#117. Found
Ian blinked as he lay on the bed. It was a long day. He ran away from home because he hated his mother, met a strange person, and came back again. Seeing Ian washed, Olivia kissed him on the forehead.
This act is still awkward. A mother who finds it difficult to kiss her child's forehead. Doesn't Ian also look at Olivia with a surprised expression? She smiled bitterly.
"Mom."
"Yes?"
"Who did you talk to earlier?"
“...”
She thought he would be curious. She thought many times about what to say, but she couldn't find a clear answer.
"Is that my dad?"
Olivia shook her head.
"What did he say to you?"
"He said you grew up well. He even asked me what I like..."
"What did you say I liked?"
"Drawing, kicking a ball!"
"Yes, good job."
Olivia laughed. Olivia changed the subject.
"Do you like drawing?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because my mom likes it."
At that, Olivia patted Ian's cheek. Ian was excited. It was because his mom was so kind. Have shr ever had such an interest? Ian was at a loss for what to do.
“Do you really miss your dad?”
At those words, Ian raised his head and looked into Olivia's eyes, then shook his head.
“Why don’t you want to see him?”
“I'm giving Mom a hard time.”
Olivia laughed again. Even though he was the child of that hateful man, he was given such absolute love just because they were related by blood. Of course, she was the same way. She loved Beatrice, who everyone pointed at as a witch, and even sent her life into the abyss.
“Mom gave Ian a hard time, too.”
“...”
“Mom too, Ian...”
Olivia's eyes were filled with tears again. Ian was blankly watching his mother's tears.
“Mom, don’t cry.”
“...”
“Mom, I told you not to cry.”
Olivia cried as Ian hugged her as if to comfort her. It was something she would hate, and if she were a mother like her, she would hate it. Olivia burst into tears like a child and hugged Ian tightly.
“Ian, your mom loves you.”
There was a time when she hated this little being. She knew he was innocent, but she couldn't help it. Still, there was love in every moment. When he first smiled, when he called her mommy, when he took her first steps, when he first went to school...
Although she didn't admit it, there was love behind all those feelings of hatred.
“I never stopped loving you.”
What if today, instead of Ioannis, Asherad had taken her child away? The thought was dizzying. If he had fallen for Asherad, Olivia would have gladly crawled back into his arms.
Even though she knows it's hell.
If that isn't love, then what is? Olivia loved her children.
"I love you, too."
At Ian's words, Olivia hugged the child tightly. It's time to grow up. If she knew that she loved this child, she shouldn't be a weak mother anymore. She had no choice but to choose to give birth to the child, but it was her choice whether to love or hurt this child. She would no longer use the past as an excuse to helplessly surrender her body to her heart.
As Olivia continued to pat him, Ian smiled and fell asleep right away.
Olivia saw Ian sleeping and immediately got up. She opened the door and went out to see a dim light. It was in the kitchen. When she went there, she saw Derek drinking.
"Derek?"
"Huh?"
"Don't say that, ma'am, I'm dying."
Milta forgot about the situation and laughed. Derek lowered his hand from stroking his head.
"It's impossible to move long distances like that, right?"
"Of course."
“...”
"Why are you leaving?"
Milta's quick-witted words left Derek speechless.
"Derek, you know, there's a plague up there. I don't know where they are going, but there will be no city that will accept people with such a fever."
"...”
"I don't know what's going on, but let's get a good rest and leave."
Derek nodded. He looked at Olivia and Ian anxiously. Milta was right a hundred times. In this state, they cannot move. He saw an article about a plague.
"Is it Thalassa's turn to lose this time?"
In the Three Kingdoms, this happened repeatedly. It was a well-known fact that the Kingdom of Pindus had mistakenly entered the swamp and suffered great embarrassment from a swarm of mosquitoes. So their move was postponed again and again.
Though uneasy at first, Derek gradually became reassured and decided not to move. One day, he opened his eyes wide when he saw the newspaper that Milta held out.
"Maybe... You don't have to move it. No, you don't have to."
In his hand, he held a newspaper with the word "missing" written in large letters.
Olivia opened her eyes. The illness that had been bothering her until yesterday evening disappeared like a wash.
"Ian..."
Oh, that's right. Ian went to school before her... A weaker body than Ian... It's useless. Olivia laughed bitterly. After she decided to love and cherish him, she fell ill and lost her face. She wondered how many days she had been bedridden. She thinks she was sick for more than half a month.
When the fever went down and she moved, the fever continued to increase, but she was sure that it would be okay this time.
Let's clean it first.
She swept and wiped the room with a clear mind. She wanted to clean it up more, but she thought she might be nagged by Derek if she felt weak. She has to get up early tomorrow morning to do the laundry.
