Epilogue, the beginning, not the end (2)
Tak.
A teacup is placed on the table.
Roman Dmitri couldn’t take his eyes off the teacup because of the wrinkles on his beautiful hands.
“It’s herbal tea. I drink it every day because it is said to be good for anti-aging, but my son is still the same as he was 30 years ago.”
Mother laughed.
I took a sip of the teacup and took a sip at the sight of her sitting across from me.
It was warm.
The fact that his mother and father were still healthy and that he could see them again like this warmed Roman Dmitri’s heart.
After hearing Dmitri’s truth, the thing I was most concerned about was the health of my parents.
After 30 years, it would not be strange at all to return to the bosom of nature, but the traces of time were evident in the parents, and their complexion was rather better than before.
said Romero Dmitri.
“Don’t talk. Your mother said that my son will definitely come back, and for the past 30 years, I have fed dozens of healthy things a day. Look at this. At my age, everyone should lie sick in the corner of the room, but I didn’t have enough energy, so I started working at the blacksmith again. It’s not as good as before, but I still wanted to make you a nice sword when you come back.”
“Honey too. Still, I was right. How good is it to see your son now that we are healthy?”
“It’s not like that.”
parents’ words.
Emotions surged.
When he was living as Baek Joong-hyuk, his parents were cruel beings who forced the harshness of his bloodline.
This life was different.
He did not abandon himself because of Dmitri’s stupidity, and no matter how reckless he did, he trusted and supported him until the end.
Today’s Roman Dmitri was completed by his parents.
So, when he arrived in Dmitri, Roman Dmitri postponed all his schedules to meet his parents first.
said Roman Dmitry.
“… thank you.”
“Thank you. what?”
“Just thank you for everything.”
It was embarrassing.
He wanted to speak softly like the other children, but it was not an easy problem to solve the hard tone. Still, I just wanted to say thank you.
When he made up his mind to leave Dmitri, Roman Dmitri was an unfilial child who didn’t say anything to his parents.
As time passed, that fact bothered me, but I was really fortunate to have the opportunity to meet my parents like this.
“Roman.”
“yes.”
“Thank you for coming back and I love you.”
“… yes?”
eyes widened
love you
It was not like a father, but said Romero Dmitri scratching his head.
“A person is. There are things you can’t say if you miss the time. I really wanted to tell you 30 years ago how much I love my son, but I missed the opportunity and regretted it so much. Please know my sincerity.”
Moment.
Emotions surged.
saying I love you.
It was a word not allowed in Roman Dmitri’s life.
I wanted to convey the same feelings with my lips twitching, but again, it was not an easy problem this time.
Roman Dmitri’s hesitation seemed funny, so the parents burst into laughter and continued their normal conversation.
It was a really friendly and happy time. Just the fact that he could reunite with his parents like this gave Roman Dmitri the confidence that he had made the right decision to return to Dmitry.
Then all of a sudden
Roman Dmitry asked.
“How is Hans doing?”
at that point.
The parents’ faces hardened.
Romero Dmitri took a sip of tea and carefully set the cup down.
“Go back to your room. If you go there, you will learn about Hans.”
* * *
Squeak.
opened the door
The first emotion that came to my mind the moment I checked that familiar space was a sense of relief.
“… ah.”
A whopping 30 years.
30 years have passed.
As Dmitry’s capital has changed to a different look than before, this space should have been applied with the flow of time. Still, it was the same as before.
It was a neatness that would not have been maintained if it had not been cleaned every day, and Roman Dmitry walked into the room and recalled the memories of the past that permeated this space.
‘Hans. You are the same as always.’
It was fortunate.
The things arranged on the desk, the arrangement of the furniture, the bedding, etc., were incorporated into the details that Hans would not have known.
sure
It was Hans’ hand.
Hans, who was as concerned as his parents, was still cleaning his room every day after 30 years. Emotions surged at the warm touch.
Roman Dmitri was not a very emotional person, but after meeting Dmitri’s people, he felt like a completely different person.
tidy room.
It was a human heart.
The heart of a person who waits and misses himself and devotes himself every day so that this space does not change for 30 years.
Hans.
He was special to Roman Dmitri.
He was brought into the fence before his parents, and he never thought of himself as an ordinary servant in his mind. I wanted to see Hans soon.
When I was living with him, I thought that his nagging every day was annoying, but now I could listen to his nagging all day long.
It was then.
Courage!
“Your Majesty the Emperor of Fire?!”
It was the sound of something dropping.
When I turned my head to confirm the owner of the sound, a woman who appeared to be in her mid-thirties showed a surprised face.
But why?
Items dropped by women.
The moment he confirmed that the tools were for cleaning, Roman Dmitri’s heart suddenly started beating like crazy.
It was ominous.
I remembered my father’s words belatedly.
That you can find out about Hans when you go back to the room.
Roman Dmitry asked with a cold face.
“Who are you?”
* * *
Hans is a man of great responsibility.
He never entrusted his duties to others, and later, when he had a lot of work related to Roman Dmitri, he hired additional people, but he never cleaned the room himself.
Hans was really good. Looking at the unchanging appearance of Hans, a smile came out of his warm heart.
so that.
It was bound to be hostile.
