“...The baby was a boy.”
However, Claudel’s expression became subtle.
“Who wrote this?”
“What? No one else can touch that note but me.”
The smile disappeared from Kaian’s face as he approached Claudel.
May the honorless sacrifices end here.
Below the words, Kaian had written with great determination, a short word was added.
[Hypocrite.]
She looked like she had given up.
Her eyes, which used to shine like pumpkins when she was in a good mood, were unfocused.
“The perfect Vermont boy you find so horrible.”
“What are you talking about? That?”
Kaian asked back.
“Madame Repel lied. She didn’t know what to do with the child. Sob.”
Claudel shook her head to herself as if trying to shake off her fear.
“She said you wouldn’t acknowledge the baby. She said I had to run away to save the baby.”
Her eyes, which used to shine like pumpkins when she was in a good mood, were unfocused.
“The perfect Vermont boy you find so horrible.”
“What are you talking about? That?”
Kaian asked back.
“Madame Repel lied. She didn’t know what to do with the child. Sob.”
Claudel shook her head to herself as if trying to shake off her fear.
“She said you wouldn’t acknowledge the baby. She said I had to run away to save the baby.”
The headache that had been throbbing in her head due to lack of blood flow all along went away.
“But I didn’t want to do that.”
He finally understood what had happened.
Kaian tilted his head back and took a deep breath.
“Yeah. That makes sense.”
Claudel’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.
“It’s all my fault. I made you think that way.”
He tried to calmly suppress his anger and speak in a calm, emotionless tone.
“But you only tried, you didn’t really leave. Good job.”
“...Kaian.”
Claudel’s lips turned pale pink as the blood drained.
“Aren’t you angry?”
“The process isn’t important. The result is important.”
Kaian had no intention of repeating his past mistakes.
“You didn’t run away. You stayed here with the baby.”
If he didn’t respond with intention, he would immediately kill Madame Repel, who dared to make fun of him, and then take Claudel and the baby and lock them in the room so they wouldn’t be able to leave.
‘It might be easier for me, though.’
He might never see Claudel smile again.
He didn’t want to act obsessively and compulsively. And when he thought he had won her heart, he tried to stop calculating like before.
However, the situation kept making him calculate. He started to measure things with scales and a yardstick.
Claudel, who was not affectionate to him, had seen enough of what she had seen in the palace, so when he recalled that time, his teeth chattered and he was able to control his anger.
Kaian hugged the woman holding the baby all the way.
“How dare you think of leaving me alone?”
The words that came out at the end were pure sincerity.
“If you’re going to go, take me with you.”
“What... you say?”
“Think of running away. Don’t do that again.”
Kaian hugged Claudel tightly and repeated to himself.
‘If something like this happens again, then that’s when we’ll see blood.’
***
He returned to the landlady’s room and had Claudel sit on the sofa and drink some warm tea. Hannah held the baby and Madame Cronach massaged her daughter’s cold hands.
“The nanny will drink too.”
Madame Repel, who was sitting across from him, was startled when Kaian offered her tea.
“Oh, no, Your Highness.”
“There was quite a commotion.”
Kaian said as if the incident just a moment ago was nothing serious.
The guards who were trembling at the sight of him emitting a vicious aura felt inwardly dumbfounded, and fortunately, the women who had not seen it properly accepted the man’s kindness as he changed his mask and ordered them to bring tea as if nothing had happened.
“Everyone, step back and rest.”
“Yes.”
When Kaian gave the order, the butler said to the captain of the guards.
“Step back.”
“But the night guard...”
“Tonight, my master and I will guard Madam. Don’t worry, step back.”
“But I didn’t want to do that.”
He finally understood what had happened.
Kaian tilted his head back and took a deep breath.
“Yeah. That makes sense.”
Claudel’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.
“It’s all my fault. I made you think that way.”
He tried to calmly suppress his anger and speak in a calm, emotionless tone.
“But you only tried, you didn’t really leave. Good job.”
“...Kaian.”
Claudel’s lips turned pale pink as the blood drained.
“Aren’t you angry?”
“The process isn’t important. The result is important.”
Kaian had no intention of repeating his past mistakes.
