The Teravita people who had finished preparing to leave looked at Riena with bewildered expressions. I too had the same look, but somehow I felt that I shouldn’t refuse this request.

“Is this content difficult to discuss here?”

“A little.”

I reached out my hand to Riena. As I held the warm child’s hand and headed towards the garden, I heard Ranson saying not to be late coming back.

“Young lady, no one should be able to hear us here. Do you have something to tell me?”

We were about ten meters away from the people gathered near the mansion’s main gate. Riena looked around and then asked with a serious face.

“Why didn’t the young master come out?”

“Ah…”

I couldn’t explain why he hadn’t come out. As I was pondering how to answer, feeling awkward, Riena spoke first.

“I met the young master in that garden last night.”

The girl’s finger was pointing towards the annex.

“Rambermon taught me how flowers make babies, so I secretly went to pick flowers and saw him there.”

How flowers make babies…? Going to pick flowers? It was sudden, but I listened carefully to Riena’s words.

“But there was a man who resembled the Crown Princess and Duke Artenbach there.”

Riena rambled on about what conversation the two had. It wasn’t a clear explanation that I could understand immediately, but if Rublion had heard this, it would have been reason enough for him to lock the door and hide.

My whole body trembled. Worried that Aron might do something stupid, I had assigned someone to watch him. That servant had clearly reported to me that he had gone for a short walk after the evening banquet and then left the mansion.

‘Could it be while walking?’

Of all times, did Aron and the Crown Princess meet there then? And Rublion went to that particular spot out of this vast garden.

Isn’t this too cruel for a mere coincidence?

“Young lady, thank you for telling me this before leaving. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to say goodbye here.”

I turned around and ran towards the mansion. I could hear Riena shouting something in the distance, but my mind was already so full of Rublion that I had no room to recognize anyone else’s voice.

Having run desperately until I was out of breath, I arrived in front of Rublion’s room and shouted at the surprised maids looking at me.

“Bring an axe right now!”

At my bellowing, a few ran to the storage room. I grabbed the doorknob, breathing heavily.

“My lady!”

Having seen me running and followed, Askal called out to me with wide, surprised eyes.

“Askal, please open this door. Quickly!”

It hadn’t been even a few hours since I’d told them to leave him alone. How strange must my actions look now.

But he grabbed the doorknob without asking any questions. Then he turned it with all his might and broke it.

“Rublion.”

Through the gap of the broken door, I saw the child’s pale face. My heart felt like it was being torn apart.

‘Not knowing you had gone through such a thing.’

I felt like going mad. I couldn’t forgive the two human trash who had turned this once proud and bright child into this state.

Thud.

Askal tore the door off with his strength. I ran towards Rublion, who was sitting on the bed hugging his knees, with my arms outstretched and eyes reddened.

The child’s empty eyes grew closer. Tears were welling up in those eyes that were no longer golden, but the color of desert sand.

“Mother, I said I wanted to be alone…”

“I love you, Rublion.”

I was certain these were the words the child needed most at this moment.

Tightening my arms around him, I spoke with the determination not to let go.

“I love you enough to choose to live as your mother.”

His shoulders shook. My heart ached so much I wanted to scream at the fact that it was Rublion suffering because of their wrongdoing.

“I love you. I love you.”

I didn’t want to cry, but tears kept falling. He had tried to bear such a great wound alone with this small body.

If I hadn’t broken down the door, he would have withered away suffering alone in this room.

“Mother… please let go.”

Despite Rublion’s plea, I couldn’t let go.

“Rublion.”

I couldn’t see Askal behind me as I was hugging the child. But even just from his voice, I could tell he was in pain.

“Father…”

Long, warm arms wrapped around me and Rublion. I could hear a heartbeat from somewhere near my ear, perhaps his chest or stomach.

“Don’t swallow it, speak. I’ll take care of everything.”

Askal’s large hand wiped away Rublion’s tears. Having slipped out of the embrace, I held the child’s hand, which was still tightly clenched, and said.

“It’s not your fault. You did nothing wrong.”

Rublion bit his lip, hesitating to speak. Askal, who had been waiting patiently, finally bent down and whispered something into the child’s ear in a voice too low for me to hear.

