Special Side Story 1

Time passed quickly after the wedding of the Duke and Duchess Dearrut, which stirred the empire with the blessing of the deity Helios.

First month.

[Birth of the 30th Pope, Pope Prion.]

‘The first Pope of common birth and the first to receive a congratulatory oracle from the deity. On the day of his inauguration, sacred light sparkled from the heavens…’

Second month.

[Crown Prince Alvin Pentaum and Lady Sienna Meltain Dearrut Engaged.]

‘Lady Sienna Meltain Dearrut, renowned as the most beautiful flower of high society, held a grand engagement ceremony with Crown Prince Alvin at the Imperial Rose Palace. The future Crown Princess, who received a holy relic containing the protection of light as an engagement gift from the Duke and Duchess Dearrut, smiled brightly…’

Third month.

[Emperor Decides to Abdicate to Crown Prince Alvin Pentaum.]

‘The Emperor, judging that he could no longer lead state affairs due to his worsening chronic illness, officially announced that he would abdicate to Crown Prince Alvin, who is currently managing state affairs well. All preparations for the abdication were entrusted to Duke Dearrut…’

Fourth month.

[Duke Dearrut Steps Forward to Address Monster Wave Damage in Eastern Mountains Before It Worsens.]

[Duke Dearrut Eliminates Half the Monsters Within Four Days of Arriving in the East.]

‘Duke Dearrut swiftly eliminated the monsters with a new paralytic monster poison, once again protecting the empire from danger like a holy knight chosen by the deity. The Duchess Dearrut also accompanied him on this expedition, taking the lead in treating those injured by monsters, setting an exemplary model for numerous nobles…’

Fifth month.

[A New Sun Rises in the Pentaum Empire. The Ascension of the 30th Emperor, Alvin Pentaum.]

[Emperor Alvin Pentaum Announces One-Year Postponement of Marriage to Fiancée Sienna Meltain Dearrut.]

The Emperor, mentioning Lady Dearrut’s exceptional magical abilities, stated that once she becomes Empress, it will be difficult for her to focus entirely on magic, so the imperial wedding would take place after the Lady completes her recently initiated magical research.

Some nobles protested, questioning how remarkable the Lady’s magical abilities could be to delay such an important state matter as the imperial wedding.

‘Lady Dearrut’s magical research will greatly benefit the empire. I guarantee it. If you still doubt this, come find me. I will personally explain Lady Dearrut’s magical research to you slowly and clearly.’

Following this statement from Duke Dearrut, everyone fell silent.

As peaceful days continued to pass, the once-quiet capital of the Pentaum Empire had now become tumultuous.

All because of Duke Dearrut.

More precisely, because of the long-term leave request that Duke Dearrut submitted to the Emperor.

Not just a week or two, but a full three months.

Duke Dearrut requested a three-month leave from the Emperor. Both the nobles and the Emperor himself were astounded.

The thought that he, the undisputed Sword of the Empire and one of its main pillars, would be absent for three months.

Despite the continued peaceful days in the empire, the nobles were anxious.

They asked the Emperor to reject the Duke’s leave request, but unfortunately, it was not something the Emperor could prevent.

The reason for the Duke’s leave was none other than the Duchess Dearrut.

‘One of my wife’s dreams is to travel. Therefore, I intend to take a long vacation doubling as a honeymoon.’

‘…Duke, I was under the impression that you had already taken a honeymoon.’

‘Is there a law stating one can only take a honeymoon once? Besides, I find my wife fresh and exhilarating every day, so I still feel like a newlywed. Hence, I shall take another one.’

The Emperor was at a loss for words at the Duke’s brazen statement. But the Emperor knew.

How much Duke Dearrut loved the Duchess. The Duke was a man who would give his own life for the Duchess. How could he possibly refuse?

‘If you truly dislike the idea of me taking leave, perhaps a letter of resignation would…’

The Emperor quickly interjected at the Duke’s ominous words.

‘I grant your leave.’

Duke Dearrut, leaving behind the desperate gazes of the nobles, immediately returned to his duchy to prepare for departure.

