The people of the Isuter Empire were easily instigated by Daniel’s words. Charlotte, who had a hard time accepting Adrian’s death, went into seclusion in her room. On the fifth day after Adrian’s death, the funeral ended and he was buried in the imperial family’s land where only the imperial family was buried.

And Teishar quietly disappeared with Lorencia. Ruans, who belatedly learned of Lorencia’s disappearance, tried to go and find her, but could not move easily due to the crown prince’s enthronement ceremony.

“This is a kidnapping. A kidnapping! Duke Spencer. How dare you kidnap my monster?”

Ruans muttered while biting his thumbnail.

“Why did you take Lorencia away! Aaargh!”

Ruans, who was throwing everything in the room to vent his anger, screamed. He had already prepared a space where he could spend time alone with Lorencia in the future, and had prepared enough sleeping pills so that she could only sleep. Now that he had become the crown prince, it would not take long for him to become the emperor. However, in order to become the emperor, he needed the power of Lorencia’s prophecy. Lorencia, whom he absolutely needed, had been kidnapped by Teishar.

“Carlien!”

“Yes.”

“Go to the Spencer estate at once and bring back my monster.”

“Understood.”

The moment Carlien bowed to Ruans, the corners of his mouth rose.

Magus, who had returned to the Poloid Empire, immediately headed to the Di Glosten duchy upon hearing that Abrelina and Welson, the former duke and duchess of the duchy, had come to the duchy.

“I heard from Baello. They said they found the child of Cain and Musilla?”

Abrelina and Welson, who had been away for a while on business in another empire, received Baello’s letter and quickly finished their work and returned to the ducal residence.

“Yes. We found her. I was so surprised because she looked just like Cain when he was young…”

“Then Cain is… And where is Lady Musilla?”

When Magus fell silent, Baello turned his gaze away, and Abrelina finally burst into tears. Welson, who was next to her, patted her back.

“I just hoped they were alive… When is the child in the Isuter Empire coming?”

Abrelina asked through trembling lips as she wiped away her tears.

“My son is taking great care of her and they will return together.”

“If Duke Spencer is taking good care of her, that’s a relief.”

Abrelina clenched the handkerchief she was wiping her tears with.

“You may be quite surprised when you see her.”

Magus was worried about Abrelina and Welson, who would be surprised to see Lorencia’s emaciated body.

“I’ve heard some of the story. She lived as an illegitimate child while being abused at the Pol Heredian estate.”

Abrelina bit her lower lip so hard it bled. She had lived in pain for 20 years. The pain of losing a blood-related existence that she had never forgotten for a single moment was more than the deepest abyss that those who had not experienced it would never know.

“It’s absolutely unforgivable.”

Fortunately, they had found the child of the two, their granddaughter, but upon hearing the story of how she had grown up as an illegitimate child of the Pol Heredian estate, enduring all kinds of humiliation and abuse, anger boiled up.

“I want to lead the knights and cross over to the Isuter Empire right now and sweep them all away.”

“The moment of revenge will surely come, so it would be good if you could endure a little longer. Lady Abrelina.”

Abrelina cried again.

“I tried to think that at least our granddaughter is alive, but my heart aches. I can’t shake the thought that we are unworthy parents who couldn’t protect our child.”

They let go of the hand they couldn’t hold, and every day for 20 years without fail, they started each day with the feeling of parting with a precious existence. Every day, they ate meals to endure the day while embracing a heart full of lingering feelings and longing for their departed family members, suffering in agony.

Flowers bloom and wither, but the flowers within them cannot bloom. They only waited to be plucked and withered. The weather changes every day, but the weather in their broken hearts never changed from dark clouds or occasional rain.

“Abrelina. From now on, we’ll love and protect her well, including Cain and Lady Musilla’s share.”

“Of course. We will never let her marry and will keep her by our side for the rest of our lives. But Lord Magus.”

“Yes?”

“What should I do when I meet our granddaughter? If I cry as soon as I see her, won’t she feel burdened? Should I hug her with a smile? What should I do?”

“Abrelina. I don’t think this is the time for us to be doing this.”

Welson said with a serious face.

“Then. What should we do? Welson.”

“We should decorate our precious granddaughter’s room. And purchase dresses and jewelry.”

