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chapter 20
Serenade of Love
On the grand throne set atop a towering staircase, the Emperor meticulously read the letter from the Astel domain.
“Is that all?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The head steward bowed, and the Emperor clicked his tongue in mild displeasure.
“There was no need for the Crown Prince to attend to state affairs until now, but he’s already twenty.”
At first, the Emperor had welcomed the Crown Prince going out to the battlefield and traveling, but as the time stretched on, natural anxiety arose.
Normally, by eighteen, a Crown Prince should accompany the Emperor in official duties and begin mastering the council. Yet under the pretext of “training,” he hadn’t set foot in the palace until turning twenty. It was understandable the Emperor felt uneasy.
“It’s been a year since I issued the final warning.”
The Emperor had not remained idle. Lucas was the Crown Prince, the sole heir to the throne. For years, he had been pressed, persuaded, and even convinced through emissaries—everything that could be done had been done.
Yet now, unexpectedly, the letter came from the Astel Duchy.
“That boy…!”
Boom. The Emperor slammed the armrest of his throne. All the stewards and chief maids bowed their heads as if they had committed some grave offense.
Of all moments, the heavy doors of the audience hall shook with pounding. Whoever arrived clearly chose the worst possible timing.
“Go see who it is, and tell them we have no time for visitors. Be gone.”
Cautious not to incur the Emperor’s wrath, the steward stepped outside. Upon seeing the guests, his face immediately relaxed.
“It is Her Majesty the Empress and the Princess.”
Though unexpected visitors, these two alone could instantly soothe the Emperor’s mood.
“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has caused you much worry.”
“Still angry, are you?”
The Empress Adeline replied gracefully, holding the hand of a small girl. Her neatly styled brown hair and gentle brown eyes still reflected the beauty that had once been rumored as the finest on the continent.
“Yes. The letter is said to have come from the Astel Duchy.”
“What does it say?”
“I do not yet know.”
Adeline nodded lightly. Just as she was about to ask more, a tiny three-year-old princess dashed through the slightly open audience hall doors.
“Luana!”
With her dark brown hair flowing to her waist and tied with a delicate ribbon, no one dared stop her rapid sprint—not even the Empress, who lost grip of her hand in an instant.
“Children are never a source of ease, no matter their age.”
The steward tactfully opened the hall door further, allowing the Empress to enter gracefully and gesture to the other courtiers.
The Emperor, seated on his sacred throne, had to maintain dignity; showing a wide, silly grin was hardly proper.
“Ababababa!”
“Yes, my little princess. My treasure. Our Luana…”
The young girl had climbed onto the Emperor’s lap, her chubby cheeks rosy pink.
Moments ago he had been angry, but now the Emperor embraced his daughter, tickling her and laughing together, completely smitten.
“Your Majesty.”
The Empress, approaching the throne, spoke sternly, but the Emperor had no intention of putting his daughter down.
“If you behave so, Princess, you’ll become spoiled. Luana, haven’t I told you countless times not to run about carelessly?”
Scared she might be scolded, Luana buried her head into her father’s chest.
“She’s still too young,” said the Emperor.
“Because You Majesty indulges her, proper etiquette doesn’t take root.”
“Hmm.”
The Empress sat beside the throne, the ornate decorations still reflecting her authority, though less grand than the Emperor’s throne.
“Luana, no more running. You might get hurt.”
“W… I’m sorry.”
Luana twisted her hair around her finger and suddenly planted a kiss on the Emperor’s cheek.
His grin widened further. For this great Emperor, no treasure was more precious than his little daughter.
“Now that Luana has apologized, is that satisfactory to the Empress?”
The youngest, born late but full of charm, was utterly irresistible to the Emperor.
“She’s small and adorable only for a moment. Don’t be too harsh.”
“She’s already on the imperial throne; letting her roam freely is hardly feasible.”
Luana seemed to understand their conversation, nodding and babbling in agreement.
“It’s difficult.”
“Oh, she’s learned a new word! She’s been speaking more these days. Truly clever!”
