Sardin left the room through the window, just as he had entered.
Only after being alone did Erich reveal a bitter expression on his handsome face.
“Yes, it was the right thing to do. She must be feeling anxious right now and needs someone to rely on.”
When he led Cornelia to the prison where Sardin was, Erich harbored a small, insignificant, and base desire, while hoping Cornelia wouldn’t be hurt.
“I had hoped he wouldn’t be forgiven, just as I wasn’t.”
Yet she forgave Sardin.
<It’s all written on your face.>
<So, if you feel sorry, live by my side and pay your debt. As my bodyguard.>
At that moment, Erich realized something.
Unlike when she looked at him, she did not avoid Sardin’s gaze.
Moreover, she did not refuse what Sardin offered.
And unlike Sardin, he was not granted permission to be by her side.
That’s why if he gives her a bouquet, he could predict her reaction.
“Rather than liking it, she would be displeased.”
Thus, Erich had no choice but to borrow the hand of her loyal subordinate, thinking of her.
However, on the other hand, he couldn’t help but feel bitter.
“I wanted to see her happy…”
At that moment, a messenger quickly entered the room.
Erich stretched out his arm and settled the bird on his forearm, then unfolded the note.
[The materials you sent have been confirmed by the scholar. However, they are still keeping quiet about whether to reveal it at the state council meeting.]
Erich’s blue eyes gleamed with a fierce light as he read the letter from his subordinate.
‘I must meet that scholar.’
Soon, Erich pulled out a black hood and put it on.
At that moment, he felt a twinge of concern about the prison, but he shook his head.
‘Yes, it doesn’t matter. Didn’t I already decide to do anything for Cornelia?’
Although the Grand Madam was his mother, she had conspired to abandon him and had tried to harm her.
So, he thought that just giving her the antidote was enough to fulfill his duty as a son.
‘After all, it’s not wrong to call myself a bastard who betrayed his mother for a woman.’
After a brief smirk, he completely concealed his face and quickly left the room.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
I looked at the clock.
It was 9 o’clock, a bit too early for me to go to bed, but perfect for a child.
“Demi, isn’t it time for you to go to sleep?”
At that, Demian jumped off my lap and smiled brightly.
“Mom, today I want to sleep alone!”
“Oh? Are you sure you can do that?”
Typically, noble children would start sleeping alone in their own rooms after the age of three to foster independence.
But honestly, it felt a bit early by my standards.
“Landon said so! My friends sleep alone! So they decorated my room nicely! And when I went to see that room, it was really nice!”
“Still…”
Before I could finish my sentence, Demian spoke up.
“And Mom, you have a lot to do today! So I’ll try to sleep alone!”
It seemed that little one was considering my feelings.
“Okay, then I’ll sing you a lullaby.”
“Yes!”
I went to the room Demi had mentioned, and indeed, the room was filled with dolls and toys that a child would love.
“How thoughtful.”
After that brief thought, I sang a lullaby for the child.
The little one blinked and chattered for a while before quickly falling asleep with soft snores.
I kissed that small forehead and whispered, “Sweet dreams, my beautiful baby.”
Returning to the room, I began to think ahead about the questions that would be directed at me during the state council meeting.
However, no matter how much I pondered, I found it hard to come up with a rebuttal for my hair.
“Moreover, I need to think of nobles I can draw to my side.”
But no matter how I thought, I couldn’t think of anyone.
And it made sense, as I had neglected social activities and had no connections with nobles in the political sphere.
“One thing is certain: whether they are pro-noble or pro-emperor, they will certainly not welcome me.”
As I sighed unconsciously, I heard a knock.
Turning my head toward the sound from the window, I saw someone entering through it.
It was Sardin.
“Master, I have returned.”
I was about to greet him with a bright smile, but then Sardin handed me a bouquet.
It wasn’t just any ordinary flowers, but a beautiful bouquet filled with my favorite flowers.
“What’s this? It must have been hard to find camellias in this season… And those silverbell and pink roses must have cost a bit, right?”
Despite my teasing, Sardin stood there with a blank expression, not responding.
Seeing that, I sighed and asked.
“Could it be that you felt sorry for deceiving me all this time? I told you not to worry about it.”
At my question, a fleeting look of bitterness crossed Sardin’s eyes.
