“…What did you just say?”
Milena, who had been debating whether to take the child or not, froze completely. Her grip tightened on the child’s small shoulders.
“Mom told me to stay with Aunt. And she said we’d only be apart for a little while. She promised she’d come back.”
“You were only two years old back then.”
“Yeah, but I remember everything. I remember how Mom took another man’s hand and abandoned me.”
“……”
Contrary to her concerns, the child understood everything. He had even witnessed his mother leaving while holding the Tower Master’s hand.
‘Sister, you have no idea how smart your son is. And you probably don’t realize how deep the wound you left is. What were you thinking, committing such a terrible sin?’
“I like Aunt more than Mom and Dad.”
“…Ash.”
“He likes his aunt this much, so just take him with you. If he stays here, he won’t even be treated properly as the heir,” Lexion chimed in from the side.
Ashdel’s eyes sparkled, and he eagerly nodded in agreement.
Milena stroked his black hair and gazed at him with sorrow. How much had he endured on his own?
Since his mother’s funeral, he had clung to her, refusing to be separated. Was this the reason he had always followed her so closely?
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. You always hold me a lot and love me, so I’m fine.”
His expression was that of someone who had already come to terms with everything, as if he had weathered countless storms. Moved, Milena wrapped him in a tight embrace.
Lexion, who had been quietly watching their heartfelt family moment, glanced outside the window.
“It’s time to go.”
He spoke in Hubert’s voice.
“Ash.”
Milena, holding the child, lowered her head. A chilling voice escaped her lips, making even Lexion flinch.
“When your mother comes back, I’ll make sure she pays for this.”
“Uh, okay. Do whatever you want, Aunt. I don’t care.”
She had left a terrible scar on her son and abandoned him. She would face the consequences.
Milena clenched her jaw and stood up. The inner conflict was gone. She extended her hand to the child.
“Let’s go.”
“Really?!”
“Yes. But if you ever want to come back while living with me, you can.”
“Okay! Take care of me until I become an adult, Aunt!”
What? That long?
Milena had only planned to take care of him for a year or two at most. She quickly masked her shock.
Lexion, having caught her momentary panic, chuckled. She truly had no idea how deep the child’s attachment ran.
“Shall we go, then? We need to escape the castle while avoiding the knights.”
Ashdel and Milena nodded with determined expressions, which Lexion found rather endearing.
The escape route had already been secured.
With a snap of his fingers, Lexion completely concealed their presence. Even though they were moving with a child, ordinary people wouldn’t be able to see or sense them, making it easy to move undetected.
The castle was in chaos, knights in full armor patrolling in groups. The three of them moved swiftly under the cover of darkness.
“Lexion, you said you had a carriage ready, right?”
“Yes, but since the Grand Duke has issued a lockdown, we’ll have to take a detour through the back roads. Everything’s prepared.”
“Wait a moment.”
Before stepping out into the open, Milena handed Lexion a note.
“Can you magically place this on the Grand Duke’s desk? If he reads this, he’ll immediately lift the lockdown. Once his attention is diverted elsewhere, he won’t be able to block our path.”
Lexion unfolded the note and, after reading it, blinked blankly before bursting into laughter.
Again?
Milena gave him an exasperated look. Lexion wiped his face, trying to stifle his amusement.
She always made him laugh.
How did she come up with this?
“Milena, you’re incredible.”
The note stated that Larriete was alive and hiding somewhere.
It didn’t specify an exact location—just a vague hint that she was in the west.
But the final line was the most crucial.
[She is with me, safe and sound.]
Written in a scrawled, masculine handwriting, it was enough to spark all kinds of suspicions.
It was obvious that Calion would lose his mind.
Just imagining it sent a thrill through Lexion.
“My wife is truly adorable.”
His voice was laced with affection, as if he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her right then and there. If only his subordinates could learn from her way of thinking.
Forging a note to make it seem like the Grand Duchess had run away with another man?
Milena knew exactly how to press Calion’s buttons for maximum effect.
Was it because she had spent five years by his side?
For some reason…
‘I’m jealous.’
As he instinctively reached out to touch the hood covering her face, an unwanted interruption came between them.
“Aunt’s husband.”
“……”
“Do you have too much time on your hands, Aunt’s husband?”
Ashdel glared up at him, blocking Milena’s path. Lexion sighed.
Ah, so this is why people say you shouldn’t have kids too soon if you want to enjoy married life.
Even before officially starting their relationship, he was already dealing with unexpected struggles.
“Fine, let’s go, dear nephew.”
Hmph.
Ashdel snorted and strode forward.
“Lexion?”
Why wasn’t he sending the note right away?
Lexion simply smiled at her questioning look and took the lead.
The old sewage tunnel they planned to escape through was sealed shut, but he had already scouted ahead and unlocked the passage.
Creak.
The rusty iron door groaned open.
Originally meant for wartime escape, the tunnel was wide enough for people to pass through.
However, as an abandoned sewer, it was filled with filth and overrun with rats.
Squeak—
From the darkness inside, the sound of rats echoed.
A foul stench filled the air, making it the last place anyone wanted to enter.
Ashdel turned pale and clung to Milena’s waist, burying his face in her cloak.
“It’s been sealed off for a long time, but there’s still stagnant water inside, so be careful where you step. Once we pass through, we’ll be right outside the castle walls.”
Ashdel and Milena nodded slightly at Lexion’s explanation.
Their luggage was already stored in his spatial pocket.
Ashdel, glancing between his beloved black rabbit plushie and the pitch-black tunnel, reluctantly handed the plushie to Lexion.
“Keep this safe.”
“Sure.”
Ashdel pouted and glared at him.
“Keep. It. Safe.”
Clearly, he didn’t want his precious toy getting dirty.
But Lexion wasn’t done yet.
“You forgot something. Say ‘Uncle.’”
Tch.
Ashdel trembled in frustration before grumbling:
“Keep this safe, Uncle.”
“Of course. How could I refuse such a request?”
I really hate him.
Ashdel watched as his rabbit disappeared into the spatial pocket, then climbed into Milena’s arms, shooting daggers at Lexion.
Lexion, amused by his antics, smirked and stepped aside at the iron door.
“Ladies first.”
He gestured for Milena to enter first.
As he watched her go, his crimson eyes darkened.
“This is where we part ways.”
“Huh?”
Startled, she turned back to see him waving the note.
“I have to drop this off.”
“Can’t you just use magic?”
She had assumed he could do it with a simple snap of his fingers.
Lexion smiled wryly.
“Magic isn’t all-powerful.”
“Then let’s go together. We can send the note with a carrier pigeon. What if you get caught? The Grand Duke has probably deployed all his forces. If they find you—”
“Milena.”
His teasing tone was gone as he pulled her into his arms.
Ashdel yelped in protest, but Lexion leaned down to whisper in her ear.
“My men are waiting outside the tunnel.”
His low voice made her freeze.
“I’ll catch up soon. Just follow them and leave the duchy immediately. My people will take care of everything at the capital.”
“Lexion!”
As she reached for him, his body began to fade.
The warmth of his embrace disappeared.
“….”
The ever-prepared man had left only a glowing stone in her hand.
