Jane Clarke entered the palace, as before, to spend time with Ivan.
“See the sun at Escliffe.”
“Sit down.”
Ivan said, nodding to the chair in front of him with an indifferent face. This was his third meeting with Jane, and he had already obtained the information he needed from her. She was a woman who liked children and would follow Ivan's will. Therefore, Ivan had already lost interest in Jane.
“Ian, is he healthy and free of any illness?”
Because he was acting so indifferent, Jane struggled to continue the conversation alone for a while. Amid the meaningless conversation, a topic of interest to him emerged.
“Ian’s health is fine.”
When Ivan answered with some sincerity, Jane smiled and said that she was relieved.
“I sent him a few more gifts, but they said they weren’t accepting any more, so I was worried that he might still be sick.”
Jane sent Ian a few more gifts after that. Most of them were clothes and toys of various sizes, as she didn't know Ian's body size very well. At first glance, they didn't seem dangerous.
But all of that was returned to Jane under Ivan's command. It was understandable to feel embarrassed, since the goodwill shown to Ian, even though it was not malicious, was rejected.
“He's not sick anymore, but he's still sensitive because something bad happened.”
Realizing that, Ivan's words naturally softened a little. Jane nodded, saying that it could be so. It was natural for him to be sensitive to his health, as he was soon to become the Crown Prince.
“Well, then...”
Jane opened her mouth cautiously. Ivan gave her a quizzical look.
“Can I meet Ian sometime?”
“...”
“I think it would be better to build up a bond little by little, even for the sake of the future.”
Jane's attitude was cautious, but she was clearly trying to gauge Ivan's thoughts. Whether Ivan was really concerned about Ian, whether he was truly willing to accept him as the Crown Prince, and what kind of attitude Jane Clarke, his future wife, should show toward Ian.
“Rodan.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Bring Ian. I’ll have to spend time with him anyway, so it wouldn’t be a problem if we met up.”
“I will bring him right away.”
Ivan ordered Ian to be brought to him. Rodan, lowering his body, hurriedly retreated.
“Thank you for listening to my request, Your Majesty.”
“No, you have to meet Ian too.”
Jane dared to try to figure out his thoughts. Usually, Ivan would be very displeased in such situations, but this time it was an exception. In any case, it was true that Jane had to endure Ian, who was not her own child. Moreover, Ivan did not want Jane to have vain intentions and threaten Ian.
“Your Majesty, I have brought Ian.”
Soon after, Mrs. Howard, holding Ian in her arms, entered the garden of the main palace. Mrs. Howard carefully placed Ian in the baby basket prepared by the maid and placed him on a chair without a back. Then Jane carefully got up from her seat and approached Ian.
“You are handsome.”
Jane, who was looking down at Ian from above, smiled. Ian, who was staring at Jane as she greeted him as if she were playing a hand trick, also laughed out loud. Ian was not shy, even though he had a history of almost dying at the hands of a maid, so he was not afraid of Jane when he first saw her.
“Can I hug him?”
Jane looked at Mrs. Howard asked. Mrs. Howard looked back at Ivan with an embarrassed look on her face. It was a silent question of whether she could give permission.
“Mrs. Howard, help Lady Clarke.”
Ivan surprisingly readily agreed. Mrs. Howard helped Jane hold the baby in a comfortable position for Ian.
Ivan watched the scene with an indifferent face. Whether hands moved over his body or not, Ian only blinked his big, round eyes and did not whine.
Ian's bedroom was empty. Mrs. Howard was also out. Amelia caught a maid passing by with a puzzled look on her face.
“Where did Mrs. Howard and Ian go?”
“Oh, His Majesty has come to the palace garden to find him. I heard that they are planning to spend time together.”
Fortunately, the maid knew the whereabouts of Mrs. Howard and Ian in detail.
“When?”
“I think it’s been a little over 30 minutes.”
Spending time with Ivan every day was something the temple had forced upon him, so Ivan didn't spend much time with him. Usually, he would only briefly check his face. So if he left now, he could return with Ian and Mrs. Howard. Amelia thought so and started walking toward the main palace.
"Thank you."
Amelia greeted the guards and naturally crossed the threshold of the main palace. She had already seen them often in the palace, and since her entry had never been restricted before, she was able to pass through several gates guarded by guards without any problems. Since Mrs. Howard and Ian heard her; they seemed to think she had come to fetch Ian.
“You are so gentle.”
Rustle. Along with the sound of the grass in the garden being trampled underfoot, an unfamiliar voice pierced Amelia's ears. It was a little lower than Amelia's, but it was definitely a woman's voice.
“...”
Amelia, out of curiosity, turned halfway around the building instead of fully turning around to look in the direction of the sound.
Ivan was the first to appear, sitting in front of a well-laid tea table in the garden. He was fully dressed, complete with jacket and tie, as if to indicate that his time was formal.
