Whose Child Belongs to the Emperor - Chapter 9 - Part 11 (End of Volume 3)

Chapter 9 – Part 11

Leonard’s face stiffened as he received reports from his subordinates. The cause of his distress was the information spread during the Duke’s arrest.

The story was that the Emperor, in order to hide the fact that he was not of imperial blood, was trying to frame his legitimate father, Isaac Salvatore, to remove any suspicion.

He had hesitated to arrest Isaac because he feared such a situation.

Although he had anticipated such a scenario, facing it as a reality left a bitter taste in his mouth.

There might be those who would use this opportunity to shake imperial authority, and in the worst case, there could be those who questioned his legitimacy, leading to his dethronement and the rise of a puppet Emperor.

While imprisoning the Duke somewhat ensured the safety of Joshua and Tenere for now, the issue of legitimacy was not something that ended with Isaac.

Even when Joshua ascended to the throne, there could be those who would question his lineage. So, even now, while he had Isaac restrained, he had to find a way to resolve this somehow.

“If we eliminate a few, as an example…”

Cutting off the entire faction of the Salvatore Duke, including the Duke himself, might bring temporary peace, but as time passed, those who had been hiding would emerge like cockroaches.

Perhaps they would treat him as a tyrant who raised a rebellion due to an inferiority complex about his bloodline.

“Alaina Salvatore is the same.”

Even though she currently sided with him due to her unwillingness to marry him, she was not blindly loyal to him.

Cutting off the faction of the Duke meant severing a limb of his own noble family. She couldn’t just leave that be.

Leonard wiped his face as if he had a headache. He didn’t even notice someone approaching.

“Daddy!”

Startled by the voice from below, Leonard lowered his head. When his eyes met Joshua’s, the child giggled and hugged his leg.

Tenere approached me with quick steps.

“Josie, be careful not to hurt yourself running.”

Tenere, who had lightly scolded Joshua, quickly scooped Joshua into her arms. Leonard took the child from her.

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Ugh.”

Although Joshua whined, he couldn’t protest further as they needed to get on the carriage.

Servants carrying luggage were coming down the stairs one after another.

“What about Lord Evan?”

“He decided to ride in the same carriage as Laura.”

“Is it really okay to depart already? Riding in a carriage may be too much for him at this point.”

“He said he felt uncomfortable staying on the estate. He first complained about being surrounded by young girls and then suddenly said he needed medical attention.”

“Ugh…”

Leonard sighed deeply. It seemed like trouble was inevitable.

Leonard swallowed hard and held out his hand to Tenere. She took it without hesitation and climbed into the carriage.

It was only a short ride to the capital.

As they traveled, Tenere stared out the window in a daze, and Leonard watched her.

Since returning to the viscount’s castle, Tenere has not been the same.

She held out her hand, he took it, she smiled when they made eye contact, and sometimes she spoke to him first.

But that was all.

Tenere did not call his name, did not whisper love, and did not ask again to spend time with the child.

As if that confession day had never happened.

“Your Majesty, if you have something to say…”

Tenere, feeling the gaze, raised her head. The child hanging from his mother also turned to look at him.

Leonard remained silent for a moment but eventually responded.

“You won’t regret it, will you?”

“What do you mean?”

“About Lady Hale.”

There were so many things he wanted to say, but what he was most curious about was her heart.

He wondered if she was still blindsided by his confession, if she still didn’t believe in his love, and if she was still holding back her desire to leave his side.

But he couldn’t bring himself to ask her because he was afraid.

He’s afraid of the cold answer he’ll get.

“It’s just a childish slip of the tongue.”

Tenere smiled and replied. But Leonard was unsatisfied.

It wasn’t just that. She knew Lady Hale had been eyeing the concubine position.

The cause of the uncomfortable feeling was clear: the bluntness with which she tried to make the woman who wanted to be his concubine their son’s nanny.

‘Why did she not care? Why isn’t she even jealous? ‘

While he even misunderstood the horse’s name and got angry just for being close to her own brother.

“I’m sure it wasn’t just a slip of the tongue.”

“…”

“While saving Joshua deserves compensation, it is not necessary to keep her by your side.”

It was a matter of detaching a suitable place from the imperial decree.

With a title, she wouldn’t have to marry anyone she didn’t want to, and she could cut ties with her family.

However, Tenere shook her head.

“Viscount Hale hasn’t taught any of his children, except for the young viscounts, how to run a manor, and even if we gave her a title, she probably wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

It was common for the noble family to exclude their non-heir children from succession education.

Especially Laura, who didn’t even know how much budget it would take to build a water mill, let alone help with actual harvesting.

In such a situation, giving territory and titles would only lead to ineffective management.

“I wanted to let her do what she does best.”

Tenere said. If her brother knew, he would have complained that she was a fool.

But Leonard liked her in this way.

She was someone who didn’t hate anyone thoughtlessly, didn’t wish for others’ unhappiness, and didn’t harbor resentment, not even forcing forgiveness.

He found himself relieved to have her by his side.

Thinking that if he held onto her, she might open her heart to him again someday.

“What if she acts like she did at the dinner again?”

Leonard blurted out, though her lack of jealousy was annoying.

It was a childish thing to say, but what’s the harm in confessing?

The child, who didn’t know what his parents were talking about, sat in a chair, playing with a rabbit-shaped toy.

When the child opened its mouth wide and tried to put the toy in, Tenere quickly stopped it.

“No, Josie, not inside.”

“Ugh.”

Although Joshua whined a bit, he didn’t insist when he was hugged.

Tenere lightly kissed the child and looked up.

“But…… you said before, Your Majesty, that you don’t intend to have a concubine.”

He knew the words were not spoken out of affection.

It was Leonard as emperor that Tenere believed in.

So, it was not about believing in his love but about trusting that he would not jeopardize the succession of the imperial family.

Even though he knew that, why did he feel so happy that the resentment in his heart disappeared like melting snow?

Why was he so pleased that her calmness and indifference were rooted in trust rather than indifference?

‘It seems I’ve become quite a mess.’

Leonard chuckled bitterly. Tenere was wiping off the drool from the child’s mouth.

He locked eyes with the child, who looked exactly like him, and smiled as if he were looking at the most adorable person in the world.

There is no worse father than one who is jealous of his own child.

Leonard slowly reached out and stroked the child’s head.

The child smiled brightly, not knowing what his father was up to.

– End of Volume 3–

TL Note: Thank you for reading the third volume of “Whose child belongs to the Emperor. I hope you enjoyed the whole story, and please look forward to the next volume as it will be up very soon.