Chapter 4 - God Bless The Bold (II)
"Now can you tell me what is this about?"
Walking along the courtyard of Papunika prison, Leona questions Marm. The queen is seldom being impatient, this is one rare occasion that can drive her getting mad at her friend.
Hanging around with Leona for more than four years, Marm can read Leona's mind and understand the discomfort Leona is having.
"Leona, I will tell you everything. But I don't want Hyunkel to be the second person who is aware of this. Please wait until I have the gut to tell him."
"Gut? Why do you need it?" Being a positive person, Leona doesn't want to come to a conclusion that Marm is encountering some problems, although her intuition can sense something unfortunate.
"I don't know why will I need it. Something is really wrong with me."
"It's your husband. Since you knows he should be aware of whatever you want to tell him, it may be the right thing to do. Don't hesitate. Nothing can go really bad in your life."
"I wish." Marm sighs. "Ok. If I don't tell him in a week time, then you will let him know that I'm having something to talk to him. So he will ask me, and I can't delay it anymore. Can you do that?"
"I guess it's fine..." Leona nods.
Marm's hesitation is one thing that Leona has less patience to take. Leona has a head of fire, while Marm always tends to evaluate every options and drags her decisions.
"Since I'm in Papunika now, I won't come back to your house for today. We have a party in the palace this evening and I get to dress up."
"Then how about Larhalt and Sisen?" Leona's smile leaves Marm in question.
"Help me to tell Larhalt about this and he will know to take care of Sisen, and both of them will be here on time for the party." The Queen winks.
Family life of the Queen of Papunika is as simple as it shows to friends.
When Her Majesty and Larhalt fall in love, they fall in love.
When they have a baby, they bring the baby to life and raise him together.
When they want to take care of the kingdom together, they excel the roles together.
When they don't rush into marriage, they don't rush into marriage.
Nobody can interfere what they want to do. Is it because Leona being a Queen so she can do whatever she wants?
It's not.
Leona has shared with Marm, Furora and Menruru once, that she has been doing everything best for Papunika. The only thing she will never ask for judgement and opinions of her reign, her people is her family life. For that, nobody in the kingdom can go against her.
Furora said, to have the ability in achieving this, Leona has already owned the ultimate power and love of not only her kingdom, but from the whole world.
Marm is so proud of her friend. But there is one question Marm has never asked because it can be quite sensitive and awkward.
Sometimes, Marm asks Hyunkel if he believes in Dai's return one day in the future.
And from the bottom of Leona's heart, is the little chance keeping her away from marrying Larhalt?
"Sure, Leona. I will tell him." Marm pats on the shoulder of her friend and smiles. "I'm going back now. Love you."
And Marm disappears with the letter taken from Ella in her hand. Leona is left alone in the huge and quiet courtyard of the prison.
Somehow, she feels lonely, without knowing why.
She is missing warm smiles and voices of Larhalt, of Sisen.
...
Night falls, ending a good Romos's sunday.
Laying next to her love, Marm naturally pictures how tomorrow will start.
It will be a whole hectic week for Hyunkel: new projects requested by the government of Romos, and meetings in Papunika, and other functions scheduled for both of them. Shall she postpone the weekend trip to Teran? When is the best time to "tell" him?
Marm loves their bed, loves the comfort of their mattress, loves the scent of him, loves the power of him.
Marm loves the pillow that he places underneath her, loves the dirty talks he makes, loves the sexual side of him.
Marm loves the handsome him who treasures her, teases her, gets her laid, seduces her.
Why does she have to leave this man?
"Cute outfit." Hyunkel compliments. "But you don't have to wear anything on bed, look at me." A cunning gleam is seen in his eyes.
Yes, he is naked. Willingly as usual, Marm moves closer to him to stay in his arms, placing kisses on his chest. "Is that an excuse to cut down my shopping expense?"
"I have done my part in household saving, my wife should join."
"That's you call a saving?" Marm giggles. "Ah, I know, you can save a lot when you don't have to raise a wife."
"No... no matter how expensive she is." He kisses her forehead. "I don't live without her."
"You have a very strong passion in the industry, you attach badly to Papunika, our friends, family... You have a lots of things going on..." She looks at him with concerns, her hands resting on his chest and her legs cross over his.
"But here's a thing." Hyunkel tells her gently and stroking her hair, he notices her hair is longer than she usually lets it be. "I don't live without you, simple as that."
From the way he says, it becomes a confirmation.
"In extreme circumstance, you never let go of other important persons in our life." Marm eyes on him, the stunningly handsome him can insist in fighting for his stand.
