“I, I think I can understand the words of the monsters.”
At those words, Rosena froze.
The power of their kind….
Then, suddenly, an unproven hypothesis emerged.
What if… the power of the divinity that had been passed down for a long time was actually the power of a monster?
What if the boy she saw in her dream wasn’t actually the divinity, but a monster with a human form like this man?
So, if Yerhan’s child with her, Illian, was born with perfect powers and was called the new king…
As she thought about it that far, Rosena’s face turned white.
“Rosena?”
Yerhan urgently called for Rosena.
Rosena belatedly came to her senses at the sound of his voice and shook her head.
“I’m okay.”
“….What did he say?”
Instead of answering, Rosena was silent. This speculation was still only a hypothesis.
However, if the first emperor was actually a monster, and the royal family were all descendants of monsters…. then the glory of the empire would come to an end.
It is an event that will completely shake up Herbet, which is known as the country established by the divinity.
“……”
The man turned his gaze to Yerhan. For a moment, emotion crept over his face. Resentment, anger and resignation.
He seemed to recall his people who had fallen at the hands of Yerhan.
He took his gaze away from Yerhan and whispered to Rosena.
– Come with us.
Illian, who was sitting next to Rosena and heard his suggestion, immediately grabbed her arm.
Surprised, Rosena looked down at Illian.
Illian was staring at the man with piercing eyes.
Rosena realized that Illian could also understand the language of monsters.
Rosena, who held Illian’s hand tightly, looked at the man.
“Why are you making such an offer?”
– Because you are our people.
“I am human.”
Rosena said firmly. Even if the power of a monster flows through her, Rosena wanted to remain human.
“I’m sorry, but I… will stay here.”
Unshakable eyes stared straight at the man. Seeing this, the man slowly blinked.
“On behalf of those who took away your land, I want to do what I can.”
– You? Why?
“Because I want peace.”
Rosena glanced at Yerhan. Then, Yerhan sent a soft gaze.
She was relieved to see him. He would support and follow Rosena no matter what decision she made.
Since she couldn’t decide on such an important matter arbitrarily, they had to go through a meeting, but she wanted to make an agreement between humans and monsters.
“Let’s make an agreement.”
– Agreement?
“I will prepare a land for you and your kind to stay. Instead, stop harming the places where people live.”
The empire was unnecessarily wide, so there must have been many abandoned lands.
But the man did not answer her. Then he looked at Illian and said.
– We will follow the will of our new king.
Illian, who had no intention of objecting to Rosena’s words, nodded slightly.
“My mom’s will is mine.”
Then the man agreed without much hesitation.
– Okay. If that’s the king’s will, then let’s trust a human with the powers of our own people.
At his murmuring, Rosena slightly tightened the hand that was holding Illian.
After the conversation was over, Rosena, Yerhan, and Illian left the room.
As Rosena came out of the hallway and took a deep breath, Yerhan opened his mouth quietly.
“May I ask what you were talking about?”
Rosena slowly recounted the conversation she had with the man.
The fact that the first emperor might actually be a monster, and that the monsters came to search for the stolen land.
Also, she and Yerhan inherited the power of the monster, and Illian was called their new king.
“Not to fight the monsters anymore and to live together.”
Yerhan blinked, and Rosena added her words.
“I don’t want to see you in danger.”
If monsters appear, Yerhan has to go on expeditions again. He must fight to survive on this land, to protect his loved ones.
But if she made an agreement and brought peace, he didn’t have to go to war anymore.
Now, Rosena’s plan was nothing but an ideal.
Nothing concrete had been decided yet. Still, if she worked hard, it would definitely be able to bear fruit.
“…It’s better to take our time to discuss it.”
Yerhan gave a positive answer.
He couldn’t completely trust the words of the monsters, so he needed some sort of solution.
Rosena had a slightly relieved face and rubbed Illian’s cheek.
Illian looked at Rosena and chuckled.
Rosena remembered what the man had said.
Their new king.
No one knew what kind of uproar this would cause.
Rosena just wanted to raise Illian as an ordinary child.
Rosenna, who struggled to hide her anxiety, opened her mouth as usual.
“You have class this afternoon, don’t you?”
At Rosena’s words, Illian’s shoulders drooped.
“Let’s go for a walk with Mom and go to class.”
“That sounds good!”
Illian, who had been pale like a withered flower, was instantly refreshed.
Rosena got up from her chair and looked up at her Yerhan.
“Do you have time today?”
“Of course.”
