IYAMD 153
After much contemplation, Jaha decided to choose Gerald as the godfather for the child. He would have to tell him later, since he had not yet returned from the Eastern Continent.
“Why Gerald?”
Marsilia asked with an intrigued expression.
“Because I can never forget that the Eastern Continent is my root. Gerald’s family has ties with the Eastern Continent, and he can speak its language.”
That wasn’t all. Jaha also thought it would be beneficial for the child, whether they became emperor or not, to have a strong connection with the guilds. Gerald, although gentle, was firm when needed and quick-witted, which Jaha believed would be helpful for the child.
As he finished explaining, Jaha gave Marsilia a slight sideways glance and smiled.
“You chose your aide as the godfather, so I’ll do the same.”
Marsilia smiled and nodded.
“I think you’ve made a good choice. Gerald isn’t bad.”
Serez, a representative from the aristocratic Hastings family, was going to be the godfather for one of the children, so having Gerald from the nouveau riche Sonnet family as the godfather for the other was also a reasonable choice.
Listening to Marsilia, Jaha suddenly became curious.
“Why did you choose Serez as your aide?”
“Serez was… how should I put it, different.”
“Different how?”
Marsilia squinted his eyes as he thought back to old memories and answered slowly.
“He was crazy.”
“What do you mean?”
“He was both aristocratic and not aristocratic at the same time. It’s hard to explain, but he wasn’t quite right in the head. He was filled with rebelliousness…”
Marsilia went on to describe the first time he had met Serez at a ball. Back then, Serez had picked a fight with a duke who was now gone, and it left a strong impression on him.
“He’s much more docile now.”
Hmm. Jaha thought for a moment before shaking his head.
“Sometimes, he still doesn’t seem quite right to me.”
The rumors circulating in the palace these days made that clear. The funniest part was that Jaha was starting to believe those rumors were more than just rumors. Serez seemed like the type who would do just that.
While they were chatting, the door to the parlor suddenly swung open. Without a knock, Serez barged in, pointing an accusing finger at Marsilia.
“You said you’d just have a meal and come back!”
The two froze, staring at the man who had burst in. When they saw the bloodshot eyes, they fell silent. Marsilia quietly stood up, kissed Jaha’s cheek, and whispered softly.
“See, I told you he was crazy.”
Jaha laughed brightly and waved them off. Serez, with his tousled hair, finally straightened up and saluted Jaha.
“Well then, I’ll be leaving.”
As strange as he seemed, Jaha thought he and Marsilia made a good pair. If he told Marsilia this, he would probably get angry, but to Jaha, they seemed very much alike.
Gerald returned from the Eastern Continent around mid-April. At that time, Jaha was experiencing light morning sickness, but after drinking some herbal tea that Gerald brought, he felt much better.
Sipping jujube tea with pine nuts to calm his stomach, Jaha finally got to properly face the familiar face.
Gerald had brought a pardon letter from the emperor of the Taeh state for Jaha. While Jaha didn’t think it would be necessary to go back or that it would matter much even if he didn’t need it, Marsilia acted as though the pardon was something crucial.
Gerald had even arranged to send an envoy for a re-investigation of the incident, and on his way back, he had apparently recruited some blacksmiths from the martial world. He explained that they could handle even metals as hard as iron using inner energy, which made Marsilia’s face light up.
After reporting to Marsilia, Gerald bowed deeply to Jaha.
“Congratulations on your pregnancy, Your Majesty.”
Gerald offered his delayed congratulations and awkwardly smiled.
“I’m relieved it’s not an empty-handed gift.”
At his gesture, servants outside brought in a large jar on a wheeled cart, which looked quite heavy.
“Sir Jaha, we’ve brought soil from the Yu family estate by the emperor’s order.”
After the servants struggled to place the jar on the table, Gerald opened the sealed jar. The rich, earthy scent immediately filled the air.
Jaha stared blankly between him and Marsilia before asking.
“Why…?”
“People from the Eastern Continent, and even those from the Western Continent, value their homeland.”
As Gerald finished speaking, Marsilia wrapped his arms around Jaha’s shoulders and whispered.
“I thought you might miss it.”
Jaha looked at him for a moment before rising to his feet. The jar, which reached about his waist, was filled with dark brown soil. It was just ordinary dirt, with no distinctive smell or color, yet for some reason, it made Jaha’s eyes burn.
Looking quietly into the jar, Jaha covered his face with his hands and lowered his head.
“It was gathered from all over the Yu estate. The emperor said he would mix it with the soil where he planted the bipa trees…”
His ears grew muffled as the voice asking whether he should visit the greenhouse grew quieter.
“Jaha.”
The warmth of a man’s body behind him was strongly felt. Jaha couldn’t lift his head and hid his flushed face. He felt warm liquid dripping through his fingers and bit his lips tightly.
“Ha.”
The man sighed and pulled Jaha into his arms, holding him tightly.
“What should I do with you?”
