“...If I had killed her yesterday, it would have been a really big problem, right?”
A sinister smile appeared on Lobelia's lips.
Cedric had already spent the night with Rebecca...
Then what on earth has she been trying so hard to do?
That moment when she gritted her teeth, recalling the time she had wasted in vain.
"... Lady Lobelia?”
Bianca's nanny approached.
“Why are you here? Princess Bianca went up earlier...Oh, I guess I misinformed you that the employees were still here?”
"Ah... Yes."
“Come up with me. Lobelia, I will guide you to the room assigned to you.”
Lobelia put on a bright smile like a mask and followed the nurse.
So she climbed the stairs to the upper floor and walked along the hallway until she finally came to a door.
“It’s here. The luggage you brought has probably already been moved by the employees.”
“Thank you, Agnes.”
“I am taking good care of the Princess, so you can rest in your room without worrying.”
“Yes, I will.”
Eventually, the nanny left, and Lobelia watched her for a moment and then went into her own room.
There was nothing else special about the guest room.
There was a bed, a nightstand, a tea table, and a wardrobe, and a full-length mirror was placed next to the wardrobe.
“...”
Lobelia, who was looking at the mirror, contorted her face as if she was displeased.
Then she nervously lifted the blanket to cover the mirror.
“...You’re being loud, it’s annoying.”
For a moment, she stared coldly at the mirror covered with a blanket.
Lobelia sat in front of the tea table with two pieces of letter paper, an envelope, and a fountain pen placed on the nightstand.
Soon, writing was engraved on the first piece of letter paper.
- Dear Duke Bold.
She calmly wrote down that she would visit him tomorrow.
She moved her pen on the paper like that for a while.
“... Ah."
A mysterious smile appeared on her lips as she let out a short exclamation.
It seemed like a good idea occurred to her.
“On the way, I’m going to take care of it... It would be a good idea to dispose of any items that are now useless.”
Lobelia, who was muttering like that, immediately brought a new letter in front of her.
In the second letter, the main text was written.
- The plan has changed. I think that will make things easier.
And just like the first time, the content was filled in quickly.
After finally completing the second letter, she started searching through her luggage.
Then she cut off a few strands of straw and enclosed them with the second letter.
Finally, two well-enclosed letters.
As she looked down at them, the corners of her mouth turned up sharply.
“This will be easier than you think.”
The end of 'that job' that he's been planning for a long time is finally just a few days away.
A bizarrely innocent smile began to spread across Lobelia's lips as she was convinced of that.
***
At the same time, in front of the office of the Mansion of Light.
After investigating the cause of the fire that occurred last night, the Templars arrived in front of Cedric's office.
The fire investigation continued throughout the morning and ended only in the early morning.
Until then, Cedric was overcome with anxiety.
As soon as he heard that the investigation team had arrived, he immediately stopped all his work and called them into his office.
“So, what was the cause of the fire?”
It was an impatient question, uncharacteristic of Cedric.
The knight commander first calmly greeted him and then spoke.
“The starting point of the fire is the back door. Fortunately, the residents discovered it right away and extinguished the fire, so it did not spread further, but some things made it suspicious that it was a natural ignition.”
He held out the investigation report in front of Cedric.
Cedric's brows gradually narrowed as he read the document carefully.
“A large amount of straw was found where the fire broke out. The strange thing is that it is not simply scattered, but rather knotted here and there...”
“...It’s like a magic doll’s knot.”
The knight commander nodded slowly.
"You're right. The way they tied the knot was very similar.”
When Cedric heard those words, past memories flashed through his mind.
The day Rebecca returned from her first futures transaction, an attack occurred in the forest.
Numerous straw dolls rushed towards her, seeking her life.
And then there was the subsequent poisoning attempt at the masquerade ball.
'Who on earth is trying to take Rebecca's life?'
From the series of incidents until now, Cedric has never neglected his investigation to find the culprit.
He went out to look for traces himself several times.
However, the identity of the culprit was not revealed, and Cedric's insides were burning to the ground.
In a case that went this far into the labyrinth, there was a high probability that the culprit was not a demon.
If they were demons, there's no way Cedric wouldn't find traces of their crimes.
'Then what is the poison of the mixed race demon discovered at the masquerade ball?'
On the other hand, if the culprit was a 'human' warlock, finding their traces was very difficult even for Cedric.
Unlike demons, humans do not have enough magical energy to discern its source.
Cedric's mind was as tangled as the incomprehensible events.
Cedric remained silent for a while, and then a cool voice came out from his lips.
“Use every available contact network. Report all those suspected of being involved in this incident, whether they are mixed-blood demons or warlocks, and if there is anyone who refuses to cooperate, use my name to get their cooperation.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Find the culprit at any cost. And make sure... Bring them to me alive.”
