Chapter 14 – Part 2

“Are you planning to appoint Alaina… as empress in my place?”

“……what?”

He blurted out, stunned by the unexpected words. Tenere looked at the bewildered Leonard and gave a small laugh.

“Since it turns out you’re not blood-related, I assume you and Alaina……. as planned?”

“Absolutely not, I’m just…….”

Leonard threw up his hands, unable to hide bewilderment at the unexpected words.

“I just want…… you to choose me.”

“…….”

“I will leave it to your will, wherever you wish to raise Joshua; you may take him with you to the Marquisate, or the village where you lived has been moved to the Travell estate, which will be difficult……but if you wish I will find a way.”

It was actually his futile greed.

Wasn’t it already greed not to want anything other than to take the child born from his mother’s body?

“Joshua is your child, and I will obey your will.”

“…….”

“But, Tenere, if you still choose me.”

Leonard slowly sank to his knees. Tenere looked at him in surprise.

“If you allow me to be by your side, I will be faithful to you as your partner until the end of my life, as Joshua’s father. I will dedicate all my love and honor to you. So…”

Leonard carefully held Tenere’s hand.

And then he slowly leaned in to kiss her.

“Please choose me,” he whispered.

Tenere stared at Leonard, not sure what to make of the unexpected words.

Did he mean it, did he really mean that she could take the child and leave?

He had already acknowledged the child as an heir, and Marquis Salvatore had been executed for treason.

The opposition from his vassals would not be easy.

The very real problems came to mind, and at the same time, a strange feeling of regret crept up on him.

What if he really meant it?

If she were to take the child and leave forever, would he bring in a new empress to bear a new heir?

“Joshua is the sole heir to the throne, and you’re giving him up?”

Tenere swallowed the words she wanted to say and asked. Perhaps she was afraid he would discern her innermost thoughts.

“Isn’t there a way out that the noble has been trying to find to pressure me?”

“…….”

“If Joshua doesn’t want to succeed me, I’ll choose someone suitable. Of course, since he still prefers snacks to the throne, I can’t demand an immediate decision…”

At that last comment, Tenere let out a small laugh. Leonard continued, the corners of his mouth curling up.

“Whatever you choose, I will not allow any harm to come to the child, so do as you wish.”

Leonard spoke calmly, but there was no denying the tension in his face as he looked at her.

‘Would you choose me without any coercion, would you love me without fear.’

His hands were fidgeting unnecessarily with nervousness. His heart was pounding uncontrollably.

“…I understand your Majesty’s intentions well.”

It was a long time before Tenere spoke.

“Then…… tomorrow I will take Josie to the Marquis’s…….”

“……Wait.”

At Tenere’s words, Leonard involuntarily reached for her hand. The hand clutching the hem of her skirt was urgent.

“Can’t you give it a little more…… time?”

“What?”

“Don’t decide right away, just a few more days…… no, five days would be fine.”

“…….”

“I won’t change my mind, so even if it’s just for a few days, shouldn’t you give yourself a chance to reconsider?”

His ramblings were unbelievable.

For someone who said it was okay to leave with the child, it didn’t seem too insistent.

But perhaps it was reasonable to be a bit eager to hold onto her love.

Leonard clutched the hem of Tenere’s skirt and waited for her answer.

Tenere opened her mouth after a moment of hesitation.

“I’m supposed to go to the mansion…… to receive your marriage proposal…….”

The words spat out awkwardly, and Leonard looked at her in disbelief.

“Well then…”

“…….”

Tenere turned away without answering.

She had already decided what she wanted to say, but she didn’t want to dwell on it.

Maybe it was because she didn’t want to easily give him the words he desired.

But she couldn’t help but smile at the way he clutched at the hem of her skirt, begging for more.

Like she was hoping for something like this.

“Will… you accept me?”

Leonard asked as if to confirm, and the look on his face made Tenere suddenly realize.

Ah.

‘I actually hated you. I hated you for not accepting my heart, and I hated you for trying to take advantage of it.’

