Elaina’s eyes became slightly dazed as she gazed at the inside of the greenhouse.

“Oh my word…”

A small murmur unconsciously escaped from between her slightly parted lips.

But it couldn’t be helped.

The interior of the greenhouse was… even more beautiful than the garden outside.

As if the temperature was separately controlled, flowers that would have already wilted by this season were in full, luxurious bloom. The colorful flowers seemed very well-maintained, emanating fragrance just by brushing past them.

There were also many tall trees, as if it was somehow possible to bring them inside. They were entirely green, as if it were spring.

The thick pillars scattered throughout had many palm-sized candles hanging on them. Perhaps because they were encased in silver, it was dazzlingly bright as if it were the middle of the day.

Moreover, there was even a fireplace installed up ahead. The sound of firewood crackling and burning was so pleasant to hear. It was just like the Empress’s villa that Elaina had visited with Sinclair some time ago.

It was in that moment, as Elaina was wide-eyed with surprise at the unexpected scenery.

“Elaina.”

At the kind voice, Elaina slowly turned around. Sinclair appeared, standing next to a pillar.

“You’ve come all this way.”

Sinclair approached Elaina and spoke.

“You weren’t cold on the way here, were you?”

“…Yeah.”

Elaina had intended to ask him why he had been acting that way for the past few days as soon as they met, but in the unexpected situation, she unknowingly nodded her head obediently and answered.

“I’m sorry. I haven’t been able to pay much attention to you lately.”

Sinclair reached out and caressed Elaina’s pink cheek.

“But I couldn’t help it either. I don’t know, but it felt like I shouldn’t be too obvious about this from the beginning.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You must have felt frustrated, being the only one while Rex, Schuler, Glen, Judith, and Anna were all on the same page as me, right?”

Sinclair chuckled, then tightly grasped Elaina’s hand.

“This was the garden my mother tended to while she was alive.”

“…Yeah, I know.”

“I spent quite a bit of time here. I had many memories too. But after my mother passed away, I never came here again.”

Elaina didn’t say anything in response. She just kept her mouth shut, quietly gazing at Sinclair and waiting for his next words.

“There was no one to take care of it, and no one came to visit. So it was a little scary too. The moment I faced the desolate garden, I felt like my heart would crumble in the same way.”

“…”

“But, I suddenly had this thought a while ago.”

“What thought?”

“If it has become desolate, I can tend to it again, manage it, and decorate it.”

“…”

“I also thought that I could restore it to its former appearance. Of course, it can’t be exactly the same, but I felt like I could make new memories here. And the first thing I did was rebuild this greenhouse.”

“Yes. You’re right, you did well, Sinclair.”

Elaina looked at him with warm eyes and parted her lips.

“You can do it all over again. I’ll do it together with you. I don’t know much about plants, but I can learn from now on.”

“…Right?”

“Yeah. Of course.”

Sinclair was silent for a moment. He gazed at Elaina with eyes filled with many emotions, then began to speak again in a slightly lowered voice.

“Do you remember? My diary that we saw at my mother’s villa.”

Elaina nodded.

“You said it then. That you think you know why my mother made me write such a diary.”

“Because she hoped that one day you would read that diary again and recall the memories.”

He never dreamed that the long-forgotten memories of the past would bring such a smile. And only then did he belatedly understand. His mother’s heart.

“Writing a diary is good, but… I don’t think I need to do that anymore.”

“Why?”

“Because I have you.”

“…”

“Even if I don’t write new ones, I can recall everything when I see you. Vividly. The times we spent together. The precious memories we’ve accumulated.”

Sinclair smiled affectionately.

“It’s the same with this garden. I want to spend a lot of time here with you. And growing old together while crying and laughing… that’s my dream.”

It’s really wonderful. Elaina smiled.

“…But, before we grow old like that, there’s one thing I absolutely must do.”

“Something you must do?”

What could that be? As far as Elaina could think, there was nothing left for them to do.

There were no more misunderstandings left between Sinclair and her. As soon as he ascended to the throne, he cleanly handled his own work, so there was nothing left to resolve related to the previous Emperor or the imperial family either.

But…

“Tell me too.”

“…You?”

