The Sand Bride - Side Story 2.22 - Rima

Rima

Time passed, and Rima turned ten years old.

Rima grew into a young girl who wore her thick, jet-black hair in a single braid to one side, enjoyed wearing yellow clothes, and loved to draw.

Though her skin was somewhat tanned under the hot sun, her white complexion—distinctly different from other Gharyam locals—along with her rosy cheeks and bright turquoise eyes showed that she carried the blood of the Southeast even more clearly than King Greta, who was also of mixed blood.

Nevertheless, she was able to grow up without a single shadow within this vast palace. This was because Rima’s mother, Esther, was alive and well in Gharyam, and Rima’s maternal grandfather and grandmother, who had come to Gharyam several years ago, were also by Esther’s side.

Furthermore, instead of leaving Rima in the hands of nannies and servants like others did, Esther raised her personally.

She passed down the education she had received in her own childhood to Rima, piece by piece with affection; and while some of that knowledge seemed quite useless in Gharyam, it was true that Esther poured her heart and soul into Rima’s upbringing.

The inner palace was a place where memories of her homeland—objects she could occasionally see and hear about through her parents—remained, and where the characteristic cruelty of Gharyam and unnecessary bloodshed were forbidden by Karzhen’s direct order. Esther lived in an environment that felt like a peaceful greenhouse, yet for a long time, she had been unable to sleep with her legs stretched out in comfort.

This was because her greatest fear was that her daughter, Rima, would grow up to be like a Gharyam local.

Esther hoped that Rima would not grow into a child who disregarded life or failed to help the weak. Her maternal instinct was constructed within that greenhouse. Holding Rima’s hand, she drew only a future within those glass walls.

In accordance with that wish, Rima grew up exceedingly lovely and innocent.

Unlike other children who asked for spears and swords to catch birds or held up crossbows, she memorized poetry or drew pictures as Esther taught her, and sometimes made flower crowns.

Whenever she saw Rima humming and drawing flowers and trees, Esther would clutch her hands together in loveliness and affection, her body trembling with gratitude. Her black, glossy hair was no longer an issue. Rima was a member of Esther’s family, resembling Esther.

‘She is such a good child.’

Rima had been gentle even as a baby. And even as she grew, she remained so mild and kind. Esther smiled as she personally brushed and braided Rima’s hair.

‘Ah, our beautiful Rima.’

When Esther finished braiding her hair and tied a ribbon, Rima spun around brightly a couple of times and greeted her with thanks. Then she kissed both of Esther’s cheeks—it was the unmistakable image of an innocent Southern girl and her mother.

Meanwhile, Karzhen watched the two from a distance with a displeased expression. That face was not the face of a father worried about a child who would one day have to leave the greenhouse and survive in the desert.

He knew full well that Rima was a child who had absolutely no need for such concerns. Even if a day came far in the future when the greenhouse was no longer needed or if the greenhouse disappeared entirely, that child would never collapse and die. Instead, she would stroll out into the world and live a long, prosperous life.

“Lord Sayar. Regarding Lady Rima, I have something to tell you for a moment…….”

Watching Rima laugh brightly, Karzhen’s face crumpled as if he had chewed on a bug. He recalled the report his loyal subordinate, Nair, had given him a few months ago.

“Yes, Nair. Have you finished your deliberations?”

“Well…… Lord Sayar, it seems there is no need to enroll Lady Rima into my family.”

“What?”

At Nair’s troubled expression, Karzhen had only thought, until then, that perhaps her husband had opposed taking Rima as his adopted daughter.

Though he hadn’t told Esther yet, Karzhen had been looking for a suitable family to send Rima to as an adoptee.

If he sent her too far, Esther would surely object, so he carefully chose a central family in the capital—one close to the royal court—and ultimately selected Nair’s family.

Nair and her husband were of a suitable age to be Rima’s adoptive parents, so Karzhen intended to have Rima adopted into Nair’s house if nothing else went wrong.

It was obvious that Esther would oppose it, but this was something even Karzhen could not help.

Until that time, Karzhen had not harbored a single doubt that Rima’s personality would be exactly like Esther’s, so he had concluded that even if she was his own flesh and blood, she would never be recognized as royalty.

In the royal family of Gharyam, even a biological child or sibling held no meaning if they were not recognized. To look no further, Karzhen, Hakan, Greta, and Iphir all had different parents, yet they felt no doubt that they were siblings.

Furthermore, Karzhen even had about two more half-siblings—children born to his mother, the previous Sayar. However, they were all sent away to be adopted by other noble houses, and Karzhen felt not a shred of sibling affection for them.

A Southeastern child who resembled Esther. In the beginning, Karzhen’s heart had softened slightly upon seeing Rima’s appearance—her gentle features, white skin, and above all, those turquoise eyes that resembled Esther even more.