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CH ss - 9




Side Story 9: A Beautiful Dream
The entire process of childbirth proceeded like lightning while Sienna, the person involved, muttered, “Huh? Huh?”
‘No, it’ll be a lie to say that it didn’t hurt that much.’
Pain was pain. No matter how small they were, they were still normal children.
While everyone around her was in a state of confusion and fuss, the whole process went by swiftly, too quickly. So to be precise, Sienna didn’t have much time to feel serious pain.
Even the always gentle veteran midwife yelled at her subordinates who couldn’t work in sync, and the doctor, instead of cheering her on to push harder, said, “I’m not ready to take care of the imperial highnesses yet, so you shouldn’t put in too much effort…”
Eventually, instruction came in the form of the words ‘Let’s give birth now’. And after exerting strength a few times, cheers resounded, “Oh my, Your Highness, our Crown Princess, is so good!”
“This… what…”
Sienna, who had two babies in her arms less than two hours after entering the birthing room, was more puzzled than delighted.
“……Is this supposed to happen? I don’t think I was like this.”
The empress, who came in and cut the umbilical cord because the father was not present, asked the midwife with a bewildered expression that no one had ever seen before. The midwife, who was helping the doctor finish the postpartum treatment, barely answered with a hesitant voice.
“That… In my humble opinion, Her Highness the Crown Princess seems to be blessed. Sometimes, there are people who give birth relatively easily… It’s a miracle.”
It was then.
“Your Highness! Your Highness! His Highness the Grand Duke…!”
The door opened, and a tall man came rushing in.
“Sienna…!”
It was Ashiel, who was holding back tears.
“Ashiel, hold on—”
Before Sienna could stop him, Ashiel quickly came to her side and knelt down.
“How could you handle all this alone…”
“No, it wasn’t difficult enough to say I handled it…”
“This person is immoral and lacking, making you go through such a serious incident alone… Your face…”
“No, it really wasn’t hard enough to say that I really went through something…?”
Regardless of what Sienna said, Ashiel’s chin was already hanging down. It was then.
“Waaaaahhhh…!”
The one who burst into tears was a little boy with black hair.
Immediately, Sienna tried to quickly soothe the helplessly crying child, but she noticed that his sister, seemingly a little heavier than him, was frowning. Then she made a short noise, “Aeng!”
“Hup.”
It was as if she was scolding her brother, and what’s even funnier was that the newborn hiccupped like he understood his sister’s words.
[Look at this.]
The fireball rising in the air spoke sarcastically.
[His father cries so much, he resembles the father.]
“That…”
“Hesaros, don’t be mean on a good day. Ashiel, don’t think too much and accept her. She’s heavy.”
While she handed over her still-frowning daughter to Ashiel, the family members who had been waiting outside started snooping in.
Sienna smiled and gestured with her empty hand.
“Come on in.”
“Is that okay?”
The former emperor abruptly started running, dashing to the other side where Ashiel did not occupy and took over carrying the boy. A big smile hung on his wrinkled face.
“Little one, you’re that fellow’s brother? You’re already at a loss at your sister’s words. I’ve definitely seen it before, it’s still so cute!”
“Ung.”
The whining baby, as if recognizing his great-grandfather, quietly opened one eye. His eyes were as red as rubies.
The former emperor froze for a moment, then he laughed.
“Look at this guy. He’s clearly of the Nacht bloodline. It seems that seed did not stray far this time either.”
“It’s not that it didn’t go well, these guys…”
The empress spoke while looking at the baby in the former emperor’s arms.
To Sienna, the babies she gave birth to were just babies, but she was amazed that the father and daughter could be so alike in their thoughts.
“His parents already named him ‘Roderick’, so how could this little guy do anything?”
(TL/N: Grand Duke or should I say grand daddy Roderick Nacht was also a crybaby when he was young, often playfully ‘bullied’ by Arandier! These two babies are so similar to them ahahaha~)
At the call of ‘Roderick’, the baby yawned with his small mouth.
