As news of Elliope’s pregnancy spread, the emperor’s chamber was filled with sighs and whispers.
“The name of Kartan will not end with my generation.”
Some said the Emperor was overjoyed at the pregnancy of his only daughter.
In low voices they murmured, “He was filled with joy and deeply moved, for now there is someone to carry on the name of Kartan.”
“But… I’m sure it made him unhappy. I’m sure of it.”
Others, however, claimed to have heard the Emperor curse Elliope Kartan.
The Emperor was feverish, delirious and incoherent. Some people claimed to have heard him muttering,
“There is no doubt that this woman is to blame. She has consumed all my other children, destroyed the dignity of the Imperial Family, and that’s why she’s pregnant!” he said, grinding his teeth.
Though the palace seemed vast, it was small when it came to spreading rumours. Unknown to her, these whispers reached Elliope. Some dismissed them, saying, “No matter what, the Emperor wouldn’t say such things about his own daughter”.
But Elliope had no doubt – she was certain that the Emperor had uttered those curses. The Emperor she knew was more than capable of saying those words, and worse.
And there was another change.
“Your Highness, the Princess, is of delicate health, so you must rest as much as possible during your pregnancy. It would also be best to avoid any disturbance.”
The Imperial Physician, who had always stood quietly in the background, now spoke in her favour.
“Even if the child is healthy, please be extra careful.”
“I understand.”
“You should bear no burden. We recommend a lifestyle similar to recovery.”
Thanks to the Imperial Physician’s strict advice to rest and take it easy, the various banquets that were to be held around Elliope went off without a hitch.
Everyone welcomed the news of her pregnancy with open arms.
“It can’t be helped.”
“In a situation like this, it would be unreasonable to ask her to host a banquet.”
In the end, only Kallian was seen at the banquets or gatherings that were often held in the capital’s social scene. Even then, he only filled the seat during important meetings related to Elsen’s reinstatement.
“Excuse me, but my wife is waiting for me.”
“Ah, of course, Viscount Elsen.”
“Please convey our congratulations to Her Highness the Princess.”
“And please convey our best wishes to her as well.”
No one complained when Kallian Elsen chose to look after his pregnant wife instead of attending the banquet.
Some criticised and mocked him for his lack of ambition, but others appreciated his apparent lack of ambition. In this way, the environment around Elliope was quietly changing.
Most importantly, the frequent summonses to the emperor’s chambers stopped.
“My daughter, why doesn’t she come to see me?”
“Your Majesty! Please be careful! Your health is in danger!”
“How could this happen? How?!”
“Calm him down! Give him the sedative!”
The Emperor often had fits, but everyone understood that Elliope no longer visited the Emperor’s chambers. From the beginning, Elliope’s separate quarters in the Imperial Palace were quite far from the Emperor’s chambers.
It was widely believed that it was unfair for the princess, who was in a fragile state, to travel so much during her pregnancy, especially as she had not yet reached a stable stage. In addition, the emperor often kept the princess for hours on end, either complaining about his situation or running errands for her. It seemed to everyone that he treated her more like a servant than a princess.
“Maybe that’s why she collapsed.
Some who knew Elliope’s circumstances brought up events from long ago. They were usually the maids who had shared a room with her.
“If she had been properly cared for since childhood, would the princess have been so frail?”
“That is true.”
“They let her live like a servant in that cold, isolated palace.”
“And that’s not all. I have heard that the late Empress deliberately ordered the palace food to be of poor quality.”
“Because of that, the palace servants had to endure terrible meals.”
For this very reason, the maids who had once ostracised Elliope now sympathised with her and took her side.
“If anything really serious happens because of this…”
“We have no intention of disregarding His Majesty’s authority… but the child you are carrying, who will lead the future realm, is of great importance and nobility.”
Elliope’s right to the throne had long been established. There was no doubt that the child in her womb would inherit the throne when he grew up.
Although Elliope herself was born to a commoner mother, which could cause some controversy, one of the prevailing opinions at the Imperial Court was that no one would oppose the child who carried noble bl＊＊d.
“Since Her Highness, the Princess, has not received an imperial education…”
“When her child comes of age, wouldn’t it be reasonable for Duke Claudio to serve as regent until then? When the time comes, the child can rightfully inherit the throne”.
This discussion took place without regard for Elliope’s own opinion.
“Such a precious child must never be harmed.”
“Exactly. Especially considering that her father is none other than the hero of the Seor War, Viscount Kallian Elsen.”
“Although he is still called ‘Viscount’, he will soon be given the title of Duke Elsen.”
With the Princess’s visits over, the Emperor turned his attention to the restoration of the Elsen family – a matter that was only a matter of time. After all, the nobility had long since reached a unanimous decision, and as Emperor it was imperative to secure this restoration. To further legitimise the status of the unborn child, the father had to be a figure of great power, at least of ducal rank.
In the end, for the sake of the Kartan name, the Emperor relented.
