Chapter 42: Black Star Child

Next to Empress Amanda's second-floor bedchamber was a large empty room.

Originally, it had been her dressing room, but now its purpose had changed to a therapy room for rehabilitation exercises.

Amanda, bending her legs and placing her hands on a sturdy wooden support frame, soon exhaled and rose from her seat.

“Phew, this posture isn't easy.”

Dressed in comfortable light lavender clothes, she steadied her trembling legs, wiping the sweat from her brow.

Even after her birthday, she hadn't missed a single day of rehab.

“Regain your balance and tense your core. I'll realign from your waist axis.”

At Retina's words, Amanda nodded and returned to her previous posture.

Even when it rained, when fog hung heavy, or when her body was stiff.

Lately, she had been engrossed in rehabilitation as if preparing for battle.

‘After my birthday… No, to be exact, was it after the night when Father visited?’

Rohan, who had watched the entire therapy session, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, lost in thought.

He didn't know what conversation the two had shared that night.

But it was clear that his mother's attitude toward life had changed greatly since then.

She was still just as strict with herself as before, but the direction felt somewhat different.

“Her Majesty the Empress is truly remarkable. Not long ago, she couldn't walk at all. Sometimes it's downright astonishing.”

At Martin's words beside him, Rohan smiled and nodded.

“Right. Even though she's my mother, I think she's amazing.”

Since Martin had been entrusted with Amanda's protection, he now had many opportunities to observe her.

He was present at this hour every day.

Every morning when the Empress did her rehab training, he would stand silently nearby, ensuring her safety without a word.

Today was no different.

After finishing an early morning meeting, Rohan had come to the therapy room, where Martin greeted him, and the two silently observed the Empress's training.

“How is her training going?”

“Very well, Your Highness.”

“Retina must be busy, training you and helping with Mother's rehab.”

He was truly grateful.

Honestly, there was no real reason for Retina to help to this extent. Yet she carried out her duties faithfully.

‘Someday, will I have a chance to repay her?’

One must repay revenge thoroughly, but repay kindness even more thoroughly.

At least, Rohan was not the type to forget a debt of gratitude.

It was at that moment.

The door creaked open, and someone peeked in cautiously.

“Your Highness? You were here.”

It was William Gerald.

He'd been looking for Rohan to ask something and, after inquiring with the maids, was told he might be here.

“But, this place…”

He quickly sensed the unusual atmosphere and, as he carefully shifted his gaze, he was startled.

‘…An Elphyrion?’

He'd never seen one in person, but the otherworldly appearance was immediately striking.

And then.

“…!”

That burning red hair—she wasn't just any Elphyrion, but the famous Blood Elphyrion.

A member of another race, in the Imperial Palace, brazenly standing beside Her Majesty the Empress?

William suddenly felt his body tense.

But Rohan spoke as if nothing were amiss.

“What brings you here, William?”

“Ah, yes. Sorry, Your Highness. I just… came to report something briefly.”

“This is a treatment space. Save the official report for later.”

“…Understood.”

William bowed his head. He glanced over toward the Empress.

She was still relying on the support frame, exercising, with Retina watching over her from a step behind.

‘Is that why Her Majesty’s sudden appearance happened?’

Amanda, known to be bedridden and unable to walk.

The sight of her walking into the birthday banquet on her own had stunned everyone.

Of course, as Count Nidro’s attendant, William had witnessed the scene himself.

“But, that woman. Isn't she a Blood Elphyrion…?”

William asked, just in case, and Rohan nodded.

“Yes. I met her in Locterxia when I went to settle the Gerald estate issue. She knows Dmico too.”

William's eyes widened.

“With my brother? Huh.”

It had been quite some time since he'd seen his one and only brother.

Hearing his brother's name from Rohan's lips felt a bit strange.

“She mainly moves through the windows, so the servants don't know she's here. Besides, I don't want word getting out that a Blood Elphyrion is staying here.”

Of all people, another race.

If news spread that such a being was living in the Imperial Palace without permission, not just the nobles but even the Imperial family would be in an uproar.

‘Especially since she’s the famous Blood Elphyrion.’

Even if it wasn’t true, most believed Blood Elphyrions drank human blood, so the aftermath would be even greater.

And, as expected.

“At this rate, aren't we all going to get eaten?”

William, glancing around nervously, finally blurted out a foolish question.

“So be careful. If you don't want to get eaten.”

Too tired to explain, Rohan just teased him.

“…Really?”

William gulped, his face turning pale.

Martin, watching from the side, let out a small chuckle.

“…Ahem.”

Only then did William realize it was a joke. Embarrassed, he cleared his throat a few times and changed the subject.

“Anyway, it seems winter is really here now. Hard to believe it’s already December.”

“Yeah. Time really does fly…”

Rohan, responding, suddenly froze.

He was struck by the feeling he'd forgotten something.

‘What is it? What…’

Suddenly, Rohan sucked in his breath.

“Wait. What’s the date today?”

“It's December third, Your Highness. Is something wrong?”

“…Ah. I completely forgot about that!”

Rohan slapped his forehead and straightened up.

“Take good care of Mother, Martin.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Martin bowed his head in response to Rohan’s command.

“William, come with me. We have somewhere to go.”

William was taken aback by the sudden order.

“Huh? But in this busy time, where are we going…?”

“No more questions. Just follow me.”

