Chapter 107. A long-awaited dream finally comes true
***
It was about two months after they had a happy wedding ceremony amid the admiration and blessings of people around the world.
"Is that true?"
“They will arrive at the imperial palace in a month."
They received news of Evan, who had been hiding in the south.
As Ihedia had hoped, upon hearing the news of her royal marriage, the Lloyd couple had taken the initiative to contact her first.
The soldiers sent by Kayan were escorting Evan and the Lloyd couple to Anut.
It meant that the day of reuniting with her long-awaited younger brother was drawing near.
Ihedia covered her mouth with trembling hands.
The long-cherished wish she had been desperately hoping for had finally come true.
If she could only meet Evan again, she would have nothing more to wish for in this life.
Ihedia's eyes were already red.
"Oh, Father, Mother."
She recalled her deceased parents and prayed one last time that Evan would arrive here safely.
A month later, when Ihedia received news that Evan had crossed the border, she became unusually restless and anxious.
Despite the fierce wind, she went out to the city gate to wait for her brother.
Kayan was there beside her.
Kayan knew how much Ihedia had been waiting for this day, so he couldn't bring himself to stop her from braving the bitter cold to go out and meet Evan.
Instead, Kayan was pouring all the warmth he had into Ihedia from behind.
After some time had passed,
A carriage could be seen in the distance.
As it drew nearer, Ihedia's heartbeat quickened.
The moment Evan stepped out of the carriage, Ihedia pushed Kayan aside and rushed toward him without hesitation.
“Evan!”
“Sister?”
Evan turned his head toward the familiar voice.
"Princess!"
Marquis and Marchioness Lloyd, who had been supporting him, shouted.
Ihedia embraced Evan.
She let out a voice mixed with tears.
“Evan, I’m sorry. I found you too late.”
“It’s okay. I was fine.”
The younger brother, who was much more mature than his age, gently comforted his sister, who always shed tears whenever she saw him.
Evan looked much healthier than the last time they had met.
His facial features had become slightly more defined, and he had grown much taller.
This was likely due to the devoted care he had received from the Lloyd couple after escaping from Patrick.
Ihedia wiped away the tears streaming down her face and spoke to the Lloyd couple.
“I am truly grateful to both of you. I don’t know how I can ever repay this kindness… Thanks to you, Evan is safe.”
“Your Highness.”
The Marquis of Lloyd could not continue speaking and bit his lip to hold back his tears.
Lady Lloyd also sniffled and pulled out a handkerchief.
Evan hesitantly took Ihedia's hand.
"No, no. Don't cry. We'll be together forever now."
"Yes, we will."
Ihedia nodded and clasped Evan's hand.
She finally felt free from the guilt that had been weighing heavily on her heart.
***
The emperor, who had once been renowned as a war hero, had not launched any more conquests for years.
Instead, he focused on strengthening the nation's internal foundations.
Years ago, even the foreign tribes that had once plagued the nation were completely annihilated in Anut, leaving no one to challenge the emperor's authority.
Based on his unparalleled legitimacy and powerful imperial authority, the emperor developed agriculture and actively promoted trade to improve the lives of his people.
The taxes collected were used to aid the poor, with the exception of funds necessary for governing the country.
The emperor also took a keen interest in medicine, establishing educational institutions in Anut to train skilled physicians.
Additionally, he freed all the women from defeated nations who had been brought as war slaves.
Among them, those without a place to return to were provided with settlement funds to help them live without financial hardship.
Among the people, there was widespread rumor that all these actions were actually the empress's will.
This was because it was well-known throughout Anut and even as far south as the distant regions that the emperor was a man of unparalleled compassion.
“It is said that the Empress plans to use the funds raised from this charitable event to establish a large-scale orphanage.”
"There is no one in the world with a heart as kind as our empress."
“How is it possible that her beauty remains unchanged even as the years pass? How can a person like that exist?”
Adeline enjoyed wandering around the palace in her wolf form whenever she was bored.
Sometimes, when she heard palace servants praising her mother, she felt as though they were praising herself.