“I grant the request for the restoration of the Elsen family under Kallian Elsen.”
On the day he spoke these words in a weary voice, Kallian Elsen entered the audience chamber and accepted the sceptre from Duke Claudio. The golden sceptre was a symbol of honour, reserved only for families of the highest rank.
Holding the sceptre, Elliope looked at Kallian for a long time as he stood in the light of the audience chamber.
After the banquet, she summoned the senior officials to her chambers for a lengthy discussion. Among those present were Duke Belphir, Duke Claudio and her newly titled father-in-law, Duke Kallian Elsen.
After their long meeting, Kallian Elsen sent numerous letters to his northern territories. The capital buzzed with quiet but intense discussion, the air thick with anticipation.
A few days passed, and then…
“Your Highness, the Princess. His Majesty the Emperor…”
This time, Elliope made her way to the emperor’s chamber alone. The reason for this was that he was nearing his last moments.
“Your Majesty.”
Having accomplished the last task of his life – ensuring the continuation of the Kartan bloodline – the Emperor now stood on the brink of death. The lifeline he had clung to so desperately was slipping away.
The officials who had gathered to witness his final moments stood a step behind, their expressions solemn.
After being repeatedly advised not to overexert herself, the princess was half carried by her husband, Kalyan Elsen, for part of the journey. Since everyone knew the recommendations of the palace doctors, no one dared to speak out.
As Kallian Elsen carefully placed the princess in the chair next to the emperor and stepped back, many in the room let out a small sigh.
“Ahh.”
Father and daughter, who rarely bore a striking resemblance, now sat together in a moment of rare warmth and intimacy.
The light filtering through the narrow crack in the window caught Elliope’s sea-green eyes – an inheritance from the Emperor – and briefly bathed them in a golden glow.
“Your Majesty.”
When the princess called to the emperor, several of his attendants wore solemn expressions. Though he had left a legacy of both successes and failures – and had been criticised for his mishandling of the Seor War in his final years – he was still their Emperor.
The atmosphere in the chamber where the ministers had gathered was tense. Some were filled with anxiety, while others silently weighed the course of events that were about to unfold.
Only Kallian Elsen, his gaze fixed on the princess, remained calm.
“Ugh… ugh…”
“They have agreed to uphold the rights of succession granted by His Majesty.”
“Ugh… ugh…”
“Now please rest.”
As Elliope spoke, under the watchful eyes of all present, she leaned close to the Emperor, bringing her lips to his ear as his expression softened.
No one else could hear what she whispered – only the Emperor.
“And I have signed a contract to transfer the rights of succession to my husband.”
“…!”
“After defeating the Seor invasion and ushering in the rebirth of the Empire, we have decided to move the Imperial capital from Kartan and rebuild the palace in a new land.”
As she spoke, Elliope’s hand rested gently on her stomach.
“My child and I will also live in the new palace.”
“Huh, huh, huh!”
“Elsen will be the Imperial family’s middle name… I have erased all traces of Kartan, Your Majesty.”
“Hah, ugh!”
“That name will no longer exist anywhere.”
The Emperor clutched at his chest, his face contorted in pain, as if his heart had been ripped from his chest.
Elliope’s expression turned sad, a picture of filial grief. To those who couldn’t hear her words, she seemed like a devoted daughter mourning the imminent loss of her father.
“You will leave nothing behind in this world.”
“Ugh, huff!”
“It’s over now.”
As soon as Elliope had finished speaking, the Emperor took a deep breath. It was truly the end.
“Your Majesty!”
“Emperor, Your Majesty!”
Cries of grief filled the chamber as officials and servants shed tears. Amidst the mourning, Kallian Elsen stepped forward and gently embraced the princess, as if to comfort her. Elliope clung to him, her sad expression convincing all who saw it of her grief.
In a silent gesture of comfort, Kallian placed a hand on her stomach, a silent acknowledgment of the future they were securing.
Weeks after the funeral, Kallian Elsen – the war hero who had not only led armies but also managed the affairs of his lands in the Duke’s stead – ascended the throne as Emperor.
No one objected to his ascension to the throne, nor to their child’s future as heir to the Empire.
“Wife.”
“Kallian.”
Among those who had once mourned the Emperor’s passing, a secret smile passed between Kallian Elsen and the Princess – an unspoken understanding shared only by them.
Once again, it was their victory.
***The End***
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penthesulia
I really enjoyed this but I was also hoping that Elliope would become Empress Regnant and Kallion would become her Prince Consort. I know they have a truly solid relationship but I wanted her to be the one technically ruling and him as her husband and not the emperor. It sounds like that without an emperor there would be a Regent instead – that women were not allowed to rule. While that ticks me off, it also fits with the overwhelming misogyny of the story setting. Still don’t like it, although it does throw Kallion into more dynamic relief as the man who is unafraid to set his wife as the one in greater power in the relationship. Only someone very secure in his masculinity would be able to do that in that atmosphere.