“That, that’s just a rumor. A rumor spread by people who are jealous of me. You’re quite the dummy, young lady!”

Jexy’s raised voice trembled with consternation.

“I should get going. Please take me back to where I was originally.”

Jexy, who had intended to pick flowers, hurriedly gathered her small luggage bag and stood up.

“Jexy, if you don’t have a place to stay, I can look into it for you.”

Scarlet maintained a kind attitude until the end, ignoring her questionable behavior.

“No need. Just take me back.”

Jexy refused Scarlet’s help. She had said she would borrow money, but seemed to have forgotten about it, so Scarlet offered her purse first.

“Take it, Jexy. My father always said to be close with the Hastings. Don’t forget me when you become the duchess later.”

Jexy got scared. Worried that she might run away like this, Scarlet soothed and coaxed her.

“I believe in you.”

Apart from that woman’s usefulness, Scarlet became curious about her story.

‘She’s hiding something. What could it be?’

Scarlet gave a good-natured smile.

“Let’s meet again. And you know? It’s a secret that I’m helping you, Jexy.”

Jexy stared at Scarlet for a while before nodding.

Scarlet watched until Jexy completely disappeared.

* * *

After making sure Cain was sound asleep, Jane put on her robe.

She had a dull pain from Cain being especially persistent today, but she inevitably got out of bed.

The bed and floor were a mess.

It was the first time Cain had fallen asleep first after spending the night with her. Thus, it was also the first time Jane saw the chaotic scene after their lovemaking with her own eyes.

Jane cooled her flushed cheeks with the back of her hand as she picked up the clothes scattered on the floor and headed to the bathroom.

Spending the night with him was like doing intense exercise. She couldn’t control her sweat and tears at will.

Jane thoroughly wiped her messy, wet face and body.

Then she headed to Joseph’s room.

She couldn’t get Joseph’s painful past out of her head. She felt like she could only sleep if she saw with her own eyes that the child was resting safely and comfortably.

Jane earnestly prayed that Joseph had fallen into a peaceful sleep.

“Madam?”

Cain’s knight was in front of Joseph’s room.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Jane greeted him and gestured for him to step aside. When the knight tried to open the door for her, Jane shook her head.

“I’ll do it myself. I’ll be with Joseph tonight, so you can go and rest.”

“No, madam. It is my duty to keep you and the young master safe. Please sleep comfortably.”

The knight whispered softly, checking inside lest Joseph wake up.

“Alright. Thank you.”

Jane entered Joseph’s room. The room was filled with Joseph’s scent.

The rich, milky scent unique to children calmed Jane’s anxiously pounding heart.

Jane moved her steps, following the sound of long, deep breathing.

As she pulled back the long, drooping lace canopy on the bed, she saw Joseph sound asleep.

The child was smiling as if having a good dream.

That smile was so pretty that Jane’s heart ached. It ached so much that tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.

Jane quickly wiped away her tears.

It wasn’t right to pity Joseph for trying to overcome his painful past.

It was right to admire the child’s courage and strong will.

So Jane lay down next to Joseph, smiling as he did.

Joseph naturally snuggled into Jane’s arms. Hugging the child tightly, Jane made a vow.

No matter what, she would protect Joseph.

There would be no handing the child over to Joseph’s birth mother. The position of duchess was also hers.

* * *

“Wake up, Cain. How long are you going to sleep?”

Cain heard a voice waking him up in his sleep.

Is this a dream?

Cain hadn’t slept in for the past few years. He might have if he had stayed up all night and slept in the morning, but his wake-up time was consistent whether he fell asleep at night or at dawn.

He always woke up before Glenn or Norbert arrived and read the newspaper.

The master greeting the servants was a natural sight in the Hastings household.

Rather, it was abnormal for someone to wake Cain up.

“Cain, how long are you going to lie there? Get up. There’s somewhere we want you to go with us today.”

Moreover, Jane’s gentle touch and tone. Plus, it sounded like she was asking him on a date.

‘Even my dreams are strange.’

Just as Cain was about to pull the blanket back over himself, a feeble force stopped his action.

“Fa-Father, g-g-get up!”

Just when Cain thought even Joseph was appearing in his dream, a warm, small hand grabbed his finger with all its might.

That warmth and strength were real.

Cain’s eyes flew open. An unfamiliar scene unfolded before his eyes.

