Chapter 12 – Part 11 

“Lord Evan, did you cry by any chance?”

“……No.”

Eric quickly shook his head at Leonard’s question.

But he couldn’t hide his swollen eyes and red nose.

He looked as if he had been crying, but it was not gentlemanly to inquire.

Leonard nodded his head in agreement.

Eric bowed politely to him.

“I have been in your palace for a while. Thank you for always taking care of me, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t say that. The Empress’s family is as good as mine, so you are always welcome to stay at the palace.”

Unlike before, when he had been on edge, Leonard was quite relaxed.

He had not only saved Joshua’s life but had kept Tenere safe all these years.

And he is someone who would probably always stand by her side.

“I haven’t properly rewarded you for saving the Empress, Lord Evan.”

“…….”

“Not only that, but you’ve protected the Empress and the Prince all this time, and you deserve a reward. If there’s anything you want, feel free to ask.”

“I can’t think of any special reward for doing what I was supposed to do, but if I can think of anything, I’ll tell you.”

Eric was also polite, unlike before, when he had been somewhat stiff.

Whether it was because he no longer felt badly about Leonard or for the sake of his sister and nephew, who would soon be living in the palace.

“I will send for the Empress soon. The wedding arrangements have already been made, and as soon as the trial is over, I will ask her hand in marriage and hold the ceremony.”

Eric nodded at Leonard’s words, then asked nonchalantly.

“Then the crown prince will be at the imperial palace?”

“He has a nanny, so don’t worry too much. The Prince is already accustomed to the palace, and his father, me, is also there.”

It was a simple formality, but Joshua was still young.

He’d barely gotten to know the Empress’s handmaidens, and he didn’t need another carriage ride to the Marquis’s residence to meet a bunch of strangers.

Moreover, he didn’t like the sight of her being taken as the Empress just because she was going to be married.

However, his consideration did not really affect Eric.

It was obvious that Tenere would rush back to the palace as soon as she received the letter of marriage, worried about the child he had left behind.

And he didn’t like the idea of taking her for granted as Empress.

Still, Tenere hadn’t responded to his heart.

“……I would like to ask you something, Your Majesty.”

It was something he should have ignored.

He had already let go of his accumulated guilt in the confession room, and now he should find his own life.

But no matter how much he thought that way, he couldn’t help but open his mouth.

What could he do? His temperament was so wicked.

“Do you truly love Tenere?”

Leonard was taken aback by the question.

But only for a moment, and then he nodded solemnly.

“Yes.”

“Does Tenere feel the same way?”

It was impolite to call the soon-to-be-crowned Empress by her first name, but Leonard didn’t point it out.

He knew the question showed concern for his sister.

“I’ll wait until she turns her heart on.”

She was the one who came running to him when she found his mother’s belongings.

Someone who would hold him, comfort him, and worry about him.

She hadn’t answered his heart yet, but Leonard could wait.

She had given him unreciprocated love for so long, and now it was time for him to return the favor.

“Then Tenere’s will was never important to you in the first place?”

The sharp voice interrupted him.

Eric raised his eyes in question, and one corner of his mouth curled up in a sneer.

“You’re going to keep her around regardless of her wishes, so what’s the point of waiting for her to change her mind?”

Eric’s words left Leonard speechless.

After a short silence, he opened his mouth again, but Eric didn’t wait for him to spit out the words.

“Do you love the child?”

The next question was equally unexpected.

Leonard paused for a moment, but then nodded slowly.

“It is natural for a father to love his child.”

“Is that so? It seems to me that you simply need an imperial blood heir and a hostage to hold…… Tenere.”

“…….”

“Am I wrong?”

Eric’s gaze was piercing. His face was too stern and fierce to confront the emperor.

But Leonard didn’t blame him.

Or perhaps he couldn’t.

“……You’re talking nonsense, Marquis.”

“…….”

“I understand your love for your sister and nephew, but wouldn’t it be better to stop now?”

Leonard said this while trying to be generous.

This was the Empress’s brother. He was speaking from a place of great affection for his sister, so there was no need to be combative.

But Eric was not to be deterred.

“With your permission, Your Majesty, I have one more question.”

Leonard raised a hand to stop him, but Eric spoke as if he hadn’t intended to ask permission in the first place.

“If Tenere tells you that she loves you, would you believe her?”

“What…….”

“I’m just curious. You falsely spoke of your love to get the prince, so how can you be so sure that Tenere wouldn’t do the same?”

The question caught Leonard completely off guard.

Eric looked at him steadily, as if waiting for an answer.

“You can say you love someone even if you don’t have the heart, Your Majesty, just as you did.”

“…….”

“If I were her, I’d be racking my brains right now, trying to figure out when and if I should open my heart to yours and how to do it in a way that would seem most natural, because it’s what’s best for her, no matter how she feels.”

Although the empress was the emperor’s companion, her treatment was dependent on the emperor’s favor.

And how could she refuse the emperor, since his treatment of her would affect her child?

“I can understand if you just want a smiling doll or a pet, but love is a bit much, don’t you think?”

Having said that, Eric stood up. He hadn’t even touched the teacup full of tea.

“You said to tell me if there was a reward I wanted, Your Majesty.”

“…….”

“I hope Your Majesty will graciously forgive the disrespectful words I just spoke.”

Eric bowed exaggeratedly.

Leonard said nothing until he was out of sight.

Eric entered the carriage that would take him back to the marquis’s residence. The butler, who came to fetch him, bowed politely.

“You’ve been in a lot of trouble, Marquis.”

“…Well… you’ve suffered because of your irresponsible master.”

Though it was for his sister, he had fled the mansion, disregarding the servants who worked there.

Nevertheless, many of them had returned, which Eric was grateful for.

The butler spoke politely.

“After you two left, His Majesty helped us find new jobs.”

“…That’s something to be grateful for.”

Eric muttered something short and leaned back against the backrest.

Then he crossed his arms impatiently and drummed his fingers on his forearms.

“I shouldn’t have said that.”

The words were spoken with conviction, but he was dealing with the Emperor.

He should have endured it since he is a person who can influence not only his own safety but also the safety of Tenere and Joshua.

“But I’m not the one to take it out on him.”

Ironically, the only reason he was able to say the things he did to Leonard was because he had faith in him.

He knows he won’t penalize him, Tenere, or Joshua for this.

‘I know he’s not a bad person.’

He’s shown the utmost mercy in the face of his father’s treason, and he knows he cares for Tenere.

But he will not look kindly upon the tears in his sister’s eyes.

“Come on, let’s go.”

Eric snorted and pouted. The palace was getting farther away.