Chapter 31

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“With this, even the winter fairies will have no objection. Anyone who sees him will see your face in the child.”

The changed face of the child was not as unfamiliar as expected. It was as if she was looking at herself as a child, and her heart was touched even more.

“We have to leave early tomorrow morning, so why don’t you go ahead and sleep? Go to bed first, Kelly.”

“No. Joseph worked harder, so you go and sleep first. Luci might wake up in the middle, so I’ll sleep a little later.”

His stamina was also important in order to use his divine power. Besides, he must have been very tired of taking care of her child when they prepared to leave that morning. Kathleen felt sorry for him.

“Then wake me up when Luci cries after a while. We’ll take turns.”

“Okay.”

In the end, Joseph, who lost the argument, fell asleep as soon as he lay down. Kathleen looked at the burning fire while holding Luci.

“Hnngg.”

Luci woke up at some point and started to cry. She got up quickly, hoping that Joseph, who had just fallen asleep, wouldn’t wake up.

“Hush, Luci. Go back to sleep.”

His cries died down a little as she moved a bit farther from the fire. A cool breeze blew near the cliff, and his whines subsided.

“Hush, hush…”

Just when the child was about to fall asleep again due to the sound of a quiet lullaby.

“There!”

Suddenly, a sound from the surroundings was heard. A group of soldiers with torches appeared.

“The Duchess of Walten is here!”

“I have found Madame!”

“Everyone gather!”

The armor they wore was engraved with the Walten family emblem. Her head got a little dizzy.

“Euwaa~!”

Luci woke up to the sharp sounds of armors clanking and cried.

“Luci, it’s okay. Shh.”

Kathleen gave strength to her arm holding Luci and tried to keep calm. However, the moment she recognized the markings on the armor they were wearing, her whole body lost strength.

‘The 2nd Regiment Knights…’

She thought he would send people, but she didn’t know he would use these ones.

The fact that he sent combat knights rather than escorts meant that he intended to drag her away by force.

“Madame, come this way. You must return to the Duke’s mansion.”

“I am not going.”

“That side is dangerous!”

As she unconsciously stepped backwards, the Knights’ faces turned white. When she glanced behind her, she saw that she was at a cliff. If she fell, she would crash straight to the ground. Afraid of her foot stumbling, she took a step forward.

“You saw the wrong person. I am not the person you are looking for.”

“Madame, do you think the knights will not recognize their Master’s face?”

The Commander of the 2nd Regiment came forward and said. He had spoken to Kathleen a few times because he often went to the mansion in relation to the items needing to be paid.

“We have been looking for Madame for three years. I’m glad we found you now. Come back with us.”

Kathleen shook her head at the Knights Commander who was persistently trying to persuade her.

“Go back. I’m not going.”

“There was an order from His Grace to bring you back no matter what.”

“Tell them that I ran away and that you didn’t find me. Or say that I fell off a cliff and died.”

“Madame! How can you say that?”

“Do you really want to see me fall?”

Her hands were trembling. She thought about using her ability for a moment to run away, but it seemed like it would be difficult to control if she showed her ability prematurely in a state of discomposure. It was dangerous if she couldn’t control her abilities while holding her child.

Kathleen clenched her teeth and took half a step back. The knights were greatly shaken.

“Madame!”

“Kelly!”

Through the Knights, Joseph came running. Kathleen’s tears welled up in her eyes.

“Joseph!”

“What’s going on?”

“The Duke of Walten sent someone. To find me, us.”

Tears formed but Kathleen spoke quickly.

“I need to get out of here. Is there any way to go there?”

Behind her was a cliff, but to the right was a forest. She had no intention of going there because it was a thick forest with tall trees and there was no light even during the day, but now the situation had changed. It was better to wander in the dark than to be caught.

“It won’t be easy, but let’s try.”

Joseph said with a firm face.

“Hold Luci and go first.”

“How about Joseph?”

“If we go together, we will get caught. I’ll hold them off, so go first. I will follow you.”

“I’d rather go with you. They’re combatants, so you won’t last long.”

“Hey, do you think I’m too weak?”

Joseph smiled slyly and pushed her back.

“Go on. Go.”

The Knights responded immediately.

“Bring Madame!”

The Knights laid their weapons down. However, a priest who had only trained in the temple all his life was no threat to them.

It was already too late when she looked back just before entering the forest, barely running on her feet trying not to fall.

As Joseph jumped on the Knight who tried to chase after Kathleen, he was pushed and fell off the cliff.

“Hold on!”

The Knights Commander shouted, but Joseph missed his outstretched hand a beat too late.

“Joseph!”

Kathleen called out his name like a scream. She ran frantically with the child in her arms, but he had already disappeared without a trace.

The darkness that engulfed her trusty and caring friend was deep and quiet.

Kathleen collapsed.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in a carriage going back to the place she had run away from.

To Alexis Walten’s house.

***

“Master, the Young Master is here.”

“Come on in.”

After checking the time, Alexis pushed the paperwork he was working on away. Emily walked into his office looking nervous, holding the child, and reported.

