Chapter 94

Riv felt burdened.

Even though they were intimate almost every night, he wanted public affection.

It was not night with just two of them, it was a bright morning.

“People will see.”

“They’re not looking right now.”

“There are a lot of people here!”

The Sentino Villa was small and housed few servants. However, the number of people in Elon’s large and spacious mansion had multiplied several times.

If they acted affectionately, someone would see it.

“I just want to take a walk!”

Behind their mansion was a large forest and a small lake with a beautiful view.

But Lionel…

“Sigh.”

Riv pushed Lionel away, who was trying to kiss her.

She could feel the eyes of the servants staring at them from all directions.

“They peek at everything!”

“It doesn’t matter if they look, it’s natural.”

“Th-That’s true but.”

The servants turned around and pretended not to be there.

Lionel hugged Riv’s waist and tried to kiss Riv as deeply as possible.

“L-Lionel, I’ll do it when it’s just the two of us.”

Just as Riv barely pushed Lionel away, butler Karl appeared.

“Master, this place is smaller than the Duke’s residence in the Royal Capital. When expressing affection, please avoid the front door.”

“I am the owner of this place.”

The butler parried Lionel’s words.

“Immature.”

Lionel’s escort, Michelle, was also frustrated. The handmaiden, Anna, adjusted the shawl on Riv’s shoulders.

Their dissatisfaction was enormous. Lionel was also furious.

“Why is everyone gathering here?”

“Didn’t you two go for a walk? Anyway, we need to leave, but you are blocking the door.”

Lionel’s large body was blocking the way.

He grunted and moved both himself and Riv away from the door. Anna spoke up.

“It’s sunny, but there are many slippery places. Madame, please be careful.”

“Ugh.”

The dog, Chewy, who returned from playtime outside, sat next to Riv.

In the meantime, Lionel started bickering with the servants.

When Claudel, Karl, and Michelle ganged up, Lionel was pushed to the edge.

“Riv, you should go for a walk with me.”

“Okay.”

She didn’t know what they were fighting about.

Anna stared at Riv, ignoring them.

“Madame, you are really healthy.”

“Really?”

“You look beautiful.”

“Thanks.”

Anna didn’t mention anything about the past that would cause her concern.

Just in time, Lionel ‘defeated’ the servants and returned triumphantly.

“Let’s go.”

Lionel wrapped his arm around Riv’s waist. With him as an escort, Riv went for a walk.

During their walk, they saw trees with a lot of new growth.

Spring was coming. It seemed that this area would soon turn green and wildflowers would bloom.

“What are you looking at?”

Riv smiled at Lionel, feeling the gentle breeze caressing her cheek.

The world reflected in her eyes was a sweet pink color.

“I think the world is kind.”

“Okay?”

Lionel’s expression was somber. He distrusted Riv’s hopeful words.

“You see the world kindly.”

“You have to let go of being pessimistic, for the sake of our baby.”

“Oh, yes. We have a baby.”

Lionel stared at Riv’s stomach, which was now protruding. He gently and affectionately stroked it.

“Is it a daughter? Or a son?”

“Either is good, as long as they are born healthy.”

“Um, actually, I hope it’s a daughter.”

“Daughter? She’ll be pretty if she resembles you.”

“If our baby is a girl, can I name her?”

“I don’t care. What would you name her?”

“Shana.”

“Your mother’s name.”

Riv lost her memories and also lost her necklace, the only keepsake of her mother’s.

To make matters worse, she had forgotten her mother’s face. But she did not forget her mother’s name.

“If you don’t like the name Shana, then we can name her Helen.”

“You mean my mother’s name?”

Lionel thought for a moment.

“It would be fine to give them either of those names, and if it’s a boy, we could give him my father’s name.”

“Wasn’t your father’s name Lewin?”

“Yes.”

Lewin was a good name.

“But Lionel, I think we will have a daughter.”

“Then let our second be a son.”

At Lionel’s wish, Riv let out a sigh.

“Let’s focus on this child first.”

Lionel agreed. Riv looked up at Lionel and smiled.

“I think I became happy only after I met you.”

“What about before?”

