#124. Lardon
It was not easy to move again. Even if Ian was grown-up, he was still a child, and Olivia had to stop several times while moving around the city. There were times when those who were impoverished by the war became robbers and attacked them.
Derek's destination was a city near the capital, a small city that didn't stand out. In fact, she didn't want to move either. It was the place where she had lived and rooted for six years. People were so kind to her that she only lived in the palace and didn't know anything about the world.
However, it is right to move to a new place. What would you do if Asherad changed his mind again? Olivia didn't trust Asherad.
His words of apology touched her heart, but that was it. She couldn't just believe in that penance and stay there. She's already adapted to the outside. It won't be difficult here either.
Holding on to her weakness, she hurried her steps even more. In this way, they were able to reach their desired city.
"Is this the Count's house again?"
"Yes."
“...”
"Why?"
"I wondered if I could get this kind of help."
Anyway, she was able to adapt because she had money to buy food and a house where she could sleep. It wasn't her own strength.
"The Count will be responsible until the end if he decides to take responsibility. I don't know why he's so delicate."
"Delicate, isn't it?"
"Yes. That's why he reached out to so many women."
Olivia was silent at the negative tone. Derek was carrying Ian on his back as he slept, and his eyebrows were furrowed. It was like that when it came to talking about his father. It was time for them to find the house on the map.
“He's been making sure you're okay, hasn't he?”
It was not easy to move again. Even if Ian was grown-up, he was still a child, and Olivia had to stop several times while moving around the city. There were times when those who were impoverished by the war became robbers and attacked them.
Derek's destination was a city near the capital, a small city that didn't stand out. In fact, she didn't want to move either. It was the place where she had lived and rooted for six years. People were so kind to her that she only lived in the palace and didn't know anything about the world.
However, it is right to move to a new place. What would you do if Asherad changed his mind again? Olivia didn't trust Asherad.
His words of apology touched her heart, but that was it. She couldn't just believe in that penance and stay there. She's already adapted to the outside. It won't be difficult here either.
Holding on to her weakness, she hurried her steps even more. In this way, they were able to reach their desired city.
"Is this the Count's house again?"
"Yes."
“...”
"Why?"
"I wondered if I could get this kind of help."
Anyway, she was able to adapt because she had money to buy food and a house where she could sleep. It wasn't her own strength.
"The Count will be responsible until the end if he decides to take responsibility. I don't know why he's so delicate."
"Delicate, isn't it?"
"Yes. That's why he reached out to so many women."
Olivia was silent at the negative tone. Derek was carrying Ian on his back as he slept, and his eyebrows were furrowed. It was like that when it came to talking about his father. It was time for them to find the house on the map.
“He's been making sure you're okay, hasn't he?”
"Really?"
"That's why he'll find a house in the city where we're moving."
“...”
“So don't thank me too much, I'm sure he didn't do it because it was hard work.”
Olivia forced a laugh at the sarcasm. Just then, the door to the house swung open.
“Well, look at the way you talk.”
Derek and Olivia flinched at the voice coming from a house where no one should be. The door opened completely, and they saw a tall man standing there. It was the Count of Locania.
"Count..."
The Count of Locania said to Olivia.
"Yes, I'm here."
Olivia didn't know what to do, so she bowed to greet. The Count of Locania was looking at her with joy.
"Come in."
“...”
Derek looked at him with a cold expression, but when Olivia looked at him, he sighed. There was also Ian sleeping on his back. The house was not so different from the old one. Daphne stopped looking around and stepped inside. Derek went into the room to lay Ian down. The Count of Locania asked with a smile.
"Yes, how are things these days?"
"I'm living a good life."
"Why are you moving here?"
Olivia's head stood up. He was smiling, but his eyes were sharply analyzing her. Do you know anything? Derek knew he was making excuses for Ioannis... Why are you asking? Olivia tried to calm her heart pounding and answered calmly.
"That's right... I saw that man."
"Who?"
"Ioannis Turbol."
Olivia tried her best to speak calmly. She didn't tell him about Asherad, so she wanted to cut off their relationship. But shouldn't she have told him after all? This was a betrayal of the Count who helped her!
"Did he come here knowing he was going to die?"
Unlike Olivia's nervousness, he furrowed his eyebrows and nodded to himself.
"Is he dead?"
She had already heard from Asherad. Count Locania nodded.
"He was a servant, and he died to protect Asherad."
“...”
“He risked his life to send Emperor Asherad fleeing, but at least he had a loyalist.”
The Count said, his voice sullen. Just then, Derek came out of the room. Count Locania turned his head and asked, "What is it?"
“Did he sleep well?”
“Who cares?”
Derek replied gruffly, the corner of his mouth lifting.
“There's something you didn't tell me. What is he?”
“...”
“Did you two have a baby?”
Her face went white at the words. She fell to her knees, pale as a ghost, as if sizing her up.
"Oh, Count... I apologize."
“He's...”
“He must be the child of Emperor Asherad.”
Olivia bit her lip and nodded. The look on her face would give her away anyway. Better to beg for mercy first. She bowed her head. The Count of Locania looked at Derek sternly.