“Welson. That’s a good idea. We should call the merchants right away.”

Abrelina and Welson wiped each other’s reddened eyes and nodded. They would only give love, as much as the sorrow and pain that had accumulated over the past 20 years. Rather than feeling guilty for not being able to protect their son and daughter-in-law, they had to become strong to protect their granddaughter in the future.

“We will make her the most precious granddaughter in the world.”

“Let’s do anything for her with the wealth of the Di Glosten duchy.”

At Welson and Abrilena’s resolution, cold sweat began to flow down Magus’ back.

It was because of the red letter Teishar had sent not long ago. At first, his heart sank, thinking something had happened to Lorencia.

But the letter contained a different story.

Magus rubbed his eyes several times and read the letter Teishar had sent, but the writing did not change. Was it because he was old and couldn’t see the writing well? Just in case, he showed the letter to Holio and a few aides. The news that Teishar had a lover began to spread throughout the mansion in an instant, creating a festive atmosphere.

He didn’t know how Teishar had won Lorencia’s heart, but it wasn’t that he disliked the two becoming lovers. Rather, it was an honor for the family.

Magus glanced at Welson. He was vowing over and over again to pour all his love and money into Lorencia from now on. Abrelina was the same.

Watching the process of people who had nothing left but money and time becoming doting parents, he thought it would be really difficult for Teishar to get Lorencia’s hand in marriage in the future.

Cold sweat flowed down his back.

Early in the morning after Adrian’s funeral, Teishar took Leo and Lorencia along with the people of the Spencer estate and secretly left the Isuter Empire.

He didn’t know what Ruans would do to get Lorencia back, but it didn’t matter. As the black snake of the earth that protects the child of the goddess Ella, and as her lover, he was ready to protect her.

Teishar turned his gaze to Lorencia, who was sitting next to him. When Lorencia’s hand, which had been smiling brightly, held Teishar’s hand and began to laugh, he also found himself smiling.

“Why does Ter keep looking at only me like that?”

“My gaze keeps going to you because you’re pretty.”

Teishar recalled a merchant who used to love jewels too much. That merchant said he only loved jewels and told him that his greed for jewels was excessive.

If it were now, he could tell that merchant who loved jewels that he empathized with him.

“Ter is just like me. I keep looking at Ter because you’re so pretty…”

Teishar put his arm around the shoulder of Lorencia, who was smiling brightly.

“Loa, why do you speak so prettily? It makes my heart flutter.”

Lorencia’s cheeks turned red. Teishar raised the corners of his mouth. These days, he really liked looking at her face that turned red when she looked at him.

“My heart flutters every time Ter speaks too.”

Teishar, whose cheeks and ears had turned red, tightened his grip on the hand around her shoulder. Then, he slipped one hand under Lorencia’s knees, gently lifted her up, and sat her on his lap. Lorencia looked at Teishar with wide eyes, now at the same eye level.

“I like you. Loa.”

It was a voice that deeply resonated in the heart. Teishar caressed Lorencia’s cheek. Naturally, their gazes met.

“I hope Loa feels the same way about me.”

Teishar’s face got closer and closer to Lorencia’s face. At a distance where the tips of their noses were touching, Teishar slowly closed his eyes and slightly tilted his head.

Knock knock. At the sound of someone knocking on the carriage window, Teishar buried his face between Lorencia’s shoulder and neck, passing her face. His heart was pounding, even though he hadn’t been caught doing anything wrong.

“What is it?”

“Duke Spencer. We have arrived at the outskirts of the Poloid Empire.”

“I see.”

Teishar inwardly sighed at the thought of being interrupted. Lorencia laughed and lightly tapped Teishar’s shoulder.

“Ter. I heard from Amelin that there’s a must-visit date spot for lovers in the Poloid Empire.”

“That’s right. I’m excited to take Loa there.”

Teishar lightly kissed the back of Lorencia’s hand.

“You must be busy with ducal work, will it be alright?”

“It’s fine.”

“Still, you have to take care of your health while working.”

Teishar, who nodded, looked at the tree behind Lorencia, which had beautifully sprouted. When they first met, the young tree looked like it would break with just a little touch, and the land where the tree had taken root was a barren and black swamp. But now, as they left the Isuter Empire, the black swamp gradually disappeared and the sand storms subsided.