“Oh, this little thing recognizes his name? Do you know that I am your great-grandfather? Hmm?”
“Ung…”
“Oops. This guy, like his father and grandpa, looks like he’s about to cry.”
“Ah, Grandpa! Let me hug him too!”
“It’s noisy, you punk! Why are you raising your voice in front of newborn children?”
“Well, I’m his uncle!”
The former emperor ignored Michael, instead handing over baby Roderick to the midwife. Then, he took over the baby from Ashiel’s arms, saying, “Let me hug our little Arandier too.”
“Oh, this one knows her name too. She frowned!”
“Your Majesty the Former Emperor, please give me the imperial princess. The babies will be uneasy, let me wash them quickly.”
“Ah, why are they so pure and pretty even without washing up??”
“Look at me too, oh… Doesn’t she have the same hair as Sienna?”
As the family observed the babies, they were handed over to the midwife. Naturally, they watched as she washed them. Meanwhile, Ashiel was busy holding Sienna’s hand and fiddling with it.
“I’m really fine.”
“I’m the father… But I wasn’t even around to cut the umbilical cord.”
“It’s better for His Majesty the Former Emperor to cut them off as he has a higher status than you.”
“You’re having a hard time, but I can’t even stand by your side.”
It was not that Sienna didn’t suffer, but it was easier than other people… The words “I wouldn’t have been so helpful if you were here” flowed to the tip of the realistic Sienna’s tongue, but recalling past experiences, she succeeded in putting aside what she wanted to say.
Instead, she stretched out her empty arms to hug her husband.
“Don’t worry too much. The way I see it, it’s not your fault, it’s just that the kids couldn’t wait for their dad, they were impatient.”
“But…”
“And what, is giving birth the end? There’s still a lot to do, so don’t fret too much. We can do it slowly, one by one.”
“…….”
Sienna pulled the silent Ashiel into the crook of her shoulder. It meant to not think useless things, but thanks to that, Ashiel had to forcefully bend his large body. Needless to say, there were no complaints.
Watching the scene, Hesaros clicked his tongue and whispered in a voice that only Sienna could hear.
[Sienna, everything’s fine, but does your husband remember the faces of the children?]
“Um…”
Of course he couldn’t.
Thinking of her husband, who only looked at her as if he was bewitched even when he held the baby in his arms, Sienna smiled a little, saying it couldn’t be helped.
* * *
Time flew by without a hitch.
It was only natural that there were no major issues. But anyway, the twins, after an unprecedented impatient birth, became full-fledged five-year-olds.
The golden jade leaves of the imperial family of Feyenoord. The two children grew up well under the adults around them who were determined to spoil their habits, their father who was kind and weak-hearted, and their mother who was strict as if to balance him…
“Uuuung, waaaaaaah…!”
…Today too, in the middle of the Imperial Palace, a grandiose cry was bursting out.
“Roderick, stop crying!”
Looking down at her brother who was lying prostrate on the marble floor that was polished like a mirror, little Arandier frowned.
“Hey, you crybaby. Are you going to clean the floor with your tears?”
Tears once again broke out in the eyes of the future Grand Duke Nacht at the relentless criticism of his ruthless sister, which bore the same tone as their great-grandfather and grandmother.
“Sister… so meeeeeaaan…!”
“Ha?”
In front of the bewildered little Arandier, little Roderick jumped up and wiped his face like a hamster washing its face. Then he declared with an angry expression.
“I’m not going to play with Sister!”
“Don’t lie to me, Rody. Even after this, you will ask me to play with you again.”
“I won’t.”
Little Roderick was quite upset, so he turned around in a huff. Behind him, little Arandier rolled her eyes and sighed like an adult, but she didn’t bother to grab her brother.
‘Exploring the Imperial Palace by myself is fun.’
The imperial princess, who resembled Empress Arandier and was already called a maverick general, had already walked away from her brother, eager to do her own thing.
