Chapter 12 – Part 8 

“Uncle, do you really think father is a good person? ”

“Your brother is probably a good person to you.”

A sharp voice rang in his ears.

Callian sat stunned in bed for a while after he awoke in the morning.

The voice that had spoken was eerily reminiscent of her mother.

The sharp edges, the wide eyes, and the suppressed anger in her voice reminded him of her.

‘I shouldn’t have gone into that room…….’

Callian rubbed his throbbing forehead and pulled the sheet.

The butler and the maid who came into the room were carrying a tray of saucer water.

The old butler, a longtime servant of the Duke of Salvatore, who had once been the duke’s second apprentice, treated Callian like a master.

“Are you awake, My Lord?”

The old, grizzled butler seemed pleased to see Callian, not Alaina, as the new head of the family.

He probably doesn’t want to serve a pale young lady as his master.

‘I can see Alaina is grinding her teeth.’

If Alaina were to inherit the dukedom, he’d be the first to go.

If he can save my brother, he will preserve her position even a little more, but if he can’t, he will immediately hand over the burdensome work to Alaina.

Callian cleansed his face lightly and looked up.

“Has Viscount Landerck decided to visit today? ”

“Yes, My Lord. He will be here this afternoon, and Lady Alaina would like to see you for a moment.”

“Alaina?”

Callian asked in surprise, wiping his face with a dry towel.

The butler ruffled his hair.

“Yes. She asked to speak to you at your earliest convenience.”

Remembering his niece’s temper tantrums, Callian found his words somewhat puzzling.

But when had he ever refused to listen to Alaina?

“I’ll get ready and be right there. Shall we go to the parlor?”

“I… well, my lord.”

The old butler hesitated a moment. After a moment’s hesitation, he said.

“She wants to meet you in the late marchioness’s room.”

* * *

When Callian arrived at the dead marchioness’s room, Alaina was sitting on the bed, staring at a portrait of her mother.

Callian paused for a moment but then spoke nonchalantly.

“They said they were looking for me.”

“You’re early.”

Alaina’s voice was still icy and cold, but strangely enough, she didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.

She smiled with a slight twinkle in her eye as their eyes met.

“I remember you asking me if I wanted anything for my birthday.”

“Yeah. Do you have anything you want?”

Callian asked as he sat down next to her.

Whether it was because she actually wanted something and spoke up first or because of her own gesture of reconciliation, it was a welcome one for Callian.

Alaina twisted her fingers in her hair and paused.

“About Mother… can you talk about her?”

Callian’s expression stiffened at the unexpected words.

Alaina, seeing that expression, pouted like a child.

“You said she was a wonderful person, but my father never told me that.”

Alaina’s eyes were wide with anticipation. The story of Isabelle’s death in the ducal mansion had been taboo.

Callian lifted a hand to stroke his niece’s hair.

“Again, Alaina. Her passing wasn’t your fault.”

“I know that, but that’s just it.”

“…….”

“All I know about my mother is that she was close to the Empress’s mother, and I only know that because of the ridiculous story that her mother killed her because she used witchcraft or some strange herb.”

For a nomadic Patrona to become a Marchioness was truly unprecedented.

Despite being the second wife, and with Marquis Evan already having a successor in his son Eric, marriage was somehow necessary. However, disdainful and mocking glances always followed her.

The rumor that her mother’s was linked to Tasha, who was close to her, also stemmed from the hatred towards her.

If anyone truly believed that Tasha had such abilities, they would have been trembling and quaking, not mocking.

“I don’t know what she liked, how much she was like me, or even what she was good at.”

A long silence descended on the empty bedroom. Callian lowered his eyes.

“I don’t know what my mother liked. How much I resemble her, what she was good at, I don’t even know.”

There was a hint of embarrassment on her face.

It was an uncharacteristic look for the always-uptight Lady Salvatore.

After hesitating, Callian slowly spoke up.

“Your eyes are very similar.”

“…….”

“And the anger.”

As he said this, Callian scrutinized Alaina’s face, as if searching for any resemblance to Isabelle.

After a long moment, he stood up with a look of determination.

“There’s a book in the library that she liked to read; would you like to come with me?”

“…Okay.”

Alaina nodded quickly.

Callian smiled and offered her his arm.

Alaina casually placed her hand on it.

But Callian didn’t realize it.

What his niece was thinking with that dignified expression.

What words would she spit out and what rumors would spread.

* * *

Eric’s body was recovering day by day.

He now walked lightly on crutches and often carried Joshua in his arms.

Of course, every time he did, Tenere and Laura would freak out and snatch him away.

“You’re nagging quite a lot, aren’t you? Is it a big deal to hold a little kid?”

Eric would scold as he limped through the garden. But Tenere was dismissive.

“If you keep saying that, I’ll contact Mrs. Anz to come.”

“……That’s really too much.”

Eric’s shoulders shook involuntarily as he remembered the slap on the back.

Tenere gave a small laugh and kept pace with him.

“Anyway, I’m glad that many servants have returned.”

“I’m alone now anyway, so there’s no need for so many to come back.”

During Eric’s stay at the palace, the butler, who received the message, returned to the mansion and began to gather the old servants again.

Many of those who had remained in the manor after Tenere’s abdication had returned, as well as those who had left the marquisate shortly after Ludwig Evan’s treason.

“Don’t say that. After you get married, you’ll have a larger family anyway.”

“You don’t marry alone; you have to have someone.”

Eric grumbled, but if Tenere were to become Empress again and the Marquis was pardoned, there would be no shortage of families who would want to marry him.

Tenere knew that, and she didn’t bother to argue.

