Chapter 12 (Part 7)

The small house outside the barrier was old and full of holes, with a door that creaked loudly. Yet, the owner had diligently cared for it, filling the narrow garden with colorful flowers.  

“Madam, you really should rest.”  

“Sophia, look at this. Isn’t it beautiful?”  

Therese smiled brightly as she gazed at a yellow crocus flower.  

“If the baby is a boy, I’ll name him Etienne. If it’s a girl, I’ll name her Sioana.”  

“You’ve already decided on names?”  

“…Yes.” 

Therese, with her frail body and round belly, looked happier than ever. She had finally kept the promise she made to the child in her womb.  

‘I’ve protected you.’  

As she gently stroked her belly, her cheeks became wet with tears.  

“Oh my, Madam.”  

Sophia quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away Therese’s tears.  

“Am I crying again?”  

“…Yes.”  

Lately, Therese often found herself crying unconsciously. Even after consulting a physician, no cause could be found; it was simply attributed to temporary changes due to her pregnancy.  

Sophia let out a quiet sigh as she wiped Therese’s tears.  

She couldn’t understand why the young lady, who had been raised so delicately without lifting a finger, had to live in such a dilapidated house.  

Of course, this was all Therese’s choice, but it pained Sophia nonetheless.  

The Empire had regained some semblance of peace. Those outside the barrier were no longer discriminated against. Even the drought had ended, with just the right amount of rain falling.  

People credited all of this to the newly crowned Emperor Richard.  

However, the palace was said to be rife with complaints from nobles demanding the Emperor take a new Empress, as he was living alone in the palace.  

‘But our Madam is the rightful Empress…’  

Sophia couldn’t understand why the Emperor didn’t look for Therese, nor why Therese never mentioned him.  

“Sophia, I’m going to Derrick’s house to get some fabric.”  

Recently, making baby clothes by hand had become Therese’s only pastime.  

“Wait, I’ll accompany you.”  

“I’m sorry, but I’d like to walk alone for a bit.”  

Sophia reluctantly nodded at the heavy expression on Therese’s face, which she had seen before.  

“Just don’t take too long.”  

“There’s nothing to worry about around here but weeds and wasteland.”  

The area was so inhospitable that there were few houses nearby. Even Derrick’s house, the closest, was a twenty-minute walk away.  

After retrieving the fabric from Derrick’s house, Therese headed straight back to where Sophia was waiting.  

‘I don’t want to make her worry.’  

She already felt guilty for causing so much concern and hardship. The place where Therese now stayed was Roshan’s former home.  

‘…Roshan.’  

If she had known it would be their last goodbye, she would have talked with her more.  

A few months ago, on the day the Emperor died, Roshan had come to find Therese, who was tending to the wounded. She bowed her head deeply.  

‘Madam, His Grace the Duke is safe.’  

‘Roshan, are you okay?’  

At Therese’s question, Roshan’s eyes seemed to glisten with tears for a moment before she smiled.  

‘You’re the only one, past or present, who’s ever worried about me.’  

The two fell silent, lost in memories of the day they first met.  

From that day on, they had become lifelong friends.  

‘Roshan, you’ll make a wonderful Caliph.’  

Holding back tears, Therese gave her a thumbs-up. Though the thought of Roshan leaving left her feeling strangely empty, it was only natural, as they were no longer children.  

‘Madam, now that you’ve been cured, please don’t worry about anything and be happy.’  

After kissing the back of Therese’s hand, Roshan departed, and that was their final farewell.  

“To think that the local specialty turned out to be the antidote…”  

Thanks to Roshan, Therese was slowly regaining her health, and it all felt like a dream.  

Of course, the thought of giving birth made her a little scared, but her real worries lay elsewhere.  

“…Sigh.”  

As she let out a sigh, dizziness struck her, and her legs gave way.  

Therese tried to steady herself but quickly lost her balance, dropping the basket she was holding.  

“This isn’t good.”  

Clutching her belly, Therese shut her eyes tightly, bracing for the fall. Just then, she was caught in someone’s arms.  

“……”

Therese bit her lip as she found herself in a familiar embrace. Without even looking up, she knew who it was.  

‘Why is he here?’  

Caught off guard, Therese couldn’t utter a word. The strong arms holding her gently helped her stand upright.  

Then, he immediately bowed his head in apology.  