After cleaning, Olivia washed herself thoroughly. As the sweat washed away, she felt even more energetic. She hesitated to do the laundry now, so she finally decided to go shopping for dinner. Olivia thought of her conversation with Derek.
"Emperor Asherad, he will never come here anymore."
‘...What?"
‘... I did.'
What did he say? I don't remember. Olivia thought of Derek's words and tilted her head to herself. There's a reason Derek wasn't in a hurry to move. He is smarter than she. Olivia went shopping happily.
'Prices have risen a lot.'
Perhaps because of the spread of war zones, the prices of food products have risen. There is no major problem with her family finances yet, but she carried a heavy shopping cart, thinking that it would be difficult if it went up further. After finishing the shopping, she hurried home.
There were many beggars around this place. If she gets caught wrong, she might be in trouble.
"Daph?"
At that moment, she heard a voice calling out to her. Olivia looked around, but there were only homeless people sitting on the streets.
The voice came again.
"Daphne."
“...”
Her mind turned white. Olivia looked at the man closest to her in disbelief. He stood up. The color of the man's eyes was green.
Ian blinked as he lay on the bed. It was a long day. He ran away from home because he hated his mother, met a strange person, and came back again. Seeing Ian washed, Olivia kissed him on the forehead.
This act is still awkward. A mother who finds it difficult to kiss her child's forehead. Doesn't Ian also look at Olivia with a surprised expression? She smiled bitterly.
"Mom."
"Yes?"
"Who did you talk to earlier?"
“...”
She thought he would be curious. She thought many times about what to say, but she couldn't find a clear answer.
"Is that my dad?"
Olivia shook her head.
"What did he say to you?"
"He said you grew up well. He even asked me what I like..."
"What did you say I liked?"
"Drawing, kicking a ball!"
"Yes, good job."
Olivia laughed. Olivia changed the subject.
"Do you like drawing?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because my mom likes it."
At that, Olivia patted Ian's cheek. Ian was excited. It was because his mom was so kind. Have shr ever had such an interest? Ian was at a loss for what to do.
“Do you really miss your dad?”
At those words, Ian raised his head and looked into Olivia's eyes, then shook his head.
“Why don’t you want to see him?”
“I'm giving Mom a hard time.”
Olivia laughed again. Even though he was the child of that hateful man, he was given such absolute love just because they were related by blood. Of course, she was the same way. She loved Beatrice, who everyone pointed at as a witch, and even sent her life into the abyss.
“Mom gave Ian a hard time, too.”
“...”
“Mom too, Ian...”
Olivia's eyes were filled with tears again. Ian was blankly watching his mother's tears.
“Mom, don’t cry.”
“...”
“Mom, I told you not to cry.”
Olivia cried as Ian hugged her as if to comfort her. It was something she would hate, and if she were a mother like her, she would hate it. Olivia burst into tears like a child and hugged Ian tightly.
“Ian, your mom loves you.”
There was a time when she hated this little being. She knew he was innocent, but she couldn't help it. Still, there was love in every moment. When he first smiled, when he called her mommy, when he took her first steps, when he first went to school...
Although she didn't admit it, there was love behind all those feelings of hatred.
“I never stopped loving you.”
What if today, instead of Ioannis, Asherad had taken her child away? The thought was dizzying. If he had fallen for Asherad, Olivia would have gladly crawled back into his arms.
Even though she knows it's hell.
If that isn't love, then what is? Olivia loved her children.
"I love you, too."
At Ian's words, Olivia hugged the child tightly. It's time to grow up. If she knew that she loved this child, she shouldn't be a weak mother anymore. She had no choice but to choose to give birth to the child, but it was her choice whether to love or hurt this child. She would no longer use the past as an excuse to helplessly surrender her body to her heart.
As Olivia continued to pat him, Ian smiled and fell asleep right away.
Olivia saw Ian sleeping and immediately got up. She opened the door and went out to see a dim light. It was in the kitchen. When she went there, she saw Derek drinking.
"Derek?"
"Huh?"
Olivia nodded, wondering who was talking about it.
"Can you get me a drink?"
Olivia's words made Derek smile, and he poured the drink into the cup.
"Do you know how to drink?"
Olivia drank it instead of answering, and frowned. Well, there are all these drinks. It didn't taste like the liquor she had tried in the imperial palace before.
"Isn't it delicious?"
"Yes."
"It's a drink that the common people drink on the streets. Even then, getting good liquor to deliver to soldiers is like picking stars in the sky."
“...”
"I wonder when the war will end."
Olivia closed her eyes at that. Here, the starting point of the war. Why Kalista died, why Prince of Pindus died, why Fabian died. It was all hers.
"If you want to blame yourself again, let's stop talking about this."
“...”
"You know that. It's the fault of the people who wield the sword. So stop now."
