When I opened the window, the fresh and cold air of winter brushed against my skin.
The fresh air, the warm sunshine, the sound of the birds, with my husband lying in bed, everything was perfect.
I sat on the bed and tapped Blakeâs cheek, who had just fallen asleep.
âBlake, itâs already morning. Get up.â
âHmm. Five more minutes.â
He said in a cute drowsy voice.
He must be very tired yesterday because he fell asleep at dawn after staying up late at night.
The sight of Blake mumbling without even opening his eyes reminded me of the old days.
I smiled and rubbed his soft cheeks. I want to let him rest like this, but I decided to have breakfast with Tenstheon today.
Weâll be late if he sleeps more.
âCrown prince, wake up now.â
I whisked off the blanket. Then Blake frowned.
âAncia, itâs so hard for me to take it off every morning.â
Heâs saying something that will be misunderstood again! Donât leave out the word vaguely!
I glanced at him without saying a word. Then Blake smiled suspiciously and hugged my waist.
âMy wife is so warm.â
Even if a rabbit grows, it does not become a wolf. My husband is also a white rabbit who has never changed. Just a little, no, maybe a lot more seductive.
He must know how beautiful he is. I wanted to listen to everything he wanted, but I said firmly.
âWake up. Weâre going for breakfast. Our fatherâs waiting.â
âItâs alright.â
âItâs not alright.â
Tancinol disappeared and Richard was sealed. The truth of a thousand years ago has been revealed, and the roum discrimination is decreasing. Trade with Chang went smoothly, and the empire is peaceful.
Plus, Blake grew up to be a healthy and wonderful young man, and we were always together.
There was only one thing on my mind, although I was so happy that I didnât worry about anything these days.
Blake and Tenstheon are still at odds.
Blakeâs like this not because he was simply tired. He would rather sleep in and avoid eating with Tenstheon.
The three of us ate together once a day. However, Blake and Tenstheon were becoming more awkward
than closer.
If there was a conflict of opinion about political affairs or if it became awkward because of their fight, I would try to reconcile them, but it was not like that either.
The relationship between the two showed little signs of recovery.
âCome on, wake up!â
I forced Blake up, and I was able to get to the Phillia Palace without being late.
Even though we went just in time, Tenstheon arrived first and was waiting for us.
âFather, youâre here already?â
âAncia, you look very pretty today.â
âFather looked wonderful too.â
We exchanged greetings as usual. However, Blake only lowered his head slightly without saying a word. Tenstheon tried to move on without saying anything.
It canât go on like this.
I send a signal to father through my eyes.
âSay hello to Blake too! A light compliment! Praise him! Come on!â
âHmmm.â
Did he read my eyes correctly? Tenstheon looked at Blake and cough awkwardly.
He hesitated for a moment about what to say and slowly opened his mouth.
âHmmâŠyouâre pretty too.â
ââŠâŠâ
ââŠâŠâ
Blakeâs expression hardened, and I was speechless.
Father, thatâs not the compliment your son wantsâŠ
I donât know how someone who excels at everything else became like this when it is related to Blake.
Finally, todayâs breakfast ended in an awkward atmosphere.
***
How could she make the distance between the two closer?
In fact, it was not a problem that would be solved easily.
Blake was hurt as a child. Of course, Tenstheon had his reasons, but even so, it was up to Blake to forgive him or not.
No one could force him until his mind was ready.
However, I felt uncomfortable because I think it was because of me that the two of them became like that. If I hadnât disappeared at that time, they would have been much better off than nowâŠ
âAncia.â
Looking at roses while sighing, I turned my head when I heard a manâs voice.
âEunhan!â
âIâm sorry, I came a little late.â
âNo, Iâve just arrived as well. â
I was waiting in the glass greenhouse when I heard from Tenstheon that Eunhan was coming.
âHow have you been?â
âIâm fine, thanks to you, my workload has decreased. How are you?â
âIâve been fine too.â
âThatâs great.â
Eunhan smiled softly. He always had that calm yet elegant expression.
