Chapter 2

Elizabeth worked fast.

Half a month after I agreed, Leo arrived at Lionel Manor.

He came with only a wet nurse, who held him tightly in her arms and gave me a nervous curtsy.

I reached out. "Come here, let me hold him."

The nurse hesitated but finally placed him in my arms.

I took out a rattle to entertain him, and he wasn't scared at all. He giggled the moment he saw it.

Iris liked him, too, and brought him some sweets.

He grabbed a handful and then turned around to stuff one into my hand.

I froze, and the nurse quickly said, "He likes you, Your Highness."

I smiled.

He had a chubby, round face, big eyes, and soft, wispy hair. Holding him felt like carrying a giant watermelon.

So this was what having a child felt like.

I pressed my cheek against his soft face and whispered gently, "Say Mama."

Leo blew a raspberry, and drool sprayed all over my face.

The nurse jumped and tried to take him back.

"It's fine," I said, standing up with him in my arms and heading toward the back garden. "Come on, let me show you the room I prepared for you."

Elizabeth was right. Having a child around means having company.

Lionel Manor was vast and layered, and living here alone, I couldn't help feeling lonely sometimes.

She'd hinted at this many times before, but I'd never given in.

If Nolan hadn't wanted to take me back to his family, I probably still wouldn't have made up my mind.

This was a home for two people. Bringing someone else in without discussing it first didn't seem right.

If Lionel ever appeared in my dreams and blamed me, I wouldn't even know what to say.

But now it was different. Now I had a reason.

I could say it wasn't my choice to bring him here. Elizabeth gave him to me as a gift.

And besides, if I hadn't agreed, Nolan would've dragged me back to his home anyway.

Lionel, you wouldn't want to see me remarry, would you?

*****

Raising a child turned out to be more trouble than I expected, but also more joy than I could have imagined.

Leo had a lively personality, and I never tried to restrain him, so he ran wild all over the manor and wore out the servants completely.

When he got into mischief, I just sat in the pavilion and watched him play.

I was mischievous as a child, too.

My mother, Olivia, died when I was young, and Nolan felt sorry that I'd lost her, so he indulged me from childhood. Everyone in Imperial City knew I didn't act like a proper lady from a noble family.

When Alexander chose a bride for Lionel, I never imagined he'd pick me.

Nolan said it was because of our family's military connections; otherwise, did I really think Prince Lionel would agree?

He was right.

Lionel had been well educated from childhood, and Alexander had hired the finest scholars to teach him personally.

The late emperor died when Lionel was barely two years old. On his deathbed, he entrusted the boy to Alexander.

Alexander raised Lionel, who was twenty years younger, with deep affection, giving him the best of everything.

Thankfully, he didn't spoil Lionel. Instead, Lionel grew up to be a gracious gentleman who knew when to advance and when to retreat, warm and humble in manner.

Someone like him probably wouldn't care for a rough family like mine.

Before the wedding, I worried he'd look down on me.

But when we first met at the palace banquet, he showed no trace of condescension. He bowed to me and said, "Ms. Wells, I'm Lionel Lancaster."

Then he looked up with a gentle smile, his expression soft and warm. He was even more beautiful than I was.

I hid my face behind my fan and decided this marriage would be wonderful.

Marrying a composed, elegant prince had to be better than marrying some arrogant royal.

Lionel was so kind, so surely he'd treat me well too.

We would definitely become the most enviable couple in all of Imperial City.