HPBUY Side Story 3

Declan always prioritized Sienna, and it was no different when they had a child.

He had been anxious during Soliet’s time, but considering that Sienna’s body had been completely damaged during her second childbirth, he was even more on edge.

Therefore, despite being almost obsessively careful about contraception, when Sienna announced she was pregnant, what he felt was definitely not joy, but rather something close to despair.

To make matters worse, he rushed to Ricata, putting aside his mounting work, and ended up arguing with Sienna.

No matter what he said, Sienna firmly cut him off, saying she had no intention of giving up the child, and none of his words got through to her.

When Manuel was born, Sienna sent letters describing how beautiful the baby was and how much he resembled Declan. She tried to make it impossible for him to reject Manuel, but according to Jane, it had been a terrible delivery.

She made sure to note at the end of her letter that it was fortunate they had avoided a tragic outcome because Parma’s medical techniques were more advanced than the Empire’s.

Declan looked down at Manuel’s face again.

When he met those large purple eyes, he couldn’t help but laugh at the strange sensation of looking into a mirror.

Even Soliet, who was said to be the spitting image of her father, retained more traces of Sienna compared to Manuel.

Looking intently at his son who perfectly resembled him, down to his coloring, he suddenly murmured:

“I feel sad, Manuel.”

Manuel, who had been whimpering, stopped fidgeting when he heard his name and looked up at him. Declan raised his index finger and lightly tapped the tiny child’s nose.

“I missed you terribly.”

Since Soliet had returned to their arms, it was natural to think of Manuel as the child from that time as well.

For that reason, he was swept with indescribable emotions whenever he looked at Manuel. Along with affection, his heart was filled with considerable guilt.

While he had no regrets about choosing Sienna, separately, the guilt about the child had been deeply rooted in his heart for a long time.

So Sienna’s concerns were truly a waste of emotion.

How could he possibly reject his own children born from Sienna? Just as he longed for Sienna every moment, he couldn’t help but think of Manuel.

As he stroked the child’s cheek with his index finger, he whispered, brimming with longing and affection:

“I really, really missed you, Manuel.”

****

“Mom, I have something I want to give you.”

On their way to the bedroom, Soliet suddenly pulled at Sienna’s hand with her childish voice.

If Declan had heard it, he would have certainly said something like “Act like a young lady,” but Sienna simply followed Soliet’s lead with a loving expression.

Soliet awkwardly twisted her body for a moment, then abruptly produced a bouquet of flowers she had been hiding behind her back.

Though Sienna had already noticed the flowers when they got out of the carriage, she widened her eyes as if seeing them for the first time.

“Did you bring these for me?”

Soliet began to explain proudly, pointing at each flower with her finger.

“This is a lilac from Monferrato’s territory. This is a hydrangea picked from Chesperl. Next to it is a rose that Dad bought me on the way. And this…”

As her tiny index finger pointed to a withered rose, the child’s face fell.

“I brought it from the annex, but it withered on the way. It was the prettiest flower I picked.”

“It doesn’t matter. Mom loves anything Soliet gives her.”

Sienna replied with a bright smile.

To begin with, her only attachments to the Empire were Soliet and Declan, so at least those words were completely sincere.

“Besides, the greatest gift is you.”

When she whispered this in her ear, Soliet beamed again.

With her mood much improved, Soliet began chattering about various trivial stories from her time away. She talked about a new musical piece she had recently started learning, and even complained about Leopold.

“The Emperor always says it’s a waste of time to talk with little kids like me. But he’s only a few years older than me.”

“Age isn’t everything. He carries the honor of the Empire on his shoulders. You shouldn’t speak so carelessly.”

Though Sienna unconditionally took Soliet’s side on other matters, she reasonably pointed out the issue when it came to Leopold.

Even though the relationship between the Empress Dowager and Declan was currently beneficial to both parties, there was no guarantee it would remain that way forever.

