After everything ended, two years of peace had already passed.

The wounds of the civil war that had ravaged the Empire had largely healed.

The Grand Duchy of Ilensia, which had become unclaimed territory, was now trading with the demon race and gradually expanding exchanges with the Kingdom of Ashin.

Karzan had proudly ascended to the imperial throne and was now freely demonstrating his capabilities.

Of course, there were still disturbances in some places. Not everything could turn out happily.

But my story ends here. Now my only job was to raise my child well.

While waiting for my man.

"Karzan? It's been a while since you've come this early."

"I just wanted to see your face. You look comfortable. Do you like that chair?"

"Of course. It gives me a strange sense of peace. It's very comfortable."

"I'm glad I gave it to you."

I was sitting in a rocking chair, basking in the warm sunlight.

The gentle rays and the soft spring breeze pleasantly caressed my hair.

As the fragrant scent of garden flowers spread around me, thump-thump, small vibrations rippled from my belly.

When I placed my hand on my swollen stomach, I couldn't help but smile.

To think that I was carrying life inside me. It was so joyful it hardly felt real.

"Just now! Did you hear that? The baby just kicked. Oh my."

"Really?"

The child who would soon be born kicked vigorously.

The baby was so energetic that when I placed my hand on my belly, I could feel the tremors traveling through my hand.

When I brightened, Karzan gave me a gentle smile in return.

A picture-perfect father's smile.

I realized that now he could naturally make such expressions.

"Do you think our child will be a strong boy?"

"It seems so. Seeing how active those kicks are already, it looks like the child will give you quite a hard time. I'll have to have a word with them when I see their face."

"What are you going to say to our child? Don't do that—embrace them with love instead."

"If that's what you say."

Karzan came closer and brushed my bangs aside.

The look in his eyes as he gazed at me was deeper than usual.

Though he appeared fine on the surface, I knew better now.

I could see the shadow hidden beneath that warm expression.

"Did something happen? Is someone giving you trouble again?"

"Giving me trouble? It's not that. I thought I wasn't showing it, but how do you always know?"

"Did you think I wouldn't notice? I can tell just by looking at you now."

There were times like this occasionally.

Days when Karzan was particularly troubled.

When sorrows he couldn't share with me weighed on him.

The Emperor of the Empire must have many such shadows.

If I were a smarter woman, could I have been more helpful to him?

I'm not sure. It would have been nice, but it's impossible now.

For the moment, I should do what I can.

Even if I couldn't know what was troubling him, I could at least show him a smiling face.

Karzan held my hand tightly and lowered his head.

For some reason, it looked to me like he was holding back tears.

"Was it something painful?"

"A little. No, actually, very painful. Even more so because I can't tell you about it."

"It's okay. You don't have to tell me. Come here. Even if you can't talk about it, you can still lean on me, can't you?"

"Elise..."

"Come on. Sometimes you should rely on me too. Straighten those shoulders! How can a soon-to-be father have slumped shoulders?"

Karzan managed a smile, though with difficulty.

I gently guided his hand to my belly, and again the baby kicked.

Did the baby's movement bring about some change?

The troubled expression on his face suddenly stopped.

It was as if time had frozen for Karzan. With a much-improved complexion, he pressed his ear against my belly.

This time, I stroked his hair and said:

"How is it? Our child seems very energetic, don't you think? Maybe they take after me."

"Indeed. Of all things, our firstborn is a tomboy. The head butler will have quite a challenge. As for me... it seems I need to be a bit more greedy."

"Greedy?"

"Yes. I need to be greedy. I thought I could be satisfied just being with you like this, but my thinking has changed. The human heart is truly narrow-minded, isn't it?"

His words sounded meaningful.

Not long after, Karzan headed west himself.

At that time, I had no idea about the sad news that would soon reach me.

* * *

After the Crown Prince's request, I joined the Swordmasters for a light meal at the imperial palace.

The public might think that when such distinguished individuals gather, something grand must be happening, but that wasn't necessarily the case.

Being able to draw sword energy doesn't make someone special.

Becoming better with a sword doesn't change what you eat for dinner. Besides, human hearts are all the same, and the conversation at a simple meal gathering was mostly trivial.

"Is Your Grace officially courting Lord Razen?"

"Good heavens, old man. Have you been so buried in the frontlines that your ears are completely blocked? Do you know how splendidly Her Grace made her debut?"

"Ah, I heard about that too. Given my age, I couldn't attend such youthful gatherings... but hearing about it now, I wonder if I should have made an appearance despite my years."

"Please don't. Why would you want to be gossiped about in social circles?"

"Ahem, ahem!"

Typically, one reaches Swordmaster level in their early to mid-thirties.

Among swordsmen who are all geniuses, those who display "talent" manifest sword energy in their twenties, and monsters like Isha who reach Swordmaster level in their teens are considered freaks of nature.

By the time one is called experienced or veteran among such people, they're usually middle-aged. In other words, the Swordmasters at this gathering were quite old enough to be meddlesome.

And that meddling was now directed toward the love lives of young people.

While it was certainly better than showing jealousy, being on the receiving end was still quite disorienting.

"I tell you, as soon as the debut started, Her Grace suddenly kissed him on the lips...!"

"Ho ho ho. Youth is indeed wonderful. When I was your age, I was just as passionate."

"Oh? Lord Norden, weren't you far from passionate? I distinctly remember your wife saying you bit your tongue during your confession."

"Ugh. That woman said unnecessary things."

The conversation was usually led by Hillia and Lord Norden.

The other two Swordmasters would join in to support them.

The victims were me and Isha... and Sirien with her bright red face was no exception.

Given the subject matter, you could say Sirien's weakness had been exposed.

She could be unnecessarily bold at times, but when her feelings were laid bare, she became embarrassed.

That gap must have seemed cute to those of aunt and uncle age, as even the Grand Duchess of Ilensia wasn't spared from their meddling.

When you think about it, this was all a disaster of her own making.

However, Sirien overlooked one thing: she wasn't the only one who enjoyed teasing her.

I had always been the best at teasing Sirien since we were young.

Terion would take his pranks too far and get scolded instead.

"Why are you so embarrassed? Weren't you happy then, saying no one would dare set their eyes on me anymore?"

"H-how could you too!"

"'I'm happy. I won't give you to anyone else.'"

"Kyaaak!"

"What? I'm just showing my single-hearted devotion to you across the Empire, just as you wanted."

"Stop! Y-you don't have to do that now. I understand your feelings..."

Sirien, defeated.

My liege lowered her head and devoted herself entirely to her meal.

Good. This should keep the arrows from pointing at me for a while.

Hillia, perhaps thinking Sirien needed time to recover, looked for her next target. The Empire's hunter's next mark was Isha.

Throughout history, the youngest position always receives both affection and teasing.

Moreover, Isha still had a shy personality. She was the perfect target for an uncle-aged teaser.

"Speaking of which, I hear Miss Isha is quite close with Count Eshk."

"What? M-me?"

"It's probably true. I frequently visit Edelmarionne, so news reaches me."

"My goodness. Then, how far have you gone? Have you kissed yet?"

"Kissed? No, not yet. I mean... Dersian and I aren't that kind of..."

"Dersian? Oh my, oh my. So you call each other by first names. Not Count Eshk, but Dersian?"

"That's true, but..."

Isha was also close to defeat.

Sirien seemed unable to reach her plate, so I helped her a bit.

The eyes that briefly met mine held a mixture of resentment and wronged feelings.

When I chuckled, Sirien's cheeks puffed up slightly.

I'd better make it up to her soon before she gets too upset.