Whose Child Belongs to the Emperor - Chapter 5 - Part 4

Chapter 5 – Part 4

It was only natural for a traveling couple to share a room. Although they usually had separate rooms at home, during trips, they shared a room and enjoyed the luxury of being together. Moreover, considering that they would soon be restoring the empress’s position, even before arriving in the capital, it seemed like they wanted to formalize their relationship by sharing a room.

Of course, since the child was accompanying them, it was simply a matter of sleeping together. However, sleeping in the same bed with Leonard immediately after meeting again felt a bit awkward.

“We haven’t even had the ceremony yet.”

“I told them to address you as an empress and treat me as one. Hence, shouldn’t we share a room like any other couple?”

Despite his tone, which suggested resignation, Leonard seemed quite content. Tenere, too, felt a mix of embarrassment and shyness but wasn’t displeased.

“Let’s go to bed, Josie.”

Tenere placed Josie, who had just finished bathing, in the crib. He was still dozing, so she tucked him in with a blanket and cooed a few times, and he was soon asleep.

“You must be tired today. The journey was long, and you cried a lot.”

“You must be tired too. Please, get some rest.”

Leonard said as he led her to the bed. Watching him, memories of their time in the Imperial Palace flashed in Tenere’s mind, and she smiled a little.

“What are your plans for tomorrow?”

“I want to finish the remaining inspections as soon as possible. I’d like to bring you and Josie back to the palace immediately, but…”

Leonard’s words trailed off, and his lips lightly brushed against Tenere’s cheek before pulling away.

“I’ll finish quickly so that you won’t get bored.”

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“I’ll wrap it up soon. Just wait here for a few days. Don’t run off somewhere.”

His hands, firm and secure, held hers. Tenere lay down next to him, just like two years ago.

“I’m sorry for leaving without saying anything.”

“…”

“I won’t go anywhere now.”

As if going back in time, they spoke softly until they fell asleep. The only change was the presence of love and a child between them.

* * *

For a few days, Tenere stayed at Travell Castle with Leonard. Occasionally, they enjoyed leisurely times, having tea with Duke Travell, taking walks with Eric, and experiencing unprecedented relaxation.

With no need for hunting or household chores, they had more free time than ever before.

“I hate to see you not treated as you deserve, even for a moment.”

Eric pretended to imitate Leonard, lightly kissing Tenere’s cheek. Blushing, Tenere pulled her hand away.

“Right next to you. You don’t have to put anything else in your milk tea from now on. His Majesty’s eyes are dripping with honey, so take that instead, right, Josie?”

“Uh-huh.”

Josie replied, playing with dried blueberries.

Tenere covered her flushed face, and Eric giggled at the sight of her.

“Brother, now that we’re returning to the capital, you should meet a good person.”

“Why, so that you can make fun of me too?”

Tenere remained silent. Her silence was affirmative. Eric burst into laughter.

It was incredibly peaceful. There was no need to hide, and no one looked down on them for admiring shoes for a long time.

With servants taking care of the dirty and annoying tasks, they enjoyed a daily life of wearing beautiful clothes and spending leisurely hours.

Tenere still found it hard to believe they had returned to such a peaceful routine.

“Did we run away for nothing?”

Eric spoke the words he had held back until now.

“If I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn’t have said such things to you. I’ve made you suffer.”

“Brother did everything for me.”

Tenere smiled bashfully. When Joshua handed her a blueberry, she pretended to eat it.

Eric observed her closely. “…Brother?”

“Yes?”

“Is there something on my face?”

It seemed awkward to be caught staring, and Eric lowered his head.

“Just that; you seem happy now.”

“…”

Tenere looked a bit startled, her eyes widening in surprise. His words caught her off guard, and her eyes softened.

“If His Majesty loves me, how can I not be happy?” Leonard was not only a good lover but also a good father. Every time he said he loved her and every time he held her a beautiful bouquet of red roses, which he somehow found in the middle of a cold winter day, Tenere felt as if she were walking on clouds. It was even more special when they held hands and went for a stroll.

“I feel like I’m dreaming every day, and I wonder if it’s a dream or not.”

She wondered if everything would disappear when she opened her eyes. Would there be no Leonard, and would she remain only as the runaway former empress, the daughter of a traitor? But every morning, when she woke up, Leonard was right there by her side. He would ask if she slept well, assure her that she could sleep more if she wanted, and tell her he loved her.

So if it was a dream, she didn’t want to wake up and wished that this happiness would last forever.