Suddenly, Rublion fell forward and sobbed. I glared at Askal with complex emotions, but he put his hand on my shoulder, saying to wait just a little longer.

After hearing from Rublion about what had happened the night before, Askal, trembling like a nearly insane person, shouted.

“That trash Aron, bring him here right now! No, I’ll go myself.”

Askal jumped up from his seat and rushed out, telling us not to wait. It happened so suddenly that there was no time to stop him, leaving Rublion and me just staring blankly at the door he had left through.

“Drink this first.”

I handed over some warm milk tea. It was mixed with herbs good for calming the mind and body.

The child barely managed to take a few sips before setting down the cup. Then he let out a long sigh. Seeing that made my anger rise again.

Forcibly suppressing my trembling voice, I spoke softly.

“You know, Rublion. I think it won’t be easily forgotten even if I tell you to forget. So I’m going to do what I can for you.”

Eyes that had regained some life gazed at me.

“If there comes a time when you’re troubled because last night’s events suddenly come to mind, don’t hesitate to come to me. Even if you come a hundred times, a thousand times a day, don’t try to endure it alone.”

Rublion nodded, barely perceptibly. I hugged the child’s head and said.

“I’ll nag just one more time. When something like this happens, never hide or avoid it. Rely on us. That’s why I became your mother, and Askal became your father.”

Rublion shook his head vigorously, trying to get out of my embrace. I quickly let go and stepped back. The child’s face had completely returned to its previous state.

“Mother, it’s just a thought that suddenly occurred to me.”

“Yes?”

“I think I made the right choice in asking the tooth fairy for you as a gift.”

Seeing the child smile cutely made me feel like my shredded heart was healing.

Rublion wiggled his hand at me, gesturing me to come closer. It would look arrogant to a stranger, but I didn’t want to point that out in this situation.

Honestly, I was just glad that the child had safely emerged from the tunnel at this point. I was happy that I had protected this child before it became irreversible.

“You know.”

Rublion whispered in my ear as I bent down to match eye level. His originally bright voice tickled my ear.

“I love you too, Mother.”

The child grinned broadly. I smiled widely in response.

Askal, who had stormed into the house where Aron was said to be staying, accompanied by the planted observer, looked down coldly at the screaming courtesan and said.

“Tell me. Where is that bastard?”

“Who… who are you talking about?”

Bang.

The wall that Askal hit with all his might shook with a rumble. The courtesan, trembling, pointed at one of the room doors.

He walked steadily towards the firmly closed door. A knight who had followed took out a white glove from his chest and handed it to Askal. He put it on naturally and then rolled up his sleeves.

“What’s this? Who’s making such a commotion…”

Aron opened the room door, his short hair disheveled as if he had been sleeping. Then, upon seeing his brother, he hurriedly closed the door.

“Open it.”

At Askal’s voice, grinding his teeth, Aron hastily locked the door.

Then he threw a pre-packed bag out the window. Having been chased by debt collectors often, he was quite experienced in running away.

Crash.

The enraged Askal kicked the door. As the door collapsed entirely, knights poured into the room.

Aron ran towards the window where he had thrown the luggage. But in front of that window stood an Artenbach family knight, firmly blocking the way.

“Damn it… move!”

Aron shouted angrily, but the knight naturally didn’t budge an inch.

Askal approached with large strides. The sight of him adjusting his white gloves was chilling, as if he might kill him at any moment.

Aron was frozen in fear. It was like a giant leopard approaching with its claws out in the small room.

Askal repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fist, tightened by the gloves. And finally, when he was close enough to the trash to reach out and touch him, he planted his fist into his face with all his might.

“Kuhak!”

Aron staggered, having been hit in the jaw and cheekbone. Forcing his mouth open, which wasn’t opening properly, he said.

“Why are you suddenly doing this!”

Askal’s golden eyes flashed dangerously at his words.

“You should have been more careful with your mouth!”

Askal readjusted his gloves and threw another punch. Aron tried to raise his arms to block it somewhat, but there was no way to avoid his merciless brother’s beating.

“St-stop! Let’s talk… please, let’s use words.”

Aron, bloodied and bruised all over, grabbed Askal’s leg and begged.

But he, already having lost his mind, had no intention of stopping his punches.