Chapter 14 – Part 5

After the day’s work was done, Leonard went straight back to his room.

Lately, he had been traveling to the Rose Palace to meet with Tenere whenever he could, so being alone felt strange and empty.

‘If I had my way, I’d send her a proposal tomorrow.’

No, tomorrow is not the right time. He wants to ask her to marry him now and bring her back to the palace.

He had postponed sending the engagement letter, pretending to be busy and not wanting to seem too eager.

But the thought of such days repeating itself made him feel uneasy.

What if she changed her mind and said she didn’t want to return to the palace because she liked the life in the Marquis’ mansion?

What if the thought of being an empress became too much for her and she decided to leave?

She had assured him that she would wait for his proposal, but the anxiety she hadn’t erased reared its ugly head.

Leonard stood at the window and looked out over the lit-up Rose Palace.

The Rose Palace was still lit, even though its owner was away.

It was still lit by its servants, waiting for Tenere to return from the wedding.

A small palace with a rosy roof overhead, the only one in the imperial palace with blue spires rising high.

In the beautifully landscaped gardens, roses that hadn’t yet bloomed were preparing to come into full bloom.

Once the flowers bloomed, she would probably take the child’s hand and stroll through the garden.

Then she will probably hold a large, beautiful flower in her hand.

She would laugh when the child laughed and comfort him when he cried without knowing why.

He could vividly imagine it, even though he hadn’t seen it.

‘Am I the only one who misses you?’

‘What are you doing now?’

‘I wonder if you’re thinking of me, at least a little bit, in a place where there’s no one to bother you.’

After staring out the window for a long time, Leonard stepped into his private study.

He was about to pull out a paper when he noticed the jewelry box he kept in one of the drawers and stopped.

“This is…….”

Leonard remembered what he’d put in it, and even knowing that his hand had gone out of control, and opened the lid.

Inside was a handkerchief. It was the handkerchief that Tenere had embroidered and handed to him.

He had kept it, not wanting to wear it out.

He realized that he had kept even a handkerchief with great care despite continuously denying his love for her.

It wasn’t just the silk handkerchief.

He hadn’t been able to throw anything away, not even the Empress’s palace, not even the sachet she had made for him.

Leonard fiddled with the handkerchief, then slipped it into his inside pocket. Then he took out a pad of paper and a pen.

My dear Tenere.

He moved his hand slowly, and the words flowed onto the paper.

It was getting late at night.

* * * *

Joshua opened his mouth like a baby bird.

His tiny lips twitched as Tenere slipped the treat into his wide-open mouth.

Alaina watched, then spoke.

“And then they asked what would be a good marriage gift for Her Majesty the Empress. Lord Travell, who was also there, said that His Highness the Crown Prince will also return to the palace, so wouldn’t it be appropriate to give him a gift too?”

“Did they discuss that in the council meeting?”

Tenere had been listening to the news from the palace from Alaina, who had come to the manor.

In public gatherings, Alaina always held her head high and acted haughty, but privately, she was quite modest and talkative, even after inheriting the title of Marchioness Salvatore.

“To be honest, the wedding gifts were prepared long ago. But seeing those involved in this recent incident, that’s why you’re mentioning it, right? So…”

Alaina paused for a moment. She looked like she wanted to say something, but couldn’t.

Tenere spoke up cautiously.

“It’s …… extortion.”

“Oh.”

Alaina looked surprised, as if she hadn’t expected Tenere to be so blunt, but she didn’t deny it.

She quenched her thirst with strong black tea and continued.

“Do you know what they’re planning to give as wedding gifts? A rare musgravite necklace that Master Adele made only once in his lifetime, a dwarf pine logging right from the Uriel region, and…”

As Alaina began to recite the noblemen’s wedding gifts, folding her fingers one by one, Tenere’s face fell in confusion.

The list wasn’t just of precious jewelry and luxury goods, but also of logging rights, cottages, and even small castles.

“They were all talking about the usual things, like jewelry, dresses, and porcelain, and then suddenly Duke Travell said he was going to give His Highness a fine stallion and a small cottage, and then it became a competition between them.”

“Ah…….”

“Viscount Landerck saw his title revoked right before his eyes, he probably thought it’s better to offer something than risk losing his title or his life.”

Alaina said with a touch of sarcasm.

Tenere shoved another sweet into his mouth and let out a small sigh.

“We should refuse overly extravagant gifts.”

“You don’t have to, they’re giving it to you.”

“It’s bribery. They’re asking us to turn a blind eye to this incident in exchange for gifts.”

Those who sided with Marquis Salvatore probably knew that Leonard was pressuring them after this incident.

So, to appear somewhat favorable to Leonard and perhaps to prevent any retaliation from him, they were likely trying to present gifts with tears in their eyes.

“If you take it and look the other way, it’s a bribe, but if you don’t, it doesn’t matter, does it? It’s weirder to give a gift in good faith and expect something in return.”

Alaina said with a shrug. Tenere smiled a little awkwardly.

“By the way, Alaina, how have you been lately?”

No matter how cheerful she was, there was no way she was okay with revealing her birth secret in front of an audience.

Tenere looked at her with concern, but Alaina waved her hand as if to say she was fine.

“Yes, I’m fine. It’s a relief that he’s not my father.”

“…….”

“I’ve been spending a lot of time with my uncle… No, my father. I’m still not used to the title. We talk about my mother often, and… about him, the person who used to be my father when I was young.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“So, Tenere, how are you feeling?”

Alaina was calling Tenere by her first name because she’d told her she could call her that in private until the wedding.

Tenere looked at her as if she didn’t understand.

“The medicine he took was from your mother’s belongings. Maybe no one knows yet, but it might come up later.”

“Yeah, but I found out about it through my brother, and I don’t think anyone else knows, not even my mother’s dedicated maid…….”

Tasha did have some unnamed herbs among her belongings, but that only lent credence to the rumors that Isabelle’s death was connected to her.

The only drug whose exact use they knew was the strong sleeping incense she had used when she left the mansion.

“Is there any way to contact her?”

“If I tell His Majesty, we might be able to find him eventually, but… I don’t think it’s necessary to go that far.”

“Mmm…… Well, then.”

Alaina nodded good-naturedly. It occurred to her in the back of her mind that Leonard wouldn’t be still if she actually said anything.

Her gaze fell on Joshua.

“By the way, he really resembles His Majesty.”

“Daddy?”

Joshua looked up at the reference to Leonard.

Alaina looked back at Tenere in surprise.

“Does he understand already?”

“The nanny says…… he’s growing fast and seems quite clever.”

Tenere sounded embarrassed, but there was no denying the motherly pride in her voice.

Regardless of whether she should or shouldn’t, Joshua kept murmuring “Daddy, daddy.”

“Do you miss Daddy?”

“Yeah!”

“You should say ‘yes.'”

“Yeah!”

The child replied cheerfully, and Alaina couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

She stared at him for a long moment before she spoke.

“I know it’s presumptuous, but…… Tenere. Is there any reason why she has to be the nanny?”