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Silence filled the dining hall.
Dolorosa was frozen stiff, and Cian clenched his lips tightly. Beatrix squeezed her eyes shut and turned away, while Atreille stuttered as he began to speak.
“D-daughter? You mean Dooly is father’s daughter?”
“No, no. I am my dad’s daughter. Right, Dad?”
“Dolly…”
Tears welled up in Dolorosa’s eyes as she looked up at Cian.
He never thought this would happen. He never imagined that Sigar would reveal that Dolorosa was his daughter. He’d always seemed uncomfortable with the existence of his illegitimate child.
Cian couldn’t find the words to respond. He didn’t know what to say.
Watching, Sigar smirked.
“Oh dear. I was wondering, but it seems you didn’t tell my daughter anything. Dolorosa, you are my blood. There is no way that Cian, who isn’t even married, could have a child.”
Atreille, unable to believe what he was hearing, opened and closed his mouth in shock.
“So, Dooly is my younger sister? Really?”
“Yes. She’s your sister, but Cian took her in and raised her because he was so fond of her. How wicked, pretending she was his daughter without telling her the truth.”
“Ugh.”
Atreille, shocked, grabbed his hair with both hands and yanked.
Cian closed his eyes tightly.
It was true that he’d adored Dolorosa when she was just born. But he wouldn’t have taken her in if Sigar hadn’t abandoned her. It wasn’t out of greed but out of pity that he’d taken her in.
It was also true that he hadn’t told Dolorosa the truth. But it wasn’t to pretend she was his daughter; it was to protect her from Sigar’s hatred and from getting hurt.
He thought that someday he might have to tell Dolorosa the truth about her birth.
But not now, and not like this.
Seeing Dolorosa blinking in shock and unable to comprehend what was happening hurt his heart.
Unable to face her, Cian turned his gaze to Sigar.
Catching Cian’s eyes, Sigar smiled.
“Dolorosa. Speaking of which, come back to the imperial palace. Wouldn’t it be much better to live as a princess here? As my daughter, you should have more and enjoy more.”
“What? But Your Majesty. I, I…”
Startled by the sudden proposal, Dolorosa’s shoulders trembled.
Atreille, sitting on the other side, shielded his face with a plate so Sigar couldn’t see and mouthed silently.
‘Hey, say no quickly! A weakling like you would break if you got hit by my dad, right? Keep living with the coolest uncle in the world! That’s paradise!’
Recognizing Atreille’s urgent advice, Beatrix pinched his thigh. Even though Dolorosa’s existence as an illegitimate child was unwelcome, she couldn’t oppose Sigar’s will.
Sigar, uninterested in whatever Atreille was doing, tilted his head leisurely.
“Cian. Now hand Dolorosa over to me. It’s disgusting that my daughter is such a weakling that she’s in tears over something like this. As a princess, I’ll personally provide education…”
Cian was filled with anger.
“Older brother.”
Sigar halted at Cian’s firm voice. The playful look in his eyes faltered for the first time.
“…Cian Aisa Dicarsignac. Are you interrupting me?”
Not only interrupting but barely restraining the urge to shove a sword into his mouth and telling him to shut up.
“Dolorosa is my daughter, recognized by imperial law and the goddess Yenis. You personally changed the law for that.”
“That law can easily be changed again.”
Changing the laws he made again? How could he be so careless?
Cian put down his utensils and quietly rose from his seat.
“I think we’ll be leaving now. We can discuss this another time.”
Atreille, still covering his face with a plate, clenched his fist and mouthed.
‘Well done, Uncle!’
Sigar’s expression hardened.
“How insolent. How dare you stand before I do?”
“If I stay any longer, I fear I might do something I’ll regret. Please think of it as giving me a birthday present and graciously forgive me.”
“Cian!”
“Well then.”
Cian lifted Dolorosa in his arms. He pressed her tear-streaked face against his chest and left the dining hall.
As the door closed with a soft click, the steak, plate, tablecloth, and utensils that had been placed at Cian’s seat split apart. Sigar, grinning, was startled and dropped his fork.
After a brief silence, he ground his teeth.
“Damn it.”
Though he had seen Cian and Dolorosa’s shocked faces, he felt as if he’d lost.
Dolorosa and Cian got into the carriage.
The perceptive coachman, sensing the tense atmosphere, turned the carriage around. Instead of heading straight for Cian’s mansion near the west exit of the imperial palace, it circled around the capital.
Dolorosa asked.
“Dad, is what His Majesty said true?”