To Roman Dmitri’s cold question, the woman rather responded with a slight delight.
“Your Majesty the Emperor. Don’t you remember me? I am Hannah, the granddaughter of Baron Hans.”
“… Hannah?”
“yes. I heard from my grandfather that he took care of my birthday every year before leaving Dmitri.”
I remembered.
Harrison, son of Hans.
Harrison had a daughter, and for the granddaughter, whom Hans regarded as a golden jade, Roman Dmitri himself threw a large party.
It was an annual event. Dmitri’s nobles showered Hans with gifts to impress Hans, and with Roman Dmitri’s help, his granddaughter was able to enter a prestigious academy.
but.
I couldn’t be happier.
The fact that her granddaughter was here to replace Hans meant the cruel reality that Hans was in a bad situation.
said Hannah.
“You must be wondering where your grandfather is. In fact, even three years ago, my grandfather cleaned His Majesty’s room by himself, but as he got older and his energy declined, he handed over all the work to me. As a granddaughter of my grandfather, I accepted this as a family business.”
10 years ago.
Hannah graduated from the academy with great grades.
In fact, she had held several administrative positions in the Dmitri Empire, but after experiencing many things, she thought that she would rather inherit her grandfather’s work.
Some said that being a servant was insignificant.
However, knowing that his grandfather was respected by the people of Dmitri as a servant, he wanted to take over the job and contribute to the Dmitri family like his grandfather.
Dmitry.
The country was worth it.
Because it is the family that became the root for people to live peacefully, Hannah learned her grandfather’s work.
Roman Dmitry’s reaction.
I was happy.
To the fact that I remember my grandfather, that I react hostile to his absence.
Hannah said happily.
“I will guide you to Grandpa. If he sees His Majesty, my grandfather will surely be very pleased.”
* * *
The place has moved.
It was a simple room.
Unlike those in the middle of the capital, Hans was lying on a bed in a plain room.
“… Are you the Emperor of Hua?”
“Don’t get up.”
Hans lifted his head with difficulty.
The face was different from before.
The blurry eyes on his half-shaven face were so weak that he couldn’t even tell if he was looking at Roman Dmitri properly.
Sad feelings flooded in. It was the moment when he felt once again that he had come back too late, and that 30 years is absolutely no small amount of time for humans.
“… Hans, are you okay?”
sat next to
As Hans laid down and looked at him warmly, Hans spoke softly with his teethless mouth.
“Everything is fine. How is your Majesty the Emperor? There must have been a lot of inconveniences because there was no one to take care of me, but when I thought of His Majesty, I was worried. Are you tired of traveling a long way? I’ll tell my granddaughter right now and prepare lunch. Foods that His Majesty the Emperor enjoyed. Anyway, why is your face so damaged? Didn’t I always tell you to take care of yourself?”
The horse bit its tail.
Why did he have so much to say? Hans continued talking even though it seemed like it was about to end.
“Your Majesty, do you remember? When I suddenly asked the eldest person in the village to guide me, I thought something was wrong with the boy. However, as I watched him deal with the vicious group at once, I realized that a special change had taken place in the boy I had served.”
It was strange.
name has changed
Hans’ blurry eyes lingered somewhere beyond his memory.
“People have been talking a lot about the young boy’s behavior since then. I was impressed that Dmitri’s firstborn son had changed, but I knew from the beginning what a good man he was. When Bocchan was young. Whenever I ate something delicious, he always put it in my mouth. I still can’t forget how sweet the snacks were then.”
“Your Majesty the Emperor. Nice to meet you at last. I really couldn’t sleep well at night because I was worried about His Majesty.”
“young master. Are you a young boy?”
Hans’ words.
The point of view kept changing.
Roman Dmitri didn’t question the words, but held Hans’ wrinkled hand and held it still.
Years with Hans.
Roman Dmitri remembers his life after being possessed, but Hans has had memories of himself since Roman Dmitri was a child.
And waited 30 years. The heart that cleans the room every day waiting for you, the sincere heart of a person who always puts himself first.
swallowed up sadness
I just wanted to show my good side.
When called emperor, he answered as the emperor, and when called the son, he answered as the son.
smart.
“Your Majesty, you are late.”
The sun has gone down.
Hearing Hanna’s voice, Roman Dmitri didn’t take his eyes off Hans.
“Okay. I will stay here for today.”
“… All right.”
now.
It was only the moment in front of my eyes that mattered.
I listened to Hans over and over again.
30 years.
How many things Hans must have wanted to say after he had disappeared and waited 30 years.
“Your Majesty the Emperor. really too please If they disappear without a word, what will the people left behind do?”
“sorry.”
“Don’t do that next time.”
“Okay. I promise you.”
It was consistent.
As always, Hans’ nagging did not stop.
Roman Dmitry looked at Hans, who was making a lot of noise, and did not let go of the hand that he held warmly.
so that all night
until the sun goes down and the sun rises again.
Roman Dmitri stayed by Hans’ side.
* * *
Tweet.
Birds were heard outside the window.
The day was bright and the warm sunlight illuminated the face of Hans, who had been sleeping peacefully without worry for the first time in a very long time.
I fell asleep smiling softly.
Seeing that happy face, Roman Dmitry lowered his head.
