Chapter 64

Sunlight streamed in through the window.

As I sat on the sofa reading a book, a sudden sound made me lower my gaze.

My heart, the sole reason for my existence.

Marcella was lying with her head on my thigh, rubbing her belly. She had a rather surprised look on her face.

“Marcella, what is it? Does your stomach hurt?”

“No, that’s not it… The baby just moved.”

“What? Should I call for Brown right away?”

As I jumped in surprise and mentioned our personal physician, Marcella smiled as beautifully as a flower. The way her eyes curved into crescents was enchanting.

“Oh, you. Who calls for a physician over the baby’s first movements?”

“Ah, the first movements… So, you’re all right, then?”

“I was just a little startled. Don’t you worry about a thing. Just give me your hand.”

“Why my hand?”

“Come on, feel. You’ll be able to feel the baby moving.”

“…Do I have to?”

“Ah-ah!”

Marcella put on a stern expression and held out her hand.

“Your hand, please. Quickly.”

What if I touched her and something went wrong with the baby?

I was scared, but I couldn’t refuse.

Whenever Marcella made that disapproving sound, I had to do as she said.

I relaxed my hand as much as possible and let Marcella guide it.

“Oh, honestly, put some strength into it! How are you supposed to feel anything like this?”

“…I’m afraid I’ll hurt the baby.”

“Hurt the baby? It’s inside my belly. It’s fine even if you press harder.”

I applied a little more pressure and stroked Marcella’s round belly.

*Thump, thump.* The baby was moving inside her.

“Can you feel it?”

“Yes…”

“How does it make you feel?”

I couldn’t explain it. It was a feeling I had never experienced before in my life.

But I answered Marcella’s question sincerely.

This was all a cold, emotionally stunted man like me could do for her.

“Well, it’s a little hard to breathe.”

My clumsy explanation made Marcella beam with joy.

“That’s because you’re happy. When you’re truly happy, your heart feels full. Like this.”

She took my other hand and placed it over her heart.

*Thump-thump.*

*Thump-thump.*

The sound of her heartbeat and the baby’s echoed together.

“Do you know you’re smiling right now?”

“Sorry… is it strange?”

“What are you talking about? It’s so beautiful. That’s the smile I fell in love with and married you for.”

She said, laughing.

It was a smile more dazzling than the sunlight pouring through the window.

* * *

Duke Ruthius slowly opened his eyes.

His body and mind felt at ease, as if he had just woken from a deep sleep.

When was the last time he’d felt this comfortable?

For twenty-one years, all he had felt was pain…

Duke Ruthius blinked his heavy eyes and turned his head.

Astell and Alex were sitting by his bed, watching over him.

“What are you doing in my bedroom?”

Even to his own ears, his tone was incredibly cold.

He just needed to speak to them as he did with Marcella, so why was it so difficult?

Alex’s eyes turned red, looking as if he might burst into tears at any moment.

Seeing his father, whom he had always considered the strongest person alive, in such a state was a great shock to him.

“F-Father, are you all right?”

“Did you think I would fall from a mere attack like that? I’m perfectly fine.”

Astell’s lips twisted at his stiff reply.

“Don’t you remember? You collapsed right in front of me. And for your information, it’s been four days since then.”

Duke Ruthius averted his gaze from Astell’s, looking away slightly.

“…I was merely tired and resting for a moment.”

“Ah, so you were so tired you slept for four days. Then why did you wake up? You should have just kept sleeping soundly.”

“…”

Who on earth did she take after to speak so harshly?

It was his own fault for trusting Mrs. Herot and leaving his child in her care.

To think the daughter of the nanny who had raised Marcella was such a person.

‘I should have checked myself.’

No amount of self-reproach could change the past.

Swallowing his regret, Duke Ruthius quickly looked Astell up and down.

“Your body… Are you all right?”

“Thanks to someone taking a blade for me, I’m perfectly fine.”

“That’s a relief.”

“A relief? You call that a relief?”

Astell shot to her feet, her face filled with anger.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done, Duke? You almost made your child clean up their father’s corpse! Do you know what that means?”

Duke Ruthius let out a faint smile. He never thought the word ‘father’ would sound so welcome.

Suddenly, the dream he had last night came to mind, and his breath hitched slightly.

Yes, this was the feeling of being overwhelmed.

One of the many emotions Marcella had taught him.

Why had he forgotten it for so long?

“So you finally see me as your father.”

“Is that really what you have to say right now? If we had been a moment later, I would have had to live with an unbearable pain for the rest of my life! That’s what you did to me!”

“I was afraid you would get hurt…”

“Do you think I’d be taken down so easily? I won’t get hurt! So don’t you ever, ever do something like that again. Never again!”

