Whose Child Belongs to the Emperor - Chapter 5 - Part 1

Chapter 5 – Part 1

After the chaotic event, Tenere and Leonard slowly strolled through the village until the carriage arrived at the ducal castle. Tenere felt as if she were dreaming. She couldn’t believe that Leonard had sought her out and whispered words of love to her. Yet, the sensation of lips touching hers and the warmth of the hand on her cheek were vivid.

Tenere nervously squeezed and released her delicate hands, watching his reactions. After a long silence, Leonard finally spoke: “Have you been staying in this village all this time?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Although she had occasionally felt the urge to dream about this moment, when it finally arrived, she found herself at a loss for words. Her unadorned appearance and her lack of formal attire made her feel embarrassed.

“What have you been doing during this time?” Leonard inquired, seeing her in the familiar setting.

Leonard was exactly what Tenere had missed. He looked a little worn, but his polite demeanor and gentle voice were the same as before.

She explained, “As this village is often visited by wild beasts… I stayed here as a guardian. During my time here, unable to ride horses, I embroidered in my free time, and I even sold some in Avila.”

“You hunted yourself?” Leonard’s face showed a hint of surprise. Perhaps he remembered the hunting incident from their first encounter, where their conversations began.

“I didn’t enjoy hunting, but it was a necessary task to live here. If I hesitated, the suffering would only increase, so I tried to end it quickly,” Tenere explained hesitantly.

As she spoke, Tenere felt a slight sense of embarrassment. She was uncertain if her words from more than seven years ago were remembered by him, and she felt both grateful and embarrassed.

Whether Leonard sensed Tenere’s emotions or not, he slowly reached for her hand. As his large hand enveloped hers, Tenere’s shoulders trembled slightly.

“I have caused you much trouble with my absence,” Leonard whispered gently, a soft murmur even amidst the northern cold.

Leonard did not blame Tenere for fleeing after her term. She hadn’t revealed why she ran away or who Josie’s father was. Still, he was thankful and apologetic.

“My brother does all the heavy lifting, so it’s not too hard,” she says, “and the villagers are all good people; I’ve only been working for a little over half a year.”

It was difficult to ride a horse when she had just been elected as the village guardian and had just given birth. Therefore, Mrs. Anzu, the daughter of the village chief and a midwife, constantly nags her about taking care of her body.

“For about a month after giving birth, it felt like I became a baby myself. I couldn’t even hold a spoon with my hands.” Tenere laughed, but Leonard felt a bittersweet emotion hearing her words.

Even though the villagers treated her well, life in this foreign village and the palace seemed incomparable. If she had returned to the palace, she could have given birth more comfortably.

If she had just mentioned having a child, she wouldn’t have to worry about staining her delicate hands with blood or enduring hardships in this rough village. She could have enjoyed only the good things, hearing only pleasant stories, getting everything she wanted, and eating what she desired.

“Did you enjoy it?” Leonard asked, suppressing his uneasy feelings. Whatever answer he received, he knew he wouldn’t feel entirely satisfied.

Tenere slowly lifted her head and, with a faint purple gaze, drew a gentle curve in response.

“Yes, Your Highness. But…”

Leonard, familiar with the smile, suppressed a short breath at the familiarity of it. There was no fear or doubt in those beautifully curved eyes.

It was the smile he had thought about countless times over the past two years. The fact that his heart fluttered at this familiar smile felt ironic.

Pale violet eyes met him, drawing a soft arc.

“I am truly glad to be able to return with you.”

As her small hand trembled in his grasp, Leonard carefully clasped her hand. Tenere, who hadn’t pushed his hand away even once, seemed like a person who hadn’t run away because she didn’t like him.

“What about the child? Do you not want to ask?” After a long silence, Tenere cautiously questioned, her inquiry laden with caution.

Leonard was about to ask why she’d run off with the child without telling him or who Josie’s father was, but quickly changed the topic.

“There’s no need to rush. I’m sure you will tell me everything with your heart when you feel ready to.”

Regarding the child’s father, Tenere quietly opened her mouth, and the snow-white eyes made a crisp sound as they stepped on the snow.

“He was a good person.”

Leonard remained silent, not giving any immediate response.

“Even if I made mistakes, he never raised your voice, and he was so affectionate that he’d call a doctor even for a small sneeze. He worries a lot, perhaps fearing someone might mistreat me.”

