TFAR 31

chapter 31

Not the Past, But the Present

After the empress left the audience chamber with Luana, the emperor’s full attention turned to his son. It was time to forget the past and focus on the present.

“Hmm…”

Though he always pretended to be displeased, as a father, he couldn’t help but feel proud of his grown son.

“Come closer. Let me take a proper look.”

Lucas nodded and climbed the steps to stand before the throne.

“You remind me of my prime.”

Richard murmured with satisfaction, letting his eyes sweep over his son. Though he had been exasperated with Adeline in the past, as a man he could fully appreciate the youthful vigor in his son.

“In the past, I too traveled this world alongside loyal companions.”

“Yes, with the Duke of Astelle for many years, Your Majesty.”

From a young age, Lucas had heard endlessly about how strong and magnificent his father was as emperor.

It was especially well-known that even as crown prince, Richard had not hesitated to fight at the frontlines, and that at age ten, he had already matched skills with opponents six years older than him.

• Mother, why am I smaller than Cedric?

As a child, Lucas often asked questions that embarrassed the empress. Though teachers and courtiers repeatedly emphasized how strong and dignified Tern men were, Lucas’s own height lagged behind.

• You’re still young. One day, you’ll grow as tall as your father.

• But… Mother was already much taller than me at ten. And Cedric, and all the noble children my age, are taller than me too.

The empress quietly soothed her young son’s complaints. Richard had never faced such worries, so he couldn’t grasp the issue’s gravity.

• All Tern men are strong. You will be too.

Lucas trusted his mother and did his best. He even measured himself against the head maid in the crown prince’s quarters, recording his height on the wall.

Perhaps out of compensation, by age fifteen, his teacher had confirmed that he had mastered both academics and royal studies.

• …being smaller than others.

Yet that vague hope and pride were crushed during his engagement at sixteen. Hearing the mocking laughter of his much taller fiancée, Lucas lost his composure, said childish and hurtful things to the woman who would become his bride, and realized how inadequate he felt.

• I won’t return until I can stand proudly.

This solitary vow hardened in his heart. Though he occasionally felt the urge to return to the palace, recalling his fiancée’s derision made rigorous training bearable.

Gradually, he realized that the humiliation of the childish boy had one reason alone: he had been ignored by the woman he had fallen in love with at first sight. It was somewhat twisted, but it was undoubtedly his first and only love.

“About Astelle… do you really have to marry that lady?”

Richard’s question snapped Lucas out of his thoughts.

“Yes. Haven’t you already given your permission?”

“That was the empress’s will. I… didn’t exactly agree.”

By custom, an engagement lasting four years could be broken. Moreover, by contemporary standards, twenty-four-year-old Serena was an unmarried woman. Since the imperial succession was at stake, Lucas’s personal wishes couldn’t simply take precedence.

“My resolve hasn’t changed. Wasn’t it you, Father, who arranged the engagement back then? Consider it already decided.”

“Times have changed.”

“You’re not suggesting this engagement was due to a wager with the Duke of Astelle, are you?”

Richard shook his head firmly. Even if he was playful, he wouldn’t decide a matter concerning the empire’s succession on a whim.

“The Duke of Astelle is a capable man, and his family is noble. Even without a wager, I would have chosen the Lady of Astelle as your fiancée.”

“Then that will do.”

“That was six years ago. The empress held you at age twenty-two. Have you considered succession?”

“Of course I have.”

Lucas answered immediately, as if hearing exactly what he had hoped for.

“It cannot be postponed.”

He had waited six years. Now, he wanted nothing more than to marry Serena and never wait again.

“I saw her with my own eyes. She is healthy and full of life.”

His eyes shone with certainty. Lucas hadn’t sought a suitable bride merely for succession; he wanted Serena as his wife.

“And I will not marry anyone else but the Lady of Astelle.”

The emperor groaned at his son’s stubborn declaration.

“Fine, fine!”