Actually there were a lot of things to do, but how could he disappoint Rosena?
Yerhan thought that the rest of the work could be postponed until tomorrow.
The three of them left the palace and walked slowly.
Between late winter and early spring, the dry grass began to take off its old clothes and gradually transform into green.
It seemed a little hot because she was dressed like it was the middle of winter.
A smile bloomed on Rosena’s face when bathed in the soft sunlight.
Yerhan and Illian also smiled at the peaceful appearance.
As they were walking slowly to the palace of the third prince, the first building she saw came into her eyes.
The building with its golden roof was unique in its shape. It looked as if it was built for ornamental purposes, not for human living.
“What’s that place for?”
Yerhan lifted his head and looked at the building where Rosena was pointing with her hand.
“It is a place where portraits and historical books of the royal family are kept.”
All records after the establishment of the empire were there.
Rosena looked around the building for a while before she asked cautiously.
“Can I go inside and have a look?”
“Of course.”
Unlike before, there was no one to stop Yerhan now.
The three crossed the garden and entered the building.
Perhaps because it had been deserted for a long time, the hallway was filled with silence.
Rosena looked at the statues lined up in the hallway.
As if it was modeled after a real person, the facial expressions and wrinkles seemed to move quickly.
As she continued walking down the hallway, she saw a door wrapped in navy blue velvet. The door opened wide, revealing a room with a golden ceiling and a red carpet.
Her view seemed to return to splendor.
Luxurious picture frames were hung at a certain distance on the wall covered with gold wallpaper.
Rosena looked at the picture frames as she walked on the red carpet.
Inside the frame were portraits of successive emperors and empresses.
In the foreground were portraits of the current Emperor Barmun and Empress Tersia, and next to them were portraits of the previous emperor and his wife.
Rosena slowly looked into each one of them.
Because of its long history, the number of emperors and empresses alone was quite large.
Rosena, who had been walking for a long time, stopped.
“……”
A huge portrait hung at the top filled her view.
The man with bright golden hair, blue eyes, and a faint smile was the boy who appeared in Rosena’s dream.
Wearing a crown, he was majestic, and just looking at him gave her a sense of dignity.
“He is the first emperor.”
Yerhan, who quietly approached her side, said.
Rosena looked at the portrait for a long time. It wasn’t just a dream. The dream she had had was a fragment of a very old past.
Because of the power passed down through the Rosena family, she dreamed of his story of his past.
Rosena slowly shifted her gaze. Portraits of the empress were hung next to successive emperors, but the side of the first emperor was empty.
As in her dreams, the girl and the boy did not end up together.
She felt like crying for some reason.
“I have something to tell you.”
Rosena looked straight at Yerhan, who barely looked away from the portrait.
“I had a dream about the first emperor.”
Rosena told Yerhan about all her dreams she had ever had.
The secret of the Rosena family. A very old past, and the starting point of all of this.
And the moment when Rosena and Yerhan were strongly attracted from the beginning.
Yerhan looked surprised, but he listened quietly.
Rosena, who spoke of the tragic end of a boy and a girl, took a deep breath in her. She then whispered as she looked at Yerhan and Illian alternately.
“Let’s not break up.”
The two nodded vigorously. They didn’t want to think about parting anymore.
A faint smile appeared on Rosena’s face at the desperate nod.
Rosena reached out her hands and took Yerhan and Illian’s hands.
Feeling the warmth of their clasped hands, the three began to walk quietly.
***
Because it was late winter, the sun went down fast and night came quickly.
The dark sky was like the sea at night, and countless stars shone brightly like pearls.
Rosena left the room after barely putting Illian to sleep, who was fighting with her because he didn’t want to go to sleep.
“Ah.”
Rosena, returning to the bedroom, stopped and found Yerhan sitting on the bed.
She thought she was going to have to sleep alone because he was late today, but he must have already returned.
“You’re here?”
Yerhan stood up at Rosena’s question. He walked right in front of her, stretched out his arm, and lightly grabbed Rosena’s wrist.
With a light force, he pulled Rosena in.
Yerhan muttered as he embraced Rosena with his arms wide open.
“I thought I was going to die because I missed you all day.”
At those words, Rosena’s earlobes turned red.
They even ate together this morning, people might think he hadn’t seen her in a few days.
But Rosena felt the same way. She also spent the whole day just thinking about him.
“I missed you too.”
Rosena’s honest answer made Yerhan smile with his eyes curled with satisfaction.
As she looked at his smile, it felt like her heart was going to jump over her thin slip dress.