"Ok." To a small level of her surprise, he gives in.
Marm feels relieved.
"Don't worry too much." Said him. And he holds Marm's hands, carrying her to a hot shower.
Whether the night is late or not, it's an open rule that when Marm and Hyunkel lock themselves inside the bedroom, no disruption will any helpers ever want to make. The helpful team will professionally settle all household matters, from entertaining walk-in guests to bedding Karl and Dannie.
...
"Yes, My Lord, you can zoom in for portrait, and be aware of the lighting, natural light is the best."
"Get it." Larhalt nods. "Your Majesty, it looks better when Sisen is held in your arms."
"Ok, ok." Leona holds the boy in her lab and smiles gorgeously. Even though Sisen doesn't look very cooperative in the shoot, Larhalt can't ask more from Leona's beauty. Through the lens, her image can easily blow his mind away.
The royal couple is excited with a new invention that has just been sent to them, a digital camera.
Photographing and modelling are bringing so much fun in this elegant party at Rose Garden of Papunika palace. The celebration is organised for inventors who make outstanding difference to life of Papunika kingdom. It's fascinated to all guests being here today that Queen and Lord of Papunika turn out to be the most technology savvy royals they have ever met.
"Congratulations on the invention. Her Majesty and I are certainly fond of the camera." Larhalt talks to the young scientist from Ringaia.
"Thank you, Your Highness." The scientist feels sorry for not beings able to express enough gratitude to the Royal of Papunika. They are willing to stand for work of unknown inventors like her. In Ringaia, her home country, technology is blooming and invested. But there are very few chances for inventors and creators to be acknowledged. Imitations, stealing of ideas, discoveries, are allowed in all levels.
"I'm thinking about the development for a camera that captures a series of images, how practical is it?"
"My Lord, experiment has been carried on for months for motion picture, where movements of subjects and human beings are taken and played back. Hence, your idea is very, very practical." The young scientist replies eagerly. Normally, people shows no trust on the potential of this experiment because they don't see why they need it.
She doesn't know that Papunika ruling party is very different from the rest. They own a combined trust for both technologies and magic powers. They have witnessed advanced technologies developed by the Demon world that rulers of other kingdoms could have never imagined.
Years ago, Demon force used to have the so-called Bat Eyes, items created by Dabola to spy on opponents and transmit immediate motion pictures. Leona and Larhalt have discussed on how they should develop a similar technology for enhancement of Papunika national security. That's why Larhalt is extremely interested in supporting the new project of this young scientist from Ringai.
That no one is aware of Marm using teleportation several times to the prison of Papunika has raised a concern in Larhalt. Nothing about Marm, it's about how low the level of control they have in utmost important public areas of Papunika.
He looks forward to share this project with Hyunkel tomorrow, for his friend will be here in Papunika to attend a conference.
...
Hyunkel is still awake, stroking Marm's soft hair as she is asleep. The innocent look of her gets him smile.
"Hey, you are so handsome when you smile." She grins.
He pokes her nose, "Cheeky. Get back to sleep."
"Sleep together." Marm wraps her hands around him.
He doesn't say anything, he lets Marm's soft body clench in his and lets the night fall into complete silence. His precious angel will have a good sleep.
"I can't wait seeing you in the wedding gown and walking to me along the aisle." His arm wrapped around her body and he was caressing her beautiful face.
It was their engagement party, they were in a dance and the happiness was everywhere in the air for him.
"Maybe four years later?" Marm said.
"Why so long? Make it in one-year time, when our baby is strong enough."
"I want to have the second baby as soon as possible."
That was a surprise, but seeing the smile on Marm, he knew he wouldn't not agree with her.
And when Danny was born...
"You can't run away from me, not this time, babe." He whispered in her ear, holding her in his embrace. He wanted them to get married and Marm was sure happy hearing that.
But...
"Let's wait for a liltle while..." Her gentle smile was so sweet.
Of course it made sense to wait for a tiny bit more.
Months passed by and they grew a wonderful family. Along the time, they both were so happy with everything. He did bothered with the incomplete marriage process Marm and him were into, but he also sensed Marm's reluctance in formalising their relationship, so he compromised, because Marm is already his precious wife.
Marm made best use of her time but she wasn't into anything long-term.
He eyes on the walk-in wardrobe, the conversation they had in the afternoon is running in his mind.
"Another letter for me?" He asks her. A smile is on his face. He is holding an envelop that states his name.
"How do you have this?" Marm quickly takes it back.
"From Mrs Swan. She saw it in the pocket of your winter coat."
"Argg... she is so into doing laundry for my clothes again." Marm sighs.
