Whose Child Belongs to the Emperor - Chapter 4- Part 2

Chapter 4 – Part 2

The winter in the northern forest was exceptionally cold. With one hand holding the child, Eric stoked the charcoal in the brazier near the bed.

The sound of hooves outside the door reached them. The child squirmed as if sensing his mother’s return.

“Awwww, Abu.”

“Yes, Josie. Your mom is here.”

As Eric playfully raised his arm, the child burst into laughter, finding it amusing.

Eric made funny noises and pulled comical faces to entertain the child. However, as soon as he heard the door opening, he quickly turned around, trying to appear dignified.

“You’re late.”

“Yes. Nothing unusual happened, right?”

It was their second winter away from the capital. Two years ago, upon arriving in the north, Tenere and Eric received news that her mother had already left the northern forest.

Being nomads, they somewhat expected this outcome since settling in one place for too long was not their way. The village chief, recognizing Tenere as Tasha’s daughter, proposed that they become guardians of the village.

With no fixed destination and the harsh winter making travel difficult, the two followed his suggestion and stayed in the small village in the north.

“Mrs. Anzu gave us some sweet potatoes. This time, she nagged about storing them properly.”

“I’m grateful every time.”

Tenere said it with a smile. Mrs. Anzu, the village chief’s daughter and a healer in the village, assisted Tenere in safely delivering her child and helped with her recovery.

She was gracious and thrifty, but she was also backwoods and nagging, and whenever she could, she’d come to their house and poke her nose into their chores.

“Mom, mom.”

The child raised his arms, recognizing his mother. Tenere hung the snow-covered fur coat on the chair and quickly embraced the child.

“Yes, Josie”

“Mrs. Anzu brought sweet potato puree for him.”

“Isn’t sweet potato too sweet?”

“She said it’s okay. She advised him to introduce a variety of foods while he can’t say he dislikes them yet.”

Although Erich resented her nagging, he trusted her to always help.

Except for the occasional painful slap on the back.

“By the way, the village chief asked if you could teach the children to read and write.”

“Reading and writing?”

“It seems an academy is planned in Avila. Many houses are planning to send their children.”

“I didn’t expect an academy to be established in such a remote place.”

“It may take an extra hour by carriage, but…”

It was said that the Emperor added flesh to the robust framework established by the previous monarch. Although it hadn’t been long since Tenere left the capital, changes indicating prosperity were apparent throughout the empire.

Academies and large buildings were emerging in nearby cities, the rough roads were being paved, and even officials were dispatched to remote areas.

Perhaps if one had always lived outside the city, it would have been difficult to perceive such changes.

“I’m glad that Your Majesty seems to be doing well.”

Even though she wasn’t sitting next to him, it wasn’t only joy that Tenere felt about Leonard’s well-being.

Especially when news reached her that he was engaged again to his former fiancée, Alaina, it added to her mixed emotions.

However, Leonard had always treated her warmly, so Tenere genuinely wished for his happiness.

“Ah-bu-bu. Boo.”

The child in her arms babbled. He hadn’t even taken a step yet, and all he could say was an unintelligible babble and “mommy.”.

“He’s looking more and more like the emperor.”

He resembled his father so much that people in the village joked about it without any grievances.

Not entirely incorrect, Tenere chuckled silently.

“He may resemble His Majesty in appearance, but his actions are just like you when you were young. He is gentle, sleeps well, and doesn’t cry much. Hanna said that if her child were as gentle as him, she would have no complaints.”

“His Majesty was probably like that too.”

“Who knows? Perhaps he was a tyrant unexpectedly, swinging all sorts of tyranny in his infancy and then growing up to be a gentle adult.”

“Don’t say such things. His Majesty is a gentle person.”

Though Tenere protested, Eric shook his head knowingly.

“You haven’t seen it yourself. Who would dare speak ill of the Emperor to the Queen? In my opinion, Josie, don’t eat that.”

Playfully scolding, Eric quickly stopped the child from putting a doll in its mouth.

The doll made of cloth was stained with drool, and the color had deepened.

“This must’ve resembled His Majesty.”

“Every child does this.”

Tenere spoke while tending to the child.

“Are you hungry? Want to eat? Should we feed you?”

Whispering as if asking, the child grinned and nestled in her arms.

Tenere stood up.

“I’ll breastfeed him.”

