I Ran Away With Obsessive Male Lead's Child

Chapter 55

Arden turned his head and looked at the wide-open window. He clearly felt a gaze looking down at him, but there was no one there.

He tilted his head slightly and focused again on the flowers. The rustling sound and urgent footsteps were coming at a consistent pace, so even without seeing, he could tell who it was.

So, he did not look and continued to gaze at the flowers while adjusting his chin. Eventually, he heard the steady breathing along with the footsteps coming to a halt behind him.

“…Your Highness. What on earth are you doing this morning?”

“I was actually about to look for you.”

Only then did Arden turn his head and look at Raymond. He gave a soft smile toward Raymond, who was a few steps away from him. Seeing that, Raymond took a step back.

“I get scared when you make that expression, Your Highness. Everyone has been asking me to persuade you, so I rushed here this morning, and look at what you’ve done!”

“I’ve only picked a few flowers. What’s the problem?”

“…Is that all? Why not make a flower path or something?”

“A flower path. That’s not a bad idea.”

“Please stop tormenting the poor servants. If you have complaints, just speak them out.”

“I have no complaints. Maybe except about you.”

Arden answered with an indifferent tone.

“The bouquet doesn’t seem to have worked.”

“Exactly. The bouquet became rags, and the queen and I fought again. What, are you going mad just because I brought a bouquet? You haven’t seen the queen’s face.”

He frowned as he remembered Leticia from yesterday. She seemed to dislike even looking at him.

“It’s strange. I heard that the queen loves flowers very much.”

“I don’t know who told you that, but it’s wrong.”

“So, are you planning to pick all the flowers in the garden?”

“……”

Arden dropped the flowers he was holding to the ground and brushed his hands off. Then, with a nonchalant face, he asked,

“While others came to stop me, it seems you have something else to say to me.”

“The queen has called for her physician.”

“She must not be feeling well.”

He recalled Leticia’s pale complexion. Had their argument worsened her already frail condition? How weak could a person be that simply holding their wrist, without even a real struggle, could cause such a problem?

Thinking about yesterday made his chest tighten. He sighed involuntarily, brushed his hair back, and looked up at the blue sky.

“Is that all?”

“There is one more thing you should know, Your Highness.”

“Speak.”

“There are reports that someone saw Verotin in Brivant.”

“Didn’t the queen send him abroad?”

“Yes, that’s why it’s strange, and I’m looking into it.”

Arden turned his head to look at Leticia’s room. Wasn’t she meeting with her physician?

“I’m going to the queen’s room, so show me the way.”

“Oh, and here’s today’s newspaper.”

Arden immediately looked at the front page of the newspaper Raymond handed him. It reported on the previous day’s tea party.

[There was a small commotion at the tea party hosted by Her Majesty the Queen. The scene of those who had been expelled from the banquet hall kneeling and apologizing unfolded. The noble families involved were……]

It was odd that there was an article like this, but there was no need to send a letter immediately.

“I didn’t expect the queen to react this way.”

“I didn’t either.”

“That means you read it several times. Many families are starting to watch the queen’s reactions.”

Raymond said with an excited expression. Arden didn’t respond to that and folded the newspaper, handing it back.

“There’s no need to get excited over something so obvious.”

He then turned his steps towards Leticia’s room, passing Raymond.

“What about all these flowers, Your Highness?”

“Throw them away.”

Having said that, he left the garden without any hesitation.

❖ ❖ ❖

Leticia sipped the tea brought by Ravalans and quickly turned her mind.

‘Arden must already know about this.’

If Hereas knew, it meant others knew as well. And Raymond, who was quick with information, wouldn’t have failed to inform Arden.

“Is there a problem?”

“There shouldn’t be. It’s just that studying is difficult. It’s not easy to go to a foreign country and do something.”

Leticia shook her head at Hereas’s words. Perhaps he was also aware of the maids standing behind him, as he didn’t say much else.

“Well then, I will prescribe some medicine. It should help you feel better.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“May I get up now?”

“Oh, just wait a moment.”

She got up from her seat and went to her private room. She quickly wrote something on a piece of paper, folded it simply, and came back out.