Richard gave him a displeased look, realizing that this obstinate streak ran in the family. Though the Tern men were strong-willed, seeing it firsthand made him empathize with the previous generation.

“When you left six years ago, you had the same expression. You are my only son, and the heir cannot be left vacant any longer.”

This too had been Lucas’s calculation. He had already shown the world that he would stand firm in his resolve—doing it twice posed no problem.

“Leave the state wedding to the empress.”

“You are truly giving me permission?”

Meticulousness ran in the family.

“Yes!”

Richard shouted at his son, who was the spitting image of himself.

“If I had known, I would have had another son.”

“You didn’t seem to look at the princess that way earlier. Did you want Luana to be a boy?”

The emperor shook his head violently at the absurd suggestion.

“Luana is my love! How dare you!”

It was clear how much the parents adored their newly born daughter. For Lucas, his sister had simply filled the void of his absence, and he was grateful.

“More importantly… has the lady consented to the wedding?”

Richard suddenly remembered the chaos of the engagement. Though six years had passed, it was not easily forgotten. Even though older, she had dared to confront her fiancée with bold words, and both had turned their backs and laughed during the ceremony.

“In my memory… never…”

“Do not worry about her.”

Lucas smiled.

“Suspicious.”

“The wedding will proceed safely. No need for Serena to serenade for a year like her mother.”

Arrogant sons are never pretty, Richard thought, frowning.

“Do as you see fit. But if you teach Luana that insolent tone of yours, I will not forgive you.”

Lucas would eventually let his son go when he grew, but now Luana was a treasure, too precious for pain. If that adorable child started using the same audacious tone to defy the emperor, Richard’s heart would break.

“The empress missed you dearly. Go speak with her.”

Richard waved dismissively. Though parents shared the same affection, now the conversation between father and grown son was limited.

“I apologize for troubling you with my reckless ways.”

Lucas finally voiced his thoughts. Richard nodded slowly. At this point, he felt he had properly raised his heir.

“After the wedding, I will live fulfilling my duties as crown prince.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Ultimately, Lucas would not yield over marriage. Nor could anyone blame him. Even Richard himself had stubbornly pursued Adeline in his youth, resulting in the happiness he now enjoyed.

“Go, see the empress.”

“Yes.”

Watching Lucas bow and leave the audience chamber, Richard’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Indeed… he is just like me in my prime.”

His muttered words were filled with pride for his grown son. Now, no one could deny that the Tern Empire had a strong heir.

A few days later, the newspapers arrived in Astelle, reporting every detail of the crown prince’s triumphant return and how he had captured the hearts of the citizens.

“This… is a bit exaggerated.”

The portrait artist had depicted the crown prince with such majesty that it almost seemed real, riding into the palace on horseback.

Yet Serena’s attention was quickly drawn to the bold words emphasizing that the state wedding was approaching.

“I agreed to accept the outcome, but…”

She had never imagined that the imperial family, the papacy, and even her father would all side with the crown prince.

“And you just take that and leave?”

Serena still could not forget the image of him appearing at her bedroom window.

His gaze, like that of the most romantic man in the world, lingered in her mind. But now, with him gone, it felt as if it had all been a lie, fueling her anger.

“Let’s see if she’ll obey quietly.”

Though no one could defy the crown prince, she had already kicked his shin before—there was nothing more terrifying left.

“Miss, Miss…!”

Anna hurriedly ran to Serena, who was huffing in frustration.

“What? Is there worse news?”

“No, the duke is here now!”

Serena blinked slowly. Even hearing that the crown prince had arrived wasn’t as surprising as this—the free-spirited Duke of Astelle had returned home.

“Really! I was surprised too, but it’s really the duke!”

“Yes, good timing.”

Indeed, upon closer look, the commotion outside confirmed it.

“I had something I wanted to ask anyway.”

Determined to understand what her father was thinking, Serena quickened her steps.