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

Chapter 6 – Part 6

Leonard watched with folded arms as her mother changed Josie’s diaper. The baby grinned and waved his arms when he saw his father. The servant skillfully untied Josie’s diaper and wiped him with a wet cloth. Occasionally, he would glance at Leonard and grin.

“Your Majesty, it might smell….”

“It’s fine.”

Leonard handed him a fresh diaper.

The cloth diaper, showing signs of previous use, was thoroughly cleaned. Initially, Leonard had wanted to replace everything with new items, but since the villagers had exchanged items among themselves, Tenere considered it a kind of memento. Of course, Leonard wasn’t entirely pleased every time Tenere reveled in the memories of village life, but he didn’t want to take away things she liked. Regardless of how much he enjoyed seeing her recollecting her village life, she would soon return to being an empress.

“You’re good at this.”

Leonard said as he watched the servant move his hands. The servant laughed.

“I learned from my wife while changing our child. If she knows about His Majesty’s compliment, my wife will be very pleased.”

“Will you teach me too?”

“…Yes?”

Leonarold’s question made Tenere pause in fixing the diaper and turn to him with a skeptical expression.

“Teaching something like this is not suitable for His Majesty…”

“But it’s something the Empress has been doing all along.”

Leanard said gently, seeming to hesitate for a moment but eventually pulling out the cloth he had tucked in carefully.

“Well, then, your majesty, we’ll put on the diaper now and the pad first…….”

Josie lay quietly, his eyes wide open, even as he undid the diaper that had been left open. He even giggled, as if he knew how fresh he felt after a diaper change. He still couldn’t believe that there was a child in the world who looked so much like him.

Leonard did as the servant told him and gathered the ears of the cloth together. Now and then, he made eye contact with the child. Of course, even if he knew this, he wouldn’t do it himself every time. But he wanted to know how to do it anyway and to be a little more honest…….

‘…… I don’t want to lose to Sir Evan.’

In other words, I was unwittingly concerned for Eric Evan, who used to restrain him without fear.

The child was quite fond of him, but it was more out of curiosity about a new person than affection for his father. Perhaps it was Eric, not himself, who was more like a father to Josie now…….

‘I suppose I should arrange a marriage after all.’

It was in poor taste for an emperor to play matchmaker, but it was the best way to get him away from Tenere’s side. No one could refuse a decent offer of favor, and Tenere, who was very fond of her brother, would be pleased, not displeased.

Leonard did as the servant told him, filling Josie’s diaper and straightening his upper body. After putting on the pants himself, the servant was impressed.

“I’m sure the Empress would be impressed if she knew.”

“…….”

The servants still thought that Leonard was deeply infatuated with Tenere.

When Tenere first began using a separate room, At first, there were speculations that it might be due to marital discord, but the couple’s attitudes remained peaceful, leading the rumors in a different direction.

The Emperor continued to love the Empress deeply, even after her abdication. The kind and wise Empress drew a line to ensure he wouldn’t follow in the footsteps of his predecessors.

Although it wasn’t intentional, it turned out to be a good thing for Tenere.

Leonard hoped that she would regain her former position soon. When Leonard returned with the carriage, Eric and Tenere also returned. When their eyes met, Tenere awkwardly smiled, and Eiric averted his gaze, seemingly displeased with the earlier incident.

“Are we ready to depart again?” Leonard asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty. We’ve had enough rest,” Tenere replied with a smile.

“What about Lord Evan?”

Eiric, reluctantly, nodded his head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then, let’s go.”

Leonard commanded the coachman to proceed. The presence of the child slowed their pace, making the journey more leisurely compared to the initial departure.

Josie enjoyed snacks, looked out the window, and eventually fell asleep. Leonard, patting the child’s back, glanced at Tenere. Tenere was embroidering with a needle and thread.

“Are you not uncomfortable?” Leonard asked.