“You didn’t run away. You stayed here with the baby.”
If he didn’t respond with intention, he would immediately kill Madame Repel, who dared to make fun of him, and then take Claudel and the baby and lock them in the room so they wouldn’t be able to leave.
‘It might be easier for me, though.’
He might never see Claudel smile again.
He didn’t want to act obsessively and compulsively. And when he thought he had won her heart, he tried to stop calculating like before.
However, the situation kept making him calculate. He started to measure things with scales and a yardstick.
Claudel, who was not affectionate to him, had seen enough of what she had seen in the palace, so when he recalled that time, his teeth chattered and he was able to control his anger.
Kaian hugged the woman holding the baby all the way.
“How dare you think of leaving me alone?”
The words that came out at the end were pure sincerity.
“If you’re going to go, take me with you.”
“What... you say?”
“Think of running away. Don’t do that again.”
Kaian hugged Claudel tightly and repeated to himself.
‘If something like this happens again, then that’s when we’ll see blood.’
***
He returned to the landlady’s room and had Claudel sit on the sofa and drink some warm tea. Hannah held the baby and Madame Cronach massaged her daughter’s cold hands.
“The nanny will drink too.”
Madame Repel, who was sitting across from him, was startled when Kaian offered her tea.
“Oh, no, Your Highness.”
“There was quite a commotion.”
Kaian said as if the incident just a moment ago was nothing serious.
The guards who were trembling at the sight of him emitting a vicious aura felt inwardly dumbfounded, and fortunately, the women who had not seen it properly accepted the man’s kindness as he changed his mask and ordered them to bring tea as if nothing had happened.
“Everyone, step back and rest.”
“Yes.”
When Kaian gave the order, the butler said to the captain of the guards.
“Step back.”
“But the night guard...”
“Tonight, my master and I will guard Madam. Don’t worry, step back.”
When the exhausted man left without asking any more questions, leading his men away, the hostess’s space became quiet as if there had never been any commotion.
After clearing everyone around, Kaian stared at Madame Repel.
“So you lied from the beginning?”
Madame Repel flinched at Kaian’s words.
“Yes.”
She looked at the butler earnestly as if she was looking for someone to help her.
“Do you know that Count Makie secretly disposed of a male child born to the royal family?”
The butler’s eyes widened at Madame Repel’s words.
“Baron Colon. You must know. I heard about this from someone who knows about it and remembers it.”
The hushed news was a secret fact in the kingdom of Oberon.
Although brown hair and brown eyes were common in general, those with gray hair were not born only to noble families.
For example, didn’t the head of the household, Rohan Hindenburg, have shaggy but gorgeous wheat-colored hair? The reason he didn’t attract much attention was because none of his ancestors had a powerful family, or because wheat-colored hair was similar to brown, so it wasn’t a color that was particularly desired.
After clearing everyone around, Kaian stared at Madame Repel.
“So you lied from the beginning?”
Madame Repel flinched at Kaian’s words.
“Yes.”
She looked at the butler earnestly as if she was looking for someone to help her.
“Do you know that Count Makie secretly disposed of a male child born to the royal family?”
The butler’s eyes widened at Madame Repel’s words.
“Baron Colon. You must know. I heard about this from someone who knows about it and remembers it.”
The hushed news was a secret fact in the kingdom of Oberon.
Although brown hair and brown eyes were common in general, those with gray hair were not born only to noble families.
For example, didn’t the head of the household, Rohan Hindenburg, have shaggy but gorgeous wheat-colored hair? The reason he didn’t attract much attention was because none of his ancestors had a powerful family, or because wheat-colored hair was similar to brown, so it wasn’t a color that was particularly desired.
Even if it wasn’t a secret for noble families, commoners, and serfs also had children with gray hair.
So it was impossible not to suspect that children with unusual appearances were born to the revered family as if the Gods were favoring them. They just couldn’t say it out loud.
There were all sorts of rumors going around, from rumors that the child was abandoned to rumors that Oberon’s pillar was making a deal with the devil to steal the glory of God.
“I just wanted to save this child,”
Madame Repel cried as if she was wronged.
“Is it a crime to want the baby I received and cared for to grow up healthy?”
