Chapter After Story 7

Proofreader: somnium

Artizea was back and forth on the boundary between reality and dream.

The sunlight was shining on her body, but the wind was cool. Her ankles and knees were sore.

The sound of the stepping and crunching on the sand could be heard. There was the sound of waves sweeping the white sand.

Even with her eyes closed, Artizea felt as if she was looking at the deep blue sea.

‘I’ve never been to the South Sea.’

Even in her dreams, Artizea realized that the color of the sea was similar to the salt she had offered to the Empress.

Is she dreaming like this because they talked about Lady Viscount Pescher?

Since when, the Empress Dowager has stood by her side; a faceless lady-in-waiting who was holding a parasol behind her.

A blue silk belt, which the Empress Dowager tied around her waist, flew in the wind.

“I always wanted to come back.”

‘To the South Sea?’

It was a strange dream.

It was a simple trip for Empress Catherine to go to the South this time. It was true that she went to clear her mind, but she was not in a position to have such a conversation with Artizea.

So, this dream was not a depiction of a possible event. Artizea thought with her eyes closed.

‘It’s even weird. Why does it matter?’

“You wonder why I came out to organize my thoughts?”

Artizea got up and sat down. The Empress Dowager had a youthful face that she had never seen. Artizea had never looked closely, and it seems that the portrait of her youth had left an impression beyond her thoughts.

“Nothing will happen in the South.”

“It is meaningless for the Empress Dowager to say that now. After all, it’s my dream.”

Then, was it because she got something to worry about in the South and she’s dreaming like this?

Artizea did not believe that there was any kind of foreknowledge in her dreams. What she sees in her dreams only resurfaces as an extension of what remains of her impression or what she thought before falling asleep.

The Empress Dowager smiled brightly at her.

“You are right. Actually, I didn’t mean to talk about the South.”

“What?”

“Isn’t this what you care about?”

The Empress Dowager held out something she was holding in her fist.

Artizea realized that she was holding a bouquet. It was a really odd dream.

The Empress Dowager placed the golden orb she was holding in a white rose bud in the center of the bouquet.

“What does this mean? I cared about this?”

“It’s your dream, you know. Not mine.”

The Empress Dowager said so and turned back towards the sea. The water color had now changed to a color resembling the jewel that Natalia had given her.

“The climate is very nice. Come once. I have a really beautiful villa here.”

That was the phrase written in the Empress Dowager’s letter not long ago. Artizea muttered to herself,

“There are many enemies in the South Sea…….”

Then something lightly touched her lips.

Artizea realized that this swooping sound was not the sound of waves, but rather the sound of branches swaying in the wind.

‘Ah…….’

She thought her body was cold from a while ago, but it got colder in earnest. Artizea shrugged her body and closed her eyes.

“Now, wake up.”

She heard Cedric calling.

Artizea found herself curled up on the sofa. She suddenly woke up with heat rising from her body.

“Ah…….”

A cracked voice echoed in the reality. Cedric asked, lightly brushing her hair,

“What were you dreaming of?”

“A dream?”

Her memory has already faded.

“Something…… I think I had a good dream.”

The wind was still vivid, like a gentle rippling wave, brushing the nape of her neck. The last image left in her memory was a turquoise wave that seemed out of this world.

“A good dream?”

Cedric’s brow wrinkled slightly. Artizea looked up at him curiously.

A kiss came down before an answer. Artizea closed her eyes in bewilderment.

“Uh, umm…….”

Her breathing quickly slipped. Cedric buried his finger into Artizea’s hair.

He supported her back and laid Artizea deeper on the plush sofa. She was startled and grabbed Cedric’s collar.

She might be used to it now, but Artizea was still surprised every time, and she doesn’t know what to do every time. A small groan escaped her as he pushed their lips together, not letting her breathe out even for a few short breaths to release the tension.

But they couldn’t do more than that. Cedric heard footsteps running behind him.

“Haa.”

It was inappropriate to do that in front of a child. Cedric took his lips off of her regretfully.

Belatedly, his face turned red as he rubbed Artizea’s wet lower lip with his thumb.

Leticia rushed right into Cedric’s thigh. Cedric made an ‘ugh’ sound and pretended to fall down.

“Don’t bully Mom!”

Leticia pushed Cedric out with all her might and climbed up onto Artizea. She pushed Cedric as hard as she could.

“Mom sick, you can’t do that!”

“…… she wasn’t bullied. It was a kiss.”

“Kissing not like that!”

Leticia kissed Artizea’s cheek as if to show a demonstration. Cedric laughed like a fool.