“The coachman is skilled, so I’m fine,” Tenere replied with a smile. Each time he saw her smile, Leonard felt relieved, yet a bit of emptiness lingered.

“…Your Majesty.”

Eric called out unexpectedly. Leonard turned to him with a puzzled expression.

“What will you do for Tenere when she returns to the palace?”

The question was surprising. Eric, who hadn’t hidden his disdain for Leonard, now held Tenere with a shocked expression.

“Brother, that kind of talk…”

“The Empress is the one who stands by the Emperor’s side, so I will treat her accordingly. Is there something you want from the Marquis?”

Having said that, Leonard naturally brought up the subject of Eric’s marriage.

Now that marriage was later than it used to be, some of the unmarried young people were close to Eric’s age.

“I’m fine. It’s just that…….” Eric shook his head and glanced at Tenere.

“How many people will you allow for Her Majesty’s future consort?”

At those words, Tenere’s hand, which had been moving diligently, froze in place. Leonard stopped stroking the child, too.

“A consort?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. A healthy heir has been born, and with Your Majesty’s permission, I see no problem with a consort that suits Tenere’s tastes.”

“Brother, what do you mean…….”

Tenere opened his mouth to speak, hastily inserting the needle into the embroidery frame. But Eric’s gaze was fixed on Leonard.

“Your Majesty cannot be a lover to Tenere,” he said, “but I cannot bear to see my sister, who is still so young and healthy, engaged in such a solitary endeavor.”

“…….”

Leonard was speechless. It was ridiculous enough to ask permission to have a consort, but to ask how many people he would allow?

Eric ignored his embarrassment and continued.

“As I understand it, the empress with the most consort had about a dozen handsome men by her side……. To preserve the dignity of the imperial family, I think it would be better to limit the number to seven at most.”

“I don’t know what you mean, brother, I don’t think I’m thinking of doing that…….”

“Of course, you’re welcome to handpick those who suit Tenere’s tastes.”

Eric cut her off, and Tenere’s mouth dropped open in embarrassment. Leonard was equally unable to say anything. In fact, Eric wasn’t entirely wrong.

There had been empresses before her who had had about a dozen consorts, and he himself had told Tenere when she was in the palace that she could have a consort after she gave birth to his first child. But when he heard this, he could not easily refuse to do so. He knew he couldn’t be her lover.

“I don’t have a preference. I like…….”

“Why? You said you have a taste. You don’t like guys like Hans.”

“That’s not what it means…….”

Tenere blushed and threw up his hands, but Erich looked back at Leonhardt and asked again.

“How many people will you allow?”

“…….”

He didn’t take his eyes off Leonard, as if he needed to hear the answer. It was Tenere who was at a loss.

“Your Majesty, I have no intention of doing so, so don’t bother…….”

“The heart can always change. Even if you do this now, you don’t know when you’ll change your mind. Shouldn’t you ask my permission beforehand so that you can meet someone new with peace of mind?”

Leonard barely opened his mouth.

“It’s a little early, don’t you think? We haven’t even had the ceremony yet, and we are already talking about a consort.”

“Is that so? I thought you didn’t care about that, since you’re sharing a room.”

Eric sneered. Tenere glanced at Leonard and tugged at his brother’s collar.

“Stop it, brother.”

“Why, I’ll make sure you don’t keep yourself to yourself and you find a handsome man and start a relationship, so the king won’t be burdened.”

“Something like that…….”

“Tenere, let’s be honest, you like good-looking guys; James alone is…….”

Leonard’s eyebrows twitched slightly at the familiar name. James Paul was an official originally from the Imperial Palace who had been sent to the North. He was also a man who smelled strangely good whenever he was around.

But he wasn’t exactly what you’d call handsome.

“James is handsome, yes, but…… that’s not all.”

Tenere’s reply was even worse. Leonard looked at her in disbelief.

They had exchanged greetings when they went on inspections together, but they hadn’t had time to get to know each other personally because she was always by Leonard’s side.

