IBMMLLWAM Chapter 051

Katie’s eyes sparkled behind her glasses.

“You mean the mansion and lands originally managed by the Fram family.”

“That’s right. The reason I saved up all this money was because I wanted to spend it on this.”

In fact, for Rachel, who’d possessed this body, the estate of Count Fram’s family held no memories or meaning.

But she wanted it back. She wanted to give this as a gift to the pitiful Rachel, who was now herself.

She wanted to compensate her mother for the things she had to lose because of her real-life father, whose face she couldn’t even remember.

‘I don’t know if it’ll be possible, but now I can at least try. I have money and people who are willing to help me.’

Katie nodded.

“Please leave it to me. I’ll prepare right away.”

“Thank you, Katie.”

Rachel’s heart raced with excitement at the thought of carrying out something she’d been planning for so long.

 

* * *

 

A few days before his birthday, Cian stopped by the Empress Dowager’s palace. It was located in the innermost part of the imperial palace, so she didn’t receive visitors often.

Dowager Empress Belwinder was sitting in a bedroom with large windows covered by curtains, letting in ample sunlight. She looked at Cian as he entered and sat down.

“You’re here. It seems the day of your birth has come around again.”

Her voice was soft.

Cian moved to a close chair and spoke calmly.

“It’s been a while. How are you feeling?”

“The same. It feels as if time has stopped since that day.”

That day was the day the former Emperor Zeus Aisa, Belwinder’s husband and Cian’s father, died. It’d already been 10 years and she still hadn’t recovered from the shock.

“If you continue like this, mother, father won’t be at peace either.”

“You still call me mother.”

“What are you saying? It’s only natural to call the one who gave birth to me mother.”

“I’m sorry. Even though it was to protect you, I ended up driving you out of the palace.”

“It was my choice. I don’t regret it. So please, don’t feel sorry.”

As soon as Zeus died, Belwinder grabbed Cian and begged him.

 

‘Do not question the death of Zeus. You must never do anything that will catch Sigar’s attention. Please, please survive. Even the dead Zeus would wish for that.’

 

It was clear that Sigar had poisoned Zeus, but Cian couldn’t question it. Initially, it was because he couldn’t ignore his mother’s plea, and later, to protect Dolorosa.

Belwinder slowly blinked and raised her hand. Hesitantly hovering in the air, her hand moved toward Cian.

Cian leaned toward her, and Belwinder placed her hand on her grown son’s cheek.

“My son. You were beautiful when you were young, but you become even more beautiful as you get older.”

“People say that’s called seeing things through ‘rose colored glasses’.”

(T/N: The phrase ‘rose colored glasses’ [or lenses] is an idiom that basically means to either see things better than they really are or seeing the good without the bad.)

Belwinder laughed at the light joke.

“Though I’ve been confined in the palace for ten years, I know how beautiful you are. You resemble your father when he was young. The entire empire praised his beauty back then.”

“Is that so.”

“You’ve always been beautiful, but today you seem to shine even brighter. It seems my son has fallen in love.”

Cian fell silent at the sudden remark.

Was it the insight of a former empress or a mother’s deep love for her son?

Belwinder smiled gently, looking at the speechless Cian.

“To open my son’s heart, which wasn’t open to anyone but Dolly, so wide. I feel grateful and want to give thanks. What kind of person are they?”

“She’s a beautiful person. Intelligent, strong, but with invisible wounds.”

“I’m even more curious now after hearing that. Will you introduce her to me?”

“I must decline. It’s popular in society these days to introduce each other’s family only after making a promise to marry.”

“To only see her after a marriage promise, that’ll take too long. Are you sure you can’t introduce us before then?”

“You’re asking for too much. Doing that these days would make one hated by their child.”

“Hmm. I don’t want to be hated by you anymore, so I’ll say no more.”

Cian laughed lightly.

He didn’t hate Belwinder. Even though she’d urged him to give up the throne, he didn’t hate his birth mother.

He rather felt sorry for Belwinder, who would live with guilt for the rest of her life. He was grateful that she’d stopped him and saved his life when he was young and reckless.

If it weren’t for Belwinder, Cian wouldn’t have been able to save Dolorosa or adopted the child as his daughter.

 

After greeting Belwinder, a dinner to celebrate Cian’s birthday was held. It was a small gathering attended only by the immediate royal family.

Cian, already seated with Dolorosa, made eye contact with Atreille, who entered the dining hall with Beatrix. The child playfully winked at him.

