Winter's trip north was very important and paid off.
After Eglin revealed the location of a drug dealer likely linked to Ash, Winter discussed the raid plans with Giannis.
Everything went according to plan. At the appointed time, the drugs were loaded onto a small fishing boat and brought into the dock.
With Giannis Heston leading his men, they made a surprise attack, and Winter Blooming chartered all the nearby fishing boats and had armed men block their escape route, leaving the drug dealers with no escape route.
Winter spoke to Giannis, tapping the heads of the men he had tied up with ropes with the muzzle of his gun.
“Once Congress approves our Princess’s title, I hope they’ll consider a bill that would make it illegal for drug dealers to carry guns. How can a drug dealer carry a gun?”
“Since you have a gun, you will have ample opportunity to speak.”
Giannis continued.
“Thanks to you, we were able to remove the rotten parts of our North. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“Cooperation is something you did to me.”
“You are so consistently rude. I don’t know how your wife can still endure it.”
“Have you talked to Lady Ella? Our Princess is not one to nag.”
“I didn’t know. I don’t have to listen to nagging.”
Giannis, who had been swearing loudly, expected his curses to return, but Winter didn't answer, perhaps thinking of something else.
"Lord Winter."
"Uh."
Winter reacted late. Giannis asked with a frown.
“What’s wrong?”
“We’re not friends, kid. I told you before.”
“Why do you call me a little boy while you call other young men masters?”
“I’m drawing the line because you think I’m your friend. Just understand.”
Winter looked annoyed and asked Giannis.
“What are they planning to do?”
“Big crime in the Northeast is handled by Heston Family under an agreement with the police department.”
“This is collusion that would terrify my wife if she heard about it.”
“The Heston family’s defense of the North is a time-honored tradition that runs parallel to Rockround’s history.”
Giannis spoke calmly and ordered his men to drag the drug dealers away. Then he asked Winter.
“I’m going to question you. Would you like to stop by Heston Mansion”
“No. Your father almost married my wife.”
“I'm sorry about that.”
“I should go see my wife right away.”
“I think it would be nice to invite you two out for dinner.”
“Don’t you have any friends? Why bother?”
When Winter asked with a crumpled expression, Giannis answered.
“I just think it would be good for us to get along well. You are powerful people.”
“You’re not completely clueless.”
Winter laughed and turned around.
After turning the drug dealers over to the Hestons, Winter asked them to interrogate them and returned straight to the capital.
During a brief sleep, he dreamed again of the scenes he had seen in the temple of Alika.
That day, twelve-year-old Winter, who had collapsed on the street, saw the back of a noble boy being carried in the arms of adults and being led to a carriage in the distance.
Some people sleep on the street because they don't want to be beaten, while others, despite wearing nice clothes, are carried around in the arms of adults.
'An unlucky noble boy.'
As Winter thought so, several adults approached him.
He tried to run away, but he was caught by several adults and couldn't escape. Then, they kept checking on him and said they were going to examine him, so he got so annoyed that he almost turned around.
Fortunately, after that doctor examined him, he felt much better. Winter never felt the occasional anemia or chest pain again.
Perhaps the doctor had taken some action, Winter thought. Those nobles had such a skilled doctor. A great doctor who could cure a disease with just one look.
Winter now realizes that what was amazing that day was not the doctor, but the six-year-old who approached him. Later, he realized that he had also helped Violet, who was left alone and sick, but he still felt no relief.
In the end, he survived by hurting his wife several times. Until this moment.
"CEO!"
Winter opened his eyes wide at the sound of Hayel calling him. Hayel spoke with concern.
“We’ve arrived. What did you dream about?”
“Just get off work.”
When Winter stumbled as he got out of the carriage, speaking dryly, Hayel got out of the carriage in shock and helped him up. However, Winter soon shook Hayel's hand off in irritation and headed towards his house.
As he entered, Lulu came out to greet him.
“Are you back?”
“It looks like nothing is wrong at home.”
