The Baby Isn’t Yours

“Kyaoo!”

Drea, carrying Sasha, soared into the sky, shouting loudly. The baby, fearlessly, laughed and giggled on Drea’s back.

Underneath Drea, the demons crawling up were still seething.

“Oh dear, we just had a difficult farewell. They shouldn’t be causing any disturbances.”

To prevent any interference with the reunion of Kalia and Gaia, Simon swiftly and efficiently dealt with the surroundings.

Afterwards, it was not difficult to handle the remaining minions.

Sasha and Simon, working together, purified the remaining enemy demons, while Rojas calmly annihilated the enemy forces.

As the troops that were cleaning up the border returned, it became even easier to sweep away the Akan allied forces.

The problem was the bodies of the demons that remained like mountains. However, they were all burned, except for those that could be used as materials for forging weapons.

The imperial citizens, as if experiencing a miracle, devoutly followed the words of the imperial army and the magicians.

The Crown Prince, who had engaged in naval battles, also returned unharmed.

However, since his return, there were times when the Crown Prince’s condition seemed strange, as if he was having dreams… But anyway, his body returned safely.

So, it had been about ten days since ‘that day’.

Many things were quickly sorted out during that time.

Among them, the most significant event was the passing of the Emperor, who had been ill.

* * *

Phew…

“I really don’t know what’s what.”

Rojas had to attend the funeral of the Emperor before even celebrating their victory with a party.

To avoid burdening and depressing the citizens who had already suffered and been disturbed by the war, the funeral of the Emperor was held quietly, more quietly than ever before.

Following the tradition of Rojas, Louismond spent one night next to the Emperor’s coffin in the cathedral, and before changing out of mourning attire, preparations had to be made for the coronation ceremony.

Perhaps due to the complex power struggles between nations during the previous war, there was no time for delay.

However, on the other hand, there were suggestions that a grand ceremony was needed to showcase the majesty of Rojas to the entire continent.

Considering that national news and various events were happening simultaneously, many eyes would be watching the country.

It was deemed inappropriate to show a flustered appearance to them, so Louismond, along with several advisors, decided that the country’s event should be conducted magnificently.

After much deliberation, Louismond presented a compromise.

He proposed combining the coronation ceremony and the victory party.

After all, it had been a long time since he had been acting as the regent in place of the Emperor.

His ascension to the throne was not as astonishing as it might seem.

The news of Louismond becoming Emperor didn’t cause neighboring countries to open their eyes wide in surprise or shake in awe of the grandeur of Rojas.

‘But this is different…’

Louismond wiped his tired face with his dry hand and chuckled.

Would the two of them be surprised or pleased if they knew about the surprise he had prepared? That was what Louismond had decided after much deliberation.

“I might feel a bit lonely… well, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Even though he had been getting only 2-3 hours of sleep, he had never felt as light-hearted and clear-headed as he did now.

With bright, shining eyes, he looked out the window and called for his aide.

He had called for them a while ago, but they hadn’t arrived yet, so he wanted to inquire about their whereabouts.

“Has the messenger sent to General Kalia returned?”

“Actually, I was just about to inform you about that.”

“Yes, when can we expect the two of them to arrive?”

“Well… um… I…”

Rorelli, Louismond’s Chief Lieutenant, tightened his expression and hesitated, letting out a sigh of embarrassment.

It was uncommon for the usually composed and sharp lieutenant to fail to finish his sentence properly, so Louismond became tense.

“What happened? Is something wrong?”

In response to Louismond’s stern question, Rorelli opened his mouth, seemingly determined.

“Well… according to the messenger, they couldn’t meet him because they were extremely busy with their work. The messenger waited for over an hour before returning just now.”

Their work was a complete mess?

The war had ended, and the positions of the Commander-in-Chief and the Minister of Magic were more or less settled.

To be honest, now that everything was over, the lieutenant generals were not busy, but the subordinates were.

So, what could possibly cause their work to be in such a state of disarray?

Louismond furrowed his brows, looking perplexed.

“Then, are the two of them not at the mansion right now?”

“No, they are at the mansion. They are together.”

“Together? What could they both be so busy with…”

Wait.

