Chapter 74
Jane Clarke entered the royal palace. As before, it was to spend time with Ivan.
“Greetings to the Sun of Esklip.”
“Please, sit.”
Ivan motioned to the chair in front of him with a casual expression. This was their third meeting, and by now, he had already obtained all the information he needed from Jane. She liked children and would follow his wishes. Because of that, Ivan had already lost interest in her.
“Is Lord Ian in good health?”
Because he seemed indifferent, Jane struggled to keep the conversation going on her own for a while. Out of the meaningless flow of words, a topic that actually caught his attention emerged.
“Ian’s health is fine.”
Ivan answered with at least a bit of sincerity, and Jane smiled, relieved.
“I sent a few more gifts, but I heard you no longer accept them, so I was worried you might still be unwell.”
Jane had continued sending Ian small gifts. Not knowing his exact size, most were clothes and toys of various sizes. On the surface, none were dangerous.
Yet, all of them were returned to Jane under Ivan’s orders. There was no ill intent, but being rejected by Ian made her feel a bit embarrassed.
“I’m not sick anymore, but given recent troubles, I’ve become a bit sensitive.”
Realizing this, Ivan’s words naturally softened a little. Jane nodded, understanding that it was natural for the future crown prince to be cautious about his health.
“Then… if it’s not too much to ask…”
Jane spoke cautiously. Ivan raised a questioning eyebrow.
“May I meet Lord Ian?”
“….”
“I thought it might be good to gradually build a bond, even for the future.”
Jane’s tone was cautious but clearly trying to gauge Ivan’s thoughts: whether he truly cared for Ian, whether he sincerely intended to accept him as the crown prince, and how Jane, as his future wife, should treat Ian.
“Rodan.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Bring Ian. Since I have to spend time with him anyway, it shouldn’t matter if you meet him at the same time.”
Ivan commanded that Ian be brought. Bowing low, Rodan hurried away.
“Thank you for granting my request, Your Majesty.”
“No, you should meet Ian too.”
Jane was trying, delicately, to read his thoughts. Normally, Ivan would be extremely displeased in such a situation, but this time was an exception. In any case, he had to tolerate Ian, who was not her child. Moreover, Ivan did not want Jane to harbor any malicious intent toward Ian.
“Your Majesty, Ian has been brought.”
Soon after, Lady Howard entered the main palace garden carrying Ian in her arms. She gently placed him in a baby basket prepared by the maid and then on a chair without a backrest. Jane carefully stood and approached Ian.
“What a handsome little boy.”
Looking down at Ian, Jane smiled. Ian, who was watching Jane playfully with his hands, laughed out loud. Despite a previous incident where he had almost choked under a maid’s care, Ian was not shy; he wasn’t afraid at all when seeing Jane for the first time.
“May I hold him?”
Jane asked Lady Howard. The latter’s slightly awkward look was a silent question toward Ivan, as if to ask if it was alright.
“Lady Howard, assist Lady Clarke.”
Ivan surprisingly agreed without hesitation. Lady Howard helped Jane hold Ian comfortably.
Ivan observed the scene with his usual indifferent expression. Whether Jane’s hands were on Ian or not, Ian only blinked his big round eyes and didn’t fuss.
Ian’s bedroom was empty. Lady Howard had also stepped away. Amelia stopped a passing maid, looking puzzled.
“Where are Lady Howard and Ian?”
“Oh, His Majesty called them to the main palace garden. They are going to spend time together,” the maid explained, giving Amelia the details she needed.
“When did they leave?”
“About half an hour ago.”
Since Ivan was ordered to spend time with Ian daily, he didn’t spend long. Usually, he would only briefly check in. Amelia thought that if she left now, she could meet them along with Lady Howard. She walked toward the main palace.
“Thank you.”
Amelia greeted the guards and passed through the palace threshold naturally. She had been in the palace frequently and had never been restricted from entering, so even the guarded doors posed no problem. The guards assumed she was there to pick up Ian with Lady Howard.
“How calm he is.”
Crunch. The sound of grass underfoot reached Amelia’s ears, along with an unfamiliar voice. It was slightly lower than hers, but clearly a woman’s voice.
“….”
Amelia cautiously peeked around the building, not stepping fully into view.
She first saw Ivan seated neatly at a tea table in the garden. Dressed formally in a jacket and tie, it was clear this meeting was official.
The next figure had her back to Amelia: a woman. No other noblewomen remained in the royal palace besides Amelia. Yet here was a woman with golden hair and a green dress, allowed to meet Ivan privately and hold Ian in her arms. There was only one possible identity.
“…Jane Clarke.”
Amelia’s heart sank. The woman she never wanted to meet—Jane Clarke—was holding Ian, facing Ivan.
“Ma! Ma!”
“Could he be calling me ‘mom’?”
“All children call every woman that,” Lady Howard replied, laughing softly. As she said, Ian called any woman he saw “Ma.” It was nothing special; it was just his habit.
But this woman—she would truly be Ian’s mother. Amelia’s chest tightened.
“I… I am his real mother.”
The words stuck in her throat. She unconsciously knew she must not say it aloud.
“Ba! Bu!”
This time, Ian called out to Ivan. Jane laughed, commenting on how Ian seemed to call Ivan ‘dad.’ Ivan didn’t smile, but he watched them with an interested gaze. There was a certain lack of affection in his eyes, but considering Ivan’s usual demeanor, they looked like a normal family.
“….”
A normal family.
Amelia chewed on the words. Sunlight streamed down on them. The golden hair shone brilliantly, like the sun, as if blessing their future.
Jane Clarke, in profile, was a radiant beauty. Her eyes glittered sharply like a weapon. Ivan recognized she would be Amelia’s rival, treating her with the proper courtesy.
Jane fit perfectly into the seat she could never claim, and even with the arrogant Ivan Wade Esklip.
…Ivan, a man she could never have.
“Ah.”
Remembering this fact made Amelia’s heart twist. She clutched her chest. The fine lace of her dress crumpled under her grip.
Suddenly, she felt a gaze. Ivan, sitting with one leg crossed, was looking straight at her. He had a keen sense, always aware of her presence even in quiet corners.
His eyes seemed to say exactly what her situation was. Now she understood why Ivan had told her to recognize her place. What could she hope for, with her rank and even her name being a lie?
Amelia felt utterly miserable, turning away like a pitiful creature retreating into the shadows to avoid the sunlight.
