Chapter 3 – Part 3

Marquis Salvator was waiting for him in the parlor.

Leonard sat across from him with a rare stern look on his face.

His displeasure was evident, but the Marquis was unperturbed.

“Isaac Salvator, I present to you the Emperor, Lord of the Empire.”

“Are you satisfied?”

Leonard asked sharply, but the Marquis was only too polite and poured tea into his cup.

A trickle of tea filled the cup.

“I, too, am relieved that the Empress has come to a decision.”

“…….”

“You’re now basically a bachelor”

Isaac’s mouth lifted at the corners as if it were an amusing joke. Leonard’s expression remained displeased.

“I doubt you came here just to say such things.”

In other words, Leonard meant to get to the point and leave.

Isaac still showed no signs of fear or discomfort. He silently placed the teacup down.

“Now that the Empress has left the palace, you should quickly accept a new Empress.”

Leonard looked at him with a face devoid of any hint of a smile. A sardonic smile escaped his lips.

“Why, did you already find Lady Alaina Salvatore?”

“Yes, I’ll just need a little time to convince her.”

Isaac spoke as if it were no big deal. Leonard furrowed his brows, not expecting that she had been found.

But it was only a moment. Soon, he burst into bitter laughter.

“She won’t come back.”

“I can convince her to”

Isaac laughed audibly.

“She grew up believing that she would become the Emperor’s consort. She’s a child accustomed to a splendid life in a ducal household. Wouldn’t it be unbearable for such a person to hide in a horrible place?”

“…”

“I am persuading her to return.”

He spoke with a confident voice. Leonard stared at him for a long time before finally speaking in a heavy tone.

“Alaina Salvatore… would despise marrying me. And, frankly, I would feel the same.”

“Does a couple have to live together in harmony? You can just pretend to share a bed while each handles their affairs. That’s all.”

Isaac said as if it were not a big deal. Although he noticed a fierce expression directed at him, there was no change in his complexion.

He wasn’t afraid of the Emperor

“People will have no doubt. Since she is born of the Empress, he must naturally be the child of the Emperor. So even if she is the child of a mere beggar, if she is born from the Empress, she wouldn’t be suspected of anything.”

“…”

“Of course, even I wouldn’t dare attach the label of a beggar to your precious heir.”

Isaac added with a cheerful tone as if making a delightful joke.

It was a dubious story about daring to consider someone else’s child as the imperial heir, but Leonard didn’t rebuke his impertinence.

Isaac knew very well that he couldn’t harm him.

“My father is the Emperor.”

His voice was firm but lacked conviction. Isaac grinned.

“You wouldn’t know that.”

***

Life at the Marquis’s mansion was peaceful. The spacious rooms filled with sunlight dispelled any sense of gloom, and the cheerful maid also added a lively atmosphere.

“Wow, are these all gifts from the His Majesty the Emperor?”

Camilla exclaimed in awe as she looked at the sparkling jewelry box. Tenere smiled a bit awkwardly.

“I was planning to leave them behind, but it seems they were sent again.”

The jewelry box was full of gifts she had received over time.

Necklaces and earrings are received as wedding gifts, gifts for every birthday, and even some small presents on ordinary days.

Not only from Leonard but also from the deceased Beatrice.

Various necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, hairpins, and pendants. Why there were so many was a mystery.

Tenere took out the wedding ring she always wore and placed it inside.

“These were sent by the imperial family, so keep them safe.”

It meant that she valued them highly but had no intention of wearing them again.

Camilla seemed to find it a shame to keep such valuable jewelry hidden, but she didn’t insist. Instead, she spoke with a big smile.

“It seems the His Majesty loved you.”

“Does it look that way?”

“Yes. My father always said that if you want to know if a man loves you, see how much money and sincerity he pours in.”

“…He’s an interesting person.”

Camilla often sat next to Tenere and chatted away, providing a constant stream of lively stories. Thanks to her, Tenere never felt bored.

Eric had meals with Tenere, the maids were always kind, and the knights from the imperial family also treated her with respect.

Sometimes, he even suggested going out, saying that it was right for her to go out alone. It was the life she wanted.

A life without major twists, peaceful, without any threats or conflicts.

But, on the other hand, she knew why this peace felt so empty.

“My Lady, isn’t it about time for your monthly visit?”

Camilla, tidying up the fabric, spoke up.