“My apologies for the sudden intrusion. The situation was urgent.”  

“Why are you here alone in a place like this?”  

Therese looked directly at Emperor Richard.  

“I’m sorry.”  

That wasn’t the kind of apology she had wanted to hear.  

The Empire needed Duke Richard, and it was a fate he could not deny.  

Meanwhile, Therese bore the stigma of being Emperor Morciani’s mistress and carrying his child, forcing her to distance herself from Jeremy Richard.  

Hiding herself was all that Therese could do for him.  

And the now Emperor knew this reason as well.  

“…Ah.”  

As the Emperor raised his head again, Therese let out a sigh.  

Jeremy Richard was dressed in a perfectly tailored military uniform beneath his billowing cape. His thick golden hair swayed slightly in the wind, and his sharp yet melancholic black eyes and firmly set lips gleamed under the sunlight.  

He was as dazzling as ever.  

So much so that it brought tears to her eyes.  

As Therese stared at his face for a long while, Jeremy hesitated before speaking.  

“I apologize for disobeying your wishes again.”  

The Empire’s tumultuous state had made it impossible for Jeremy to bring Therese to the palace immediately. Though they were far apart, he had sent people to report on her daily life.  

While Therese quietly lived here, helping the less fortunate, Jeremy had poured all his efforts into stabilizing the Empire.  

Though peace had finally returned to the Caspian Empire thanks to the efforts of many, Jeremy Richard had reached his limit.  

“I had resolved to watch you from afar, to respect your wishes… but…”  

His shoulders trembled lightly, and then thick tears rolled down his cheeks.  

“I missed you so much that I came here countless times.”  

At that moment, Therese recalled something Sophia had said.  

‘Madam, isn’t it unusually noisy outside at night, as if there’s a thief lurking around?’  

‘Who would be foolish enough to rob a house this rundown? It must just be stray cats.’  

She had dismissed it lightly back then, but it seemed the “stray cat” had been him all along.  

“…Ah.”  

Therese sighed, her eyes reddening.  

Jeremy took a step closer and held her hand.  

“You may call me selfish, but there is something more important to me than the peace of the Empire.”  

The Richard family had always prioritized the safety of the Empire above all else. For that reason, Jeremy could not oppose becoming Emperor. However, after tirelessly working to restore the Empire, he had been consumed by an overwhelming sense of helplessness.  

“It doesn’t make sense for a man who can’t even protect his own family to safeguard an entire Empire.”  

“…Family.”  

As Therese softly repeated the word, tears welled up in her eyes.  

It was what she had longed for so desperately as a child.  

A happy family with her golden-haired prince.  

But as Sophia had said, living an ordinary life—getting married, having children, and creating a home—was something she could never achieve, even if she were reborn.  

“We’re already divorced…”  

Perhaps they could no longer even call themselves family. This thought had recently weighed heavily on Therese’s mind, especially with the child she was about to bring into the world, who would have no father.  

“Is this what you mean?”  

Jeremy pulled out a tattered document from his coat. It was so worn from being read and handled that the writing was barely legible.  

“I never signed this, so it holds no legal power.”  

“Your Grace, no, Your Majesty! Why are you…”  

Therese trailed off, unable to finish her question. She knew Jeremy’s feelings well. He loved her.  

“I’m well aware that I’m not fit to be Empress.”  

No one would acknowledge Therese, who had once been labeled as the former Emperor’s mistress, as Empress.  

“That doesn’t matter. If they refuse to accept you, I’ll simply abdicate the throne.”  

Even if accused of irresponsibility, he didn’t care. For Jeremy, living without hearing Therese’s voice or holding her hand was akin to suffocating.  

Jeremy’s voice trembled with longing as he caressed Therese’s hand.  

“Therese, I want you.”  

As he confessed, his breath quickened, and he collapsed to the ground.  

Jeremy Richard suffered from insomnia and occasional shortness of breath. Though diagnosed as a psychological condition, even the Empire’s best doctors had failed to cure him.  

“Are… are you okay?”  

“I think I have a slight fever.”  

Jeremy touched his forehead, and Therese, flustered, bit her lip in distress.  

Whenever he had a fever from injuries in the past, they would always kiss.  

“Just for today, I’ll be selfish.”  

While Therese hesitated in surprise, Jeremy gently captured her lips.