How To Tame An Empress (BOOK I)

Chapter 22 - The Lies Hiding in the Shadows

--Valeria POV--

My mother used to tell me that raising a child goes by faster than you would like. 

At the time, I laughed it off, not taking her too seriously, but now that I am standing in her shoes, I am hit with the realisation that her words were all real. It feels like it has only been a few days since I gave birth, but here we are with my Evander already at five months old.

As the sunlight spilled into the garden in gentle ripples, I played with him as we sat on a blanket under the shade of a tree. He was still too young to crawl properly, but he made determined little kicks as he lay on the blanket, swatting at the drifting petals flying around him.

His laughter was soft and bubbling, the kind that made my heart thaw, and it almost scared me at how full it felt, but I could only hope that this happiness lasts.

Linus stood near me, watching from a polite distance with two servants beside him, hands folded and trying not to smile too much as I made ridiculous faces in successful attempts to draw out more laughs from Evan. I couldn't bring myself to care at how foolish I may have looked, because in moments like these, I was nothing but a loving mother.

Tickling his belly, I pressed kisses to his cheek as he continued to laugh, holding locks of my hair in his fists while his legs continued to kick against the air, excited.

"I carried you in my womb for nine months, but for some reason you have your fathers features instead of mine. But I will forgive you, since you have my laugh." I poked his nose as I spoke, instilling another laugh from him.

We continued to play for a while longer until he started growing tired to which I picked him up in my arms, kissing his forehead before brushing strands of his hair away.

"You can leave me now. I will feed and then put him to sleep; you can watch over him in the nursery after that." I instructed the servants who nodded their response before turning on their heels and striding away, leaving just Linus.

Standing up, I made my way to the nearby bench where I sat down to breastfeed Evander, Linus standing nearby with his hands behind his back.

"You've grown quiet, Linus." I whispered, but my eyes remained focused on my son.

"I have always been quiet, your imperial majesty." I felt my smile waning at his words. Ever since that day at the market all those months ago, he has not once called me by my name, and I can only guess that it's because he wishes to keep his distance from me.

"Now that I think about it, I do not believe that I have had the chance to properly apologise to you for what happened at the market. I dragged you into my problems, and then left you behind when the soldiers came. I cannot blame you for hating me-"

"-No, you have nothing to apologise for." He was quick to cut me off. 

"Everything I did, I did of my own volition, and you should bear no consequences for that. You wanted to be free for just a moment, and I wanted to see you be free..." Finally, I picked my head up to meet his hesitant gaze as he sighed, itching the back of his neck.

"I have been your bodyguard for some time now... Valeria. I have seen the kind of person you are, and I have come to care for you as a good friend." I felt my lips pick up into a wide smile, my heart happy at finally getting to hear my name.

"I feel the same." I laughed.

"The reason I have remained distant from you since that day has been of no fault of your own. It is just that I have seen the kind of man the emperor is, and I do not wish for him to further misunderstand our relationship and grow angry at you more than myself." Ah, I understand now. I felt a bit foolish for having thought it was anything else.