episode_0181

“It is said in the book that you have to exercise to gain physical strength.”

Emilia’s expression immediately hardened when she saw the bright smile on her face.

“…Okay. That’s right.”

Emilia’s lips twitched and she spoke weakly.

Time continued to pass.

Laria was happy every day.

To her, Emilia was her mother, older sister, and friend.

Delicious food.

A safe place to live.

Good and kind elf friends. The forest had everything she needed.

Then one day, Emilia and Laria had just left the forest for Laria, who wanted to see the outside world.

“Emilia, is this the world where humans live?”

“Hmm. That’s probably right… .”

Emilia hesitated.

She also left the forest more than a hundred years ago, but originally she would have set out to find traces of Ernel.

Laria needed Emilia. Both mentally and physically. And that habit continued even after Laria became an adult.

Emilia also had no intention of leaving the child her brother left behind.

No matter how confident she was, Laria’s lifespan was limited to one hundred years.

Even that was the result of Emilia, a high elf, generously feeding him the elixir of the World Tree, and living in a fortress in the forest where the energy of the World Tree was most abundant.

Laria wanted to see me, so I came out, but it would be better to go back as soon as possible.

“Emilia! There’s something off here!”

Laria gestured.

‘The smell of blood…?’

Emilia’s ears perked up.

“Wait a minute, Laria.”

“Emilia, the person lying here!”

He was a beautiful man with black hair.

“Ugh…”

The trauma is not a big deal, but it looks like mana has run out. Although it is faint, I can feel the energy of the dragon.

Are they descendants of dragons…?

“Couldn’t it be saved?”

Laria asked cautiously.

He covered his mouth with both hands as if surprised by the large wound and the smell of blood he had never seen before. However, he seemed worried as he did not take his eyes off me.

Emilia frowned.

‘Because he’s human…’

If you leave it like that, you will definitely die.

It was such a simple thing for Emilia.

But somehow. I didn’t like something.

‘What does this feel like?’

The image of a man appeared in the eyes of Laria, who had always followed only herself.

“…”

Emilia hesitated.

“Emilia?”

Laria asked worriedly.

‘Let’s save it for now, and if a problem arises, we can deal with it then.’

*

With just a simple healing spell, the man soon came to his senses.

“Ugh…”

“Are you okay?”

Laria asked cautiously.

“You…”

The man leaned his back against the tree and raised his head.

“Wow…”

Laria was involuntarily impressed. A low, thick bass sound that I have never heard before. She looked at the red eyes, which felt either blood-red or flower-pink, as if she was mesmerized, forgetting the situation.

“Pretty…”

“You too.”

The answer came right away.

He too was looking at Laria.

In “…!?”

Laria’s face turned bright red.

“…”

He also kept his mouth shut, as if he had spit it out inadvertently.

“Laria. Let’s go now.”

“Well, but, I just woke up. Is it okay?”

Laria stamped her feet.

“My healing magic is perfect.”

Emilia spoke firmly.

“Ha, but…”

“Ugh…!”

As Laria hesitated, the man groaned. I lowered my head and clutched my chest.

Emilia’s eyes narrowed.

‘The wound would have healed.’

The moment she was about to grab it.

“Emilia! Can I take care of you?”

Laria put her hands together and looked at Emilia with bright eyes.

“…sigh. Do whatever you want.”

“Thank you, Emilia!”

Laria smiled brightly as she hugged Emilia.

“…”

Emilia was troubled.

‘Yes, Laria is human. ‘It’s not strange to hang out with humans.’

But this uncomfortable feeling.

‘Is this how it feels to have my younger brother taken away?’

She didn’t know.

What will you gain and what will you lose with this choice.

After finishing the story, Laria and Emilia returned to their residence.

“…Then. Rest in peace.”

Laria smiled broadly.

“Let’s go, Laria. He might be comfortable being alone too.”

“Yes.”

Emilia urged him on, and Laria, who looked regretfully, closed the door and left.

*

Aden Arjein. He was bored with life itself. Even when his father, the duke, died, he didn’t feel anything.

Even when the emperor ordered him to participate in the war, he responded that he would do so without hesitation.

“…Emilia? How to? this person. I won’t open my eyes..”

I thought it wouldn’t matter if it ended like this, but I involuntarily opened my eyes to a voice as sweet as a fairy.

“……!”

At that moment, it felt like the whole world was filled with light.

Silver hair shining like moonlight and eyes as bright as spring flowers were full of worry.

‘It’s beautiful.’

“Ah. Are you out of your mind? So… how many of these?”

Laria, with her eyes wide open, waved her finger.

Flashing. Aden opened his eyes and raised his upper body.

“What happened to me…?”

All I could think about was her.

The dream I just had, the meeting with her, and what happened just yesterday kept coming back to me.

“Still… it’s not a bad feeling.”

The next day, Aden was able to meet Laria, who was smiling as if she was in a good mood.

“Is it delicious?”

she laughed That alone made the soup in my mouth feel as sweet as honey.

“Yes.”

“Thank goodness.”

Seeing him smile brightly at a simple answer made me feel like the earthy world was colored with light.

“…”

Emilia, who was watching the two, was troubled.

Everyone in the village was also curious about the guest they had seen for the first time in a while.

