IRBSGHC 05

Episode 05

When Elia opened her eyes, a faint light began to seep from her body.
Her blue irises shimmered like a galaxy, radiating a soft glow.

The light passed through the window and rose into the once-clear sky. Dark clouds gathered visibly toward the glass.

Tap. Drip.
Shhh—

A fine drizzle began to fall.

Elia’s ability was the power to change the weather.

Though it had only been a few weeks, she had recovered a small amount of mana. It was nowhere near enough to affect a vast area—but she could at least bring rain to a small space outside the window.

Like a spring shower—gentle and warm—thin streams of rain soaked the Marquis’s garden.

“It’s… beautiful. And warm….”

The raindrops tapping against the window soon faded away. It lasted only a fleeting moment.

The once-warm breeze returned carrying a chill, slipping back into Elia’s room.

The wedding to Felix Lloyd was held at the Great Temple of Vishnu.

It was a ceremony both grand and restrained.

Just as she remembered, at the final rite he kissed not Elia’s lips, but the back of her hand.

When his rough lips touched her skin, that spot alone burned as if scorched. Throughout the ceremony, Elia kept rubbing the back of her hand, still flushed with heat.

As soon as the wedding ended, Elia and Felix headed straight for the harbor. From the Great Temple at the heart of the Empire to the port, it took a full five hours.

Thud—thud!

The carriage raced on without rest. Elia looked at Felix, seated across from her. He remained silent, his gaze fixed outside the window.

She stole glances at his face. Like her, the traces of time had vanished from him—only sharpening his already cold impression.

But Elia knew better.

He was… always such a warm person.

As she traced her memories, Elia felt her strength slowly ebb away. The tension that had built up before the wedding seemed to melt at last.

She forced her eyelids open, but it was useless.

“Hm.”

She awoke to the scent of the sea. They had arrived at the harbor.

“We’ve reached the port. We should move.”

Startled awake by his voice, Elia flushed slightly in embarrassment.

“Ah—yes.”

Before she could even gather her thoughts, Felix guided her straight onto the ship bound for the North. Everything moved faster than she had expected, leaving her dazed.

She could barely keep her balance, simply being led along by Felix’s large hand.

“Are you all right?”

“Hngh—ah… yes. I’m fine. I even took my medicine in advance, so why is this happening…?”

It was just like before. Even after thoroughly preparing and taking medicine—thanks to Jenny—her stomach showed no sign of settling.

How had he reacted back then? She vaguely recalled him looking terribly annoyed.

Elia lifted her bowed head slightly.

Felix seemed to be contemplating something as he looked at her—her face pale to the point of whiteness.

Their gazes met briefly, then parted.

“This won’t do. The weather is cold—it wouldn’t be good for you to stay outside much longer.”

Elia clapped a hand over her mouth, unable to contain the rising nausea.

“P-please go on ahead. I’ll just… ugh—”

She retched again and again, but nothing came up—she hadn’t eaten all day.

“Tch. How troublesome.”

With a click of his tongue, her body was suddenly lifted into the air.

“W—what…?”

Shock and embarrassment rushed over her, but she had no strength left to resist. If she opened her mouth, she felt she’d retch again.

“Even if you throw up, it doesn’t matter. For now, let’s get you inside.”

“……”

His tone remained cold and sharp.
Yet his hands were endlessly gentle, careful.

For a moment, Elia closed her eyes, cradled in a broad, solid chest she hadn’t felt in so long.

Ah… I really was such a fool back then. To only notice this now.

Only now did she recognize the care in his touch. She drew a deep breath.

A heavy yet sensual scent surrounded him.

It smells just like you.

Whenever she caught this scent, her heart ached unbearably.

As darkness blurred her senses, Elia let her unsteady consciousness drift with the sway of the waves. Felix’s scent lingered, then seeped into her fading awareness.

Felix stood watching Elia, fast asleep and pale.

“It would be better if you woke soon.”

Even when the ship reached the North, she did not wake. Felix lifted her smoothly into his arms and placed her into a carriage.

