Chapter 11

“Nice to meet you, Enria.”

Roseanne took both of Enria’s hands in hers and smiled brightly.

Enria stared for a moment, dumbstruck by the sheer radiance of the heroine before her.

With her delicately wavy pink hair and mysterious golden eyes, Roseanne’s beauty was exactly as described in the novel—blinding.

Considering that, Enria could almost understand why Caldeon had tossed her aside as easily as an empty snack wrapper after marrying such a woman.

“This must be the child. Hello, Hayden?”

Roseanne smiled warmly at the baby in Enria’s arms and couldn’t stop gushing over how adorable he was.

Enria found it strange that Roseanne—the wife of her lover and the heroine of this world—could look at her and her child with such unguarded affection, showing not a hint of hostility.

What’s more, Roseanne even knew the baby’s name—something Enria hadn’t mentioned. The realization startled her.

Perhaps noticing her reaction, Roseanne laughed softly and spoke without hesitation.

“Oh, I’ve been in touch with my brother.”

At the mention of her brother, Enria immediately thought of Rahar.

‘Ah…’

Come to think of it, it had been Roseanne who first sent Rahar to her.

Roseanne had developed the berserk-suppression drug for Caldeon much earlier than in the original story, and because of that, Enria had been banished from the Grand Duke’s estate before Roseanne ever officially entered as duchess.

‘I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s clear the heroine’s actions are already diverging from the original. I’ll have to be cautious.’

Without realizing it, Enria tightened her hold on Hayden. Who knew when the duchess might grow jealous enough to harm the mistress and her child?

Roseanne, seemingly unaware of Enria’s wary thoughts, looked at the baby with curiosity.

“May I hold him?”

Enria’s eyes widened.

“I really wanted to see Hayden,” Roseanne continued. “When I heard you’d had a baby, I almost rushed straight to the spirit village to visit you.”

“……”

“And the Oracle’s child, no less! Honestly, I thought you were the one the prophecy referred to when I sent my brother to you. But it turns out the spirits said the true vessel of the Oracle is Hayden.”

Roseanne explained that she had believed Enria to be the one blessed by the Oracle—someone who could grant absolution.

She added that even the Tower Master had thought the same, which was why she’d sent Rahar to Enria in the first place.

In the end, it was Roseanne’s insight that had saved Enria’s life.

“Anyway, I’m so happy to finally meet you, Enria. Both you and Hayden.”

“……”

“And don’t worry. While you’re here, I won’t let anyone—myself included—bring you or Hayden any harm. Even if Hayden truly is the Oracle’s vessel, I won’t separate mother and child. You have my word.”

Roseanne’s radiant smile dissolved every doubt that had been swirling inside Enria’s mind.

In the original story, Roseanne had never openly threatened Enria, no matter how much Enria had tried to act like the lady of the house.

Maybe that was why her initial wariness melted away like snow in the sun.

“Would you like to hold him?” Enria asked quietly.

“Can I?” Roseanne’s smile grew even brighter as she opened her arms.

When Enria nodded and passed Hayden over, Roseanne beamed.

“He’s adorable.”

Hayden didn’t seem to dislike her either; he gazed up at her with wide, black eyes.

“He looks just like his father.”

At that, Enria fRosee.

Seeing her expression, Roseanne immediately grew flustered.

“Oh, don’t worry. I have no intention of revealing who the father is.”

“……”

“The wind spirit sealed the lips of everyone who knows the truth, so even if I wanted to, I couldn’t say anything. But even if that weren’t the case, it’s better that that man doesn’t know about the child. For now.”

Roseanne referred to Caldeon as “that man” and gave a small, bitter smile.

“You know his personality. If he found out he had a son, he’d do anything to stop him from serving as the god’s chosen vessel. He sees divine blessings as curses.”

Her words, spoken with the ease of someone who knew Caldeon better than anyone, made something deep in Enria’s chest ache.

Then, a low, familiar voice came from behind her.

“Are you done with introductions?”

“Lord Caldeon.”

Roseanne immediately turned toward him, smiling brightly.

