CH 186

Seeing Eleon unknowingly swallowing his saliva, Sarah smiled a little. Then she turned her gaze to the side to see Penelois and Elexa staring at her with wobbly eyes.

* * *

Penelois calmed her reddened eyes and lifted the teacup as Sarah suggested. Penelois glanced at Elexa, who was looking around the greenhouse with Claude from afar. It was the first time she had ever cried so sadly in front of her little son. The belated embarrassment rushed in all at once.

"I'm sorry, I looked stupid."

"It's okay. I'm used to it......"

Sarah smiled and soothed Penelois. In fact, there were so many people crying and running after Sarah woke up. From Ronda, Veron, May, Benjamin, and Belluna, Jade to the Knights and servants. She was already accustomed to comforting those who cried as if they would run out of breath just looking at her. If they kept going, there would be no end, so Sarah smiled lightly and changed the topic.

"Since you've checked my safety, please let me know what's going on outside. I heard that Penelois-nim is working with His Highness the Third Prince."

"Ah......"

"I heard that you are revered as a saint among the people of the Empire, how do you feel?"

At Sarah's words, Penelois blushed in embarrassment. She was given the nickname because she roamed the battlefield with the Third Prince Eleon, eating and sleeping with the people of Crombell and protecting them. Of course, in the place where Penelois passed by, she was called the 'Bloody Saint' precisely because she was drenched in blood, but Sarah lightly pretended not to know that.

"I'm satisfied with the fact that I can now confidently be recognized as Eleon's lover."

Penelois really smiled brightly like a saint. Seeing Penelois’ face like that, Eleon laughed heartily, forgetting his image. Sarah said, thinking that the two of them looked good.

"Of course, His Majesty was furious, but what can he do? Because the abandoned child has abandoned the justification for interfering with whomever he meets."

"Right. Her Majesty the Empress is also very happy about that."

"How's Her Majesty the Empress doing?"

Eleon answered Sarah's question with a smile instead of Penelois.

"She’s always the same. His Majesty holds everything he wants in his hands and never gives it away."

"She’s got the neutral nobles in her hands."

Eleon's eyes narrowed at Sarah's words. The fact that the Empress succeeded in recruiting the neutral aristocrats together was news that Eleon had only heard yesterday. Because of the Continental Army approaching as if besieging the Imperial family, he had to sacrifice a lot even to receive the Empress' letter.

"You've been lying down for a long time, but you seem to know more about the Imperial family than I do."

At Eleon's words, Sarah looked at Ethan and smiled.

* * *

Sarah rose up with Penelois, leaving the Third Prince and Ethan, who had a serious conversation. Then they approached Claude and Elexa, who were playing in the corner of the greenhouse.

"Claude-nim. We’ll go somewhere else and play."

"Nanny!"

Claude smiled brightly and jumped into Sarah's arms. Sarah lifted Claude lightly into one of her arms.

"The war story was so boring that I ran away to go to Claude-nim. Will you play with me?"

"Of course! Let's have more fun since we have Elexa."

Claude blushed and nodded. Claude was a big fan of playtime with Sarah, but Claude’s mood was soaring thanks to the visit of Elexa today.

"Elexa-nim, please come here too. Shall we play in the water for a long time?"

"Yeah, I’d love to!"

Sarah stretched out the other arm that wasn't holding Claude at Elexa. Elexa jumped into Sarah's arms and hugged her as if he was very used to it.

"Ha......, I missed you so much. This feeling, this weight."

A satisfied smile formed on Sarah's lips. The child's unique, soft and fluffy smell was so good. Penelois, who was watching the scene, said in a laughing voice.

"I think Countess Millen-nim likes children very much."

"Children are the ones that bring joy to adults. Not to mention the cuteness of Claude-nim and Elexa-nim."

A cute cat and a lovely dog were in her arms at the same time. How much she missed this sense of fulfillment when she was in Park Hyeyeon's body. Sarah decided to fully enjoy her current happiness, recalling her longing for a while.

"You're really the same."

Penelois laughed out loud at Sarah, who had the happiest face in the world. Then she asked, subtly poking Sarah on the side.

"Come to think of it, Duke-nim kissed Countess Millen-nim on the cheek earlier. Are you two......"

"Oh my."

Sarah was startled and put Claude and Elexa down from her arms. Then she covered Claude's ears with her hands and lowered her voice to a whisper.