Inside, leaning against the window, the sleeping woman looked both mysterious and fragile.

Just like the rumors.

Felix already knew everything about the woman sleeping before him. His aide—and butler—Andrew had reported in detail.

An illegitimate child of the Marquis.
A sickly body, so frail that rumors of infertility were easily believed.

Despite that, the Marquis’s household had demanded an enormous dowry, delaying the marriage.

Indeed, she looked as though she would shatter if she fell, crumble if squeezed. Her slender ankles were thin enough to wrap with one hand.

Precarious—yet all the more eye-catching.

At their first meeting, she had worn a blue dress studded with glittering beads, smiling brightly—like a beloved young lady of the Marquis’s house, not an illegitimate child.

Yet the dress was clearly too large, revealing it hadn’t been made for her.

The dress was radiant—but what truly held Felix was her gaze.

Her eyes, clearer than glass, a serene shade of blue, looked straight at him.

As if she knew him. Strange, yet affection was mixed into that gaze.

It must have been his imagination—but that moment kept resurfacing, drawing his eyes back to her.

Even now, Felix stared at her sleeping face.

Neat lashes, a straight nose, slightly parted red lips. From between them, faint, colorful breaths seemed to escape.

“Mmm…”

She frowned and shifted. Felix quickly turned his gaze away, fixing it on the passing scenery outside.

“Ah… this is…?”

“You’re awake? This is the northern territory of Artizen.”

She flinched at his words, her face flushing red.

“Oh—my. You should have woken me.”

“…I tried. You wouldn’t wake.”

“What? Ah—sorry.”

“No. There’s nothing to apologize for.”

“…Still, if something like this happens again, please wake me. I caused you trouble, Your Grace.”

“Hm…”

“I’m not as weak as you think, you know.”

Even as she spoke, her face grew redder.

“Hmm. Even someone who isn’t weak can faint on a ship, it seems.”

The Grand Duke tossed out the remark bluntly.

“…Pardon?”

Her eyes widened slightly at his odd comment.

“Ahem.”

Realizing his thoughts had slipped out, Felix turned his head toward the window.

“…I heard that Your Grace has a child.”

At the mention of a child, he turned back to her.

He had one child, born of his first wife, Lily.

The child had Lily’s hair and eyes—so much so that looking at him reminded Felix of her. Perhaps because of that, most women who clung to him disliked the child.

“Yes. His name is Jeremy Lloyd. He’s five.”

“I’d like to talk about the child.”

“…That’s not something you need to concern yourself with. As the Grand Duke’s wife, you need only fulfill your public duties—”

All he wanted was for her to occupy the position, shield him briefly from the Emperor’s gaze, and maintain proper decorum.

“Of course, I intend to fulfill all duties given to me. But first, I want to grow closer to the child. At least enough to know what he likes, and what he dislikes.”

Felix looked at her with faint puzzlement.

“…As I said, there’s no need for you to concern yourself with the child.”

He did not expect—or want—the woman before him to play the role of mother to his son.

“Pardon? But—”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but we still don’t know what kind of person you are. I’d rather you not rush.”

He couldn’t understand her intentions, and he couldn’t trust her yet.

“Ah…!”

She looked flustered for a moment, then swallowed softly and nodded with a serious expression.

“You’re right, Your Grace. I’m not someone you can trust yet. …I was too hasty. I’m sorry.”

She accepted his words calmly—far more calmly than he had expected.

“Ahem. Well… there’s no need to apologize.”

“Th-then… my place…”

“What? I can’t hear you. You’re too quiet.”

She seemed to murmur something, but it was too soft to catch.

“N-no. It’s nothing.”

“……”

Silence once again filled the carriage.

Still, I won’t remain a Grand Duchess who merely occupies her seat.

Elia repeated the unheard words in her heart and turned her gaze away.

At that moment, a vast, majestic range of snow-covered mountains came into view through the window. They were nearly at Artizen.

I’ve finally come to the North.

It was a moment she had waited for a very long time.

Wiggling her toes numbed by the cold, Elia took a breath and gently calmed her racing heart.