“Derek, why didn't you tell me?”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“...”
“I already think of him as my son.”
Count Locania glared at him as if he would kill him if he touched him. He was rightly angry. She gave birth to the son of an enemy and raised him. There seemed to be anger in every wrinkle in his hair. The house was quiet as if a storm was about to strike.
"She's innocent..."
“...”
"Please help me."
Olivia said, and the Count looked at her. Olivia and Derek were standing next to her. Someone who saw them laughed.
"Derek, you said you don't want to be like me, but your responsibility doesn't resemble mine."
Derek's expression was filled with anger at the sudden lightning strike. Resemblance? That man? The Count saw the growl and said.
"I don't even have any intention of harming her. I already knew."
“...”
"Did you think that I would never investigate you? I already knew I had a green-eyed child."
“...”
"It's not that I'm not angry about this case, but what can I do? You never asked for it, and he grew up. You had a reason not to tell me. That's responsibility. I don't see that as a bad thing."
He looked at Derek and laughed. Olivia's eyes widened. Are you going over? About Ian? So easy? He looked at Olivia in surprise.
"Why, is it amazing? Then will I catch him and do it?"
“...”
"If he were a child Asherad cherished, he would have thought about that...... Isn't that the case again?"
“...”
"I feel dirty, why do I dare to... kid?"
He had heard somewhere that the soldiers of the Count of Locania were very proud. There was such a side. The Count said on his face in disbelief.
"When I decided to forgive you, I decided to forgive him."
Tears welled up in Olivia's eyes. She bowed down and bowed to him.
"Thank you."
“...”
"Thank you, Count."
“...”
“I won't forget this favor, and I'll do anything for you later.”
She thanked him with tears in her eyes. She could hear Derek calling for Olivia, but she didn't care. She hadn't forgotten the Count's favor. If it weren't for her, Fabian would be dead. For an ungrateful woman who hid the fact that she had borne an enemy's child, the Count readily forgave her.
“Anything?”
“Yeah, anything.”
The Count smirked at that.
"I'll see you later. See what you can do for me."
He shrugged it off.
“What brings you here, anyway? What happened to the war?”
“We've already captured the harbor, so it shouldn't be hard for me to get here. My men will take care of it.”
“But I have a request.”
“...”
"Derek, I need you..."
"I will refuse."
Derek said it bluntly, and he laughed. He continued with an attitude that he was not particularly surprised.
"I need people I can trust. There are too few such people. There's no one as capable as you."
"Then you can entrust it to your dear enemy, Georg."
"Don't make me sad, man."
“...”
"Then shall I take your younger siblings? Those little ones? If I had known this, I would have had more children. As the occupation increases, there are no hands. Everyone will die like this. There are no guys to entrust them with. They're all being robbed by the Peneios bastards."
Derek let out a low sigh. Then Olivia grabbed Derek's arm. She knew why Derek had refused.
"Derek, I'm fine."
“...”
"So let's help him."
Seeing that he had saved her on the Count's orders in the past, she would not have disobeyed his orders at all. Olivia and Ian are stepping on the snow.
"Derek. I'm here to pick you up."
She thought he was chasing Ashered, but it didn't. Fortunately. Fortunately? Olivia's eyes widened.
"I'll put an escort knight on them. Huh?"
“...”
"When this is over, I don't care if you live next to this young lady or not. I will not let them live a hard life. I haven't called you all this time."
Derek frowned. He nodded after the Count and Olivia had been persuading him all night.
***
Ten days after arriving here, Derek left. After Derek left, Olivia felt empty. But Olivia thought this was a better opportunity. In the past, she relied on Derek's hand to arrive and give birth to a child.
This was an opportunity to stand on her own.
Ian was sent to school again, and Olivia found work on her own. This time, it was to clean the mansion of the lord of the city. She was paid more than when she was a school teacher.
She received a letter from Derek almost once a week. As they exchanged letters, Olivia smiled. Derek didn't confuse Olivia. It was completely different from the time when she waited for someone who went to war.
He couldn't come back, but he was always with her, so she wouldn't be lonely. Living alone with Ian, Olivia loved him even more, and Ian became even more righteous after his seventh birthday. Olivia, who had escaped from the past, loved her child to the fullest for the first time.
She didn't have to force herself to do it anymore. As if she had been waiting for that, Olivia fell in love with Ian from the bottom of her heart.
Four seasons passed, and Ian was about to turn eight.
She was living a new life, completely free from Asherad. But occasionally, when it rained, she looked up at the sky and remembered the days when she was Daphne.
Derek wrote to her that hopefully he could "come back" this winter.
One year later, Olivia exchanged letters with him.
She thought and thought about what she would do if she met Derek.
Maybe, yes, maybe she can have a new person in mind. When she saw the letter full of concern, she smiled. In the early morning, when she fell asleep with the letter in her arms, the screams of people began to reverberate. Olivia was also startled and woke up with Ian.
"Miss, avoid!"
The escort shouted.
"What's going on?"
"It's a surprise attack on the kingdom of Pindus!"
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