The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 93

Looking out at the familiar forest path flashing by the window, Yulania was lost in thought. Around this time last year, she had been heading in the opposite direction, carrying a small life that was losing its light. The sky, which had been pouring down black rain as if to swallow the world, was still blue. This year, the autumn rain was late.

It was the same road. The rocky hills, the chilly wind sweeping through the valleys, the small villages passed occasionally. The scenery was the same, and even the wheel tracks felt familiar. But as Yulania walked that road again, she realized that even though it was the same road, everything had changed.

Above all, there was a being breathing softly in her arms. A warm, fragile, and unbelievably light life was nestled against her chest.

Shuria. Her child. Santia’s daughter.

Just the name alone filled Yulania’s heart with a gentle, overwhelming emotion. It felt as if she were holding something both the hardest and the softest in the world.

She gently lowered her head and looked at Shuria. The baby’s lips twitched very slightly, as if she had just woken up. Her eyes were half-closed, and her fingers were clutching Yulania’s collar. Yulania covered Shuria’s hand, which kept popping out of her clothes.

“Do you even know what a great miracle you are?”

Yulania whispered with affection, touching Shuria’s cheek with her fingertips. The baby’s skin, as soft as a flower petal, filled her heart with just a touch.

Perhaps she recognized the emotion in her voice. The baby babbled with a gurgling laugh. The corners of Yulania’s lips curled up beautifully as she watched.

Santia sat across from her, quietly watching Shuria without taking his eyes off her. He kept leaning forward and back to check on the baby’s condition, which was somewhat comical and cute.

His stern face now clearly had a fatherly shadow. The small wrinkles around his eyes and the cautious tenderness in his eyes proved it. These days, Santia had no time to rest, looking after Yulania and Shuria.

The carriage swayed gently. There was two or three times more luggage than before. The floor was filled with cushions, and a specially made cradle absorbed the shocks so that Shuria would not be startled by even the slightest tremor. The luggage cart was filled with blankets, baby bottles, emergency medicine, spare clothes, and even a baby tapestry hand-woven by Yulania. It was hard to imagine a more careful and cautious move.

But Yulania felt satisfaction even in that inconvenience. Even though she was heading into a cold season, she felt strangely warm. It could have been the warmth of the baby sleeping in her arms, or it could have been because she was no longer afraid of the season in the capital that she might face at the end of this road.

She felt a distinctly different energy in her chest than before. Like the light of a holy stone spreading gently, a warm and refined power rippled within Yulania’s body and mind. It suppressed fear, covered anxiety, and instead left a calm confidence and quiet hope.

‘Everything has changed.’

Yulania thought quietly. And that thought naturally reached Santia without being spoken. His gaze, which met hers, softened. She nodded, and Santia silently placed his hand on the back of her hand. His reassuring touch reminded her once again of the meaning of this moment.

It was the same road, but she was no longer lonely or anxious. Now there were three people on this road, and a love more certain than anything else was breathing quietly in her arms.

The carriage was running quietly. A gentle vibration was felt each time the wheels passed over the stones on the road, but the air inside was calm and warm. The cold light of winter, which came in through the gaps in the cover, occasionally brushed against Yulania’s face. She quietly looked at Shuria’s cheek inside, and then turned her head towards Santia.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

At his question, Yulania narrowed her eyes and smiled. And she answered slowly, as if recalling a very long time ago.

“Last year. I was so nauseous going down this road.”

At those words, Santia quickly frowned. It was now a familiar sight to see a worried expression on his face.

“That will never happen again.”

Yulania chuckled softly. It was a word that came out of being lost in memories. She turned her gaze out the window and said quietly.

“Now that I think about it, you were kind even back then. Being carried by you like a bundle of luggage and riding a horse, it was a little fun.”

Santia immediately retorted.

“I have done my best from the beginning to the end.”

Yulania smiled faintly at those words.

“Did you?”

“Do you know how much you worried me because you didn’t know?”

“I’m sorry.”

It was a sincere apology, and Santia laughed briefly like a sigh.

“Well, it’s not your fault, but…”

Santia trailed off, shaking his head slightly, and then looked down at Shuria, who was breathing softly in Yulania’s arms. Her eyelids were half-closed, and her small fists were clutching the cloth and moving slightly. Even in the shaking of the carriage, the baby did not wake up at all. She was such a gentle and quiet baby.

Even in a luxury carriage, the shaking could not be completely eliminated. However, with Yulania and Santia supporting her on either side, Shuria was sleeping more comfortably than ever.

“Her first outing is to the capital, so it might be a bit overwhelming.”

Yulania said in a whisper. No worry or anxiety was felt in her voice. Rather, it was calm and peaceful.

“It’s okay. We’re here, aren’t we?”

Santia replied briefly. His gaze was still fixed on the baby, and one hand was naturally placed on Yulania’s hand.

A year ago, there were uncertain feelings between them as they walked this road. They hurt each other because of the words they had to hide and conceal, and the truths they were afraid to face.

But now that they were three, they were not afraid of this road from Makari Castle to the capital at all. The change that the child had brought was amazing in itself.

“Santia.”

“?”

“This road feels much shorter than before.”

“Me too. Even if the destination is the same, it’s so different when the people you go with are different.”

Yulania quietly nodded and gently kissed the baby’s forehead. Santia watched her and smiled quietly.

The energy of winter was felt outside the window, and the wind was already getting fierce, but the inside of the carriage felt like the center of a quiet and warm world. Now, at the end of this road, they would meet Yulania’s father, the King. It seemed that even the times when they had been so fiercely opposed would be made different by this one small hand.

The baby was already falling asleep. She slowly wriggled her lips and babbled quietly, then turned her head slightly and wiggled her little fingers. The hand that had been holding Yulania’s collar drooped down, and soon her thin eyelids closed.

“Our daughter sleeps so well.”

Yulania said.

“She sleeps so well that I’m more worried.”

Santia said, looking at the child with a serious but equally affectionate gaze. He didn’t know exactly when fatherhood began, but he was clearly a father now. He had someone to protect, and that soon became the reason for his life.

“May we be able to protect this peace throughout this child’s life.”

The couple’s hearts came out through Santia’s mouth

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