The Emperor lives with the Crown Prince.
Rumors of this had been circulating wildly within the palace for some time. Everyone wondered how the Emperor, who cared only for his own well-being, could possibly keep such a young child around. But then they were stunned to see Ian's bed in his study.
“All the private soldiers of the traitorous families in the 3rd Division were expelled...”
Rodan glanced sideways at Ian, who was playing on Ivan's lap. He was about to report on their actions, but he found himself interrupted.
“It has been processed.”
It was because he became careful with his words. After all, even stories that he usually said without thinking seemed cruel to his child when he heard them.
“It would have been better if they hadn’t sent them out properly.”
That was Ivan's reaction. Since Amelia left, Ivan had been generally indifferent to anything. His only concern was matters related to Ian.
But thanks to his savagery, no one dared to call for Ian's dethronement. Ivan cared deeply for his offspring, so there was no need to incur his hatred. Furthermore, with all the noble families purged, no one dared raise their voice against Ivan.
“Your Highness, that won’t do.”
Ian flailed his hands and pulled out a piece of paper from the desk. The child's grip on it crumpled the paper's edge. Rodan quickly snatched it from Ian's hand. Then Ian openly threw a fit.
“Let him do whatever he wants.”
Ivan simply watched, patting Ian's chubby cheek with his finger. He showed no intention of scolding or interfering with Ian. It was a stark contrast to the indifferent man he'd been when he'd first brought Ian from the temple.
“No documents allowed.”
"It's good to be kind to your child, but he shouldn't interfere with your work," Rodan firmly stated. Ivan smiled briefly, silently.
“I see.”
And then, as if feeling sorry for not being able to help due to the evil old man's sabotage, he prodded Ian. Ian, clutching the edge of the desk, rose from his father's thigh and began pounding on it.
“He seems to have a lot of energy...”
Perhaps it was a time when his assertiveness was growing stronger. For Rodan, who still had no children, the commotion was a bit overwhelming. However, he stubbornly refused to return the paper he'd taken from Ian.
“My mother is asking for the return of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
And advised.
“He is my child. Give him back.”
Ivan raised an eyebrow, as if he were hearing something so strange. Ivan's words were correct, except that royals and nobles typically didn't raise their own children.
“Because you keep him too close to you.”
“...”
“Don’t you sleep together when you sleep?”
Ivan didn't answer. It didn't take much effort to figure out that it was a positive answer.
“She asked me not to take your job, at least during the daylight hours.”
Ivan blinked. Light gathered on his eyelashes. It was something Rodan wouldn't dare say to his master, but the emotional anguish and slight sadness reflected on his decadently beautiful face were apt to captivate people's attention. Especially lately, Ivan had sometimes made Rodan's heart tremble.
“Yes, then.”
"Yes?"
“Call Mrs. Howard now.”
Ivan gave the order. Rodan quickly went outside and ordered Mrs. Howard is to be brought in. Mrs. Howard appeared as if she had been waiting for him, and plucked Ian from Ivan's arms.
“I used to think you liked me the most. It seems Mrs. Howard’s feelings have changed now.”
Wasn't it too shameless to say something like that? Rodan stared into space without answering.
“Rodan.”
Ivan caught Rodan's attention. His face was expressionless, a far cry from the joke he'd made just before.
“Prepare to break off the engagement with Jane Clarke.”
Ivan gave the order. Even if Rodan protested, his face showed no sign of intending to overturn his decision.
“A broken engagement?”
Of course, that didn't mean Rodan wouldn't say anything. He immediately retorted, clearly refusing to accept such an order.
"That would be disrespectful to the Clarke family, too. Don't you know that a broken engagement is a fatal blow to an unmarried lady?"
Truly, that was something even Jane Clarke wouldn't have done. At least Ivan wouldn't have been unaware of it.
"Besides, she is the only daughter of Count Clark. Will he remain as loyal to Your Majesty as he was before, after you abused his child?"
Count Clark was a man who avoided power or greed, but only when it concerned himself. It was doubtful whether he would tolerate Ivan, who was attempting to ruin his own child's life.
“Tell Miss Clarke that you will find a good young man and act as a matchmaker for the royal family.”
"Your Majesty!"
“Of course, if Jane Clarke wishes.”
Ivan quietly stood up and effortlessly snatched the paper from Rodan. Ian's crumpled paper contained plans and expenses for Ivan's wedding. Without hesitation, Ivan tore the paper into several pieces and threw it in the trash.