Rosena reached out and stroked Yerhan’s hair. Even in the silent and dark bedroom, his hair shone brightly.
Yerhan closed his eyes as if he was a puppy and enjoyed Rosena’s touch.
Every time she touched him, his eyelashes trembled as if it felt good.
Yerhan tapped the other side of his head as if asking for more.
Rosena smiled and touched him as much as he wanted her to.
The two fell apart after fiddling with each other for a long time.
Yerhan, who had barely released Rosena, took out a long box.
“What is that?”
“I have received fruit wine.”
“Fruit wine?”
Rosena showed interest, and Yerhan untied the ribbon tied to the box. Then a glass bottle of dark red liquid appeared.
“Is it grapes?”
“It’s not grapes, it’s raspberries.”
Do people make alcohol with raspberries?
Rosena tilted her head.
“Do you want to try it?”
“Okay.”
Rosena gladly agreed, and Yerhan went outside for a moment. Then he came in with two plates full of something.
When she checked the plate, Rosena found her favorite snacks and square fruit cheese.
Yerhan poured fruit wine into a glass. A sweet smell wafted through the room.
Rosena took the glass, savored the aroma, and then took a sip of the fruit wine.
“It’s delicious.”
Rosena’s eyes widened, and Yerhan laughed aloud. Her surprised expression looked like a rabbit.
“It’s… sweeter than the wine I usually drink.”
Hearing Rosena’s comments, he took a sip. As Rosena said, it had a stronger sweet taste than bitterness.
It was Yerhan who did not enjoy sweets, but it wasn’t too much considering it’s a fruit drink.
The two of them sat down in front of the table and quietly emptied their glasses.
Yerhan, who put down his second empty glass, opened his mouth.
“The meeting will be held in a few days.”
Rosena’s shoulders shook at the word ‘meeting’.
All the nobles of the empire will gather for this meeting.
Barmun was still in custody and public opinion was not so good, so it was impossible for him to take power.
The meeting will deprive Zigrit of the crown prince title and discuss who will ascend the throne.
Yerhan touched the glass without a word for a moment. As he rolled his fingertips across a spot of the glass with his fingertips, he met Rosena’s gaze.
“Rosena, do you want to be the empress?”
“I, I think I can understand the words of the monsters.”
At those words, Rosena froze.
The power of their kind….
Then, suddenly, an unproven hypothesis emerged.
What if… the power of the divinity that had been passed down for a long time was actually the power of a monster?
What if the boy she saw in her dream wasn’t actually the divinity, but a monster with a human form like this man?
So, if Yerhan’s child with her, Illian, was born with perfect powers and was called the new king…
As she thought about it that far, Rosena’s face turned white.
“Rosena?”
Yerhan urgently called for Rosena.
Rosena belatedly came to her senses at the sound of his voice and shook her head.
“I’m okay.”
“….What did he say?”
Instead of answering, Rosena was silent. This speculation was still only a hypothesis.
However, if the first emperor was actually a monster, and the royal family were all descendants of monsters…. then the glory of the empire would come to an end.
It is an event that will completely shake up Herbet, which is known as the country established by the divinity.
“……”
The man turned his gaze to Yerhan. For a moment, emotion crept over his face. Resentment, anger and resignation.
He seemed to recall his people who had fallen at the hands of Yerhan.
He took his gaze away from Yerhan and whispered to Rosena.
– Come with us.
Illian, who was sitting next to Rosena and heard his suggestion, immediately grabbed her arm.
Surprised, Rosena looked down at Illian.
Illian was staring at the man with piercing eyes.
Rosena realized that Illian could also understand the language of monsters.
Rosena, who held Illian’s hand tightly, looked at the man.
“Why are you making such an offer?”
– Because you are our people.
“I am human.”
Rosena said firmly. Even if the power of a monster flows through her, Rosena wanted to remain human.
“I’m sorry, but I… will stay here.”
Unshakable eyes stared straight at the man. Seeing this, the man slowly blinked.
“On behalf of those who took away your land, I want to do what I can.”
– You? Why?
“Because I want peace.”
Rosena glanced at Yerhan. Then, Yerhan sent a soft gaze.
She was relieved to see him. He would support and follow Rosena no matter what decision she made.
Since she couldn’t decide on such an important matter arbitrarily, they had to go through a meeting, but she wanted to make an agreement between humans and monsters.
“Let’s make an agreement.”
– Agreement?
“I will prepare a land for you and your kind to stay. Instead, stop harming the places where people live.”
