The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 153

Chapter 153. Forgiveness

The Emperor and Emilia were leaning their heads against each other as they slept. They looked like an affectionate couple.

“Ha.”

It seemed his worries had been unnecessary. Damian gave a hollow smile, placed the basket he brought on the table, and quietly left the greenhouse.

***

“Your Highness, would you like some tea?”

Emilia opened her eyes late in the afternoon. She didn’t even know when she had fallen asleep, but when she opened her eyes, Louid’s red eyes were right above her. Embarrassed, she asked if he wanted tea. In truth, he didn’t really like tea. He liked juice even less.

“No.”

“Then would you like some juice?”

“Alright.”

It was unexpected, since she thought he would refuse.

“Please let go of me first….”

She was lying almost in his arms.

“Ah!”

Only then did Louid seem to realize it and released the arm that had been holding her.

She poured him some juice, and he silently drank the apple juice.

“Do you like juice?”

“Yeah.”

I thought he didn’t like juice. That’s strange.

When she looked at him with a puzzled gaze, Louid slightly avoided her eyes.

Ah, right!

Emilia nodded to herself. He said he was ten years old now. Then it made sense that he liked juice.

***

A week passed like that. Emilia felt time was passing very quickly. The time to give birth was approaching. It was time for her to leave his side.

But the day before, she heard something unexpected from Damian.

“They say His Majesty stays in the greenhouse day and night.”

“What? Is that true?”

“Yes. Even the head chamberlain and Duke Asher keep asking him, but he won’t listen.”

“Your Highness, let’s go outside the greenhouse.”

Emilia took his hand. She felt like she needed to bring him outside now that he only stayed in the greenhouse. When her hand touched his, Louid flinched.

“No.”

He didn’t move at all.

“Why not?”

“I’ll go if you give me a reward.”

Ah! It seemed he liked rewards when he was ten. With no choice, Emilia gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

“Alright.”

Then Louid readily agreed to her request. The two of them walked together in the backyard.

“You’ll come again tomorrow, right?” Louid asked with a bright face. Standing in the sunlight, he shone like a sculpture just made by an artist. Since tomorrow was the weekend, he looked worried that she might not come.

“Yes. But I won’t be able to come to the palace in a few days. Thank you for letting me see such a wonderful greenhouse, Your Highness.”

Emilia spoke with difficulty. Since her due date was near, she could no longer come to the palace. If she suddenly went into labor in front of Louid, it would be a disaster.

“Even if I don’t come, the greenhouse will be maintained well. There are other gardeners.”

In truth, the greenhouse was already maintained so well that it didn’t need her care.

“That won’t do. No one else can come in here,” Louid said firmly.

He seemed like a child with separation anxiety. Emilia was worried his condition might worsen.

“You must eat well even if I’m not here.”

“I won’t eat.”

As if to prove he meant it, he refused lunch that followed the walk, and didn’t eat the potato soup and rye bread he liked.

“Sigh, alright. I’ll come for a few more days.”

Emilia had no choice but to come to the greenhouse for a few more days than planned. As the time for her to return to the ducal residence that afternoon drew near, she cautiously tested Louid.

“Wouldn’t it be better to go back to the Crown Prince’s palace now?”

“I have to stay here and keep asking the Empress for forgiveness. She died because of me.”

Louid’s expression suddenly hardened as he spoke firmly.

Was it such a great sin that his mother died while giving birth to him?

Forgiveness….

Emilia thought about what she felt now. She had already forgiven Louid.

‘My love. How could I have lived without you?’

Looking at Louid in silence, she decided to put herself in the position of the late Empress.

“Her Late Majesty did not die because of you, Your Highness. And she has already forgiven you. Even in heaven, she must be wishing only for your well-being.”

“Did she forgive me?”

Louid murmured as if speaking to himself.

“Of course.”

With tears welling in his eyes, Louid lowered his head toward her. Emilia embraced him warmly.

