A year ago, following her second miscarriage, the imperial physician delivered a verdict that had nearly shattered Eleanora completely.
She would never conceive again.
At the time, it felt as though the heavens themselves had collapsed upon her shoulders. All her hopes had been pinned on that child, and when she lost it, she found herself wandering through her days without direction, unsure of what to do next.
She had truly believed a child would change everything.
Not only her own fate, but The Emperor's as well.
Perhaps then he would finally see her efforts. Perhaps he would acknowledge her devotion. Perhaps he would look at her as a husband should.
With that belief in mind, Eleanora followed every prescribed remedy without complaint. She drank bitter medicines, endured exhausting treatments, and offered countless prayers to the gods.
She gave everything she had.
Yet now, after discovering she was miraculously carrying another child, the emperor had shattered what little trust and respect remained in her heart.
No one could understand the joy she had felt when she sensed the tiny life growing within her. The confirmation of her third pregnancy had felt like a blessing after years of grief.
As moonlight filtered through the towering trees of the palace gardens, Eleanora gently rested a hand against her still-flat stomach.
"I was preparing a surprise for your father, but his surprise completely shocked me; what should I do now, my child?"
Her voice wavered despite her attempt to smile.
"He never approved of any man near me, yet he openly cheated on me..."
A bitter chuckle escaped her lips.
The cool night breeze brushed against her pale cheeks, carrying with it the scent of blooming roses. Normally she loved the palace gardens. Tonight, however, even their beauty felt hollow.
Each moment taunts me with my own stupidity...
She had always done everything in her power to earn his attention.
Unlike other noble ladies, Eleanora had not been raised to be delicate and fragile. She had grown up as a knight commander, spending more time on training grounds than in drawing rooms.
Yet before their marriage, she changed herself for him.
She lost weight.
She devoted herself to beauty treatments.
She studied noble customs and etiquette.
She worked tirelessly to become an ideal empress.
Yet, he didn't even bother to arrange a wedding ceremony for them,
"Perhaps his disdain for me was so great that he didn't even arrange a wedding ceremony, and I, in my folly, married with a smile, oblivious to the ridicule."
"I should have understood it then, my child... your mother was foolish."
The Valentino Empire stood as the most powerful empire on the continent, and Eleanora's contributions to that strength could not be ignored.
Whenever the emperor demanded proof of her worth, she delivered it.
Enemies fell at her feet.
Territories expanded beneath her sword.
Every ambition he voiced became another burden she willingly carried on his behalf.
Yet none of it earned her affection.
Whenever Cathain embraced her, there was never warmth behind it. His touch always felt distant and mechanical, as though he were fulfilling an obligation rather than sharing intimacy with his wife.
It felt more like punishment. A punishment whose crime she had never understood.
Still, those fleeting moments meant everything to her.
Every rare touch.
Every embrace.
Every stolen scrap of affection.
Even when they hurt.
Their magical bond caused sparks to race across her skin whenever they touched, and his familiar scent always left her feeling intoxicated.
For years she had yearned for more.
More warmth.
More attention.
More love.
She had dreamed of sharing a normal marriage with him.
Yet after every encounter, he would simply fix his clothing and leave.
No apology.
No sympathy.
No lingering glance.
Nothing.
The emperor would rather watch his empress suffer than offer her even the smallest measure of affection. His disregard had always been obvious.
Yet Eleanora continued loving him regardless.
At times, it felt as if that was her sole purpose in life.
But tonight something had changed.
Something inside her had finally broken.
She could no longer endure it.
She no longer knew how to face him and pretend nothing had happened.
His actions at the banquet had wounded her more deeply than any battlefield injury ever could.
Gathering the hem of her gown, Eleanora hurried deeper into the palace gardens. Tears blurred her vision as she fled beneath the moonlit pathways.
Enough is enough!
How dare he treat me like that?!
The night air stung her skin as she inhaled sharply. Leaves rustled overhead, and flower petals danced along the stone paths beneath the cool breeze.
Normally, such a peaceful scene would have calmed her.
Tonight, it did nothing to ease the betrayal raging inside her chest.
The memory of her previous miscarriages left her fearful enough to keep this pregnancy hidden.
