Chapter 64
“Have all the gifts been delivered?”
It was before Rodan had even fully stepped into Ivan’s office.
“Everything you ordered to be sent has been delivered without leaving out a single item.”
Rodan hurriedly replied to his impatient question.
“Good.”
That was all Ivan said. Judging from his expression, which didn’t show any real curiosity, it didn’t seem like something that needed urgent confirmation. So what was the rush? That thought crossed Rodan’s mind as he watched Ivan, who appeared perfectly calm, staring at the portrait of a young woman.
“Why did you suddenly order gifts to be sent?”
“I couldn’t just send something to the child alone, could I?”
Ian needed to receive a gift as a sign that he had earned Ivan’s acknowledgment. While he was at it, he included Amelia as well. After all, she was once the woman he had held in his arms, and undeniably the mother of his child. She was in her prime, a time when she should want to wear pretty things and enjoy fine things, yet she had been forced to live frugally, not even realizing what she was missing out on. Ivan thought that was a little pitiful.
That was all there was to it—or so he believed—as he recalled the woman who had tried to hide her wounded heart behind an indifferent act when he pretended not to care for the child.
“Is that truly the only reason?”
Rodan narrowed his eyes as he asked. Of course, there was more to it than that.
“From an outsider’s perspective, I need to give Amelia Escleef a reason to want me dead.”
“But as far as I know, there was nothing strange included in the gifts you sent.”
“There was nothing strange in the gifts.”
Ivan replied casually as he slid one of the three portraits he had been examining toward the top of the table. In the painting, a woman with the same brilliant blond hair as Ivan and sapphire-blue eyes smiled demurely.
“Have you chosen the lady to whom you’ll send the proposal?”
Ivan nodded in response to Rodan’s question.
“Lady Jane Clarke, then.”
Jane Clarke. Though her family didn’t hold immense power because of their lack of greed, the Clarke Marquessate had been loyal to the Imperial family for generations. Considering her qualities, it was almost puzzling why she had not yet married.
“At least her father isn’t foolish enough to harbor empty ambitions, so the daughter should have a similar disposition.”
Of course, that was the extent of Ivan’s evaluation. His calm, teal-colored eyes showed not the slightest spark of interest or curiosity. Since this was not a love marriage, it was only natural. He had no particular desire to live happily and harmoniously with his future Empress.
“Was there no one who attracted you even a little?”
Rodan asked cautiously, thinking that if one had to share a lifetime with a partner, someone who at least caught one’s eye would be better than someone completely uninteresting. All the women Rodan had shortlisted came from families loyal to the Imperial house, so even if Ivan grew fond of one of them, it wouldn’t cause major problems.
“No.”
Ivan replied indifferently while glancing over the portraits again.
It was to be expected. He had never been particularly interested in women’s beauty. At every banquet, when women would subtly drop their glasses near him or pretend to stagger drunkenly in an attempt to seduce him, Ivan would simply order his guards to escort them away.
People called him a virtuous and disciplined Emperor for this. But the truth was, Ivan’s actions weren’t out of deep thoughtfulness or strict self-restraint. He simply found wine stains on his clothes irritating and disliked the bother of supporting a drunken woman. He never did anything he disliked, no matter what. That was just who Ivan was—a man lucky to have been born an Emperor.
“Understood. Then I will deliver the proposal letter to the Clarke estate as soon as you prepare it.”
There was no point in asking if any woman interested him. After all, he was the Emperor. If he ever felt an attraction toward a woman, he could always take her as a mistress after marriage.
Whoever she might be.
“Please have a seat here.”
“Give Ian to me.”
At Amelia’s request, Lady Howard obediently handed Ian over. Holding Ian in her arms, Amelia sat down in the seat a servant had indicated.
“…You’re here too?”
She was smiling fondly at the babbling Ian when the door opened. Ivan appeared, dressed not in his usual formal attire but in a comfortable shirt and trousers. He paused for a moment, seemingly surprised by her appearance, before speaking.
