The Saintess Returned to the Emperor’s Arms Chapter 154 - -END-

No Matter What Name It Exists Under

 

No matter how mild the climate of Etre was, winter was still winter, and the night sea was still the night sea.

 

“Ah. It’s cold.”

 

“What? Cold? You’re only feeling it now?”

 

“…Hehe.”

 

The chill hit her soaked body belatedly.

 

As Riela’s teeth chattered and she burrowed into Herhan’s arms, he shot her an annoyed look as if she were troublesome, yet held her even tighter.

 

Still in his arms, Riela was carried all the way back to the mansion.

 

Even though she said the wounds on her feet weren’t deep and she could walk just fine, it was because Herhan stubbornly insisted.

 

‘Hmph. If you’re going to be that stubborn, then go ahead. Only your arms will hurt, and I’m the one benefiting anyway.’

 

Thinking that, Riela clung to him even more openly.

 

The servant had already gone home, but thankfully the hot water he had prepared earlier was still there.

 

Riela planned to bathe in that warm water right away.

 

Of course, Herhan had the same idea.

 

Except, he also planned to wash Riela himself.

 

“Your Majesty. I can do it myself.”

 

“Yeah. I know you can.”

 

Ignoring Riela’s words completely, Herhan sat her down inside the large wooden bathtub.

 

Despite his tone sounding like he was scolding her, his hands, scooping up warm water and pouring it over her body one by one, were nothing but gentle.

 

“Aren’t you tired? You already carried me all the way here from the shore.”

 

“This is nothing.”

 

“That’s amazing. Is it because of that drink earlier?”

 

“What? What drink?”

 

“You know, the one you said would make you burn. Maybe that’s why you’re suddenly so strong—”

 

Warm water suddenly poured over the top of Riela’s head as she spoke nonsense with her cute face.

 

It was Herhan’s prank.

 

“Ah! Your Majesty! Suddenly?!”

 

“If that drink really worked, shouldn’t something else be burning instead?”

 

Riela, who had turned around to protest, shut her mouth at that point and returned to sitting properly.

 

Herhan’s voice—and his expression—were far more teasing and alluring than the simple prank of splashing water.

 

‘You won’t even win, yet you still try to fight.’

 

Herhan gazed at her lovingly for a moment before rolling up his sleeves himself.

 

His forearms, damp from carrying Riela, glistened under the moonlight.

 

Those thick arms, with veins subtly raised, held a soft sponge that seemed mismatched as he carefully scrubbed every part of her body.

 

“….”

 

For a while, only the sound of water splashing filled the bath.

 

They were just washing, after all.

 

Having her hair washed, her back and nape cleaned—that was all fine.

 

But whenever Herhan’s hands touched more private areas, Riela flinched and instinctively curled her body.

 

‘Why am I so tense today…?’

 

Her heart suddenly began to pound.

 

Was it because Herhan, who would normally reveal his true nature and pounce on her by now, was quietly just washing her?

 

Or was it because she was becoming newly aware that this wasn’t just a trip, but a “honeymoon”?

 

Even so, it felt far too late to suddenly be shy now, and that only made her more embarrassed.

 

“Riela. Is the water tem—”

 

“It’s good!”

 

Before Herhan could even finish his question, she shouted loudly in a voice full of tension.

 

She had completely exposed how nervous she was.

 

Riela’s face turned bright red, as if her ears might burst, and she lowered her head deeply.

 

Meanwhile, Herhan straightened up and repeatedly clenched and unclenched the innocent sponge in his hand.

 

It was to control the rising heat inside him, brought on by how cute and lovable Riela was.

 

“I was really just planning to wash you, but since you want it, I guess I have no choice. Shall we head to the bedroom now?”

 

“No…”

 

“That was the signal you just gave.”

 

“……”

 

‘Ah. Maybe I should just dunk my head into the bathwater.’

 

Unable to meet Herhan’s mischievously gleaming eyes, Riela squeezed her eyes shut.

 

Sure enough, Herhan lowered himself, and his breath brushed right behind her neck.

 

“Actually, you were right, Riela.”

 

“About what…?”

 

“That drink I had. I’ve been holding back its effects this whole time.”

 

* * *

 

When going on a honeymoon, she had boldly declared she wouldn’t leave the bed for at least two days.

 

Somehow, Riela ended up truly fulfilling that vow.

 

Was it just two days?

 

After that first night of playfully running along the night sea, Riela spent three straight days on the bed.

 

Day and night didn’t matter—she kept falling asleep in Herhan’s arms, waking only to eat the food he brought her, which she accepted from his hands.

 

From the fourth day, she began going out for walks around the mansion, linking arms with Herhan.

