Side Story Chapter 4

As I stretched, Deon took the teacup from my hands.

I rubbed my eyes and stretched my legs.

“And what does a medical check-up have to do with going to war?”

“To check the concentration of my blood.”

As expected, with the birth of the next blood bag, my blood was gradually losing its value.

Most of the power in my blood had transferred to the child.

Using Lady Elisabeth’s health check-up as an excuse, they had drawn blood from the child as well, and I knew.

Milana was a healthy child.

Even at her young age, it seemed she would quickly surpass me as she grew older.

However, for now, my adult blood was still stronger.

Despite being only three years old, Milana showed the qualities of a knight. She was very sturdy and physically bigger than other children her age.

One could believe she was ready to enter the academy now. Moreover, the count’s household seemed eager to push for early admission.

The count’s family was delighted to have such a healthy child in a family of scholars… But if they knew the true reason behind her robust health, they wouldn’t be so pleased.

Milana was a child born entirely for Deon.

Not to carry on the bloodline of the count’s family, but to be offered to him.

Before any romance began, her body was made to endure the harsh northern winters even as a child.

There was no need to shatter the joy of the count and his wife who had just become true partners, so I kept my mouth shut, but now things were different.

Should I finally tell the truth to the count and his wife?

The thought of revealing all the hidden secrets gave me a headache.

At least Lady Elisabeth might no longer misunderstand. She would understand why I had to stay close to Deon and realize his intentions to protect me in the north.

The desire to reveal the tightly held secrets clashed with the thought that it might be best to end this burden with me.

It was a dilemma, a complicated issue.

“I already heard about the meeting,” I said.

He set the teapot down.

“Are you going to take me with you?”

“Do you really want to be by my side? Even on the battlefield?”

He avoided giving a direct answer, though we both knew that wasn’t what I meant.

He laughed, making a lighthearted joke.

“If you were in the same tent as me, I might not want to draw my sword.”

My gaze naturally went to his waist.

A sword was strapped to his side. Not a training sword, but a combat one.

And attached to his sword was the bracelet I had given him.

The cheap gemstone was tarnished and rusted, blackened with grime.

Seeing it made my heart feel just as dark and scorched.

“Don’t joke. You said you met with the delegation today.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll never use you as a tool again. And… one sacrifice is enough.”

Even without saying names, we both knew who he was referring to.

The only man who followed us to the battlefield and lost his life in a bombing, Ray Houston.

Ray had died caught in a bombing while Deon was away fighting.

The enemy had intended to target a food storage and remaining truce soldiers, unaware of the source of power within the tent. The outcome was devastating.

The enemy dealt a more significant blow to him than they had intended.

Though he didn’t show it, we both knew. If I went to the battlefield, I could end up dead.

“You’re not planning to hire a new blood bag, are you? You know how old that child is, right? She’s only three.”

“Has she grown so much already? Last time I saw her, she was lying in a cradle. So, she should be able to walk around in the tent by now.”

He chuckled.

“Just as you said, I could take her. She’s an exceptional talent born with rich blood. In the empire, children at three go to the temple for baptism and recite oaths of allegiance.”

“What oath? She can’t even speak properly yet.”

“She probably babbled it. If she’s destined to be a legendary loyalist, she would have done so.”

His nonchalant response made me frown.

After observing him for years, I understood now.

He was adept at cloaking himself in cruelty.

He used harsh words as his weapon, wearing them like armor. His expressionless face made it impossible to tell if he was joking or serious.

From his reply, I knew he had no intention of taking Milana to the battlefield.

“So, what are you planning to do?”

The meaningless argument dragged on.

I rested my arms on the armrest and leaned back in the chair.

For someone on the brink of war, Deon seemed too relaxed.

He responded to me as if nothing was unusual. As if war was no big deal.

I disliked that smile.

His expression, accustomed to things that should not be familiar, revealed the kind of life he had lived before meeting me.

Even though I hadn’t experienced war firsthand, I knew he had been through many battles before we met.