Duke Ruthius closed his eyes. A long sigh escaped his lips.

“Was I wrong again…”

“…”

“But if a similar situation were to arise, I believe I would do the exact same thing. I’m sorry.”

Astell’s pupils trembled minutely. Duke Ruthius wanted to smile at his daughter’s flustered expression, but he held it back.

After Marcella died, he had forgotten how to smile beautifully.

“W-What’s gotten into you all of a sudden? Did you have a change of heart after a near-death experience?”

“I had a dream… and I remembered something I’ve wanted to say for a very long time.”

“What is it?”

“I’m sorry for being an unworthy father.”

Sorry for being a cold-blooded man devoid of emotion, and sorry for loving Marcella more than either of you.

Duke Ruthius silently gazed at Astell and Alex.

Astell blinked hard and muttered.

“…I didn’t mean you were *that* bad. I just wanted you to be more careful.”

“Is that so? I understand. I will be careful.”

Astell, who had been silent as if in shock, cleared her throat.

“Uh, ahem… I’m sorry too. For raising my voice.”

“I understand. I would have done the same.”

Suddenly, Astell began fanning herself with her hand. Duke Ruthius tilted his head.

“Are you hot?”

“…N-No.”

Just then, Alex, who had been quietly observing their conversation, threw his arms around both Duke Ruthius and Astell in a crushing hug, his eyes moist with tears.

“We really are a family! Father, I’ll protect you from now on. Astell! You can count on your big brother!”

“…”

“…”

Duke Ruthius and Astell simultaneously stared at Alex.

“Alex, what is the meaning of this?”

“Move your arm while I’m asking nicely.”

“…My apologies.”

As Alex awkwardly pulled away, Duke Ruthius sat up.

“I don’t need to tell you who the culprit is. The question is why he tried to abduct and imprison Astell and me.”

The expressions on Alex and Astell’s faces grew serious.

“Father, could it have been an attempt to interfere with the guild’s establishment?”

“Does the reason matter? We just need to pay him back.”

“That’s what I’m getting at. He has no lines he won’t cross. Behind that mask of righteousness is a greedy monster. A monster that will use any means necessary to get what it wants.”

“…”

“This incident was just a warning. Things could get more dangerous from here on out.”

Astell smiled, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.

“I’m sure they will. He was planning to use and discard his own child, so what wouldn’t he do?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Astell began to explain.

Half of the story was something Duke Ruthius already knew. It was within the scope of what he could have predicted from the information gathered through Burman.

‘But… she’s doing what with whom?’

While Duke Ruthius was left speechless, Alex burst out in anger.

“So you’re going to pretend to be the Second Prince’s lover? Are you out of your mind?”

“I told you I’m not in my right mind. How many times do I have to say I’m mad?”

“Both of you, stop it! Have you no shame, speaking like that in front of your father!”

At the Duke’s raised voice, Astell and Alex fell silent.

“Astell, continue.”

“The plan is to pull down the Emperor and place the Second Prince on the throne. It’s the only way we can survive.”

“…Is that all?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, is it really just for revenge that you’re pretending to be the Second Prince’s lover?”

“Of course it is.”

Duke Ruthius sighed, watching Astell tilt her head with an air of perfect innocence.

There was no need to go that far. The problem could be solved by making Astell’s guild a transnational organization, like the Magic Tower or the Temple.

Then, no matter who became the next emperor, it would be difficult to hold the Ruthius family accountable.

After all, it would be disastrous if Astell’s guild turned against them.

‘And yet, she’s determined to back the Second Prince for the throne…’

Duke Ruthius recalled the conversation he’d had with Astell in the alley behind Louis Boutique.

“Must you do this?”

“Yes.”

“Even though there’s an alternative?”

“I don’t want anyone else.”

“…Do you like him that much?”

“Of course. He’s the best, isn’t he?”

“He has nothing to offer but his beauty.”

“You must not know because you’re from an older generation. These days, being pretty is everything.”

‘Does she really like the Second Prince that much?’

He had no idea who she took after to be so obsessed with looks.

‘Marcella wasn’t like that…’

It couldn’t be helped.

He didn’t like a single thing about the Second Prince, but only someone of the Emperor’s station would be a fitting match for Astell.

Duke Ruthius quickly formulated a plan.

“Duke, do not involve yourself in the affairs of the imperial family any longer.”

The Emperor had ordered him not to interfere in the matter of the crown prince.

That was why he had been forced to remain silent, supporting neither prince.

‘But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way.’

Duke Ruthius smiled meaningfully.

That evening, a major announcement was made from the imperial palace.

The hunter guild founded by the Emperor, ‘Bluebird,’ had begun recruiting members.