Chapter 4 – Now You Want to See the Child?

Ethea felt an overwhelming sense of betrayal. How could he leave behind a burdensome newborn while spouting nonsense about a “pledge of friendship,” all the while being engaged to another woman?  

Ethea could never forgive him. If she could, she would storm the palace, disregard any reason, and kill him on the spot.  

But that was merely a fantasy. Life was never as simple as imagination made it seem.  

The political landscape of the palace was divided between the factions of the former Crown Prince and Lyle, with tension so thick that a civil war could break out at any moment.  

Lyle, who had suddenly claimed the Orodium Crown (the Emperor’s crown), had many enemies. The nineteen siblings he had eliminated, along with their relatives, were h*ll-bent on erasing not just Lyle but anything and anyone connected to him.  

Ethea was terrified. If anyone discovered what had happened between the two of them in the past, Gin might also become a target. The same fate could befall Ethea and Javir. While it seemed that neither the former Crown Prince’s faction nor anyone else was aware of their existence, she still had to remain cautious.  

For everyone’s sake, the only thing Ethea could do was to live as quietly as possible.  

For six years, Ethea lived a quiet but fierce life.  

At first, she felt a vague sense of responsibility toward the child. He was alive, so she couldn’t kill him. He was pitiful, so she had to take care of him. He needed her, so she had to stay with him. She had those feelings, but she couldn’t develop any real affection. Sometimes, she honestly found it burdensome. The reality of someone depending on her so completely weighed heavily on her.  

However, after moving away from Javir, an indescribable emotion began to fill Ethea.  

Leaving her father meant she no longer had to walk on eggshells around him. Life was a little harder, but she could take control of her own decisions. Even the simple act of arranging things in her home without worrying about how they might affect her father’s experiments felt like freedom. And with that freedom came the unexpected joy of raising a child.  

Gin was different from ordinary children from the very beginning.  

By the time he turned one, he no longer stumbled when walking and could feed himself. He was so observant that when he drew pictures of his mother, he captured her likeness almost perfectly. He never forgot anything he heard, and he could even sing lullabies she had sung to him, note for note. When folding paper from a used newsletter, he could craft intricate shapes, even a dragon, with astonishing precision.  

On top of his talents, he had an incredible sense of awareness. Ethea often gave him advice:  

“You’re a little different from other kids. You’re a blessed child—smart and quick to learn. But if you show that side of yourself too soon, people might misunderstand or become jealous of you…”  

Gin took her words to heart and became a master at pretending to be an ordinary child in front of others. Even while helping his mother cook, he would crawl on the floor or babble like a typical toddler when guests arrived, putting on a flawless act.  

Gradually, Gin’s presence grew larger and larger in Ethea’s heart. At first, he was an unwanted, alien creature. But over time, he became her child, or perhaps a comforting younger sibling. Sometimes, he even felt like a friend. And now? She could live without her father, but she couldn’t imagine life without Gin.  

Gin had never once asked about his father. Was it because he had an inkling of the truth? Or was he genuinely uninterested? Or perhaps he refrained from asking out of consideration for her feelings? Ethea couldn’t tell.  

In any case, Gin’s silence about his father was a relief. She hoped he would never ask.  

And yet…  

“Mom, why don’t I have a dad?”  

She never thought she’d hear that question today. Gin was now looking up at her intently, waiting for an answer.  

What would happen if this child learned the truth?  

That he had been born through alchemy. That his father was now the Emperor of this Empire. That the thirteenth prince, who had once been powerless, had to fight countless enemies to ascend to the throne. And that those enemies still lurked everywhere, ready to take Gin’s life without warning. That not knowing who his father was would be far less burdensome for him.  

Ethea’s heart ached, but she decided to lie to her child, sparing him from the heavy truth.  

“Your father is actually in heaven…”  

At that moment, the creak of the main door opening interrupted her. Gin turned his head toward the window. Ethea felt a surge of gratitude toward whoever had chosen this inconvenient moment to visit.  

Who could it be? The milkman? A letter from father?  

Ethea stepped outside to check. But as soon as she saw the visitors, she froze.  

Their attire was all too familiar. The light blue uniforms were the same as those worn by Imperial clerks she had often seen when Javir worked as an alchemist in the Imperial Palace.  

Her instincts screamed at her. This was no ordinary visit.  

“Are you Ethea Parazia?” 

One of them asked.  

“Yes, I am. But why?”  

“You are to come to the palace immediately.”  

“What?”  

“His Majesty wishes to see the token of friendship.”  

Gin looked up at Ethea and asked, 

“What does that mean? Mom, isn’t His Majesty the Emperor who lives in the Imperial Palace? So, were you friends with the Emperor? Whoa!”  

Ethea felt as though all the blood had drained from her body.  

D*mn Lyle. What was he up to, suddenly showing up like this? What did he mean by wanting to see the “token of friendship”?  

No way. He didn’t deserve to see Gin.  

And clearly, Lyle had no regard for Ethea or Gin’s safety. His enemies were surely watching his every move. A young woman raising a child alone, meeting the Emperor personally, would be like dangling fresh bait in front of his enemies.  

Not to mention, the Emperor had a fiancée. She didn’t want to make herself a target for his enemies or his betrothed.  

Ethea’s heart pounded with unease. Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts, but she knew she had to stay composed.  

After some deliberation, Ethea forced a smile and said to the palace officials, 

“I’m quite taken aback by this sudden request…”  

“Please prepare yourself. We will wait.”  

Outside, a carriage was waiting. It was large enough to accommodate both mother and child.  

Gin, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, was simply excited.  

“Mom, are we going to the palace now? Am I going too? Does that mean we’re the Emperor’s guests? Right?”  

“Hmm. Gin, could you go into your room for a moment?”  

“Huh? …Okay.”  

Ever obedient, Gin looked a bit crestfallen but went into his room. Lowering her voice, Ethea addressed the officials.  

“Could you please inform His Majesty that I’m deeply honored, but I’m not feeling well today?”  

“Oh, we have a carriage ready to take you comfortably…”  

“It takes two hours to travel from this village to the palace by carriage. I’m not sure my health can endure it.”  

When Ethea declined seriously, the officials respected her decision.  

“If that’s the case, we have no choice.”  

But as they left, they left behind a parting remark that weighed heavily on her.  

“Then, we will return tomorrow, Miss Parazia.”