The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 69

Imagining the garden filled with the vivid red of salvia, the warm yellow of marigolds, the delicate pink of carnations, and even the tiny white dots of baby’s breath, different colors all together, gave her a sudden surge of strength. The garden wasn’t complete yet, but it was enough to give anyone the belief that a brilliant world would soon unfold.

Yulania sat on the bench and carefully sighed. The slightly chilly air brushed against her face, but thankfully, the woolen cloak kept the wind out well. Readjusting the cloak, her gaze suddenly drifted far away. Her eyes were directed towards the capital in the distance.

“Santia, I wonder what he’s doing.”

The words, muttered as if to herself, lightly scattered into the air the moment they left her lips. A faint worry, like dust floating in the spring sunlight, permeated the end of her words.

Yulania had been counting the days since Santia left, every single day. Ten days, perhaps by today he would have met his father, and would return within a day or two at the earliest. She held onto that hope, but the anxiety in one corner of her heart didn’t easily subside.

She knew that Santia had been bound to the existence of the king for much longer than she had. And she knew how heavy it was for him, who was just beginning to feel a little comfortable, to step back into the royal palace. What kind of expression would he have when he returned? Would he perhaps reappear with a cold, hardened face again?

‘No. Stop worrying like that now.’

Yulania shook her head and carefully rose to her feet. They said that babies could feel their mother’s emotions. She tried every day to only have bright and pretty thoughts.

The soil on the ground wasn’t completely dry yet, so it was a little slippery underfoot. Marilyn, who was watching from the side, quickly reached out her hand.

“Princess, be careful!”

“Yes, thank you. I’m alright.”

It was strange to her that she had become someone who could be sincerely grateful for even the smallest act of help. Since becoming pregnant, her heart had become much more flexible, and she was easily moved by someone’s kindness. Sometimes she felt embarrassed, wondering if she had become too soft, but she decided to trust her heart, which was gradually growing like this garden.

Inside the garden, small seedlings that had not yet been planted were neatly arranged in a basket. Among them, Yulania picked up a particularly pale marigold and carefully dug into the soil with her fingertips, making a small hole. It wasn’t easy to bend over, but she wanted to do it herself rather than have someone else plant it for her.

“Baby, this is a flower I’m planting for you.”

She whispered the words. If the affection contained in these words reached the petals and helped it grow well, perhaps one day the child would see this flower and be happy.

“I’m waiting for you so much.”

And she, as if she had known the child for a long time, smiled and stroked her belly once more.

She made a small groan and stood up. She had to catch her breath often, but instead of stopping, she turned her eyes even more delicately. The sprouts around the flowerpot she had touched were strangely vivid.

“Oh my goodness, Princess! Even under the sunlight, the holy stones are sparkling!”

Maya exclaimed as she arranged the holy stones decorated among the plants.

Yulania examined the holy stone, where a clear yellow light was spreading. At first, it was only flickering slightly, but at some point, the light gradually became stronger and began to reveal its vitality, as if pulsating from within.

“If we leave it like this, the entire garden might be brightly lit.”

Vanessa, who was walking through the garden with her, added. Yulania smiled lightly. She probably sensed from the beginning that the holy stones were not just ordinary stones. The power she exerted on the holy stones grew stronger day by day, with a clear vitality.

‘Is it because of this child?’

She placed her hand on her stomach. Somehow, it felt like something was wriggling inside. The reaction of the holy stones, the vitality of the flowers in the garden, all seemed to be breathing with this small life.

Just then, a servant rushed over.

“Princess! Lady Shuri has arrived!”

When she heard the servant’s bright voice, Yulania paused the hand that had been focused on tending the garden. The gloves, stained with soft soil, were beginning to look quite fitting on her.

“Alright, I should stop now and go inside.”

Yulania placed a slightly regretful gaze on the flower bed before slowly rising to her feet. Her movements had become cautious due to her heavy belly, but during this time in the garden, she felt a light feeling as if she were standing at the center of the world.

After washing her body with warm water, the fatigue of the day, which she hadn’t been aware of, seemed to ease a little. After changing into the indoor clothes that Vanessa had prepared after her bath, Yulania carefully leaned back on the soft blanket. Not long after, quiet footsteps entered the room. Following that, a small but very calm voice rang out.

“Princess, I greet you.”

“Welcome, Shuri.”

Yulania smiled and reached out her hand, and Shuri accurately found her fingertips and warmly grasped them. Instead of seeing with her eyes, her senses were accurate as if feeling her heart.

Shuri, whom she had seen with Joel when she first had a child, had excellent massage skills. After becoming pregnant again, she received massages from Shuri every day on Joel’s recommendation.

Shuri was a quiet person, but her fingertips contained a strangely warm warmth. Perhaps because she couldn’t see, she seemed to sense her emotions with other senses that Yulania didn’t know about.

She slowly placed her palm on Yulania’s shoulder and gently pressed down. The careful touch slowly moved down, loosening her stiff body.

“Your body must be very heavy, Princess.”

“It is but I don’t dislike the weight. It’s rather reassuring.”

“That means you are truly welcoming the baby. That feeling will be conveyed to the baby as well.”

At those words, Yulania closed her eyes and quietly inhaled. Shuri’s fingertips were now gently caressing her belly. Time flowed quietly along with the soft touch. Yulania thought beyond her closed eyes. The calm air and relaxed atmosphere gently caressed even her deepest thoughts.

‘Living like this wouldn’t be so bad.’

She had always been tired of moving according to someone else’s will and thinking that she had to live within some kind of mission. But now it was different.

A small life was growing inside her, and she was living each day to protect that life. Not a life being protected by someone, but a life she was protecting. Yulania felt peace in the truest sense for the first time.

‘If only this happiness could last for a long, long time.’

She whispered inwardly and placed her hand on the holy stone. The light reacted softly, and as if in response, a yellow glow gently spread throughout the room.

After finishing her bedtime preparations, Yulania headed to the window overlooking the garden. It was still chilly in the evening, so she hesitated to go outside directly, but the breeze coming through the cracks in the window had become softer.

Even though no lights were turned on in the garden, the light of the holy stones was subtly illuminating it. The servants, who had been sweating together during the day, were tidying up one by one.

Looking at the light of the holy stones, she had the illusion that the noise of the world had disappeared. Time, worries, the kingdom’s chaotic politics, and the threat of demons all seemed like stories outside this small garden.

She touched the glass window with her fingertips. The absence of Santia, who had not yet returned, was lonely, but the fullness that each day gave her was filling that void well.

‘When you come back, I’ll show you this garden first.’

As the night deepened, starlight enveloped the garden and sparkled. Combined with the light of the yellow holy stones, a dreamlike landscape unfolded. In the peaceful atmosphere of the spring night, Yulania finished a satisfying day.

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