The empire was unnecessarily wide, so there must have been many abandoned lands.
But the man did not answer her. Then he looked at Illian and said.
– We will follow the will of our new king.
Illian, who had no intention of objecting to Rosena’s words, nodded slightly.
“My mom’s will is mine.”
Then the man agreed without much hesitation.
– Okay. If that’s the king’s will, then let’s trust a human with the powers of our own people.
At his murmuring, Rosena slightly tightened the hand that was holding Illian.
After the conversation was over, Rosena, Yerhan, and Illian left the room.
As Rosena came out of the hallway and took a deep breath, Yerhan opened his mouth quietly.
“May I ask what you were talking about?”
Rosena slowly recounted the conversation she had with the man.
The fact that the first emperor might actually be a monster, and that the monsters came to search for the stolen land.
Also, she and Yerhan inherited the power of the monster, and Illian was called their new king.
“Not to fight the monsters anymore and to live together.”
Yerhan blinked, and Rosena added her words.
“I don’t want to see you in danger.”
If monsters appear, Yerhan has to go on expeditions again. He must fight to survive on this land, to protect his loved ones.
But if she made an agreement and brought peace, he didn’t have to go to war anymore.
Now, Rosena’s plan was nothing but an ideal.
Nothing concrete had been decided yet. Still, if she worked hard, it would definitely be able to bear fruit.
“…It’s better to take our time to discuss it.”
Yerhan gave a positive answer.
He couldn’t completely trust the words of the monsters, so he needed some sort of solution.
Rosena had a slightly relieved face and rubbed Illian’s cheek.
Illian looked at Rosena and chuckled.
Rosena remembered what the man had said.
Their new king.
No one knew what kind of uproar this would cause.
Rosena just wanted to raise Illian as an ordinary child.
Rosenna, who struggled to hide her anxiety, opened her mouth as usual.
“You have class this afternoon, don’t you?”
At Rosena’s words, Illian’s shoulders drooped.
“Let’s go for a walk with Mom and go to class.”
“That sounds good!”
Illian, who had been pale like a withered flower, was instantly refreshed.
Rosena got up from her chair and looked up at her Yerhan.
“Do you have time today?”
“Of course.”
Actually there were a lot of things to do, but how could he disappoint Rosena?
Yerhan thought that the rest of the work could be postponed until tomorrow.
The three of them left the palace and walked slowly.
Between late winter and early spring, the dry grass began to take off its old clothes and gradually transform into green.
It seemed a little hot because she was dressed like it was the middle of winter.
A smile bloomed on Rosena’s face when bathed in the soft sunlight.
Yerhan and Illian also smiled at the peaceful appearance.
As they were walking slowly to the palace of the third prince, the first building she saw came into her eyes.
The building with its golden roof was unique in its shape. It looked as if it was built for ornamental purposes, not for human living.
“What’s that place for?”
Yerhan lifted his head and looked at the building where Rosena was pointing with her hand.
“It is a place where portraits and historical books of the royal family are kept.”
All records after the establishment of the empire were there.
Rosena looked around the building for a while before she asked cautiously.
“Can I go inside and have a look?”
“Of course.”
Unlike before, there was no one to stop Yerhan now.
The three crossed the garden and entered the building.
Perhaps because it had been deserted for a long time, the hallway was filled with silence.
Rosena looked at the statues lined up in the hallway.
As if it was modeled after a real person, the facial expressions and wrinkles seemed to move quickly.
As she continued walking down the hallway, she saw a door wrapped in navy blue velvet. The door opened wide, revealing a room with a golden ceiling and a red carpet.
Her view seemed to return to splendor.
Luxurious picture frames were hung at a certain distance on the wall covered with gold wallpaper.
Rosena looked at the picture frames as she walked on the red carpet.
Inside the frame were portraits of successive emperors and empresses.
In the foreground were portraits of the current Emperor Barmun and Empress Tersia, and next to them were portraits of the previous emperor and his wife.
Rosena slowly looked into each one of them.
Because of its long history, the number of emperors and empresses alone was quite large.
Rosena, who had been walking for a long time, stopped.
“……”
A huge portrait hung at the top filled her view.
The man with bright golden hair, blue eyes, and a faint smile was the boy who appeared in Rosena’s dream.
Wearing a crown, he was majestic, and just looking at him gave her a sense of dignity.
“He is the first emperor.”
Yerhan, who quietly approached her side, said.