The next thing she saw was a woman with her back to Amelia. Currently, no noble women are staying in the imperial palace except for Amelia. In the midst of all this, a woman with gorgeous blonde hair that matched a green dress could be granted a private meeting with Ivan, and could hold Ian in her arms. That meant only one thing.
“...Jane Clarke.”
It was Jane Clarke, the woman Amelia never wanted to meet. She was now holding Ian and facing Ivan.
"Mama!"
“Should you call me Mom?”
“Ian calls all women that.”
Mrs. Howard answered Jane's question with a smile. As Mrs. Howard said, Ian called all women he saw 'Ma'. It was the same with the maids. So there was nothing special about that title. It was just the title he used to call women whose eyes met his. Amelia never paid attention to that.
But that woman was really the woman who would become Ian's mother. Maybe that's why her heart sank.
“...”
At that moment, Ian let out a loud laugh. Jane also let out a light laugh. It was a peaceful scene, as if it were a real thing.
Amelia felt something that she couldn't express in words.
I, I am a real mother.
The words got stuck in her throat. She knew, even unconsciously, that she shouldn't say such things.
“Bah! Boo!”
This time, Ian looked at Ivan and made a sound. He laughed, saying it was strange that Jane called Ivan “dad.” Ivan didn’t laugh, but he was watching them with interest. The affection in his gaze was somewhat lacking, but considering that Ivan was originally like that, they looked like a normal family.
“...”
An ordinary family.
As she was chewing on that word, sunlight poured down on their heads. The blond hair that caught the light shone brightly like the sun. As if that was their future. As if everyone was blessing them.
Jane Clark, whose profile was briefly visible, was a splendid and beautiful beauty, and her eyes, bathed in light, sparkled with an obvious firepower. Ivan, too, recognized that she was the one who would become his wife, and treated Jane with appropriate courtesy.
Jane was well-suited to the position that Amelia Eschliffe could not overcome until her death. Even with that arrogant Ivan Wade Eschliffe.
...Ivan, even with the man she could never have.
"Ah."
Amelia felt her heart twist as she remembered the forgotten fact. She clutched her chest. The fabric of her luxurious lace dress was rumpled.
Suddenly, she felt eyes on her. Ivan, sitting with one leg crossed, was looking at Amelia. As always, Ivan had a good sense. Even though she was quietly staying in the corner like this, he seemed to have noticed her at some point.
His gaze seemed to tell her that this was exactly her situation. Now she understood why Ivan had told Amelia to grasp the subject. What on earth could she have coveted when her status and even her name were false?
She felt indescribably miserable. Amelia turned away as if she were a wretched beast hiding in a cave to escape the sunlight.
“See the sun at Escliffe.”
“Sit down.”
Ivan said, nodding to the chair in front of him with an indifferent face. This was his third meeting with Jane, and he had already obtained the information he needed from her. She was a woman who liked children and would follow Ivan's will. Therefore, Ivan had already lost interest in Jane.
“Ian, is he healthy and free of any illness?”
Because he was acting so indifferent, Jane struggled to continue the conversation alone for a while. Amid the meaningless conversation, a topic of interest to him emerged.
“Ian’s health is fine.”
When Ivan answered with some sincerity, Jane smiled and said that she was relieved.
“I sent him a few more gifts, but they said they weren’t accepting any more, so I was worried that he might still be sick.”
Jane sent Ian a few more gifts after that. Most of them were clothes and toys of various sizes, as she didn't know Ian's body size very well. At first glance, they didn't seem dangerous.
But all of that was returned to Jane under Ivan's command. It was understandable to feel embarrassed, since the goodwill shown to Ian, even though it was not malicious, was rejected.
“He's not sick anymore, but he's still sensitive because something bad happened.”
Realizing that, Ivan's words naturally softened a little. Jane nodded, saying that it could be so. It was natural for him to be sensitive to his health, as he was soon to become the Crown Prince.
“Well, then...”
Jane opened her mouth cautiously. Ivan gave her a quizzical look.
“Can I meet Ian sometime?”
“...”
“I think it would be better to build up a bond little by little, even for the sake of the future.”
Jane's attitude was cautious, but she was clearly trying to gauge Ivan's thoughts. Whether Ivan was really concerned about Ian, whether he was truly willing to accept him as the Crown Prince, and what kind of attitude Jane Clarke, his future wife, should show toward Ian.
“Rodan.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Bring Ian. I’ll have to spend time with him anyway, so it wouldn’t be a problem if we met up.”
“I will bring him right away.”
Ivan ordered Ian to be brought to him. Rodan, lowering his body, hurriedly retreated.
“Thank you for listening to my request, Your Majesty.”
“No, you have to meet Ian too.”
Jane dared to try to figure out his thoughts. Usually, Ivan would be very displeased in such situations, but this time it was an exception. In any case, it was true that Jane had to endure Ian, who was not her own child. Moreover, Ivan did not want Jane to have vain intentions and threaten Ian.
“Your Majesty, I have brought Ian.”