* * *
The winter in the north was cold. Even in the well-heated duchy, there were occasional chills in the air. The freezing temperatures had passed their peak, but the underground prison, devoid of sunlight, remained as cold as an icebox.

“Who is your master?”

Those imprisoned in the underground cells didn’t readily answer. Leonard carefully observed the prisoners, who were covered in bruises.

It was a repeated question, but all that echoed in response were agonizing moans.

“Seeing you nodding off, it seems this place is more comfortable for the maggots than it should be.”

He repeated the question over and over again, but only groans of pain could be heard.

Leonard snorted at the sight of a person squirming in exhaustion from his torture. He jerked towards his torturer.

“Bring him some ice water.”

“Your Majesty.”

His aide, Delus Cyan, ruffled his hair as if to stop him.

Soon, servants returned with buckets full of ice water.

“If you continue to torture him, he may die.”

“I’m just trying to wake him up.”

Leonhard casually splashed ice water onto the men from the bucket. Despite their already freezing bodies, the sudden cold caused them to writhe in pain and open their eyes.

“Should I not interrupt their peaceful sleep?”

It wasn’t clear if Leonard wanted to give them a chance to speak or to kill them cleanly to spare them further agony. Hudson, the former imperial official, moved his trembling lips.

“You can’t do this, Your Majesty.”

“…….”

“Not without a proper trial, and not so mercilessly… crap!”

Leonard kicked the man in the stomach, causing a few of the weaker ones to turn their heads and squeeze their eyes shut.

“…”

“Especially after witnessing the attempt to execute the Crown Prince and the Empress, to resort to such cruelty without a fair trial is—”

“Did you think I didn’t know by now that you were in the employ of Marquis Salvatore?”

Leonard struck Hudson in the abdomen, causing him to cough violently.

“You dared to plan the execution of the Crown Prince and the Empress. Did you think I wouldn’t know about it?”

Hudson’s mouth moved again, and Leonard kicked him in the stomach. Some of the weaker prisoners turned their heads and tightly closed their eyes.

“Have you been silently enduring these tortures, thinking I wouldn’t find out?”

“…”

“If you had offered information willingly, I might have considered giving you a chance.”

“Your Majesty, I’ll speak! I’ll tell you everything!”

Whether he took it as a chance to live or simply to complain, some started talking as if on cue. Leonard made a casual gesture towards the heads of the knights.

The open air greeted him as he exited the dungeon.

His aide followed him.

“Your Majesty, shall I then order the Marquis of Salvatore to be taken into custody?”

“No.”

The man was a sneaky bastard, and even if he could get him to testify, he’d balk.
Besides, he’d probably say something useless if cornered, so he couldn’t formally detain him.

“Sion Kain.”

Leonard stopped in his tracks, and Delus, who had been waiting for orders, bowed his head.

“My mother passed away in a carriage accident.”

“…”

“The Duke’s carriage… is it okay?”

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, but he quickly understood the meaning of Leonard’s words and bowed deeply.

“I will check immediately.”

Now that the Empress and the Crown Prince were found safe, there was no reason to hold back. Alaina Salvatore, too, wouldn’t have any serious objections if her father were to die in a ‘coincidental accident.’ Leonard could finish everything by getting rid of him.

“Leon!”

There was only one person in the world who called him by his nickname. A smile broke across his stony face.

“……Tenere.”

Tenere was approaching with his son tightly held in her arms. It truly felt like a dream.

“Why are you not in your room on such a cold day?”

“I just wanted to see you.”

Tenere, despite her shyness, was surprisingly proactive when it came to expressing affection. Perhaps it was because her simple demeanor was endearing.

Leonard started to approach her but stopped.

“Leon?”

“Ah…”

He’d left the torture to the investigator, but he’d been in the dungeon since morning, so he must have smelled unpleasant. Moreover, having kicked a man covered in blood, the stains on his pants were hard to ignore.

Tenere followed his gaze and saw the bloodstains on his pants. Without hesitation, she approached, her face slightly puzzled.

“You interrogated the criminals yourself.”

Leonard hesitated for a moment, but there was no reason for Tenere not to know that he had been to the underground prison.

“There’s no need to be careful…”

It was unlikely that a man who had spent his time hunting in the north would be unwilling to be questioned as a mere prisoner.

“Are they going to confess soon?” she asked.

“Hopefully.”

Tenere smiled and kissed Josie on the cheek. The baby giggled and snuggled into her mother’s embrace.

“Leon, would it be okay if I joined you for the inspection today?”

“Of course.”

He nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He quickly took Josie from Tenere and held her hand.