Kasallin decided after much deliberation to accept Parnes’s proposal.

She thought that since previous empresses often vacationed in Hisberry, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to follow their example and visit once.

After about two hours by carriage, Hisberry was a small village nestled among dense forests.

Stepping out of the carriage, Kasallin looked around with curious eyes.

Below the hill, a winery was loading carts with wine for the imperial court, and the pasture wafted with the savory scent of cheese.

Even in broad daylight, the entire village felt serene, as if bathed in the warm glow of an evening sunset.

“What do you think?”

Parnes, who had made time to accompany her, carefully observed Kasallin’s expression as he asked.

Unable to take her eyes off the quaint village scene with its tightly packed vermilion rooftops, Kasallin spoke as if entranced.

“It’s far more… beautiful than I expected. I can somewhat understand why the previous empresses didn’t want to leave this place.”

“I’m glad you like it. The villa is just up this way.”

Parnes led Kasallin up a low stone staircase. Kasallin set aside sightseeing for the moment and followed him.

The Hisberry villa, where they would stay for a while, stood picturesquely atop a hill lined with tall conifers.

In a lush, circular garden filled with large and small trees, there was one grand main building and two smaller outbuildings.

“One seems to be the servants’ quarters, but what’s the other building used for?”

“It doesn’t have a specific purpose usually, but when empresses stayed here, it was often used as a birthing room.”

Kasallin glanced at the outbuilding, half the size of the main house.

Reddish ivy climbed the white walls, and long windows were adorned with white curtains.

Hearing it was used as a birthing room gave it an inexplicable hospital-like feel.

“It’s as if it’s being protected by those two ancient zelkova trees.”

At Parnes’s words, Kasallin glanced at the back of the outbuilding.

The rear gate connected directly to a forest path leading to the mountain, embraced by two trees that seemed centuries old.

“You’re right. It’s almost like a mother and father watching over their child.”

“The previous royals found this sight intriguing, and there’s a saying that imperial children born in this birthing room live long and healthy lives. Of course, it’s likely just a story made up to wish for the child’s good health.”

Parnes concluded his words and turned toward the main house.

Kasallin couldn’t take her eyes off the white outbuilding with its strange atmosphere for a moment, then slowly followed him.

“It’s a bit sudden to say, but this place is truly calm and peaceful. Since coming to Hisberry, it feels like time has stopped.”

Kasallin nodded in agreement at Loren Logia’s words, sipping goat’s milk sent from the pasture that morning while gazing out the window.

Life at the Hisberry villa passed uneventfully without major incidents. The lush green hills of summer were gradually turning golden.

Kasallin received regular checkups from Leon, who had accompanied her to Hisberry, and spent time walking with Loren Logia or reading.

As her body grew heavier each day, she keenly felt the time to meet her child drawing closer.

And as her belly grew, something else changed as well.

“Look, it seems His Majesty the Emperor is arriving.”

Parnes, who traveled between the imperial palace and Hisberry, was returning earlier each day.

Now, by the afternoon, he would finish his palace duties and pass through the villa’s front gate.

Even when his retainers begged him to take the carriage, he seemed to ignore them, and poor Ludwig, panting, always trailed behind his lord.

Kasallin, as always, went out to the porch to greet him.

As expected, he leapt off his horse midway.

“My lady.”

Tossing the reins aside and swiftly crossing the garden, Parnes, as always, lifted Kasallin into his arms.

As if he had been waiting for this moment all day, he buried his face in Kasallin’s neck, inhaling her scent, and let out a sigh of relief.

For reasons unknown, he was always like this.

It was as if he was inwardly offering a prayer of gratitude that Kasallin had spent another day healthy and safe.

Still unaccustomed to his touch, Kasallin felt her pulse quicken in her neck.

Worried he might notice the loud thumping, she gently pushed him away.

“Your Majesty, I told you I’m heavy now.”

