The Warmth of Rosemary
A cold sweat breaks out at this sudden encounter with El, the deity known as the eldest of the four creator gods of this world. This is far too sudden.
"Your mind is in turmoil, I see."
Is he reading my thoughts?
"Indeed. I am a god, after all. Such a feat is trivial."
"I... I see."
At my response, El speaks in a bright, airy voice.
"Forgive me for summoning you so abruptly. If not now, I would not have another chance to speak with you."
A chance? From what I had heard, El was supposed to be an omnipotent, omniscient deity.
"I am not all-powerful. Mortals simply wish to believe that I am. We do not have much time. Is there anything you wish to ask?"
"I have so many. Far too many."
El lets out a soft chuckle at my bluntness.
"My apologies. I must have startled you by dragging you here so suddenly."
I nod in agreement.
"Yes. But... did I actually transmigrate into a novel?"
El shakes his head.
"No. This is simply another reality."
"Then why am I here?"
Should I call it possession? Was there a reason I had to possess this body? Why was I pulled into this world in the first place?
Ever since I was a child—no, even now, I occasionally wonder. Why did I end up here? A hero is summoned to save the world. But I am no hero. If so, what purpose do I serve in this place?
Hearing my silent questioning, El tilts his head back as if gazing up at an invisible ceiling. "I am sorry... I wish I could answer you. But I cannot."
As soon as the words leave his lips, the surrounding landscape begins to fracture. The pristine white void cracks open, and a creeping darkness begins to swallow everything.
"Wait... why?"
"Once you fulfill your mission... then..."
Fulfill my mission?
"Your reward will..."
He says something else, but the sound is muffled and distorted.
"What did you say?!"
I shout, reaching out toward El as his form fades into transparency. But my fingers grasp nothing but empty air.
Thud!
"Haah... haah..."
Where am I? An unfamiliar... no, a familiar sight. Is this our bridal chamber?
"Darling? Are you awake?"
Suddenly, a warm weight flings itself onto me, wrapping me in a tight embrace.
"Ugh... *sob*... I thought you were going to die... I was so worried."
The sweet, fragrant scent of rosemary tickles the tip of my nose. I look down slowly. Staring at the grey-haired woman burying her face in my chest and clutching my clothes with white-knuckled desperation, I murmur blankly, "Theodora?"
The woman gives a small, trembling nod.
What is going on? I was just in a dream...
Gently, I stroke Theodora's back as she shivers in my arms. Am I back? Or was that encounter just a dream? The memory is vivid, yet it feels incredibly surreal.
"I thought you were dead. Do you have any idea how terrified I was that I would never see you again?"
I want to ponder the mystery further, but the weeping Empress in my arms demands my full attention. Was she really this worried about me? I gently pat her back, waiting for her tears to subside.
She slowly lifts her head, her eyes meeting mine. Her eyes are like brilliant red rubies, currently brimming with heavy tears. How can someone look so breathtakingly beautiful even while crying? In the original novel, she was always depicted as cold and unapproachable. Why does she feel so incredibly warm and close right now? Her body heat, her soft breath, and the lingering scent of rosemary... I reach up and gently brush away a tear with my thumb. "Were you that worried about me?"
She nods quickly. "Yes. Truly... *sniff*... I was so afraid... so afraid you would never wake up again."
Hearing her tear-choked voice, a soft smile tugs at my lips. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
At my question, a faint blush colors Theodora's cheeks as she shakes her head slightly.
Whew. If she had died, things would have truly devolved into an unsalvageable disaster. I had no choice but to throw myself in harm's way to protect her, but seeing her safe makes me realize it was absolutely the right call. Had she perished, the empire would have plunged into unimaginable chaos. I let out a long sigh of relief. "Whew... Thank goodness."
She looks up at me with slightly narrowed, teary eyes. "Fool... You are the one who was gravely injured. How can you worry about me the moment you open your eyes?"
Well, if you die, I lose my sole justification for interfering in imperial politics. Obviously, I can't tell her that. I quickly smooth it over with a smooth lie. "Of course I am. You are my one and only wife, aren't you?"
When I gently stroke her hair—which looks unusually endearing today—she lets out a soft gasp. "Ah..." She buries her face in my chest again, shivering slightly. Did she eat something strange while I was asleep?
"I... I will go fetch the physician."
With that, Theodora slips out of my embrace. I chuckle softly as I watch her hurriedly open the door and rush out. Come to think of it... nothing major happened while I was unconscious, right? A brief wave of anxiety washes over me as I watch her depart, but knowing she will return shortly, I lie back down and lose myself in thought.
Come to think of it, we have been married for two months now, yet I think this is the very first time I have actually lain in this bed. Becoming aware of that fact makes me notice the faint, elegant scent of rosemary clinging to the sheets. *Sniff, sniff...* Ugh, I feel like a total creep. Just as that embarrassing thought crosses my mind, the door creaks open, and the royal physician enters alongside Theodora.
"Your Grace, please excuse me for a moment."
"Go ahead."
After a brief examination, the royal physician stands up and bows. "I find no major abnormalities. However, you have been bedridden for a significant period, so you must absolutely refrain from overexerting yourself."
