Chapter 32

“J-Just, mommy…”

“He said Daddy too.”

Caldeon was overjoyed because Hayden had clearly pronounced the words for the first time.

Enria, who had worried because Hayden seemed slower than other children in various ways, also smiled with delight.

“Can you say it one more time, Hayden?”

When Enria kissed Hayden’s forehead and asked, Hayden seemed to understand her words, looking back and forth between Enria and Caldeon before moving his small lips clearly once more.

“Mommy, daddy.”

At that, Caldeon and Enria burst into happy laughter.

When Caldeon suggested they should have a celebration party, just like the day Hayden first started walking, Enria’s eyes widened when she replied that having such a thing quietly, just the family, was happier than inviting people.

Family.

That single word carried a truly immense impact.

So much so that it wouldn’t be strange if his heart leapt out of his mouth.

From Caldeon’s perspective, even when he mistakenly thought Enria had given birth to another man’s child, he had intended to bring her and the child into his family, so this situation, where they could become a genuine family, was immensely welcome.

Caldeon was once again overcome with happiness at the fact that Enria had given birth to his child.

“Yes, just the family.”

Caldeon, repeating Enria’s words, then muttered to himself that he would need to sort out the family registry as soon as possible.

He then lightly pressed Hayden’s small, plump cheek with his index finger and smiled.

Hayden giggled at the playful touch.

Enria, looking as if Hayden was the cutest thing in the world, rubbed her cheek against the child’s, smiling.

A sense of profound happiness settled over the faces of the three.

***

“I should contact Lord Tearen first.”

Roseanne, having come out with Rahar, muttered to herself and began heading toward the Grand Duchess’s office.

“Why Tearen?”

Rahar asked curiously, following Roseanne, who stopped dead in her tracks and looked at him.

“Why, you ask? Lord Tearen is working hard to undo the magic cast by your Wind Spirit, isn’t he?”

“…Ah.”

“Now that Lord Caldeon knows Hayden is his child, I need to tell him he can stop.”

“Right. Then I’ll…”

“No! I’ll do it. I have another reason to contact him anyway.”

Seeing Roseanne abruptly cut off Rahar and firmly refuse, Rahar tilted his head, asking what the other matter was.

Roseanne then waved him off, telling Rahar to leave now.

“Brother, you should go back now. Aren’t you busy with your territory’s work?”

“I am busy, but important matters must come first.”

“That’s why I said you can leave Enri’s matter to me now.”

Roseanne, aware of Rahar’s feelings for Enria, hoped that his hopeless affection would be given up as quickly as possible.

But Rahar showed no intention of doing so.

“I’ve watched her closely since before Hayden was born. There’s no way I can stop caring about her now.”

“Now Lord Caldeon knows the father’s identity, and you don’t need to worry…”

“What about you now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Now that he knows Hayden is his child, there’s no way he’ll stay still. He’ll definitely put Hayden on the family register. Then you…”

Roseanne sighed briefly at Rahar’s words.

“Brother, I don’t think you understand properly yet… Lord Caldeon and I are not actually married. So, even if Hayden is registered in the Jupiter family, it won’t cause me any trouble.”

“…”

“Because I was never a part of the Jupiter family to begin with.”

At those words, Rahar’s face finally hardened as he accurately grasped the current situation once again.

He knew it, but Tearen’s illusion magic had made him continuously mistake that Roseanne and Caldeon had held a grand wedding.

If he, who hadn’t even seen the wedding, was so confused, he wondered how those who had witnessed the illusion felt.

In such a situation, if Hayden were to be registered in the Jupiter family, he started to worry about how his father or His Majesty the Emperor would react.

As if sensing Rahar’s concern, Roseanne spoke to him.

“You have nothing to worry about. Lord Caldeon is not one to act without any countermeasures in the current situation. Even if that weren’t the case, Lord Tearen will be here, so we can get help in various ways.”

“If he keeps using illusion magic like that, even Tearen won’t be safe.”

Using illusion magic on the Emperor was a serious crime to begin with.

If caught, it would be enough to cause the downfall of Tearen, as well as his entire family.

“That’s why we’re being as careful as possible. And as you know, brother, Lord Caldeon doesn’t put his people in danger. Even if something were to happen, he would protect Lord Tearen no matter what.”

Rahar’s eyes widened slightly at the absolute trust in Caldeon that came from Roseanne’s lips.