Louismond, who was speaking, paused.

He remembered a similar incident that happened a few days ago.

“Where is Simon? And the Vice-Minister?”

“Simon  is currently not at Mage Tower. He hasn’t been here since yesterday.”

“Not here? Where did he go without saying anything?”

“He’s at the mansion. Lady Kalia’s mansion, to be precise. According to Hemmie, he hasn’t even come out.”

“He’s not coming out from where?”

“Lady’s Kalia’s room. He strictly ordered not to be disturbed unless it’s something as important as the survival of the nation! Can you believe it, Your Highness? Even Your Highness, who is the treasure of the country, can’t rest properly and is working like this. How can this be? Your Highness, please, pull out that wicked superior of mine!”

Derek, with a frustrated expression, finally couldn’t hold it in and confessed to Louismond.

Please, pleeease call Simon and give him some work to do, he begged.

Due to taking over Simon’s workload as well, Derek had lost weight over the past few days.

The other masters of Mage Tower said they were no different from him.

At that time, Louismond burst into laughter.

And for the hardworking magicians, he sent sweet wine, good cheese, and well-roasted turkey.

That conversation took place exactly five days ago.

But until now, Simon hadn’t come out, was he locked up in his room for a whole week?

Unknowingly, Louismond’s expression became irritated.

And he thought.

‘Did Simon… have that stamina?’

Of course, Kalia’s robust health was something the whole nation could vouch for, but Simon didn’t have the same level of stamina as her.

If anything, he was worried about whether Simon could keep up with her monstrous stamina.

‘Come to think of it…’

Suddenly, Louismond recalled Simon’s passing remark about researching potions to enhance stamina and vitality.

When Louismond asked if it was for the magicians, Simon replied with a mischievous smile.

“It’s for my beloved. Louis, you still don’t know…”

“Hmm…”

Louismond stood up abruptly and gazed wistfully at the scenery outside the window, mumbling to himself.

“You did it, you rascal.”

…It seemed like he should postpone calling them again until tomorrow.

* * *

Sarak, sarak…

It felt like she had been confined in the room for several days already.

She didn’t know how many times they had tossed the bedsheet during that time, but the newly changed sheet this morning carried the scent of sunlight and felt warm.

Kalia, who was rubbing her bare skin against the rustling sheets, playfully pushed Simon away as he nestled into her arms.

A laughter that sounded as if he was suffering from ticklishness escaped.

“Stop it. We should start going out soon.”

Simon, who raised his head abruptly from under the sheets, grumbled with a face full of dissatisfaction.

“Do people really have to work, Kalia?”

Kalia gently brushed Simon’s disheveled silver hair with her fingertips and spoke in a calm manner.

“Of course. If you don’t do the given work, others will suffer.”

As she said so, Kalia, who also had red marks on her neck and shoulders, and her hair was messy and unkempt, looked untidy.

Nevertheless, her voice was dignified and serious.

Simon, smiling as if he couldn’t believe it, gently nibbled on her shoulder to avoid hurting her.

“Such words don’t inspire any trust in that appearance of yours…”

“What’s wrong with my appearance? How do I look?”

Thinking that there might be some eye boogers, Simon quickly prevented her from bringing her hand to her face.

Simon, whose pale and long fingers interlocked with her finger filled with wounds, held Kalia down on the bed so she couldn’t move.

Simon, straddling Kalia, kissed her neck and shoulders while speaking.

“You look so tempting, like something to devour.”

“Are you hungry?”

“…Kalia, that’s not what I meant.”

Kalia lightly chuckled and gently removed Simon’s hand.

With her freed hand, she quickly changed positions with him.

This time, Kalia was the one looking down at Simon.

“I’m hungry.”

“How long have you been eating?”

Kalia playfully laughed at Simon’s suspicious gaze and bit his earlobe as she spoke.

“Yeah, it’s been a while since I ate, isn’t it?”

‘No, this woman…’

Simon, looking at Kalia as if he had no idea what to do, pulled her closer.

“Oh, it tickles.”

“Endure it. I’m also enduring the tickling in my heart!”

“What are you talking about? Stop it, I said, hahaha.”

