Chapter 34

The expression on Adrian’s face, having seen something he shouldn’t have, soured instantly.

“Raon’s father, you must be a son who is very dearly loved by your father.”

When Ramona saw the contents of the letter and made such an absurd misunderstanding, Adrian shook his head violently.

“Far from it. It seems my father has developed a touch of dementia. There is no other explanation for why he would send such a letter.”

Adiel, watching Adrian say something that would have made Adolf smack his forehead and faint, simply lowered his head.

“The Duke has requested that the Young Lord accompany you as well.”

It was only natural that Adolf, who had found his grandson but had been unable to travel down to the fief due to urgent business, would be dying to see Raon. Since Adrian had technically breached their contract and Ramona was the one who had brought Raon along, even she couldn’t flatly refuse this time.

“Do I really have to go there? I’m scared…”

Raon, who Ramona thought was quietly reading in his room, had come out to tug at her skirt. Looking into those wobbling eyes that looked ready to spill tears at any moment, Ramona gave a faint smile and pulled him into a tight hug. She was well aware that Raon was reluctant to go to the Cassius estate because of what had happened last year.

“Grandpa says he really wants to see our Raon.”

“But if I go there, I won’t be able to see Mommy every day.”

“Even if we can’t see each other every day, we can write letters every day. And I’ll come to visit you sometimes.”

No matter how much authority Ramona held in her own life, she couldn’t ignore the word of the region’s absolute ruler. Unable to become a fugitive just to hide the child, Ramona looked up at Adrian. Understanding her silent gaze, Adrian leaned down and patted Raon’s back.

“This time, Daddy will protect you no matter what happens. Your grandfather is the type of person who would toss this father of yours aside in a heartbeat for his grandson, so don’t worry. I’ll make sure you can meet your mother often, too.”

Adrian, handing out promises to Raon like candy, spoke in a voice far more tender than before.

“You heard what Daddy said, right? My little prince, let’s put on your new clothes and go meet Grandpa.”

At Ramona’s words, Raon could no longer act spoiled. Even as a child, he knew that Grandpa was higher than Daddy. And knowing that even Mommy couldn’t do much against a single word from Grandpa, he reluctantly nodded.

After gently soothing Raon, Ramona dressed him in the new clothes she had spent her nights sewing. Since he was at an age where he grew quickly, the new outfit—made with a generous fit—made him look like a proper young master from a wealthy family.

“Mommy, you really have to promise to write every day.”

“Of course. I’ll give the letters to Brown, so shall we promise to reply every day?”

When Ramona held out her pinky, Raon’s tiny finger hooked around it. Though they had made a pinky promise stronger than any legal contract, Raon’s feet still wouldn’t move.

“It looks like Toto came to see you off.”

Toto hopped out of the house, went to Raon’s side, and rubbed his face against the boy’s leg. Seeing this, Raon stroked Toto’s head and back.

“Keep Mommy safe while I’m gone. Okay?”

Toto’s nose twitched as he flared his nostrils, and he bobbed his head up and down as if nodding.

“Raon’s mother, we shall be off. Ahem… I will be writing as well, so I hope you will be sure to reply.”

Seeing Adrian speak with an awkward expression, Ramona gave a small nod.

“Please take good care of our Raon. If another incident like last time occurs… you know what will happen, right?”

“That won’t happen again. There will be no more engagements to other women.”

Adrian gave a faint smile and looked at Raon, who was still stroking Toto’s fur with regret.

“Let’s go now. Toto, come visit whenever you miss Raon. I’ll make sure to ban rabbit hunting near the mansion for the time being. Though there’s nothing I can do if you get poached.”

Flinch. Quiver.

As Toto looked at Adrian’s somewhat wicked smile, his whiskers seemed to tremble in the breeze.

“Raon’s father, please get along with Toto! Seriously! Phew.”

When she looked at him as if asking if he’d eaten his age through his backside*, Adrian finally cleared his throat with a faint smile. Then, he took Ramona’s hand. Just as she thought he was going to kiss the back of her hand, she was suddenly pulled forward.

[*T/N: The Korean idiom “나이를 똥구멍으로 먹었냐?” is a way of questioning someone’s maturity or wisdom relative to their age. In Korean, you don’t just “get older”; you “eat” years. To say someone “ate their age through their backside (anus)” implies that the years didn’t go into their head or heart to make them wiser—they just passed straight through without leaving any “nutritional” value (maturity).]

Unprepared, Ramona ended up leaning awkwardly into Adrian’s embrace for a fleeting moment. Adrian leaned in and softly kissed her on both cheeks, whispering in her ear.

“I will do everything you want, so don’t worry. If you need help, don’t hesitate to tell me. No, even if you just say you miss me, I’ll come running immediately.”

As if he’d said all he needed to say, Adrian let go of the startled Ramona and picked Raon up.

“Mommy, I’m going. I’ll talk to Grandpa so we can meet often!”