“Could you find this herb as well? I think I saw it in a book. I heard it’s good for people who have trouble sleeping.”

“I understand. I will look for it.”

Hereas took the note and put it in his pocket.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Your Majesty, the prince has arrived.”

The unexpected visitor made both of them exchange awkward glances. Hereas put on his hat and headed towards the door to leave.

As the door opened and Arden entered, Hereas found himself unable to leave and came face-to-face with him.

“Your Highness, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am the new physician, Hereas Velom.”

“So you are the new physician. But why does it look like you are running away?”

“No, I was just about to leave to prepare the medicine after finishing the examination.”

“Well, there’s no reason to run away.”

Leticia sighed briefly at Arden’s sudden entry.

“Your Highness, I didn’t say you could come in.”

“You’re not someone I need permission from to enter. Or is there some reason I shouldn’t be here?”

“……As you can see, I’m only receiving a check-up because I’m not feeling well. There’s nothing else.”

Arden’s cold gaze quickly scanned Hereas before he strode in and plopped down into a chair. He crossed his legs and stared at her intently.

“Leticia Boarte. No, Leticia Levtir.”

“……Speak.”

“You are my wife. You bear my name and are the queen of Brivant.”

“I understand. If you have something to say, it wouldn’t be too late to discuss it after dismissing others.”

“Are they still not gone? The lack of awareness is astounding.”

At his words, everyone hurriedly left the room. Before the door closed, Leticia nodded reassuringly at the anxious maids.

Once the door closed, the air in the room felt a bit heavy.

“Do you have anything to say to me?”

“What kind of words are you hoping to hear?”

“Words I want to hear…… For now, just your current condition.”

She had expected him to ask about Verotin, so the question was surprising. Leticia felt a sense of relief and spoke as if it was nothing serious.

“Recently, perhaps due to overexertion, I’ve had some digestive issues, but otherwise, there’s nothing unusual.”

“So you sent me away without having much breakfast?”

How much is he aware of? He probably didn’t hear about her feeling nauseous, did he?

It seemed that Arden had no intention of being perceptive, unlike Ruena. Perhaps she had recently become more relaxed in dealing with them.

“……It seems you’re informed about everything. Are my maids really reporting everything to you?”

Arden tilted his head with a look of confusion at her words. Resting his chin on his hand, he asked in a tone as if questioning why she would even mention something so obvious.

“Everything about those in the palace comes to my ears. Isn’t that natural?”

“I don’t hear much about you, though.”

“If you have any questions, ask. I’ll answer them, if there are any.”

“Why did you barge into my room?”

“Is there a reason I need to have to enter my wife’s room?”

Her speechlessness was a result of his presumptuous attitude. Although he wasn’t wrong, their relationship wasn’t like that of other couples. They weren’t at a level where he could come and go so casually.

Moreover, they had exchanged hurtful words yesterday, which had caused emotional wounds. It was remarkable how he acted so nonchalantly.

“While you might not mind, I find it uncomfortable to face you right now.”

“It can’t be helped if it’s uncomfortable. Since you don’t want to share a room with me, I have no choice but to come here every day.”

“Why are you suddenly behaving like this?”

“Just as there is no reason for you to have changed, I have none either.”

“……”

Leticia began to speak but then clamped her mouth shut. Continuing to argue would only lead to more frustration on her part. Looking at his indifferent face, it was clear that she alone would be considered strange if she got angry.

“I’ll have a teacup brought in. Since you’re here, please have some tea.”

“I was excessive yesterday.”

Leticia’s eyes widened at Arden’s words. She nearly dropped the teacup.

As he stood up and leaned forward, the distance between them closed. He took her hand holding the teacup and placed it on the table. Then, with his other hand, he lifted her sleeve and looked at her wrist.

“It’s red.”

As he touched the mark with his fingers, she was startled and tried to pull her hand away.

“If you pull it away so suddenly, it might get worse. I’m just checking if it’s badly injured.”

“It’s, it’s fine. It’s not serious enough to need medicine……”

Arden pulled on the drawstring. Then he ordered a maid to bring medicine for bruises.

“I’m fine.”

She refused, but Arden didn’t listen. The gloomy demeanor from earlier had vanished, replaced by his obstinate behavior.