Whether it was playing or seduction, Simon couldn’t tell, but this moment of rolling around with their flesh pressed together so vulnerably felt incredibly good.

The desire to never leave the bed made him endure for over a week.

Under normal circumstances, he would have stretched it out even longer, but unfortunately, the coronation ceremony of Louismonde was approaching, making it more difficult.

Furthermore, considering that they had sent messengers twelve times since yesterday, there seemed to be something important going on.

“I don’t want to go out.”

“Sasha says he wants to see us.”

“Oh really? That’s strange. Sasha told me to bring him a little sister.”

Ah, how could she win against this guy with words?

Kalia, with an expression of helplessness, burst into laughter and messed up Simon’s hair with both hands.

Simon, allowing Kalia to freely touch his own hair, closed his eyes and raised only his lips to smile.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Just because. Because I like it. Your touch, the scent of your skin, this peacefulness.”

Suddenly, Kalia recalled something Simon had said before.

It was like a dream, his words.

Kalia held Simon tightly against her chest, quietly savoring his scent.

The fragrance was pure and clear, as if he had just come out of a bath filled with aromatic oils.

The journey that seemed impossible, leaving to conceive and give birth to a child, meeting Gaia while rescuing the children in the fairy forest. And… her family.

All of those experiences felt truly dreamlike.

If dealing with the nightmare-like army of Akan hadn’t been arduous, which was like a nightmare, but still, the past year and a half was a remarkable and bittersweet memory for her.

Kalia held Simon in her arms, cherishing him dearly.

“I told you before, Simon.”

“Hmm?”

“Saving you is like saving myself.”

“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden.”

“You seem like my salvation. No… is it a miracle?”

Simon, watching Kalia murmuring quietly and smiling, cautiously pressed his lips against hers.

Their lips met softly, tenderly caressing each other before parting.

“You are truly my salvation, Kalia.”

“Oh… we must be truly meant for each other.”

“It’s good that you realize that now. It would be a shame if we had only one more day together. If we go out now, who knows how much trouble we’ll encounter.”

Kalia burst into laughter, as if finally unable to hold it in, in response to Simon’s teasing words.

With a pout, Kalia pushed Simon to the side, causing him to fall off the bed effortlessly, and gracefully stood up, giving the bed a gentle push.

“No, I can’t stay any longer. I’ve endured enough.”

Kalia left the bedding and put on a loose shirt over her chilled skin.

Simon’s brow furrowed as he lay on the bed, looking at her intently.

It was because he saw the wound on her side inflicted by Damon, illuminated by the bright sunlight.

Kalia shrugged her shoulders, saying nonchalantly, as if it didn’t bother her.

“I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt at all now.”

Then, someone suddenly came to mind.

Simon’s birth mother, who had inserted The Spear of Life into that wound.

As if reading the gaze directed at him, Simon smirked and said, “I took you away. I don’t care.”

Kalia, staring at him intently, didn’t ask any further.

Yes, if he says so, then it must be true.

Instead of saying anything else, Kalia pressed her lips against Simon’s forehead and urged him to get up.

While rolling around in bed, time seemed infinite, but once they came out of bed, Kalia felt an urgency in her heart.

There was a sense of guilt for disappointing His Highness, who was looking for her, and she was also worried about the subordinates who were running around busily on her behalf.

But what made her the most anxious was the secret message that arrived a while ago.

‘…I have to find them quickly.’

Kalia, wearing a loosely fitted shirt just like her, looked at Simon who was gazing beyond the terrace.

His transparent, shining silver hair, his face basking in the sunlight, his closed eyes, and his golden eyes that turned to look at her, showing the most tender gaze in the world.

He was a man more lovable than she deserved.

Her heart raced with the thought of making him completely hers as soon as possible.

“Let’s go, Simon.”

“Take it slow.”

“No, we don’t have time. Oh, right! Grandfather and grandmother contacted me saying they would like to visit soon after the coronation ceremony… Will you go too?”

Simon brushed her off as if it was a self-evident statement.

Even his mischievous gaze was endearing.

Kalia smiled and put on her formal attire.

She had to go to His Highness before the 13th messenger arrived.