“Yes, go on. Stay healthy, eat your meals, and tell them immediately if you feel sick. Understood? If anything happens, tell Uncle Brown right away.”

Having to send the child away without warning, Ramona showered him with every piece of advice that came to mind while holding Toto and waving.

“Lady Ramona, the Duke asked me to convey that you should let him know if you have any inconveniences,” Adiel said in a kind voice, bowing deeply. It was a bow filled with respect for the person who had protected the roots of the house he served. Ramona bowed slightly in return.

“Ms. Ramona, I shall see you next time.”

“Yes, please look after Raon.”

As the carriage slowly drifted away, Ramona’s gaze moved toward a large tree. Now that the heir of the Cassius family had left, the Secret Knights were gone as well.

Three had left, but only one returned; the small house suddenly felt exceptionally spacious. She had told Adrian to leave at the end of every sentence, but now that he had actually gone with the child, her heart felt hollow, as if a cold wind were seeping through a sharp ache.

“He was someone who had to leave eventually, but I suppose I grew too fond of him.”

Adrian’s voice, saying he would come running the moment she said she missed him, seemed to still linger in her ears.

***

Adrian had been watching the house through the window, but once it was too far away to see, he finally sat up straight. He then spoke softly to Raon.

“You don’t have to force yourself to do anything in front of Grandpa. So, don’t be nervous.”

Raon, looking even more nervous than when he first rode in this carriage, simply nodded while gripping Adrian’s hand tightly. It seemed the thought of Grandpa being the master of the Cassius estate was intimidating. After all, getting on the bad side of Adolf, the region’s most powerful man, could affect Ramona.

“Is Grandpa a scary person?”

“To be honest, he’s more blunt than scary.”

Having steeled his heart after hearing about his grandfather, Raon arrived at the Cassius estate and turned his eyes toward Adrian as they were greeted.

“So you are my grandson! How on earth do you look so much like this old man? Come here, how adorable. I suppose I was quite beautiful when I was young too.”

“You said he was blunt!”

Raon, now held in Adolf’s arms, looked at Adrian as if to protest.

“You’ve become quite shameless while I haven’t seen you. Father, have you truly developed dementia?”

“Sir Baston, remove this fellow. Now that I have a grandson, I have no need for a son who speaks so recklessly.”

Seeing Adolf ready to discard his son now that he had a grandson, Adrian shook his head. Standing behind them, Sir Baston’s lips twitched. The Duke had been worried that his grandson might be terrified and go into fits upon seeing him; yet the moment he softened his expression, the atmosphere became remarkably tender.

“What exactly did you mean by ‘loving me aggressively’?”

“I was planning to hug you until your bones crushed and then indulge in some confinement play. I was going to drag you home, lock you up, feed you, and make you do all the ‘lovely’ work I do… but you came back sooner than expected.”

Looking at Adolf’s genuinely disappointed face, Adrian realized there was no lie in his father’s words.

“Maybe I really should run away from home.”

“That day will be the day you are struck from the family registry.”

Adolf laughed dismissively at Adrian’s mutterings. Raon, momentarily flustered by the exchange between father and son, relaxed his stiff body and wriggled out of the hug. He then placed both hands over his navel and bowed deeply.

“H-hello. It’s my first time meeting you. I’m Raon. M-mommy gave me my name. G-grandpa…?”

Seeing Raon’s polite “belly-button bow,” Adolf’s lips trembled. Adolf had been sick to death of his friends bragging about their grandchildren, but the moment he saw Raon, he felt like he wanted to go out and brag to the whole neighborhood. Because he was his grandson, the boy looked cuter and prettier than any granddaughter could. Adolf hugged the child again and patted his back.

“Yes, yes. This grandpa’s name is Adolf Cassius. So if anyone says anything to you, just give them Grandpa’s name. Hahaha, I feel truly wonderful today.”

He had expected the first meeting with a grandson turning seven to be awkward, but blood ties washed all of that away.

“My grandson, do whatever you want. This grandpa will make it all happen.”

“Father, if you say things like that, you’ll spoil the child.”

Adrian interjected when Adolf started making promises that would have horrified Ramona.

“Um, Mommy said people can’t just do everything they want to do.”

“But this grandpa does everything he wants?”

“But in exchange, you sacrifice time with your family, don’t you? To earn money for Daddy and the family. Mommy said that if you have a lot, you have no choice but to give up things that others consider precious.”

Hearing Raon’s words, Adolf suddenly felt a pang in the back of his head. Adolf, who hadn’t actually considered himself to be sacrificing family time just to make money, gained a great realization from the child’s words.

“Yes, those words are correct. I must reduce my workload to spend time with my grandson. Rian, what are you doing? You should be working in your father’s stead. Don’t forget that your father is at the age to rest and enjoy his grandson’s charms.”

Unable to have everything, Adolf decisively gave up on his son and chuckled. Seeing this, Adrian wore an expression of utter disbelief.