Whose Child Belongs to the Emperor - Chapter 3 - Part 9 (End of Volume 1)

Chapter 3 – Part 9

If they had taken horses, they might have left the jurisdiction sooner. However, to avoid tracking, they changed rental carriages multiple times, and now they were finally on the outskirts of the kingdom.

“By now, they probably realize we’re gone, but there’s still no sign of pursuit.”

“…Is that so?”

Tenere slowly lifted her spoon. Even though she was already a bit of a heavy sleeper, recently, perhaps due to leaving the mansion or her pregnancy, she seemed particularly drowsy in the morning.

“It’s been four days since we left the mansion. Surely, the Imperial Knights… Hey, hey.”

As Tenere, who was dozing off, was about to bury her face in the stew plate, Eric quickly grabbed her face.

Tenere blinked, her nose covered in tomato stew. Eric hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her nose.

“Oh, you’re acting like a baby.”

“Sorry.”

“If you’re tired, rest for another day.”

Eric complained as he watched her silent smile. Seeing her like that, he continued grumbling.

“Look at you smiling. Sister, you should have a kid like you, because I don’t think you’d be able to handle a loud, talkative kid.”

“…”

“Well… no matter who it takes after, it should be quiet.”

Both her father, Leonard, and her mother, Tenere, were on the quiet side, so it seemed likely that the child would be similar.

Tenere also did not deny this and just smiled faintly.

“Once we finish the meal… should we leave right away?”

“Don’t push yourself. Go to your room and get some sleep. We can stay for another day.”

“Sleeping in the carriage is fine.”

Tenere said as she tasted the stew. Even though she had been living in the palace for four years and had enjoyed only the best, she didn’t hesitate to eat the modest meal at the inn.

“No need to worry. There’s no sign of pursuit, and it’s hard to track us after changing rental carriages several times.”

“Just… I’m a bit anxious. In case… those people who were sent by Camilla might be following us…”

Though her voice was slow and still half-asleep, Eric knew what she was worried about.

Trying to disrupt Tenere’s reign, they had even tried to feed her poison after she returned to the mansion.

If he found out she was fleeing the palace, they would track her down.

“I should have tortured her to find out who owned her.”

“It’s in the past. If I had done that, the situation might have escalated too much…”

If Camilla, confined in the mansion, confessed that they had tried to harm her reign, it would have caused a significant problem.

So Eric decided not to worry about it and to focus on their escape.

Tenere put down her spoon. Even though there was still half a plate of stew left, Eric frowned at her.

“Hey, what’s with… you’re struggling to finish just that? Eat more.”

“My stomach doesn’t feel well.”

“Oh, indigestion? Well, nothing to be done if that’s the case…”

Eric scratched his head in embarrassment. He wasn’t good at dealing with stomach problems.

He couldn’t tell if she should avoid eating altogether or force herself to eat.

“Is there anything else you want to eat? You mentioned craving something you usually don’t eat.”

“Rather than that..”

Tenere hesitated for a moment.

“I want to buy a bow.”

“A bow?”

Surprised by the unexpected request, Eric blinked. However, he quickly understood what Tenere meant and his expression hardened. Perhaps she wanted it to be prepared for any possible pursuit.

But he knew that Tenere, her younger sister couldn’t even shoot a single game animal in the hunting grounds.

“…Can you even shoot?”

“Is it bad for the child’s education?”

“No, well… if you raise it as a warrior, that’s fine.”

Seeing her worried expression, Eric made a jest as he saw fit. The answer seemed to amuse her, and she smiled softly.

***

“Did she escape?”

Isaac Salvatore raised his voice in response to his subordinate’s report.

Alaina sat quietly, saying nothing.

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Did she take the medicine?”

Isaac’s question made the man glance at Alaina. When Isaac nodded as if he was fine, she spoke up.

“I apologize. It seems the maid I entrusted with the task was discovered by the Marquis. She was confined to the Marquisate, but His Imperial Majesty secretly brought her into the palace…”

“Troublesome actions.”

Isaac muttered under his breath. Nevertheless, the problem was the former Empress. The Emperor, who continued to show interest in her, was just as concerned.

What’s wrong with having a sister as empress?

If he had known better, he would have made her Empress, and through her, he would have an heir.

Now that they knew, they could just maintain appearances and live as a married couple, managing their respective territories without worrying about each other.

They keep on talking about the imperial bloodline, but why did it matter if even the Emperor himself didn’t know whose bloodline he carried?

“The maid probably didn’t reveal anything, right?”

“Yes, Your Grace. It seems she decided to remain silent, perhaps aware that speaking out would make it difficult for her to survive.”

“Very well. However, we can’t leave any traces behind.”

At the Marquis’s words, the man respectfully lowered her head and left the room.

Alaina remained seated like a doll. Isaac patted his daughter’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll take care of those who might interfere with your return. You just prepare to persuade the Emperor to make you Empress again.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Now that you’ll be back in society, we need to get more dresses ready. We’ll have to hold the engagement ceremony again soon.”

“…Engagement ceremony?”

Alaina slowly raised her head. Under her reddish hair, inherited from Isaac Salvatore, her deep green eyes were vivid.

“Did the Emperor… agree to it?”

“Why, do you want to try persuading him?”

Isaac chuckled and spoke. Alaina was a bit moved by his seemingly cheerful appearance, but she quickly suppressed her emotions and nodded.

“…I will.”

The seemingly premature reaction. Alaina regretted it as soon as she saw her father’s reaction, but she quickly averted her eyes, pretending to be frightened.

“I’ll do as my father says, so…… don’t send me there again.”

“I won’t. You’ve been through a lot you didn’t deserve.”

Alaina didn’t respond. Only one thought occupied her mind.

‘I must speak to the Emperor alone’

The most urgent thing was to meet the Emperor which her father’s eyes couldn’t reach.

His attempt to poison the empress through the maid had failed, and if it was discovered, the maid would not survive.

‘Whether she tried to poison Tener or…’

Something equivalent, or even a heavier crime.

‘Did he try to eliminate the Crown Prince?’

—End of Volume 1—

TL Note: Thank you for reading the first volume of “Whose Child Belongs to the Emperor”, I hope you enjoyed the whole volume. The second volume will be up in a few days, please look forward to it. 🫶