I Won’t Accept Your Regrets

"This is exactly the order: prepare the Regulus Palace."

Regulus Palace. It was the palace in which the crown princes lived from generation to generation.

And you gave that palace to Carlisle.

At the moment, all I could do was ask questions.

We haven't discussed the future of Carlisle with Raymond yet.

Did you take this step because of the betrayal of the Sios House?

Handing over the crown prince's palace to Carlisle was like declaring him the next Emperor.

And there was notthing wrong with that for me.

The Emperor's heart was bowed in favor of our son, and it will be easier to enlist the support of a higher authority.

Yes, there is no reason to refuse.

Then I turned to the butler:

"I'll pick up a servant for him myself, so don't bother."

"Then I’m leaving, Your Majesty."

The butler left the room, and Harpen also went out to get the medicine.

I told the maid closest to me.

"Bring back all the morning papers that came out today."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The maid who left the room returned with an armful of papers. I leaned against the head of the bed and looked through the newspapers one by one.

Most of them featured articles about me and Carlisle. There were many articles about my child, but even more about me.

And this is natural.

I’m the first Empress in the history of the Empire to divorce the Emperor and then remarry him.

I also hid our son, but later I returned him to the palace.

There will be a lot of talk about my life in the last 6 years.

I looked to see if there were any articles maliciously misrepresenting the facts, but fortunately there was none.

Probably Raymond had a hand in this.

Despite the fact that there was plenty of talk, the absence of such dirty lines in the newspapers means that there was pressure from above.

I threw all the other newspapers aside and lingered on the newspaper, which revealed the contents of the ledger.

An article about Marquis Sios will naturally arouse suspicion among readers.

"That's enough to make me know about him."

More articles on this topic will come tomorrow.

Then, opponents of Sios demand that the investigation be carried out as appropriate.

Even if we couldn’t get evidence, we will find an excuse to oust Marquis Sios from the world of politics.

"Mom!"

I heard Carlisle's voice.

As I read the newspaper, I saw that Carlisle and my father, who were walking, entered the room.

Carlisle ran up and jumped onto my bed.

"Carlisle, are you feeling well?"

"Yes! Mom, this is a gift."

I wondered why he was hiding his hand behind his back, and Carlisle suddenly gave me a rose.

The scent touched the tip of my nose.

"Thanks, Carlisle."

I took the rose with a bright smile and said while stroking Carlisle's hair.

"Carlisle, do you want to go to the house where you will live with your mom?"

"Home?

"Yeah. A palace as big and beautiful as this one."

Only in the late afternoon did we reach the palace.

My father had left for his ducal duties, so now only Carlisle and I are left.

"Wow, is this my mom's palace?"

"This is the palace where your mom will live in the future. Do you like it?"

"Yes! It's so beautiful here,” Carlisle exclaimed, looking at the beautiful silver palace. Looking at his enthusiastic smile, I took the child by the hand and entered the palace.

Entering the lobby, the servants lined up and bowed.

"Greetings to Her Majesty and His Highness."

As Raymond's butler said the preparations had already been completed, the Empress's palace was perfect, unlike Regulus Palace, which wasn’t yet ready.

After a long absence, I looked around the palace.

I came back here again.

I promised I would never toss and turn again.

The palace was no different from when I left.

Everything was familiar, even six years later.

But now I will live a life different from the past.

The only thing that hasn't changed is the palace itself. My heart and the situation around me, everything is new now.

"Your Majesty, the bedrooms are arranged."

The maid came up and told me.

I'm not completely healed yet. After wandering a little, I was very tired.

"Okay. Carlisle, let's go."

I went to the bedroom with Carlisle to rest.

* * *

"Reportedly, Her Majesty has already moved to the Empress' palace."

Raymond, who was walking, gazing up at the darkening sky, nodded at the butler's words.

"Is the Empress fine?"

"Looks like she's getting better."

Even this morning he wanted to go visit Ellie, but he couldn't because of Carlisle.

What Carlisle showed him last night was shocking.

There was a hope that if he couldn’t immediately accept him as his father, then at least he wouldn’t hate him so much.

However, Carlisle's reaction, contrary to expectations, was a violent rejection.

When Raymond met him at the night market as a complete stranger, the child was much more supportive.

So what to do now?

"Haa."

Both the Duke and Ellie told him it was because Carlisle wasn’t used to it, but Raymond worried that it would only get worse over time.

Can I be a good father?

Suddenly, Carlisle and Jeremy came to mind, looking so happy together.

And the sight of Carlisle turning away from him was the exact opposite.

As he sighed at his disappointment, there was a rustle in the bushes. The servants didn’t hear it, but the sound didn’t escape his keen hearing.

And again this rustle.

This time, everyone turned their heads to the bush, where they heard a sound.

At that moment, when the knight had already bared his sword, Raymond saw the black hair rising from the bush.

"Stand!"

"Ah."

None other than Carlisle jumped out of the bush.

Carlisle tensed when he saw the threat from the knight.

The latter retreated just in time.

"Greetings to His Highness the Second Prince."

Carlisle was bowed not only by the knight, but also by the maid and the butler.

"Carlisle."

Raymond was surprised and walked over to the frightened child. The moment he reached for the child, Carlisle took a step back.

But Carlisle was looking for him for a reason.

The sight hurt Raymond's chest, but now he took his hand away.

He froze, making it clear that he wouldn’t come close.

Then he knelt down and looked at Carlisle. Just like when they first met at the night market.

"Are you okay?"

Carlisle looked at him intently. The hesitant child slowly pursed his little lips.

"Yes."

"That's good."

Raymond smiled.

Carlisle continued to stare at Raymond.

Raymond, who wore bright clothes and gave orders to people with a stern face, was intimidating.

So the child never had a chance to examine dad in detail.

But now he was thinking about something at all.

Over time, Carlisle found a familiar face in Raymond.

"The uncle I saw at the night market," Carlisle muttered in a low voice.

"I thought you forgot."

Raymond looked at Carlisle and laughed.

Carlisle blinked his eyes.

He remembered the warm embrace of his uncle, who kindly stayed with him, giving his mother time to find him.

"This uncle is His Majesty and my father."

It was too strange for the mind of Carlisle, who was still very young.

But it's clear now that Carlisle has become a little less wary of Raymond.

"Thanks for that day, uncle. No, Your Majesty… Oh, no. Should I call…?"

Carlisle tossed about with a confused face.

Raymond smiled at the sweet awkwardness of Carlisle, who at that moment was already frowning and furiously shaking his little head.

"You will get used to it over time. In the meantime, you can call me what you want."

Carlisle's vigilance was momentarily lulled by the gentleness of the Emperor's voice.

He answered awkwardly:

"Yes, dad."

It still looked awkward, but it was a huge step up from yesterday.

Wouldn't Carlisle have accepted him as a father, if he had given him enough time? Such a hope was born.

When he saw Carlisle staring into his eyes, not avoiding as before, it was a strange feeling that tickled the corner of his heart.

In an awkward silence, the Emperor only coughed.

Then he reached out gently towards Carlisle.

At first glance, it looked like he had escaped from the palace.

Perhaps Ellie is looking for him.

"It's dangerous to walk alone like that, baby…"

"Carlisle!"

They heard Ellie's call that he had shown her extreme need to everyone.