“Oh? There are weeds.”

There were a few weeds beside the Maromi tree that she hadn’t seen before.

“I’ll do it.”

As she got up and crouched down slowly to pull the weeds, Louid jumped to his feet. In just a few seconds, he had pulled them all out.

“This is fun. What should we do next?”

His face looked brighter than before. Emilia watched him with a pleased expression.

“The greenhouse is already so clean that there’s nothing for me to do. Should we plant more Maromi trees over here?”

Looking around, there was empty space among the flowers, so she suggested it.

“Alright, good.”

Louid smiled, the corners of his lips lifting. He helped Emilia to her feet when she couldn’t stand up from her crouched position.

But the next day, when she came, there were Maromi saplings at the entrance of the greenhouse.

He said it was a rare tree from the eastern continent, yet he obtained saplings this quickly?

Emilia’s eyes trembled.

“I think we’ll need to call workers.”

To dig holes and plant them, it seemed necessary to call workers.

“I’ll do it.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Louid stripped off his upper garment.

Startled, Emilia quickly turned her head away. Though he had grown thinner than before, his body was still entirely muscular and beautifully sculpted.

Louid grabbed a shovel and dug the hole in an instant, then planted the tree and firmly packed the soil. Sweat poured down his body like rain, but he paid no attention to it. His expression was bright, which made Emilia feel relieved.

‘I think I can leave now. He’ll live well.’

It seemed his mind would soon return to normal. If she stayed by his side for just a few more days, she felt she wouldn’t need to come anymore.

“I’ll go wash up. Wait here.”

“Yes.”

Louid said he would wash up and disappeared into the Crown Prince’s palace.

While waiting for him, Emilia stepped out of the greenhouse and took a walk in the backyard. She opened the gate and slowly climbed the escape route Louid had once shown her. She didn’t intend to do anything. It was simple curiosity.

“Ah!”

But not long after, someone suddenly pulled her from behind. In an instant, she was in Louid’s arms. He turned her body around.

Her swollen belly pressed against Louid’s firm body. She tried to pull away, but he held her too tightly for her to move.

“You startled me.”

A sigh-laced voice came from above. When she looked up, Louid’s face was pale and bloodless.

“I was just looking around.”

“It’s dangerous, so don’t wander around alone.”

He wasn’t scolding her. He truly seemed worried about her. At times like this, he wasn’t ten years old but exactly like the Louid from before.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Can’t you drop the ‘Your Highness’?”

“Yes.”

Louid held her as carefully as if she were a precious treasure and walked down the mountain path.

“I’ve brought tea and cookies.”

“Yes, thank you for your work.”

After returning to the greenhouse, Damian arrived shortly after. He came to see her with a basket of food more than twice a day. Then he cleared the table and left with the empty basket.

“Why does that guy keep coming?”

Louid glared at the door Damian had just exited through, his face full of dissatisfaction.

“He’s a temporary attendant who helps me when I’m here. If he weren’t around, I’d have to go to the main palace to get the food myself.”

“I suppose that’s true. Then it can’t be helped.”

Louid nodded as if there was no choice, though his expression was still displeased.

***

The next dawn. Emilia, who had been asleep, opened her eyes even though it wasn’t time to wake up. A dull ache spread through her abdomen.

‘What’s wrong? Should I not go to the palace today?’

But when she thought of Louid, who was waiting only for her, she couldn’t bring herself not to go. If the pain were severe, she would think it was labor, but it wasn’t that intense. It was a mild discomfort that just made her feel uneasy.

She tried to fall asleep again, but an inexplicable sense of anxiety washed over her, and she couldn’t sleep. With no choice, she got out of bed and prepared to go out.

Asher had arranged for her and Damian to live independently in the annex. Since her presence had to remain a secret, no servants entered the annex, but Damian brought everything they needed, so there was no inconvenience.

After placing the food she would bring to Louid into a basket, she boarded the carriage with Damian and headed to the palace.