I let out a dry chuckle. "Good grief. My schedule is hardly ordinary. I have been out of commission for days; I dread to think of the mountain of paperwork piling up at the Grand Ducal Department."
The physician stares at me as if looking at some bizarre specimen. "Your Grace, your health must always come first."
Theodora furrows her brow, chiming in sharply. "Exactly! How can your very first thought upon waking be about work?"
"Indeed," the physician agrees. "You have not fully recovered yet. Overworking yourself now could lead to grave consequences."
I smirk. "Alright, I understand. Calm down, Theodora."
Once the physician packs his tools and leaves the room, I speak up. "Where is Agrippa?"
"Oh, for heaven's sake! What is wrong with you?" Theodora crosses her arms, glaring at me with pure exasperation. "Did you not hear a single word the physician just said? He told you to rest!"
"I... I know, but I need to know what happened with the assassination attempt and everything else while I was out. Oh, by the way, what is the date today?"
She lets out a heavy, thoroughly displeased sigh. "Honestly... you are impossible. Today is January twenty-sixth."
Huh? When did I collapse again? Was it January fifteenth? Yes, I collapsed the day after Agrippa arrived. "Ha... Eleven days have passed? The work... must be piled up to the ceiling."
Theodora gives a slight, reluctant nod.
Under the current system of governance I established, almost every matter, major or minor, must pass through my hands. Holding such absolute authority means I never get a moment's rest—a glaring downside—but the advantage of keeping the entire empire firmly within my grasp far outweighs the cost. However, when an unavoidable absence like this occurs... it is practically guaranteed that my office is currently buried under a literal mountain of documents.
"Ah... I can't just sit here. I need to head to the Grand Ducal Department."
The moment I try to sit up, Theodora shoves me back down onto the mattress with surprising force. "Are you out of your mind?! What did you just say the second you woke up?! Do you truly wish to make me a young widow?!"
I flinch, startled by the fierce, tearful desperation in her voice. *Wait... why is she crying again?* "Do you have any idea how much I worried? How sick with anxiety I was... and you don't care at all."
Watching her shoulders tremble delicately, my survival instincts begin to blare a warning.
"You just woke up, you stubborn fool... and all you can think about is going back to work... *sob*..."
If I don't comfort her right now... is it my instinct warning me that she might end up twisted and cold like the version of her I saw in my dream? I can't be sure, but I know I must soothe her. Besides, she is crying out of genuine concern for me. It is only natural to comfort her. With that thought, I gently pull her into my arms and pat her back. *Pat, pat.*
As I hold her close, listening to her quiet sobs, I fall back into contemplation. Honestly, though, this feels a bit unfair. I was the one who got stabbed. Is it really okay for the work to just pile up like this? Not knowing the exact scale of the backlog makes me incredibly anxious. *Should I sneak out tonight? Do I need to take another dose of the Unicorn's Horn?* As these thoughts race through my mind, Theodora's muffled voice speaks from my chest.
"I... *sniff*... I took care of the most urgent matters and signed them myself, so you do not need to worry."
A wave of profound gratitude washes over me. "Really?"
I feel her head nod against my chest. "If I had not... you would have undoubtedly tried to abuse the Unicorn's Horn again."
*How on earth did she know?* She looks up at me, her ruby eyes sharp and knowing. "So, take proper care of your health."
A strange, ticklish sensation flutters in my chest. "Yeah... I will."
Just then, a sharp knock rattles the door. Both Theodora and I look toward the entrance. When our eyes meet again, she shakes her head, indicating she doesn't know who it is either. It is as if we are holding a silent conversation with just our eyes. *Hah... We are supposed to be a married couple in name only, yet we can communicate with a single glance.* Shaking off the thought, I call out, "Who is it?"
"General Agrippa has arrived, Your Grace."
Oh? Did he rush over the moment he heard rumors of my awakening? "Let him in."
The door creaks open. Watching the handsome blonde general step into the room with a tense expression, I offer a cheerful greeting. "Agrippa, how have you been?"
Did he not know I had regained consciousness? It has been a long time since I've seen him look this utterly flabbergasted. "Y-Your Grace?!"
"It has been a while, hasn't it?"
Agrippa nods blankly before his face breaks into a brilliant, relieved smile. "When did you wake up? How is your condition?"
"Just a moment ago. I feel fine."
"I am truly glad to see you awake, Your Grace."
I chuckle at his genuine warmth. "Has everything been quiet?"
Agrippa shakes his head, his gaze subtly shifting toward Theodora. *Ah... this doesn't look simple.* Realizing we need to discuss a sensitive matter, I look at Theodora. "Um, dear..."
"Hmph... Fine, I understand. But do not take too long."
I offer a sheepish smile and smooth things over. "Don't worry. I plan to get plenty of rest today. This will only take a moment."
Seeing her step aside to give us privacy, I attempt to rise from the bed—only for my legs to completely give out beneath me. *Stumble!*
"Your Grace!"
Agrippa lunges forward, catching me before I can hit the floor.
"Ah... I'm fine. My body is just stiff from being bedridden for so long."
Agrippa tries to help me back onto the mattress, his face etched with deep concern. "Are you truly alright, Your Grace?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Let's move to the sofa instead of the bed."