Eric and Laura have officially become lovers, but not everyone is happy about it. Not even Alaina, who had returned to the capital briefly.

“Does …… the Marquis know what that person say before?”

It had been a long time since she’d been to the capital, since her probation had ended and she and Callian had gone down to the manor.

As Janice had once told her, some of the duke’s vassals believed that Callian and Alaina had framed Isaac Salvatore to usurp the marquisate. So even though she had succeeded to the title, she hadn’t yet won everyone’s loyalty.

“I didn’t tell my brother, and I told Laura not to tell him about it.”

Tenere had told her over and over again that it was okay, but she still seemed to be bothered by the past, and Tenere didn’t mind, knowing that she was only speaking out of concern for her. She shifted her feet and sighed heavily.

“If it were me, I could never do that.”

“Is that so?”

“Maybe it’s because I’m too stubborn, but I think I’d have to slap her at least once before forgiving.”

“Well, I didn’t slap her, but…….”

Tenere hesitated a moment.

“I did threaten her with an arrow to the throat.”

“……?”

“If she messed up… I said her limbs wouldn’t be safe… and I threatened…”

Tenere trailed off embarrassed, and Alaina stared at her wide-eyed in disbelief. Tenere looked away.

“Well…… I told you before, it was because of her that I met my mother, and besides that, there was this whole thing with the Hale estate…….”

“No, I mean… If that’s the case…”

Alaina mumbled dumbly, as if in shock. Tenere laughed at her.

The two of them headed for the stables. Alaina had visited the palace upon her return to the Alaina, and Tenere had asked her to ride with her. Tenere hadn’t ridden in a while, and she was more than a little excited.

“By the way, Alaina, do you have any good news?”

“What good news?”

“Like meeting someone?”

Although she had learned some etiquette from Lady Anges, they were asked with concern for the Marchioness, whose reputation had been tarnished by the scandals of his former home state. Alaina shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

“It’s not every day you find someone of my stature.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Tenere nodded obediently, and Alaina smiled pleasantly.

“Still, the Marchioness of Salvatore isn’t so weak that she’d have to marry into another family. There are a few families that would be shaking in their boots just to recoup the investment they’ve made so far. There’s the issue of succession, but it’s not like…… you have to marry to have children.”

“……Wow.”

The corners of her mouth turned up, and Tenere’s eyes narrowed in disbelief. They stopped in front of the stables.

The stables were located close to the palace’s hunting grounds. It was now more of a hunting trail in name only, as the Emperor and Empress did not enjoy hunting, but it was still enough for the occasional horseback ride with those closest to them.

The palace stables keeper opened the door familiarly and whispered.

“He’s been quite upset these past few days because you haven’t visited him.”

“Oh, dear.”

“We tried to take him for a walk, but he wouldn’t listen to us.”

“Poor thing.”

Tenere thanked the stable hand for caring for the unruly horse, then turned to the barn. James, noticing her arrival, glanced in her direction.

“James.”

While Alaina was choosing her own horse, Tenere hurried over to James. James, the tallest and sturdiest of all the horses in the palace, turned his head as if to look away when he saw Tenere approaching him. It was clear that he had been pissed off.

“Were you angry because I didn’t come for so long?”

“…….”

“I’ve been too busy. I’ve been oversleeping a lot lately, and I have a lot of work to do during the day.”

Of course, it was Leonard who was responsible for the oversleeping, but Tenere was not thick-skinned enough to say so. As she diligently brushed her mane, James rubbed the bridge of his nose against her, relieved.

“Alright. Shall we go now?”

Tenere tugged lightly on James’s reins. But,

“……James?”

Tenere asked quickly, caressing James. But James just looked at her and didn’t move an inch, as if there was a reason he shouldn’t let Tenere ride him.

“….Hey, what’s wrong? Haven’t you forgiven me yet?”

Tenere asked, quickly petting him, but he just looked at her and didn’t move.

“Hey, are you still pouting, boy? You’re a…….”

The stable hand chuckled as he watched. After choosing a horse to ride, Alaina slowly approached Tenere.

“What’s wrong?”

“He doesn’t want to come out, he’s never done this before…….”

“Is he ill? He looks fine to me…….”