Murderous intent spread thickly in his fierce eyes.
The knight commander bowed his head politely with a confused expression and left the office.
“...”
Cedric, who was staring at the closed door, slowly swept his face.
'We have to find him as soon as possible.'
He didn't know why, but he instinctively felt impatient.
If not... Because it felt like Rebecca would disappear from his side.
Cedric remembered the last night, Rebecca falling asleep in his arms.
Her soft cheeks, her nose, and her lips exhaled softly.
Her small hands dug into his arms and even her unique scent.
Even though he saw, touched, and felt everything, his anxiety did not ease easily.
So last night, Cedric made countless promises.
If he could just keep seeing Rebecca in his eyes if he could just run through her living hair...
Even if it's something worthy of being thrown into hell, there's nothing he can't do.
***
“Enough is enough, Cedric.”
Cedric lay down on the bed next to me and continued to smooth my hair.
I gave him a small scolding, but he just gently raised the corner of his lips.
It was a smile that seemed a little depressing.
As soon as it was midnight for Cedric, he found my bedroom.
Of course, with a different appearance.
Although we were only apart for a few hours, he immediately snuggled into my arms as if he had been away from me for his entire life.
After sharing such a deep hug, he immediately picked me up and headed to bed.
He said he would personally put me to sleep after being surprised last night.
'Who is the person who was more powerful than me?'
A faint smile escaped his lips.
Still, I was silently led by Cedric and laid down on the bed.
For the time being, I was going to do whatever he asked.
Last night, until his pale face was erased from my mind.
Cedric followed, lying down next to me, unable to take his eyes off me for even a moment.
Those eyes followed me fiercely as if they were trying to contain something.
Blue eyes that always shined fascinatingly between naturally tangled black hair.
At this moment, it seemed somehow sad.
A nose bridge that resembles a high mountain, a sharp jawline, and attractive lips.
It was around this time that my eyes moved one after another along the road leading like that.
His lips slowly opened as he gently touched my eyebrows.
“...I love you so much. More than myself.”
A captivating bass sound softly rang in my ears, followed by soft lips touching my forehead.
I let out a small laugh and snuggled into Cedric's arms again.
For a long time, I closed my eyes, intoxicated by his scent.
'Oh right. I had something to say, indeed.'
I was so happy that I forgot what I wanted to say for a moment.
It was a very important story that I had been struggling to figure out how to convey to him all afternoon.
I glanced at Cedric.
One after another, he slowly removed his arm and was about to get up.
“Where are you going?”
Cedric asked urgently.
At the same time, the large hand holding my arm grew stronger.
“Oh, I’m not planning to go anywhere, I just wanted to get up for a moment...”
“Don’t get up.”
“...”
“I want to stay like this with you.”
He held me as if he were tying me up, burying his face in the crook of my neck and muttering.
“...Don’t go anywhere.”
Cedric seemed like he would never let me go.
It's not the right position to deliver important news, but since he won't let me go, I have no choice but to tell it like this.
I stroked Cedric's head and slowly opened my mouth.
“Cedric.”
"Yes."
“I’m pregnant.”
“..."
“..."
Cedric's face, which had been buried in the crook of my neck, slowly turned towards me.
“...Yes?"
“I’m having your child.”
After staring at me blankly for a moment, his blue eyes slowly widened.
I slowly blinked my eyes at him and continued speaking.
“I got tested with the doctor who came during the day today. She's sure I'm pregnant.”
"Certainty...”
A smile slowly crept onto his lips as he repeated my words with a blank expression.
The smile gradually spread into a wide smile.
“We’re having a child?”
I can assure you, it was the happiest-looking face I have ever seen on Cedric.
I was also happy.
I couldn't be happier just thinking about a child who looked like us.
Cedric, uncharacteristically, turned slightly red and kissed my cheek repeatedly.
As I was smiling at him, I sighed a little at a thought that suddenly crossed my mind.
“But I don’t know if this is something I would enjoy doing.”
“Of course, it’s a good thing. We’re having a baby.”
“Of course, that’s true, but...”
I carefully removed the arm that was holding me and sat up.
Then Cedric followed suit and stood up.
“You know, something like this shouldn’t happen until we get remarried safely.”
I was as anxious as I was happy.
But Cedric just smiled softly.
“You don’t have to worry about that. No matter what the cost, I will protect you and our child.”
“...”
“Our remarriage will proceed smoothly.”
Cedric held me in his arms and hugged me.
“So you don’t have to worry, you just have to be happy like now by my side.”
At those kind words, I hugged him deeply again.
And I sincerely prayed that we could maintain our current happiness.
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