Who Stole The Empress

***

“Help me!”

As soon as Ronasso, who had been pacing the lobby nervously, saw Tamon walking in, he hurriedly grabbed his hand and begged.

The two eyes that were wide open were desperate.

“Help me please!”

Tamon looked at Ronasso with pitiful eyes, and sternly shook his hand away.

“Why did you come to me and ask for help?”

“Oh no! I’m in a ruse!”

It was an absurd thing to say.

If what had happened between the king and Ronasso was a ruse, the political table would have turned very easily.

Tamon walked past Ronasso and climbed the stairs, clicking his tongue.

Ronasso followed his friend with weeping eyes unmatched by his size.

“You don’t know why Her Majesty is like this? Tamon! Do you really want me to live? What will I do if I become her husband?”

 “It’s a good thing. I will be very pleased. To have two old friends of mine sitting on the throne side by side, it’s very reassuring.”

“Ahhh!”

Ronasso shouted with a reddened face covering his ears.

Tamon clicked his tongue and laid back on the sofa in the parlor on the second floor.

He sipped the morning tea from the servant, and shook his head at Ronasso, who was still in pain, wrapped around his head.

“Tell me. What did you do?”

At Tamon’s question, Ronasso stared at him with painful eyes. Tears welling up make him look pathetic. Tamon waited patiently. After a while, Ronasso opened his mouth.

“…I thought she was crying.”

“What?” 

“I thought she was crying.”

Therefore….

Ronasso bowed his head and covered his forehead with his hands.

To summarize the story he told:

About a month ago, Theoransha had a particularly difficult day.

It was also the anniversary of the death of the second prince, who was particularly close to Theo.

It was not enough to suffer from the ministers all day, it was also the day when she heard the news that the foreigners in the northwest had killed a hundred soldiers on the frontier.

Theo, who didn’t even like to drink, drank until she got drunk that day.

As usual, she giggled and teased Ronasso to get her anger out, so he thought it was okay.

She was so depressed that she teased him by telling him to go away before he was eaten, so Ronasso quickly left the room.

Yes, this would not have happened if he had been here up to this point.

That day, Theo was relaxed and smiled.

After hesitating for a while, Ronasso wanted to bring her a glass of honey tea before leaving. But when he came back and saw Theo in tears.

Ronasso’s heart sank in an instant.

Who was Theoransha?

If he had to pick the strongest person in the world, Ronasso was able to pick Tamon and Theoransha first.

Its strength was incomparable to the monstrous Tamon, but Theoransha’s strength was within her. From her birth, she was as determined and strong as someone who would become a king.

She was sometimes cold-hearted and never wavered.

When she became king, she loved her country more than any other monarch, and she was not afraid to sacrifice or be sharpened for her country as much as she did.

Like a person whose blood would not come out even if she was stabbed, there was no shaking in everything.

When there was no one like that Theoransha, she shed tears!

The moment Ronasso unconsciously reached out to her and grabbed her shoulder, which was thinner than he thought…… !

“My, why did I do that?”

When Ronasso finished the story, he grabbed his head and was in despair.

Tamon didn’t even want to hear the rest of the story.

He refused to even hear about other people’s intimate nights, even those of close friends.

 “You really don’t know why?”

At Tamon’s sarcasm, Ronasso glared at him and bowed his head again.

Tamon said nonchalantly. 

“If you don’t like it that much, reject it, you’re only going to get kicked out?”

“Hey, will that happen?! You!”

Tamon muttered a cynical smile at the screaming Ronasso.

“Anyway. Because you dare to like Her Majesty.”

“That, that!”

Theo was Ronasso’s childhood love.

After she became an adult, when she took the throne, Ronasso didn’t dare to feel that way anymore.

It meant that the courageous heart of his childhood was shattered.

But now it was going to turn like this!

“What are you so worried about?”

After a sigh, Ronasso said.

“I don’t dare. At best, I’m the eldest son of a fallen aristocrat. I have no power or anything. I’m sure I’ll be nothing but a burden to Her Majesty.” 

“The judgment is yours. No matter how hot-blooded she may be, she is not someone who will pick the position of her future partner recklessly.”

“But…….”

Ronasso’s shoulders drooped as if he wasn’t confident.

For Ronasso, it wasn’t just a matter of love and power.

He was in such a heavy position, and it was a decision with responsibility.

The king had chosen him. It was a glorious thing, but he was afraid to dare to accept it.

“I think you will do well.”

“What……?”

 “As long as you decide to stay with her, I don’t really worry too much after that.”

At the unexpected words, Ronasso stared at Tamon. He was trying to find out if he was joking or if he was serious.

Tamon smiled and looked at Ronasso.

“She chose you because she liked you too. If she didn’t mean it, she wouldn’t have offered you to be her partner for nearly half a year. She’s not a person who would do anything nonsense.”