She had promised herself she would protect this child.
She would not allow history to repeat itself.
For the first time, Eleanora found herself grateful for her secrecy.
Had the emperor known about the child growing inside her now, she was certain both she and her baby would be cast aside.
A struggle for succession would inevitably arise between the two heirs.
And when that happened...
There was no doubt whose child Cathain would choose.
I was able to take the grief before, but now I will be completely shattered if something happens to this child too.
Leaving the palace wasn't a way for her either.
Not without her father's protection.
If she attempted to flee now, she would only make herself vulnerable.
And in her darkest moments, she couldn't completely dismiss an even more horrifying possibility.
The emperor's child with Jena had already been declared the future heir.
What would happen if his legitimate heir suddenly appeared?
Would he see the child as a threat?
Would someone else?
The thought alone made her blood run cold.
Cathain had crowned Jena queen without hesitation and proclaimed her unborn child the future ruler of the empire. There had been no regret in his decision.
No guilt. No consideration for Eleanora whatsoever.
Now she realized how foolish she had been.
No child would have changed his feelings toward her. The belief itself had been a fantasy.
Every instinct urged her to leave, but the empire still needed her.
Even after everything, her first thought remained the welfare of her people.
She hated herself for it.
Eleanora had little faith in Jena's ability to lead.
The girl possessed neither noble education nor political experience.
In Eleanora's eyes, Jena was little more than a beautiful face who knew nothing of warfare, governance, diplomacy, or sacrifice.
But what about my health and the child I am carrying?
Hadn't I suffered enough?
Four years.
She had endured four years of neglect.
Four years of offering her heart to someone who treated it as worthless.
And now, the final blow had arrived.
Another woman was carrying the child he celebrated before the entire empire.
"I was merely a fool..."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"A fool to think he wouldn't overstep that line, to hold someone else, who is not me..."
Her voice broke.
The ache in her chest became almost unbearable.
Eventually, Eleanora lifted her gaze toward the star-strewn sky.
The moon hung high above the gardens, bathing the world in silver light.
For a fleeting moment, everything seemed calm.
Almost peaceful.
She wished she could remain there forever.
Away from the palace.
Away from politics.
Away from betrayal.
If only everything was this peaceful...
Us, together with our children... wouldn't that be wonderful?
Just like the days with my parents...
Lost in her thoughts, she remained there for nearly an hour.
Eventually, reality returned.
With a weary sigh, she forced herself to stand.
It was time to go back.
Suddenly, Eleanora's eyes narrowed.
The garden had fallen strangely quiet.
She could sense someone's presence nearby. The shadows beneath the trees shifted gently as the wind passed through them. Though darkness obscured much of the figure, the moonlight revealed enough for her to distinguish his features.
A young man stood beneath a tree.
His light blond hair swayed softly in the breeze.
His arms were folded across his chest.
And despite standing perfectly still, there was an unmistakable loneliness about him. Shadows draped over his figure, making his emerald-green eyes appear almost luminous against the darkness.
Why is he here?
Curiosity overcame caution.
Ignoring the emperor's repeated warnings to stay away from him, Eleanora slowly approached.
Yet before she could get close enough for a better look, the man turned.
And vanished.
In the span of a heartbeat, he disappeared behind the trees.
Eleanora froze.
The garden stood empty.
Silent.
As though he had never existed at all.
Could it have been all in my mind?
After everything she had experienced tonight, perhaps she was imagining things.
Her emotions were stretched to their limit.
The pregnancy, the heartbreak, the humiliation...
It was enough to break anyone.
Maybe I should go back and sleep now...
Things will be tougher for me from now on.
Turning away from the empty garden, Eleanora made her way toward her abandoned palace residence.
By now, the news of Jena's pregnancy had undoubtedly spread throughout the capital.
Tomorrow, everyone would look at her with pity.
Some would sympathize.
Others would quietly mock her.
Regardless, she could not afford to lose her composure.
She was still the Empress.
At least for now.
Her position was already hanging by a thread, and the last thing she needed was another excuse for the nobles to oppose her.
Not until her father returned.
She lifted her eyes toward the distant stars.
Please come back soon and safe.
I need you beside me so badly this time.
.
.
.
Papa...