“It was only darkness. You are like a gift from God.”

“That’s a huge compliment.”

Riv tried to remember the Royal Capital, where she spent most of her life.

When she thought of the Royal Capital and the Royal Palace, her head hurt. Just thinking about it always gave her a headache.

They were not happy times.

She must have always been sad, sick, or depressed there.

But things were different now.

Before, the face reflected in the mirror was uneasy and cold.

But the longer she spent with Lionel, the more lively she looked.

Riv now loved her dark hair, white skin, slender face, and height.

It was all because of Lionel’s overflowing love.

Even Lionel’s hard face had softened.

Riv swept Lionel’s long bangs aside and stared at his handsome face.

The red scar that was his insecurity had long since faded.

“Lionel, don’t you want to cut your hair?”

“Will you cut it for me?”

Lionel’s hair grew long enough to cover his eyes and the nape of his neck.

His sharp impression had become rather sexy.

Lionel leaned his body towards Riv and brought his attractive face close to hers.

“Do I look different?”

“Lionel looks good with long or short hair.”

“But doesn’t it look too sharp? My scar is also a problem.”

“Isn’t that more sexy?”

With or without a scar, Lionel was Riv’s beloved husband.

“Lionel, did I tell you?”

“What?”

“I think I loved you from the second I met you.”

Even though she had forgotten a lot, Riv remembered the shock and emotion of their first meeting.

It was a strong feeling, as if penetrating her body.

It felt like only the two of them existed.

But Lionel…

“When I saw you, I thought that there were weird women out there. So I couldn’t easily forget you.”

“How strange was I?”

“It’s a secret.”

Lionel covered Riv’s eyes after she squinted due to a light breeze.

They soon entered the forest.

The trees in the forest were already sprouting bright green shoots, and the sunny spots were blooming with large, beautiful flowers.

“Pretty.”

It was a forest full of fragrance.

Riv was slightly intoxicated by its warmth and scent.

Gentle touches seemed to pass her by, in many ways, over and over.

If she stretched out her hand, she felt like she might be able to grasp its mystical powers. But even when she stretched out her hand, she couldn’t catch anything.

-“Thank you. We bless you.”

“……?”

Riv tilted her head as she heard someone whisper.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s nothing.”

After a long walk, they cut some wild flowers and made a small bouquet.

Simple wild flowers adorned their bedroom.

“Let’s go back, Riv.”

After their walk, they returned to the mansion.

***

That day, Riv took a nap and dreamed.

In the dream she saw herself, Lionel, and their child.

Their child was a lovely girl with exceptionally white skin and blonde hair.

The child had pretty amber eyes that resembled her father’s.

Riv called the child using her mother’s name.

-“Shana.”

The dream went further into the future.

Riv was still with Lionel.

They were old and smiling, surrounded by their children.

Riv returned to the happy present.

***

A few months later, Riv gave birth to a baby girl.

They named her Shanidra.

Her nickname was Shana. She was named after Riv’s birth mother.

She looked just like the baby in her dream a few months ago, with Lionel’s white blonde hair and amber eyes.

She was like a princess, with an exceptionally pretty smile.

Little Shana was a child born to be loved.

“Shana.”

Riv called her child’s name. Their baby smiled brightly.

The whole world seemed to have blessed her and Lionel.

Time passed again.

They raised Shana well and Riv fell pregnant again. Their second child was a healthy and beautiful boy.

Lionel and Riv named him Lewin.

***

Spring had arrived in the South. She didn’t know how many springs it had been.

It was the start of the social season, but they did not return to the Royal Capital. Instead, they completely settled into their Elon mansion.

It was a warm day, when green buds sprouted in the garden.

The Duke and Duchess of Sentoren walked out with their two children.

It was their first walk of spring.

Between the couple was a child, about a year old, who could barely walk.

He was the youngest, the heir of the Duke.

His name was Lewin, a pretty boy with white skin, dark hair, and amber eyes.

Lewin inherited his mother’s coveted dark hair and white skin, and his father’s eyes and impressive looks.

The child smiled broadly at his older sister Shana, and his mother Riv.