“But…”

“You’ll be fine.”

Ronasso’s eyes lit up.

Tamon turned his head with a wild frown as if he had seen nothing.

Thinking that this would have been enough, Tamon waved his hand, telling Ronasso to disappear quickly.

“Stop it and leave now. You’re holding a busy person to tell your love story.”

“What? A love story!”

“So, don’t bother me and go.”

 “I’ve come all the way here, shouldn’t I have at least some lunch?” 

“Then just eat and leave quickly. Commander of the 1st Knights.”

Tamon, in a polite tone, drove him harshly.

“You don’t want to eat with a friend you haven’t seen in a long time?”

Tamon shook his head.

“Don’t be needy…”

It was then.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Someone frantically knocked on the window of the parlor on the second floor where they were. Tamon’s eyes widened as he looked through the window.

A swarm of monkeys was calling out to him.

***

“Ahhhhh!”

The scream that came through the door burned Tamon’s heart.

He couldn’t catch up with his heavy heart and stood in front of the door without a break.

“A little bit more, a little bit more!”

The voice of an urgent midwife could be heard loudly through the door.

The doctor took the baby and the midwife was on the side helping it.

The higher Asha’s groan grew, the stronger the voice of the midwife who gave her strength.

It was four hours of excruciating and painful time.

Tanon was even more afraid because he didn’t know how much longer Asha had to endure such a time.

How about Asha, who had to endure the pain of tearing flesh inside.

‘God, please help me one more time. Please, take her pain…… . So that I can carry it one more time.’

He prayed and prayed earnestly.

He thought that finding God was a weak thing, but now, he realized that thought was also a luxury.

He just wished for it. He wished Asha, who was clenching her teeth inside and giving birth to their child, was safe, and he just hoped that her pain wouldn’t last long.

It was ironic. The irreplaceable pain she suffered made him more painful. Made him miserable and helpless.

Tamon felt suffocated, so he opened the window that had been tightly shut. Then he saw monkeys crawling around the hut. They used to be enemies, but now that thought had completely disappeared. If it weren’t for the monkeys, he might still be at the mansion, not knowing what had happened to Asha.

Desperately running, the monkeys mimicked the pregnant Asha in front of the puzzled Tamon and reenacted how she fell on the floor.

They were clever beasts.

“…you are really strange beasts.”

They gathered together and looked impatient, as if waiting for their family member to give birth. Lisha and De Gaulle were also aware of the merits, so they just sat quietly looking at the horde of dozens of monkeys.

Tamon left the window open and wandered around the room again.

He clenched and opened his fists several times with his sweaty palms.

Through the cracks in the door he bit his tongue every time he heard Asha’s screams, and he clenched his teeth and had to endure it again and again as how muc he wanted to jump in.

Did two more hours pass?

Waaaa!

There was a loud cry of a baby.

Tamon’s head, which had been drooping, was raised instantly.

It was the moment when a very pretty princess was born.

****

Asha heard familiar voices in her hazy consciousness.

As if lost somewhere in her childhood memories, the bustling voices of the people mumbled in.

From the edge of her hazy consciousness, the figure of the one she missed appeared.

‘…You are very pretty.’

As she was while she was alive, Asha’s beautiful mother looked at the baby in her arms with a delighted smile.

‘Rosie, it looks just like you when you were young.’

Before she knew it, Asha’s eyes burned with tears.

‘Hmm, I think Rosie was much prettier when she was younger.’

Her father’s voice was heard. The way her mother slapped her husband’s shoulder, saying he was out of control, was just right.

‘What could be more beautiful or less beautiful? It’s just nice and happy. Good job, Roselyn. You’ve been through a lot.’

How long had it been since her grandfather’s voice was so sweet?

Asha turned her head to look at her grandfather, who came closer to her mother.

Just before she died, her grandfather, who had difficulty moving around, was now smiling happily.

‘…How are you all here?’

She asked, but no one answered her.

They were just looking at her with a smile.

‘…but I don’t see Cain.’

Everyone pointed at the back Asha’s question. She heard someone approaching.

‘You’re all grown up, my little sister.’

Cain’s big, rough hands were stroking her hair.

As if she was a child, her brother gently stroked her hair.

‘I love you and I’m so glad that you have people you love by your side.’

‘Cain.’

Asha slowly turned back and looked at Cain.

Even though she knew this was a dream, it was heartbreaking to see the family she had not seen in a long time.

‘Why are you crying on a happy day?’

Cain’s hand wiping away her hot tears was vivid as if it were real.

‘Don’t be sad, don’t get sick, we’ll watch over you and your child. So you, don’t worry about anything and just be happy all the time.’

Cain hugged her tightly. Her heart ached at the light warmth. This warmth that seemed to fly away when she opened her eyes was sad and painful. As she struggled to clench her teeth and hold back crying, a deep, sad voice spoke.

