I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 212

The next day at the Imperial Palace.

Beatria stepped out of her chamber, draping a thin coat over her shoulders to guard against the brisk morning air.

She had one goal in mind: to meet her husband.

“Mother, where are you off to so early in the morning?”

She found herself confronted by Robert, who had come to check on her, filled with concern in broad daylight.

Since she had set out this early to avoid being seen by anyone, Beatria appeared a bit flustered.

“Good morning, Robert. I’ve been lying around all day and just wanted to get some fresh air.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to take someone with you…”

He expressed his worries, thinking she had just recovered from her illness.

While he understood her feelings and didn’t want to simply dismiss her desire, he thought it would be good to at least have someone around in case of emergency.

“You know I dislike having people trailing after me more than anyone else.”

“Still… Ah, in that case, I’ll accompany you, so please allow it, Mother.”

“I can’t refuse my concerned son’s suggestion. Let’s do that.”

After all, her reluctance to have subordinates around stemmed from another reason, so having the trustworthy Robert with her was fine.

She would prefer being alone, but leaving him behind in the current situation would only raise more suspicion.

Once the negotiations concluded, Robert gently took his mother’s hand and escorted her to the Garden.

The grounds of the Imperial Palace were so vast that there wasn’t just one garden, but as her son, he knew where she would want to go when she wanted to get some fresh air.

“By the way, did you not see Chloe this morning?”

Beatria asked as she bent down to lightly sweep the dewy grass blades with her fingertips.

“Yes, she likes her sleep too much. I think it will be at least two hours before she shows her face.”

“True, she was always the type to show up late even when I told her to take after your brother.”

“There were times when Chloe cried in front of me over that. You might not know, Mother.”

As Robert recalled past events, Beatria moved to the center of the garden with her signature gentle smile.

“Robert.”

“Yes, Mother.”

It was her specialty to ask potentially awkward questions without making eye contact.

As she utilized that tactic once again, Robert responded to her call with an even more serious face than before.

“What did you talk about with Father?”

“…Nothing much. But why do you ask?”

Robert tried to respond as calmly as possible, but Beatria could see right through him.

Her two decades of experience as his mother had not been in vain.

However, she chose not to point that out and continued speaking softly while cradling a flower petal.

“If your father came to find me, you would have definitely said something. You’ve always done so.”

“Well, he is a man who leaves me alone. To be honest, I have never truly considered him as my father.”

He was no fool. He understood how grave the responsibilities of an emperor were and how heavy that position was.

Yet the behavior Robert had observed from his father had long rendered the term ‘father’ almost unworthy of him.

Always keeping his family at arm’s length while spending all day facing ministers or guests, he essentially neglected his family.

Even amidst that, he seemed to have a desire for a successor, constantly offering Robert useless advice.

Somewhere along the way, Robert lost any desire for the throne because of his father’s hypocritical actions.

“Actually, I refrained from mentioning it, thinking about how it might hurt you, but even when you collapsed, your father merely showed his face for a moment before making excuses about his duties.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“That’s not something to laugh about, Mother.”

Robert had a rude thought that she might be momentarily delirious with laughter.

It hadn’t crossed his mind that there was anything funny about the previous conversation.

Meanwhile, Beatria continued to chuckle, not really bursting out in laughter but rather sporting a faint smile, occasionally grinning.

Robert couldn’t help but truly worry that the illness that had tormented her might be making her laugh uncontrollably.

The truth was, he had hardly seen such a genuine laugh from Beatria in a long time.

“I thought similarly. I’ve often wondered if your father doesn’t love me or you.”

“I think that’s true.”

Robert replied without a second of hesitation, yet Beatria simply shook her head slightly.

She believed that her son was still too young to see past the fragmented image of his father that he didn’t like.

“Well, I don’t see it that way.”

“Mother, it may sound disrespectful, but that’s just a vain hope.”

“Trust me. When have you ever seen me lie to you?”

As Beatria stood up and looked into his eyes with a firm expression, Robert eventually looked away.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her but rather felt foolish for doubting the confidence radiating from her gaze.

“You see, just before I lost consciousness, I heard your father’s voice. What do you think he said?”

