nodded.
“Of course. I will always support you.”
The two of them walked out of the grand conference hall together. As soon as the doors closed behind them, Marsilia turned to Jaha.
“Was I a little cool today?”
“Hahaha.”
Jaha burst into laughter as they walked through the long corridor. His lips itched to point out how uncool that question was.
After settling the academy issue, Marsilia officially announced Jaha’s pregnancy. By late February, just as the weather was beginning to warm, the capital was filled with a festive atmosphere celebrating the empress’s pregnancy.
Meanwhile, Jaha was fuming—because both Marsilia and Ashton were interfering with his training.
He had merely explained that he wanted to do some light exercises, but the two of them reacted as if the world were ending.
“Have you already forgotten what the palace physician said about being careful?”
“In the early stages of pregnancy, extreme caution is necessary. The late empress refrained from going outside for two whole months when she was carrying His Majesty.”
“See? No training until you reach the stable period, Jaha. This is non-negotiable, even for your sake.”
Jaha scowled at Marsilia, but Marsilia remained firm.
“If something happens to the child, it will harm your body too. Jaha, do you really want to see me crying at your bedside, helpless?”
Marsilia, seemingly distressed just from imagining it, ran his fingers through his neatly combed hair, ruffling it in frustration. Watching him pace around the room anxiously, Jaha sighed internally.
After making such a fuss in front of others, there was no way out of this.
Jaha grudgingly relaxed his pout and nodded.
Only then did Marsilia approach and pull Jaha into an embrace. As he held the man, he exhaled shakily, his voice rough with emotion.
“Just endure it for a month or two. Once you reach the stable period, you’ll be able to do some light exercise.”
“…Alright.”
Jaha could see the guilt in Marsilia’s face as they separated slightly. Marsilia looked at him with sorrowful eyes and gave a soft, regretful smile.
“I’m sorry. I promised to let you do whatever you wanted, but I’ve already broken that promise.”
Jaha, feeling guilty himself, pouted.
“I was being stubborn. I didn’t realize it would upset you this much.”
Mumbling his apology, Jaha lowered his head slightly. Marsilia leaned down, pressing their foreheads together.
“Then we’ve made up, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“If you’re not mad anymore, give me a kiss.”
At Marsilia’s playful coaxing, Jaha finally smiled. Pressing a firm kiss to Marsilia’s cheek, he lingered in his arms.
What was meant to be a brief kiss gradually deepened, and Marsilia’s arms tightened around him. He held Jaha firmly, as if unwilling to let go anytime soon.
…
A month passed, and spring arrived. With the warm weather spreading new sprouts and spring flowers across the land, the empire buzzed once more with news of monsters reawakening.
Thanks to the communication stones circulating primarily among the larger territories, responses were not delayed, but this also meant that Marsilia frequently had to leave the imperial palace.
“The palace physician said I’m in the stable period now.”
“Even so, it’s still a no, Jaha.”
That day, Jaha once again had a dispute with Marsilia, who was about to leave for a week-long monster subjugation. Small-scale raids were occurring here and there, making it inevitable for him to lead the expedition.
Marsilia was breaking into a sweat trying to dissuade Jaha, who insisted on accompanying him.
“Jaha, there’s no danger for me. The monsters are weak, so the subjugation will be quick. It only takes a week because of travel time, but the actual battle will be over in a day.”
There was no way he could put Jaha, who was pregnant, on a horse. Even if he was in the stable period, they couldn’t be at ease until the child was born.
Just the thought of something happening to Jaha or the child made his vision go dark. Why didn’t Jaha understand his fear?
Jaha looked up at Marsilia, his expression full of concern. Avoiding those unwavering eyes, Marsilia let out a deep sigh.
“Looking at me like that won’t change anything.”
“Tch.”
The way Jaha openly pouted, unlike his usual self, made him seem like a sulky youth. Marsilia, who always thought of Jaha as mature and understanding, was reminded once again of his true age in moments like this.
“Promise me you’ll behave while I’m away.”
“Fine.”
It was a curt reply, but it still put Marsilia at ease. He knew Jaha never made empty promises.
Marsilia spread his arms toward Jaha.
“Give me a hug before I go.”
As the man collapsed into his embrace, Marsilia took a deep breath.
“I love you, Jaha.”
“Mm, me too.”
“I’ll be back.”
“If you get hurt, I’ll be mad.”
Marsilia chuckled softly at Jaha’s grumbling before finally letting him go. The expedition was already urgent, but he’d spent a considerable amount of time soothing Jaha, so he had to hurry.
Yet, why did his feet feel so heavy? His trailing cloak felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds.
“Can I at least walk you to the front?”
“Of course.”
Jaha reached out his hand in a silent offer of reconciliation, and Marsilia took it as they descended the stairs together. Both of them walked more slowly than usual, and by the time they reached the middle of the staircase, they exchanged knowing smiles.
“I feel bad leaving you alone when you’re at such a sensitive stage.”
“I’m fine. I just didn’t want to be apart from you.”
Even as he said that, Jaha had been particularly sensitive these days. He would wake up at the slightest movement of the attendants at night and had grown tired of foods he once enjoyed.
According to the palace physician, it wasn’t morning sickness yet, but due to Jaha’s heightened senses, he was already affected.
After a few consultations, the physician had concluded that it was similar to how wild animals became more sensitive when carrying young. His instincts were on edge because he had something fragile to protect.
It seemed that not being able to move freely was only adding to his frustration.
“If you need anything, make sure to tell Ashton or Malek, and don’t overdo your morning exercises.”
As they walked down the remaining stairs, Marsilia kept fussing over him, and Jaha, smiling as usual, muttered in complaint.
“You’re going to be insufferable when you get older. You’re already like this now—I can only imagine how much worse it’ll be.”
Marsilia couldn’t deny it, so he just laughed. Even as time passed, his concern for Jaha would never fade.
At the entrance of the imperial bedchamber, Marsilia turned to face Jaha once more. He should let go of his hand, but it wasn’t easy, so he kissed Jaha’s hands one by one before finally releasing them.
“I’ll be back.”
“Be careful.”
Jaha wrapped his arms around Marsilia and gave him a tight squeeze before letting go.
As Marsilia took three steps toward his waiting horse, Cecilia, he turned back to look at Jaha twice.
Jaha, seeing this, burst into laughter. With a warm smile, as bright as the spring sunlight, his golden eyes curved gently.
As if urging him to hurry, Jaha waved his hand playfully. Yet, seeing that, Marsilia’s heavy feet felt even heavier.
Feeling as though he had weights strapped
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