Unlike her, the weak-hearted little Roderick looked back after taking a couple of steps, wondering why his sister didn’t hold him back.
“Sister…?”
He soon found out that there was no one behind him. Immediately, he broke down into tears.
‘So bad!’
She was a sister who usually held onto him, so he was quite shocked that such a sister had left first.
‘…Me too, I’ll have fun by myself.’
Since his sister said she was going to explore the Imperial Palace, little Roderick made up his mind that he would do a great job exploring the palace by himself. But the wrinkle that had already settled on his chin did not disappear.
(TL/N: he’s pouting and scrunching up his chin.)
With droopy shoulders, little Roderick wandered around the palace. For some reason, he couldn’t even feel the presence of people, let alone voices, so he became scared…
‘I won’t cry.’
But the promise did not last long.
Roderick looked around helplessly in the middle of the dark hallway. He had no idea where to go, and he wished there was someone around.
Before he knew it, he was stepping on leaves and petals… he didn’t even remember how he went from the inner palace into the garden.
“Sister… wahhhhhh…”
Whatever the case might be, Arandier was Roderick’s only hero. His sister always saved him when he was crying, and although she criticized him for being crybaby, she usually still played with him.
And she never let the other children frighten or tease him.
He loved his mother, who was cool and strict, but generous in giving snacks. He also loved his father, who was firm when it came to snacks, but was usually friendly and soft.
Nonetheless, it was his sister who shared every day with him.
‘Sister hates it when I cry.’
Roderick struggled to hold back his tears and moved on. After barely passing through a shaded passage with dense trees on both sides, fortunately, a small clearing soaked in sunlight appeared.
“…Pretty!”
A small garden with fluttering white petals illuminated by the sun’s glow.
Forgetting that he was lost at the sight of the beautiful scenery, Roderick walked further in.
Then, at last, he found a plate of white marble embedded in the ground and stopped in front of it.
“…‘May you rest forever in my garden’?”
“Are you already able to read?”
“……!”
Little Roderick looked up in surprise.
‘I’m sure no one is around!’
When Roderick saw a scary-looking old man looking down at him, he flinched, about to step back…
‘Oh, no. Sister said that since we are of the imperial family, we should always be confident.’
Gulp. The child steeled his nerves and asked.
“Who are you?”
“…….”
The man who didn’t answer was frightening, but little Roderick somehow mustered up enough courage to say,
“No matter who you are, even if you are qualified to enter the Imperial Palace, you should still greet the imperial prince…”
It… It took a lot more effort than he thought to not speak formally.
But at that very moment, a smile crossed the face of the man.
“You are better than me.”
“……?”
Just then, little Roderick noticed that the man had black hair and red eyes, much like his father’s.
‘Huh…?’
He wondered why he didn’t know until now that there was a person who looked so similar to his father.
“…Mister, are you related to my dad?”
“I guess so, yes.”
“Oh, that’s what it is.”
Little Roderick nodded in a (hopefully) dignified manner. He was a man he had never seen before, but he resembled his dad so much that he couldn’t not be a relative.
“Then you should have said so. I almost didn’t recognize and scolded a relative.”
“Yes… I’m sorry.”
No matter how close their relations might be, Roderick was a direct member of the imperial family and should be treated with respect, but since his closest uncle Michael always spoke inappropriately, Roderick nodded generously. Things like that happen too!
“By the way, Mister, why are you here alone?”
“I…”
Swoosh, the wind mixed with petals blew. The unfamiliar yet familiar man answered with a smile.
“I’ve been invited to stay here by your dear mother.”
“My mother?”
Even the slightest doubt disappeared from little Roderick’s mind. His mother was strict, wise, and had clear standards. Marchioness Gildinak always said that. If he had been invited by such a mother, he could never be a bad person.
“I see, but did Mother tell you to be here alone?”
“Not exactly, but somehow it happened. Thanks to that, I met you like this.”
