Goddess Kingmaker – Chapter 8

Author: Chewyy

The emperor firmly cut off Count Montes, who was muttering to himself.

An emperor’s duty was not only to rule the empire and protect its people.

Establishing a stable successor was the greatest mission for the prosperity of the empire and future generations.

However, among the three sons of the Empress, the eldest son, who was the crown prince, was sickly and died before he was ten, and the second and third sons lacked ability compared to their ambitions.

The emperor had assigned them various responsibilities, but they always ended up entangled in conflicts or left things unresolved. Neither of them had ever produced a proper result.

“Hah.”

And then there was the youngest, Targa, who made the emperor sigh just thinking about him.

‘What good is being skilled with a sword if he has no charm?’

To compensate for Targa’s somewhat lacking lineage, the emperor had him marry the daughter of a prestigious ducal family.

However, the Duchess of Berk left within a year, leaving only a child behind. If Targa had at least taken proper care of his son, it would have been fine. But he was utterly indifferent.

Targa had never even inquired about his own child’s well-being. The emperor had thought Targa might at least introduce the boy before he died, but instead, Targa had simply sent an unfamiliar newborn.

“Do you really think that child resembles Targa?”

“Well, I guess.”

There must be a reason why the Emperor asked the same question again. The count shook his head as if he couldn’t remember anything.

“Wasn’t that a dark night? It was so dark that the baby’s face was barely visible.”

“Why? Did that child’s hair or eye color resemble Targa’s…? No. Never mind. As if that matters.”

“No, Your Majesty. This is not a trivial matter.”

“…What?”

“Perhaps the baby may have inherited the royal blood. For the sake of the royal family’s legitimacy, it would be better to properly confirm that in broad daylight.”

“Hmm.”

That makes sense.

The emperor, who had been about to dismiss the matter, hesitated, clearly shaken. However, his pride was no less than his son’s, so he would never admit it outright.

As if he had been waiting, he took his footsteps and kept his voice cold.

“Yeah. That night was indeed too dark.”

◇ ◆ ◇

“To Your Majesty the Emperor, the sun and moon of the empire—”

“That’s enough.”

The emperor ignored the greetings of the maids lined up as he entered the Layton Palace.

Since he had once used this place as his personal study, he didn’t need a guide. As he strode in, the head maid, Parma, hurried after him in small steps.

“Your Majesty, unfortunately, the baby is still sleeping.”

“So?”

And what of it?

At the emperor’s displeased gaze, Parma realized she had spoken out of turn and quickly stepped back against the wall.

In fact, even if she was a baby, she was not such a precious princess, and since His Majesty the Emperor had come, it didn’t really matter whether she was asleep or awake.

The only concern was that if the baby cried and irritated the emperor, Parma might suffer the consequences.

“The baby is inside?”

“Uh… Your Majesty, the baby is still at an age where the baby might be startled by strangers.”

Count Montes seemed to be concerned about that part, so he quietly added to the Emperor as he entered.

“At this stage, the baby is barely aware of anything, so—”

“Enough. It wouldn’t be the first time the baby was unaware of her surroundings.”

“…….”

Then why was the emperor staring so intently at his own finger?

Count Montes flinched when the Emperor suddenly stopped and stared at his index finger.

But as soon as their eyes met, the emperor scoffed as if nothing had happened.

“Huh. Anyway, that’s it.”

Before anyone could say more, the emperor approached the cradle.

There was nothing to complain about, other than the clean white cradle and the cute clothes.

Nevertheless, when he saw the baby’s face, he was momentarily speechless.

“Ha… Look, Your Majesty. The baby is truly as beautiful as an angel.”

“Well. It’s not bad.”

After all, the baby’s father had been handsome too.

Muttering to himself, the emperor gazed at the sleeping baby’s innocent face.

That night, he had been too agitated to take a proper look, but in the bright afternoon light, the sight felt different.

The long, curled eyelashes and soft platinum curls were immaculate. The baby’s tiny lips moved slightly, and her breathing was peaceful.

Everything about the baby was pure, embodying innocence itself. Even the emperor felt an unfamiliar stiffness in his neck.

“Hmm.”

