It was normal for people to be different. Fabian didnt refute, however, and waited for the next words from Evelyn. Since he was sure, she wasnt simply asking for pleasantries. And Evelyn reopened her mouth, as expected.

Your Majestys childhood, how was it?

Fabians face was hit by an unexpected question with a mysterious light.

Ive never heard your story when you were young

About my childhood ?

He didnt know what the question meant, but Fabian tried to answer as honestly as possible, I think it was boring I felt like I didnt have the time. I think it was stressful in several ways. It was a really Fabian answer, an answer that didnt deviate from expectations. It was the childhood of a prince who grew up in a Dukes family.

Before you got the Emperors education?

Hmm I didnt have such a thing because I was the only successor.

Evelyn nodded this time. The only successor to the Empire was entrusted to Dukes family, who had a long history. He rew up and trained in thorough etiquette, Royal studies, and martial arts, and was crowned at 16. So, the question of what kind of childhood he had was a bit strange.

Your Majesty, you grew up with Sir Serus. Didnt you have fun when you two played together? Evelyn asked, have you ever played? She was always curious if, in his childhood, there might be at least one good memory.

Maybe once.

Hmm Fabian retraced his memory, but nothing came to his mind. I dont know if I have any memories of playing around because I was busy learning.

The person who talked about it was calm, but Evelyn looked sad, No wonder youre a successor..

Instead, Fabian looked up at Evelyn and said, as if he were soothing her, It wasnt that sad, the whole thing was fun, it was a little boring, but it didnt bother me. Fabian didnt know why he was making excuses, but Evelyns face was so sad that he felt he had to say something.

The Duchess who raised me is a good person. I wasnt unhappy at all. I was raised as a noble successor.

Yes, Duchess Perth is a nice person. Its a relief.

Fabian was somewhat relieved when Evelyn opened her mouth again. Honestly, as he spoke about his childhood, he didnt know why her eyes looked sad, something he never thought before.

Yes. My childhood was fine. Fabian said calmly, but Evelyn felt sorry looking at him.

Who would say that his childhood was fine? At least not where Evelyn was born. Even though there may be children who werent happy, they managed to have a decent childhood.

However, Fabian, who had lived as an Imperial successor since birth, unaware of the difference. And it broke Evelyns heart.

Why, you suddenly ask me that?

Evelyn herself didnt know. Perhaps because she felt sympathy for Fabians inevitable birth. What was certain was that she couldnt imagine if Adrian having such a childhood.

No matter what, she couldnt send her lovely child to such a place. No matter how much sympathy she felt for Fabian, there was no instinct stronger than motherhood who wanted to keep Adrians smile.

If you had a childThat child would have grown up that way, right?

Fabian nodded casually. He never thought deeply about his children. It was close to the one who couldnt afford it.

That alone makes me a reason. After all, I think the divorce was right.

Why? You were married me, the Emperor.

Yes. I know its ridiculous grievance. I was too young at that time. I could only think of myself. I didnt look to the future.

Its only natural at Evelyns age. Back then, she didnt think about a childs childhood that she hadnt yet given birth to. Especially when she had just fallen in love.

I dont know why its wrong.

Because I wouldnt have been able to adapt myself to the Empire until the end.

It was a mistake to think it was a problem that would be solved over time. The problem was that Evelyn was optimistic that she could start a family with love because they had the same race and the same words.

But there were such different values, unfamiliar and cold manners, and Evelyn was always an outsider.

You did well, Fabian said.

But until when should I have done it?

Evelyn couldnt stand the attitude of the nobles who looked at her with cautions eyes. She could barely adapt to the strict Imperial etiquette. Moreover, the matter of heart, affection, and love wasnt a component that could be sacrificed at all.

If I had a child..If, according to the Empires custom, I had to let him go to someone elses arms without being able to breastfeed him Could I have endured that sadness?

Before returning, Evelyn had sent her child away twice. Before they were born, she had a miscarriage. It was very painful, when a small life that she had never seen the face, that hadnt even become a child, had just vanished. Because of that, Evelyn couldnt send a child that she had given birth to and held in her arms.

But it hasnt even happened yet and its not actually sad. The child will grow up, and he will always be your child.

Evelyn smiled sadly at those words. It was this difference in values that couldnt be penetrated by any cultural wall. Fabian didnt think that his childhood was miserable, so he thought that his child could grow up like that.

