Why had she walked all the way here in this cold weather, simply because of some bastard’s threat? He also wanted to reproachfully ask why, despite him always finding her, she did not prioritize finding him.
However, when Edith carefully brushed the melting snowflakes off my shoulder, such concerns became irrelevant. Just as the drunkard said, it seemed like I had become a senseless, disordered madman.

“If you think I left you because I felt I could no longer be of help to you, like last time, listen well.”

He firmly grasped Edith’s hands, which were examining his wet clothes, and locked eyes with her.
“I initially received the money for contracting with Helen. In exchange for helping within the mansion to become a Portrion noble, I agreed to receive a substantial amount of money to settle comfortably in the capital.”

Walter did not specify the exact amount.

However, Edith knew that he was not the kind of man to speak so confidently about something he was uncertain of.

“The child you have is….”
When the topic of pregnancy came up, Edith’s pupils quivered. Hesitant to speak, she took a deep breath. Her body tensed as she recalled the conversation she had overheard from her agents earlier today.

“Why are the assassins so fixated on targeting Walter?”

“They’re not even trying to kidnap him; they seem intent on killing him outright.”

The moment she revealed the pregnancy, it was clear that she would become Walter’s greatest vulnerability.
The fact that Walter, targeted by Elizabeth’s faction because of his Lexion or the cursed bloodline, would possibly be displeased to have a child of the same blood, was also there.

“Walter, the child—”

As Edith, who had been moistening her lips, finally began to speak, Walter cut her off, reading the complex thoughts on her face.

“I’ll raise it as my own child, so say no more. Including the father who doesn’t even show his face when you’re in danger—I’ll handle them all to shut them up.”

“……”
“Even if it doesn’t look like it, it’s not hard to raise a child once you learn a little. You also fell into a deep sleep when I held you, Edith.”

The rims of Edith’s eyes reddened as she looked at Walter. He naturally took all the burden off her, making it so she didn’t have to say anything.

As she imagined the scene of him tenderly holding and soothing the child she had committed to protect, an indescribable warm emotion spread throughout her body. It tingled as if electricity had surged through her heart.
Walter moved his face closer to her hesitant figure, and when she no longer pushed him away, he kissed her lips as they were.

Edith tasted his lips, which were slightly cold from rushing to her through the cold. His body, previously cold due to her actions, was soon enveloped in warmth.

When their tightly pressed lips briefly parted, Edith cradled his cheek with her hand.

Then she gave a small nod.
When she silently consented, Walter harbored a gentle smile she had never seen before. It was a smile mixed with relief, joy, and the satisfaction of being able to keep her by his side.

Walter knew there was a high likelihood that the child she carried was truly his.

However, even if that wasn’t the case, even if she carried the child of his worst enemy, the worst-case scenario for him was losing Edith.

If he could prevent just that, anything was fine.

“Let’s go to the capital together, Edith. I’ll make sure you have nothing to worry about.”
“…….”

When she couldn’t continue her words at the sudden proposal, Walter seemed to affirm it, lightly pressing his thumb against her lips.

“Don’t even think about throwing me away. At least I’m useful in one way.”

It was an irrefutable statement that he could make her legs weaken with just a kiss.

The things that could happen after a kiss were so skillfully executed that it was almost an insult to simply describe them as ‘useful.’
As Edith pondered with a serious face and eventually nodded her agreement, Walter found her so endearing that he simply couldn’t leave her be.

He leaned in, pressing his lips to Edith’s shoulder, and whispered in a low voice.

“So, we’re going to the capital together, Edith.”

Even as she shrank back, finding his lips and hair ticklish, she nodded her head to indicate her agreement. Seeing her sensitive reaction, Walter aimed to lay her down on the bed.
However, noticing that she was hesitant about using the bedding her uncle had used, he promptly removed all the linens from the bed and draped them over a table.

In the meantime, Edith pulled out a thick blanket she had carefully washed last winter and stored in a closet.

Just as she was about to climb onto the bed, Walter gently stopped her.

“It seems your clothes are a bit damp from the snow.”

“Mm, seems so.”

As he had pointed out, she couldn’t sleep in damp clothes. So, Edith hung her outer dress on a hook and only wore the light white dress underneath.
Next, she climbed onto the bed and lightly patted the space next to her. Considering Walter had completely ousted her uncle, that it was late, and the snowstorm was intensifying, it seemed better to stay the night.

Walter looked at her patting the bed and wore a suggestive smile.

“Should I join you?”

What Edith was wearing was already of thin fabric, and it was slightly damp, making her soft skin slightly visible.

Though it was obvious what he was thinking, Edith responded in a subtle tone.
“How can I sleep alone when we don’t know who might barge in at any moment?”

“…….”

He walked over with large strides, embracing Edith as he flopped onto the bed. Then he gently stroked her hair and gave her a brief kiss on the forehead.

Lying side by side under the same blanket now was exactly how Edith had imagined it when she first learned they were having a child.

If someday everything worked out smoothly, and Walter became strong enough to no longer consider her lineage a burden, she wanted to tell their child as well.
The handsome man before her was your biological father…

“Edith, it’s a bit chilly. How about we share the blanket you’re wearing?”

“…….”

She had been attempting to have her first heartfelt conversation with their child when he interrupted like this.

“Go to sleep, Walter. You’ve strained your chest; you need to rest.”

Edith subtly lifted Walter’s arm that was shifting toward her and returned it to its original position.