Whose Child Belongs to the Emperor - Chapter 6 - Part 9 (End of Volume 2)

Chapter 6 – Part 9 (End of Volume 2)

Laura Hale, dressed in a gown, was more splendidly adorned than ever. With each step she took, the layers of her voluminous skirt billowed, and her flashy accessories sparkled in the chandelier’s light.

The deep V-neckline, which revealed her slender neck and collarbone, was adorned with a long, flowing flower ornament in her extended hair.

While it wasn’t unusual to wear extravagant evening dresses for a dinner like this, it was customary to dress more modestly and conservatively when welcoming guests, especially travelers. Moreover, Tenere, without a single piece of jewellery for fear of the child getting hurt, looked more elegant than a simple artist, compared to the flashy Laura.

“…Is she crazy?”

“Brother!.”

When Eric muttered softly, Tenere, as if trying to stop him, grabbed his hand under the table. Leonard’s gaze brushed past them and landed on Laura.

“The dress is truly beautiful, as if you came to a royal ball.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Whether she didn’t know it was a sarcastic remark or she was pretending not to know, Laura smiled shyly. Seeing this, Eric finally spoke up.

“Indeed, I can’t even tell who’s the Empress.”

It was a mutter, but it was meant for others to hear. Laura hesitated, but she turned her head as if she didn’t hear anything, and Lord Hale chuckled.

“Your Majesty, considering how busy the Empress is taking care of the Crown Prince, our daughter wants to bring joy to the Emperor on behalf of the Empress.”

“What?”

Eric turned to him, exasperated.

“Look here, Viscount. What nonsense is this…?”

“Lord Evan.”

Leonard warned quietly, and Eric’s mouth closed. Unlike his calm, gentle sister, he was not a man of many words. His brief time in the North had made him forget his aristocratic ways.
Leonhard studied him for a moment, then shifted his gaze to the viscount.

“I appreciate the intention to make me happy, but I don’t see how Lady Hale dressing up so elaborately is related to me.”

“…What?”

With a calm tone, Lord Hale’s eyes widened as if he had heard something unbelievable. Leonard smiled faintly.

“I think it would be more fun for the Viscount to wear it himself.”

A brief silence fell. Leonard inadvertently glanced at Tenere. And when their eyes met, she let out a short laugh as if she’d been reminded of something. It was a laugh that seemed unusually loud in the silence that followed.

Tenere quickly removed her hand from the corner of her mouth, realizing it was rude, and straightened her expression. Somehow, embarrassment flashed through her clouded eyes…….

‘…What am I thinking? ‘

Suddenly coming to his senses, Leonard looked around at the still-stiff members of the Hale family.

“I meant for everyone to laugh, but the Empress is the only one laughing.”

“Ah….”

As if breaking down, Lord Hale, frozen as if malfunctioning, let out a short sigh. However, it was only for a moment before he erupted into loud laughter.

“Haha, hahaha!”

As if his laughter were a signal, the members of the Hale family burst into laughter all at once. The small dining room was filled with laughter. Some tapped the table as they laughed, and others discussed what dress would suit Hale.

Eric clicked his tongue slightly at the sight.

“Oh, the power of authority….”

“Brother.”

“If I go back to the mansion, I should try something like this too.”

“What?”

“I’m going to say something like ‘when an apple smiles, it’s called a green apple’, and if they won’t laughs I cut their salary.”

As Eric mumbled, Tenere lightly hit his arm, saying he was talking nonsense. Leonard briefly glanced at them and then turned his head. After laughing for a while, Lord Hale realized that the dinner hadn’t been served yet and called the butler.

Soon, the servants brought trays and set the food in front of those seated. While the evening meal wasn’t as grand as at the Duke’s castle, it was quite elaborately prepared.

The crispy salad with fresh leafy greens and tangy dressing whetted the appetite, while the pea soup, a light green color, paired well with the accompanying cream for a delightful taste. The bread with minced meat had a savory seasoning that masked any lingering smell.

“It’s a humble place, so I was worried the food might not suit your taste.”

Lord Hale spoke as if expecting the Emperor to say otherwise. Instead of responding to his words, Leonard looked at Tenere.

“Tenere, how is the food for you?”

