Chapter 14 – Part 13 (End of Main Story)

It was a crushing defeat.

Tenere barely opened her eyes by noon.

Her body still felt heavy, but the hunger was so intense that she couldn’t ignore it.

“Leon……?”

She turned her head slowly, but no one was beside her.

It was already midday, so he must have gone to see the envoys.

Goose feathers and cotton balls were scattered haphazardly through the torn pillow.

“……Ugh.”

Tenere groaned briefly as she tried to push herself up and braced her back.

As she lowered her head, her spilled hair was cluttered with white feathers.

Tenere plucked the goose feathers from her stiffened hair and laid back down.

Then she glanced at the empty space.

‘How could someone be so reckless….’

At first, everything seemed fine.

She had looked forward to spending the night with him after a long time, and his unexpected antics had seemed quite adorable.

So she was a little bit…… provocative.

But she realized something was wrong when he asked her if she was tired already.

And then she got a little confused, so she said,

“No way.”

“…….”

Tenere looked around, sagging like a soaked cotton ball.

The sheets, once wrinkle-free and organized, were crumpled haphazardly, and the soft, fluffy pillow had been ripped apart so badly it was hard to recognize its original shape.

‘Joshua must have woken up…’

There were still feathers in her hair scattered across the bed, but she didn’t want to lift a finger.

She wanted to get up, get dressed, and go see her child, but her heavy eyelids kept drooping.

No wonder, she’d been up all night.

She heard footsteps when she was about to fall asleep.

The savory smell woke her up slowly.

Leonard approached her, tray in hand.

“Are you awake?”

“……Leon.”

Tenere barely opened her mouth, her voice dying.

She barely had the energy to lift a hand, but the smell of the food made her mouth water.

“I thought you might have had urgent matters. You weren’t next to me…”

“I took a bath. You can eat first, then you can take one too.”

Leonard set the tray down for a moment and helped Tenere to her feet.

He placed a cushion from the couch on her back.

Tenere pushed herself to her feet, throbbing, and asked softly.

“…You took a bath yourself?”

“I didn’t think you’d like people coming in.”

With that, Leonard glanced at Tenere’s body.

There were ragged marks on her neck, shoulders, and arms, not just the ones hidden by the blankets.

Tenere blushed at the memory of the night before.

She’d only said she wanted a second child, but he’d pushed her so hard.

“Did you… hate the idea of a second child that much?”

“I just don’t want you to suffer.”

Is this how one person makes another into such a state?

Tenere looked at him resentfully, and Leonard picked up the spoon as if he hadn’t noticed.

“Ah, please.”

“…….”

They had spent the night together, so why did only this face look so fresh?

Tenere slowly opened her mouth, letting the warm soup slide into her mouth.

“Is ……Josie up?”

“Lord Evan came by and is spending some time with him. He has a nanny, so don’t worry, just eat.”

Tenere nodded and opened her mouth again.

By the time she had cleared her plate of soup and finished the meat-stuffed bread and salad, she seemed to have some energy.

“I think I’ll wash up and go see Josie.”

It was embarrassing to show her body, marked with the traces of last night, to the maids, but she didn’t have the confidence to bathe alone with her whole body still aching.

But Leonard nodded and refused to leave.

“I can handle the bathing myself.”

“Are you ……really just going to wash me?”

Tenere asked, clutching the blanket that covered her body.

At her wary glance, Leonard let out a short sigh.

“If you look at me like I’m some kind of beast, it hurts me too.”

“But…… you brought this on yourself…….”

Tenere retorted timidly, and Leonard coughed as if stung.

Then he scooped her up into his arms.

“Le, Leon?”

Tenere hugged him around the neck, startled.

Leonard paused but then kissed her forehead and cheek.

“Are you trying to provoke me again?”

“When have I ever…….”

Tenere was about to retort, but then she remembered the night before and shut up.

Leonard laughed at her.

“Don’t worry, I’ll just wash you off.”

“But… your hand seems to be in a questionable position…”

“You’re mistaken.”

Leonard replied lightly, and with her still in his arms, he headed for the bathroom.

The hot water had cooled down to just enough for a soak.

* * *

“Liar…….”

After bathing, Tenere wrapped her arms around her flushed face.

She hugged Leonard as tightly as she had when she entered the bathroom.

Her blush wasn’t just from the heat of the water.

“You said you weren’t a beast.”

“I thought I was a man, too.”

“…….”

Tenere rolled her eyes, but she knew that if she had shown any sign of displeasure, nothing would have happened.

Besides, she’d been the one to ask.

Of course, that was the bottom line, but who had prompted her to ask was another matter.

The maids had tidied up the room while she bathed, and the bed was already made.

Leonard laid Tenere on the fluffy pillows.

“Since you won’t be able to go yourself, I’ll have the nanny bring Josie.”

“Except for ……brother.”

It was evident that her body was marked by last night’s events.

She couldn’t let her brother see that she couldn’t even get up after the first night.

If Eric made fun of him the way she was, he’d make fun of her, and if she ignored him, she’d be just as embarrassed.

Leonard nodded at Tenere’s words.

“I have a request for an audience, so I’ll be back in a few minutes, so get some rest.”

“……Take your time.”

Tenere said in a groggy voice.

Leonard laughed soundlessly and bent down to kiss her.

“I’ll be right back, my love.”

Tenere blinked heavily at the affectionate whisper, but then she smiled softly and pulled him into a hug.

* * *

It was not long before Laura arrived at the Empress’s palace.

She came in with a basket in one hand and the child’s hand in the other, and she was stunned to see Tenere sprawled on the bed.

“Oh, my dear Empress!”

“Mommy!”

Joshua rushed to his mother.

He was so good at climbing into bed by himself now, without help.

“Josie, my dear.”

