Who Stole The Empress

***

Was that why?

His obsessive overprotection and anxiety were not at all bad. Rather, this desperate love that only she knew was pitiful and heartwarming.

‘I’m fine. Really…’

Of course, she wasn’t afraid either.

However, her fear of changes occurring in her body was too small compared to his desire to protect and love the small life her body nurtures.

They both really wanted this child to be born healthy.

So she wanted to pour out all the love she could give to the child who came out. For the sake of this child, and for the happy future of ‘us’ waiting.

For that, she had to become stronger.

She felt a warm kiss on her shoulder.

“What are you thinking and not sleeping? Can’t you sleep?”

She could feel Tamon’s lips rising up to her neck. A drowsy voice tickled her earlobe, softer than his breath.

Asha, startled, looked at him and he kissed her cheek 

as if Tamon was aiming for it.

“I’m sorry, I was sleeping so long, did you wake up because of me?”

 “No, no, I slept well. My head is refreshed after a long time.”

“Sleep some more.”

“I was chasing a cute dream and when I opened my eyes, you were there.”

“Dream? Did you dream too?”

As she turned her body to face him, Tamon rubbed his lips against her round forehead.

His soft touch habitually massaged her neck and back.

“Well. I had a very cute dream that wasn’t like me.”

As Tamon recalled the dream, he burst into laughter.

What kind of dream did he have that he smiled like that even after waking up?

Asha hugged Tamon’s waist tightly, she pressed her ear to his chest, she asked.

“Tell me more. I want to hear it.”

At the moment of tight contact, Tamon’s shoulders stiffened slightly, but Asha didn’t feel it.

Tamon, who had stiffened for a moment, let out a weak sigh and hugged Asha tightly, continuing to kiss her on the forehead.

“I don’t know if you know, but I saw a dolphin. It’s an ocean creature that can often be seen in Amor.. Whales too, very cute and clever beasts.”

It was something Asha had only seen in books. The book said that there were hundreds of types of whales that had not been properly introduced into the world, and the most commonly seen representative whales were drawn.

Like a beast that lived in the water, their teeth were fierce and their eyes were bloody.

“There are many types of whales. There are some ferocious ones who are as fierce as monsters and love to hunt, but there are also those who are gentle and round. That’s what I saw in my dream.”

 “Ah, that’s amazing.”

Tamon, who said that such a beast was cute, was puzzled.

“It’s much smaller in size, and it looks cute. Next time I’ll take you to a place where dolphins are frequent. I think you will like it.”

Asha was already looking forward to it.

What would it look like? She had never seen sea creatures except seafood, so she was more curious.

“But the one I saw in my dream was a little more unusual. I know that there are no such colors around here.”

 “What color?”

 “Um. Her skin was pink.”

At that moment, Asha stopped and looked up at Tamon.

Tamon met her eyes affectionately.

Asha blinked as if at a loss for words without realizing it, then bit her trembling lips.

“Ha, did that creature you saw in your dream have black eyes and a smiling face? It’s roughly the size of a little bigger than me.”

Tamon, who was listening to Asha’s clumsy explanation, nodded his head as if it was true.

Her?

Asha, who suddenly burst into laughter without realizing it, sat up, touching her forehead.

“It doesn’t make sense.”

“What doesn’t make sense?”

“…I had the same dream as you. A pink creature, so if that’s a dolphin, I dreamed of a pink dolphin. It was playing with me in the sea…”

At Asha’s words, Tamon burst out laughing as if it was strange.

“Did we have the same dream at the same time? You’ve never even seen that creature, have you?” 

“No. I don’t know how I came to dream it, but it’s so strange.” 

There was a strange excitement.

Everything she felt in her dream was so sweet and happy, but it felt even better to think that Tamon felt it too.

“It’s strange.”

Tamon, who said that, seemed to be in a very good mood.

“Yeah, so. How could this be? It’s so strange. Isn’t it a special dream? It could be some kind of oracle or something.”

Tamon stroked her cheek as if Asha’s reaction was cute in surprise and excitement.

At that very moment, Asha looked down at her stomach in surprise.

Even in the darkness, her bright purple eyes were trembling.

“Tamon….”

“What’s wrong?”

What happened? Surprised if he had felt her pain, Tamon hurriedly raised his upper body.

Instead of continuing to talk, Asha grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach.

“Why … .”

