After returning from the Rowe Viscount’s residence, Blanche’s fever subsided and she quickly recovered.

However, I still didn’t have the confidence to see Jade.

Knowing that Sharlin was carrying his child, interacting with Jade felt like doing something I shouldn’t.

I sent Mary to tell Ayla that I couldn’t come because Blanche’s fever hadn’t gone down yet.

A week quickly passed as I became busy handling the affairs of the territory on behalf of Earl Boston.

‘The crops are all frozen and the people of the territory are struggling…’

Today, while reading reports in the study, I briefly closed my eyes as they grew tired from the complex situation of the territory.

‘I wonder if uncle is alright. There’s been no communication crystal contact since he said he arrived in Lekah.’

I was worried about Earl Boston due to the silent communication crystal for several days.

Turning my gaze for a moment, I saw Blanche lying on her stomach next to me, coloring on drawing paper.

Small hands adorably gripping crayons.

‘Whose daughter is she, she’s too lovable.’

The fatigue that had built up until now flew away at the sight of her face with pursed lips in concentration.

“This isn’t it!”

Blanche, who had been coloring, suddenly frowned and tore up the drawing paper.

“Blanche. What’s wrong?”

I was so surprised that I knelt down beside her.

“Don’t you like what you drew?”

Blanche didn’t answer, her lips tightly sealed.

‘What on earth happened, to tear up the drawing paper she was working so hard on…’

I pieced together the torn drawing paper to gauge what picture she had drawn.

“This is…”

It was an image of Blanche riding on Jade’s neck and me standing beside them, watching fireworks.

“Shu Shu is trying not to forget this, but it’s so sad if the memory disappears. I drew it so I wouldn’t forget…”

“…Blanche.”

“I colored Dad’s eyes pink instead of red by mistake. This way I can’t remember properly.”

I hugged the upset Blanche and patted her back.

“So that’s why our baby was so upset.”

“Mom. Shu Shu wants to see Dad, but can’t I?”

Although I had lied that it was because Ayla was busy, Blanche seemed to have noticed.

That she might not be able to spend time with Jade like they played at the Ice Festival.

“Blanche, Dad is…”

I sighed, wondering if I should let her meet Jade while in Langransha.

“For now, Mom will help you. Shall we draw it again?”

Blanche nodded, gripping her crayons.

“My lady.”

“What is it, Mary?”

“The Viscount has arrived and is waiting in the hall.”

Mary knocked and entered to announce Jade’s visit.

‘Jade came?’

I didn’t want to see him right now.

“Tell him I can’t come out now, ask him to leave… Blanche!”

Blanche slipped out of my arms and ran out.

I immediately followed after Blanche.

Blanche was already in Jade’s arms, smiling brightly.

“Hehe, Viscount! I missed you!”

“Blanche. I heard you were sick.”

“Huh? Shu Shu got better a while ago!”

Jade raised his head upon hearing Blanche’s reply that she wasn’t sick.

“…So you’ve been better for a while.”

Jade smiled broadly as our eyes met. Anger could be read in that smile.

It was a face asking why I had deceived him.

“Viscount, won’t you play with Shu Shu?”

“I’ll play with you after talking with Mom for a bit.”

“Okay! Mom, Shu Shu will be drawing again, so talk with the Viscount!”

“Blanche, wait a moment!”

Before I could stop her, Blanche went back into the study.

“You said the child was sick. She’s running around so well. She might fly away at this rate.”

Jade approached me with a smile still on his lips, mocking.

I felt pressured and tried to push him away, but it was useless.

“What’s wrong this time.”

“…Jade. Don’t come closer.”

“I told you to just tell me if there’s something that makes you angry with me. Why do you always run away and avoid?”

Jade’s voice softened at the end as he brushed my hair to the side.

“What happened to make you act like this.”

That’s why I disliked it more.

The way he created a situation to avoid, yet wouldn’t let go of my hand.

“Don’t do this. What about the Winst Count’s daughter? It may have been okay before, but not now.”

“I broke off the engagement with the Winst Count’s daughter.”

“…Broke off the engagement, you say?”

I was shocked by Jade’s words that he had broken off the engagement with Sharlin, who was carrying his child.

‘Even if he doesn’t like children… how could he break off an engagement with someone who’s going to have a baby?’

I didn’t expect him to ignore the pregnant Sharlin and break off the engagement.

Somehow, when I put myself in the situation of when I was pregnant with Blanche, I got angry.

“Hey, you jerk! How could you do that to a woman carrying your child?”

“Larien. What are you talking about?”

