The lady sighed at the butler’s gaze that wouldn’t leave her.

Though he didn’t say it directly, she knew what the butler was worried about. Briefly meeting his gaze before looking away, the lady reluctantly spoke.

“Alright. Tell them to do so.”

“Yes, I understand, my lady.”

Relief finally showed on the butler’s face. As he left the bedroom, the lady collapsed onto the bed.

“Ugh……”

A groan of pain escaped her.

A moment later, knock knock knock, the lady’s nerves were on edge at the sound. She hardly dared to face that woman and child. She desperately wished she could just vanish.

But she couldn’t live forever without seeing Killian. After all, Killian was her only family. The lady clenched her jaw and spoke.

“Come in.”

Killian, Veronia, and Jediel entered in order, but the lady turned her gaze away without looking at them.

“Mother, I heard you’re unwell. How are you feeling now?”

“I seem to be getting better with some quiet rest.”

Finally, the lady’s gaze fixed on Veronia and Jediel. Veronia immediately bowed her head politely.

“Hello. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Nia Lampert.”

“Welcome, Lady Nia. I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you properly due to my condition.”

“No, it’s quite alright.”

It was an awkward first greeting. Jediel, who had been glancing at Veronia, bowed at a right angle when she gave a slight nod as a signal.

“Hello! My name is Jediel! I’m Mother’s son.”

Startled by the booming voice, the lady’s shoulders flinched. And the next moment, her eyes grew as if they would pop out. Her pupils were trembling like aspen leaves.

“Oh my…!”

The lady was speechless at the sight of the child who looked so much like her long-dead eldest son. Thump thump, her heart beat violently, and soon tears began to well up in her eyes.

Not only the dazzling blonde hair, but also the large, clear eyes and the blue irises sparkling within them greatly resembled Aaron.

The straight nose bridge, distinct philtrum, and plump lips were the same as well. The lady examined Jediel piece by piece, remembering Aaron.

‘Aaron…!’

She called out in her mind the name of her first child, long buried in her heart.

The image of little Aaron, small like the child before her but with clear eyes, came vividly to mind as if she had seen him just yesterday. Along with it was the image of the young adult Aaron, who always smiled brightly like a child despite his sturdy build.

‘Aaron… my son…!’

Trying to calm the overwhelming longing, the lady said to Jediel.

“Child… would you come closer?”

As Veronia nodded again, Jediel approached the lady’s side. The lady still couldn’t take her eyes off the child’s face.

“Did you say your name was Jediel?”

“Yes.”

“Jediel, may I touch your hand?”

“…Yes, here.”

Jediel willingly offered his hand to the lady. It was a small, chubby, cute hand. The lady gently stroked the child’s hand as if handling something precious.

“Oh my. Such a small hand. Oh……”

Tears that had welled up in the lady’s eyes flowed down.

She just stared endlessly at Jediel, not even thinking to wipe away her tears. Then the child quietly wiped the tears flowing down her cheeks. The lady’s eyes widened briefly at the sudden soft touch.

“What a lovely child you are!”

The lady smiled brightly, placing her hand over the one on her cheek. Jediel also grinned back at her.

It was when the lady, in a much better mood, was looking over next month’s budget at her desk.

With a knock, the door opened and a young maid entered. The maid was holding a silver tray with a letter neatly placed on top.

“My lady, a letter has arrived from the Empress Dowager’s palace.”

“From the Empress Dowager?”

“Yes.”

It was puzzling. She wasn’t close enough with the Empress Dowager to exchange letters. Yet suddenly a letter?

‘What could it be?’

As she opened the envelope, an ominous feeling flashed through her. After adjusting her reading glasses, the lady’s face instantly contorted as she checked the contents. The Empress Dowager conveyed that she wanted to visit the Duke’s residence to renew their acquaintance after a long time.

‘A visit? Why so suddenly… And at this time of all times?’

It was a letter with the Empress Dowager’s intentions all too clear. The lady, sighing deeply, recalled the conversation she had just had alone with Killian.

‘Jediel… surely he’s not your child?’

‘Of course not. He resembles my brother a lot, doesn’t he? That’s why I was drawn to Jediel when I first saw him. Thanks to that, I also met Nia.’

‘Yes. The child looks just like your brother, and you too. It could raise suspicions.’

‘Suspicions? What kind of suspicions do you mean, Mother?’

‘Suspicions that he’s your child. You know how this world loves to pry into others’ private lives.’

‘Ah… I hadn’t thought of that aspect.’

