Whose Child Belongs to the Emperor - Chapter 6 - Part 3

Chapter 6 – Part 3

After dinner, Leonard tried once again to find Tenere. However, the response was similar to the morning – she wasn’t feeling well, and it would be difficult to meet her.

If she were truly ill, she would take the child away from her, which meant she just didn’t want to see him after all.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I didn’t consider that Her Majesty might come.”

Samuel Travell, who heard about the events of last night, lowered his head with a puzzled look. But Leonard couldn’t blame Samuel for the words he had said.

“Grandfather’s words were not even on my mind.”

“…”

“If she doesn’t want to talk yet, perhaps giving her some time would be appropriate. For the sake of the child, I’m sure she won’t keep being stubborn.”

Leonard smiled bitterly as he spoke. Samuel, looking at his tired face, hesitated before speaking.

“Don’t take too much time, Your Majesty.”

At Samuel’s abrupt advice, Leonard looked at his grandfather, seeming to ask what he meant. Samuel, with a face that looked tired, finally opened his lips heavily.

“As Your Majesty knows, the Patrona are people who roam the vast northern forest. They don’t stay in one place for long, and they move quickly.”

“…”

“Travelling with a newborn is very challenging. So, for them, the existence of a child is more like a burden.”

Samuel briefly explained about the Petronas and the nomadic people who roamed the northern forest. They regulated their population through contraception, abortion, and infanticide to make migration easier.

“Didn’t Her Majesty’s mother do the same? Rather than taking her, she left her in the mansion and fled alone, like a lizard cutting off its tail and running away.”

“That wench will surely run away like her mother. A woman who knows neither grace nor motherhood, who abandoned her own child and ran away…”

The curse he had heard a long time ago echoed again. A face that turned as red as if it were about to burst, bloodshot eyes, veins popping on the neck, and spitting saliva from the mouth.

The voice of Lord Evan, her father.

“Do you mean to tell me that the Empress might run off with the prince?”

“I’m not suggesting it as a way to curse. It just means that if you want to keep her by your side, you should also consider that aspect.”

Leonard opened his mouth to retort but closed it. There is no way such a person would choose to run away with her child. Even now, she carries her child tightly, as if she is worried that it will be taken away from her.

“That won’t happen.”

“…”

“She’s not that kind of person.”

Was it conviction or just a wish? Leonard couldn’t be sure. If he was taking her in as Empress to keep the child, why was he so nervous that she might leave him behind?

‘I think you’ve found a good excuse to make her Empress again.’

The piercing voice seemed to reverberate again, but Leonard turned his head away as if not to hear it.

It wouldn’t happen. He just needed a successor, and the reason he was trying to bring Tenere back was for that succession.

He wasn’t doing it because he wanted to keep that person by his side…..

“Your Majesty.”

At Samuel’s call, Leoard’s thought was abruptly cut off. He looked up.

“What I said last night was just to tell you to be careful of others’ eyes, Your Majesty. It won’t be a problem if you truly cherish and love the Empress.”

“…”

“I only meant that you should treat Her Majesty well enough to honor her in the eyes of others, not that you should be an unfeeling person.”

Samuel’s voice was as affectionate as when dealing with a young grandson.

“Grandfather, I…….”

“Even animals get along with each other. Why not between a husband and wife?”

There was a short silence. Samuel was still polite, but he was also calm. It was Leonard who could not withstand the warmth in his gaze.

“It’s not like that.”

“…….”

“It’s not what my grandfather thinks it is.”

“It is.”

Samuel finished without adding anything more. Leonard felt like a child, crawling around doing something he was told not to do. He wanted to rattle off a litany of excuses, but he knew it would be ridiculous, so he kept his mouth shut.
****

After that, Leonnard continued to visit Tenere frequently. Tenere has consistently declined, citing poor health. It wasn’t entirely untrue, as she had recently suffered from a severe stomachache due to drinking spoiled milk, enduring three days of illness.

Even though she had no appetite and hadn’t eaten anything, she felt nauseous throughout, and her breasts, hardened by the spoiled milk, hurt even with a slight touch. On the second day, her fever suddenly spiked, prompting her to call for a doctor.

Though her body was weary, even amid groans, Tenere found an excuse not to meet Leonard immediately. Perhaps he sensed her discomfort, as he would only inquire about her condition and then leave without entering the room. In truth, she wanted to continue avoiding him, even now that she was feeling better. However, she couldn’t avoid it forever. The inspection had concluded, but the return to normalcy seemed delayed due to her.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor wishes to see you.”

A maid provided by Duke Travell respectfully bowed and delivered the message.

“If you’re not feeling well yet, he asks that you make yourself at home, so there’s no need to strain yourself.”

“I think I’ll see him today.”

When Tenere replied, the maid’s face showed relief. It seemed her consistent refusals had been noticed.

“Yes, then I will escort His Majesty here.”

“…No.”

Tenere quickly stopped the maid, who was about to leave.

“I’ve been confined to this room for too long… Could I ask if it’s alright to meet outside?”

“Yes, I understand!”

The maid promptly replied and left. Tenere glanced briefly at the closed door and then stood up. Yes, she couldn’t stay like this. As time passed, her sadness and resentment diluted. It could be seen positively. Wasn’t she doing it all for herself? Wasn’t she trying to align herself without blaming the love she was warned against, trying to reconcile without blaming herself?

Blaming herself was an old habit. Since her childhood, she has always been like this. Even when her father scolded her when he threatened to sell her to an old count when she was younger, didn’t she resent him?

‘…I was too scared to even think about resenting him.’

Tenere chuckled with a self-deprecating tone. In the end, it was because he wasn’t as frightening as her father that she could resent him.

Tenere called a maid to help her prepare. Although the decorations were not extravagant, she requested a dress that was sleek in material, not too adorned, and light makeup that wouldn’t deviate from the appropriate etiquette.

“Is His Majesty ready?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. He is waiting in the greenhouse.”

Since it hadn’t been long since her fever subsided, Tenere assumed a walk in the garden would be too much. She smiled at the familiar consideration.

She had always been a person who bought several sets of winter clothes for herself because she felt the cold. She was a constant person, then and now. As long as she didn’t demand too much for herself, everything would be fine.

Tenere put a coat on Josie and stood up. The child, passing through the corridor, smiled at the servants without any malice, waving his hand.