My Child’s Father Is the Emperor - Chapter 5

“Adele.”

Van called her name again, but there was no color in her face.

“This is a misunderstanding.”

The chill of her body was unmistakable even through her tattered clothes.

Van was momentarily taken aback.

“Adele.”

She trembled violently in his arms before losing consciousness once more.

He lifted her, cradling her limp form against his chest. That morning, he had seen her peacefully asleep, but now she looked as though she had been dragged through a battlefield.

Her bare feet were scraped and bleeding, and her clothes were torn and caked with dirt. The sight made Van’s expression darken, a dangerous aura spilling from him without restraint.

“Eek!”

The oppressive energy made the attending servants stumble backward in fear.

“Who brought Adele to the prison?”

Two knights stepped forward, trembling as they saluted.

“Y-Your Majesty, you instructed us to take her away…”

The spear in one knight’s hands quivered as he spoke.

“Take her away.”

Van’s brows furrowed at the memory.

When he gave that order, it was usually synonymous with “dispose of them.” The destination had been the underground prison, naturally.

Still, he had vaguely assumed they would show some deference to her position as the prince’s mother—perhaps placing her in a tower cell instead.

His gaze dropped to Adele, unconscious in his arms.

“This isn’t how I wanted to hold you.”

A bitter taste rose in his throat.

Carrying her, Van strode out of the prison.

“You two. Get inside,” he ordered sharply, gesturing with his eyes toward the cell.

The two knights didn’t dare make a sound of protest. They shuffled into the cell, heads low, through the twisted bars Van had opened earlier.

Clang.

With a single hand, Van bent the iron bars back into place. Though still misshapen, they were functional enough to keep the two knights confined.

“Let’s go,” Van said, walking away with Adele in his arms.

The oppressive cold that lingered in the prison remained, now accompanied only by the two knights trapped inside, left to endure the consequences of incurring the emperor’s wrath.

 

* * *

 

Adele’s whole body ached.

It had only been two days since the emperor appeared, declaring he would take her child away.

Was it the overwhelming shock, or the hours spent on the freezing stone floor of the prison? It felt like she was coming down with a fever.

“I’m so scared.”

Even giving birth to Leo hadn’t been this terrifying. Back then, she had faced the pain with resolve, determined to be strong.

As if sensing her inner thoughts, a soft, laughing voice came from above her.

“Is he really that frightening?”

“Yes, he is. I thought I was going to die,” Adele muttered, her words tinged with a childlike grumble as she slowly opened her eyes.

“Adele.”

It was a dream.

Van leaned down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead.

His lips were soft, his gaze filled with affection. The warmth in his expression melted like honey, pooling in his gray eyes.

“Am I dead?” she whispered.

“Not quite.”

“Whew, then it must be a dream.”

Relieved, Adele reached out and hugged him.

Sometimes, Van appeared in her dreams.

Always looking exactly as he had four years ago, the way she remembered him.

He never wore anything different in her dreams—always the light shirt he had on that night. Perhaps because she hadn’t seen him in any other way.

In these dreams, Van would sit by her bedside, dressed casually, as if he belonged there.

Adele would pour out her heart to him, recounting every little thing that had happened.

Van would lie beside her, holding her close, listening to every word.

Whenever she dreamed of Van, Adele always woke up in a better mood the next day.

Because in her dreams, Van was always on Adele’s side.

If she told him about something upsetting, he would say, “That must have been so hard.” If she shared a happy moment, he would beam and say, “That’s wonderful.” If someone hurt her, he would always take her side, insisting they were in the wrong.

But today, for the first time, Adele cried while meeting Van in her dream.

Through her tears, she lashed out.

“Why did you take so long to come back?”

“Sorry. I had some urgent matters to deal with,” Van replied gently, stroking her hair.

“Are you so upset you won’t even kiss me hello?”

Adele felt a pang of sadness.

After meeting the emperor in real life, she realized beyond a doubt that this dream version of Van was just a comforting illusion her loneliness had created.

“Van… I met you.”

“Did you?” he replied softly.

“You… you were the emperor.”

Van pulled her close, holding her tightly.

“And did you recognize him?”

Adele nodded. “He looks exactly like you.”

