The carriage rolled to a stop before the estate just as the afternoon sun painted the winter sky in shades of gold.
For a moment, Elias remained seated.
Then slowly, he stepped down onto the snow-dusted path.
Cold winter air greeted him immediately.
He stopped.
And stared.
Before him stood the Elirian Estate.
Not as grand as the Imperial Palace.
Not as magnificent.
Yet somehow-
It felt warmer.
The noble residence spread across several courtyards surrounded by white stone walls and dark wooden pavilions.
Snow rested lightly upon tiled rooftops while smoke drifted lazily from chimneys into the pale winter sky.
Bare plum trees lined the entrance road.
Their branches carried tiny red blossoms that had bravely survived the cold.
Wind chimes hanging beneath the eaves swayed gently in the winter breeze.
Soft.
Peaceful.
Alive.
Unlike the carefully controlled silence of the Imperial Palace, this place breathed with warmth.
Servants moved naturally through the courtyards.
Children of retainers chased one another near the side gardens before being scolded by older maids.
Someone was laughing.
Someone was arguing.
Someone was carrying baskets of winter vegetables toward the kitchens.
Life existed here.
Real life.
Not endless rules.
Not political schemes.
Not decrees.
Home.
Something tightened unexpectedly inside Elias’s chest.
Though the memories belonged to another man, his body recognized this place immediately.
A familiarity he could not explain settled over him.
Beside him, Keiro smiled.
“We’re home, Master.”
Elias swallowed.
Then his gaze shifted toward the entrance.
And froze.
Several figures stood waiting outside the main residence.
As if they had been watching the road for hours.
A graceful woman wrapped in a thick winter cloak stood at the center.
Lady Elira.
A dignified noblewoman whose composed expression failed to hide her relief.
Beside her stood Lord Vaelor.
His eyes had already reddened.
Several younger cousins and siblings lingered nearby, pretending to remain calm while repeatedly looking toward the gate.
Especially his beloved younger brother, Eryn.
The moment they saw him standing there-
All restraint vanished.
“My son!”
Lord Vaelor hurried forward before anyone could stop him.
Years of noble etiquette disappeared instantly.
Elias barely had time to react before he was pulled into a tight embrace.
His father’s hands trembled.
As if afraid he would disappear if he let go.
“You finally came home.”
The words broke halfway through.
Elias stiffened.
Not because he disliked it.
Because nobody had hugged him like this in a very long time.
Behind Lord Vaelor, Lady Elira cleared her throat.
Rather unsuccessfully hiding her own emotions.
“Welcome home, Elyas.”
For the first time since arriving in this world-
Elias smiled without forcing it. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Without pretending.
Without thinking.
“I’m home.”
They welcomed him wholeheartedly.
Years of distance vanished in mere seconds.
For them, it did not matter how long he had been away.
Being able to see him again was enough.
Everyone wanted to share something with Elyas.
Elias couldn’t help but think that the original owner of this body had truly been loved and cherished by his family.
His home was far better than Moonveil Palace.
Why would he leave all of this for that cold-hearted Empress who despised him at the mere sight of him?
They all sat together in the dining hall, eating and chatting enthusiastically.
“Hmm.”
Elias cleared his throat.
Everyone stopped talking and looked at him.
“I am very happy to be here.
I want to apologize to everyone for my ignorance over all these years.
I never visited despite receiving your invitations.”
He looked at Lady Elira before continuing.
“My sincere apologies to all of you.
I also want to tell everyone that after my drowning incident in the river, I hit my head on a stone.
Since then, I do not remember everything from the past-only bits and pieces.
I hope you will understand if I do not make sense sometimes or fail to remember certain incidents.”
“Did you get yourself examined by a Royal Healer?” Lord Vaelor asked, his voice trembling and eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.
He said my memories may recover gradually with the help of people around me.
So please help me with them.”
Elias deliberately told everyone this.
He wanted to avoid suspicion.
His family loved him dearly.
What if they realized he was not the real Elyas?
“Y-yes…
my son…”
Lord Vaelor started crying.
Lady Elira wrapped an arm around him to comfort him.
Everyone else sat frozen by the revelation.
“Does Her Majesty know about this?” Eryn asked quietly.
“No.
I do not want her to know.”
Elias answered firmly, leaving no room for argument.
“Now, let us enjoy our meal.”
He broke the silence with a cheerful smile.
Soon, the chatter returned to the room.
That night, Elias rested in his chamber.
Elyas’s chamber felt surprisingly warm despite the winter night outside.
A small fireplace crackled softly in one corner, casting golden light across familiar surroundings.
The spacious room was decorated in soft blue and silver tones, with shelves holding old books, sketches, and small keepsakes from his younger days.