Rosena looked at the portrait for a long time. It wasn’t just a dream. The dream she had had was a fragment of a very old past.
Because of the power passed down through the Rosena family, she dreamed of his story of his past.
Rosena slowly shifted her gaze. Portraits of the empress were hung next to successive emperors, but the side of the first emperor was empty.
As in her dreams, the girl and the boy did not end up together.
She felt like crying for some reason.
“I have something to tell you.”
Rosena looked straight at Yerhan, who barely looked away from the portrait.
“I had a dream about the first emperor.”
Rosena told Yerhan about all her dreams she had ever had.
The secret of the Rosena family. A very old past, and the starting point of all of this.
And the moment when Rosena and Yerhan were strongly attracted from the beginning.
Yerhan looked surprised, but he listened quietly.
Rosena, who spoke of the tragic end of a boy and a girl, took a deep breath in her. She then whispered as she looked at Yerhan and Illian alternately.
“Let’s not break up.”
The two nodded vigorously. They didn’t want to think about parting anymore.
A faint smile appeared on Rosena’s face at the desperate nod.
Rosena reached out her hands and took Yerhan and Illian’s hands.
Feeling the warmth of their clasped hands, the three began to walk quietly.
***
Because it was late winter, the sun went down fast and night came quickly.
The dark sky was like the sea at night, and countless stars shone brightly like pearls.
Rosena left the room after barely putting Illian to sleep, who was fighting with her because he didn’t want to go to sleep.
“Ah.”
Rosena, returning to the bedroom, stopped and found Yerhan sitting on the bed.
She thought she was going to have to sleep alone because he was late today, but he must have already returned.
“You’re here?”
Yerhan stood up at Rosena’s question. He walked right in front of her, stretched out his arm, and lightly grabbed Rosena’s wrist.
With a light force, he pulled Rosena in.
Yerhan muttered as he embraced Rosena with his arms wide open.
“I thought I was going to die because I missed you all day.”
At those words, Rosena’s earlobes turned red.
They even ate together this morning, people might think he hadn’t seen her in a few days.
But Rosena felt the same way. She also spent the whole day just thinking about him.
“I missed you too.”
Rosena’s honest answer made Yerhan smile with his eyes curled with satisfaction.
As she looked at his smile, it felt like her heart was going to jump over her thin slip dress.
Rosena reached out and stroked Yerhan’s hair. Even in the silent and dark bedroom, his hair shone brightly.
Yerhan closed his eyes as if he was a puppy and enjoyed Rosena’s touch.
Every time she touched him, his eyelashes trembled as if it felt good.
Yerhan tapped the other side of his head as if asking for more.
Rosena smiled and touched him as much as he wanted her to.
The two fell apart after fiddling with each other for a long time.
Yerhan, who had barely released Rosena, took out a long box.
“What is that?”
“I have received fruit wine.”
“Fruit wine?”
Rosena showed interest, and Yerhan untied the ribbon tied to the box. Then a glass bottle of dark red liquid appeared.
“Is it grapes?”
“It’s not grapes, it’s raspberries.”
Do people make alcohol with raspberries?
Rosena tilted her head.
“Do you want to try it?”
“Okay.”
Rosena gladly agreed, and Yerhan went outside for a moment. Then he came in with two plates full of something.
When she checked the plate, Rosena found her favorite snacks and square fruit cheese.
Yerhan poured fruit wine into a glass. A sweet smell wafted through the room.
Rosena took the glass, savored the aroma, and then took a sip of the fruit wine.
“It’s delicious.”
Rosena’s eyes widened, and Yerhan laughed aloud. Her surprised expression looked like a rabbit.
“It’s… sweeter than the wine I usually drink.”
Hearing Rosena’s comments, he took a sip. As Rosena said, it had a stronger sweet taste than bitterness.
It was Yerhan who did not enjoy sweets, but it wasn’t too much considering it’s a fruit drink.
The two of them sat down in front of the table and quietly emptied their glasses.
Yerhan, who put down his second empty glass, opened his mouth.
“The meeting will be held in a few days.”
Rosena’s shoulders shook at the word ‘meeting’.
All the nobles of the empire will gather for this meeting.
Barmun was still in custody and public opinion was not so good, so it was impossible for him to take power.
The meeting will deprive Zigrit of the crown prince title and discuss who will ascend the throne.
Yerhan touched the glass without a word for a moment. As he rolled his fingertips across a spot of the glass with his fingertips, he met Rosena’s gaze.
“Rosena, do you want to be the empress?”