Even though she thinks his love might be sincere, she feels it’s unfair that she’s been the only one clinging to it so far.

‘I guess I was putting off answering because I liked it when you chased me and wanted my love.’

She didn’t want him to let her go, she wanted him to hold on and cling to her.

The suppressed emotions made her cheeks flush.

But was it her last bit of pride that made her reluctant to easily give him an answer even after understanding his feelings?

“You… have to give me a proposal first.”

Even though she hadn’t given a definite answer to his proposal, it seemed evident from her expression.

Leonard’s face turned red as he looked at her.

And she was about to feel unnecessarily embarrassed.

“Your Majesty……?”

Suddenly, as if raindrops had fallen from a dry sky, a single tear slid from Leonard’s eye and rolled down his cheek.

Startled, Tenere froze in place.

As she wrapped his wet cheeks with both hands, Leonard, startled, turned his head and covered his face.

“……No, I’m not crying…….”

Though she didn’t ask why he cried, Leonard mumbled awkwardly. Tenere chuckled softly.

“Are you lying to me again?”

The words stopped Leonard in his tracks. His red eyes flickered to hers, then lowered in embarrassment as their gaze met.

“… I’m just happy.”

His voice was stuttered, but the message was clear.

But seeing her struggle to find the right words, could it be that there was still resentment lingering?

“I haven’t even answered you yet…….”

It was a remark born of petulance, but seeing the wet eyes that looked at her with pity, she couldn’t help but feel her resolve weaken again.

Hesitantly, Tenere slowly removed her hand from Leonard’s face.

Then she gently kissed his wet cheek.

When Leonard looked at her in surprise, she smiled a little embarrassedly.

“I’ll wait for your proposal.”

“…….”

“……Leon.”

Feeling a little embarrassed by the sudden blush on her face, Tenere scrambled to her feet.

Then, without another word, she moved toward the doorway as if to flee.

The flush on her face didn’t seem to subside at all.

* * * *

The news that Joshua was going with Tenere to the marquis’s residence had caused some of the vassals to tremble.

The location where the prince stayed before the ceremony was crucial as it indicated who held priority rights over the child.

Since royal decisions tended to set precedents when something similar happened in the noble circles, those who attached great importance to the bloodline were expected to raise objections at the council meeting.

However, Tenere was able to climb into the carriage without much fuss.

Firstly, it was because they departed in the morning before the council meeting, and secondly, it was because of the execution of Isaac Salvatore, which had many nobles in turmoil.

“Daddy.”

The child in his nanny’s arms waved at his father.

Tenere patted the child’s cheek.

“Say ‘I’ll be back’ to your father.”

“…….”

“‘I’ll be back’. Hmm?”

“I bla ba…”

Joshua opened his tiny lips like a baby bird and mimicked his mother’s words.

Though what came out was far from something like ‘I’ll be back,’ with a somewhat unclear meaning, as parents, they wanted to insist it was close enough.

Leonard looked at the child with a pleased expression on his face, then turned to Tenere.

“I’ll send the proposal in a few days.”

“I’m fine with it, but there might be a lot of talk… Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

A day or so was a reasonable amount of flexibility since a child could not be separated from its mother, but a few days outside the palace was sure to raise objections. Even more so if it was for an extended period.

“Don’t worry about that, you and Josie can rest and relax.”

Leonard smiled.

There might be some who weren’t pleased, but at least those who sided with Marquis Salvatore wouldn’t dare to speak against him.

They must realize that no good would come from being disagreeable to him now.

“I mentioned that I’ll be back…”

Tenere was about to say something but then remembered that she had asked the child to say goodbye and shut up.

Leonard gave a small laugh and bent down to kiss her lightly on the cheek.

“Goodbye, Tenere.”

He kissed the child as well, then closed the carriage door behind him.

Tenere waved a little awkwardly at Leonard out the window.

The child also waved his hand to his father as he watched them leave.

“……I’m glad you seem to have reconciled.”