Soon after, Mrs. Howard, holding Ian in her arms, entered the garden of the main palace. Mrs. Howard carefully placed Ian in the baby basket prepared by the maid and placed him on a chair without a back. Then Jane carefully got up from her seat and approached Ian.
“You are handsome.”
Jane, who was looking down at Ian from above, smiled. Ian, who was staring at Jane as she greeted him as if she were playing a hand trick, also laughed out loud. Ian was not shy, even though he had a history of almost dying at the hands of a maid, so he was not afraid of Jane when he first saw her.
“Can I hug him?”
Jane looked at Mrs. Howard asked. Mrs. Howard looked back at Ivan with an embarrassed look on her face. It was a silent question of whether she could give permission.
“Mrs. Howard, help Lady Clarke.”
Ivan surprisingly readily agreed. Mrs. Howard helped Jane hold the baby in a comfortable position for Ian.
Ivan watched the scene with an indifferent face. Whether hands moved over his body or not, Ian only blinked his big, round eyes and did not whine.
***
Ian's bedroom was empty. Mrs. Howard was also out. Amelia caught a maid passing by with a puzzled look on her face.
“Where did Mrs. Howard and Ian go?”
“Oh, His Majesty has come to the palace garden to find him. I heard that they are planning to spend time together.”
Fortunately, the maid knew the whereabouts of Mrs. Howard and Ian in detail.
“When?”
“I think it’s been a little over 30 minutes.”
Spending time with Ivan every day was something the temple had forced upon him, so Ivan didn't spend much time with him. Usually, he would only briefly check his face. So if he left now, he could return with Ian and Mrs. Howard. Amelia thought so and started walking toward the main palace.
"Thank you."
Amelia greeted the guards and naturally crossed the threshold of the main palace. She had already seen them often in the palace, and since her entry had never been restricted before, she was able to pass through several gates guarded by guards without any problems. Since Mrs. Howard and Ian heard her; they seemed to think she had come to fetch Ian.
“You are so gentle.”
Rustle. Along with the sound of the grass in the garden being trampled underfoot, an unfamiliar voice pierced Amelia's ears. It was a little lower than Amelia's, but it was definitely a woman's voice.
“...”
Amelia, out of curiosity, turned halfway around the building instead of fully turning around to look in the direction of the sound.
Ivan was the first to appear, sitting in front of a well-laid tea table in the garden. He was fully dressed, complete with jacket and tie, as if to indicate that his time was formal.
The next thing she saw was a woman with her back to Amelia. Currently, no noble women are staying in the imperial palace except for Amelia. In the midst of all this, a woman with gorgeous blonde hair that matched a green dress could be granted a private meeting with Ivan, and could hold Ian in her arms. That meant only one thing.
“...Jane Clarke.”
It was Jane Clarke, the woman Amelia never wanted to meet. She was now holding Ian and facing Ivan.
"Mama!"
“Should you call me Mom?”
“Ian calls all women that.”
Mrs. Howard answered Jane's question with a smile. As Mrs. Howard said, Ian called all women he saw 'Ma'. It was the same with the maids. So there was nothing special about that title. It was just the title he used to call women whose eyes met his. Amelia never paid attention to that.
But that woman was really the woman who would become Ian's mother. Maybe that's why her heart sank.
“...”
At that moment, Ian let out a loud laugh. Jane also let out a light laugh. It was a peaceful scene, as if it were a real thing.
Amelia felt something that she couldn't express in words.
I, I am a real mother.
The words got stuck in her throat. She knew, even unconsciously, that she shouldn't say such things.
“Bah! Boo!”
This time, Ian looked at Ivan and made a sound. He laughed, saying it was strange that Jane called Ivan “dad.” Ivan didn’t laugh, but he was watching them with interest. The affection in his gaze was somewhat lacking, but considering that Ivan was originally like that, they looked like a normal family.
“...”
An ordinary family.
As she was chewing on that word, sunlight poured down on their heads. The blond hair that caught the light shone brightly like the sun. As if that was their future. As if everyone was blessing them.
Jane Clark, whose profile was briefly visible, was a splendid and beautiful beauty, and her eyes, bathed in light, sparkled with an obvious firepower. Ivan, too, recognized that she was the one who would become his wife, and treated Jane with appropriate courtesy.
Jane was well-suited to the position that Amelia Eschliffe could not overcome until her death. Even with that arrogant Ivan Wade Eschliffe.
...Ivan, even with the man she could never have.
"Ah."
Amelia felt her heart twist as she remembered the forgotten fact. She clutched her chest. The fabric of her luxurious lace dress was rumpled.
Suddenly, she felt eyes on her. Ivan, sitting with one leg crossed, was looking at Amelia. As always, Ivan had a good sense. Even though she was quietly staying in the corner like this, he seemed to have noticed her at some point.
His gaze seemed to tell her that this was exactly her situation. Now she understood why Ivan had told Amelia to grasp the subject. What on earth could she have coveted when her status and even her name were false?
She felt indescribably miserable. Amelia turned away as if she were a wretched beast hiding in a cave to escape the sunlight.
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