He turned his body, as if hiding Jaha from Gerald, enveloping him while Jaha sobbed silently. Resting his cheek on the top of Jaha’s bowed head, he softly called his name.
“Jaha, please don’t cry.”
The memory of a midsummer night from just a few months ago came to mind. The night when Jaha had cried while beating his chest in anguish. His voice, lowered in apparent helplessness, carried the scent of that night.
Just like that night, Jaha cried in his arms for a long time. It felt as if the sorrow buried deep in his heart would melt away and disappear if he cried enough.
Marsilia quietly held Jaha, keeping him close, and when Jaha eventually cried himself to sleep, he gently tucked him in.
When Jaha woke up, he rubbed his tired eyes and looked at the man lying beside him.
Though he had struggled to control his divine power for a while, he seemed to have returned to normal now. When had that happened? As he thought about it, it seemed to be after he had spoken to Jaha about his experiences with the goddess.
Perhaps it was because he felt a sense of relief. Jaha gently stroked the sleeping man’s cheek, forcing a smile despite his stiff face.
He then quietly reflected on the weight in his heart. Was it lighter now? After shedding his tears, did he feel more at ease? The weight that had once felt heavy in his chest seemed somewhat lighter.
Jaha bent down and kissed Marsilia’s cheek, embracing him as he did.
With an empty heart, he let his body absorb his warmth and scent. Slowly, he began to fill the empty space with Marsilia.
A moment later, warm arms gently wrapped around his back. Marsilia murmured Jaha’s name in a sleepy voice.
“Jaha, did you sleep well?”
“Yeah, and you?”
When Jaha looked up, he saw Marsilia, still drowsy, blinking his eyes in a daze.
“I couldn’t sleep because I was worried about you.”
“You seemed to sleep just fine.”
“I only managed a little nap in the early morning.”
For someone who was still clearly not fully awake, Jaha poked his chest playfully with his fist before lowering his body.
He trapped Marsilia inside his long, flowing hair, leaning in to kiss him.
Finally, the sound of a racing heartbeat echoed in his chest. Was it his own, or Marsilia’s? Or perhaps it was the sound of their hearts beating together. The soft, rhythmic sound was endearing.
…
Jaha’s body quickly grew heavier. Perhaps because he was carrying twins, his belly was swelling like a mountain with each passing day.
His sensitivity also increased, and he became more wary of sudden movements.
Thus, Marsilia made sure that no one could approach Jaha. Sasha and the knights were kept at a distance, and if something was needed, Marsilia would subtly alert Jaha beforehand.
However, Marsilia couldn’t leave him alone, so he conducted official duties from the bedchamber.
While working in the office, Jaha would sit by the window, bathed in warm light, reading picture books in West Continental language or dozing off with a book in his hand.
When his long hair would spill onto the sofa, dragging along the floor, Marsilia would get up and sit beside him. Pulling Jaha close, he would find that he had fallen asleep again, as if comforted.
Despite his growing belly, Jaha didn’t seem to move more slowly. With his martial arts skills, he bore the weight of the children in his womb as if it were nothing. After confirming that the children were healthy, he sometimes went to the training ground to sternly observe the knights’ training.
However, he was unsettled by the movements of the babies. It seemed like he was afraid of them.
It was understandable, perhaps. It must have been difficult to fully rejoice in something squirming inside him that he couldn’t even see. The unfamiliar sensation was naturally intimidating.
Yet Jaha never spoke of it. It seemed he didn’t want to show it.
He remained calm, but whenever the babies kicked while he slept, he would wake up with a shudder. Maintaining his composure even while asleep seemed to be a difficult task for him.
Marsilia would gently soothe Jaha, who woke up frowning, and would whisper to Jaha’s belly, speaking quietly.
“You mischievous little ones, even though I told you not to play while Jaha is asleep, it seems you don’t listen. Please be still for just two hours, okay?”
Marsilia knew the babies couldn’t understand his words yet, but somehow, he started talking to Jaha’s belly every time.
Jaha, though amused, noticed that Marsilia also spoke to his belly sometimes.
Even if he pretended not to care, Marsilia could see how fondly Jaha would stroke his swollen belly, avoiding the eyes of others.
When their gazes met, Jaha would become flustered, and his face would turn a deep shade of red. The man, with his eyes slightly narrowed, would offer a smile warmer than anyone else’s.
Marsilia, who had been stroking Jaha’s belly, noticed Jaha’s gaze and saw him holding back a smile, biting his lip to suppress his laughter.
“Just laugh.”
“Hahaha.”
Jaha had become much more cheerful over time. The ragged person he had once been was long gone.
Marsilia loved Jaha’s smile. Every time he smiled brightly, his usual sharp eyes would soften, and it made Marsilia’s heart swell with pride and warmth.
When their eyes met, it was clear that Jaha shared the same feelings.
Marsilia smiled back at Jaha, his own golden eyes reflecting Jaha’s face, now so familiar.
He was thoroughly pleased with the goofy smile on his face, content with how happy he felt.
End of the Side Story 1
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