In truth, preparations for the vacation were already complete. Right after Alice mentioned she wanted to travel. Kylus was like a bulldozer when it came to Alice’s wishes.

And so, the next day, a carriage carrying the Duke and Duchess Dearrut departed from their duchy.

However, they weren’t heading directly to their destination in the southern empire. Alice had a place she wanted to visit before their journey.

The Great Temple of Helios.

She needed to boast to Lord Helios about her upcoming trip and say her farewells, promising to return safely.

After all, Helios was her family home.

“I’ll be back soon, Kail.”

Upon arriving at the temple, Alice headed straight for the chapel. No one stopped her.

Pope Prion had decreed that the Duchess Dearrut could enter and exit the temple chapel at any time.

Besides, Alice visited the Great Temple chapel so frequently and spontaneously that there wasn’t a single person in the temple who didn’t recognize her face.

As she entered the chapel with the same ease as always, Alice smiled brightly.

Toward the silver-haired handsome man standing on the platform, as if he had been waiting for her.

“Lord Helios!”

Alice approached Helios with little trotting steps, like a puppy meeting its owner.

A gentle smile formed at the corners of Helios’s lips upon seeing her. But only briefly—Helios raised an eyebrow at Alice’s beaming, excited face before him.

[You’re very excited. So excited. Is the thought of traveling that pleasing to you?]

“Yes, I love it, though I was a bit uncomfortable at first.”

Yes, honestly, at first she had wondered if this was really okay.

It had been a casual comment—that her dream was to live freely, traveling—dropped during a light conversation with Kylus.

She had never imagined Kylus would seriously request an extended leave.

‘Kail, His Majesty has been on the throne for less than a year… And Sienna hasn’t yet ascended to the position of Empress. Isn’t it a bit much to be absent for three whole months?’

‘His Majesty is governing the nation well, and Sienna is flourishing in her abilities. Both of them are now proper adults. So stop worrying about those two and think only of what Lien wants, of Lien’s happiness.’

‘You deserve to be the happiest person in this world.’

With Kylus’s tender whisper, Alice had let her guard down.

‘And when we travel, we’ll be together for days and nights, all day long, without separating for even a moment—how does that sound, Lien?’

Kylus’s seductive smile and intimate whisper had completely stolen her heart.

Ahem, anyway.

“Kail told me that I’ve made such significant contributions to this world that I fully deserve to enjoy myself, so I’m trying to shake off unnecessary worries.”

[That’s true. You deserve to be the happiest and most joyful child in this world.]

Helios nodded, saying exactly the same thing as Kylus. After all, Helios cherished and loved Alice no less than Kylus did.

As Alice’s cheekbones began to rise at Helios’s affection, Helios narrowed his handsome brow and said:

[But three months is too long. What kind of exhausting trip takes three months… One or two months would be plenty sufficient. That Kylus fellow has no sense of moderation, tsk.]

Alice quickly responded, as if by reflex, to this sudden attack on her husband.

“How can you say Kail has no sense! Kail is so attentive to me. Where else in this world would I find someone who takes care of me as well as Kail does? Oh.”

He doesn’t like it when I praise Kylus too much.

Alice realized her mistake too late, but Helios’s eyebrows had already climbed like high mountains.

[Yes, who ELSE in this world could take care of you as well as Kylus. He. Is. The. Best. Indeed.]

“No, I meant among people, he’s the best. Among non-humans, the absolute best for me is naturally! Lord Helios! Of course.”

Alice tried to elevate Helios with her palms spread wide, but Helios merely snorted.

[Ah, enough. They say raising children is a futile endeavor. How accurate that is.]

“Oh, Lord Helios~”

[Only having eyes for me, only being concerned about me…]

Alice, who had been cooing with aegyo, paused.

Normally, he would have told her to stop with that disgusting aegyo, or given her a cold gust of breath.

But concern? Missing me?

What does that…?

Alice, bewildered, looked into Helios’s purple eyes.

There, she saw the disappointment and worry filling his gaze.

Why…?

Ah, could it be.

Alice slowly parted her lips.