There was no one to refute her words.
It was the Duke of Temnes’ child.
What if the royal nanny, who had no connection with him, tried to harm the child at the behest of Valquiterre?
So it was impossible not to suspect that children with unusual appearances were born to the revered family as if the Gods were favoring them. They just couldn’t say it out loud.
There were all sorts of rumors going around, from rumors that the child was abandoned to rumors that Oberon’s pillar was making a deal with the devil to steal the glory of God.
“I just wanted to save this child,”
Madame Repel cried as if she was wronged.
“Is it a crime to want the baby I received and cared for to grow up healthy?”
There was no one to refute her words.
It was the Duke of Temnes’ child.
What if the royal nanny, who had no connection with him, tried to harm the child at the behest of Valquiterre?
On the contrary, her family and grandchildren were put in danger to protect this baby.
Madame Repel had nothing to gain from this, but it was clear that the baby had survived thanks to her.
Hannah and Madame Cronach, who had been sharing the secret story of the royal family, watched Kaian’s reaction. They were anxious about where the story would go next, thinking about what had happened that night.
“Yes. Thanks to you, the child was saved. Thank you.”
The atmosphere improved a little when Kaian gave a congratulatory speech to Madame Repel.
“Your family is in exile abroad.”
“That’s right. They were threatened by Count Makie.”
Madame Repel had nothing to gain from this, but it was clear that the baby had survived thanks to her.
Hannah and Madame Cronach, who had been sharing the secret story of the royal family, watched Kaian’s reaction. They were anxious about where the story would go next, thinking about what had happened that night.
“Yes. Thanks to you, the child was saved. Thank you.”
The atmosphere improved a little when Kaian gave a congratulatory speech to Madame Repel.
“Your family is in exile abroad.”
“That’s right. They were threatened by Count Makie.”
When the tension eased, the old lady took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from her eyes.
“How about living in Rowen from now on? I’ll prepare a separate place for you.”
“Oh, Duke. That’s...”
“If you want, I’ll send someone to bring them.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Madame Repel’s face was like a dream or reality.
Kaian looked at the butler.
“Find out how to bring the nanny’s family to Rowen.”
“Yes. I will.”
Kaian got up from his seat and held out his hand to Claudel.
“I have something to show you separately.”
“Right now?”
Claudel answered bewilderedly, and Kaian picked her up.
“But...”
Her eyes uneasily turned to Hannah, who was holding the baby.
“Hannah and Madame Cronach will take good care of the baby.”
Madame Cronach nodded.
“Go quickly. We will stay in this room with the baby.”
“Yes. In that case.”
Kaian walked well even while holding Claudel.
“Where are you going?”
“To the office.”
“Ah.”
Claudel let out a small sigh as if she was relieved, and Kaian’s eyebrows furrowed.
“What are you relieved about?”
“W-what if you just throw me away somewhere.”
“Me?”
Kaian was astonished.
“You know what you did was worth it.”
“Kaian. Aren’t you really angry?”
“I’m angry. Very angry.”
“...I’m sorry.”
The soldiers guarding the office door were tense, perhaps because of the commotion, but they opened the door as they approached.
Kaian carefully placed her on the chair in front of the desk.
“This is a secret device.”
Kaian fiddled with a part of the desktop as if showing off to Claudel.
“If you activate the hidden device underneath.”
There was a clicking sound, and Claudel’s eyes widened as the desk rotated, revealing a hidden space underneath.
“We hid various secret documents and assets of the family underneath here.”
Kaian said to Claudel.
“How do you feel? How do you feel about peeking into the secret passage under the moat and even the family’s safe?”
“...”
“Do I still look like someone who would just get angry and throw you away?”
“I-I’m sorry.”
Kaian exhaled through his nose as he watched Claudel repeatedly apologize, then reached into his secret safe.
“Everything Madame Repel said earlier was true.”
Kaian pulled out a notebook with a black leather cover and stood up.
“If an unworthy child is born in Temnes, they will lose their life.”
He handed the notebook to Claudel.
“But I didn’t intend to do that in my time.”
Claudel looked at what was written in Kai’an’s handwriting.