Just before entering the dining hall, he’d secretly handed a diamond necklace to Atreille. It was the item he’d asked Cian to get for Rachel.

Atreille had enjoyed the secret operation, finding it fun.

After everyone was seated, Sigar entered the dining hall. He looked at Cian and Dolorosa, seated side by side, and twisted his lips into a smile.

“We see each other often these days, brother.”

Beatrix trembled at the cold tone.

Despite attending a party at Cian’s mansion of his own accord a few days ago, he seemed displeased about meeting frequently.

Cian recalled the letter sent by Lylus a few days ago and tensed up.

He didn’t want to bring Dolorosa because he thought it might be dangerous. However, Sigar sent word several times, demanding that Dolorosa be present.

‘Why?’

Anger surged. He regretted not being able to carry a sword into the palace. Cian gripped the dining knife tightly on the table.

Amid the tense silence, the meal began. Only Sigar’s questions and Cian’s answers broke the quiet.

“My little brother is already celebrating his twenty-sixth birthday. Time flies. It seems like just yesterday you were a fifteen-year-old kid staring at me all wide eyed.”

“Yes. Time indeed flies.”

“How is your work as a guild informant? Enjoyable?”

“Not bad.”

“That sounds about right. The guild chores of cleaning up after other people suit you very well.”

Sigar usually didn’t like Cian, but he was especially aggressive today.

Not only Beatrix and Atreille but even Dolorosa, who didn’t know the details, stiffened nervously. The child was anxious, not understanding why Sigar was so sharp.

As the meal ended and Cian thought of comforting the uneasy Dolorosa, Sigar, as if the previous conversation was just the beginning, spoke again.

“Speaking of which, I asked you to take care of Countess Rachel, didn’t I?”

At the sudden mention of Rachel’s name, Atreille and Dolorosa froze in surprise.

Only Cian, knowing Sigar’s disdain for Rachel, remained calm.

“Yes.”

“No need for that anymore. I can’t leave a stupid and filthy woman in your care.”

He was angry at the demeaning way Sigar spoke about Rachel. Even though he knew he should remain silent at times like this, Cian spoke.

“She’s not just a woman, but a Countess. A noble granted a title directly by Your Majesty and a subject of Your Majesty.”

“Something like that. I plan to revoke it soon, so it’s as good as nothing.”

To so easily revoke a title he’d granted himself, Cian couldn’t believe it. It was truly a Sigar-like thought to take lightly one’s own power and command.

Atreille tried to say something, but Beatrix stopped him by pulling his hand.

Cian sighed in relief inwardly. If Atreille had said something, Sigar might have struck him again.

The problem lay elsewhere. Instead of Atreille, Dolorosa, trembling, spoke up.

“Oh, no, Your Majesty. If you take away Countess Rachel’s title…”

“Hmm?”

Cian’s heart sank.

‘No, Dolly. If you say that to Sigar…’

However, Cian’s earnest plea did not reach the startled Dolorosa.

“Countess Rachel didn’t do anything wrong. Your Majesty shouldn’t take away a title from such a person.”

“You’re quite arrogant to talk back to me.”

Sigar, who had been sarcastic since entering the dining hall, twisted his lips further. He seemed more amused than annoyed or angry.

Cian reached out and grabbed Dolorosa’s hand.

“Dolly, stop.”

“But Dad. If they take Countess Rachel’s title…”

Perhaps thinking Rachel might lose her title and be driven from her mansion, the child looked tearful.

Cian shook his head.

It was easy enough to prevent that from happening. Just as Sigar couldn’t freely kill Cian, Rachel only needed to avoid giving Sigar a reason.

Rachel was smart, and Cian was there to help her, so there was no need to worry.

As long as they didn’t provoke Sigar here, in his presence.

However, Sigar had less patience than Cian expected. He burst out laughing as he looked at Dolorosa.

“This is so sad. I care about you, but you side with Count Rachel instead of me.”

“Side with her? How could I dare to…”

“The old saying that blood is thicker than water is definitely a lie.”

Blood?

Sigar had never said something like that before. He got goosebumps.

Cian, with a hardened expression, stared directly at Sigar.

“Your Majesty.”

“Despite growing up under Cian, how could you show such an attitude?”

No. No way.

Cian instinctively realized this was the moment Lylus had warned him about.

Before Cian could intervene, Sigar grinned maliciously.

“Dolorosa, you are my daughter.”