A dressing table stood near the window, still lined with ribbons, perfumes, and ornaments collected over the years.
Thick blankets covered the large bed, and everything appeared carefully maintained, as though his family had always expected him to return home one day.
Elias spent the first seven days lazing around the estate, playing with his siblings and being pampered by his father.
He tasted all his favorite dishes to his heart’s content.
Surprisingly, all of Elyas’s favorite foods were also liked by Elias.
They shared similar tastes in food, home décor, and colors.
Slowly, he began understanding Elyas a little more.
Elyas had been a pampered and loved young man.
He was adored by his family and neighbors alike.
Elias gathered information about the original owner of this body in bits and pieces.
In summary, Elyas had been kind-hearted and helpful.
At the same time, he was mischievous, stubborn, and fond of bossing people around.
He was outspoken.
Average in academics but exceptionally handsome.
A highly sought-after groom in his youth.
He had heard countless stories about Empress Selene’s bravery and military victories.
He had admired her long before meeting her.
The first time he saw her at the Winter Festival, he fell in love.
He immediately told his father that he wanted to marry the Empress.
She worried that her son was too young to bear the responsibilities of being the Empress’s consort.
Life inside the Imperial Palace would not be easy.
The Empress already has a consort Leorin who is older than Elyas.
A dignified man of virtue.
But Elyas refused to listen.
He rejected every marriage proposal and fixated entirely upon the Empress.
Eventually, Lady Elira submitted a marriage proposal to the Queen Mother.
To everyone’s surprise, it was accepted.
Elyas was declared the Empress’s husband and Noble Consort of the kingdom.
He was given higher status than consort Leorin making him second Consort Leorin.
He had been overjoyed.
His dream of marrying the woman he loved had finally come true.
Elias still could not discover what exactly had happened between them afterward.
What had caused the Empress to hate him so deeply?
But for now, this much information was enough.
After all, he had no intention of reconciling with her.
He was better off without her.
The remainder of his stay was spent exploring the markets.
His mother spoiled him shamelessly with gifts.
He bought whatever caught his eye.
Elias also attended the Winter Festival with his family.
The Winter Festival of Elyndra transformed the capital into a sea of light and celebration.
As dusk settled, thousands of lanterns illuminated the streets and courtyards while merchants filled the marketplace with festive stalls selling warm sweets, roasted chestnuts, spiced tea, handcrafted ornaments, and winter flowers.
Families wandered through the decorated streets wrapped in thick cloaks.
Children laughed while playing seasonal games.
Musicians performed cheerful melodies beneath glowing lanterns.
Elias participated in several games and even won a few.
At the heart of the festival stood the traditional Wishing Tree, its bare branches adorned with colorful ribbons carrying hopes for the coming year.
Eryn reminded him that Elyas had once stood beneath this very tree and wished to marry Selene.
For the first time in years, Elias walked among ordinary people instead of palace walls.
He was surrounded by warmth, noise, and life that felt wonderfully distant from the rigid rules of the Imperial Palace.
Amid the festivities, the arrival of Empress Selene and her consorts was announced.
Elias immediately seized the opportunity created by the commotion and quietly slipped away through the crowd.
He had no desire to meet the Empress.
Back at home, Elias spent the evening reminiscing.
He wished he could stay longer.
Or perhaps stay here permanently.
But his father firmly reminded him that such a thing was impossible.
It had been Elyas’s own decision to marry the Empress.
Leaving her now would damage Her Majesty’s reputation and bring trouble upon the Elirian family.
Still unwilling to give up, Elias asked his mother to request an extension.
Lady Elira personally sought an audience with the Empress.
Selene expected yet another plea asking her to indulge Elyas’s foolish whims.
Instead, Lady Elira respectfully requested a ten-day extension for her son’s stay.
The Empress became visibly irritated.
She sharply remarked that Elyas behaved as though the entire world revolved around him.
She never explicitly approved or denied the request.
Lady Elira understood the answer regardless.
She returned home and quietly told Elias to prepare for his departure.
Elias accepted the decision with a sour mood.
The next day, he began packing to return to Moonveil Palace.
What he did not know was that the Empress had not only rejected his request for an extension-
She had also noticed him during the Winter Festival.
Not sad.
Not longing.
Not nagging.
But laughing.
Enjoying himself.
Without even a trace of jealousy.
When the Empress arrived with her consorts, Elias had chosen to leave rather than spend the festival with her.
And that-
Was new.
Author’s Note: Home is not always a place.
Sometimes it is the people waiting for you.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Elias experienced warmth without conditions, affection without expectations, and a family that loved him simply because he was theirs.
Unfortunately, peace never lasts long in the Imperial Palace.
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