“Ian isn’t in a position to meet anyone alone.”
No wonder he was surprised—Amelia, who usually wore plain white dresses, was now dressed in bright colors. She smiled, lifting her shoulders slightly to better show off her blue dress, silently saying, I received your gift and even wore it here.
“It suits you well.”
Ivan erased the faint trace of surprise from his face and sat down opposite her. The servants, who didn’t know the true nature of their relationship, looked uneasy, worried that Amelia and Ivan might start a power struggle over the child.
The truth was, although Ivan had accepted the oracle’s command, it had only been a reluctant choice. The majority of Escleef believed in the existence of God and revered His messenger. Even most of the servants in this very room were devout believers.
“Is the child healthy?”
Amelia smiled and nodded at his question.
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s rescue, he is safe and unharmed.”
Though Ivan had hardly wished for the child’s safety, Amelia feigned ignorance and thanked him brightly. The maids lowered their eyes, uneasy.
“Come to think of it, I heard father and child need time to bond. Would you like to hold him?”
Amelia offered to let Ivan hold Ian. Since Ivan had to accept Ian anyway, it seemed wise for him to grow at least a little attached. Ivan tilted one eyebrow, wordlessly refusing.
“I’ve never held such a young child before.”
When Amelia ignored his silent refusal and stood up, Ivan openly rejected the suggestion.
“Besides, the usual way royals and nobles show affection for their children is through material means.”
In other words, they didn’t raise their children with the same care and attention as Amelia did. This meeting wasn’t about bonding with Ian—it was simply to grow accustomed to the child’s presence. The gifts had been for the same reason.
“Don’t say that. Just try holding him once.”
By then, Amelia should have stopped insisting—but she boldly placed the child in Ivan’s arms. Startled, Ivan flinched as he suddenly found himself holding the baby.
“To grow closer, there’s nothing more important than sharing body warmth.”
Perhaps recognizing his rescuer, Ian clutched at Ivan’s shirt and babbled continuously. Stiff and awkward, Ivan let the baby slobber all over his shirt, soaking it with drool.
“……”
The servants darted anxious glances at one another. Ivan was a man who hated anything dirty. Moreover, he had never fathered a child before, so he had no idea how they behaved. They expected him to explode any second.
“High Priestess, let me take the child—”
One brave maid stepped forward, thinking to relieve him. But Ivan, who had been staring down at the child all this time, dismissed her with a short nod. Normally, the old Ivan would have gladly handed the baby over in irritation.
“I suppose I need to get used to this.”
He spoke leisurely as he accepted a handkerchief from a servant. Everyone in the room looked puzzled, unable to comprehend what he meant.
“Since I’ll be having a wedding soon, I should at least get used to holding my own child.”
At that, everyone understood. Everyone except Amelia, who had been watching him with a bright smile the whole time, as though she were gazing at a loving husband and father with their child.
“…A wedding?”
Amelia broke the silence with a question, her eyes flickering with subtle unease.
“For Escleef’s stability, it’s about time I brought in a mistress of the house.”
“……”
“Why do you look at me like that? Isn’t it strange for a man my age to have no fiancée?”
Ivan replied casually, as though her question was odd. And indeed, it was odd—he was an Emperor, and it was only natural for him to have an Empress to manage the inner palace, since he couldn’t govern everything alone.
“Then…”
Amelia began to speak with a bewildered expression.
“Your Majesty, this must be uncomfortable. Please let me take Ian.”
Louis suddenly stepped forward, cutting her off as if to stop her from asking something foolish.
“All right.”
Ivan handed Ian to Louis without hesitation, effectively ignoring Amelia’s unfinished question. It almost seemed as if he had guessed what she was about to ask.
“When do you plan to welcome Escleef’s new mistress?”
Amelia asked again. Ivan’s lips slowly curled upward into a smile.