“Yeah. I might not be of much help, but… I still want to do it together. I don’t want to see you alone anymore.”

It was a sincere truth without a single lie. If she could lighten Sinclair’s burden even a little, Elaina was ready to do anything. Even if it was very difficult and would cause her hardship.

But something was strange.

Upon hearing Elaina’s words, Sinclair hesitated for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. Very brightly at that.

“What. Why all of a sudden…”

“Elaina, this is something only I must do.”

“…”

“If I receive your help even for this, I would become the stupidest man in the world.”

Elaina tilted her head at the words that were not easily understood. Sinclair erased the smile that had been spreading across his face.

Then, he slowly went down on one knee.

“…Sinclair?”

“I kept thinking. That this is something I absolutely must go through at least once like this.”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about…”

And it was at that very moment.

What Sinclair slowly took out from his embrace.

It was a ring.

Even more beautiful than the one she received from him when she became the Crown Princess…

“At first, it was a proposal based on a contract, but not anymore.”

“…”

“It might sound a little silly to say this to you who has already become the Empress, but I don’t think so.”

Sinclair spoke in a solemn voice.

“This is not a proposal from an Emperor to an Empress, or from a Crown Prince to a Crown Princess. It’s just me, as a man, courting you, as a woman, with all my heart.”

“…”

“Elaina, will you continue to be with me from now on?”

…So this was it.

This was why he had been avoiding me.

Elaina, having finally realized Sinclair’s heart, smiled radiantly.

The answer she would give was already decided.

And from a very long time ago at that.

“Yes.”

“…”

“I will. No matter what happens, I will never leave your side.”

Instead of words, Sinclair smiled faintly. Then he stood up from his position and personally put the ring on Elaina’s slender, white finger.

“…Now I have two rings, Sinclair.”

One on the right hand, and another on the left.

The rings on each ring finger were all given by Sinclair.

The ring that was the former Empress’s keepsake, and the one she just received.

“People…”

Elaina said, looking down at her hands.

“People?”

“What if they criticize me for being an Empress indulging in extravagance?”

“No way.”

“Huh?”

“I’m a rather frugal Emperor with good abilities, so I’ve already secured sufficient funds from here and there.”

“…”

“Of course, more than half of it went to the people as relief goods. So the people of the Empire won’t dare say such things either. Rather, they might object, saying how an esteemed Emperor can’t even do this much for his beloved Empress.”

Sinclair laughed.

Elaina quietly looked at him, then reached out her hand.

“I love you, Sinclair.”

And while tightly embracing Sinclair, she affectionately whispered into his ear.

“So much today too.”

“…Me too.”

With a faint laugh, Sinclair tightly hugged Elaina’s delicate body. Then, brightly smiling, he didn’t move for a long time.

It was one day, as autumn was coming to an end.

The winter in Edenbell was quite cold compared to other empires.

Once it snowed, it wouldn’t stop for at least a few days, so the area outside the Imperial Palace was already covered in a thick layer of white snow.

Thanks to that, Elaina was living a life of hardly leaving the Emperor’s Palace.

“Mmm…”

As she slowly opened her sleepy eyes, the first thing she saw was Sinclair gazing down at her with eyes full of love.

“Did you sleep well? Elaina.”

When Elaina nodded, Sinclair slightly tidied her disheveled black hair and kissed her forehead.

“It snowed a lot again today.”

“Again…?”

“It will probably freeze as is. The roads will be very slippery, so you’ll have to endure even if you feel frustrated. I don’t really want to see you end up like Schuler.”

…Poor Schuler had a terrible fall on the icy road yesterday afternoon while trying to visit the Emperor’s Palace.

Because of that, not only did he scrape his knees and injure his ankle, but he also suffered the humiliation of spraining his back.

“But I’m not frustrated.”

Elaina spoke in a voice that wasn’t fully awake.

“As you can see, Sinclair, I’ve been strangely sleepy these days…”

“…”

“I only meant to close my eyes for a moment, but hours would pass in an instant. It’s like I’ve become an animal hibernating for the winter.”

Has my health worsened? But I’m not in pain anywhere. Elaina blinked and muttered to herself, and at the same time, Sinclair’s golden eyes looking at her briefly wavered.