“Sure. I warmed the bed, so I fed him there. By the way, I plan to visit Avila tomorrow. Let’s go together. We can buy educational materials, and since it’s getting cold this winter, let’s buy some winter clothes too.”

“Okay.”

“I’ve prepared stew in the pot. Should we let Josie sleep and eat a bit?”

“Sounds good.”

As Tenere replied, Eric left the room to fetch the stew. The sound of a fire being lit in the kitchen could be heard.

Tenere undid her clothes and breastfed the child.

Although they were also introducing solid food, the child still enjoyed breastfeeding in his mother’s arms.

The child’s name was Josie.

A healthy baby boy with a full-moon face.

His black hair shimmered red when it caught the light, and his clear golden eyes softened when he smiled.

Anyone seeing him would marvel at how much he resembled his father, wondering where the woman who had carried him for ten months had disappeared.

“Are you full?”

Having filled his belly, Josie laughed happily. Tenere patted him on the back while holding him.

“Josie, Josie,” she whispered affectionately.

“I wonder if Your Majesty was as lovely as our Josie.”

When the face that looked so much like Leonard smiled back at her, Tenere thought of the man she missed.

Was he like this when he was young? Is he doing well?

She wonders if he still thinks of her sometimes. She wondered what his face would look like if he realized he had a child with her.

Carefully, Tenere laid the sleeping child in the warm crib after finishing the routine of feeding and burping.

Some babies cry when put to bed even if they’ve fallen asleep, but Josie fell asleep quickly even when she rocked the crib and sang a lullaby.

As if not wanting to trouble his mother.

Those who had experience raising children envied Tenere.

He eats well, sleeps well, doesn’t cry much, and doesn’t cause trouble.

Some even said, “If I had a childlike Josie, I would have ten.”

Being in a cozy old house, Tenere cautiously got up as the child slept.

When she opened the door, the savory aroma of stew filled the air. Eric, holding a ladle, asked in a low voice.

“Is he asleep?”

“Yes.”

As Tenere sat in the chair, Eric scooped a generous amount of stew into a bowl.

Although it seemed like a lot, it wasn’t too much to eat after breastfeeding.

“It’s delicious, brother.”

“Well, of course. Guess who made it.”

Eric boasted as if it were obvious. The warmth circulated in the old house.

***
Avila was a small town that could be reached by carriage in about an hour.

It might not compare to the capital, but it was also a fairly bustling city, belonging to the Duke of Travell’s estate.

“Hanna asked me to buy some dishes—something cheap, pretty, and durable.”

“Where can you find such things? Go and look for them yourselves.”

Eric grumbled, but he took out a notebook and jotted down Tenere’s request.

The notebook was already filled with requests from other people.

The distance from the village to the city was quite significant, so every time they came to Avila, the villagers would ask for various things.

“See you later, James.”

As Tenere muttered, James blew out a puff of air. Josie, following Tenere, clumsily reached out to touch the horse’s muzzle.

Josie was still learning to walk. However, standing alone with his strength lasted only about three seconds at most, so when they went out, Josie was still in a baby carrier.

“What kind of educational supplies do you want to buy?”

“Things like boards with letters or cards with drawings. Are they available here?”

“If not, we can buy materials and make them ourselves.”

The steps between the two were light. Although the weather was cold, the crowd and thick fur clothes protected them from the chill.

Josie, too, seemed curious about the colorful objects, cooing or waving his arms.

“Josie seems to be in a good mood today. He’s full of energy.”

“Did you notice my attempt to secretly buy snacks for you?”

Eric playfully teased Josie’s chubby cheeks.

They walked for a while. Perhaps due to the construction of the academy, some stores were selling educational materials and supplies for teaching children to read and write.

After buying educational materials, new clothes, and items requested by the villagers, Eric’s hands became heavy.

“Isn’t it heavy for you? I can carry some too.”

“Never mind, you’re carrying Josie; what else do we need to buy?”

“Anya asked for a winter blanket, and Hans wanted a pot for brewing alcohol.”

“Ugh, they only asked for heavy things. I’ll leave some luggage in the carriage, so wait here with Josie. Or you can enjoy the scenery over there.”

Tenere turned her head in the direction Eric pointed.

There stood a tall building. It seemed to be the construction of the academy.

With Josie in her arms, Tenere moved slowly.

Although it was not yet completed, the building looked realistic enough to imagine what it would look like when finished.

“Look, Josie. That’s a school.”

“Abu bu…”

“Umm, school. School.”