But it was only for a moment.

That man was basically indifferent to everything in the world.

How should they express it to themselves, or to be more precise, to Laria, when they saw it for the first time?

To put it in common human terms.

‘A boy in first love.’

Emilia clicked her tongue inwardly.

Even thinking about it, it was absurd.

‘Demon of the Empire.’

‘disaster.’

Even after briefly getting to know him, his rumor did not match up with such cute words.

‘Well, they are called heroes by their own people.’

Because Laria likes it.

Just for the time being, okay, just for the time being.

*

Laria took good care of Aden.

Every single day.

Sometimes, I fall asleep while taking care of Aden.

Quietly. A breathing sound is heard. Laria is pillowing Aden’s chest like a pillow.

The moment Aden’s hand tried to comb Laria’s hair.

“……”

Cheer up. Laria woke up, blushed, and started gibbering.

“I’m sorry. Well, I drooled. Wait a minute. The handkerchief…”

Sreuk. Aden’s hand held Laria’s hand.

“It’s okay. You can expect as much as you want.”

While saying that, he lightly pulled Laria towards him.

Laria, who fell helplessly into Aden’s arms, opened her eyes round.

“…”

Laria, who had been as frozen as ice, slowly raised her head at the sound of his heart.

It felt familiar, perhaps because it was the embrace I had been lying in just a moment ago.

“I’ll bring you a meal!”

Finally, after a while, she got up.

*

Laria and Aden fell in love in an instant.

“Emilia. me. Try to follow that person.”

“Laria! You… do you know what that means now?”

“Yes…”

“…Why so much? Instead, tell that man to live in the forest! I can do that much!”

Emilia spoke persuasively several times.

The removal of the elders was all for Laria’s sake. I knew that there was no way they would nod their heads when I suggested using the World Tree for Laria, who was human, even if she was her brother’s bloodline.

He must have tried to kill Laria.

“No… That person has a lot to do…”

“Laria. If you stay in the forest, you can live for decades more. I will help you. Just like until now. There’s no need for you to care about things in the human world in the first place!”

“Emilia… I like that person… I married him…”

“Laria!”

“Thank you, Emilia. Still, there are two years left…”

Laria smiled awkwardly. 2 years. The lifespan that she can live in the human world on her own without the help of the World Tree and Emilia.

This was what Emilia heard the day she became an adult.

Nevertheless, she wanted to leave the forest and see the world.

“…”

It is very simple to block it with force.

But then isn’t it the same thing?

Just like my older brother who liked to move around freely.

“And… in about 2 years… wouldn’t I be able to become a mother too?”

“Does he know too?”

“No… Maybe then Aden won’t take me…”

“What happens to that guy when you die?”

“……Ah. I see It was something like that. This is my greed too.”

Laria smiled bitterly and lowered her head. Honestly, even though I heard that you will die if you leave the forest, it doesn’t feel real.

But if you die…

I see

Is it still not possible?

“…Laria.”

“I know… It’s strange… Still… If it’s not now, no, if it’s not that person, I don’t want it… And, I know it’s greed, but I also want to be a mother…◦# ◦

“…Okay.”

“I’m sorry… Emilia.”

“…Still, two years won’t be enough.”

Emilia turned around.

“Wait, I’ll get ready.”

“Emilia?”

*

“Ah.”

Emilia opened her eyes.

Is it a dream?

It seems like it was just yesterday.

In the end, everything went well.

Laria’s body fully recovered.

The core was different from the heart.

No matter how much Emilia does, it is impossible to restore someone else’s core. But Laria’s daughter. Everything changed because of Marian Arjein.

The first time we met, yes, it was amazing how the newborn child followed him so well.

Even when I looked at Maria, I didn’t feel the same level of intimacy or affection as I did with Laria.

I thought nothing would change just because I was the second child.

But I soon realized that that thought was an illusion.

At first, I just wondered why such a small child would have so much anxiety and worry.

Still, it’s Laria’s child. I was thinking of getting rid of my anxiety.

however. At some point.

Just as much as Laria, no, maybe even more than Laria…

Suddenly.

“Emilia! Have you seen your mom by any chance?”

Marian, who opened the door and came in, spoke quickly.

“Ah. Sorry, did I wake you up from your sleep?”

“No, I just forgot… Wait, Laria?”

“Yes! I was supposed to go on a picnic with my mom… but I finished work a little late…”

Marian, who had been speaking brightly, muttered sullenly. Who would look at this and say that she is the Iron Blood Empress and the most perfect emperor?

“It seemed like Aden was taking Laria…?”

“Uh…? When?”

“Probably… about an hour ago.”

“Again?! no! Dad goes out alone to play while his daughter works!”

Marianne speaks in an absurd way. But her expression was bright.

“What happened? Because it was my dad who missed my mom the most. There’s nothing we can do for the time being.”

“ㅡI see.”

Marian and Emilia looked at each other and smiled.

‘For the time being, it’s already been two years. There’s no need to say it.’

Emilia swallowed her words and held out her hand.

“Lady, then, would you like to go on a picnic with me?”

“Is that so?”

Even if she became emperor and even if everyone in the world looked up to her, Marian was still a small and precious girl to her.