 

Days so peaceful and comfortable that it made her wonder if it was really okay to live like this.

 

Days of complete peace, where she forgot entirely about the imperial palace and the temple.

 

Then one day.

 

When Herhan woke up, he saw Riela lying on his arm, staring out the window.

 

He kissed the back of her neck lightly and asked,

 

“Riela. What are you thinking about?”

 

Her expression was unusually serious, so he wondered if she had some deep concern.

 

Indeed, Riela frowned slightly as she continued thinking, only answering after a long while.

 

“What should we eat for lunch today?”

 

At the absurd answer, Herhan lifted himself slightly.

 

He thought she was joking, but even more absurdly, Riela looked completely serious.

 

“I think there were exactly two slices of bread left. We could make sandwiches, but I don’t know whether to put in smoked ham or chicken. What do you think, Your Majesty?”

 

Two slices of bread. Smoked ham or chicken.

 

As Herhan repeated the words Riela had said, he eventually let out a sigh-like laugh.

 

The days when they clung to each other desperately, talking about life and death, now felt like nothing more than a midsummer night’s dream.

 

Back then, Herhan thought everyone lived like that.

 

Suffering like that.

 

Enduring each day with everything they had.

 

But beside this woman, a life like this was also possible.

 

A life where you seriously worry about what to put inside a sandwich.

 

It wasn’t a bad life at all.

 

No—rather, wasn’t it a happiness far beyond what he deserved?

 

* * *

 

In the end, the answer was chicken.

 

“Stay lying down. I’ll go make it and bring it up.”

 

After gently brushing through Riela’s messy hair, Herhan left the bedroom.

 

Thump, thump, thump.

 

Without caring about maintaining dignity, he casually made noise on the wooden stairs as he went down to the dining hall.

 

Right then, a servant had come by to restock food in the storage.

 

“W-What the…? Why do you look like that…?”

 

Though he had roughly put on some pants, his upper body was left wide open, clearly showing traces of a passionate night with his lover.

 

Seeing the appearance of that “servant,” the old servant froze in place, still holding a water bottle.

 

“Ah, this is…”

 

Herhan stared at the old servant and thought for a moment.

 

Should he reveal that he was the emperor here?

 

Just then, lighter footsteps echoed down the stairs.

 

It was Riela.

 

“Do we have any milk? Or maybe some fruit juice—”

 

“Duke Brenike?!”

 

“Ah!?”

 

Wearing only Herhan’s large shirt like a robe, Riela had casually come down, but the moment her eyes met the servant’s, she quickly ran back upstairs.

 

“So you two are… actually that kind of… relationship…”

 

“That’s right.”

 

So we got caught. Well, nothing to do about it.

 

It didn’t seem like a big deal if just this one servant knew, so he was about to explain—

 

“Hmm. Well, that can happen. They say Duke Brenike is single, and, well, love can bloom even between a noble and a servant.”

 

“…No.”

 

“You rascal! Even if the Duke treats you with love, don’t act so insolently! Outside, always behave properly and serve the Duke well!”

 

The old servant, unexpectedly, was quite open-minded and free of prejudice.

 

“Do we not need to explain it to him?”

 

“Why bother?”

 

After the servant left, Riela and Herhan leaned close together, eating their chicken sandwiches.

 

“If we leave without explaining anything, it’ll damage Duke Brenike’s reputation.”

 

“Will it?”

 

Then we can just explain it next time we meet, Herhan thought, as he lazily burrowed back into Riela’s arms.

 

Riela, wondering when she might see the servant again, finally began counting the days.

 

As she folded her fingers one by one, her expression gradually turned pale.

 

“Ah! Your Majesty, I think we’ve already passed the date we were supposed to go back.”

 

“….”

 

Seeing Herhan deliberately look away without any sign of surprise, Riela realized belatedly.

 

He already knew the date had passed.

 

And yet, he had been pretending not to notice all this time.

 

“Riela. What if we just keep hiding here like this? Or take a boat and run away to another island or some mountain village?”

 

At that moment, the door burst open.

 

The answer to Herhan’s words came from behind the open door.

 

“What are you saying, Your Majesty?! Are you really going to abandon your people so easily?!”

 

It was Asion, appearing fully armed in shining armor, with a sword and cape.

 

And he wasn’t alone.

 

Behind him, a group of equally armed knights rushed in.

 

Startled, Riela looked outside the window and saw even the Empress’s guard soldiers lined up in the courtyard.

 

“Asion, what are you doing barging in like this?”

 

“And why haven’t you returned, Your Majesty? Do you know how worried I was, waiting all night at the harbor for both of you?”

 

The day Herhan and Riela were supposed to leave Etre Island was the day before yesterday.