“Jane Clarke would rather have a chance to curry favor with me someday than that.”
“...”
“Just as marriage wasn’t what I really wanted from her.”
Ian crumpled the paper, pulling it out with precision, as if he knew what it said. Ivan took it as a rebuke to himself.
“What is that...”
"I was late, too. Especially since she was still single and didn't have a fiancé by that age, it meant she had no intention of getting married."
“...”
“The reason she accepted the position of Empress was that Ian, who was already the successor,”
“...”
“Just as I proposed to Miss Clark for a similar purpose.”
If Amelia had done so, perhaps things might have been different. Ivan pondered for a moment. If Amelia had cried and begged him not to marry, back when he had been swayed by Amelia without even realizing it, then...
“So go and tell them.”
No, nothing would have changed. The fool, unaware of his own feelings, would have simply grown even more arrogant and proud at the thought of Amelia clinging to him. And then, without a second thought, he'd have hurt her, promising to visit her often. Ultimately, it would have only left her with another wound. It was fortunate Amelia didn't cling to him.
“...did she promise to return?”
Rodan asked. Ivan, who was turning away from Rodan, paused.
“She didn’t promise.”
A moment, a moment that felt like an eternity, passed. Only then did Ivan respond with a calm voice. In fact, it may have been a disguise of calm.
“If you do it...”
Rumors of this had been circulating wildly within the palace for some time. Everyone wondered how the Emperor, who cared only for his own well-being, could possibly keep such a young child around. But then they were stunned to see Ian's bed in his study.
“All the private soldiers of the traitorous families in the 3rd Division were expelled...”
Rodan glanced sideways at Ian, who was playing on Ivan's lap. He was about to report on their actions, but he found himself interrupted.
“It has been processed.”
It was because he became careful with his words. After all, even stories that he usually said without thinking seemed cruel to his child when he heard them.
“It would have been better if they hadn’t sent them out properly.”
That was Ivan's reaction. Since Amelia left, Ivan had been generally indifferent to anything. His only concern was matters related to Ian.
But thanks to his savagery, no one dared to call for Ian's dethronement. Ivan cared deeply for his offspring, so there was no need to incur his hatred. Furthermore, with all the noble families purged, no one dared raise their voice against Ivan.
“Your Highness, that won’t do.”
Ian flailed his hands and pulled out a piece of paper from the desk. The child's grip on it crumpled the paper's edge. Rodan quickly snatched it from Ian's hand. Then Ian openly threw a fit.
“Let him do whatever he wants.”
Ivan simply watched, patting Ian's chubby cheek with his finger. He showed no intention of scolding or interfering with Ian. It was a stark contrast to the indifferent man he'd been when he'd first brought Ian from the temple.
“No documents allowed.”
"It's good to be kind to your child, but he shouldn't interfere with your work," Rodan firmly stated. Ivan smiled briefly, silently.
“I see.”
And then, as if feeling sorry for not being able to help due to the evil old man's sabotage, he prodded Ian. Ian, clutching the edge of the desk, rose from his father's thigh and began pounding on it.
“He seems to have a lot of energy...”
Perhaps it was a time when his assertiveness was growing stronger. For Rodan, who still had no children, the commotion was a bit overwhelming. However, he stubbornly refused to return the paper he'd taken from Ian.
“My mother is asking for the return of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
And advised.
“He is my child. Give him back.”
Ivan raised an eyebrow, as if he were hearing something so strange. Ivan's words were correct, except that royals and nobles typically didn't raise their own children.
“Because you keep him too close to you.”
“...”
“Don’t you sleep together when you sleep?”
Ivan didn't answer. It didn't take much effort to figure out that it was a positive answer.
“She asked me not to take your job, at least during the daylight hours.”
Ivan blinked. Light gathered on his eyelashes. It was something Rodan wouldn't dare say to his master, but the emotional anguish and slight sadness reflected on his decadently beautiful face were apt to captivate people's attention. Especially lately, Ivan had sometimes made Rodan's heart tremble.
“Yes, then.”
"Yes?"
“Call Mrs. Howard now.”
Ivan gave the order. Rodan quickly went outside and ordered Mrs. Howard is to be brought in. Mrs. Howard appeared as if she had been waiting for him, and plucked Ian from Ivan's arms.
“I used to think you liked me the most. It seems Mrs. Howard’s feelings have changed now.”
Wasn't it too shameless to say something like that? Rodan stared into space without answering.
“Rodan.”
Ivan caught Rodan's attention. His face was expressionless, a far cry from the joke he'd made just before.