And now, it was wartime again. Just looking at the sword at his waist was enough.

The thought that his relaxed smile might disappear scared me.

“If you plan to take Milana to the battlefield, you’ll first have to fight Count Arin and Marquess Vietan.”

Milana was a hard-won child of the count’s family.

And Lady Elisabeth was still in a wheelchair. They wouldn’t easily give up what might be their last heir.

According to the doctors, it would be difficult for her to have more children.

The count’s family accepted this fact more peacefully than expected.

The count loved his wife more than anticipated and had no intention of fathering illegitimate children for the sake of an heir.

Count Arin hadn’t forgotten my offhand advice. When I mentioned his wife’s life was at risk, he sought out doctors in the capital and brought them to their estate.

He fought fiercely and thought deeply to save her.

If this isn’t love, what is it?

After Elisabeth narrowly escaped death, her relationship with her husband deepened even further. Now, she was living the “romance” she had always yearned for.

I vividly remembered Elisabeth blushing as she recalled her dates with the count.

Watching them, I understood why the count’s family would have sent Milana if they lost Lady Elisabeth.

The count would have been devastated, willing to give up the future of the count’s household and all his titles.

Isella couldn’t bear to see this and went to save her niece.

However, the birth of Milana had brought joy and unity to the count’s family. Having tasted happiness, the count would never willingly give up his child.

They were inseparable, like pieces of a perfectly matched puzzle. Deon knew this too.

“Are you planning to go to the battlefield alone?”

“Don’t worry. Even if it’s not war, there are other ways.”

“Then, are you saying you’ll get married?”

Stopping a war through marriage was a logical solution.

Hearing him casually mention marriage left me speechless.

Did he intend to officially make me his mistress? Not that I was his lover now, but if he married, every act of kindness, every favor, every bit of wealth and attention he offered would be seen as bribes.

I didn’t want to be caught in the middle, treated like a ball tossed around.

When I suddenly stood up, Deon’s gaze followed me.

“Why are you surprised? I didn’t think you’d dislike it so much. Wasn’t it fine when noble families sent proposals to the royal family? You seemed indifferent then.”

He said playfully, glancing at me.

He walked towards me with deliberate steps, trapping me in his arms.

“Try to stop me.”

His tone was playful.

Even though our proximity made his breath touch my face, I didn’t back away. I glared at him.

“Can’t you try to stop me? Tell me not to marry. I won’t if you say so.”

“Try to stop me.” Deon enunciated each word clearly, like a parent teaching a child to speak.

His intense gaze clung to me. But I stubbornly kept my mouth shut.

When I bit my lip, he smiled.

“Guess not.”

“Do you want me to commit disloyalty? How can a mere noble speak on matters that determine the empire’s fate? I can’t stop you from a royal marriage with a princess of a neighboring country.”

My voice was low and steady, and he burst into laughter.

“Try to commit disloyalty. I’d love for you to go down in history as a notorious traitor.”

His bright face was illuminated by the sunlight.

“Demand jewels, seize the royal treasures, and indulge in your own greed. Ordinary traitors are said to whisper in the emperor’s ear and manipulate him. Don’t you want to do that? How about setting up a chair behind my throne and drawing the curtains?”

“I don’t really want anything.”

“Really? Then why did you buy so many things in the imperial territory? You bought and planted so many trees that they blocked the sky.”

That was because I thought I would be dead in a few months.

I figured a short, terminally ill life warranted such expenditure. I wanted to bankrupt you and leave you in trouble.

Instead of saying this, I furrowed my brows.

“If that’s all you have to say, I’ll return to the guest room. Please review and approve the documents quickly.”

I answered curtly and opened the door to the reception room.

I couldn’t hide my irritation.

I went outside and kicked the fallen leaves and stones in the garden, but it didn’t make me feel any better. My mind was in turmoil.

He’s the emperor, and he needs an heir.

He’s already past the prime age for marriage.

It made perfect sense, and even if there was a royal marriage, it wasn’t my place to interfere.

Yet, there was a persistent ache in my heart.