She smiled faintly at Derek's comfort. She didn't want to drink any more, so she fiddled with her glass.
"I think we should leave this city."
"Yes?"
"Because Ioannis is here... I thought Asherad could come here too."
"Then where shall we go? I'll look it up."
As Derek thought about it, Olivia said in a low voice.
"I have so much to thank you."
“...”
"After all, all I did for six years was to live as a parasite on you."
“What are you talking about...”
The smile disappeared from Olivia's face.
“Maybe I knew you had feelings for me. No, I don’t know, but I think I took advantage of your kindness by provoking pity.”
Derek put his glass down. He looked straight into Olivia's eyes and said,
"Can you get me a drink?"
Olivia's words made Derek smile, and he poured the drink into the cup.
"Do you know how to drink?"
Olivia drank it instead of answering, and frowned. Well, there are all these drinks. It didn't taste like the liquor she had tried in the imperial palace before.
"Isn't it delicious?"
"Yes."
"It's a drink that the common people drink on the streets. Even then, getting good liquor to deliver to soldiers is like picking stars in the sky."
“...”
"I wonder when the war will end."
Olivia closed her eyes at that. Here, the starting point of the war. Why Kalista died, why Prince of Pindus died, why Fabian died. It was all hers.
"If you want to blame yourself again, let's stop talking about this."
“...”
"You know that. It's the fault of the people who wield the sword. So stop now."
She smiled faintly at Derek's comfort. She didn't want to drink any more, so she fiddled with her glass.
"I think we should leave this city."
"Yes?"
"Because Ioannis is here... I thought Asherad could come here too."
"Then where shall we go? I'll look it up."
As Derek thought about it, Olivia said in a low voice.
"I have so much to thank you."
“...”
"After all, all I did for six years was to live as a parasite on you."
“What are you talking about...”
The smile disappeared from Olivia's face.
“Maybe I knew you had feelings for me. No, I don’t know, but I think I took advantage of your kindness by provoking pity.”
Derek put his glass down. He looked straight into Olivia's eyes and said,
"Olivia. It's too much to blame everything on you."
“...”
"You know that. The Count ordered me to help you settle down well."
“...”
"I also liked you because I followed that order. In order, I have to get orders first."
“...”
"Taking advantage of favors? I did it because I was following orders in the first place, so why do people swear at you like that?"
"No, I don't. Everyone in the city is friendly."
Derek furrowed his eyebrows in displeasure. He seemed to have lost his taste for alcohol.
"Then don't talk about that."
“...”
"A woman has a child and can't move, so why leave her? You have to help them to the point where they can become independent to some extent."
"Derek, but you have money for our family..."
"There is money given to you by the Count, what are you talking about? What I made money from was money for my life. The only money I spent on you was when I brought gifts when I went home."
Derek replied a little annoyedly. Even though he had been ordered, Derek was right to take care of himself. He could have given a large sum of money to the neighbor or taken care of her in some other way. So she didn't take it lightly that his help was by order.
"I'll only go to the other city with Ian."
“...”
Derek didn't answer. Olivia looked into his eyes silently. A certain emotion welled up in his eyes. Then he squeezed his eyes shut.
"The way you say no is also very good."
“...”
"Don't you like me?"
Olivia shook her head at the sight of Derek's blazing eyes. Seeing this, Derek sighed and messed up his hair. Nervous breathing leaked out.
"If you don't hate me, stay still. I'll take care of you."
“...”
Derek looked straight at Olivia.
“I have to keep you safe. Whether it’s a rejection or not.”
Derek flinched as he reached out to Olivia's still hand. He shouldn't take advantage of this woman's pitiful situation to win her heart. But he was desperate. Derek closed his eyes tightly. He would follow her to the end, to the end.
Protecting 'Daphne'.
Because it had already become his wish, not his father's order or Fabian's wish.
They didn't leave for about a month.
The reason why they couldn't start right away was simple. As a result of the rain, Ian and Olivia collapsed that day and suffered a great fever. Ian collapsed at school and was brought home, and Olivia was picked up on the side of the road.
"I heard that summer colds are poisonous..."
Milta sighed and said to Derek. It wasn't a particularly special disease, so the doctor had long since prescribed only medicine. Derek sat down in his chair and sighed.
"Yes..."
“Well, hat's off to you two for getting sick like that at the same time, huh?”
“...”
"You know that. The Count ordered me to help you settle down well."
“...”
"I also liked you because I followed that order. In order, I have to get orders first."
“...”
"Taking advantage of favors? I did it because I was following orders in the first place, so why do people swear at you like that?"
"No, I don't. Everyone in the city is friendly."
Derek furrowed his eyebrows in displeasure. He seemed to have lost his taste for alcohol.
