Chapter 46

"Iena..."

As she was resting in the bedroom, a shadow quietly entered and called out to her hesitantly.

It was Ortimetti.

"Sorry, I came in the middle... Everyone has already left."

"No, I was sleeping."

Ortimetti said this, but Iena sat up. Her body felt better after a short nap.

Ortimetti gently supported her back.

"Everyone has gone. Alex was really excited. It seems he really likes Sofia. He chased her around, played with her, and fell asleep quickly after getting tired."

"He might cry in his sleep tonight because he's so excited."

Iena laughed.

Her smile, however, lacked its usual vitality, and Ortimetti's expression darkened.

"—Titi? What's wrong?"

"You look... so sad..."

"Is this about that again? I'm fine."

Iena gently pulled away from Ortimetti.

A bit of distance formed between them.

"Are you... not overworking yourself?"

It was probably midnight, and the room was pitch black except for the candlelight. Ortimetti's expression was hard to see, but it didn't feel like the usual condescending tone.

Iena remained silent for a moment before shaking her head.

"I'm not overworking myself."

Ortimetti gently took Iena's hand.

"I... haven't been thinking about you properly."

"..."

Iena looked at her kind husband's larger hand.

What was suddenly going on?

"—Ah, your sister? Did she say something to you?"

"Yeah... well..."

"What did she say?"

Iena hadn't been told anything yet, but she felt a sudden lightness in her heart.

Cynthia was always like someone who untangled knotted threads.

She naturally unraveled things that Iena didn't even realize were tangled.

The former king was the same. He didn't do anything specific, but just being there and naturally talking before leaving was a great support to her stepfather.

And Ortimetti was the same. For Ortimetti, who had no mother, Cynthia was a special presence.

Even when Cynthia said she would renounce her right to the throne, Ortimetti had admitted that he actually wanted his sister to take the throne. His feelings for Cynthia went beyond admiration and bordered on worship.

Since the war, Peninsia's influence had grown, and the royal power had weakened, but it was becoming strong again thanks to the efforts of the Duke and Duchess of Peninsia.

They supported Ortimetti and Iena both privately and publicly.

"I haven't understood Iena's feelings at all."

It seemed he had been told something quite harsh.

Iena was a bit surprised.

She hadn't expected Cynthia to take her side over Ortimetti.

Ortimetti, in fact, had a rather sensitive side. He was skilled at many things and had a good sense of judgment, so he had been handling the significant role of running the country well since he was young and was considered a great king. However, he was similar to his father in that he wasn't particularly optimistic and had a hardworking nature.

Cynthia understood such an Ortimetti and often showed concern for him. She doted on him quite a bit, and even though Iena thought of their relationship as that of good siblings, she could see that they were close.

"I know you worry about me."

"Yeah..."

Ortimetti's expression remained dark. Was he feeling down?

After a while, Ortimetti raised his face as if making a decision.

Even in the dark room, his red eyes seemed to glow.

"I've been thinking... about your feelings and my worries."

Ortimetti placed Iena's hand on his forehead as if in prayer.

"You are undoubtedly an excellent queen and mother. I feel incredibly lucky to have you as my wife."

"Titi..."

"That's why I think I need to cherish what you cherish. I care about the baby and you. But... I'm scared."

"Scared? Of what...?"

Ortimetti swallowed hard.

"I don't think I should be telling you this..."

"It's fine. Tell me."

"—I'm really scared. ...Of losing you like I lost my mother."

Ah, I see.

Iena realized for the first time what Ortimetti was truly worried about.

Ortimetti looked up at Iena, and his straightforward gaze made her feel a tightness in her chest.

"It felt like I was walking on thin ice all the time. I finally found someone to hold my hand. Knowing this comfort... if I lost it, I would surely break."

I know I shouldn't be saying this.

Ortimetti was revealing his weakness for the first time, something he had never told anyone.

"I'm immature. I shouldn't be saying this to you now... I feel so ashamed."

Iena had never heard such a vulnerable voice before.

She was surprised, but her body moved before her mind. She hugged Ortimetti.

"Don't say you feel ashamed. We are a married couple. We promised to support each other."

"Yeah, but..."

"I decided to marry you because I wanted to support you. You said you wanted to build a warm home with me. I wanted to have a warm home with you no matter what."

Iena remembered Ortimetti's confession.

It had only been a few years ago, yet how could she have forgotten?

"I'm sorry. I was being stubborn. Let's talk more. I'll share my weaknesses too."

"You don't have any weaknesses. Everything about you is charming."

"Ortimetti..."

Iena relaxed her body.

She pulled away from Ortimetti and smiled with a relieved expression.

"Yes. I'm a bit sad. The political work I can do at my own pace isn't that burdensome. But sitting in the audience chair for a long time or being surrounded by ministers in political meetings... it's a bit—"

The ministers were mostly middle-aged men.

It hadn't bothered her before, but since her pregnancy, it had become quite difficult.

"Is it the smell? ...Maybe even mine?"

Ortimetti sniffed his own clothes.

"It's fine for now."

Iena smiled wryly, and Ortimetti felt relieved.

"Also, about Alex... I want to, but—"

Playing with the energetic Alex was honestly quite tiring.

His mother, who used to play with him, suddenly stopped, which made Alex even more upset. She no longer picked him up.

She wanted to reassure Alex's anxiety.

"Can you take care of Alex for me?"

Ortimetti understood Iena's thoughts.

"Of course, Iena is better for Alex... but if it's about playing energetically, I can do it too. Maybe if Iena hugs him while lying down, it would help."

It wasn't clear if it would work, but just knowing that Ortimetti understood made Iena feel lighter.

She might have felt like her work and Alex were being taken away from her.

"Titi, thank you. I will stay healthy and give birth to a healthy baby. You can count on me."

Iena promised to stay healthy.

Ortimetti nodded silently.

A mix of emotions made his nose tingle, and he couldn't speak.