At that moment, something tapped the inside of Tamon’s large palm that was wrapped around Asha’s stomach.

Yes, that was exactly right.

Tuk-Tamon stopped breathing at the gentle vibration that felt as if the baby was giving a very light greeting.

“Did you feel it?”

Tamon didn’t answer, but Asha could tell just by looking at his hardened expression.

“Oh my God, it’s amazing.”

Asha placed her hand on Tamon’s, her voice wet with joy.

Tamon also wanted to say something, but strangely, his lips couldn’t move.

Nothing came out, as if something was choking his throat.

He couldn’t help but stare blankly at his hand on Asha’s stomach.

Meanwhile, he felt the touch under his palm once more.

Seeing him startled without realizing it, Asha let out a low laugh.

“Why do you have such a frightened face?”

“I don’t know. Strange. Seriously, I’m convinced that there’s another creature living in here…”

Tamon couldn’t help but get distracted by the surprise attack of this little creature in Asha’s stomach. He barely felt the palm of his hand, but he was stunned and suffocated as if he had been hit in the head. 

“Cute. Isn’t it so cute? It’s like letting us know it’s there.”

Asha stroked her stomach with her trembling hands.

The two of them concentrated on the movement in her stomach for a long time after that, but sadly, no more fetal movements were felt.

When she was told that she was caring a child, nothing felt greater.

At that time, vague joy and emotion surrounded the two of them, but now it was a complete reality.

The presence of a new life gave her a sense of indescribable grandeur.

A child who was thought to be a small sprout moved his body with all his might to reveal his existence. Wasn’t he really brave?

“Tamon.”

Asha caught her breath and looked at Tamon with her slightly firmer eyes.

“I want to give birth to a healthy, safe, and happy baby.”

“…”

“Our child.”

Our child.

At that word, Tamon’s expression collapsed.

He looked at Asha blankly with bewildered eyes, twisting his face and smiling.

Our child.

Why?

Why were his eyes so itchy?

Tamon frowned hard and gave strength to his eyes, trying to suppress the overwhelming emotions.

He tried to press it down, but it was not easy to suppress the deluge.

Asha, who was reading Tamon’s expression with a careful eye, reached out her hands and hugged him tightly by the neck.

“Yours and my child, Tamon.”

“Asha.”

“Let’s be a strong mom and dad.”

“…”

“Promise me.”

“Asha…”

“I will protect our child no matter what. So you too… you must protect me and this child with all your might.”

Tamon closed his eyes tightly and held his breath at the sound of Asha’s voice that penetrated deep into his soul.

His heart jumped as if it had convulsed several times.

How could this woman possibly be this strong?

Her soul, which filled the inner side of this slender body, was her dazzling splendor, and she shook and awakened him every time.

“Of course.”

Tamon’s trembling hand# embraced Asha’s slender back with all his might.

No matter what happens, no matter what day the world ends.

He will protect Asha.

And now this child has become his bloodline.

‘Must.’

The two made eye contact, smiled and kissed.

It was an unforgettable night of return.

***

Even after returning to Amor, Tamon still did not leave Asha’s side.

He was always by her side when she ate, walked, read, or napped.

Was that a problem?

Normally, this wouldn’t have been a problem at all.

However, the problem was that he simply stayed by Asha’s side, ignoring the ‘given work’ or the ‘duty’ of course.

Asha put down the book she was reading and looked at Tamon, who was taking a relaxing nap on her lap.

The cover of the book she put down had a picture of a pretty dolphin on it.

“Tamon.”

“….?”

“You know it’s been a week already, right?”

Was he asleep or was he pretending to be asleep?

After staring at him for a long time, Asha leaned over and whispered his name in a more secretive voice in his ear.

“Tamon Krasis.”

His shoulders shook slightly at the seductive voice.

Asha did not back down, but moved closer once more and whispered.

“Hey, Tamon Krasis. Are you going to keep pretending to sleep like that?”

Tamon, who couldn’t stand the tickling breath on his earlobe, finally lifted his eyelids that cast long shadows.

His bright red eyes curved like a crescent moon and looked at Asha.

It was Asha who was speechless as she looked at his eyes filled with desire.

“Why don’t you use a more certain way to wake the sleeping prince?”

Asha hurriedly lifted her head, gently squeezing his nose and shaking it.

She clicked her tongue, displeased.