When I Took Back My Beloved Child Who Had Been Taken From Me, My Husband's Obsessive Love Began. Why? - Episode 46

By the time the personnel changes that had caused a stir within the palace had settled down, we were gradually able to obtain clues leading to the mastermind from the officials and servants who had committed the wrongdoing.

At night, Craig visits Lucienne’s bedroom and is able to share the new information he has obtained.

That was a secret known only to the two of them and Rite, and the public still believed that Lucienne was clinging to the position of Empress using Leoldo as a shield.

As always, I am the pitiful and bothersome empress consort…

Hearing the rumors that Rite had brought in, Lucienne sighed.

For Lucienne, it is necessary to avoid being wary of the rumors circulating in the world, but the lack of the same intimate relationship with Craig, who visits her bedroom almost every night, is a source of concern.

Craig said he likes Lucienne, and I’ve decided to believe him, so I might as well invite him myself.

However, I was scared thinking about being disillusioned.

(What does Craig even like about me?)

When I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with anything.

He used to say that he enjoyed listening to Lucienne’s lighthearted chatter, but since their reunion, Lucienne hardly ever speaks, and even after getting married, they only have the bare minimum of conversations.

Since getting pregnant with Leoldo, she has distanced herself from Craig, and rumors of infidelity with Aman have also spread.

Even if there are reasons to dislike you, there are no elements to make me like you.

Of course, in Craig’s mind, Leoldo’s presence must be significant.

Still, recalling the more than eight years since their reunion, Lucienne furrowed her brow.

In the end, even if I say I trust Craig, I can’t trust myself.

“…Mother?”

“—What is it, Leoldo?”

Lost in thought, I didn’t notice that Leoldo’s class had ended.

Leoldo is looking up at Lucienne with a worried expression.

In a hurry, Lucienne forced a smile, but Leoldo wasn’t fooled.

“Is Mother in trouble?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“But…”

Lucienne pondered how to convey her thoughts to the still unconvinced Leoldo.

Clumsy excuses won’t work on Leoldo.

So, just mix in a little bit of truth.

“Isn’t Father unable to have lunch with us today? He seems to be busy and can’t even come to see Leoldo, so I was thinking how unfortunate that is.”

“I see… Yeah, that’s too bad.”

Today, Craig seems to be quite busy with meetings with the envoy from the neighboring country of Tranji Kingdom and other miscellaneous tasks, and he had informed Leoldo yesterday that he wouldn’t be able to come and see him.

Therefore, there was no need to go out of my way to explain, but since it was Lucienne’s honest feelings, I confided in Leoldo.

Then, Leoldo answered as if he understood, and then expressed his own feelings.

In response to his adorableness, Lucienne hugged Leoldo.

“I hope we can meet tomorrow!”

“Yes!”

The earth science teacher, seeing the mother and child, finishes tidying up and leaves with a smile and a nod.

At first, the teachers were surprised by the amount of skinship between the two, but now they have completely gotten used to it.

At the same time, the teachers have shed their previous bureaucratic attitudes and the lessons have become emotionally rich.

Thanks to that, Lucienne was able to continue employing almost all of the teachers without dismissing them.

However, some teachers had biased ideologies, and Lucienne decided to dismiss them after observing their classes several times.

Of course, this also caused backlash and became a new source of rumors within the imperial palace, but investigations have revealed that it was also spread by those around Marquis Arment.

In short, the bad rumors about Lucienne and the favorable rumors about Claudine are being spread by the supporters of Marquis Arment.

Although I had anticipated it, I was still disheartened when Craig informed me of the investigation results.

“—Mother, were you watching?”

“Yes, I was watching closely. Isn’t it the highest level of purification magic?”

“Well then, is it okay if I don’t take a bath today?”

“Oh, that’s not good.”

In the afternoon, during the magic techniques class, the purification spell of water magic that Leoldo demonstrated was on par with that of an adult.

When I praised Leoldo, who was speaking with pride, his face lit up instantly.

If we’re talking about the childlike aspects of Leoldo, it would be his dislike for baths.

Before taking a bath, there were times when a little chase would break out.

When Lucienne deliberately grimaced and scolded, Leoldo let out a sigh as if he were disappointed.

That gesture was very similar to Craig’s, and Lucienne couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“I don’t feel cramped inside my body anymore. Aman taught me, and now I can control my magical power.”

“Your Highness, being able to control magic at your age is truly a remarkable talent. The future of this country is secure.”

Lucienne listened with a smile to Leoldo’s cheerful words, but deep down, she was worried.

Indeed, I have become able to control my magical power, and recently I haven’t experienced any symptoms of magical intoxication, but according to Aman, Leoldo’s magical power is still in the process of growing, and it’s uncertain when it might become uncontrollable.

For that reason, I should have handled the magic techniques carefully, but I didn’t want to rain on Leoldo’s parade.

However, the teacher praises Leoldo to the utmost extent.

Leoldo looked at Lucienne as if he wanted her to praise him more.

“Leoldo is really amazing. He worked hard on practicing magic control too.”

“Yes!”

Since Leoldo has endured magic sickness in his young body until now, he must understand how important magic control is.

Judging so, Lucienne also limited herself to just praising.

Then, Leoldo nodded with a beaming smile, looking even happier.