Yes. The Empire or Your Majesty can do that. But I cant. I cant stand it. Thats what I realized.

She knew this only after she gave birth to Adrian and held him in her arms. Never, even her life was cut off, she couldnt lose this child. There was nothing more important in the world than that. And Evelyns fate was determined at that moment. Her most precious being had been decided in her life.

If its your child, its also a precious child to me. Theres no way Im going to make the child unhappy.

But if he were your successor, would you raise him like Your Majesty?

There was no other answer from Fabian. He didnt even know his child existed, so she couldnt expect his answer. Evelyn knew it, but she couldnt help but feel the pain of her heart.

I,

Your Highness, do you see the tree?

Silently, Evelyn cut the silence between them. A huge, beautiful tree was seen at the tip of her finger. When I was seven years old, I climbed the tree and fell I still have a tiny scar behind my ear.

Fabians expression was perplexed. His look seemed to be wondering why she was suddenly talking about trees.

When I was six years old, I drank the water with my mouth in the fountain, and my father scolded me a lot. Why did I love to play pranks so much?

What are you talking about?

After that, I secretly drank the water again, and Ive had stomach pain, and Ive been scolded again. I thought my father wouldnt know if I was lying, but thats the childs misconception.

A long-cherished smile bloomed on Evelyns mouth. Her smile was so beautiful in Fabians eyes that she couldnt stop talking.

When I was younger than that, I cried all night because I was sad because the snowman I made with my mother for the first time melted and disappeared. There was a time when I hid my busy fathers shoes. I was chasing birds with a stick for a while, and I fell down and cried out sometimes.

There were so many memories coming to her mind just in this small place. Fabian stared at Evelyns side face, immersed in memories. It was a scene he had never seen before, and he could see the warmth in Evelyns eyes.

I told him I wanted to be a hunter, but he scolded me again.

Fabians mouth, which had always tightened, was softened without knowing it.

I was so tired of crying, and I fell asleep. When I woke up, there was a toy bow at my bedside. My mom said it was a present from the fairy who visited my room.

then?

Fabian was immediately fascinated with the story of Evelyn. A smile unknowingly spread when he imagined that Evelyn, young and small, was energetically running around the garden. Back then, she must have been a lovely girl.

And then I got scolded again because I wanted to be a fairy.

There was low laughter.

She was a weird kid, wasnt she?

She was a funny kid, and she was really sweet and adorable, Fabian said, laughing. If their marriage wasnt broken, there would have been a child like that between them. Suddenly, the corner of his heart was aching.

Yeah, I laughed, I cried and I got a lot of scolding, but I was happy. It was a childhood that I could enjoy just once in my life, Evelyn said, looking at Fabian. Your Majesty, can your child grow up like that?

Fabian couldnt answer.

Do you know the heart of a child, who grew with the love of her parents?

Evelyn..

Its not your fault.

That was the saddest part of it.

The Empire, Your Majesty is not a bad thing. Its just so different from the place where I grew up.

Evelyn was a woman who wasnt supposed to love the Emperor from the beginning. She had already seen the bright and clear sky, but I couldnt be happy in a beautiful cage.

I cant be happy in the Empire.But Your Majesty is the owner of the Empire, so you cant leave. I was a fool. I shouldnt have married Your Highness from the start

No.I dont want to hear that..Whether wrong or different, I dont regret marrying you. Fabian looked at Evelyn with heavy eyes.

Is that so?

Yeah, even though were divorced now, I dont regret it. His black eyes were hoping for the same response.

Neither do I regret my divorce.

The misery was swallowed together as Fabian breathed in.

And I wont regret it in the future. Evelyn spoke calmly and stood up. She couldnt say that she didnt regret marrying to Fabian.

I see. .Is that all you dont regret?

Only

Yes.

Evelyn met this man, and she loved him. A miserable and vain end came, but a miracle turned back the time, and she was able to hold the child of her beloved man. Both resentment and regret were washed away at that time.

I see. Fabian swallowed the pain in silence. Thank you for the story. He didnt know what expression to make, so Fabian raised his body too. Then he stopped trying to say something and turned his back on her first. And Evelyn saw his back only with her eyes.

That way, Fabians back figure completely disappeared from her sight.

Thank you for listening to me

Evelyn was whispering to herself. The stories she could tell, and the stories she couldnt tell, had to be buried in her heart.

With a piece of a secret she couldnt tell..that, she didnt regret marrying him.