 

Asion, who had gone to the harbor to receive them, panicked when there was no sign of them and immediately brought soldiers onto the island.

 

‘Your Majesty.’

 

‘Yeah, Riela.’

 

‘Our paradise…’

 

‘Yeah. Looks like it ends here.’

 

After exchanging regretful glances, the two quickly straightened their clothes and stepped outside the mansion.

 

The knights waiting for them all knelt and paid their respects.

 

“We greet His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress!”

 

Maybe because it had been a while, but for people who came to retrieve their rulers who had been hiding away in paradise, they all looked excessively tense.

 

“Your Majesty. We’ve come to escort you back to the imperial palace.”

 

Herhan let out a bitter smile and nodded.

 

As Riela followed him out, they suddenly noticed the servant among the knights, trembling after finally realizing the true identities of the “lady and servant.”

 

Herhan approached him first.

 

–Thud.

 

He placed a firm hand on the servant’s shoulder.

 

“I will never forget the humiliation you gave me. Let’s meet again at the imperial palace. I’ll show you properly how to serve ‘my lady’ with good conduct.”

 

The old man trembled as if he had just received a death sentence, but Riela came over, supported him, and smiled.

 

“It means thank you—for everything you’ve done for us. We’ll officially invite you to the imperial palace next time, so please come visit.”

 

* * *

 

Herhan and Riela returned to the imperial palace like that.

 

Hand in hand, they came back together—to their “home.”

 

“Lady Riela! Ah—no, Your Majesty the Empress! I missed you! Did you get a good rest?”

 

Lou, so happy to see Riela after a long time, accidentally used her old title and laughed awkwardly.

 

“Looks like you had a good time. Fine. Judging by how bright both of you look, there’s no need for a checkup. Starting tomorrow, it’s back to a tough schedule, so prepare yourselves.”

 

Jess, who didn’t even know how to give a warm greeting, grumbled and earned a glare from Herhan.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress. I waited to see your return before leaving. Thank you for inviting me back to the palace. It’s late, but congratulations on your marriage.”

 

Priest Amelia still looked at Riela with warm eyes.

 

There were also the ministers rushing toward the emperor, and the maids whose eyes sparkled as they asked about the honeymoon.

 

Everyone was the same as always, and Riela felt affection for them all.

 

Maybe “home” wasn’t really a place, but something about people.

 

Perhaps that’s why this place, where danger could come again at any time and new battles might arise, still felt so dear.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress! I have something to tell you!”

 

At that moment, Lou hurried over and whispered in her ear.

 

As Riela listened quietly, her expression grew even brighter.

 

“Really?”

 

She immediately went to Herhan and whispered the same thing to him, then grabbed his arm and pulled him along.

 

“Your Majesty, let’s go check right now. Please?”

 

“Riela, at least let’s unpack first—”

 

“Hurry!”

 

The place they went was the portrait room.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress! The portrait of both Your Majesties is finally finished! You can see it in the portrait room now!”

 

And just as they said—

 

Riela and Herhan stood silently in front of the massive portrait that filled an entire wall.

 

They had known it would hang here, and had spent a long time preparing for it, but standing before the completed painting felt strangely different.

 

“Individual portraits of you or me are nice, but I like this one the most.”

 

“I feel the same.”

 

“It’s so beautiful.”

 

“Well, the models are exceptional.”

 

Riela let out a small laugh, then called his name again.

 

“Herhan.”

 

Herhan. Herhan.

 

Even though she had called his name countless times over the past few days, it still felt unfamiliar—and made her heart race.

 

“You were amazing even when you were just Herhan… but you’re at your best when you’re standing in this place.”

 

As she said that, her gaze stayed fixed on the figure in the portrait—Herhan, standing beside her as a dignified emperor.

 

“You know what that means, right, Riela?”

 

“……”

 

“As long as I’m emperor, you must remain my empress forever.”

 

Of course she knew.

 

How could she not?

 

She had already made that decision long ago.

Maybe even before she realized they were destined to be each other’s other half—Riela had already decided to become his.

 

“You promised. That no matter where you are, I’ll be by your side.”

 

“Then I’ll fight for you.”

 

“And I’ll protect you.”

 

“Yeah. The nights here will be long too.”

 

Why bring up nights all of a sudden?

 

Riela almost protested, then just smiled instead.

 

Would it only be the nights?

 

Bright days, soft dawns—

 

Every moment they spent together would be long, and precious.

 

It didn’t matter what name they existed under.

Enril and Antu.

 

Emperor and Empress.

 

Or simply Herhan and Riela.

 

“Shall we go now?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

As long as they held hands, it was enough.

 

With that alone, the two of them could become something stronger and more unbreakable than any name in the world.

 

[The End]