"Aunt, why?"
The Empress approached with an anxious feeling.
"Thank you for taking care of auntie."
I gave my handkerchief. Aunt accepted it and wiped the tears that rolled down her cheeks. After a while, Auntie finally calmed down. I'm still sitting next to her.
"Auntie heard from your uncle that Her Majesty the Empress wants to have a son."
Uncle said untrue things to his wife. Instead of being told that he wants to have children, it is more precisely a tool to find a royal successor. I had to obey my Uncle'sUncle's request. It would be troublesome to keep dodging. My UncleUncle will always try to push me. He would do it any time. When I just woke up, it's time to eat, do royal duties, even when I want to sleep. It's very tiring.
"Right."
"Even if you want to have a son, Her Majesty the Empress must do it together with the man she loves."
I was surprised to hear my aunt's words. Have a son from someone we love?
The Empress then buried her face. All this time, she had only thought about the re-election of concubine candidates. The Empress never thought about falling in love and having a relationship with a man. Even planning to have a son from the man she loves. Auntie held my hand.
"Her Highness the Empress should also be happy."
Happy words are only a mask of life, as the leader of the Northern Kingdom. She must put people's lives first. However, members of the Kingdom and nobles dominate. But actually, they are not on good terms. The distance from the people is also far. Therefore the Empress decided to join hands with the people. Together for the welfare of the Northern Kingdom.
"Well, advice from an aunt I will always remember."
Auntie knew the words the Empress said were just an answer. Why did the Empress say that? Does the Empress not want to live happily together with the man she loves? Among the empress concubines. There must be one who loves and is loved by the Empress. The second child of the aunt's newborn is a girl. Aunt invites the Empress to meet her daughter.
"Her face and skin are wrinkled." The Empress said about the baby in her arms. The second child of the prime minister. Aunt then laughed.
"Everyone as a baby has a wrinkled face and skin."
"But it's very wrinkled."
Not long after, there was the sound of footsteps heading towards the Empress's place.
"This baby is so beautiful and cute. You are fortunate to have a daughter with such a beautiful face."
"I was also surprised when I first saw my daughter."
The Empress did not understand why Duke Magnus said this baby had a beautiful face. The Empress only knows if this baby is wrinkled.
"Can I carry him?"
Duke Magnus asked for permission to carry him. The Empress then gave the baby. Duke Magnus held the baby and smiled happily. Aunt saw Empress and Duke getting along very well. The two of them are like husband and wife. With the baby in between, the two of them became a happy family. Aunt slowly left the Empress and Duke Magnus and their daughter. Aunt doesn't want to disturb their happy moment. He went along with Azief. Aunt signaled to her son by covering his mouth with one index finger. Azief nodded his head. It doesn't feel like it's late. The Empress looked around her. Wasn't auntie here? Why is the aunt now missing?
The Duke and I, along with the prime minister's daughter, were in his arms, walking in search of aunt.
"That's auntie."
I stopped and told Duke Magnus. Shows where the aunt is. Aunt and Azief are studying. It turned out that my aunt left me to give education to her son.
"Why did aunty give education to Azief. Don't the members of the Kingdom have a teacher?"
"Yes. Azief has a teacher in every lesson. But I want to form a bond between mother and child."
I do not understand. Huan Ran only knew in another life that she was spending time alone. Her parents are always busy. They never even spent time with her. Because of that, I became a quiet and timid child even though it was contrary to the name given to me by my parents. The Empress stood for a long time. She paid attention to aunt and Azief. Aunt is very patient in providing education. They sometimes laugh together. The Empress smiled at the sight. Likewise, with Duke Magnus, who was paying attention to the Empress. The daughter of the prime minister was fast asleep in the Duke's arms.
"Her Highness the Empress."
The aunt who had just noticed the presence of the Empress then stood up and saluted. Azief imitated his mother's actions.
"I just came here because I wanted to return your daughter."
"Elise."
Aunt then carried her daughter. So the baby's name is Elise. A good name.
"Looks like I have to return to the palace soon."
"Her Highness the Empress is not staying here."
"In the next few days, I will be busy taking care of some work."
Aunt could not hold her nephew as the Empress could not easily do things.
"In that case, okay. The Empress should take good care of her health."
"Thank you. I will come here as often as possible."
Aunt escorted the Empress back to the front of the courtyard.
"Have you met the prime minister?"
"I have met him. The two of us discussed the New Year's welcome event."
"New year's event."
"Right. Every year the Kingdom will hold a welcoming ceremony for the new year. Many guests will come. Each Kingdom will have one representative. All the nobles of the Northern Kingdom are also attending the event."
I just found out if there is a new year's welcoming event. Luckily Duke Magnus informed. Otherwise, it will be a big problem. Everyone will realize that I am not the Empress of the Northern Kingdom.
"Who will be in charge of the event?" The Empress asked Duke Magnus.
"Isn't every year Her Majesty the Empress herself who is in charge of welcoming the new year."
"Ha?"
The empress' mouth was wide open. She was so shocked that she couldn't believe Duke Magnus' words. It was a tiring event like this by the Empress who was in charge. Huan Ran hated crowds and being surrounded by people.
"Her Highness the Empress." Duke Magnus called out to me. I then realized.
"Welcoming the new year is a big event. Is there someone who will help me?"
"Of course, the servant will help. Her Majesty, the Empress, and servant, have done it many times. It has become a tradition."
So this man will help me. It seemed Duke Magnus wasn't lying. Suppose the Empress herself was in this body. She would turn to Duke Magnus for help. Even though their relationship was not good, the Empress fell in love with Duke Magnus. She will always try to spend a lot of time with the man she loves.