âI brought the book you mentioned before.â
Eunhan gave me a book wrapped in silk cloth.
After treating tancinol with taekri tea, I became interested in the herbs from Chang. When we met before, I said that I was curious about Changâs medical books, and he didnât forget to bring them.
âThank you very much.â
âNo, and thisâŠâ
Eunhan carried a box made of jade in his hand.
âWhat is this?â
The box looked so precious.
âItâs a necklace.â
âNecklace?â
When I asked again, Eunhan suddenly panicked and added an explanation.
âAh, it doesnât mean anything special. In case thereâs a crisis like before, I think we need a device to communicate.â
Eunhan visited the Imperial Palace by the time the tancinol incident was already taken care of.
When he heard what had happened, he was surprised and blamed himself for not being helpful.
And after that, he would visit us once every 15 days and ask how we were doing.
Taking care of Chang is already difficult and it would be even more difficult for him if he kept coming.
Rather than coming here directly, it would be better for him to use a communication device.
âBut it looks so preciousâŠâ
âNo, I prepared it because I wanted to. Itâs for our own good, so donât feel too much pressure.â
But it seemed so precious.
I felt like I had to reciprocate when I received it. While thinking about the right gift, someone snatched the box.
âYou come here very often. You must be very idle.â
Blake lowered his eyes coldly looking at the jade box.
âBlake.â
Blake said that sarcastically. I was startled and called his name carefully, but Blake continued in a cold tone.
âArenât you able to eat enough of your hometown food? Why do you keep coming here?â
âBlake, what do you mean?â
I wondered why he said that out of the blue, but Eunhan shut up as if he understood it.
âItâs nothing. Wife, I have something to talk about with the Emperor of Chang, would you please excuse us for a moment?â
Blake eased his expression and smiled at me.
âAlrightâŠâ
Although the relationship between the two is bad, they are the Crown Prince of Asteric and the Emperor of Chang respectively.
They wonât act recklessly. I nodded and headed out of the greenhouse.
***
Tenstheon remained in his office after he had finished talking to Eunhan, reading letters from the nobles.
They were all useless things, such as letters to praise his achievements, and request for remarriage.
Among them, there was a letter with messy handwriting.
[Your Majesty is the one I respect the most. I want to be a great man like you.]
It was a letter written by the grandson of the Marquis of Sheldom himself.
His grandson is about eight years old this yearâŠ
Such letters were usually written by parents instead, but strangely, it was written by the child.
In addition, it was not formal and the overall content was a mess, as if it was written purely by the child themself without being watched by adults.
But Tenstheon felt this letter was really unique.
RespectâŠ
He wasnât a man great enough to be respected.
He could not protect his only son back then. Even when Blakeâs curse was lifted, there was still no emotional bond between the two.
There were times when Blake held his hand again. He held the child in his arms, went back and forth to the field to teach him swordsmanship.
But everything was different when Ancia disappeared.
He couldnât comfort Blake properly because he felt guilty about losing Ancia.
He felt guilty to even talk to the child and he was angry being unable to find Ancia.
It all got tangled up and eventually their relationship broke.
The disappearance of Ancia left the grieving child lonely again.
âAfter all, everything is my fault.â
People agreed that Tenstheon was the best empire. He was always praised as a good father of the nation.
But in reality, he was a bad father. He was a fool who made mistakes because he didnât even know how to deal with his only son.
He looked at the letter with mixed feelings, and the door burst open as Blake came in.
Tenstheon was somewhat surprised to see his son suddenly at night. The black cat in Blakeâs hand caught his eye before he asked anything.
âEunhan!â
âMeow!â
A cat was dangling from Blakeâs neck and cried sadly at Tenstheon.
âYou know at a glance if itâs a person you care about.â
Blake spat out as he threw the cat into Tenstheonâs arms.
âWhat are you doing!â
âI was angry because he was trying to do something with someone elseâs wife.â
âWhat are you talking about?â
Tenstheon looked at the cat on his lap in surprise. However, Eunhan, who turned into a black cat, shook his head as if it was unfair.