“I heard you talking with the Winst Count’s daughter in the reception room! She’s pregnant, right? But how could you… why…”

I felt miserable at the situation of being ignored like Sharlin if I had honestly revealed that I was pregnant with Blanche.

It didn’t feel like someone else’s business at all.

“Calm down, Larien.”

Jade, who had been quietly listening, lightly hit my forehead.

“I didn’t expect you to think the Winst Count’s daughter’s child was mine.”

“Why did you hit me!”

It didn’t really hurt, but I bristled with a rebellious feeling.

“Larien. It’s because you’re saying such nonsensical things. I wondered why you rushed back after coming to see me, but it was because you thought it was my child.”

“It’s not your child? That’s a lie… Then why did you ask about the cycle?”

I thought he was lying to me, remembering how he had asked about the cycle when told about the pregnancy.

“That was to calculate when she had contact with Grand Duke Usith. The Winst Count’s daughter also agreed to the broken engagement on the condition that I help her give birth to the child away from his eyes.”

“…Grand Duke Usith? You mean it’s not your child but Grand Duke Usith’s bloodline?”

I realized I had thoroughly misunderstood Jade and my face turned red.

‘It was all my misunderstanding.’

Of course, it’s not strange to misunderstand if you only hear that conversation, but the embarrassing feeling didn’t go away.

“In the first place, how could it be my child when I don’t even want anyone else touching me except you?”

Jade placed his hand on my cheek. I could feel sadness in his bloodshot eyes.

“Jade. You… did something happen?”

Jade smiled a bitter smile, as if self-mocking.

“Grand Duke Usith killed my parents.”

“…Grand Duke Usith did?”

“He killed my parents, disguising it as a carriage accident. Larien. I intend to pay back Grand Duke Usith the same way.”

Just as I had recalled much later that Jade was the owner of Rendezvous in the original story.

The reason why Jade almost died because of Grand Duke Usith belatedly flashed through my mind.

‘Jade stabbed Grand Duke Usith with a knife after learning the truth about his parents’ death.’

Grand Duke Usith claimed attempted patricide, saying Jade tried to kill him.

Because of that incident, Jade was stripped of his viscount title by decision of the Council of Elders.

Only then did I remember why Jade had been brought to trial.

Although Grand Duke Usith didn’t die, due to the severity of the crime of attempted patricide, Jade was sentenced to hanging.

Just before his death, having escaped from prison, he lamented his situation, unable to complete his revenge for his parents.

‘In the end, Jade lost everything and went into exile in a foreign country…’

He drank poison, saying he couldn’t finish his revenge for his parents.

That was the end for Jade as the villain, spending his remaining days in loneliness.

“No, Jade!”

“…Larien?”

“Don’t do that. It’s dangerous, don’t…”

I didn’t want Jade to become lonely in that way like in the original story.

“Are you worried about me?”

Jade was happy, saying I was worried about him without knowing what was really on my mind.

“It’s okay. But Larien, Ayla was saying you had something to tell me.”

“…Ah.”

I was going to tell him that Blanche was his daughter.

I had stopped because I thought Sharlin was pregnant with Jade’s child, but now that I knew it was a misunderstanding, it was okay to tell him.

‘Certainly, now that he’s broken off the engagement, it should be fine. Sharlin’s child isn’t even Jade’s bloodline.’

Just as I was about to open my mouth, Blanche came out of the study crying loudly, holding the communication crystal.

“Mom! Grandfather! Grandfather!”

Blanche ran over, shouting about grandfather and holding the communication crystal flashing with blue light.

It meant something had happened to Earl Boston.

“Blanche. Calm down and give Mom the communication crystal.”

I took the communication crystal from Blanche.

−Young Count! Please come to Lekah immediately!

Aaron’s urgent voice was heard from the communication crystal.

“Aaron, has something happened to my uncle?”

−The Count has collapsed…

“…Collapsed?”

−The doctor says he doesn’t have much time left… It seems you should come with Blanche and prepare yourselves…

It wasn’t just that he was gravely ill. Having little time left meant he was at a crossroads between life and death.

I felt extreme anxiety and fear, worried about Earl Boston.

My hands trembled so much that I ended up dropping the communication crystal.

The communication crystal that fell to the floor cracked, cutting off the connection with Aaron.

“Larien, it’s okay. Breathe.”

“…Jade. What if, if Uncle, passes away, what should I do.”

“For now, we need to go right away, so pull yourself together. Don’t think negative thoughts. I’ll go with you.”

Jade said, holding my confused shoulders.

“Thank, you.”

I didn’t refuse his offer, as I didn’t have the capacity to take care of Blanche as well right now.