𝐈'𝐦 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐲 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥 (𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐃)

Chapter 70: Eternal Spring

Eight years had slipped by like water through my fingers, each day more peaceful than the last.

The dark, horrific memories of the first timeline had finally faded into distant shadows, no longer able to touch the warmth of the life we had fought so hard to build.

The empire was thriving, the throne was secure, and our palace was no longer filled with political tension, but with the bright, chaotic laughter of our children.

Our firstborn son was now seven years old. We had named him Asterios Arcturus. He was a striking blend of both of us, inheriting my dark, pitch-black hair and Arsen's brilliant, piercing red eyes.

Looking at him sometimes made me want to chuckle to myself. With that specific aesthetic, the boy practically possessed the perfect male lead formula.

If my memories of the bizarre, webnovel I used to read as Hanbyeol were any indication, jet-black hair combined with crimson eyes was the single most overrated, overused male lead trope in existence. He was practically walking around looking like the brooding protagonist of a tragic romance novel.

Yet, despite his dramatic appearance, Asterios had completely inherited my calmer, more observant tendencies. He was an incredibly sweet child, though a bit shy and definitely more of the quiet type.

He possessed a gentle soul, preferring the quiet sanctuary of the library to the roaring crowds of the training grounds, though Arsen still made sure to take him out horse riding and sword playing regularly, completely doting on his heir.

Then, two years after Asterios, our daughter was born. We named her Ariadne. She was the exact opposite of her brother.

Ariadne had inherited her father's fiery red hair and my sharp, emerald-green eyes. Her personality was just as loud, untamed, and fierce as her hair. She was a complete little menace, constantly running through the palace corridors, climbing trees, and giving the royal guards a run for their money.

But we loved her all the same. She brought a chaotic, vibrant life to the imperial household that balanced her brother's quiet nature perfectly.

***

On this particular afternoon, we were holding a private family tea party in the secluded imperial garden. The weather was beautiful, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of blooming roses and damp earth.

Arsen and I sat side by side on a wrought-iron bench, sipping our tea, content to simply watch our children play.

A few yards away, under the sprawling shade of an ancient oak tree, Asterios was sitting with his legs crossed, intently reading a heavy history book. He was entirely too mature for his age, an old soul trapped in a seven-year-old's body.

Ariadne, predictably, was not sitting still. She was running in wild circles around the oak tree, holding a wooden toy sword, loudly bothering her older brother to put down his book and play with her.

For a while, Asterios ignored her, turning a page with practiced calmness. But Ariadne was relentless, poking his arm and tugging at his sleeve until Asterios finally let out a soft, defeated sigh. He placed a dried leaf bookmark in his text, closed it neatly, and stood up, offering his sister a patient, indulgent smile as he agreed to play tag.

Unfortunately, our peaceful observation was gently interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.

I turned to see Landon, our trusted advisor, walking down the stone path. His expression was solemn, his usual formal posture slightly stiffened by whatever message he was carrying. He bowed deeply to both of us.

"Your Imperial Majesties," Landon spoke, his voice low so as not to disturb the children playing a short distance away. "I have just received an urgent message from the North. It is regarding the exiled Constantine. He has passed away."