Seeing Dolorosa’s face on the verge of tears again, Cian forced himself to swallow the frustration welling up inside. He wanted to hug the child and say she was his daughter.
Knowing it wasn’t something he could change, it hurt to admit he wasn’t her real father.
“…Yes. You are His Majesty’s daughter, not mine.”
“Oh…”
Tears fell from Dolorosa’s eyes as she hung her head.
Dolorosa, silently crying, clenched her dress tightly and spoke. Her voice trembled.
“Why, why did you raise me? You haven’t even married.”
“It was necessary at that time.”
“Tell me. Why did you raise me instead of His Majesty?”
She looked up as she asked. Her golden eyes, identical to Cian’s, shimmered with tears.
Cian bit the inside of his cheek and closed his eyes.
Only seven years old. It seemed too early for her to understand and accept the truth, but he couldn’t tell her any more lies.
“You are not the child of Empress Beatrix, but of a maid named Lily, who was favored by His Majesty. When His Majesty found out you were born, he ordered me to… to kill you.”
“K-kill me? Me?”
“Yes. He said you were being a nuisance because you were crying too loudly.”
“Oh…”
Dolorosa’s face turned pale.
Unable to meet Dolorosa’s eyes, Cian continued speaking.
“But I couldn’t kill a newborn baby. You were so precious, crying as if begging to be saved. I told him I would take you in and raise you as my daughter.”
“T-thank you, Dad. No, not Dad, but, um…”
“Dolly.”
Seeing Dolorosa flustered, unsure what to call him, Cian gently pulled her into his arms.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth. But you are my daughter. I’ve never once thought of you as anything but my daughter. So please, keep calling me Dad.”
“But I’m not your real daughter.”
His heart broke at the sound of her sobbing voice.
“You once said you couldn’t marry. It was because of me, wasn’t it? Because I’m here, noble ladies don’t want to marry you.”
“That’s not true. It wasn’t because of you; it’s because I didn’t want to get married.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re a liar. You said I was your real daughter when I wasn’t. You treated me like your real daughter even though I wasn’t. That must be a lie too.”
“Dolorosa.”
“I hate you, lying Dad…”
For the first time since she’d learned to walk and talk, Dolorosa broke into sobs in Cian’s arms.
Not knowing how to comfort her, Cian could only imagine how hurt she must be.
‘…My precious daughter. I wanted to protect you, but I’m sorry for hurting you. It’s all my fault.’
Cian held Dolorosa tightly in his arms.
* * *
The next day, Rachel’s eyes widened as she saw Cian getting off the carriage alone.
“Your Highness. Didn’t the princess come with you?”
“No. There’s been a bit of a situation.”
A situation.
Rachel wanted to ask what the situation was but refrained as Cian’s voice seemed low and somber.
Next to her, Graham looked at Cian with concern.
“Master, are you okay? You look unwell.”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about it, it’s not a big deal.”
Rachel shook her head.
“You don’t look fine at all. I think it would be a good idea to take a break from sword training today.”
” No, I can’t…”
When Cian tried to reject Rachel’s offer, Graham quickly grabbed his wrist.
“Ouch! Master! Actually, my wrist hurts so much! I think I broke my wrist while eating pudding yesterday! I guess I need to bandage my wrist! Ouch!”
Rachel watched Graham’s retreating figure as he ran into the mansion and smiled wryly.
“Graham seems very worried about Your Highness.”
Cian’s face was stiff, as if he was displeased with Graham’s actions.
“He needs to be reprimanded. No matter what, a lie is a lie. Besides, it’s such an obvious lie.”
“Please forgive him. A white lie can sometimes save a life.”
“Ah.”
Cian fell silent, probably remembering Stefan’s drunken behavior at the party. Normally, he would’ve smiled warmly and thanked her, but he only lowered his head.
Rachel looked at Cian’s face with concern.
“You really don’t look good. Have you caught a cold? Would you like to go back to the mansion? Or would you like me to prepare some warm tea for you?”
Cian stood quietly for a moment before slowly raising his head.
“…I really don’t want to talk about this, but…”
“Yes?”
“You know how much Dolorosa likes and trusts you.”
“…I know the princess likes me.”
Cian’s golden eyes, which sometimes shone kindly and sometimes sharply, became sad.
“Rachel. Please. Help Dolly.”
Rachel’s eyes widened at the plea, but she quickly nodded.
She didn’t know what the problem was, but couldn’t leave Dolorosa, her future daughter-in-law and her son’s friend, alone. Nor could she ignore Cian’s desperate gaze.
