In the Doghouse - Chapter 207
Lyle, his tear-streaked blue eyes still brimming with sorrow, turned to Isabella. The rabbit doll, an old hand-me-down from his older cousin, was his most cherished possession. Though frayed, patched, and aged, it remained his comfort object.
Anton quickly took the rabbit doll from Isabella and placed it in Lyle’s arms. The boy sniffled, hugging the doll tightly to his chest as if clinging to his mother’s scent. Despite this, the tears continued to fall, leaving translucent trails down his cheeks.
Isabella let out a sigh of relief. The boy had already cried himself hoarse once before—any more, and a fever might spike. Just as she managed to catch her breath, a small hand tugged at her skirt.
“Look at this.”
“Yes, Princess.”
Larissa, holding the emperor’s seal with both hands, enthusiastically pretended to stamp it onto a blank piece of paper. She acted utterly indifferent to her brother’s tears, fully absorbed in her play.
“Your Highness, that’s…”
“Grandfather gave it to me. It’s mine now.”
With her nose held high, Larissa spoke triumphantly.
Even being apart from her mother, the young princess was as spirited as ever. Her mind was filled with thoughts of finally exploring the secret passageways properly without her mother knowing.
Isabella had no idea how to explain to the young princess that attempting to claim the imperial seal as her own was treasonous. She glanced at the former emperor, who seemed as resigned as the rest of the room’s occupants. It was going to be a long and challenging summer.
Your Majesty the Empress, I already miss you.
* * *
At the same time, the carriage carrying the emperor and empress rumbled steadily northward. Its wheels and body were fortified with magical enhancements, allowing it to glide smoothly over rugged roads. Yet despite the comfort, Courtney looked as if she were battling nausea, her expression clouded with worry.
She had meticulously prepared everything before leaving—the imperial household should run smoothly in her absence. Still, her children’s faces lingered in her mind. She wondered if Lyle, who had sobbed inconsolably when they departed, had finally stopped crying. Even spirited Larissa, separated from her mother for the first time, might not be as unaffected as she seemed.
While Courtney’s thoughts churned, her husband, sitting across from her, wore a delighted expression as he babbled on with carefree enthusiasm.
“Ah, a retreat just for the two of us. I couldn’t be happier!”
Last winter, and even the summer before that, the former emperor had suggested a long holiday, but Courtney had always refused, citing the children’s young age. Until now, their ‘retreats’ consisted of short stays at nearby villas, children in tow.
Finally, they had the luxury of time alone. At their northern villa, there would be no Lyle knocking on their bedroom door in the middle of the night, no Larissa sneaking through secret passages. Richard was already buzzing with excitement, eagerly anticipating a fiery, passionate night.
But Courtney’s sharp retort quickly deflated his mood.
“Are you not worried at all?”
She shot him a withering look, her gaze filled with disapproval. Shouldn’t he, as a father, worry about the children? Shouldn’t he, as emperor, care about the kingdom’s well-being?
Chastened, Richard let his exuberant grin falter.
“Of course, I’m worried. I am! But…it’s been so long since we had time to ourselves, and…”
His voice trailed off as he fumbled for an explanation. Courtney’s cold demeanor, reminiscent of the northern winters, did not soften.
Richard couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment. No matter how long they’d been married, he yearned for Courtney’s affection as much as ever.
Before meeting her, his heart had been like a broken, unfillable teapot. Though she had lovingly sealed its cracks and poured her love into him, years of emptiness left gaps where her affection sometimes seemed to slip through.
Unlike him, Courtney never allowed herself to be consumed by sentiment. She always measured every situation carefully before acting.
While he respected her pragmatism, he couldn’t deny his own quiet frustration. His shoulders slumped as he sank into a dejected silence.
Courtney watched her ‘puppy’ sulk and sighed inwardly. Cute. As much as she enjoyed teasing him, she was secretly looking forward to their time together too.
But a seasoned master never revealed her cards too soon. Crossing her legs, she adopted a haughty tone.
“You’re acting like a mutt again.”
Richard’s head snapped up. Lost in his self-pity, he had failed to notice the subtle shift in Courtney’s demeanor. Now she wore the unmistakable expression of his ‘master’—the one that excited and unnerved him all at once.
Courtney glanced out the window. The lead party had left three days earlier, taking most of their luggage with them. Only one carriage followed behind, accompanied by a modest escort. To an outsider, they would appear to be no more than a minor noble’s traveling party. Satisfied that they had entered a remote mountain road, Courtney pulled the curtains shut.
Richard’s gaze instinctively dropped. He was quick to read the room, a trait she appreciated. But she had no intention of letting him off easily. Kicking off one of her shoes, she sent it flying across the cabin. It landed just within his line of sight, drawing his attention back to her.
“That was an accident.”
He leaned forward to retrieve the shoe, but Courtney was faster. In an instant, her foot darted between his knees, pressing firmly against his thighs.
“This,” she said with a smirk, “is on purpose.”