“Nearly as handsome as me?” he teased.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re far more dashing.”

“Ah. That must have been disappointing,” Van said with a light laugh.

He seemed in good spirits tonight, a stark contrast to the heavy emotions weighing on Adele.

“Why are you crying? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you cry before,” he asked, his tone curious.

“I think I’m going to die,” Adele said bluntly.

“…Why would you think that?”

“He… the emperor… only wanted to take Leo,” she explained, her voice trembling. “When he finally agreed to bring me along, it was with this cold tone: ‘I suppose the woman must come too.’”

As she mimicked the emperor’s stern expression and harsh voice, Van chuckled.

“Don’t laugh! I’m serious,” she protested.

“Perhaps there were circumstances beyond his control,” Van said thoughtfully.

Adele frowned, her chest tightening with frustration.

“Why are you being like this?”

“Like what?”

“Why aren’t you on my side today?” she said, tears of hurt slipping down her cheeks.

This was her precious dream, the one place where Van always comforted her, where she could find solace from the terrifying reality she faced.

Why was this dream so different from all the others?

“Is this… the last time?” Adele whispered, her voice trembling with fear.

“What do you mean by that?”

Adele blinked, tears rolling down her cheeks in a steady stream.

“Since I’ve met the real emperor… will you stop appearing in my dreams now?”

Van reached out, his fingers gently brushing away her tears.

“I was planning to come again tomorrow,” he said softly, his gaze steady and tender.

“Do you not want me to?”

Adele couldn’t answer. Even though this was a dream, the weight of her emotions rendered her silent. All she could do was cry.

“Adele,” Van called her name again, his voice soothing, though it seemed to grow distant.

Exhausted from her tears, Adele drifted back into a deeper sleep.

Van watched over her quietly as she slumbered, carefully laying her down on the bed.

“Adele.”

He brushed her soft, chestnut-brown hair away from her face, his hand lingering as he gazed at her.

Pressing his forehead gently against hers, he whispered, “Endure it.”

His lips brushed her forehead in a lingering kiss before he rose from the bed.

The emperor left the room, his steps soft and deliberate, leaving behind the still, sleeping figure of Adele.

 

* * *

 

Knock, knock.

The sound of a knock roused Adel from her sleep.

A voice came from outside the door.
“Miss Ernst, are you awake?”

“Yes,” Adel replied groggily.

“I’ll come in now.”

Adel blinked, still half-dazed, as the door opened.

“Good morning, Miss Ernst. My name is Yuria Hendricks,” said a graceful woman dressed in an impeccably tailored gown.

The sight of her brought Adel fully awake. She clutched at her nightgown, sitting upright as she bowed her head.

“I’m Adelaide Ernst. I’m sorry to greet you while still in bed.”

Yuria smiled warmly. “No apologies necessary. I didn’t get the chance to introduce myself yesterday. I’ve been assigned to attend to you. Please, let me know if you need anything.”

“Um, in that case, may I ask for something to wear?”

Yuria nodded gracefully and left the room.

“What’s going on?” Adel thought.

She had been in a prison cell just yesterday.

Adel threw back the covers and stepped out of bed. The injuries on her arms and feet, once raw and painful, were now treated and nearly healed, faint traces of ointment still visible on her skin.

Moments later, Yuria returned with several maids carrying a basin of fresh water.

“How would you like to have your breakfast, Miss Ernst?” Yuria asked.

“Um, where’s Leo?” Adel asked nervously.

“The prince will join you to greet His Majesty the Emperor after he finishes his breakfast,” Yuria replied.

“Together?”

“Yes.”

Relieved, Adel exhaled softly. “Ah… I’ll wash myself. You don’t need to assist me.”

As she rolled up her sleeves, two maids stepped forward to help, but Adel quickly waved them off.

“Very well. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call,” Yuria said as she and the maids left the room.

Left alone, Adel muttered to herself, “Together with Leo… that means they’re not keeping us apart.”

She washed her face and scrubbed her body thoroughly, her first proper cleaning in two days. The warm water soothed her, and she felt much lighter and refreshed afterward.

When Yuria returned to assist her with dressing, she brought out an array of elegant gowns.