He soon smiled and replied to me, “I hadn’t thought of that. I should have at least brought a gift.”
“Oh, so you didn’t prepare this yourself?”
“No, it was sent by His Grace the Duke.”
Upon hearing this, I looked at the flowers again with newfound interest.
‘Erich gave this?’
When Sardin handed it to me, I felt indifferent, but knowing it was from Erich made my heart race with a strange feeling.
‘Could it be a coincidence? They’re all flowers I love…’
“They’re all your favorite flowers, aren’t they?”
It felt as if he could see right through me. Honestly, I flinched, but I forced myself to respond curtly.
“Well, I guess these flowers happened to be available.”
Sardin sighed and then spoke up.
“They all bloom in different seasons. Don’t you think it’s a bit far-fetched to call it a coincidence?”
Then Sardin blurted out, looking at me, “And just a moment ago, your lips slightly curled up.”
I covered my mouth with my hand and replied, “You must be seeing things because you’re tired.”
“There’s no way I could be seeing things. My eyesight is sharp no matter where I go…”
“Stop talking nonsense and go get some sleep!”
Unable to hold back any longer, I issued a dismissal and sent Sardin away.
Left alone in the room, I gazed at the bouquet.
Honestly, it was too beautiful.
Regardless of who sent it, it made my lips twitch upwards.
I sighed and fiddled with the bouquet.
‘I have no idea why he sent this bouquet….’
Honestly, just a moment ago, I felt overwhelmed by the thought that I had no allies.
But looking at these flowers, that feeling of despair seemed to fade a little.
‘Right, if I think about it, I’m not alone. Erich at least said he would help me until I was safe.’
As I gazed at the bouquet, I inhaled its fragrance.
Breathing in the sweet scent of the flowers, I realized my lips had unconsciously curled up.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Tap!
When a drop of water fell on her forehead, the Grand Madam struggled to open her eyes.
She saw the damp and dark surroundings.
‘This is… the prison.’
Just a moment ago, in her hallucination, she had hurled harsh words at her son.
Even though it was a hallucination, it was extremely painful for her to utter words that were against her will.
‘Thank goodness. But how on earth did I wake up?’
Since being imprisoned, she had been periodically administered drugs by Reinhardt’s subordinates, including Xenon.
She had pricked her arm and tried to regain consciousness countless times, but it was useless against the power of the drug.
But now, her normally hazy mind felt clear, which honestly puzzled her.
‘How on earth did I…’
For a moment, she questioned it, but then she writhed in agony.
The physical pain was intense, but the emotional pain was even harder to bear.
Her eldest son was dead, and the reality of her second son hating her felt unbearably heavy.
‘Should I just die?’
Then she spotted someone appearing in the prison, her eyes widening.
“Erich?”
The small child with blonde hair resembled Erich when he was young.
However, upon seeing the child’s eyes, the noblewoman quickly realized that the child was not her son.
‘Purple eyes… could it be…?’
At that moment, the child waved his hand.
“Hello, Grandma.”
The term “Grandma” made her realize the child’s identity and confirmed that she was still under the influence of the drug.
‘I must be hallucinating again. There’s no way that child could be here…’
Then the child approached.
Startled, she said to the child, “Don’t come any closer!”
But the child ignored her and came closer, staring at her with clear eyes that looked just like her detested daughter-in-law.
“I honestly hate you, Grandma. But the reason I came here is that I know if you die, Dad will be in pain.”
“What? What do you mean… cough!”
Seeing her cough up blood, Demian immediately reached out his hand.
Soon, a white light emanated from the child’s tiny hand.
The Grand Madam felt the pain that had been building in her body gradually subside.
“The antidote made by Parakel is only effective for those who have been poisoned for a short time, so while it may awaken your long-dulled mind, it’s impossible to heal your broken body.”
As the white light faded, the Grand Madam realized this was reality.
“You… you really are that child’s…?”
“Yes, that’s right. My name is Demian, the grandson you tried to kill.”
With the child’s matter-of-fact words, the Grand Madam bit her lip and then asked the child, “Yes, you must hate me. But there must be a reason you saved me, so tell me.”
The child, wearing a serious expression that didn’t match his cute face, replied, “Don’t cowardly take your own life; instead, correct your wrongs. And apologize to my mom and dad.”