“You’re coming to the manor before the wedding, right?”

“It is customary to receive a marriage proposal at the mansion.”

Tenere smiled.

Traditionally, a proposal had to be received under the protection of the family and relatives.

It was a harsh rule for those who weren’t on good terms with their families, but originally, it was intended to prevent forced marriages under the coercion of the other party.

“Quite funny. We already have wedding dresses ready, but we’re getting the proposal late.”

“We didn’t plan to go to the mansion. Besides, we have to hurry and hold the wedding ceremony so Joshua can officially become a prince.”

Since the marriage was going to happen anyway, it was in Tenere’s best interest to arrange the ceremony as soon as she received the proposal.

Although Eric looked dissatisfied, he didn’t protest much.

“Are things better these days?”

“What?”

“I hear the Emperor has been going to the Rose Palace every day and sending gifts.”

As if the wedding dress wasn’t enough, the gifts continued to pile up at the Rose Palace.

Dresses and accessories, exotic silks and perfumed oils, porcelain and furs, music boxes with porcelain animals dancing in a circle when you spin the lobes, elixirs, jeweled stationery, and peacocks made of gold…….

These were not things that could be made in a day or two, so the Emperor must have ordered them to be prepared before they even arrived at the palace.

“Well, if it had been like this there, there would have been a shortage of carriages to carry the luggage.”

“…….”

“Perhaps they didn’t have enough carriages to bring it all here from there.”

Eric muttered softly. Tenere looked away, embarrassed.

“No, you’re saying it’s not even love? But why does he do that? Is he really just trying to imitate his ancestors? ”

“Something like that, brother.”

In addition to sending gifts, Leonard visited Tenere every day at the end of the day.

They would dine together, take walks, spend time together, and only reluctantly return to his palace late at night.

There were many rumors about their relationship.

Some feared that he might follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, while others said that this was unnecessary as his duties were uninterrupted.

Some even suspected that the emperor was deliberately imitating his grandfather to deny Duke Salvatore’s claims.

“…I didn’t give a clear answer, so it seems like that’s why.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, last time, His Majesty… said he loved me…”

“What?”

Eric’s eyes widened, and Tenere looked away, embarrassed.

Eric seemed taken aback.

“Hey, what……Why are you only telling me such a story now…….”

“……I’m sorry.”

It was true that Tenere had always confided in Eric, but talking about that day’s conversation wasn’t easy.

She hesitated to reveal the atmosphere in which he had spoken those words and what she had said in response, fearing embarrassment.

And besides, it felt uncomfortable to bring up such a conversation with someone who was still recovering from his injuries.

“……When was that?”

“That was…… when I went to meet my mom and…… on the way back…….”

“Ah, I see.”

Eric stared at Tenere in disbelief. He was obviously disappointed, so Tenere stammered out an excuse.

“…It wasn’t planned. You were injured, and…”

“Oh, forget it. I worried for nothing, then.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Let’s sit down for a bit. I’m tired.”

Eric gestured to the bench. The walk seemed to have tired him out.

As Eric sat down heavily on the bench, Tenere cautiously took a seat beside him.

Eric opened his mouth before she had even leaned back.

“You have pride, but you weren’t lying, huh?”

He was referring to the fact that Tenere hadn’t yet responded to his confession.

Tenere looked away, embarrassed. Eric chuckled at the sight.

“So, can I stop worrying now?”

“…Of course.”

Tenere replied, smiling. Eric lifted his hand and stroked her hair.

The weather had turned from cold to spring-like after the late snowfall.

After sitting for a while, Eric spoke up.

“Don’t hold back just because of your mother.”

Tenere looked up at him, puzzled.

“Your mother, how much did she get criticized for running away alone, leaving you behind, for not being a motherly woman.”

“…….”

“But whatever she chose, it would have been the same. If she had taken you and run away, she would have been accused of taking the lord’s daughter with her and raising her as her own child, driven by her selfish desires. And if she endured, she would have been criticized for being so stubborn and suffering.”

Even if Tasha had complied with Ludwig’s wishes and behaved like any other noblewoman, she would not be free from the accusation that her lowly blood was imitating nobility.

Tenere nodded in silence.

“If you’re forced to stay in the palace for Joshua’s sake, that’s your choice, but think of it this way. He’ll grow up, and what will he think if he finds out that his mother married someone she didn’t want to marry for his sake…”

“…….”

“Of course, if you still like His Majesty, there’s nothing you can do about it. But if not… maybe it’s not a bad idea to keep fighting.”

“What do you mean, ……fight?”

Tenere asked, her eyes narrowing. Eric turned to face her and answered.

“You can turn down the marriage proposal if you don’t want to.”

“…….”

“You don’t have to marry the emperor; you can just… insist that Josie is not the emperor’s child.”

“But…… I’ve already recognized him as an imperial son and we have Marquis Salvatore in custody for treason.”

“……That is true.”

Eric nodded as if he had no choice in the matter. Then he scratched the back of his neck irritably.

“Well, we’ll figure something out, and if it doesn’t work, we can just run away with the kid again.”

“…….”

“I just wanted to mention it. Seeing that you haven’t given a definite answer to His Majesty’s confession yet, I thought maybe you had other thoughts.”

The Tenere that Eric knew was someone who would fall for Leonard as soon as he whispered love to her again.

She was not a person who kept the past to herself for a long time, nor was she a person who built up unnecessary pride.

So he couldn’t help but wonder if there was another reason for her refusal to accept him.

“…Thank you, brother. You don’t have to worry too much.”

Tenere said softly. Looking at the softly curved eyes, Eric clicked his tongue.