[Claudel Quinn Temnes, the first child born to my wife from the Vermont family will be the successor.]
When she saw the words that the child born to Claudel Quinn Temnes would be the successor, she finally felt relieved.
“May the honorless sacrifices end here.”
A faint smile appeared at the corners of the woman’s lips as she muttered the words he had written. Only then did Kaian feel relief in his heavy chest.
‘It was good that he didn’t get angry.’
Judging from the number of times Claudel asked if he was angry, she couldn’t say that he had held back completely.
However, she was glad that it was enough.
Kaian's ideal marital relationship was when Claudel gradually opened up to him while living in Rowen, and when she had even confessed her love for him when she returned from the capital.
He knew that he wouldn’t be satisfied with just being by her side.
“Our baby will be the successor of Temnes.”
“...Kaian?”
“How about living in Rowen from now on? I’ll prepare a separate place for you.”
“Oh, Duke. That’s...”
“If you want, I’ll send someone to bring them.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Madame Repel’s face was like a dream or reality.
Kaian looked at the butler.
“Find out how to bring the nanny’s family to Rowen.”
“Yes. I will.”
Kaian got up from his seat and held out his hand to Claudel.
“I have something to show you separately.”
“Right now?”
Claudel answered bewilderedly, and Kaian picked her up.
“But...”
Her eyes uneasily turned to Hannah, who was holding the baby.
“Hannah and Madame Cronach will take good care of the baby.”
Madame Cronach nodded.
“Go quickly. We will stay in this room with the baby.”
“Yes. In that case.”
Kaian walked well even while holding Claudel.
“Where are you going?”
“To the office.”
“Ah.”
Claudel let out a small sigh as if she was relieved, and Kaian’s eyebrows furrowed.
“What are you relieved about?”
“W-what if you just throw me away somewhere.”
“Me?”
Kaian was astonished.
“You know what you did was worth it.”
“Kaian. Aren’t you really angry?”
“I’m angry. Very angry.”
“...I’m sorry.”
The soldiers guarding the office door were tense, perhaps because of the commotion, but they opened the door as they approached.
Kaian carefully placed her on the chair in front of the desk.
“This is a secret device.”
Kaian fiddled with a part of the desktop as if showing off to Claudel.
“If you activate the hidden device underneath.”
There was a clicking sound, and Claudel’s eyes widened as the desk rotated, revealing a hidden space underneath.
“We hid various secret documents and assets of the family underneath here.”
Kaian said to Claudel.
“How do you feel? How do you feel about peeking into the secret passage under the moat and even the family’s safe?”
“...”
“Do I still look like someone who would just get angry and throw you away?”
“I-I’m sorry.”
Kaian exhaled through his nose as he watched Claudel repeatedly apologize, then reached into his secret safe.
“Everything Madame Repel said earlier was true.”
Kaian pulled out a notebook with a black leather cover and stood up.
“If an unworthy child is born in Temnes, they will lose their life.”
He handed the notebook to Claudel.
“But I didn’t intend to do that in my time.”
Claudel looked at what was written in Kai’an’s handwriting.
[Claudel Quinn Temnes, the first child born to my wife from the Vermont family will be the successor.]
When she saw the words that the child born to Claudel Quinn Temnes would be the successor, she finally felt relieved.
“May the honorless sacrifices end here.”
A faint smile appeared at the corners of the woman’s lips as she muttered the words he had written. Only then did Kaian feel relief in his heavy chest.
‘It was good that he didn’t get angry.’
Judging from the number of times Claudel asked if he was angry, she couldn’t say that he had held back completely.
However, she was glad that it was enough.
Kaian's ideal marital relationship was when Claudel gradually opened up to him while living in Rowen, and when she had even confessed her love for him when she returned from the capital.
He knew that he wouldn’t be satisfied with just being by her side.
“Our baby will be the successor of Temnes.”
“...Kaian?”
However, Claudel’s expression became subtle.
“Who wrote this?”
“What? No one else can touch that note but me.”
The smile disappeared from Kaian’s face as he approached Claudel.
May the honorless sacrifices end here.
Below the words, Kaian had written with great determination, a short word was added.
[Hypocrite.]
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