A strange unease flickered through Enria’s chest as she watched her lover.

Caldeon walked right past her, stopping in front of Roseanne, who still held Hayden.

“Still as insolent-looking as ever.”

“What? How can you say that about such a cute baby?”

“Where? You must have bad eyes, Duchess.”

“I’d say you’re the one with poor eyesight, Lord Caldeon.”

‘Wait—what? Since when are they this friendly?’

Enria’s eyes widened.

In the novel, when Roseanne first entered the Grand Duke’s residence, she and Caldeon had been anything but close. They were awkward, distant—barely even spoke to each other until much later.

‘Then why do they look so comfortable now…?’

The sight of them joking easily with each other left Enria completely bewildered.

“Enria.”

Caldeon’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“You don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?”

“Oh dear, are you tired, Lady Enria? I must have kept you too long.”

Before Enria could answer, Roseanne quickly handed Hayden back and looked genuinely concerned.

She urged Enria to rest early, saying she’d already summoned Chavel from the main palace.

“Your maid will arrive shortly, so please let her know if you need anything.”

“……”

“And Hayden’s room is still being prepared… Oh! A furniture maker is coming tomorrow to build the bed. If it’s all right with you, I’d love to join you when you meet them. I’ve never picked out baby furniture before.”

Before Enria could reply, Caldeon gently pressed a hand against her back, steering her toward the door.

“That’s enough talking. She should rest.”

“Of course,” Roseanne agreed at once.

Still dazed, Enria allowed herself to be led away, her mind spinning.

***

“What’s this?”

Enria stared at the small cradle beside her bed—something that hadn’t been there when she’d first arrived.

Caldeon looked at her as if the answer were obvious. “A baby cradle.”

“I know what it is. I mean, why is it here?”

“Why? It’s for the child.”

“But… the furniture maker—”

“That’s for his room. Until it’s ready, he’ll be sleeping here, in your room. I had this brought in.”

Enria blinked, confused.

She’d never once been apart from Hayden, so the thought of him sleeping separately hadn’t even crossed her mind.

Ordinary mothers might put their babies in cribs, but she’d lived under constant threat in the spirit village; keeping Hayden close was second nature.

“Since the bed’s big enough, I can just let him sleep here. I’ll install a safety guard around the edge in case he rolls over—”

“Don’t be absurd.”

Caldeon’s sharp voice cut her off, his brow furrowing.

“I only spared that child because he’s yours. Don’t mistake that for wanting to bond with him.”

“…What?”

‘Bond with him?’

“I’ll accept him as mine only after his father is dead.”

‘…Wait. You mean you have to die before you’ll accept your own son?’

“The bed stays as it is—for you and me. That child doesn’t have a place in it.”

“What?!”

Enria gaped at him, realizing that the crib’s placement beside their bed meant he fully intended to sleep with her.

“Is the suppression drug not working properly?” she asked, frowning.

Caldeon’s eyebrow twitched.

“How do you know about that? It’s a classified secret.”

“……!”

“Tch. That damned Rahar Kaznaren, isn’t it?”

He clicked his tongue, assuming Rahar had told her.

“Well… if the suppressant’s failing and that’s why you want to share a bed—”

“That’s not the reason.”

He interrupted flatly.

“Then why—?”

If it wasn’t because of his condition, what other reason could he have to sleep beside her, especially when he was married to Roseanne?

Caldeon looked at her as though it were obvious.

“Because you’re my woman.”

His shameless words made Enria’s face tighten in disbelief. She was about to retort when—

“Abya, bya!”

Hayden suddenly reached toward Caldeon, babbling and holding out his arms.

Both adults fRosee.

Caldeon blinked at the child who was asking—demanding—to be held.

When Caldeon didn’t move, Hayden furrowed his brows and barked, “Abya!”

The stern little outburst made Caldeon’s shoulders twitch.

“Abya! Bya!”

When Hayden kept waving his hands insistently, Caldeon finally gave in and picked him up.

Only then did the baby’s frown melt into a satisfied expression, his dark eyes sparkling as he looked up at the man holding him.