Joseph clinging to the bed, holding onto his finger, Jane looking angry as if displeased with his late rising, and Mary and Norbert setting the breakfast table behind them.

It was similar to a scene he had once seen in the late Duke of Hastings’ bedroom. At that time, Cain was in Joseph’s position.

A warm family morning.

That’s why it felt unfamiliar. He thought it could never happen to him.

“You’re not sleeping with your eyes open, are you?”

Jane placed her hand on Cain’s cheek.

“Or are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Jane was worried about him.

“Or do you have a busy schedule? Even if you do, cancel it. Spend time with us today.”

Jane made a request to him.

No, she was being forceful?

Unbelievable things happened one after another.

“Have your breakfast, Your Grace! What’s with sleeping in? This old lady had to go up and down the stairs carrying a heavy tray.”

Over Jane’s shoulder, Mary, holding a ladle, poured out her nagging.

“Your robe, sir.”

Norbert offered a robe to the still dazed Cain.

“Fa-Father, you s-sleep without clothes?”

Joseph, who had been observing Cain curiously with his big, round eyes, asked.

“Uh? Uh, uh, Mother, we should c-call a doctor. Fa-Father is hurt!”

The marks Jane had left looked like injuries that needed treatment to the innocent child’s eyes.

Ahem, Norbert fake coughed and turned his head.

Jane, her cheeks flushed red, wrapped her arms around Joseph’s shoulders.

“Joseph, let’s sit down first so Father can get ready for the meal.”

After being asked a series of embarrassing questions by Joseph, Cain’s mind cleared up.

Cain put on the robe Norbert offered and got out of bed.

“What’s going on?”

“The madam, who woke up at dawn, couldn’t wait any longer and ordered breakfast to be served in the bedroom.”

“What about going out?”

“I’m not quite sure about that either. Wouldn’t it be better to ask her directly?”

He wanted to ask, but there was the period of coldness between them, and yesterday he had revealed his past, making him anxious.

He was particularly hung up on Jane’s sudden change in attitude.

“Cain, Joseph is waiting.”

At Jane’s words to come and sit down promptly, Cain had breakfast in his pants and robe.

Throughout the meal, Jane and Joseph were in good spirits.

“I-I was so startled to see M-Mother there.”

Joseph said, chewing and swallowing a piece of duck.

It seemed Jane had slept with Joseph last night.

‘She left me?’

Cain almost felt jealous of Joseph. Fortunately, he was able to suppress his petty jealousy by recalling that the child was young and his son.

“You didn’t like it?”

“I-It was so nice! When I opened my eyes, there was an angel, an angel. I-I thought it was a dream, but M-Mother hugged me!”

Look at this kid talking.

Cain chuckled.

Joseph knew what pretty was and also knew how to say things to please a woman.

‘He’ll make many cry when he grows up.’

Cain, who had a thought that would be more than enough to hear “Look who’s talking” if Jane heard it, listened to the two of them chattering.

Suddenly, he realized that although they had eaten dinner together, this was the first time they had breakfast together.

His nose suddenly stung. Cain pretended to drink water and looked around.

Joseph, who kept giggling for some reason, looked delighted, and Jane, who was taking care of the child with a smile, even Mary and Norbert serving the meal, seemed to be in high spirits.

It was amazing that everyone could be so happy over a single meal.

‘Not bad.’

Although he would have to work late tomorrow due to devoting a day to his family, it wasn’t bad.

‘But family? Calling them family?’

Cain, who had been cutting the meat, raised his head. His mind went blank.

Jane, Joseph, Mary, Norbert… are my family?

His family had all died. The previous Duke and Duchess of Hastings were his only family.

He thought he could never have a family again.

He had no interest in marriage or children.

He had to carry on the lineage, but there was Joseph, Arthur’s son.

He had married Jane, but it was just a temporary contract.

Of course, he was more than willing to extend that contract period, but it was still a contract.

It was a strange combination to be called a family.

Moreover, Mary and Norbert were relationships that couldn’t even be legally tied.

Why did I think of them as family when I looked at them?

As Cain pondered, there was a quick, short knock and the door swung open.

“Your Grace! You were here?”

Nathan, holding a pile of documents, approached, panting.

“I waited at Haze Corporation, but…”

Muttering, Nathan expressed his dissatisfaction, but none of it was heard.

Nathan barged into the category of family in Cain’s mind.

That’s right, even you.

I guess you’re my family now.