When I Took Back My Beloved Child Who Had Been Taken From Me, My Husband's Obsessive Love Began. Why? - Episode 38

“—Leoldo, starting tonight, Mother will return to her own room. But I’ll stay by your side until you fall asleep.”

The next morning, after taking care of the usual tasks for the awakened Leoldo with Namia and finishing breakfast, Lucienne brought it up.

Leoldo tilted his head at those words once, but soon, as if he understood, his eyes widened.

Lucienne was wondering if he might feel lonely or if he would complain and act spoiled, but Leoldo smiled happily.

“Mom, you made up with Dad, right?”

“Uh, yeah. It’s more like making up… It’s not like we were really fighting or anything, you know?”

Indeed, there had been more than two years of living apart, but since returning to the palace, I hadn’t intended to show any signs of fighting with Craig in front of Leoldo since that reunion.

Even so, Leo must have noticed the awkward atmosphere between the two of them, as he was perceptive.

Lucienne thought so, but Leoldo shook his head slightly.

“If my mom and dad get along well, I will be very happy. So it’s okay.”

At Leo’s teasing words, Lucienne couldn’t help but hug him tightly.

I thought I had eased up compared to last night with Tite, but Leoldo screamed while laughing gleefully.

“Mommy, it hurts~”

“Mother is also in so much pain because she loves Leoldo too much.”

Lucienne also laughed and retorted, and the place was filled with bright laughter.

Namia was watching the two with a smile, but the Lucienne maids, including Rite, had stepped out to prepare the empress’s room.

I was planning to have Lucienne’s maids take care of Leoldo for a while, but I suppose I will have to choose a dedicated maid for Leoldo again.

No matter how much Craig is the absolute authority in this empire, he does not have all the palace servants under his command.

Now that we don’t know how much influence Claudine—those Arment marquises—have, we must be quite careful in our selection of people.

It seems like there have been quite a few changes over the past two years…

Lucienne had been somewhat aware of the personnel matters of the servants through Aurelia’s former maid since her stay at the detached palace.

The reason the roster of female servants has changed significantly compared to the male servants seems to be because Claudine and the Marchioness of Arment have been meddling as if they owned the place.

Regarding the civil servants, they are under the command of Craig’s subordinates, but the servants—especially the female servants—are indeed under the control of the lady of the house.

The fact that Claudine and the others were meddling was also proof that they were acting as the mistresses within the imperial palace.

Perhaps, because Lucienne had secluded herself in the detached palace, Craig was probably expected to eventually divorce and remarry Claudine.

In fact, Lucienne also had that concern—she was always afraid of being separated from Leoldo.

It seems that Claudine and Craig, rumored to be in a romantic relationship even before their marriage, have become a popular drama as a tragic couple torn apart by the temple.

(Well, I know that my aunt is also supporting that playwright…)

Lucienne was thinking about various things for the future while Leoldo was studying with the tutor in the morning.

I know that Craig has been struggling quite a bit with domestic reforms since he ascended to the throne.

Bertrand was not interested in politics, and even Aurelia was troubled by the corruption spreading among the officials.

And I was worried about my son, who was trying to implement reforms.

The former empress consort, who had been secluding herself in the detached palace, was still keeping a watchful eye on the personnel matters of the palace servants.

Lucienne was taught by the late empress about who can be trusted and who should be kept as an ally even if they are not worthy of trust, and she has inherited the list as well.

However, even Lucienne couldn’t manage the personnel matters within the imperial palace while she was recovering from the loss of her magical power.

In the meantime, Claudine and her group were not only gaining the favor of the public but also dismissing or relegating the trustworthy servants inherited from Aurelia to lesser positions.

I don’t really know what Craig’s true intentions are… but still, I have to do what I can as an empress…

I haven’t given up on the hope that Craig is thinking about Lucienne.

That said, I still can’t fully believe it.

Of course, I haven’t received any words like “I like you” or anything like that.

However, I can believe the words that there is nothing between me and Claudine.

It is probably even before his marriage to Lucienne, when Craig was already directing his gentle smile towards Claudine.

Of course, even if nothing happens between Claudine and me, I can’t restrain my feelings.

Even so, Craig chose Lucienne as his empress, even after gaining his successor, Leoldo.

In that case, Lucienne must also fulfill her duties as an empress.

But this is like, testing Craig, isn’t it…

I couldn’t do anything during the two years while my magical stamina was recovering.

In the meantime, I knew that Claudine and the others were meddling in personnel matters, but considering my relationship with Craig, I had resigned myself to it.

I only thought about Leoldo, and although I was lonely, I felt reassured believing the rumors that Claudine was giving him affection.

I had forgotten that even rumors can be fabricated…

Considering Leoldo’s loneliness, regret grows.

However, even if we can’t reclaim the past, we can fill the future with happiness.

For that reason, Lucienne must stand up.

Lucienne gently watched Leoldo, who was listening intently to the teacher’s talk, and then quietly left the place.

Leoldo no longer gets anxious just because Lucienne is a little far away.

Lucienne, who had just come out of the playroom and study room where a few more toys had been neatly put away, headed towards the writing desk set in the corner of the living room.

And so, I began the task of writing letters and sealing them one by one.