"How about the letter? Don't you want me to read it?"
"No." Marm sounds determined. "Look away, I can't let you see where I keep it."
"Why...?" He asks. But he still turns back as Marm's request. From the reflection of the window, he sees where is Marm heading to. That makes him smile. Clumsy Marm.
Standing in the walk-in wardrode, he unlocks the small chest Marm uses to keep her valuable items. No letter is there. Then, intuitively, he eyes on the ugly christmas sweater that he hates to wear. His hand slides inside and easily find the envelope. It's the same envelope with his name written. Marm doesn't deny that it's for him, Marm doesn't want him to read, but she is hidding it here. This means she still wants him to have it sometime in the future, most probably.
He doesn't feel like he can wait. He can sense something different about this letter. It's not likely to be similar to all love notes, poems, letters, drawings... etc that Marm makes for him.
After a short hesitation, he opens the evenlope and glances through Marm's writting. The first sentence shocks him immediately.
Dear Hyunkel,
I may not be around when you are reading this letter. I'm sorry, honey. This is the best decision I can make.
Remember how angry you were when I messed up the wound on my shoulder, the wound that was caused by Ella? I made you believe it was healed. In fact, it wasn't getting any better. The physical wound was fine, but there has been a mysterious curse tagged along. And now the curse is still inside my body. It has haunted me for months. Every night, I have a same nightmare about Karl being killed.
Ella said that since I own magic powers, Karl became an easier target because he is a more vulnerable living being inside my body. Ella taught me how to freeze the curse for several years, four years estimatedly, so Karl can be born safely.
I could have discussed with you. However... I won't be able to face the sadness in your eye, I don't want you to be the one who chooses between me and Karl. I desperately want Karl to come to this beautiful world and grow up as a wonderful man like you. He is a lifelong connection of us. You will always see parts of me in him. Karl is a precious, gorgeous love that we have for each other. We are his parents, it's natural to protect him no matter what. For this point, I believe you are with me.
Hyunkel, my only regret is that, this decision were made without your awareness. All because I can't stand seeing you being unhappy, worried, bothered... Spending everyday of the next four years with an awareness that I can be taken by the curse anytime is not something cool, is it?
It was not easy for me to accept that I only have four more years in my life. But when I went home, seeing you, well, shirtless just now and laying lazily on the bed reading your book, I took this matter in a much more positive way. I take this as a chance to treasure all good things in my life which I may overlook, or waste, hadn't such incident happended.
Four-year is a generous amount of time. I hope we can have one more baby so our Karl will have a sibling to grow up with. I plan to spend lots of time nurturing our children together with you. Me of a few months ago would never consider this. But me at the moment have such a strong instinct to parent! I also plan to study... I was too lazy before. I want to do social work in Romos, too. And most important, a large amount of my time will be used to love you, to take care of you, be pampered by you. Hyunkel, I'm so excited at our family life, it's gonna be very sweet, isn't it?
I will not spend time preparing a wedding. I don't want to put on a wedding gown, I don't want to have any marriage registration. I used to dream of a beautiful wedding day, but what is more obvious now is that I don't want to leave a shadow on these experiences which you may be able to have with someone else, someone who can be with you for the rest of your life.
But if our second child is happen to be a girl and if one day, she asks about my favourite wedding gown, tell her it would be the one with long sleeves, V neck, laced, mermaid style. That's a common question any daughter will ask.
I believe, happiness is about knowing where to stop, about not regretting. I'm feeling the best kind of happiness because I'm willing stop my journey after the next four years. I will have no regret, knowing my beloved ones are living well.
Remember one fancy sentence that Crocodile says and you genuinely agree with? Life Moves On.
You have loved me, lighted up my days, made me a woman and a mother. You have done every best thing for me. Now when I'm no longer accompanying you along the journey, please leave our memories in your heart, and move on. I'm happy to stay in a tiny corner of your warm heart. I really am.
Be open to new pages of your life. Once the feeling is right, allows somebody to take care of you.
Honey, from the beginning, your happiness has already become a reason of my smiles. It saddens me deeply, it hurts me badly if you are dragged into depression because of me.
After completing this letter, I will ignore the ridiculous curse and will live a fulfilling next four years with you, at which I'm very excited.
Kisses and Loves.
Marm.
Eventhough Marm is sleeping peacfully on the bed, he can't stop feeling painful. How bad it is for his precious Marm to take this all alone...
You can't only stay in my heart. You have to be by my side.
He determines and puts the letter back to where it was.
End Chapter 4 - God Bless The Bold (II)