The same applied to Leopold and Soliet’s relationship. While they were both young and innocent now, the future couldn’t be guaranteed.

She wanted to prevent them from experiencing what she and Joseph had gone through. Besides, Soliet was reaching an age where she needed to learn wise conduct.

“By the way, are there people saying unpleasant things at the palace?”

Sienna asked as naturally as possible.

After sending Soliet to the Empire, Sienna’s worry had always been the same.

While she could easily ignore criticism directed at herself both inside and outside the country, she always feared that sharp criticism might hurt Soliet.

Manuel was no exception. Though she knew he was still too young to properly understand words, whenever she took the child out, Sienna unconsciously became even more vigilant than usual.

What then of Soliet, whom she couldn’t directly comfort?

However, contrary to her anxious feelings, Soliet tilted her head.

“Not particularly?”

“Really?”

Even when asked again with a suspicious look, Soliet merely shrugged.

“Well, there were some kids saying strange things before, but it’s fine now.”

In the past, there had been some noble children who used words she didn’t understand and looked at her unkindly, but after telling her father about it, she never saw their faces again.

Of course, even after that, there were others who said similar things when adults weren’t around, but Soliet didn’t really care about the whispers directed at her.

Even after learning the meaning of the word “illegitimate child,” not much changed. After all, I’m the daughter of my mom and dad, so what does it matter? She would think indifferently and soon forget about it.

The only sad thing was the limited time she could spend with her mom and dad. That was something truly depressing.

“I’m glad Dad is our dad.”

“Oh?”

When Soliet said this proudly, Sienna asked with surprise.

This was because recently, Soliet’s letters had increasingly contained implicit criticisms of Declan.

Though they had been an inseparable father-daughter pair when she was younger, Sienna had been thinking that friction had increased recently due to Declan’s rather strict approach.

“Yes, when I tell Dad, everyone becomes quiet when I come around. Or sometimes they just don’t show up at all the next day.”

“Ah…”

“Mom, if anyone bothers you, tell Dad! Okay?”

Sienna nodded with a wry smile, saying she would. Only then did a satisfied smile appear on Soliet’s face.

Glancing around nervously, Soliet pulled at Sienna’s hand as if about to share a highly confidential story.

“You know, Mom.”

When Sienna bent down to meet the child’s eye level with a puzzled face, Soliet asked with a rather serious expression:

“Are you happy now?”

“Of course. Absolutely.”

Although it was a somewhat unexpected question, Sienna nodded without hesitation. At this, dimples formed in Soliet’s cheeks.

“That’s good.”

“Hmm?”

“The moon granted Soli’s wish.”

Confused by the cryptic remark, Sienna tilted her head. Instead of standing up to open the door, she knelt down completely to meet Soliet’s gaze.

“You know, on the day Soli was born, Mom cried so much.”

“Why? Why did you cry?”

Soliet’s eyes widened. Sienna smiled broadly as she carefully took in Soliet’s face.

Looking at the puzzled Soliet, Sienna felt a tingle at the tip of her nose.

“Because I was so happy to meet you.”

The emotions Sienna felt on the day Soliet returned to her arms were beyond words. Soliet was nothing short of a miracle to Sienna.

The large and small wounds she believed would never heal disappeared without a trace the moment she embraced that small being again.

Soliet, who had been slightly confused, soon smiled shyly.

“I’m so happy to meet Mom too.”

Despite this simple expression of affection, a part of her heart swelled and her eyes reddened.

Sienna silently hugged Soliet tightly. And she firmly resolved: she would never lose this child again. She would never repeat the pain of the past.

Only after wiping away the tears that had rolled down her cheeks did she stand up. Soliet resumed her trivial chatter, and Sienna gladly listened to the child’s stories.

When they entered the bedroom, Declan, who was holding Manuel, turned his head toward the mother and daughter. As their eyes met, the same kind of smile formed on both their lips.

Sienna slightly bowed her head and whispered to Soliet:

“You should greet your little brother too.”