Whose Child Belongs to the Emperor - Chapter 9 - Part 1

Chapter 9 – Part 1

The late-winter rain was cold.

After Tenere sobbed her heart out, the two sought shelter from the rain.

In their tired state, both humans and horses decided it was better to find an empty cave or cottage than to push on to the village.

Luckily for them, they quickly found an empty hut.

It looked more like a barn than a house, with a tarp covering the hole in the wall instead of a door. However, traces of travelers staying there were evident.

“I think it’s best to stay here for the night and depart tomorrow,” Leonard said, tying his horse to a post. Tenere also tied James next to his horse and surveyed the surroundings.

Inside the barn, or whatever one might call it, there were old beds, a fireplace, shabby furniture, and rusted tableware. They had managed to separate the living space by erecting a makeshift wall between it and the post where animals were tied.

“…There are still houses like this.”

Leonard, born and raised in the palace, and Tenere, who had spent two years in a rural area, were both seeing such a house for the first time, apart from briefly glimpsing architectural styles from the past in books.

Regardless, they were unaccustomed to the roles of Emperor and Empress.

With curious eyes, they searched the inside of the house without complaints and quickly found firewood and a tinderbox.

Fortunately, there was a small box of matches near the fireplace. Tenere brought dry branches and straw, and Leonard skillfully ignited the fire.

As the fire burned in the fireplace, the small house inside barely felt warm.

“Our clothes are soaked, Tenere.”

After being caught in the rain for quite some time, both of them looked like drowned rats.

Leonard, who had been embracing Tenere, looked worse off than she did.

Feeling embarrassed, Tenere only wrung out the wet strands of hair without saying a word.

“I apologize. It’s because of me.”

“How can the rain be your fault? Since we’ve lit the fire, let’s take off our clothes first.”

“Clothes?”

Tenere, who had been watching the water drip onto the floor, was surprised when Leonard spoke. He smiled slightly upon seeing her widened eyes.

“You don’t seem to have anything else to wear, so just take off the wet one and give it to me.”

Since they were only wet from the rain and not submerged in water, fortunately, they didn’t need to remove their undergarments.

Tenere took off her wet scarf and riding coat. The riding coat, worn over her dress, was long enough to touch the ground, but it had a slit like a usual gown, revealing half of her skirt.

While inspecting the wet dress, Tenere subtly raised her head. Leonard, who was also removing his outerwear and vest while drying his wet hair, caught her eye.

His white shirt clung to his upper body, probably because he had been holding her, making it even wetter.

Even though she knew it was her fault for getting him wet, she couldn’t help but be drawn to his well-defined triangular back, the broad waist, and the muscles that bulged and receded as he moved his arms.

“…Are you going to keep staring?”

“Yes, yes?”

“It’s fine to look, but you’ll catch a cold if you keep wearing wet clothes.”

Leonard, who spoke with a gentle tone, started unbuttoning his shirt. When his straight collarbone was revealed, Tenere quickly turned her head.

They’ve been married for four years, so a naked body is nothing new.

But it’s still ridiculously embarrassing to see him like this. Especially since she had a favor to ask.

“Your Majesty.”

Tenere didn’t speak until the rustling of his clothes had subsided.

Leonard, who had removed his upper garments, turned to her as if asking what was wrong.

Avoiding looking at him directly, Tenere spoke carefully.

“I’m having trouble getting undressed, and I was wondering if you could help me?”

The trend of tight corsets that made it difficult to breathe has passed, but the discomfort associated with the virtues of the upper class still lingers.

Clothes that could only be worn and removed with the help of others symbolized the rare status of those who did not engage in labor.

Unlike riding coats that could be put on and taken off independently with front buttons, dresses and undergarments required buttons or ties at the back.

Normally, even if it took some time, one would turn their hands behind their backs to unfasten them. However, after a long ride, coupled with muscle soreness and the freezing cold, it wasn’t ideal.

At Tenere’s request, Leonard hesitated but then moved toward her with ease.

Tenere stood with her back turned to him.

As the sound of rain-soaked shoes hitting the dry floor grew closer, it seemed like the heartbeat also intensified.

“…”

“…”

Finally, tense fingertips touched her back.

His large hand slowly and carefully undid the buttons.

As the cold air entered through the opened gaps, her body shivered.

“I was thoughtless.”

Leonard spoke softly after a long silence.

“I should have found her sooner when you were at the palace.”

He was talking about Tasha. If he had known she missed her mother, he would have found her no matter where she was in the empire, rather than letting her meet her alone like this.

“I didn’t say anything.”

Tenere replied with a calm voice. The tears that had flowed earlier seemed to have dried up.

“The late empress was so much like a mother at the palace… I never thought about finding my mother while I was there.”

When she was with Beatrice, Tenere seemed like a six-year-old. Even for small accomplishments, she received praise, and even when she made mistakes, she was not scolded but comforted. Sometimes, just like with a child, she would put candy in her mouth.

Maybe she didn’t miss her mother, but she just needed someone to play that role.

Realizing that she never even thought about finding her mother at the palace, Tenere sighed softly.

“It wasn’t until my brother mentioned going to the north that I remembered my mother, so it’s not something Your Majesty should be sorry for.”

“I thought you said Lord Evan didn’t allow it.”

The only sounds were the quiet rustling as buttons were unfastened.

“It was after my sixth birthday when my mother left.”

Tenere spoke when the tightly fastened buttons were halfway undone.

“She burned strong sleep incense, put the mansion residents to sleep, and left. Smoke slowly entered my room, and I could see my mother leaving.”

Tap, tap. The fire in the fireplace was burning. Tenere paused for a moment.

“I saw her outside the window, and she looked so elegant and serene on the horse.”

Tap, tap. All the buttons were undone, and through the opened clothes, a white chemise was revealed. Tenere took a deep breath.

“I told her to go and come back. I thought if I said that, she would come back and wouldn’t leave forever.”

Perhaps even at a young age, she intuited what decision her mother had made.

The child, who hadn’t learned to throw a tantrum, couldn’t hold onto her mother until the end.

The dress, now heavy with water, fell to the floor with a thud.

As the petticoat straps were undone, she was left in a chemise that reached slightly below her knees.

Tenere lightly brushed off the wet clothes and hung them near the fireplace.

“Still, it feels strange to greet you like this. If I had mentioned it to Your Majesty earlier, it would have ended sooner, but…”

Tenere couldn’t finish her sentence. Leonard, who had approached her without her noticing, embraced her.

With only a thin chemise between them, Tenere was bewildered but took a deep breath.

“Your Majesty?”

“……I thought you were going to leave me.”

His voice in her ear was deep.

Tap, tap. The fire was still burning in the fireplace. The breath on the nape of her neck was slightly ticklish.

Tenere panicked, but stroked his arm gently in reassurance.

“Where would I go without my child?”

“Is that the only reason?”

Even with a calm response, Leonard’s voice felt different from usual.

He sounded nervous and impatient, and Tenere couldn’t tell why.

“Tenere.”

“…”

“Tenere.”

Leonard called her name several times while still holding her. It seemed like he had something he wanted to say.

“Don’t leave me anymore.”