Chapter 68
Baby Daddy Theriosa
“It’s nice to have someone on my side, but what do I do about this? Isn’t it basically a done deal now that I’m the ‘baby mom’?”
Daphne’s voice cracked slightly—specifically on the words “baby mom.”
“Just think of it as mentally preparing for something that’s bound to happen anyway.”
Kisha touched Daphne’s forehead as she spoke.
“What are you even talking about now?”
“I saw this coming.”
“What do you mean, you saw this coming? I’m hungry!”
“No, I mean, you still have a fever.”
Results require a process, but for Daphne and Celestian, there had been none of that whatsoever.
“And personally, I think the two of you will get married within a few years. If you have a child, could I name them? I already have about five names in mind.”
His face was full of confidence.
“What on earth are you talking about? Seriously!”
Daphne’s face flushed bright red again, and she flapped her lips like a startled goldfish. Then, she smacked Kisha hard on the arm with her fist.
“If you two have a child, they’ll definitely be gorgeous. Hopefully, their personality will take after me.”
Kisha kept nodding with an expression of firm determination, not blinking even once.
“Did you get your fortune told or something? Should I lay out a mat in front of Fladial for you?”
Daphne’s voice came out hoarse and pitifully raspy.
“Miss, you don’t know this, but…”
“But what? If you say anything about how Celestian looks at me, I swear I’ll kill you.”
Kisha bit his lip to keep from laughing. Daphne glared at him, then pressed her hand to her forehead and groaned.
“Ugh, Loren Delphinium. My heart’s already gone cold for that man. What am I supposed to do now?”
“That’s a lie. You’re so coldhearted! The Duke of Terriosa is probably lying awake at night because he misses you so much.”
And then, like a ventriloquist, he added sarcastic commentary to every single thing Daphne said.
“Misha, get me a mop so I can shut this guy up.”
Taking her hand off her forehead, Daphne turned to glare at him and enlisted Misha, who looked even angrier than she did. Kisha took off running at full speed.
****
At the same time
Romeo and Psyche were also poring over the gossip magazine.
The maids tried their best to keep it out of sight, but Psyche was faster.
Alongside the joyful news of the Buchanan family’s celebrations, the magazine was filled with harsh criticism of the crown princess.
Stories like how a pregnant woman who needed rest had been dragged to an exhausting royal social event and stressed out flooded the pages.
“I don’t mind stories like this. But… really?”
With her face pale and trembling, Psyche was wrapped in Romeo’s arms as he comforted her.
“To think we’re getting a nephew. Shouldn’t the name Page go to them instead?”
“I… I never agreed to this. With Daphne…”
“Whether you allow it or not, it’s not something you can stop—just like us.”
Romeo added with a teasing tone.
“Daphne, really? Really? That can’t be. She didn’t say anything about it yesterday…”
Holding Psyche in his arms, Romeo glanced at the gold clock on the wall.
Even though Romeo often found himself acting as a mediator between the two, there was no reason he’d be informed of such personal matters.
“Clinging to another man now? That’s troublesome.”
Psyche immediately looked up, her expression showing a mix of shock and protest, as if to say, “That’s not true!”
“Or is it clinginess to a woman instead?”
“Dear.”
“I’m joking. But now it’s time to let go of your brother. Ahem, he needs some time to prepare to be a father, doesn’t he?”
Romeo’s voice was filled with laughter.
Psyche stared at the floor, grinding her teeth in frustration.
*****
At the Crown Princess’s Palace
A tall man wearing black sunglasses stepped out of a luxurious blue carriage and surveyed the grand Rose Palace. When his cane tapped the ground, the grass beneath seemed to wither.
His expression was deeply conflicted.
After what felt like an eternity, the prince, tightly bound in ropes, finally appeared at the front gate. The man’s face froze in shock as he took in Celestian’s haggard appearance, thin and worn down.
“Has Fladial turned into some kind of new prison? No one informed me of this!”
Celestian frowned as if to ask what nonsense he was spouting.
“I mean, your appearance is appalling,” the man said, opening the carriage door himself.
“Get in. We’ll talk as we go.”
“Shouldn’t you introduce yourself first?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know who I am?”
The man removed his sunglasses, revealing dark blue eyes filled with disbelief.
Celestian squinted, clearly seeing the stranger for the first time.
Having been confined for days with little to eat and only a bit of water, Celestian felt as if his brain might dry out completely in the scorching heat of Secradion’s summer.
“Should I?”
When Celestian grumbled in irritation, the man put his sunglasses back on.