“Prepare to break off the engagement with Jane Clarke.”
Ivan gave the order. Even if Rodan protested, his face showed no sign of intending to overturn his decision.
“A broken engagement?”
Of course, that didn't mean Rodan wouldn't say anything. He immediately retorted, clearly refusing to accept such an order.
"That would be disrespectful to the Clarke family, too. Don't you know that a broken engagement is a fatal blow to an unmarried lady?"
Truly, that was something even Jane Clarke wouldn't have done. At least Ivan wouldn't have been unaware of it.
"Besides, she is the only daughter of Count Clark. Will he remain as loyal to Your Majesty as he was before, after you abused his child?"
Count Clark was a man who avoided power or greed, but only when it concerned himself. It was doubtful whether he would tolerate Ivan, who was attempting to ruin his own child's life.
“Tell Miss Clarke that you will find a good young man and act as a matchmaker for the royal family.”
"Your Majesty!"
“Of course, if Jane Clarke wishes.”
Ivan quietly stood up and effortlessly snatched the paper from Rodan. Ian's crumpled paper contained plans and expenses for Ivan's wedding. Without hesitation, Ivan tore the paper into several pieces and threw it in the trash.
“Jane Clarke would rather have a chance to curry favor with me someday than that.”
“...”
“Just as marriage wasn’t what I really wanted from her.”
Ian crumpled the paper, pulling it out with precision, as if he knew what it said. Ivan took it as a rebuke to himself.
“What is that...”
"I was late, too. Especially since she was still single and didn't have a fiancé by that age, it meant she had no intention of getting married."
“...”
“The reason she accepted the position of Empress was that Ian, who was already the successor,”
“...”
“Just as I proposed to Miss Clark for a similar purpose.”
If Amelia had done so, perhaps things might have been different. Ivan pondered for a moment. If Amelia had cried and begged him not to marry, back when he had been swayed by Amelia without even realizing it, then...
“So go and tell them.”
No, nothing would have changed. The fool, unaware of his own feelings, would have simply grown even more arrogant and proud at the thought of Amelia clinging to him. And then, without a second thought, he'd have hurt her, promising to visit her often. Ultimately, it would have only left her with another wound. It was fortunate Amelia didn't cling to him.
“...did she promise to return?”
Rodan asked. Ivan, who was turning away from Rodan, paused.
“She didn’t promise.”
A moment, a moment that felt like an eternity, passed. Only then did Ivan respond with a calm voice. In fact, it may have been a disguise of calm.
“If you do it...”
“I’ll just wait by myself.”
“...”
"I wait for that fragile woman's heart to change. I hope her love outweighs her hatred. But I still hold a child in my hands, a child she will never be able to give up."
He seemed to find his own meanness amusing. Rodan was speechless.
“...What if she doesn’t come back?”
However, Rodan only asked the question in the hope that it would make him think about it and change his mind.
“I guess there’s nothing I can do. I can only think of it as paying the price for my sins.”
Ivan answered, turning his head slightly. His half-drooping eyelids were sad. Rodan's heart weakened again.
Damn it. Rodan cursed inwardly and squeezed his eyes shut. Ultimately, he knew he couldn't go against his master's will.
“I will contact the Clarke Margrave family to formalize the breakup and offer whatever compensation I can.”
Rodan spoke with a resigned expression and left. Ivan stared at the bright light pouring through the window, and, out of habit, thought of that light and the woman he was most unfamiliar with.
“If by any chance she comes back.”
In the days leading up to their separation, he hadn't slept properly. After enduring the agonizing passage of time, Ivan, who was awake through the night, whispered. Amelia immediately looked up. She, too, was having trouble sleeping.
“I will make sure that nothing is a problem.”
“...”
"I will break off my engagement with Jane Clarke, and completely erase your false name and your false reputation from this land. And I will raise Ian, your legacy, to health, and when you return, I will ensure you are a widower or a woman of sound mind."
I couldn't force you to come back. So I had no choice but to plead. I'll give you this, I'll give you that. I'll give you that thing I cherish, too. Like a young boy making a clumsy promise to the girl he likes.
“You are free to leave. But whenever you want to come back.”
“...”
"Then..."
Amelia didn't answer. She simply rested her forehead on Ivan's chest.
He knew that wasn't the answer. He also knew that she might have simply kept her mouth shut in that moment of helplessness. But Ivan was now breathing with a faint sense of anticipation.
That was the only thing that kept him alive.
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