“Yes, of course. It’s no problem.”
Winter was so relieved to hear 'nothing' that she didn't notice Lulu's lips twitching.
He thought about how difficult it was for him to turn a blind eye to his wife's plan to secretly find out about the pregnancy. If it had been before, he would have rushed in and persistently asked why she was secretly checking on him and whether she was thinking of leaving him.
His wife constantly whispered sweet nothings to him, but he couldn't understand why he was stuck in a state of perpetual anxiety.
It was a permanent scar.
“My wife.”
“She’s in the bedroom. She’s been lying down the whole time because she’s not feeling well.”
“I’ll go and take a look, so come in.”
“Yes, Sir.”
After Lulu left, Winter stood in front of his wife's room door.
His wife, who values greetings, seemed to be quite ill, as she could not come out to greet him.
“Is your body sick or is your heart sick?”
He muttered to himself, then took a deep breath and practiced smiling.
Either way, it was clear that things weren't going the way his wife wanted them to. So he had to just smile like he didn't know anything, just like she wanted. If that's what she wanted.
Winter knocked on the door briskly, his face desperately drawn.
“Princess, they said you were sick.”
“Come in.”
Winter opened the door as he heard Violet's voice from inside.
Soon Winter's heart sank at the sight of his wife, who, contrary to his expectations, was wearing a light going-out dress rather than pajamas.
“...Do you have anywhere to go?”
“Huh? No. It’s just... because I like those clothes.”
“I know you like those clothes.”
Winter grabbed Violet's arm without realizing it. Then Violet asked.
“Have you eaten?”
"Not yet."
“That’s fortunate. I’m still not there yet.”
Winter, shocked at the thought of his wife wearing a going-out dress, was dragged by Violet to sit at the table.
The sun had set, but the windows were covered with tapestries, making it even darker. And today, instead of using light bulbs, the table was lit by candles in fancy candlesticks.
As Winter sat down, Violet rang a small bell on the table. Then the door opened and the servants came in, setting a magnificent banquet on the table. The food had been carefully prepared in advance.
Winter desperately tried to control his expression, as he sensed that his wife was about to say something very serious.
He lowered his hands under the table and clasped them tightly, as they began to tremble in fear. Violet noticed this and asked worriedly.
“What happened in the North?”
"No."
“I think you’re nervous.”
“It actually happened.”
Only then did Winter smile consciously again and continue speaking.
“I found the drug dealer involved with Ash Lawrence.”
“Oh my. Really?”
“He’s being questioned by the Heston Family right now. If he gets caught before he goes to Congress, we can have a blast with Ash Lawrence.”
“You weren’t helping me find the drug dealer, were you?”
“Why not?”
Winter said absentmindedly and then quickly shut his mouth. But Violet's face had already turned pale.
“You were just shot by a drug addict.”
"I know."
“How can you meet people involved with drugs again? Without fear?”
Violet's voice began to tremble slightly, and Winter turned to face her. Violet let out a shaky breath and asked.
“You. Do you want to live?”
“Why all of a sudden?”
“I feel like you... don’t take your own life seriously.”
"It is not so."
“But why?”
“Really, that’s not true.”
Winter took a sip of the champagne in front of him and continued speaking.
“I just want to do everything for you. If it’s something you absolutely need, I don’t mind dying. But if it doesn’t involve you... I don’t want to live, of course.”
“...”
“I want to live a long and happy life with you.”
At Winter's words, Violet opened her mouth again, looking at him with slightly tearful eyes.
“But why do you look so anxious?”
"I do not know either."
Only then did Winter laugh and say.
“Is it because I love you so much?”
“Winter, I know you so much now... Everything is different than when I was about to leave you.”
“What’s different?”
Winter continued in a sad voice.
“I’m still the same. My heart sinks just because you’re wearing your clothes. You’re the only one who’s grown up. I don’t know why I’m still the same.”
“Ah. Winter.”
Violet let out a trembling breath and looked at him, surprisingly smiling.