With Laura Hale’s extravagant appearance and the way they hinted that she should pay attention, it was easy to guess Lord Hale’s intentions.

‘It seems they want to push Laura as His Majesty’s concubine.’

Perhaps, noticing that he had not used the same room as Tenere, they might have caught on to something. Certainly, rumors must have circulated that Leonard had been overly fond of her since she was in the palace.

Leonard observed Tenere’s expression. Maybe she noticed Lord Hale’s intentions as well. Perhaps she’s worried or anxious; perhaps she’s uneasy about having Laura Hale as his concubine.

Whether it was concern or just the wind, he pressed down an emotion in his chest that he couldn’t discern.

“They look and taste wonderful. How would your majesty like some?”

However, Tenere replied as if it were nothing. Her calm face showed no signs of anxiety, restlessness, or even a hint of jealousy.

“……If it’s good enough for you, it’s good enough for me.”

It seemed like a message to say that he still cherishes and loves the Empress, and he has no intention of bringing up the other’s daughter as a concubine. So, they should not harbor any false expectations.

The viscount was not good at hiding his expression. Leonard looked at his face, which was full of despair, and then back at Tenere. When their eyes met, Tenere smiled gently, as she always did, and looked back at the child.

Josie, still unable to use utensils, held a spoon in one hand and picked at his food with the other. His bib had long since become a messy mess in his mouth.

“Is it good?”

“Mmm.”

Tenere wiped the child’s cheeks. Josie seemed to be in pretty good spirits as well, enjoying the food that had been prepared for him.

“Eat first, Tenere.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Tenere finished wiping the boy’s face and picked up his plate again. The main dish was a crispy-skinned duck steak with a bright yellow pumpkin puree. Eric looked back at Tenere with concern.

He remembered how she hadn’t been able to eat chicken since he’d seen her catch it.

“Are you sure you can eat it?”

“Yes”

But unlike Eric’s worries, Tenere was unaffected. It wasn’t a chicken, though it was the same bird, and it wasn’t shapeless, cut into lean meat. Tenere replied nonchalantly, and Eric nodded reassuringly before moving the dishes around again.

The utensils clattered occasionally against the plates. Leonard’s gaze fell on them.

‘What on earth are they talking about?’

What in the world could they be talking about, just the two of them? Leonard turned his head to look at them each time Eric brought his mouth to Tenere’s ear. His eyebrows twitched in small arcs as Tenere’s expression changed.

“It seems that the Empress does get along with the Marquis.”

Viscount Hale’s voice broke through Leonard’s reverie. One of Lord Hale’s sons nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. I hate when my brother talks too much.”

“What did you say?”

“Could you not talk so loudly? Your breath is unpleasant.”

Tenere grumbled, and another soft laugh rippled through the dinner hall. The viscountess spoke up.

“By the way, how have you two been getting along? I heard you’ve been up north for a while.”

It was an unremarkable question, but gossip tends to grow out of casual answers. Even if labor was no longer valued as it once had been, it would be demeaning to say that the Empress had led a hard life. Similarly, living together as step-siblings while raising a child left room for misunderstanding.

After a brief pause, Tenere spoke.

“I went looking for my mom. I heard she was in the north, so I went to…… to see if I could find her.”

It was well known that Tenere’s mother, Tasha, was a Patrona and that she had run away with leaving her daughter. However, no one dared mock her about it after she became Empress.

“Oh, I see…….”

No one dared to question the Empress’s sanity, so no one asked if she had met her mother. The talk of the north seemed to drift away as well. Tenere glanced in the direction of Laura Hale, who sat like a flower, helplessly averting her gaze when Tenere’s eyes met hers.

‘…She remembers.’

Tenere recalled the events from the party a long time ago. However, nothing new crossed her mind. If she wanted revenge, she could have done it long before she was dethroned. As the atmosphere settled, Lord Hale hurriedly changed the topic.

Finally, for dessert, a quince accompanied by fruits was served. Leonardt’s gaze could be felt intermittently until the fork was laid down.

–End of Volume 2–

TL Note: Thank you for reading the second volume of “Whose Child Belongs to the Emperor.” I hope you enjoyed reading the whole volume. Please continue supporting this novel.🫶