Tenere’s voice continued, filled with long memories and affection. It was a voice devoid of resentment or suspicion, and Leonard felt a mix of embarrassment and an uncomfortable pricking in his chest.

“Is that so?”

Should he pretend not to understand, or should he subtly acknowledge something? Leonard walked alongside Tenere, matching her pace, and in the distance, he saw Eric and the child.

The child, dressed in thick fur, was toddling along. There was something familiar about the clothes and hair color. Josie, was it?

“Josie! Brother!” Leonard observed the child’s back intently, and in the meantime, Tenere let go of his hand and ran towards them. The child stumbled towards her in response to his mother’s voice. Tenere joyfully embraced the child and began sharing stories with her brother. She looked radiant.

“She seems close to her brother.” But how could he just drop the hand he was holding so tightly? Leonard opened his empty hand and forced a smile. The warmth of the missing hand felt strangely empty.

Tenere, after finishing her conversation with her brother, turned towards Leonard, holding the child. When their eyes met, a serene smile appeared on her composed face. Leonard stood there as if rooted, unsure of how to react.

“The child looks so handsome, just like his father.”

With a smile that included laughter, her face was suddenly closed. Leonard could finally see the child’s face from the front. The child’s appearance was familiar. The soft black hair and the golden eyes, identical to his, were unmistakable. Leonard suddenly remembered the abandoned baby he had held the previous day.

“This child is…”

The joy of finally facing the child and the pathetic realization that he couldn’t recognize his child were intertwined. Unable to continue his words, Tenere added, like a hammer blow,

“Your Majesty’s child.”

The voice, mingled with laughter, echoed in his ears. The child blinked his gentle eyes, looked at his father, and chuckles. Leonard stood there, dumbfounded.

Despite it being the moment he had longed for, he felt frozen when it happened. Even though everything was unfolding according to his wishes, there was an uncomfortable feeling in one corner of his heart.

“Would you like to hold him?”

Tenere cautiously offered the child. Leonard slowly reached out his hand. Awkwardly holding the child, Tenere adjusted his posture.

“This is Joshua, but his nickname is Josie.'”

The child was so small and light—too small to be called a person yet too big to be said to have been born by a person. Whether it was because the child was not wary or because he recognized his bloodline, Josie smiled happily in his unfamiliar father’s arms.

“…Joshua.”

“Ah-oo. Poo.”

“Josie.”

The small hand, which seemed to crumple if gripped too hard, lightly touched him. It was hard to believe that such a small child was breathing and talking. Was he my child?

“Josie, it’s Daddy.”

Tenere gently caressed Josie’s cheek as she spoke, and the child slowly opened his mouth. His innocent eyes observed his mother’s mouth, and his small lips imitated the movements, making babbling sounds.

“Ah-bu. Abwoo.”

“…”

“Dada.”

The cackling laughter seemed so far away. Leonard opened his mouth, but he couldn’t utter a word. The realization of being addressed as a father by his child was elusive. How can one person give birth to another? How can this small body move and grow like a human?

Everything that he had imagined seemed so unfamiliar and strange. His chest felt uneasy, and unknowingly, Leonard stroked Tenere’s cheek.

“How…”

“…”

“How did you give birth?”

He knew it was a foolish question, but he had no way to suppress the overwhelming emotions. How did she endure loneliness and pain? How did she give birth to such a lovely child?

“You are too small…….”

It’s not fair that it’s the smaller, weaker one that has to endure childbirth. He hadn’t done anything until the moment she gave birth to this child.

Her eyes widened in question, then softened. Tenere laughed, a little embarrassed.

“I’m not that small.”

Leonard remained silent and continued to caress the child’s head. Then he turned to Tenere.

“Thank you, Empress, for bearing my child.”

“I apologize for not being able to present him to you sooner.”

Tenere laughed softly, as she always did. She was just as Leonard remembered her. Quiet, gentle, grateful for even the smallest things, and never saying a word against him.

It should have been a moment of relief. Rather than dwelling on trivial guilt, he should be grateful for being able to take the Crown Prince safely to the palace. Yet, why did his heart feel uneasy?

“… Empress.”

Leonard looked at Tenere. He knew what she wanted. If he expressed love, she would never leave his side.

“I love you.”

But it wasn’t genuine. He was merely imitating what she desired for the sake of succession. It couldn’t be sincere.

He reminded himself repeatedly.