Tenere smiled and opened her arms.

Joshua flung himself into her arms, his eyes wide.

His tiny fingers traced the red marks on her white neck.

“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt, Josie.”

“Ying.”

Josie said, but she was pretty much bedridden today.

Laura asked worriedly.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Empress? You’re supposed to be at the banquet tonight.”

“…I’ll be fine. I think I’ll be okay by evening.”

The reception wasn’t over yet, and there would be another banquet at the palace today.

Envoys from other countries were coming, and she couldn’t just stay in bed as the Empress.

Laura let out a short sigh.

“Even so, the maids say you’ve torn your pillow to shreds.”

“…….”

Tenere gave a small gasp and looked at the basket in Laura’s hand.

Feeling her gaze, Laura quickly set the basket down on the bed.

“The maids said a letter arrived for Her Majesty. Since I was on my way here anyway, they asked me to deliver it.”

“There are a lot of them.”

“Will there be more tomorrow?”

Now that she was empress again, it was only natural that she would receive many invitations and letters.

But it was also a headache to respond to what seemed like dozens of letters at first glance.

Tenere sighed heavily and said.

“Would you like to help me sort them?”

“Of course.”

Laura took the letters in the basket and began to sort them one by one.

First, she divided them into invitations and wedding congratulations, then into tea party invitations and ball invitations, and then into piles by rank.

The child wiggled his hands as if the stack of letters were a funny toy, but when she handed him the basket, he played with it.

He fiddled with it, shook it, and even turned it over to cover his face as if playing hide-and-seek when he called for his mom.

“Where did my Josie go? He was just here a minute ago.”

“Oh no. Where is he?”

As the two searched around and laid the envelopes down, giggles echoed from within the basket.

They turned their heads and made eye contact, only to have the giggling stop, then resume as soon as they looked away.

Meanwhile, Tenere and Laura stacked letter after letter on the bedside table.

Then it happened.

“……?”

Laura’s head jerked up as she recognized the sender on the envelope with the crumpled corner.

Tenere glanced in her direction.

“That’s the seal of the Kingdom of Vint, I don’t think it’s from the royal family…… There, Your Majesty, this…….”

Laura handed the envelope to Tenere with a puzzled look on her face.

And when she saw the letter’s sender, she was just as puzzled.

“……Mother?”

The name written on the back of the envelope was clearly her mother’s.

No affiliation, no last name, just Tasha.

“Why would my mother…….

Didn’t they part ways that day? Why now?

“Should I…… leave?”

Laura asked cautiously. Tenere hesitated for a moment but then shook her head.

“It’s okay, can you just get me a knife?”

“Yes, yes.”

Laura hastily opened a drawer and retrieved a paper-knife.

Then she turned to look at the child.

Tenere quickly cut open the crumpled envelope and unfolded the letter inside.

It was a rough, dull-colored letter with no perfume, no dried flowers, and no pictures.

My dearest daughter, Tenere.

I have tried not to set my heart on the place I left, but I am worried by the news that has come across the sea, and I am writing to you.

The man who claims to be your husband’s father has long ago consumed a fertility herb from the North and is unable to conceive, so please don’t worry and take a fertility test.

To explain the situation, I was very close to his wife, Isabelle, so when I realized he had betrayed her, I gave her the grass.

Isabelle’s daughter, Alaina, was born to his brother.

We don’t think much of such things, but you do, so if you’re not on good terms with her, make the most of it.

And I add, likewise, that it doesn’t matter to me, but it might matter to you.

Your father, Ludwig Evan, also took that herb.

After you were born, I found out he was seeing other women.

I thought it would be better to dry up the seeds of such a man.

I’m not yet skilled enough in noble faction warfare to determine whether this fact will work in your favor or against you.

So if it’s in your favor, use it to your advantage, and if it’s not, burn this letter and pretend it never happened.

So, Tenere, my dear, may you always be happy and healthy.

Love,Tasha

After reading the last sentence, Tenere took a deep breath.

Then she buried her face in the letter and let out a small laugh.

“Ah, Mother…….”

It had been a long time coming.

But it was undeniable that her mother sent a letter as soon as she heard the news from across the sea.

The only problem was, it was just that her mother and she were too far apart.

“I must go to the Emperor.”

Tenere pushed herself to her feet, then glanced at Laura.

“Do you want to read it?”

“……Can I?”

Laura asked cautiously, but her eyes were already on the letter.

Tenere handed it to Laura, then quickly hugged the child.

After a few kisses on his round forehead and chubby cheeks, Joshua squirmed with a ticklish giggle.

“Mother… really stirred up a lot of people’s seeds.”

“Oh, they were all deserving people.”

Laura finished reading the letter and looked up, her face brightening.

As Tenere took the letter back from Laura, there was a knock on the door.

Leonard answered the door.

The child, half-covered in a basket, cried and ran when she saw her father.

“Daddy!”

“Yes, Joshua. Have you eaten your porridge?”

“Yeah!”

“You’re supposed to say ‘yes.'”

“Nuh-uh!”

Leonard scooped Joshua up in one arm and walked over to Tenere.

Laura, watching, quickly bowed to the three of them and left the room.

Once the door was closed, Tenere handed Leonard the letter with a bright smile.

“I have a letter from my mother.”

“A letter?”

Leonard took the letter in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected it.

He glanced over the raggedy stationery and smiled.

“It seems there was a delay in the news from afar. I should inform my brother right away.”

“You sounded worried, and I was thinking of looking her up, but I’m glad to hear from her.”

Leonard sat down on the bed with the child in his arms. Joshua reached out as if he wanted to touch the letter.

Tenere opened her arms and hugged them together.

Her heart swelled with the thought that now all that remained was to be happy with the people she loved.

-End of Main Story-