The Solitude of an Emperor [TO BE UNPUBLISHED]

53 : A Child

When Darya woke up the next morning, General Theobarlt's room was already cleaned by himself. The room smells so fresh just like his fragrant, her favourite. When she got up, General Theobarlt was on the balcony who had received a message from the barracks with the help of their trained eagle.

Sensing that she got up from bed, he let go of the eagle after making a small written command. So he comes inside the room to see Darya, drinking the contraceptive tea he prepared for her. He immediately smiled and walked towards her to kiss her head.

"How do you feel?"

"I am alright. It is manageable. Where did you get clothes?"

"I asked the maids to get one from your room."

"I feel refreshed, did you bathe me?"

"I was worried to wake you up so I just washed your body with a wet towel. And then I dressed you up."

Darya nodded as she put her hand around his waist. She leaned her head to his chest. There was a bit of silence and General Theobarlt stayed with her longer. Until then, after a few minutes, Darya spoke.

"Have you ever thought of a child?"

His heart shrank, feeling like his whole body went frozen. All this time, he watched Darya drink contraceptive tea to prevent herself from getting pregnant. He knows that she hates the idea of a child although he had been thinking about how he would treat the child that his beloved wife bears. He would unconsciously watch the children he sees in the town and would inadvertently imagine her and her children happily playing together. That was such a good dream he had since he got married to her.

However, he knows that his wife lived many lives in different worlds. She had met more people than him. She might have loved someone else before. She might have had children... no, he should not overthink. What is most important here is that Darya did not hesitate to ask him about this. The most important thing here is that he is with her in this life.

He felt like his throat went dry as he tried to speak. This is the first time he became hesitant to tell her something because he is in between telling her honestly to let her know or to tell her dishonestly so she would not worry about his opinion.

"Yes." That was the only word he replied. It even sounded low and hesitant.

Darya got silent with his reply. Just hearing him say that, she does not want to look at his face because she can clearly picture it out in her mind. He is clearly on the verge of thinking deeply to give her a satisfying answer but ends up speaking the truth. And she did not expect him to say something more.

"I thought about children... our future children... and... I see the best view of you... and them."

Desmonde's eyes were watery. He does not know but it felt like the vision he had in his mind was pretty clear that it felt real. It felt like it really happened. This is why he got emotional. He pulled her to his arms and embraced her. He kissed her head and stayed doing it.

Darya cried in his arms, inadvertently. Since Reginald mentioned about a child last day, she could not think straight as she could only think about Desmonde's opinion about it. She had thought about a child... with him. She had been wanting to be a mother even in her first life but... she could not bear the image of her unborn child seeing her love another child. She could not bear to see a child born after her unborn child. It hurts to the depth of her heart whenever she thinks of the sad expression of her unborn baby.

"I am alright, mother." She felt like her heart was being gently caressed and it even made her cry more after hearing her unborn child's voice. Only if she could see him...

"I will be very happy if I have siblings! I can protect them!"

If only... she could hold him.

Becoming the Emperor's fourth consort, Captain Marshall had become egotistical of his position. It does not seem that he says it out loud that he got more authority but he does it in an insulting way, making his targets almost want to fret and give up their dignity. Many of his subordinates started hating him. It felt like they dragged him all the way up just to be thrown away by him. Now, they are in doubt why the Emperor married such an unqualified fellow. Unlike the first three consorts of the Emperor, they are all dignified and worthy of respect, however, Lorenzo is lacking in some way which is his unappealing attitude.

Many of Captain Marshall's subordinates got pressured by his intense training. He would make them do everything while he would just sit around and command. They feel like they are being toyed like pieces of chess to be played by his hands. This is why most of them wanted to transfer units. Many knights had been begging the other Captains to take them in their care just to escape Captain Marshall but only the Emperor and the General could do that. However, it is very hard to meet General Theobarlt as he is either at the Imperial Palace or the main barracks that is not accessible by just anybody. They had no way to contact him.

Unable to withstand Captain Marshall's tyranny, Captain Silla went to his barracks to talk to him personally. When she arrived, she commanded all the knights to leave them two alone. So when the surroundings were cleared, Captain Silla raised one brow while frowning. She crossed her arms and stared intently at Lorenzo's.

"Do you intend to grab Her Majesty's attention or have you speculated that if you act in such a way, I will be going to apprehend you?"

A smile formed in Lorenzo's lips with Silla's statements. "You catch on quick, Silla. I am glad."

Silla clicked her tongue for his 'casualness' of calling her first name that is not needed. And with his tone, he is clearly emphasizing that he is being sarcastic as well.

Silla was becoming impatient so she directly asked him, "What do you want? Do you want me to make a report to Her Majesty?" Upon observing him these years, she knows that this man will do anything to get what he wants.

"No, Silla. I wanted to talk to you." He had a faint smile. The other people might see him innocent but Silla knows that he has an intention.

"What is there to talk about?"

"Let us have dinner tonight."

Her frown got even deeper. She does not know what this man is thinking. His face is just too covered with a façade that she could not figure out what his intention is. How would she tell the Emperor that her fourth consort is acting suspicious? She must make a report sooner.

In the end, she accepted the offer to further observe him.

***
END OF CHAPTER 53
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