Having heard countless times from those she met that she resembled her mother, it was only natural for her to feel that way.
As Adeline walked with her platinum-colored tail swaying, someone suddenly picked her up.
“I was wondering where my little pup had gone.”
Kayan frowned slightly at Adeline.
At his wife's command to find Adeline, who had suddenly disappeared while reading a book, he had even postponed the state council meeting and personally searched for his daughter.
Tracking the trail of this little wolf was always Kayan’s responsibility.
What would take ordinary humans half a day to find, Kayan could locate in less than thirty minutes.
Adeline felt a strange sense of pride today, knowing she had been caught by her father a little later than yesterday.
Kayan, who had noticed Adeline's thoughts, chuckled and gently tapped her nose.
"You're already trying to outsmart your father."
-Pfft, anyway, my father can't beat me.
"What?"
-Because I look just like my mother.
Adeline lifted her head proudly, as if that fact made her very proud.
Unable to deny it, Kayyan could only utter a soft "Hmm" without further response.
Adeline knew full well that her terrifying father couldn't say no to her mother.
In matters involving her mother, her father had no particular opinion.
Her mother's word was law.
So Adeline sometimes wondered.
Perhaps the true ruler of this country was not her father, but her mother.
Uncle Doa had said that was a terrible disease called the wolf’s mark.
The mark was the wolf's fate.
Thinking that she might one day become like her father, she already felt a darkness closing in before her eyes.
She hoped she would meet a wise and dignified man like her mother did.
Meanwhile, Kayan embraced Adeline and hurriedly walked faster.
A short while later, they saw Ihedia standing across the way with her arms crossed.
"You're in big trouble now."
Seeing his wife's stern expression, Kayan whispered softly to his daughter.
Ihedia was glaring at the young wolf in his arms.
Adeline was always more interested in playing around the palace than studying.
Still, as a princess, she should at least have enough manners not to bring shame upon her family, according to Ihedia's belief.
However, Adeline was always interested only in dangerous swordplay and horseback riding, and even when she read books, she only showed interest in military history and military strategy manuals.
Whenever she ended up sparring with a boy her age, she would often leave him in a sorry state, causing embarrassment on more than one occasion.
Every time that happened, Kayan would proudly say, "That's my daughter!"
Ihedia quietly alternated her gaze between her husband and her daughter.
Despite having not a single physical resemblance, why did the two of them keep seeming so similar?
Adeline sensed her mother's unusual mood but didn't seem too bothered.
She jumped out of Kayan's arms as if she had been waiting for this moment and ran toward her mother.
"Kiiing, kiiing."
Adeline flipped onto her stomach and rolled around on the floor with enthusiasm.
Then she frantically circled around Ihedia's legs, jumping up and down.
Whenever her mother was angry, Adeline would reveal her wolfish nature and shower her with all sorts of affection.
This was one of the useful skills she had learned from her father.
Though he was a stern emperor in public, her father was also the most affectionate man in the world when it came to his wife.
Sure enough, the muscles on Ihedia's face began to relax slowly.
The puppy-like creature wagged its tail and clung to her, causing her lips to curve into a smile.
Watching this, Kayan felt a slight pang of regret for having taught that mischievous girl such a thing.
"If you disappear without a word again, you'll really be in trouble."
-Yes, Mother. I won't do it again!
"At least you know how to answer properly."
Though she knew the promise would crumble soon, Ihedia eventually succumbed completely to her carefree daughter.
As the corners of her mouth began to turn up, Adeline drove the point home once more.
-Oh, Mother, your hands are so cold. Let me warm them for you!
Adeline used her hot body temperature that she inherited from Kayan to cling tightly to Ihedia's body.
In Adeline's bright eyes, there was a childish desire, as if begging for her affection.
What she was doing was exactly like Kayan’s, and Ihedia burst into a soft laugh.
She cradled the young wolf, whose fur was as white as her own platinum blonde hair, tightly in her arms.
Kayan's lips also curled into a bright smile as he watched the two of them.
***
~Main story is completed ❤️❤️
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