“It’s too bright. But don’t worry, I’m no villain. In fact, I’m quite honest.”
“…”
“No point in resisting. Just trust me and get in. This is a brand-new carriage with excellent suspension.”
Celestian leaned against the gate, staring at the man. He was a complete stranger, with sleek black hair neatly combed back and dressed in a formal, black semi-casual suit.
“Do you need me to use force to get through to you?”
“What nonsense—”
The man gestured lazily with his hand, and two burly guards promptly hoisted Celestian up. Before he could resist, they practically shoved him into the carriage.
“Ha.”
Celestian rolled his eyes briefly before settling into his seat. At this point, it didn’t matter what happened—whether he was stabbed or anything else, he wasn’t going to die here.
As long as he got outside, nothing else mattered.
“You’re sitting in my seat.”
The man climbed into the carriage and sat across from him, grumbling about the inconvenience. Someone like this wouldn’t take more than a few seconds to subdue or minutes to eliminate.
“If sitting across from me disgusts you so much, then be quiet.”
“Oh, as expected, you’ve got a terrible attitude.”
Celestian frowned. He’d heard something similar before.
Wasn’t that something Daphne said?
The man, oblivious, continued chatting away like a sparrow.
“Listen, I never liked that engagement to begin with.”
“…..”
“At least it’s a relief the engagement was broken off. When I heard someone had requested an audience with Fladial after so long, I wondered what was going on.”
The man clicked his tongue four times.
“I already heard from others that you were dragged there and insulted. And apparently, the new crown princess caused such a scene that you came home looking half-dead. Naturally, I was worried.”
“My head hurts. Just get to the point.”
“Tsk. So rude…”
The man cleared his throat and brought a hand to his mouth, whispering dramatically, “I bribed the king.”
Then he removed his sunglasses and winked with his left eye, grinning like a mischievous youth pulling his first prank.
Celestian furrowed his brow. The man had an oddly familiar vibe, faintly reminiscent of Daphne.
“I’ve lived honestly until now, but I finally caught King Lefonso off guard. It feels great to finally give Daphne something she truly wanted.”
Our Daphne?
Celestian stared at the man, who kept rambling without being asked. Though the man looked youthful, he seemed to be of a mature age upon closer inspection.
But to Celestian, this was definitely a stranger.
The man smirked slightly with his left lip curled up—a grin oddly similar to how Daphne smiled when she was irritated.
The man scanned Celestian from head to toe. Celestian narrowed his eyes, trying to read him. Yet, he couldn’t recall meeting anyone like this in any part of his life.
“First Prince? Or should I say, Duke?”
The man tilted his head as if unsure how to address him. Celestian wanted to tell him not to bother but missed the chance to speak.
“So, where did you meet our Daphne for the first time? Judging by your blonde hair, you seem to fit her taste. But I doubt you met formally. Our Daphne…”
“Enough with the ‘our Daphne.’”
Celestian scowled.
“I call her that because she’s ours. Got a problem with that?”
The man grinned cheekily. Celestian shook his head slightly, propping his long legs onto the seat next to the man.
The man raised an eyebrow.
“Haha. You’re just as rude as I’ve heard. I heard you were a beggar who became a prince later in life. If your hands weren’t tied, you’d probably have punched me already.”
The man seemed to have overlooked the fact that Celestian’s legs were free.
“I’m much older than you, yet you speak so disrespectfully. It’s unsettling, though oddly familiar. How old are you, anyway?”
Celestian turned his head to look out the window, ignoring him.
“So sensitive about your age, despite not being a lady. But I’ll admit, you don’t look bad.”
The carriage passed through the castle gates without a single checkpoint, the guards bowing deeply as it rolled by. Celestian raised an eyebrow at the sight.
He glanced at the carriage door, contemplating whether kicking it open would work.
“And a duke, no less. I have to say, Daphne picked quite a fine man.”
“You talk too much.”
Celestian frowned openly at the mention of Daphne. Adjusting his uncomfortable posture, he sat up straighter, which caused their eyes to meet.
“But when I looked into it, your title’s just for show, and your wealth is nonexistent. Why not use my bank? Or did you lose everything as a traitor? Or were you broke to begin with?”
“Why are you so interested in me?”
Celestian wondered what he’d done in this life to keep encountering such absurd people.
“I have to know who you are, naturally.”
The man’s face grew serious, his dark blue eyes piercing as if to see through Celestian.
“Because Daphne is the woman I love most in this world.”
The man leaned his elbows on his cane, now propped between his knees. The carriage moved smoothly, with none of the usual jolts.
