Chapter 14 – Part 12

The wedding was more colorful than ever.

The great hall was packed with guests.

Unlike the first wedding, which had been rushed and attended only by Imperial nobles, this one included several envoys from neighboring friendly nations.

This wedding had been planned from the moment it was known that the Empress gave birth to a son.

The hall, decorated with tulips and begonias, was filled with the sounds of the orchestra.

Tenere took a deep breath and placed her hand on her brother’s arm.

Eric, who had been tormented by his sister for days, pouted but obediently offered his arm.

“You’re all grown up, do you really have to walk down the aisle with me?”

“I’m sorry, Brother. You probably want to hold Laura’s hand instead.”

“We’ll see about that.”

Eric gritted his teeth as Tenere muttered something small.

But when the door opened, he stepped through it as gracefully as ever.

Upon the red carpet were scattered flower petals, and the sides of the podium were brightly decorated with flowers, with candles nestled in silver candlesticks softly illuminating the surroundings.

Tenere walked slowly, arm in arm with her brother.

With each petal trodden on her shoe, Leonard’s figure drew closer and closer, and there were murmurs of admiration for her beautiful dress.

Leonard stood in the center of the aisle, waiting for Tenere, just as he had at their first wedding.

When their eyes met, he couldn’t help but smile shyly.

“You look …… beautiful, Tenere.”

“You too, Leon.”

Tenere smiled and put her hand in Leonard’s.

When Eric finished leading the way, they walked away together.

“Even though we’ve already done this once…… I’m still a bit nervous.”

Leonard wordlessly wrapped his fingers around the back of her hand.

She could feel his large hand over her lace glove.

It felt oddly familiar.

She remembered the first time she’d walked with him on this podium, the way he’d soothed her nerves.

“…… You held me like this then, too.”

“You gave me an excuse to hold your hand.”

Tenere laughed out loud at the hushed whisper. It was at this moment that they stepped side by side.

“Mommy!”

Joshua squealed when he spotted his mom at the head of the aisle.

Laura quickly hugged him to comfort him, but he waved his hands at his mom and dad.

“He’s ……nervous about all the people.”

“It’s his first official event.”

Leonard muttered, and Tenere gave a small nod in response.

Though Joshua was a child who loved people and didn’t mind strangers, being far from his mother in this unfamiliar atmosphere made him visibly uneasy.

Tenere glanced at the guests with concern, then turned her head toward Leonard.

Leonard, who had also been glancing at Joshua’s seat, locked eyes with Tenere and nodded slowly.

“Bring the prince here.”

At the Emperor’s command, Laura quickly scooped the child into her arms.

Joshua clung to his nanny as if he knew he was being watched, glancing at his mother and father.

Leonard accepted the child on behalf of the bouquet-bearing Tenere.

As Joshua giggled with relief in his father’s arms, Tenere plucked a single flower from the bouquet and handed it to the child.

Joshua took the flower with his tiny hands.

“Looks like Josie’s here to help Mommy relax.”

“He’s going to be a big boy, seeing as how he’s already trying to outdo his dad.”

With a small whisper, they stopped in front of the podium.

Officiating was Samuel Travell, Leonard’s maternal grandfather.

The old duke looked at them with a kindly smile.

“It is an honor to officiate for you both, Your Majesties.”

Throughout the long toast, Tenere and Leonard glanced at each other, and then at Joshua, whose eyes narrowed as he studied the flowers and candles on the altar.

‘I have fled to a strange land to protect this child.’

Fearful that someone would harm him, or that he would be taken from them.

What a long time separated them after a brief misunderstanding.

“…… Do you, Your Majesties, swear to trust and love each other until the end of your days?”

At Samuel’s question, the two looked at each other.

There was an undeniable affection in their gaze.

A love that had never been extinguished.

* * *

After the wedding ceremony and reception were over, Tenere returned to the Empress’s palace.