"Then don't talk about that."
“...”
"A woman has a child and can't move, so why leave her? You have to help them to the point where they can become independent to some extent."
"Derek, but you have money for our family..."
"There is money given to you by the Count, what are you talking about? What I made money from was money for my life. The only money I spent on you was when I brought gifts when I went home."
Derek replied a little annoyedly. Even though he had been ordered, Derek was right to take care of himself. He could have given a large sum of money to the neighbor or taken care of her in some other way. So she didn't take it lightly that his help was by order.
"I'll only go to the other city with Ian."
“...”
Derek didn't answer. Olivia looked into his eyes silently. A certain emotion welled up in his eyes. Then he squeezed his eyes shut.
"The way you say no is also very good."
“...”
"Don't you like me?"
Olivia shook her head at the sight of Derek's blazing eyes. Seeing this, Derek sighed and messed up his hair. Nervous breathing leaked out.
"If you don't hate me, stay still. I'll take care of you."
“...”
Derek looked straight at Olivia.
“I have to keep you safe. Whether it’s a rejection or not.”
Derek flinched as he reached out to Olivia's still hand. He shouldn't take advantage of this woman's pitiful situation to win her heart. But he was desperate. Derek closed his eyes tightly. He would follow her to the end, to the end.
Protecting 'Daphne'.
Because it had already become his wish, not his father's order or Fabian's wish.
***
They didn't leave for about a month.
The reason why they couldn't start right away was simple. As a result of the rain, Ian and Olivia collapsed that day and suffered a great fever. Ian collapsed at school and was brought home, and Olivia was picked up on the side of the road.
"I heard that summer colds are poisonous..."
Milta sighed and said to Derek. It wasn't a particularly special disease, so the doctor had long since prescribed only medicine. Derek sat down in his chair and sighed.
"Yes..."
“Well, hat's off to you two for getting sick like that at the same time, huh?”
"Don't say that, ma'am, I'm dying."
Milta forgot about the situation and laughed. Derek lowered his hand from stroking his head.
"It's impossible to move long distances like that, right?"
"Of course."
“...”
"Why are you leaving?"
Milta's quick-witted words left Derek speechless.
"Derek, you know, there's a plague up there. I don't know where they are going, but there will be no city that will accept people with such a fever."
"...”
"I don't know what's going on, but let's get a good rest and leave."
Derek nodded. He looked at Olivia and Ian anxiously. Milta was right a hundred times. In this state, they cannot move. He saw an article about a plague.
"Is it Thalassa's turn to lose this time?"
In the Three Kingdoms, this happened repeatedly. It was a well-known fact that the Kingdom of Pindus had mistakenly entered the swamp and suffered great embarrassment from a swarm of mosquitoes. So their move was postponed again and again.
Though uneasy at first, Derek gradually became reassured and decided not to move. One day, he opened his eyes wide when he saw the newspaper that Milta held out.
"Maybe... You don't have to move it. No, you don't have to."
In his hand, he held a newspaper with the word "missing" written in large letters.
***
Olivia opened her eyes. The illness that had been bothering her until yesterday evening disappeared like a wash.
"Ian..."
Oh, that's right. Ian went to school before her... A weaker body than Ian... It's useless. Olivia laughed bitterly. After she decided to love and cherish him, she fell ill and lost her face. She wondered how many days she had been bedridden. She thinks she was sick for more than half a month.
When the fever went down and she moved, the fever continued to increase, but she was sure that it would be okay this time.
Let's clean it first.
She swept and wiped the room with a clear mind. She wanted to clean it up more, but she thought she might be nagged by Derek if she felt weak. She has to get up early tomorrow morning to do the laundry.
After cleaning, Olivia washed herself thoroughly. As the sweat washed away, she felt even more energetic. She hesitated to do the laundry now, so she finally decided to go shopping for dinner. Olivia thought of her conversation with Derek.
"Emperor Asherad, he will never come here anymore."
‘...What?"
‘... I did.'
What did he say? I don't remember. Olivia thought of Derek's words and tilted her head to herself. There's a reason Derek wasn't in a hurry to move. He is smarter than she. Olivia went shopping happily.
'Prices have risen a lot.'
Perhaps because of the spread of war zones, the prices of food products have risen. There is no major problem with her family finances yet, but she carried a heavy shopping cart, thinking that it would be difficult if it went up further. After finishing the shopping, she hurried home.
There were many beggars around this place. If she gets caught wrong, she might be in trouble.
"Daph?"
At that moment, she heard a voice calling out to her. Olivia looked around, but there were only homeless people sitting on the streets.
The voice came again.
"Daphne."
“...”
Her mind turned white. Olivia looked at the man closest to her in disbelief. He stood up. The color of the man's eyes was green.
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