It was when Cain was looking around Joseph’s room prepared in the palace.

Joseph’s room was well-furnished, as if there was no intention of completely severing ties with the Hastings.

It was spacious and clean, with many toys. Except for the furniture size not fitting a child, it seemed there would be no major issues using it for a few days.

When he was about to take the child away immediately, saying they were mistreating him, even that became difficult.

Indeed, an old and cunning raccoon.

Though she appeared to have a screw loose, it was just an act; Helena was a formidable opponent.

Cain looked around for a place to put the rabbit doll.

Just then, the sound of running footsteps was heard, and Joseph appeared, opening the door.

Without anyone taking the lead, the two tightly embraced each other.

“Father!”

Even though they were hugging without any gaps, the child rubbing his head and clinging was like a rabbit burrowing into its hole.

“Are you hurt anywhere? Were you scared? Were you alright?”

Though they hadn’t been apart for even a full day, Cain and Joseph behaved like people who had been separated for months.

“Ah, I’m not hurt. I, I was scared but endured it. I, I was fine. They, they said I could see Father.”

Imagining the child who must have been eagerly waiting for him, Cain felt as if one side of his chest was collapsing.

Cain hugged Joseph so tightly he could barely breathe, then released him.

“This, Nas told me to give it to you.”

The place where the rabbit doll fit best was in Joseph’s arms. Joseph hugged the rabbit and smiled faintly.

“A rabbit hugging a rabbit.”

“I’m, I’m not a rabbit!”

Joseph bristled. With his eyes wide open, he looked even more like a rabbit.

“Alright, you’re not a rabbit.”

Cain soothed the child as he headed towards the sofa. He didn’t put Joseph down on the sofa, but sat him on his lap. Just as Jane often did.

“Joseph, do you remember what His Majesty said to you?”

Joseph nodded.

“He said to come play at the palace. That he’d give me delicious things, show me fun things, and buy me toys.”

“So you followed him?”

“No! Jo, Joseph is not stupid. Mo, Mother said not to follow just anyone. She said Father could buy much better delicious things and toys!”

Queen Helena had suddenly become just anyone.

“Do you think so too?”

“Of, of course!”

The child’s answer made Cain’s chest feel tight. Suddenly, he wanted to kiss the child’s cheek.

Looking at the child, affection and tenderness welled up.

Is this paternal love?

To think that he had such emotions…… Cain’s body broke out in goosebumps.

“Fa, Father?”

When Cain remained silent for a while, Joseph tugged at his collar.

“Yes, Joseph.”

“His, His Majesty said I could meet Mother. That he’d let me meet her.”

To lure a child with lies, Helena was indeed a bad person.

“Joseph, Jane… isn’t here.”

Joseph hung his head low.

“I, I know.”

Seeing his dejected appearance, Cain’s heart ached. He pulled on Joseph’s small nape. The child was pulled easily, as light as his weight.

“His, His Majesty doesn’t like Mother. Right?”

There are things that are more visible because of innocence.

Instead of answering, Cain nodded. With their bodies pressed together, the answer was easily conveyed.

“If, if I don’t listen, will Mother be in danger?”

Joseph was not a young child swayed by food. There was another reason why the child had to follow Helena.

“Joseph, His Majesty said something else to you, didn’t he? What did he say?”

Joseph’s eyes trembled slightly. Cain didn’t want to trouble the child, but he felt he needed to hear those words.

“He, he said he could find Mother right away. That can’t be, right? Even Father can’t find Mother, right?”

The child had come to the palace to check if Jane had been captured, in case she had been.

“That’s right, Joseph. What I can’t do, the queen can’t do either. So Jane is safe. She will be safe.”

Cain kissed Joseph’s crown. The child’s hair was damp with sweat, but he felt no aversion at all.

The child smelled fresh and soft.

Only then did the child’s tense shoulders drop.

Cain stayed by Joseph’s side until late at night.

He pleaded with Helena and got permission for Leti to enter the palace.

“You’ve become quite the father.”

Helena mocked Cain until the end.

“I am indeed a father.”

It was only after bowing his head for Joseph’s sake that Cain truly felt he had become a father.

Until now, he had protected Joseph for Jane’s sake, but now Joseph had become someone who needed Cain’s protection for his own sake.

Cain’s shoulders felt even heavier.

“The work… didn’t go well, I see.”

Nathan, who had been waiting for Cain all along, couldn’t hide his disappointment seeing Cain leave the palace alone.

“Young master must be very troubled.”

“Joseph is a Hastings. He’ll overcome this with dignity.”