The banquet would last for two days, of course, but it was customary for the newly married couple to leave the reception first.

The maids bathed her with cheerful faces and rubbed her body carefully.

Her body was tense, but she was also excited at the thought of her second first night with him.

“Is the prince asleep?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, I was afraid he might not recognize the palace, but he fell asleep earlier than usual.”

“He must be very tired.”

He was the only imperial son, who resembled the Emperor, and the future Emperor.

It was no wonder that the guests’ attention was focused on the child, who was not yet two years old.

Although he was a child who liked people and obeyed well, such attention seemed quite burdensome.

After the massage, Tenere slipped on a silk robe over a thin spit and entered the bedroom.

Leonard was waiting for her, sprawled out on the bed.

“Welcome, Tenere.”

At the sound of his affectionate voice, she hurried to him.

She cupped his cheek and kissed him gently.

“……It’s been seven years.”

A large hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. Tenere willingly fell into his arms.

“You told me here, to not ask for love.”

“And …… what kind of a jerk said that.”

At his sigh mixed with a murmur, Tenere burst into laughter unintentionally.

A large hand ran through her hair, then cupped her cheek.

He kissed her forehead, then her cheek, then her lips.

“So…… you’re taking back what you said then?”

“It was said by a lowly fool, and I think it would be better if you forgot about it.”

With that, Leonard kissed Tenere’s lips for a long moment, swallowing her soft breath.

After a long moment of returning his kiss, Tenere lifted her head.

“Leon, did you take the…… pill?”

She meant birth control pills. Leonard nodded.

Tenere continued.

“So…… you’re still not thinking about having a second child?”

“…….”

Leonard paused at the cautious question but then nodded again.

“I’ve told you before, it’s enough for me that you gave birth to Josie.”

“But…….”

“You are too small and…… weak, Tenere.”

Leonard squeezed Tenere’s wrist lightly.

As if comparing their thicknesses, he even brought her wrist next to his.

Although their skeletal structures were different, seeing him doing this out of concern made her feel oddly happy.

“Don’t worry, you know I’m not that weak.”

“I don’t know.”

“How can a weak person shoot arrows and ride horses? Wouldn’t it be nice for Joshua to have a sibling? I think I can bear at least two more children.”

Neither horseback riding nor archery were things one could do without basic physical strength and stamina.

Tenere tried to convince him, but the mention of two children made Leonard shake his head even harder.

“It’s already hard with one. If you grow taller or your arms get thicker than mine, maybe.”

“What, don’t be ridiculous…….”

“I don’t want you to be sick.”

Leonard hugged Tenere tightly and rested his head on hers.

Tenere ran her hand up his arm.

“I’m a lot stronger than you think, Leon. So don’t worry too much.”

Leonard wordlessly rubbed her arm.

He touched it from wrist to elbow to forearm and still sounded reluctant.

“I’m ……not sure.”

“It’s not just about using my arms, it’s also about my shoulders and back…”

At Tenere’s words, the hand that had been caressing her arm moved up to her shoulder and then slid back down her back.

The touch was somehow becoming more delicate.

“……Leon?”

“It’s probably because of the thick clothes…”

“…….”

It was at that moment that she realized a shadow had fallen across her face.

His body lurched to one side. There was a thud, a sound.

“……May I check?”

Tenere turned in bed and looked at Leonard, who was staring at her as if waiting for permission.

Tenere squinted at him but then reached for his hand.

“We haven’t even finished talking yet.”

“Yes, we’re still in the middle of it.”

Then he leaned in and kissed her on the lips.

Tenere giggled softly at the tickling kiss.

“I just have to not be weak, right?”

She asked, wrapping her arms around his neck, and Leonard nodded. Tenere laughed out loud.

“You might get tired first.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever tried out first.”

Leonard leaned back slowly.

A tickling laugh echoed in the moonlit bedroom.

It was only a matter of time before the laughter was infused with heat.

* * *