‘You know, Rosie?’

‘…What?’

“I was happy enough.’

‘…’

‘It’s just unfortunate that I couldn’t see you and Anna a little more, but I’m sorry.’

Asha already missed this gentle smiling face.

Her dear brother.

Her blood that cared for her infinitely.

A repressed cry broke out over and over again. She shouldn’t be like this, but Asha kept crying like a child.

‘When did you become such a crybaby?’

Cain smiled and gently kissed her forehead.

‘I love you, my dear Empress. May eternal blessings be with you and your child.’

‘Don’t go.’

Stay a little longer.

Don’t go.

…..Don’t go!

‘Wake up quickly. Someone is looking for you anxiously. Both of you.’

Before she could ask what he meant, a roaring cry lifted her consciousness.

****

Tamon stared blankly for a while, awkwardly holding his mumbled child.

He was afraid because the baby was so small and light.

“It’s a very pretty baby. It must be healthy because of the loud cries.”

At the midwife’s words, Tamon looked at the baby who was squirming for a long time.

Behind him, the monkeys were clinging to the window.

The midwife smiled broadly at the bizarre appearance and left the room. There was a lot to prepare before the mother woke up.

“…I don’t think she’s that pretty yet.”

Tamon looked at the tiny creature in his arms with a bewildered voice.

The baby, who had only pouty lips, probably understood what her father was saying, and then burst into tears.

Startled, Tamon quickly held the child and comforted her.

“No, no, you are the prettiest. A very pretty baby. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a pretty baby like you. Really.”

Whether she understood the words or whether the shaking arms were comfortable, the crying ended briefly.

In those few minutes, Tamon, who had been sweating profusely, breathed a sigh of relief.

“Oh, you’re already taking control of your dad.”

Tamon was amazed at even that and burst out laughing.

This little one was his and Asha’s child.

He felt very strange.

Tamon was in a daze and froze the red-hot baby.

“…Tamon.”

Tamon’s head raised at the faint voice.

“Asha, are you okay? Are you awake?”

“…The baby?”

Tamon quickly put the baby in Asha’s arms, and then kissed her on the forehead and cheek nonstop.

“Great job. Thank you and I’m sorry.” (Tamon)

 “Why are you sorry?”

“Just. I’m just sorry for everything. When you get sick, I keep feeling sorry.” (Tamon)

At his words, Asha smiled and shook her head.

“Don’t do that. There’s nothing to blame yourself for.”

Tamon smiled bitterly and hugged Asha tightly. Perhaps the power was too strong, the baby caught between the two of them cried.

Surprised, Asha and Tamon hurriedly retreated.

Asha looked at the baby’s small lips, which were grimacing. Why was this little bundle so pretty?

She hugged the baby tightly and looked at Tamon.

“So pretty. Isn’t it?”

“Right. So pretty. But you are prettier.”

Asha grinned and muttered.

“How am I pretty looking like this?”

“You’re pretty no matter what.”

Asha knew that the words were sincere.

So she was happy that this man became her man, and that she became a family with him. Because he was a kind person who always looked at her with loving eyes.

“Come on, come hug me again. I can’t hold the baby and you all because I have short arms, but you can.” 

“I’ll hug you every day. Anytime you want, even if you don’t.”

Tamon smiled brightly and opened his arms wide to hug Asha and the baby at once. The baby trapped in the arms of her mother and father moved slowly. The sound of Tamon’s heart touching her ear was as loud as thunder and soft as a lullaby.

All of this was perfect. A great emotion that she couldn’t control rose over her. With her eyes closed, Asha suddenly thought.

She was so full of joy that she couldn’t even remember the pain she had been in for more than six hours.

They really had become a perfect family.

***

She was the former empress of an enemy country, a foe, and a woman who won against all odds.

Even when he picked her up, abandoned in the snowy mountains, Tamon dared to boast that he had saved her.

But looking back with her now, it was his arrogance that he thought he had saved her.

It was not her who received the salvation, but Tamon, himself.

In the face of his cruel fate, he must have desperately held onto his line of salvation.

The one who made him know the joy of life, ordinary happiness, and the luck of life with a loved one.

Now she had become his daily routine.

It was the most important criterion that governed his life.

That little life born of love would also become another daily life for him.

The sea of ​​happiness fluttered in Tamon’s heart.

It was a feeling of ecstasy that he couldn’t even imagine.

Tamon, who had been staring blankly at the sea, quickly turned around at the sound of crying.

Through the window, Asha could be seen holding the crying little baby and she was helpless.

“Look at this, It can’t be without me even for a moment.”

Tamon smiled happily and hurriedly went in to meet his two precious people.

Behind him, as usual, the sea fluctuated.

The sunlight that came down from the clear sky as if it was broken into pieces was glistening like a blessing on the sea.

***