The Empress, of course, loved her daughter, but she could not surpass the Emperor’s indulgence.
“I was told by her etiquette tutor that Luana is a bit slow in speech.”
“Nonsense! That fool doesn’t recognize Luana’s brilliance!”
The Emperor banged the armrest of the throne. Luana, in turn, punched his hand with her tiny fist.
“Mo…Lu is da best!”
“Yes, indeed! How could she speak so well?”
The Empress thought it wise to have dismissed the courtiers earlier. Seeing the Emperor, even while receiving a knock, chuckle with delight clearly undermined his dignity.
“Your Majesty, Luana’s constant babbling is a bad habit. She already knows her titles, yet you indulge her, and she clings to childish whims.”
Luana nestled in her father’s arms, playing with the embroidery on his uniform.
“I heard you were upset about a letter from the Crown Prince?”
“Huh? That boy… never mind.”
Having become utterly charmed by his daughter, the Emperor waved the matter off.
“If you’re curious, it’s there. Take a look.”
The Empress exhaled a short sigh and opened the note. Seeing Lucas’s handwriting after a long time brought a smile to her lips.
“It seems our Lucas is finally planning to marry.”
Lucas had always been a thoughtful child. Mischievous, playful, yet unwavering once he resolved on something, and principled enough to command respect.
“Nonsense. The engagement was six years ago. Isn’t that already long past?”
“But our son has sent this decisive letter.”
The Emperor, still cradling Luana, muttered curiously. Though the Astel Duchy might feel slighted, he was being asked to formally announce an engagement long past.
“I don’t understand. If he liked the lady of Astel, he should have maintained the engagement. Why now, to formally proclaim it at Astel?”
“Usually, an engagement lapses after four years. Perhaps he wishes to reverse that.”
At this, the Emperor finally tore his gaze from Luana and looked at the Empress.
“…Why?”
“She’s always had a peculiar streak—clever and headstrong.”
“And?”
“I suspect Lucas would refuse to marry anyone but the lady of Astel.”
A bold statement, yet Luana’s playful antics prevented any anger from arising. Unknown to Lucas, his little sister was aiding him from afar.
“What do you think, Empress?”
“This time, grant the Crown Prince his request.”
The Emperor’s expression clearly showed reluctance. Adeline added the words she had initially hesitated to speak.
“Do you remember the day you proposed to me?”
“Of course. Not a day has passed without remembrance.”
“Yes. I cannot forget the discordant music beneath my window each night for a year.”
At the time, the then-Crown Prince Richard had seen Adeline’s beauty and immediately set his heart.
The issue was that Adeline was from a minor kingdom, and her family was at odds with the former Emperor.
“It was a serenade of love.”
“To me, it was discord.”
“In any case, you married me. My wish was fulfilled.”
Richard had persuaded his own parents and even Adeline’s to allow the marriage. She had resisted, and he had patiently demonstrated his sincerity for nearly a year before the proposal was finally accepted.
“Lucas resembles Your Majesty.”
“Lucas? No, Luana resembles me more.”
Regardless, it was not the moment to argue.
“If I had refused your proposal for a year, would you have married another woman?”
“Impossible.”
The Emperor answered firmly.
“I wanted only you, Adeline, not anyone else.”
It seemed father and son were remarkably alike. He alone might understand why the Crown Prince had left immediately after the engagement, vowing to train himself. Perhaps only the mother could sense it.
“I believe Lucas now sees you as you were then. What will you do?”
The Emperor paused, then sighed.
“There’s no choice.”
No one could prevent his feelings for Adeline. Having experienced it himself, he knew persuasion or threats would be futile.
“But the Astel Duchy will likely consider the engagement void.”
“Then simply provide an appropriate reason. The Crown Prince has been training, hence negligence… but now he wishes to take his bride.”
Indeed, the Empress’s insight was exceptional.
“Moreover, it demonstrates to the world that the House of Tern honors its promises.”
The Emperor, previously angered, now nodded instantly. Though an Emperor should exude authority, the gentle words of these two women left him with no reason to refuse.