Rohan hurriedly left the therapy room and went down the stairs.

“Y-Your Highness!”

William chased after him, half a step behind.

---

“Haaah…! Ugh, aaagh…!”

Within the room, both the bright sunlight and the chilly early winter breeze seemed to stop.

Beside Emilia’s bed, the air was already thick with sweat and screams.

“Your Majesty! You have to push! We’re almost there!”

At the midwife’s urgent cry, Emilia gritted her teeth.

Desperate groans tore from her frail body, rumbling through clenched teeth.

She didn’t even have a moment to wipe away the sweat and tears streaming down her cheeks.

‘Just this child… If only this child comes out…!’

Her lips, stained blood-red, were bitten tight.

Her long-cherished ambition, so carefully nurtured, was about to bear fruit.

Though Rohan was now Crown Prince, once this child was born, everything would change.

If there were two children who could inherit the throne, Empress Emilia’s status would rise accordingly.

Just as Empress Cheryl had lost her power with the death of former Crown Prince Joshua.

Having only one son was too dangerous.

“Your Majesty, the sun is nearing its highest point in the sky.”

It was her personal astrologer who encouraged the almost unconscious, pale Emilia.

The astrologer had said that the child about to be born would bring great change to Emilia.

And Emilia was firmly convinced that the “great change” meant the birth of a son who could inherit the line.

“M-Mother…”

Peeking through the crack in the door, young Elliot bit his lip as he watched.

He could only stand with his hands clasped, unable to speak.

To a child, witnessing his mother’s labor was deeply shocking.

“B-blood.”

The white bedsheets were drenched in blood, and his mother screamed like a beast.

“Oh, Your Highness! You can’t be here!”

A maid, carrying a basin of warm water, hurriedly blocked the doorway, startled.

At that moment—

“Aaaaaaaah…!”

Emilia’s scream reached its peak.

The maids inside held their breath. Only the midwife shouted frantically.

“I see the head, Your Majesty! Almost there! Just a little more…!”

Even as her spirit seemed about to depart in agony, the light in her eyes never faded.

No, it almost looked as if she were enjoying the pain.

‘It must be…!’

As the sun reached its highest peak—

“It’s out, Your Majesty! The baby is out!”

The newborn’s cry cut through the air, filling the bedroom.

“Waaah!”

The midwife, the maids, and the handmaidens all rushed into action.

“Haa… ah.”

Emilia let out a deep breath, her face suddenly at ease, as if nothing had happened.

Sweaty strands of hair clung to her forehead.

Childbirth was a mystery.

The pain seemed endless until the moment of birth, but after, there was no pain at all.

“Water.”

At Emilia’s command, the astrologer quickly offered her a cup.

Gulp. Gulp.

She drank deeply.

“Hah.”

Only then did she sense that something was wrong, and turned her head.

“What are you all doing? Why aren’t you telling me about the baby?”

Startled by her words, the midwife and maids exchanged anxious glances.

“Why? Why do you all look like you’ve eaten sour fruit? Don’t tell me… it’s a girl?”

“Uh, w-well, yes. It’s as you say.”

The midwife stammered heavily.

“It is indeed a girl, as you said.”

“What?”

Emilia glared at the astrologer, who swallowed nervously.

“A daughter… Hah, this is a disaster.”

Emilia ran her fingers through the sweaty hair stuck to her forehead and the midwife cautiously spoke.

“B-but, Your Majesty. I think… you should see the Princess yourself.”

“What? Why?”

Emilia frowned and sat up. The midwife hurriedly brought her the baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

“What on earth…?”

Emilia took the child.

“…Th-this is…”

As she checked the baby’s face, her pupils shook violently.

Curious, the astrologer looked too and, with a shriek, fell back in shock.

“B-black star child…!”

“Waaa… Waa, waaa!”

The newborn wailed loudly, but Emilia did not hear.

“Midwife. What’s wrong with the baby’s face? Did you make a mistake pulling her out? Hm?”

It all felt like a bad dream.

“Why does the baby’s f-face…”

Half of the child’s face, starting from the left eye, was covered in a black bruise.

A face that could only bring to mind a monster.

This child, born from me?

No, that can’t be. It can’t…

“U-ugh, aaah!”

But soon realizing the reality, Emilia forcefully pushed away the swaddled baby.

“Your Majesty!”

The startled midwife barely managed to catch the child in time.

“Get it away! Take that thing out of my sight!”

Emilia covered her eyes with one hand and waved frantically with the other.

The maids, helpless, hurried the midwife holding the baby out of the room.

“Waa, waa, waaa…!”

Even outside the bedroom, the baby’s cries rang loudly through the corridor.

Driven out, the midwife and maids stood awkwardly and troubled in the hallway.

“What do we do? The Princess is a black star child.”

“How could this happen…?”

“What will we tell His Majesty the Emperor?”

“F-first, let’s move the baby to her room. It’s cold today.”

At the midwife’s words, they all moved as one.

And then…

“A black star child…?”

Elliot, who had been secretly eavesdropping on their conversation, tilted his head.

“Princess, they said.”

Elliot’s cheeks turned red.

He’d wanted a little sister anyway.

He’d been disappointed because Mother kept saying it would be a little brother.

“A little sister. I’ll have to be good to her.”

Elliot fidgeted with his fingers and smiled shyly.