He hadn’t realized his sister believed his friend, who had entered into a fake marriage, to this extent.

Just as he worried that this trust might stem from a different kind of feeling, Roseanne spoke with firm resolve, ensuring he couldn’t entertain such worries.

“Of course, Lord Tearen told me this himself. That’s why I can trust him.”

This implied that Roseanne trusted Tearen, not Caldeon.

But Rahar found Roseanne’s words very confusing. He subtly furrowed his brow and asked Roseanne.

“So… the one who can be trusted is Caldeon, or Tearen?”

***

When dinner time arrived, Enria and Caldeon sat across from each other at the table.

It had been a while since they had a cozy dinner just the two of them, and Enria was extremely happy with this relaxed mealtime.

She felt as if all misunderstandings had been resolved and they had returned to the relationship they had before she left for Endelie.

So, a pleasant smile hung on Enria’s lips throughout the meal.

“Shall we take Hayden out for a walk in the rear garden tomorrow?”

Enria’s eyes widened as she cut a piece of meat and put it in her mouth at Caldeon’s words.

“We haven’t taken Hayden outside the castle even once yet.”

“Well, it was cold, and also… But together? Is your work schedule okay?”

She was happy with Caldeon’s suggestion, as she was beginning to think it was time for Hayden to have walks outside.

She could certainly go for a walk without him, but a walk with the three of them together would surely be much more enjoyable than a walk with just her and the baby or with others.

“I’m not very busy. Though I’m scheduled to be quite busy starting next week.”

“Next week…?”

“Tearen said he can spare some time starting next week.”

Enria’s eyes widened slightly at the mention of Tearen’s name by Caldeon.

She wondered what business he had with the illusionist.

As if reading Enria’s thoughts, Caldeon took a sip of wine and continued speaking.

“I plan to revert everything.”

“…Surely not with Rose…”

Caldeon nodded once.

“Now that I know Hayden is my child, I must start by sorting out the family registry. To do that, I’ll need to first correct the false fact that the current acting Grand Duchess and I had a wedding.”

“B-But…!”

She was flustered by his action of trying to reverse all those events now, when they had been forced to use the false illusion magic in the first place.

“It was a choice I had to make then, but I regret that it would have been better to keep you by my side and protect you somehow. Of course, regretting that choice now doesn’t mean I can turn back time, but I deeply regret not being able to see the moment Hayden was born and not being by your side during your most difficult moments, if I hadn’t sent you to Endelie.”

“…”

“So, from now on, I intend to keep you by my side, even if you become endangered here, so that I never have such a regret again.”

Caldeon confessed that he was continuously bothered by the fact that the choice he made to protect Enria from the threat of Count Dalbreon had instead put her in greater danger, and he stated that he would never send her away again, even if staying by his side put her at risk.

“Well, even if it weren’t because of being next to Caldeon, my life is already in danger because of the so-called prophecy.”

Enria also agreed that staying in the Grand Duke’s castle seemed safest for both Hayden and herself.

At her words, Caldeon looked at her and promised.

“I will protect you. Even if it costs me my life.”

In truth, beneath Enria’s happiness, a slight unease still lingered.

This was inevitable because Roseanne was still the acting Grand Duchess and the situation with Tearen hadn’t been resolved, which brought up unsettling thoughts about the original story.

As if sensing Enria’s anxiety, Caldeon immediately said he would call Tearen and revert everything.

At that, Enria felt there was no longer any need to be anxious by Caldeon’s side.

The trust she already had in Caldeon grew even stronger with his decisive action.

“If you’re going to do that, please live with me. What will the child and I do if the baby’s father dies?”

When Enria shook her head and spoke at Caldeon’s vow, Caldeon looked at her with a look of overwhelming emotion.

Just as his lips parted, about to say something, Chavel entered the dining room.

She was holding a whimpering Hayden in her arms.

“He couldn’t fall asleep and kept looking for his mother.”

At Chavel’s words, Enria quickly tried to stand up, but Caldeon was faster.

He stood up, took Hayden from Chavel’s arms, and said to Enria.

“You still have food left, so eat slowly. I’ll put Hayden to sleep.”

Then, gently patting Hayden’s small back with his large hand, he moved toward the door.

It was then that a sweet lullaby flowed from his lips.

He truly intended to put Hayden to sleep and began singing a soft lullaby near the child’s ear.

Enria and Chavel’s eyes widened with shock at the sound of Caldeon’s lullaby.