“Suddenly throwing questions at me… I have no way of knowing.”

“That’s true. I made a mistake that isn’t really like me.”

As she burst into a giggle over something that wasn’t particularly funny, she raised a finger and revealed the answer.

“He begged me not to leave him. And then he held my body tightly and ran. That’s all I remember clearly.”

“…That implies he wouldn’t say such things to someone he doesn’t love.”

“That’s correct. Moreover, you know it in your heart as well, don’t you?”

Taken aback by his mother’s question, Robert averted his gaze, not knowing how to respond.

Stepping closer, Beatria held his hands up to her heart and began to speak to him in a soothing tone as if calming a child.

“If your father didn’t care for me and you, he wouldn’t have shown his face at all.”

“……”

Robert was at a loss for words, nervously biting his lips.

What she said was exactly right. It was a question he had harbored deep in his heart for some time.

If he truly didn’t value his family, what could possibly explain his behavior?

Just yesterday was a prime example.

If he knew that Robert didn’t regard him favorably, there would have been no reason to show his face there.

He could have easily excused himself with duties just like before, then he wouldn’t have had to hear any harsh words he didn’t want.

And yet he had appeared in the room where Beatria lay.

He had even stayed around despite hearing harsh words from his son, making the effort to remain for as long as he could.

He hadn’t looked away from his wife resting on the bed, finally leaving only after he had to use his duties as an excuse.

That was an act no man who truly turned his back on his family would engage in.

“I understand him better than anyone. If he truly felt his heart had departed from me, he likely wouldn’t even attempt to approach.”

Listening silently while keeping his head down, Robert clenched his fists tightly.

He didn’t misunderstand her words, but they were based on an overly hopeful view.

For whatever reason, that man had distanced himself from his family and had spent years driving nails into the heart of his devoted wife.

“Of course, I understand your feelings toward your father. But perhaps there’s some reason for his behavior?”

“I grasp what you’re trying to say, Mother. But whatever the reason, it doesn’t justify distancing himself from his family.”

He knew. Beatria fully understood that she was saying.

But what she wanted to convey wasn’t about trying to forcibly approach him, thinking he might have a reason.

It was simply that nothing would be resolved by shutting the door to his heart with crossed arms as if she knew everything about him.

“Surely, I understand how much you’ve suffered. But Robert, let’s make this promise.”

“…I’m not a child; I have outgrown promising with a pinky.”

Robert replied for the first time, slightly sulking while proudly displaying his pinky finger.

To this, Beatria, now half a head taller than him, affectionately stroked his head while gazing at him with overflowing motherly love.

“Isn’t that okay? To parents, children always remain little kids.”

“Please don’t say anything embarrassing. What is this promise you mentioned?”

Since he couldn’t sign a contract without knowing the contents, Robert lowered his raised hand and asked.

“If I happen to discover something about him and tell you, you must believe me. That’s all I ask.”

“Is believing enough…?”

“Yes. You don’t need to forgive or understand him; just believe what this mother says.”

“…Understood. If that’s what you desire, Mother.”

Though it left a bitter taste in his mouth, Robert pledged with his pinky in response to his mother’s wish.

He wasn’t sure what confidence she had to say such things, but somewhere in him, he felt he could believe her.

Tap. Tap.

At that moment, they heard someone approaching from behind.

This area was forbidden to outsiders, so the number of people who could come here was limited. When Robert turned to see who it was…

“Ah….”

Before them stood Bartheus, awkwardly gazing at the two.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your private moment. Should I come back later?”

“No, it’s alright. I had something I wanted to discuss with you too.”

Beatria replied with a gentle tone as she took a step forward and subtly turned her head.

She then showcased the pinky she had just shown Robert, following her husband in silence after that.

Thud.

Soon, a single lilac petal fluttered down from the breeze and gently landed on Bartheus’s head.

Realizing it was a delphinium, Beatria’s favorite flower, Robert carefully placed it on his palm and stared at it for a while.

Somehow, he felt a lingering touch from his mother, who, in his childhood, would occasionally ask him to wait a moment and step away.

Maybe even now, this petal was saying the same thing.

Suddenly, such thoughts crossed his mind.