“The Young Master has finished eating.”

The child was in a good mood and smiled softly perhaps because he was full. His blue eyes and shiny silver hair were familiar.

‘It’s the same.’

He had never seen a newborn baby up close, so it was the first time he found out that a newborn child could resemble one of their parents so much.

“Did he drink milk?”

“I tried to find a wet nurse quickly, but…Dr. Cabel said that since it was six months after the Young Master was born, it was fine to give him baby food.

“If the doctor said so, then proceed like that in the future.”

He couldn’t keep the child attached to his mother, so he’d better adjust quickly.

“Come closer.”

Unable to grasp his true intentions, Emily took a few steps closer with a face that grew more tense. The child, who had been comfortably licking his own lips in her arms, blinked his curious, pale blue eyes.

“Ooo.”

The child who spotted Alexis opened his clenched fist and stretched his arm toward him.

Emily was bewildered and froze.

“I’m sorry, Master.”

“No, give him to me.”

“What?”

“I asked for the child.”

“Ah… yes.”

Unwittingly, Emily gave him the child. Alexis looked down at the child, who looked exactly like her. The child’s eyes staring at him showed no emotion other than curiosity.

It was a strange feeling.

A small, warm life that felt like it would crumble if you gripped it too tightly.

He knew it was another man’s child, but seeing him up close, he didn’t feel any anger. It was strange.

“Am~ma.”

The child mumbled, reached out his hand, and touched Alexis’ face. He flinched at the unexpected movement but did not avoid it. The child chuckled and laughed, then he grabbed the hem of his clothes and pulled it. Emily said hurriedly.

“M-Master! I’m sorry. It is because the Young Master is very curious. He’s still a child… I’m sorry. I’ll teach him well later.”

“He was born less than a year ago, how can he understand what you teach him.”

This was unexpected for Emily.

Alexis knew that even a newborn foal was a fool when it was young, even more so when it was a human.

“Let’s go.”

He got up from his seat with the child in his arms. Because it was meal time.

“What about Kathleen?”

“She went down first.”

Alexis went down to the dining room with the child. Emily followed him.

According to etiquette, aristocratic lunches tended to be simple, but the table prepared for the Duke and his wife was dazzling, with no room to put any more forks.

As soon as the door opened, he felt pale blue eyes touch him. Satisfied, Alexis deliberately walked more slowly, heading across her.

“Give me back the child.”

As soon as he sat down, Kathleen said that it had been ten days since she was separated from her child, hidden within the depths of the Duke’s mansion and had not seen him.

Alexis pretended not to hear and beckoned to start the meal. The maids, who were standing to serve, began to move busily.

“Eat.”

“I told you to return the child to me.”

“I told you to eat.”

“Do you think a mother who has lost her child will be able to eat?”

“That’s why I brought him here.”

“I want to take care of him!”

“You don’t seem to remember what you said.”

Alexis hugged the baby and pointed it out.

“You were the one who said you were going to run away with this child again. Do you think I’ll give him back to you so that you can raise him?”

“Don’t play with words.”

“Do you have the strength to take care of a child without eating properly?”

“If I can get out of this house, I can eat well and sleep well.”

“Do not disobey.”

The maid, who was paying attention to Alexis’ words, quickly brought various foods to Kathleen’s plate.

“If you promise to eat properly for at least a month, I’ll show him at dinner.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes. If you stop breaking your window and trying to jump out, you’ll stay by his side until he goes to sleep.”

Biting her lip, she grabbed her spoon. It didn’t look like she had any appetite at all. Even though the food was carefully prepared with the highest quality ingredients, she emanated unwillingness to eat the food given to her.

Still, after ten days, she finally had a proper meal. She seemed to be more concerned with her son he held in his arms rather than food, but at least she didn’t try to stab herself with a fork or knife.

Only after Kathleen had emptied her bowl did Alexis relax.

He didn’t eat his portion because he watched over her, but he wasn’t hungry anyway.

The maids who had served tea for dessert cleared the table and disappeared.

“Let me hug him, please.”

Alexis got up without answering and walked over to her. The child in his arms was asleep again, but he opened his eyes the moment Kathleen was about to embrace him.

“Luci!”

“Ooo.”

As she rejoiced and was about to hold her child, the child reached out and grabbed Alexis’ collar.

“Luci, come to Mom.”

“Aam!”

The child pouted and pulled Alexis’ clothes with a stronger hand. He looked like he was about to burst into tears if he was forced off. Kathleen had a look of dismay not expecting this to happen.

“I think the child likes his father better.”

“That’s not possible. How long have you seen each other? And I told you the boy’s father isn’t the Duke.”

“Luci seems smarter than I thought.”

Alexis said, hugging him so that Kathleen could clearly see the boy who was favorable to him.

“He may have instinctively known that he would be better off coming to me.”

“Don’t put it like that. That’s nonsense.”

“So you should do it too.”

“What?”

“You told me before, you love me. I’m telling you to do that again.”