“Don’t you know what I’m not?”
“Why you?”
“I’m scared, too. I’m jealous, too. Sometimes I just suddenly have bad thoughts. Now that I’ve heard those words from you, I want to swear at you. How can you make someone worry like this?”
Winter muttered, genuinely surprised that his wife felt that way.
“I didn’t know. You seemed so perfect to me.”
“If you didn’t know, now you know. Isn’t it better to be anxious together than to be anxious alone?”
Winter's hands also gradually stopped shaking under her affectionate gaze. He sighed and covered his face with both hands as he spoke.
“Damn, this is so pathetic. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“If you knew I was worried, don’t do anything dangerous again. Got it?”
“I won’t do it.”
“But... they say that when you have a child, people stop doing dangerous things. You’ll be different soon, too, since you’re going to be a father.”
“Then. When I become a father later... Huh?”
Winter slowly lowered his hand, narrowed his eyebrows, and looked at Violet.
Then she smiled brightly as if she couldn't stand to say that.
“I heard at the temple when I was in Alika. My child was protecting me from getting sick. The other Kanik clan members would take some of that child’s pain, and the children who were with us would also take some of that child’s pain so that the child would be born safely. The Kanik clan is a people who share pain. And...”
"...And?"
“And this time... I confirmed that I’m pregnant. Don’t worry. I checked with three doctors.”
“...”
“We’re having a baby, Winter.”
Winter remained silent for a while despite Violet's happy voice. Then, after a while, at some point, tears began to flow. Violet stood up in surprise.
“Oh, are you crying?”
As she approached, Winter hurriedly hugged her wife's waist and buried his face in her arms. Violet, who had been surrounded by people crying over the news of her pregnancy the past few days, smiled and stroked Winter's hair.
“I don’t know why everyone is crying. It’s good news.”
Winter, who always prided himself on never needing to rely on anyone, lowered his head, shook his shoulders, and cried. Violet, who had expected Winter to cry, simply laughed brightly as if teasing him.
After Eglin revealed the location of a drug dealer likely linked to Ash, Winter discussed the raid plans with Giannis.
Everything went according to plan. At the appointed time, the drugs were loaded onto a small fishing boat and brought into the dock.
With Giannis Heston leading his men, they made a surprise attack, and Winter Blooming chartered all the nearby fishing boats and had armed men block their escape route, leaving the drug dealers with no escape route.
Winter spoke to Giannis, tapping the heads of the men he had tied up with ropes with the muzzle of his gun.
“Once Congress approves our Princess’s title, I hope they’ll consider a bill that would make it illegal for drug dealers to carry guns. How can a drug dealer carry a gun?”
“Since you have a gun, you will have ample opportunity to speak.”
Giannis continued.
“Thanks to you, we were able to remove the rotten parts of our North. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“Cooperation is something you did to me.”
“You are so consistently rude. I don’t know how your wife can still endure it.”
“Have you talked to Lady Ella? Our Princess is not one to nag.”
“I didn’t know. I don’t have to listen to nagging.”
Giannis, who had been swearing loudly, expected his curses to return, but Winter didn't answer, perhaps thinking of something else.
"Lord Winter."
"Uh."
Winter reacted late. Giannis asked with a frown.
“What’s wrong?”
“We’re not friends, kid. I told you before.”
“Why do you call me a little boy while you call other young men masters?”
“I’m drawing the line because you think I’m your friend. Just understand.”
Winter looked annoyed and asked Giannis.
“What are they planning to do?”
“Big crime in the Northeast is handled by Heston Family under an agreement with the police department.”
“This is collusion that would terrify my wife if she heard about it.”
“The Heston family’s defense of the North is a time-honored tradition that runs parallel to Rockround’s history.”
Giannis spoke calmly and ordered his men to drag the drug dealers away. Then he asked Winter.
“I’m going to question you. Would you like to stop by Heston Mansion”
“No. Your father almost married my wife.”
“I'm sorry about that.”
