Chapter 14

Roseanne’s expression hardened as she looked at Rahar.

“Brother, don’t tell me…”

Even as she told herself that it couldn’t be, the pained look on Rahar’s face made an unwelcome thought creep into her mind.

“You… have feelings for Lady Enria?”

“I thought that since Caldeon married you, he shouldn’t have any further ties with her.”

“……”

“So I… I told myself I’d be the one to…”

Rahar slowly dragged his hands down his face with a deep sigh.

Just as she feared. Roseanne, too, let out a long sigh.

“She must be truly something. What kind of charm does she have, to make not only Caldeon but even you act like this?”

“Enria hasn’t done anything wrong. She never tried to manipulate me or anything like that…”

At Rahar’s quick defense, thinking Roseanne distrusted Enria, Roseanne spoke seriously.

“Brother, you remember what I told you about Saints—the ones who can calm magical rampages?”

“……”

“That they can’t bear children with the person whose magic they stabilize?”

“……”

“So when we learned Lady Enria was pregnant, we were completely shocked.”

“…Yes.”

At first, even Rahar had doubted whether the child was truly Caldeon’s.

Saints, by nature, could only conceive under very specific conditions.

As divine messengers, they could not conceive unless Elim, the sacred tree of divine power, granted its blessing.

And since divine power couldn’t manifest within a man’s body, the holy power bestowed by God always passed entirely to the child. Because of that, Elim could foresee the gender of the child a chosen Saint would bear.

In any case, Enria’s pregnancy had neither Elim’s blessing nor any logical explanation—the chances of a child born from combined magic and divine power were practically zero. So when they first heard she was with child, it had been deeply confusing.

In truth, until Hayden was born, Rahar had quietly suspected the baby might not be Caldeon’s.

But the moment he saw the child—his features unmistakably mirroring his father’s—Rahar realized the truth. Hayden was Caldeon’s son.

“Perhaps that too was God’s will,” Roseanne said softly. “If not, maybe the two of them were bound by fate—impossible to separate.”

“……”

“Even after giving birth, Enria’s holy power remained intact. That alone proves she’s truly one chosen by God.”

“But Hayden also…”

“Yes, he also carries divine power,” Roseanne said, her golden eyes glinting. “Even though he’s a boy.”

“So I’ve considered the possibility that the oracle’s vessel might be both of them.”

“……”

“In any case, what’s certain is that both the mother and the child are people we must protect.”

Rahar gave a faint, almost imperceptible nod. Roseanne’s gaze hardened.

“And Caldeon’s relationship with Lady Enria won’t change, either.”

“……”

“So end it here, brother. I don’t want to see you suffering from a love that can never be.”

At her words, a heavy, conflicted expression settled over Rahar’s face.

***

“…What did you just say?”

“Marriage.”

“My God, you’ve lost your mind.”

“I’m perfectly sane.”

“You call it sane—to propose marriage? When you’re already married?”

Enria glared at him with something close to disgust. Caldeon let out a short sigh and jerked his chin toward the door.

“That’s why I said we’re going to the duchess’s chamber.”

“At this hour? What do you even plan to do there?”

“To clear up a misunderstanding.”

“Ha!”

‘What a joke.’

He’d already installed Roseanne as the duchess and held a grand wedding that had all of the Empire buzzing—yet he called that a misunderstanding.

‘Marriage? Did this world suddenly become polygamous without my knowing?’

Even if it had, Enria had no intention of becoming his concubine.

Yes, she’d fallen for him—somehow, somewhere along the line—but not enough to throw away her dignity and live as the mistress of a married man.

Before she ever loved him, her plan had been to quietly siphon money from his coffers and disappear, avoiding a gruesome ending and living out her life in peace.

But then she’d had a child.

And now, as a mother, nothing in the world mattered more to her than her son.

No matter what, she would not raise him as a concubine’s child in Caldeon’s mansion.

“You won’t believe me if I tell you,” Caldeon said calmly, “so hear it directly from the duchess.”

“Hear what exactly…”

“The truth about our marriage—and our relationship.”

‘Honestly…’ She didn’t know what more there was to hear.

Even if she did, it wouldn’t undo the marriage, nor would it make the duchess suddenly cease to be his wife.