It had been a long time since he had seen a baby this small. His loud sons aside, the emperor, who had spent his life surrounded by conspiracies and schemes, found this experience quite unsettling.

“Uung…”

“Look, Your Majesty. It looks like the baby is about to wake up. Now, let’s check the color of the eyes—”

“That’s enough.”

The emperor straightened his upper body while looking at the baby who was frowning. If the baby woke up for no reason, it would be noisy, but he hated the sound of crying anyway.

He was the one who valued the fact that the baby had not cried in front of him last time.

“I’ll head back for now and send a messenger to….”

“Aang?”

Everyone, including the emperor, held their breath as the baby slowly blinked her eyes.

Now the baby would cry.

They are sure that will happen.

Contrary to the concerns of those watching in case they might suffer if the emperor became irritated, the baby, who had just opened her eyes, raised the corners of her mouth.

“Heee.”

“…Hey, why is this baby doing that?”

The Emperor’s hesitant expression turned peculiar. He was relieved the baby didn’t cry, but he hadn’t expected such a bright smile.

“Could it be that the baby can’t see properly or something?”

“Of course not.”

Count Montes, who had cleared his throat, laughed, saying it was ridiculous.

“Perhaps the baby likes Your Majesty.”

“Me? Why?”

“Well… because you’re the baby’s grandfather.”

“…..”

The Emperor, who would usually snap at anything that displeased him, remained quiet.

He neither smiled nor showed any signs of joy, but at least he didn’t scold the count for his nonsense.

Instead, he mumbled complaints under his breath, barely audible.

“Hmph, didn’t you say babies at this age are supposed to be wary of strangers?”

“That’s true, but I think the baby has a very gentle personality.”

The count, who already had several grandchildren, added a plausible opinion.

The emperor, unable to object to that, stared blankly at the baby with his eyes wide open.

“Aaang!”

“…..”

Meeting the baby’s clear, jewel-like pink eyes, he felt an odd discomfort in his chest—but that was all. His mind was too preoccupied with summoning Targa.

“Then, isn’t it even stranger? Targa’s child being gentle? That’s impossible. Maybe it’s not even his real child.”

“Your Majesty, really.”

Montes chuckled, knowing the Emperor was just talking nonsense.

The baby’s gaze wavered slightly, but when the baby smiled again, the baby’s tiny white teeth showing, the count was completely captivated.

“Still, the baby has gained weight and is definitely prettier than a few days ago. The baby must be well cared for here.”

“…Hmm.”

At that, the Emperor glanced around.

That situation had arisen so suddenly that he hadn’t even decided where to place the baby, so he had the baby brought to the long-abandoned Layton Palace. He had no expectations for its condition.

But unlike his last memory, the palace was clean.

Although it was a little messy with things piled up, the floor was very clean. Obviously, someone had scrubbed and cleaned it diligently.

“Who has been taking care of this child?”

The emperor’s gaze naturally turned to the maids who filled one side of the wall.

The maids assigned to such an abandoned palace were typically those without backing or status. With no chance of promotion, they were expected to do the bare minimum, but it was quite surprising that they put so much effort into it.

“I asked a question. Who has been taking full responsibility for this child up until now?”

“Your Majesty.”

A woman named Parma, standing at the front, quickly stepped forward.

“It’s me. Although I was lacking, I took care of the baby. Although I don’t have a child, I thought of the baby as my own and stayed by the baby’s side day and night.”

“…..”

What nonsense.

The other maids’ faces momentarily twisted, but none dared to speak up.

The Emperor would leave soon, but Parma would remain to torment them.

Roen also remained silent without even raising her voice, as if she was unaware of the fact.

“Is that so? Caring for a baby must not have been easy.”

“Not at all. As a palace maid, it was my duty.”

Parma, who was bowing her head cautiously, approached the cradle.

“Our dear baby is so gentle and intelligent. I wanted to do something extra special for the baby, so I personally—”

“Huahhh!”

As Parma’s hand reached into the cradle, an ear-piercing cry rang out.

The baby, who had been smiling brightly until then, suddenly burst into tears, and the Emperor’s brows furrowed deeply.