“I should go see my wife right away.”
“I think it would be nice to invite you two out for dinner.”
“Don’t you have any friends? Why bother?”
When Winter asked with a crumpled expression, Giannis answered.
“I just think it would be good for us to get along well. You are powerful people.”
“You’re not completely clueless.”
Winter laughed and turned around.
***
After turning the drug dealers over to the Hestons, Winter asked them to interrogate them and returned straight to the capital.
During a brief sleep, he dreamed again of the scenes he had seen in the temple of Alika.
That day, twelve-year-old Winter, who had collapsed on the street, saw the back of a noble boy being carried in the arms of adults and being led to a carriage in the distance.
Some people sleep on the street because they don't want to be beaten, while others, despite wearing nice clothes, are carried around in the arms of adults.
'An unlucky noble boy.'
As Winter thought so, several adults approached him.
He tried to run away, but he was caught by several adults and couldn't escape. Then, they kept checking on him and said they were going to examine him, so he got so annoyed that he almost turned around.
Fortunately, after that doctor examined him, he felt much better. Winter never felt the occasional anemia or chest pain again.
Perhaps the doctor had taken some action, Winter thought. Those nobles had such a skilled doctor. A great doctor who could cure a disease with just one look.
Winter now realizes that what was amazing that day was not the doctor, but the six-year-old who approached him. Later, he realized that he had also helped Violet, who was left alone and sick, but he still felt no relief.
In the end, he survived by hurting his wife several times. Until this moment.
"CEO!"
Winter opened his eyes wide at the sound of Hayel calling him. Hayel spoke with concern.
“We’ve arrived. What did you dream about?”
“Just get off work.”
When Winter stumbled as he got out of the carriage, speaking dryly, Hayel got out of the carriage in shock and helped him up. However, Winter soon shook Hayel's hand off in irritation and headed towards his house.
As he entered, Lulu came out to greet him.
“Are you back?”
“It looks like nothing is wrong at home.”
“Yes, of course. It’s no problem.”
Winter was so relieved to hear 'nothing' that she didn't notice Lulu's lips twitching.
He thought about how difficult it was for him to turn a blind eye to his wife's plan to secretly find out about the pregnancy. If it had been before, he would have rushed in and persistently asked why she was secretly checking on him and whether she was thinking of leaving him.
His wife constantly whispered sweet nothings to him, but he couldn't understand why he was stuck in a state of perpetual anxiety.
It was a permanent scar.
“My wife.”
“She’s in the bedroom. She’s been lying down the whole time because she’s not feeling well.”
“I’ll go and take a look, so come in.”
“Yes, Sir.”
After Lulu left, Winter stood in front of his wife's room door.
His wife, who values greetings, seemed to be quite ill, as she could not come out to greet him.
“Is your body sick or is your heart sick?”
He muttered to himself, then took a deep breath and practiced smiling.
Either way, it was clear that things weren't going the way his wife wanted them to. So he had to just smile like he didn't know anything, just like she wanted. If that's what she wanted.
Winter knocked on the door briskly, his face desperately drawn.
“Princess, they said you were sick.”
“Come in.”
Winter opened the door as he heard Violet's voice from inside.
Soon Winter's heart sank at the sight of his wife, who, contrary to his expectations, was wearing a light going-out dress rather than pajamas.
“...Do you have anywhere to go?”
“Huh? No. It’s just... because I like those clothes.”
“I know you like those clothes.”
Winter grabbed Violet's arm without realizing it. Then Violet asked.
“Have you eaten?”
"Not yet."
“That’s fortunate. I’m still not there yet.”
Winter, shocked at the thought of his wife wearing a going-out dress, was dragged by Violet to sit at the table.
The sun had set, but the windows were covered with tapestries, making it even darker. And today, instead of using light bulbs, the table was lit by candles in fancy candlesticks.
As Winter sat down, Violet rang a small bell on the table. Then the door opened and the servants came in, setting a magnificent banquet on the table. The food had been carefully prepared in advance.