Considering the last night they spent together and the information about her menstruation day, her tone carried more concern about Tenere’s health than any expectation for a child.

“I think it’s a bit delayed due to the change in the environment. When I first entered the palace, it was delayed by about a month too.”

Tenere chose not to talk about their last night.

She didn’t want to raise any unnecessary expectations now that she was no longer in the palace.

Camilla understood the nuance, mentioning how she sometimes acted that way when in a new place.

A chatty maid who, once she threw out one topic, would continue with an endless stream of stories.

While listening to her chatter, Tenere thought about Leonard.

The one who, instead of asking her to stay, nodded and let her go. The one who, for the first time, rejected the love she expressed.

‘…I should forget about it.’

It felt ironic that she had requested to leave, wanting to shake off any lingering attachment, yet the memories of that night still came to mind. The gentle voice, affectionate touch, sweet kisses, and warmth – he had been a good person until the end. There was never a time when he wasn’t.

“By the way, My Lady, until when will you keep refusing visitors? Many people want to see you. Lady Sophia Cloddy is also planning to visit soon.”

Sophia Cloddy, who had gone to study at the Solen Kingdom Academy, occasionally sent letters to Tenere, expressing her concern, although their correspondence was infrequent. It seemed that Tenere’s abdication had raised worries to her.

“I appreciate the concern, but it still feels a bit early to meet other people. I need to show some restraint.”

“But… it’s not your fault.”

Camilla pouted, and Tenere chuckled.

“Sometimes it doesn’t matter.”

“That’s…”

“I still want some time to rest.”

Tener finished cutting the thread, and Camilla’s face still held dissatisfaction. Tenere smiled faintly.

“How about taking a walk in the garden?”

“Yes!”

Camilla responded eagerly. Tenere finished tidying up her sewing tools and stood up.
***

It had been a month and a half since Tenere left the palace.

News of the Empress occasionally reached Leonard. Both Eric, who hadn’t completed the succession ceremony yet and Tenere, who returned to the mansion, didn’t seem to go out much, keeping a low profile.
***

“Any other news?”

“The doctor will be visiting the mansion tomorrow.”

“A doctor?”

His hands, which had been moving nonchalantly, paused. When Leonard raised his head, Delus quickly bowed.

“The doctor… Why?”

“There’s no specific news. Since it wasn’t an urgent call, it might be for a regular checkup.”

Leonard’s shoulders relaxed only now.

“Hasn’t a personal physician been appointed yet?”

“It seems difficult to find a new personal physician since the official succession hasn’t happened.”

More than half of the servants had left the mansion due to Ludwig Evan’s rebellion. Although some managers and housekeepers remained, finding a new personal physician in a half-ruined family like theirs was not easy.

“Then what about the royal physician…”

After saying that, Leonard was silent. Sending a royal physician for the Empress was too much, to say the least.

“It’s been …… a month.

It’s time to stop caring as if you’re obsessed with something…….

Leonard shook his head quickly.

“From now on, you don’t need to report everything about the Empress. Only inform me of significant matters.”

Leonard decisively spoke, then picked up his pen again. Swiftly and elegantly, his hand moved, creating graceful strokes on the paper
Delus, the Chief of Staff, bowed once again.

He didn’t bother to point out that the Emperor had already said something similar last week, or that he still often referred to her as Empress.

In the afternoon, the doctor visited the Marquis’s mansion.

The doctor was a woman in her forties with short, curly hair. Tenere welcomed her, sitting on the bed.

“Nice to meet you, My Lady. I am Doctor Evelyn.”

“Glad to meet you, Evelyn.”

“I heard you want to have a health check-up.”

“My menstruation has been delayed.”

Tenere answered briefly. Evelyn approached her and checked her pulse.

“When was your last menstruation?”

Camilla quickly answered the somewhat personal question, “Two months ago.”

“Have you had any intimate relations since then?”

“She mentioned that the last time was ten days before the start of her monthly event,” Camilla answered, watching Tenere’s eyes. Evelyn shook her head in confusion. Camilla asked cautiously.

“Is there a problem?”

“Ah…”

Evelyn furrowed her brow, scrutinizing Tenere as she took her pulse again. Camilla asked with care, “Is something wrong?”

“Could we perhaps have a private conversation?” Evelyn asked cautiously.

Tenere nodded, and as Camilla left the room with a worried expression, Tenere and Evelyn were left alone.