Artizea looked embarrassed.

“Then, don’t do this outside.”

“I didn’t do anything bad.”

“It’s not because it’s a bad thing.”

“Mom.”

Leticia grabbed Artizea’s hair.

“Are you sick?”

“I’m not sick.”

“But Dad.”

“It was a kiss.”

Artizea said with a slight redness. Leticia tilted her head.

“Really?”

Dad sometimes glosses over, lies, or doesn’t keep his promises, but Mom never did. Leticia nodded her head with a trusting face.

“Then me, too.”

“Kiss?”

“Kiss!”

Leticia kissed Artizea’s lips while Cedric put his hand between Leticia’s armpits and lifted her up.

“To Dad, too.”

“No.”

Leticia’s cheeks swelled with discontent. She didn’t seem to understand yet.

“Then, Mom is sick, so shall we go alone to see the doggy?”

Leticia looked like her heart had dropped.

Artizea said as she brushed her tangled hair with a comb,

“You can’t make fun of a baby.”

“I wasn’t really kidding. If you’re sick, I’ll just take her with me.”

“I’m not sick. Let’s go together.”

When Artizea said that, she smiled broadly, letting Leticia forget that she had been sulking a little while ago.

And she kissed Cedric on the cheek. Cedric’s face flushed.

“By the way, are you going to see dogs?”

“I heard there is a dog in the Rosan mansion.”

“Ah, the gardener’s dog.”

Artizea shook her head. For three days since the day she came to see the puppy, Leticia said she wanted a puppy and complained.

It wasn’t difficult in itself. There was plenty of space, and there were hands to look after it. It wouldn’t be bad for a child to grow up with a puppy.

However, she was troubled because it seemed that there was a problem with immediately indulging her right away after she begged.

Cedric held Leticia in his arm as if sitting on his forearm, and extended his hand to Artizea.

Artizea took his hand and stood up.

“But you finished your work early today.”

“Only one appointment ceremony was scheduled in the morning. I plan to rest in the afternoon.”

“Ah…….You said that.”

Artizea sighed that her memory wasn’t what it used to be. Cedric thought that was a good thing.

Now, she doesn’t feel the need to remember, use and manipulate everything. She could listen, ignore and forget.

“Go in and change your clothes into something light. Give Ticia to Alice.”

“Well, I can go like this.”

“You can’t just go and hold Ticia like that. With those clothes.”

Cedric looked down at his outfit. Before coming to the Empress’ Palace, all of his insignias were removed for fear that Leticia would get hurt. But for the appointment ceremony in the morning, he was wearing a formal robe.

The Emperor’s robes are precious. He really shouldn’t have let it get crumpled up like this.

“I will change into comfortable clothes. Make sure you dress warmer, too. I will be back in the evening.”

“Yes.”

Even with that said, Cedric didn’t know how to put Leticia down.

Alice said,

“I will accompany Miss Ticia. Sand got into her clothes.”

“Yes. Please dress her in play clothes.”

“Yes.”

Cedric put Leticia down. Leticia grabbed Cedric’s sleeve.

“Dad will come back quickly.”

“Uh…….”

Leticia nodded her head. But her hand didn’t come loose.

“I am not leaving today. Really.”

“Keep your promise to read a book with Mom in the evening, right”

Whether Leticia was checking or not, she asked in an ambiguous tone. Cedric said he would keep his promise and patted Leticia on the back.

Leticia soon took Alice’s hand and headed towards the baby’s room. Cedric took Artizea to the front of her toilette room.

The servants who took care of the clothes were already prepared. It was thanks to Mrs. Keshore told them in advance that the imperial couple would be going out.

Sophie grinned and smiled and bowed to the two of them. There were already three dresses in the toilette room.

Artizea let out a small sigh.

She wondered if this was getting closer to Sophie’s hobby, making and dressing her these days.

‘Should I make her do something else soon?’

Just because she cared for Sophie, it’s not that she could just keep her by her side until she dies. It would be better for Sophie to have the opportunity to fulfill her own will than to attend Artizea at the Empress’ Palace.

‘Because sending her out doesn’t mean that communication will be cut off.’

It was when she thought to herself.

Cedric asked,

“What were you dreaming of?”

“What?”

Artizea looked up at him, tilting her head, not understanding what he was saying for a moment.

Cedric averted his eyes with an uncomfortable face.

“I think I was dreaming of something. I don’t remember. What’s the matter?”

“The climate of the South Sea is nice.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Cedric shook his head, released Artizea’s hand and left the place.