‘It won’t be an easy marriage. Everyone will watch with interest. Harsh words you can’t even imagine might come from all directions.’

‘….’

‘Ah, but the imperial family might like it. They must have been worried you’d marry a high noble or foreign royalty and expand your influence.’

The lady paused briefly to catch her breath, then asked carefully.

‘Lady Nia and Jediel… are you certain? Did you feel sure they are your people?’

‘Yes, I’m certain. Never in my entire life have I been more certain, Mother.’

Killian answered without the slightest hesitation. The confidence radiating from his expression, voice, eyes, and attitude was intense.

‘Then that’s fine. But tell me.’

‘Yes, Mother.’

‘You’re not the only one excited and happy about this, are you?’

‘Pardon?’

‘….’

At her question, Killian was taken aback, furrowing his brow and widening his eyes. Soon after, he mumbled awkwardly while rubbing his face as if embarrassed.

‘While it’s true that I’m happier… it’s not to the extent that you need to worry, Mother.’

The lady smiled gently at Killian, who was blushing and looking embarrassed. The sight of her son in love was quite unfamiliar.

“My lady, what shall we do?”

The young maid’s voice brought the lady out of her reverie. She read the letter in her hand again, organizing her thoughts.

“Wait a moment.”

The lady took out a blank sheet and began writing a reply. The soft sound of the pen moving across the paper quietly echoed.

Soon finishing the letter, the lady neatly folded it and placed it in an envelope. Handing the envelope, sealed with a wax stamp, to the young maid, the lady said:

“Send this reply to the Empress Dowager’s palace.”

“Understood, my lady.”

The maid received the letter with both hands.

“And could you go to the head butler and tell him?”

“What should I convey?”

“We need to hold a party after a long time. We should have a welcoming party for our new family members. Tell him to prepare a preliminary budget proposal within two days, as it will likely be quite large-scale if we’re to invite all the high nobles residing in the capital.”

“Understood, my lady.”

After bowing politely, the maid left with hurried steps. A smile spread across the lady’s face as she watched the maid’s retreating figure.

‘A party… Has it been 10 years? No, 12 years?’

It had been so long since she’d held such a large-scale party that she couldn’t even remember when the last one was.

‘No, it’s been 15 years.’

Come to think of it, she hadn’t held a single party since Aaron’s death in battle.

Of course, she hadn’t lived entirely in the shadow of depression all these years. She had lived comfortably and happily like ordinary people.

She had attended various parties and met many people, laughing and chatting on many days. Of course, there were also days when she writhed in sorrow that would occasionally overwhelm her.

But hosting a party was a different matter. Parents who had lost a child simply didn’t feel inclined to plan a party for laughing and chatting in the space where their child was missing.

‘But now it seems alright.’

The lady smiled gently, recalling little cute Jediel. The strange feeling she had when she first saw the child was still vivid.

As soon as she saw Jediel, she felt a sense of healing. It was strange. How could there be healing when there was no pain? But the feeling was so clear that it couldn’t be mistaken.

‘Had I been… ailing all this time without realizing it?’

She thought she had fully recovered because she hadn’t felt any pain at all. She thought she had overcome the sadness because it had dulled.

But it seems that wasn’t the case. She realized as soon as she faced the face resembling Aaron.

The pain was still there, and so was the sadness. It just seemed dulled because she had tried so hard not to feel it.

But now it was alright. It seemed to be all thanks to Jediel.

‘It looks like a bundle of joy has entered our house.’

The smile on the lady’s face grew deeper and deeper.

Late at night, Veronia and Killian were strolling in the brightly lit garden.

“Mother asked if Jediel was my child.”

“So you had to lie to your mother. I’m sorry. For making you lie too.”

Veronia’s eyes trembled faintly as she looked up at Killian.

Eyes that were originally red but now turned green, eyes that would appear green to others but still appeared red to Killian.

“It was what I wanted. I’m glad I could lie together with you. I’m happy that there are no secrets between us.”

Glad to be able to lie? Veronia chuckled, finding it absurd. Killian also smiled sheepishly at her laughter.

“Mother also said this. That it seems like only I am excited and happy.”

“Ah……”

The smile had completely disappeared from Killian’s face by now. He continued speaking in a serious voice.

“I know you came here pushed by unavoidable circumstances, because of my forceful insistence.”

“……”

“But I’m a little relieved, just a little……”

“I like it.”

“Pardon?”

Killian was dumbfounded by Veronia’s single sentence.