Alaina shook her head as she looked at the horse standing upright. The big black stallion with his head held high was majestic, but he didn’t look sick.

“I think we should call a vet first, please…….”

Tenere didn’t finish her sentence as she heard the sound of hooves behind her. James approached Tenere and bowed his head deeply. Then he gently laid his head on her stomach.

“James?”

Tenere’s eyes widened in surprise and she stroked the horse’s mane. James closed his eyes and rubbed his head against the spot for a long moment.

“Are you all right now? I wonder what’s wrong with you today.”

Tenere stroked the horse as one would a sick child. But James just stood there, unwilling to give her his back. As if there was some reason he shouldn’t be carrying her.

“….Excuse me, Your Majesty the Empress.”

After a long silence, it was Alaina who spoke. Tenere turned her head toward her as if to ask what was wrong.

“With all due respect.”

Alaina glanced around and leaned in to whisper against Tenere’s ear.

“I’ve heard that you’ve been working on some sort of…… endeavor for your second child lately.”

“You’re ……?”

Tenere echoed back, surprised. There was no mistaking the meaning of the question. Ever since the Harvest Festival, she and Leonard had been trying every night to have a second child.

Tenere looked back at James, puzzled. James was still stubbornly nuzzling Tenere’s belly, and Tenere muttered in disbelief.

“Could it be… Surely not.”

* * *

No way, she thought.

“Your Majesty. I have news of the conception.”

The court physician who had finished her diagnosis said, his face flushed with color. As soon as his words left his lips, Tenere looked back at Leonard with a wry smile.

“……Leon.”

But Leonard, who should have rejoiced with her, was speechless. His face was filled with a mixture of emotions. The physician glanced at the emperor.

“Your Majesty……?”

“Huh…….”

A deep sigh echoed through the silent room. Leonard let out a long sigh, and was jolted awake by the puzzled stares directed at him. Tenere was looking at him in shock.

“Leon, are you sighing…….”

“Oh, no, I was just thinking of something else….”

“When the palace physician is announcing news of conception… you were thinking about something else?”

Leonard excused himself quickly, but of course, Tenere’s reaction was not good. Leonard threw up his hands in embarrassment as the world’s most unscrupulous man stared at her.

“No, I…… made a mistake, Tenere.”

But apologizing now didn’t change the fact that he had sighed at the news of his wife’s pregnancy. Tenere stroked her belly wordlessly, then spoke heavily.

“……I think, Leon.”

“…….”

“I don’t think the baby…… wants to be with a father who sighs.”

“…….”

“Are you going to stay there?”

It was a clear indication to leave immediately if nothing else. Leonard, despite his efforts to explain, received only a turned head in response. All he could do was to quietly leave the room as per her wish.

* * *

“…During conception, it’s not an exaggeration to say that one’s feelings fluctuate greatly, Your Majesty.”

After completing Tenere’s diagnosis, the palace physician cautiously spoke up. Naturally, he was referring to the ungraceful reaction upon hearing the news of conception.

“During conception, emotional fluctuations are common. Even trivial matters can cause distress and irritation. Of course, Your Majesty, I understand that you are concerned about the Empress’s health, but I believe Her Majesty would want you to share in the joy of the pregnancy rather than focus on her well-being.”

At the physician’s advice, Leonard wiped away his embarrassed expression.

“Is the Empress… in good health?”

“Of course, Your Majesty, so please don’t worry about her and concentrate on soothing her heart.”

“……I see. Is there anything I should be aware of?”

“As you may already know, during the early stages of pregnancy, it is advisable to avoid strenuous activities such as horseback riding as much as possible. Also, in the same context, it would be best to refrain from intimate relations until stability is achieved…”

As he finished speaking, the palace physician glanced discreetly at Leonard. He knew well the joys of being in the Emperor and Empress’s quarters, being a resident of the palace. Leonard nodded as if to acknowledge the advice.

“…… Is that the price?”

“When you are pregnant, you get tired easily and need more sleep, so it is a good idea to reduce your workload. I will relay other precautions separately to the maids and the kitchen.”

“……Yes. Well done.”

At the Emperor’s reply, the physician bowed deeply and left. Leonard sighed heavily and knocked on Tenere’s bedroom door.

“……Tenere. May I come in?”