My Child's Father is The Emperor - Chapter 1.2
“So many things have happened.”
They say time flies when you’re raising a child. Perhaps because today is Leo’s birthday, Adele found herself reminiscing about the past.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped under a sign that read ‘Patricia Byrne’.
Leo’s eyes, which had been hanging on the window frame, lit up.
“Mommy! Mommy! We’re here!”
Adele got down first and held Leo.
“Can I buy something really big?”
Adele’s little cutie only added ‘-yo’* to his requests when he wanted something.
Adele smiled and ruffled Leo’s hair.
“Sure.”
“Yay!”
Excited, Leo jumped into the store.
It was a moment to watch with pride.
“Hmm?”
Adele felt someone’s gaze.
She looked around. Busy people hurried past her.
“Am I imagining things?”
Adele hesitated before entering the store.
“Let’s have cake for lunch, cake for dinner, and cake for breakfast tomorrow.”
Leo pleaded to buy both a large chocolate cake and a cake adorned with strawberries and candy.
“Leo, you can’t.”
“Aww.”
Leo made a pitiful expression, but some things just couldn’t be allowed. Indulgences had their limits.
‘Patricia Byrne,’ the popular cake shop in Dreyfus Territory.
Despite being quite expensive due to its dazzling appearance and delicious taste, buying a birthday cake from this store had become a trend among children.
But buying two expensive, large, difficult-to-store, and possibly wasteful luxury desserts was not feasible.
Moreover, even with the employees, there were only seven people living in the Ernst Mansion.
“You can only choose one.”
Leo wilted under Adele’s firm words.
Adele was already burdened with repaying the debt her father left behind. Buying such an expensive cake was a commitment in itself. However, Leo, who used to sneak cakes from his daycare friends, wanted to have one entirely his own. That’s why Adele made this difficult decision.
“…Okay.”
After hesitating, Leo chose the cake adorned with strawberries and candy.
As they left the store with the cake, the child looked back at the chocolate cake several times, as if lingering with regret.
Adele subtly sighed, pretending not to notice.
“Raising a child isn’t easy.”
As the child grew, stubbornness became more pronounced, leading to frequent occurrences like this.
“…If I had a dad, we could have bought two cakes.”
Adele paused at the unexpected mention of the word ‘dad’ from the child’s mouth.
When their eyes met, Leo puffed out his cheeks.
“Hans says that. Hans’s dad eats a lot, so he can have three cakes in one day.”
Adele lost her words for a moment.
“Leo.”
Small pupils turned towards her.
“Leo’s dad is slender, so he can’t eat three.”
That man probably wouldn’t like sweets.
Adele had personally confirmed that he didn’t even have a handful of belly fat.
“Let’s go quickly. If we don’t hurry, the cream will melt.”
“Yes.”
Leo quickly put on an unaffected expression.
Meanwhile, Adele was always concerned when Leo acted like this. After all, she couldn’t produce a father out of nowhere.
“Huh? Again?”
Adele turned abruptly to the side.
There was no one there.
“Why does it feel like someone keeps watching?”
Adele tilted her head in confusion.
***
“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you~”
As adults gathered, Leo chuckled when they applauded.
There were five employees working at the Ernst Mansion:
Royce, the butler; Vane, the coachman; Paul, the cook; Hannah, who did the cleaning and odd jobs; and Eri, the maid and nanny.
They were of the same commoner status as Adele, so they were equals as employees of the manor.
Adele was also determined to prevent the wastage of an expensive cake, prompting them to gather for Leo’s birthday celebration.
“Thank you!”
When Leo handed out thank-you cards with his scribbled name using his immature handwriting, everyone was delighted.
Leo received five small packages containing cookies or chocolates that the adults had brought, and wore a look that made it seem as if he had the world at his feet.
That’s when it happened.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
The sound of someone knocking on the front door echoed through the mansion.
“Who is it? We didn’t invite anyone else.”
“I’ll check.”
In response to Adele’s words, Butler Royce got up from his seat. However, moments later, Royce returned with a complexion of a different shade.
“Imperial Administrator….”
“What’s going on?”
Clack. Clack. Clack.
Unfamiliar footsteps reverberated in the mansion corridor.
Knights in uniforms and light armor rushed in and lined up in the narrow hallway of the state dining room.
“His Imperial Majesty’s envoy.”
A man soon revealed himself.
A holy sword at his waist.
An armor adorned with lynx fur on a silver cape.
Radiant regalia set against ebony hair.
And chilling gray eyes.
‘That man…’
Adele recognized him.
“…Van?”
Ignoring Adele, the man turned his attention to Leo.
“I’ve come to take my son.”
[TN:TN: “-yo” is “요” when romanized. this is a suffix added to certain words in korean to indicate polite speaking.]