“It will be undone soon enough,” he said, cutting her off. “Not because it’ll become false—but because it was never real to begin with.”

Enria frowned in disbelief.

“I don’t know what kind of nonsense you’re spouting, but I’m not interested in married men. And I have a child. So please stop making things awkward—”

“I’ll atone all my life for putting you in danger through my own mistakes,” Caldeon said quietly. “But you betrayed me too, didn’t you? You bore another man’s child. You owe me an apology as well.”

“……”

“So we both have reasons to apologize. Let’s leave it at that. From now on, I’ll take responsibility—for you and your child.”

Enria stared at him, completely lost for words.

‘What is he even talking about? What betrayal, what forgiveness, what responsibility?’

She had no idea where to begin untangling this nonsense.

‘If I say I never betrayed him, he’ll realize Hayden is his son.’

Because if she hadn’t betrayed him, then who else could the child’s father possibly be?

She didn’t want him to know that truth—not yet. But still, hearing the word “betrayal” from his mouth stung.

“I don’t need a guardian,” she said flatly.

“You know your life is in danger.”

“……”

“And you know nowhere is safer than by my side.”

That, unfortunately, was true.

If it were just her, she’d have left already—but with the Mage Tower’s agents targeting her child, hiding within the Grand Duke’s fortress until Caldeon could punish them seemed like the safest choice.

“Anyway, your safety isn’t up for debate.”

“What do you mean, ‘not up for debate’?”

“First, we’re settling this cursed misunderstanding. We’re going to see the duchess.”

“At this hour?! You can’t just barge into her chambers—it’s rude!”

Enria’s voice rose again in disbelief.

Caldeon looked at her for a long moment, then frowned, clearly displeased.

“You said you can’t share a bed with me because of that damned misunderstanding.”

“That ‘misunderstanding’ is the fact that you’re married! Even if the heavens split open, that’s still the truth!”

Her voice was sharp and furious.

Caldeon, however, denied it without hesitation.

“I’m not.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I said, I’m not.”

He took a step toward her, firm and unyielding.

Instinctively, Enria tried to step back—but her foot caught on the rug, and she nearly stumbled. Caldeon’s arm shot out, wrapping around her waist.

Their eyes met—too close.

His grip tightened, pulling her nearer, until their faces were only inches apart.

He tilted his head, about to kiss her—

—and that was when Hayden, cradled in Enria’s arms, looked up at the two of them with wide, curious eyes.

“Abba! Ma-ma—haha!”

Completely oblivious to the tension, Hayden giggled and reached out, patting both their chins with his tiny hands.

Caldeon’s gaze shifted from Enria to the child.

When Hayden pushed his fingers toward Caldeon’s mouth, the man opened his lips as if to pretend-bite them.

“Kyah! Haha!”

Hayden shrieked in delight, laughing uncontrollably. The fierce look in Caldeon’s eyes softened into the faintest of smiles.

Watching his expression shift so suddenly, Enria fRosee—staring, unable to even blink.

After a few more playful gestures, Caldeon stopped and simply stared at the child.

No one could tell what he was thinking.

Feeling awkward about his arm still around her waist, Enria started to move—only for Caldeon to suddenly speak.

“Then you can sleep on your own. I’ll sleep with this one.”

“…What?”

Before she could even react, Hayden was plucked from her arms.

Caldeon lifted him high into the air, saying in a commanding tone, “From now on, you’ll sleep with me, little one.”

Hayden squealed in delight.

Enria blinked rapidly, completely thrown off by the absurdity of the scene.

Ignoring her, Caldeon carried Hayden to the bed and sat down heavily, leaning back against the headboard.

‘He’s doing this on purpose, isn’t he? He knows I can’t sleep without Hayden.’

If the baby disliked Caldeon, she could have just taken him back.

But unfortunately, Hayden loved his father’s arms.

The moment Caldeon sat down, Hayden yawned and snuggled into his chest, eyelids fluttering.

He looked at Enria once before closing his eyes, drifting toward sleep.

He’d been doted on by countless spirits in the Spirit Village, so he wasn’t exactly clingy—but watching him sleep so peacefully in another’s arms still stirred something strange in Enria’s chest.

‘Well… not another’s, I suppose.’

A quiet sigh escaped her lips.