Winter desperately tried to control his expression, as he sensed that his wife was about to say something very serious.
He lowered his hands under the table and clasped them tightly, as they began to tremble in fear. Violet noticed this and asked worriedly.
“What happened in the North?”
"No."
“I think you’re nervous.”
“It actually happened.”
Only then did Winter smile consciously again and continue speaking.
“I found the drug dealer involved with Ash Lawrence.”
“Oh my. Really?”
“He’s being questioned by the Heston Family right now. If he gets caught before he goes to Congress, we can have a blast with Ash Lawrence.”
“You weren’t helping me find the drug dealer, were you?”
“Why not?”
Winter said absentmindedly and then quickly shut his mouth. But Violet's face had already turned pale.
“You were just shot by a drug addict.”
"I know."
“How can you meet people involved with drugs again? Without fear?”
Violet's voice began to tremble slightly, and Winter turned to face her. Violet let out a shaky breath and asked.
“You. Do you want to live?”
“Why all of a sudden?”
“I feel like you... don’t take your own life seriously.”
"It is not so."
“But why?”
“Really, that’s not true.”
Winter took a sip of the champagne in front of him and continued speaking.
“I just want to do everything for you. If it’s something you absolutely need, I don’t mind dying. But if it doesn’t involve you... I don’t want to live, of course.”
“...”
“I want to live a long and happy life with you.”
At Winter's words, Violet opened her mouth again, looking at him with slightly tearful eyes.
“But why do you look so anxious?”
"I do not know either."
Only then did Winter laugh and say.
“Is it because I love you so much?”
“Winter, I know you so much now... Everything is different than when I was about to leave you.”
“What’s different?”
Winter continued in a sad voice.
“I’m still the same. My heart sinks just because you’re wearing your clothes. You’re the only one who’s grown up. I don’t know why I’m still the same.”
“Ah. Winter.”
Violet let out a trembling breath and looked at him, surprisingly smiling.
“Don’t you know what I’m not?”
“Why you?”
“I’m scared, too. I’m jealous, too. Sometimes I just suddenly have bad thoughts. Now that I’ve heard those words from you, I want to swear at you. How can you make someone worry like this?”
Winter muttered, genuinely surprised that his wife felt that way.
“I didn’t know. You seemed so perfect to me.”
“If you didn’t know, now you know. Isn’t it better to be anxious together than to be anxious alone?”
Winter's hands also gradually stopped shaking under her affectionate gaze. He sighed and covered his face with both hands as he spoke.
“Damn, this is so pathetic. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“If you knew I was worried, don’t do anything dangerous again. Got it?”
“I won’t do it.”
“But... they say that when you have a child, people stop doing dangerous things. You’ll be different soon, too, since you’re going to be a father.”
“Then. When I become a father later... Huh?”
Winter slowly lowered his hand, narrowed his eyebrows, and looked at Violet.
Then she smiled brightly as if she couldn't stand to say that.
“I heard at the temple when I was in Alika. My child was protecting me from getting sick. The other Kanik clan members would take some of that child’s pain, and the children who were with us would also take some of that child’s pain so that the child would be born safely. The Kanik clan is a people who share pain. And...”
"...And?"
“And this time... I confirmed that I’m pregnant. Don’t worry. I checked with three doctors.”
“...”
“We’re having a baby, Winter.”
Winter remained silent for a while despite Violet's happy voice. Then, after a while, at some point, tears began to flow. Violet stood up in surprise.
“Oh, are you crying?”
As she approached, Winter hurriedly hugged her wife's waist and buried his face in her arms. Violet, who had been surrounded by people crying over the news of her pregnancy the past few days, smiled and stroked Winter's hair.
“I don’t know why everyone is crying. It’s good news.”
Winter, who always prided himself on never needing to rely on anyone, lowered his head, shook his shoulders, and cried. Violet, who had expected Winter to cry, simply laughed brightly as if teasing him.
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