Cain told Joseph to protect Jane together. Joseph’s eyes shone with determination upon hearing those words.

Joseph was a perfect Hastings. A Hastings who could become endlessly stronger for the sake of loved ones.

“I need to meet Cedric.”

As everyone slept, Cain’s day continued without end.

* * *

“Why couldn’t I reach you all day?”

As soon as Cain entered Cedric’s office, he was met with criticism.

Was it because they shared a great responsibility, or because they loved the same person?

The two sometimes seemed like enemies, and sometimes appeared very close.

Cain hesitated, then apologized, not wanting to waste energy on various emotions.

“A problem has arisen.”

“A problem?”

Cain briefly explained the day’s events. Cedric’s face turned pale.

“The queen… seems to have found out. We have a spy on our side.”

“Don’t say things that are obvious. Let’s discuss countermeasures.”

Normally, Cain would have handled things unilaterally. However, this matter needed to be discussed with Cedric.

There might be a spy on this side, but the possibility of impurities on Cedric’s side couldn’t be ruled out either.

Honestly, Cain thought the queen’s pawns were more likely to be among the Rose Faction.

“Vincent will find out on our side. What about yours?”

“On our side……”

Cedric bit the inside of his lip.

He wanted to say confidently that he would catch them like Cain, but the Rose Faction’s organizational strength was terrible. They were like grains of sand. Grains of sand that would scatter when the bowl broke.

“I thought so. That’s why I’m saying we should move up the date of the operation.”

The operation date was set for a month later. A week after the end of the queen’s birthday celebration, the queen would visit the graves of the late king and queen.

At that time, the revolutionary army lying in ambush in an open area planned to pounce on Helena.

The number of soldiers guarding the queen during her outing was much smaller compared to those guarding the palace, so the chances of success were several times higher.

“How many days?”

“As soon as possible… I think the queen’s birthday would be good.”

Cedric, who was counting the days to remember when the queen’s birthday was, suddenly stood up from his seat.

“Can’t do it. It’s impossible. No way.”

Cedric muttered as he paced back and forth across the office.

Although his words were all negative, in his mind, he was busy planning the schedule.

“It’s possible. The Rose Faction people were supposed to come early anyway, right?”

The train test run was in 3 days. Fortunately, they had called them earlier than the operation date, meaning for them to get to know each other’s faces and become familiar.

Cain spoke, watching the hesitating Cedric.

“The weapons and the signatures of the nobles supporting us are all prepared. We just need to make a decision. Only a very few should know about the changed plan.”

“Isn’t the location changing too?”

“That’s a bit of a problem.”

Cain trailed off. Cedric’s brows furrowed.

“There’s a problem, isn’t there?”

“It’s not an easy situation.”

“Tell me.”

This time, it was Cedric urging Cain. Cain tilted his head side to side, deliberately taking the strength out of his words.

“The palace.”

“What?”

There was one more shocking thing on top of this surprising news.

“At Helena’s birthday celebration.”

“You’ve gone mad!”

Cedric held his forehead.

“Absolutely not. Security will be tighter than ever.”

“Don’t you have confidence? Trust in the Hastings’ private soldiers.”

“It’s not a matter of confidence! It’s clear that many people will get hurt!”

“No. They won’t get hurt. Do you know the quickest way to end a war?”

Cedric looked at Cain. In his eyes, there was a determination not to be persuaded unless it was a proper answer.

Cain made a gun shape with his hand and tapped his head.

“The head?”

“Yes. Taking out the leader.”

“You’re going to capture the queen?”

Cain nodded nonchalantly. With a relaxed expression as if he were talking about catching a mosquito, he continued.

“I’ll catch the queen. I’m the only one who can enter the banquet and stand by her side.”

“Then there’s no turning back. It’s different from you participating in the operation and directly dealing with the queen. As I said before, you should do it moderately and step back.”

“This is for Jane and Joseph. There’s no ‘moderate’ in something for those two. There’s only perfection.”

It’s about creating a place for his family to stand. Cain had no fear or hesitation.

Cedric stared at Cain with an expression full of things to say, then exhaled as if expelling his breath.

“Then this issue will be resolved too.”

Cedric took out a paper from inside his jacket and held it out. Cain asked once with his eyes and picked up the paper.

“It’s the list of gifts the queen demanded from the nobles.”

“I didn’t receive it?”

“You’re not the only one who didn’t receive it. She sent it only to those likely to become the queen’s dogs.”

“Then there’s no need for me to see it.”

“You need to see it. On the queen’s list of demanded gifts……”

Cedric took a breath.

“Jane is on it.”

Cain closed his eyes.