‘At some point…….’

When did they become comfortable enough to call each other by name? Leonard unwittingly recalled her reaction when she first met him. She smiled a little sheepishly as she accepted his greeting. The things she’d taken for granted seemed so different now.

“Anyway, you say he caught your eye because he’s good-looking?”

Eric teased, not paying much attention to Leonard’s reaction, as he enjoyed poking fun at his blushing younger sister.

After pondering for a moment, Leonard turned his head towards Tenre.

“Do you like Sir James?”

“…Yes?”

Tenere’s eyes widened, and Leonard swallowed dryly, looking around.

“He is a capable individual, but not quite the match for the Empress.”

“Your Majesty, that is not…….”

“Moreover, Sir Paul has responsibilities in the North that make it difficult for him to be in the capital.”

Leonard spoke rationally and reasonably. James Paul had planned to return to the palace as soon as the academy establishment was completed. However, considering the efficiency, it seemed more logical for the person responsible for the establishment to stay in the North and help with its operations.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like the idea of Tenere having him as her consort.

“Your Majesty…”

Tenere cautiously opened her mouth, appearing somewhat hesitant. There was a sense of unease in her hesitancy.

Was she going to ask for permission to bring James to the capital? To let him be her consort since he fits her preferences?

“James, we’re talking about a horse from the village.”

In a small voice that silenced the tangled thoughts, Leonard looked at Tenere.

“A horse…?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. There is a local superstition in the North that giving a name to a horse ensures its longevity…”

Tenere’s voice trailed off. Leonard recalled the somewhat awkward laughter when he first met James and Tenre.

“Don’t worry, I don’t intend to be a shameful mother to my child.”

Tenere spoke gently, looking at the child sleeping in his father’s arms. It meant that she had no intention of involving any consort. This time, even Eric, who had been keeping silent, shut his mouth. However, the tightly closed lips couldn’t suppress the sly grin.

“…Is that so?”

It was not uncommon for married couples formed through strategic marriages to live separately, each involved in their respective consorts. If it wasn’t related to his lineage, he would have accepted it regardless of Salvatore’s relationship with his mother. However, the reluctance to deny Tenere’s words seemed to stem from a kind of paternal affection, wanting to avoid giving any shock to his child or…

“Is this James really that good-looking?”

Trying to shift the topic, Leonard asked, and Tenere hesitated a bit.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The answer was firm and resolute.

By now, it had reached the point where one wondered how a horse could elicit such a remark. Eric, with his chubby face, spoke up.

“He was a wild horse in the forest, had an injured leg, and Tenere treated him. He followed her exceptionally well. Sometimes people in Avila asked to buy him, as he’s so handsome, willing to pay a good amount.”

“If you cherish him, you should bring him to the palace.”

Leonard said, and Tenere looked at him with a slightly surprised expression.

“Without noble blood, it’s not suitable for the royal family. Moreover, he might find the palace uncomfortable due to its active nature. He’d prefer staying in the North.”

It was an excessively gentle response. However, Leonard didn’t miss the hint of regret in her voice. In other words, after returning to the palace, she didn’t want to leave any regrets in the North and wanted to be faithful to her life as the Empress. Even if it’s just for memories, she could leave behind a bow or hunting clothes somewhere, but taking care of a horse requires consistent effort.

“You can bring him.”

Tenere looked at him with a somewhat surprised expression. Did she think that he wouldn’t do this much for a horse she cherishes?

“Because you cherish him, what does bloodline have to do with it? If the palace is uncomfortable for him, we can appoint someone new to take care of him.”

“Your Majesty…”

“I will order to bring him.”

Leonard opened the window without waiting for Tenere’s response. Tenere did not stop him until he ordered his aide to bring the horse from the north.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Leonard smiled as he looked at the smile on Tenere’s face. Eric, watching the two of them, turned his head with a scowling expression.