“This one would look stunning on you,” Yuria said, holding up a green chiffon dress with a low neckline and exposed shoulders.

“No, I’d rather wear something else,” Adel said, shaking her head. She had never worn anything so revealing before.

“How about this one?” Yuria continued, pulling out another dress.

Adel declined each suggestion until Yuria, visibly disappointed, began tidying up the discarded gowns.

“Such a shame,” Yuria said with a hint of regret. “You’d look so lovely in any of these.”

Adel could only sigh softly, her mind still swirling with questions about what the day would bring.

Adel chose a dress similar to the ones she used to wear—a modest design that buttoned up to her neck.

“I don’t care about making a good impression on that emperor,” she thought resolutely. Her choice reflected her defiance.

Skipping breakfast except for a quick glass of juice, she hurried outside.

“Leo!”

At the entrance to the imperial garden, she finally reunited with her son after just one day apart.

“Mommy!”

Leo ran toward her, throwing his small arms around her. Adel knelt down, hugging him tightly, pressing her cheek against his soft, chubby face. In that moment, she felt a surge of gratitude for simply being alive.

“I missed you so much,” Leo mumbled, his small voice tinged with a whimper.

Adel forced a cheerful smile and ruffled his hair. “I couldn’t sleep last night because I missed you, too.”

“Hehe. I slept in a really big room!” Leo said proudly.

“Weren’t you scared without Mommy?” she asked, studying his face carefully.

“Nope! It was a bigger room, but I wasn’t scared at all,” he replied, his innocence shining through.

Seeing his carefree demeanor helped ease the tension in her heart, bit by bit.

Carrying Leo in her arms, Adel began walking through the sprawling garden.

“It’s so beautiful,” she murmured, marveling at the surroundings.

Yuria, who had been following behind, chimed in with an explanation. “This is His Majesty the Emperor’s personal garden.”

“A garden?” Adel echoed, her eyes widening in disbelief.

The space was so vast that even after an hour of walking, it seemed impossible to reach the other end.

“Yes,” Yuria confirmed with a polite smile. “The largest lake within the imperial palace, Lake Biner, is also connected to His Majesty’s garden.”

“A lake?” Adel asked, stunned. “Are you saying there’s a lake inside the garden?”

The scale of it all was so overwhelming that Adel decided to pretend she hadn’t heard the last part.

“Yuria, where exactly are we going? Surely we’re not expected to tour this entire garden?”

“No, of course not,” Yuria reassured her. “We’ve prepared tea and refreshments under the shade of that grove over there. You can rest while waiting for His Majesty to arrive.”

Adel let out a breath of relief. At least she wasn’t expected to explore the entire garden as some kind of punishment.

Grateful for the reprieve, she tightened her hold on Leo and continued walking toward the shaded area.

“Wow.”

Adel found herself more captivated than even Leo as they arrived at the outdoor tea table.

“Is this the lake you mentioned?” she asked.

“Yes, this is Lake Biner,” Yuria replied with a smile.

The lake sparkled under the sunlight, its silver ripples reflecting a beauty so serene it seemed almost unreal. A majestic tree provided shade by the lakeshore, its presence both grounding and elegant.

Yuria handed Leo a ball, and he ran off, laughing as he chased it across the lush green grass.

The picturesque scene, so tranquil and ordinary, eased Adel’s tension. For the first time in days, she allowed herself to relax, her heart feeling lighter. A bright, unrestrained smile spread across her face.

“Leo, shall we play treasure hunt?” she suggested playfully.

“Yes! I want to play!”

When Leo closed his eyes tightly, Adel hid the ball beneath the long, draping tablecloth.

Yuria and the maids, observing the scene, stifled their laughter behind their hands.

“All right, you can look now,” Adel said.

Leo opened his eyes, his face lighting up with excitement as he began searching eagerly.

Watching her son dart around with such pure enthusiasm, Adel’s heart swelled, and she couldn’t help but smile warmly.

It was a fleeting moment of peace.

“Daddy!”

Leo’s sudden shout cut through the calm, and Adel’s smile froze on her face.

Turning sharply, she saw the emperor approaching, his imposing figure casting a long shadow across the grass.