“Hmm…”
Roderick wasn’t sure how far off this stranger who was also a relative was, he saw in his eyes the same look he had always seen in his family. No, maybe it was even dearer.
“By the way, child, why did you come here alone?”
“That…”
Roderick hesitantly confessed his circumstances. Hearing that he accidentally fell and cried while playing with his sister, the man muttered with a strange expression.
“Does even this run in…”
“Run in…?”
“Perhaps there is such a thing. Anyway, you must have been very upset today.”
“…Mhm.”
Glad that someone understood, Roderick nodded quickly.
“Sister Aran will be the next crown princess, she’s cool like Mother and doesn’t cry like me… I’m upset I’m not like them…”
“Well, I suppose so.”
“They said I will become Grand Duke Nacht later… Sister Aran said she would inherit our grandmother’s Caledro, but I…”
“Are you not confident?”
Instead of answering, Roderick bit his lip and nodded.
Instead of consoling the child, the man silently nodded. Then he said, “By the way, do you know?”
“What?”
“When I was young, I was such a crybaby, to the extent that I would be envious of you. But in the end, I was chosen by a Named.”
“Really?!”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Seeing the small child looking up at him with wide eyes, the man laughed. Then he slipped aside.
“Wow…”
It was marvelous.
It was as tall as the tree it leaned against, black and sleek, and at the same time, very heavy. Even if Roderick hadn’t heard the story beforehand, he would have thought that it was cool.
“It’s Illus Getter. He is the one that will be passed down through generations in our family.”
“This Named chose you…?”
“Once upon a time. And now its looking for a new friend.”
“…….”
“And I think you can be his friend.”
“…Really?”
“Really.”
The man lifted the spear and handed it to Roderick. The boy grabbed it without realizing it. The man held the upper part, so they were able to avoid falling together.
“If you want to protect someone like me, this guy can help you do that.”
“… But if you give me your friend, what about you?”
“Well…”
The man reached out and stroked little Roderick’s head. It was a touch that somehow felt clumsy.
“I have already protected what I want to protect… Now, just being here is enough.”
What. Roderick blinked and looked up at the man. Somehow, the view was cloudy and the voice was echoing as if it was coming from a distance.
“Mister…?”
“So, I ask you, please protect…”
“…Ung…”
Roderick wanted to say that he knew, and that he would work hard because he gave up the Named, but somehow, he was suddenly so sleepy that he couldn’t say anything.
‘Mister…’
Even as he fell asleep, Little Roderick was desperately trying to say at least one more word.
‘…Thank you.’
In the garden of the wind, where the rain poured down, the little child fell asleep with the obligation to spend the rest of his life together with his new friend.
And he dreamed for some time until he heard a voice calling for him urgently.
It was a beautiful dream, of protecting all his loved ones.
「The World Without My Sister Who Everyone Loved, END of Side Stories.」
Unless more side stories are released when the season 2 or 3 or whatever of the manhwa is released, this is the end! Please support the author Na Yoo Hye (나유혜) by unlocking or purchasing the chapters in kkp, and maybe even check out her other works! They are all tastefully written!
Ame: I think I’ve screamed whatever I’ve felt for this story in the previous chapters and side stories, and these 8 weeks sort of prepared me for this (I presume) final goodbye. It’s certainly a very solid ending, with Sienna and Ashiel’s marriage and their children + the cameo from the real Daddy Nacht.
Could there be some secret to Sienna’s real parents that explains why she is such a powerful Terraformer? Maybe, I’m sure the author can come up with something if she wants to. But I personally think it’s okay the way it is, her being an orphan, she doesn’t have to be a hidden noble or royal to be as amazing as she is, if there can be nobles with weak magical abilities, there can be commoners with outstanding powers.
Sienna’s journey is truly complete, going from depressed and lost to an independent, confident lady, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Final thanks: Kushi for raw providing and typing, myself for translating, ZZZZ for proofreading, Tassie for quality checking, and the lovely readers, who stuck with this novel all the way xx