“I wish you’d actually get a bit heavier. Are you eating your meals and snacks properly?”

“Of course. Thanks to someone who orders three full meals a day plus all sorts of snacks before leaving for work.”

“You’re still too frail. You won’t hold up like this.”

“Please, don’t say that. At this rate, I’ll roll out the front door.”

His lips curled into a smile at her light joke. Loren Logia, Nigel, and the other servants watching couldn’t hide their fond expressions.

“What did you do today?”

“I taught Loren Logia and Fiona how to play the spinet. We had cookies with goat’s milk sent from the village pasture, and I took a short walk.”

Parnes led Kasallin to the dining room, praising her generously.

Strictly speaking, it meant she’d spent the whole day eating and relaxing, so she wasn’t sure what was so praiseworthy.

Life at the Hisberry villa was peaceful and pleasant, but Kasallin began to think it might be time to consider returning to the palace.

For some reason, though, Parnes didn’t seem ready for that.

It felt as if he was keeping something precious safe in a nest, protected from dangerous predators.

Kasallin ate dinner with him and went up to the bedroom.

While drinking tea and chatting, her eyelids inevitably grew heavy.

When Parnes returned to the villa, he always made sure she ate a hearty meal first. Then he’d move her to a cozy spot by the fire to drink warm tea. After that, sleepiness was unavoidable.

She had many questions—about the state of the empire, the success of the diplomatic treaty, or the discussions with the envoys—but there was no time for serious conversation.

Seeing her blink slowly, Parnes suggested it was time to rest and prepared the bedding.

He slid his hand behind her neck and gently laid her down.

She felt like a hundred-year-old elder or a helpless newborn.

“Straighten your legs.”

Sitting on the bed, Parnes took her ankles, lowered them, and began gently massaging her swollen legs.

Kasallin hesitated for a moment, too tired to protest, and finally relaxed.

“Your Majesty must be exhausted…”

“Exhausted?”

“I know you haven’t been sleeping well because of me. I keep waking up with leg cramps or shortness of breath. Why don’t you sleep in another room for a while to rest comfortably?”

Parnes, as if the question wasn’t worth considering, continued massaging her legs with the same cool expression he’d had when they first met.

“How could a husband sleep comfortably when his wife is going through such hardship? And I can no longer sleep in a place where you aren’t.”

Kasallin’s face flushed slightly. She buried her heated face in the pillow.

Thinking she was just tired, Parnes stopped the massage and covered her with the blanket.

“Sleep early tonight. I’ll stay by your side until you do.”

In the dim light, his softly moving lips caught her eye perfectly. Kasallin hid her flushed face under the blanket, then peeked out again.

He let out a soft chuckle and gently brushed her face.

“What’s wrong? Can’t sleep? Staring at your husband like that.”

“N-no, I’m going to sleep.”

Since the festival, a thought occasionally crossed her mind. Could he possibly have developed special feelings for her?

She wanted to ask what that kiss from that day meant to him.

But fearing it might make their relationship more awkward, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Trying not to focus too much on his hand brushing her hair, Kasallin closed her eyes.

Perhaps because he was by her side.

A deep sleep came over her for the first time in a while, and Kasallin soon breathed evenly, surrendering to unconsciousness.

.

.

.

When she opened her eyes, it was still dark. Unable to breathe easily, she woke after only a few hours.

Kasallin, pained by the ache between her thighbone and pelvis, laboriously turned to her side.

The spot beside her was empty, though faint warmth lingered, proof he hadn’t left long ago.

‘Where did he go at this hour…?’

Stumbling to her feet, Kasallin draped a shawl over herself and stepped into the hallway.

A light was on in the next room. A thin beam of light spilled through the slightly open door, casting a yellow line across the corridor.

‘He tells me to rest every chance he gets, but he’s working himself this late?’

A small lump of frustration stirred within her.

Intending to give Parnes a piece of her mind, Kasallin approached quietly.

It was then, as she reached for the doorknob.