Chapter Text
6 years ago, when Cale found out she was expecting a baby, her first feeling was tremendous fear
—I'm... what?—
At first I couldn't believe it
How? He's sure Alberu took birth control pills
—There is a possibility that such a drug will fail— the pharmacist explained that it was possible
Even if they both take medicine, he could still get pregnant
Cale, surprised, listened to the explanation. It was about two months after his divorce. He set up a new home in a quiet place and lived alone, but he still couldn't block the news from the rest of the world
He knew that, with the death of the King, the peace of the kingdom had disappeared.
The last King, gloomy and good, did not attempt to suppress the power of the great nobility.
In fact, I had no ambition or ability to do so.
But Alberu was different.
Only after becoming emperor did everyone know that this young emperor was different from the previous one.
A month after becoming emperor, Alberu discovered the corruption of Duke Milstad, the weakest of the most powerful nobles, and destroyed his family.
After that, he continued to purge the powerful nobles one after another.
Alberu wanted to get rid of all the great nobles who threatened the emperor in order to gain power
He also showed that he was capable
The high lord of the north provoked a revolt, but was suppressed by the emperor's army, and his entire family was annihilated
Everyone who watched with bated breath would know
The days of the former King and a few powerful houses balanced in power had ended without major problems
From then on, imperial politics was divided into two factions. The emperor's group, made up of new bureaucrats who supported the emperor, and the aristocratic group of great nobility. The two factions fought fiercely.
Alberu's stepmother, the last Queen naturally became the head of the great nobles
—If I tell you I'm pregnant... What will happen to this child?—
He was no longer emperor consort.
However, the child was the emperor's son and the only heir to this day.
Cale quickly determined the situation
Knowing that he had a son, the queen would name this child emperor and become regent, given the recent divorce, if Alberu is murdered and they have the baby in their possession, the dowager queen could raise him as her puppet
And if Alberu discovers that the child in his stomach is a threat to him, he will try to get rid of this child
I couldn't expect either side to care or protect the child
Cale couldn't allow his son to be used in political battles. He didn't want to leave his son's life to people obsessed with power, and just look on in fear.
He was abandoned by both the emperor... his family declared their neutrality – indifference – in matters related to the realization
The child was all he had left
—He's not the emperor's son, he's my son. I'll protect this child and raise him with my own hands.—
When she found out she was pregnant, she thought about it over and over again and made that decision
He is going to hide the child and raise him alone.
Cale walked helplessly, hugging Luca.
With each step, dry earth and stone debris were stepped on. The soles of his feet were sore and sore
It was because she was taken out of her room in thin slippers without changing her shoes. The cold air that permeated her skin cleared her mind
Cale wrapped the hem of an old coat around Luca over his shoulder
The rose bushes on the stone wall filled the cold dawn air with the scent of a light floral scent
The northeastern part of the continent was a place where frost fell on dry land every morning until April. A few steps ahead, an old castle used as a permanent residence stood against the backdrop of the blue dawn sky
The place guided by the knights was the reception room in the center of the castle
In the room, there was a man in front of a fireplace with burning wood
Seeing that appearance, Cale felt his heart stop
He made a decision and went in
It's been six years since they broke up when he was 20.
Alberu has not changed much since then
Blond hair like the sun on a summer day and dark blue eyes
Its appearance, which is more impressive than the torch that decorates the temple, has always been praised by aristocrats.
His appearance remained the same, but the current Alberu had an atmosphere that seemed safer and stronger than when he was 20 years old.
As a man who has lived as an emperor for the past 6 years, although still young, in his twenties, his entire body was imbued with natural dignity and honor.
—You've become a wonderful man when I didn't see you.—
Bitter thoughts filled the depths of his heart.
There was a time when he felt an affection that made his heart beat.
But now all those warm feelings have withered. Love disappeared without a trace, and only a dry and desolate emptiness remained like a dry branch.
Cale suppressed his bitter feelings and knelt before him next to the boy
—I greet His Majesty the Emperor, the Lord of the Empire—
Now, this man has become the emperor, more suitable for the title of —Lord of the Empire—
The political dispute between the emperor and the nobility ended with the emperor's victory. Almost all the great nobles who opposed the emperor during the last six years have disappeared
Alberu became the most powerful emperor who fully ruled the empire of Roan
He has become a true leader with such strong power that no one can blame him for killing someone he doesn't like
—Six years have passed—
His voice wasn't that different from before.
Cale got up and confronted him
Familiar blue eyes stared at Cale
His gaze fell on Cale's drab gray cotton coat, trimmed and unadorned, and on the coarse woollen cloak that covered it. And finally, when his eyes fell on the old worn leather shoes, patched with thread in several seams, a slight wrinkle furrowed his attractive eyebrows
Alberu's face was full of surprise and disgust
It seemed like he was surprised by Cale's bad looks.
—I guess things weren't going well.—
What did I expect after dragging him here before it was dawn?
Well, Cale always looked his best in front of this man. They only had to be face to face for a few minutes, but he put on makeup and combed his hair for several hours. Then, he adjusted his body with a corset and chose the most beautiful clothes and jewelry
It was exhausting, hard, and sometimes even painful
But for a while, he would endure everything to look perfect before that man.
It was a foolish effort
Those days are over. Cale didn't care how that man looked at her.
—I didn't have time to change my clothes. It's too early.— —Well, there's nothing better to change than this
Cale raised Luca in the former mansion of his mother, the first Countess Henituse located on the eastern edge. As it was a poor house with no servants, Cale planted, cultivated, prepared and cooked the garden food himself
He was no longer a young nobleman, but a commoner
All his fine and elegant clothes were discarded long ago
—Why were you still running away?— Alberu looked at Cale as if he couldn't understand him. He's been trying to find him for two months
If Cale hadn't fled so cautiously, he would have been caught long ago. After holding out for two months, he ended up being caught like this
Well, I couldn't run away forever
Where was he going to go? The whole continent was part of the empire, everything belonged to this man.
When Cale couldn't answer, he laughed.
—Did you think I'd catch you and kill you?—
—…
Until two months ago, Cale did not run away
At his mother's house, it was exhausting on his body, but his heart was still at ease. One day, he was surprised to learn that the emperor's knights were looking for him, so he ran away
He couldn't understand what was going on, so he had no choice but to run away first. Just in case
She couldn't meet that man until she knew for sure if he was related to the boy or not. Still, after fleeing for the past two months, she discovered that she had no relation to this child
It would have been annoying if they were looking for the hidden prince. Even so, he couldn't guess what was going on
—Why are you looking for me now?— Cale asked Alberu, hiding his anxious and trembling heart
—Why did you try to look for me?—
—You made me look for you for two months, but you want such a quick answer— Alberu replied irritatedly
Luca was shocked by the sharp gaze of a strange man he saw for the first time and grabbed Cale's cloak with his small hand
At that moment, Alberu's gaze went to the boy
—Who is that boy?—
Cale swallowed nervously. He had imagined and prepared countless times in case this moment came, however, simply preparing mentally did not help much in reality
His heart was beating incessantly. He forced himself to look at Alberu with the calmest expression possible
He could see a question fill those familiar blue eyes. He remembers the last time he lied to her and left
Cale still didn't regret that moment
And now he was sure that he would not regret that lie either
—This is my nephew.—