Chapter 19
“Now you’re treating me like a madman too?”
“No, what on earth do you think marriage is, brother? You rushed into marriage just for that reason? You said you’d never marry!”
Kaiden had a history of upsetting his parents by saying he wouldn’t marry since childhood.
At least Aiden wanted to marry, so the succession issue was agreed upon between them.
In the midst of that, he came back after a secret marriage, and the northern elders were firmly on guard.
But all that was just because of the saintess.
For the first time, Aiden doubted his brother’s choice.
Even if it seemed reckless, he always believed because there was a deep meaning.
He didn’t like that he used the important ceremony of marriage in this way.
When Aiden visibly rebelled, Kaiden scratched his cheek and said.
“Well, it’s a marriage that’s not bad for each other. Besides, she’s a bit fun, that woman.”
Following that, as he smiled recalling Reina, Aiden made a face like he chewed shit.
“Is marriage a joke?”
“Yeah. You’re lucky you’ve had fiery love.”
“Don’t tease. It’s not something to end with a smile like that.”
Aiden grumbled with a red face.
It was true that mentioning love made him embarrassed.
Unlike Kaiden who kept postponing marriage, Aiden had an early marriage due to fiery love.
Of course, the end was bereavement, but Aiden never regretted meeting Amy even once.
Even more so because there was the fruit between the two.
He couldn’t express the disappointment because he inwardly hoped his brother would have such love and marry.
On the other hand, he thought this kind of marriage was more like him.
Since he was originally indifferent to women, he wouldn’t have considered marriage if not in this way.
Moreover, since the impression of Reina he met yesterday was quite good, Aiden gradually found stability.
A moment later, Aiden subtly asked.
“What kind of person is Princess Reina?”
“Why are you suddenly curious about that?”
“Actually, I ran into her by chance yesterday. It seems Dalia mistook the princess for Amy.”
“Ah.”
As Kaiden sighed lowly, Aiden touched the back of his head and said.
“It seems Dalia was quite bothersome, but she didn’t seem annoyed at all. She seemed to like children.”
“Really?”
Kaiden made a quite interested face when Reina’s story came up. Following that, he continued casually.
“She’s a woman with aspects that you don’t know where she’ll bounce to. Watching her, there’s no time to be bored.”
“Hmm.”
Aiden stroked his chin while listening to Kaiden’s words.
It showed a different appearance from usual for a relationship that was just a contract.
Just the fact that he showed interest in a woman was a rare sight.
Aiden impulsively opened his mouth.
“If it’s okay with you, brother, can I bother the princess a bit? I have questions about the saintess, and I was curious if she suits you.”
“Why? If she doesn’t suit me, are you going to chase her out?”
“Depending on the situation.”
“Don’t chase her out. She has nowhere to go.”
“Why nowhere to go? Her father is the emperor of this empire.”
“She didn’t seem to have a good relationship with the emperor.”
Kaiden recalled Reina who was happy leaving the palace and muttered lowly.
“So, unless necessary, just accept her well.”
“As if I’d really chase her out. I’m just asking for permission to get along with the princess a bit.”
“Well, when did you ever ask for my permission.”
“But she’s your wife.”
“If Reina is okay with it, I don’t mind.”
As Kaiden’s permission came, Aiden grinned.
Honestly, from Kaiden’s position, it was welcome for his younger brother, who had been immersed only in research after losing his wife, to have a new conversation partner.
“Don’t bother her too much.”
“Do you think I’m you, brother?”
Aiden pouted his lips and put on the experimental glasses again.
At the signal not to disturb anymore, Kaiden quietly left the lab.
At that time, Rose, who was waiting outside, stepped forward to Kaiden.
“Kaiden, I heard you’re back. You did quite a big thing.”
* * *
After a short hide-and-seek, Dalia sitting on the bench catching her breath came into view.
Reina approached carefully not to startle the child and spoke.
“Hello?”
Flinch.
Dalia stared at Reina with wide eyes.
Following that, Dalia, who stared at the sketchbook in her hand, held out both hands.
“G-give it.”
Seeing her keep avoiding eye contact, it seemed she was scolded by her dad for yesterday’s incident.
Reina plopped down next to the child and said.
“If it’s okay, can I look?”
Nod.
As Dalia slowly nodded, Reina opened the sketchbook.
Inside the sketchbook, various drawings of a blonde woman’s face were drawn.
At a glance, the child’s heart of missing her mom but trying not to show it was felt.
She must be just about 5 years old now.
The child seemed to still need her mom.
It was pitiful that in a situation where she could fully act spoiled, she was only mindful of adults.
Reina asked carefully.
“Who did you draw this?”
Dalia couldn’t answer right away as the question was sudden.
As Reina waited quietly, a small voice was heard.
“It’s my mom.”
“Your mother is beautiful. What kind of person was your mom?”
Dalia brightened her expression as her mom was suddenly mentioned and chattered.
“Yes. My mom is the prettiest in the world. When she was healthy, she went for walks with Dalia every day, and read fairy tales before bed. And also…….”
Of course, it didn’t continue long.
The lips that were chattering excitedly gradually closed, and the child muttered with a gloomy face.
“The nanny said not to talk about mom…….”
“Why?”
“If Dalia keeps looking for mom, dad gets tired. She said to endure it for the sake of people around.”
It seemed the nanny said something because the child kept looking for mom.
But it was somewhat excessive to demand from a child who lost her mom not long ago.
If she couldn’t even say she misses her, it was obvious it would fester inside.
“You can talk to me.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
As Reina gave a warm smile, Dalia hesitantly started talking about her mom.
While quietly listening to the clear voice like a canary, Dahlia said again with a saddened face.
“But now I can’t see mom. She left far far away leaving Dalia.”
Her voice trembled as if she would cry any moment.
The teary eyes seemed full of longing for mom.
It was pitiful that she still couldn’t accept her mom’s death.
It made her heart ache more recalling her clinging last night mistaking her for mom.
Reina carefully handed a handkerchief and said.
“Mom must miss Dalia a lot too.”
“Liar. Then she shouldn’t have left Dalia alone. Mom is a liar!”
The child screamed and buried her head.
Soon after, as Reina discovered tears endlessly dropping on her knees, she silently patted her back.
At this, Dalia burst into more tears and continued sobbing.
“Hic, actually Dalia knows too. That mom, sniff, was very sick, sniff, so she couldn’t keep the promise with Dalia, I know it all. Waaah!”
“…….”
“Sniff, people are careful with mom stories in front of Dalia, huh, especially the nanny doesn’t let me mention mom in front of dad.”
“I see.”
“Dad makes a sad face whenever mom is mentioned. So Dalia can’t say she misses mom even if she does. I miss mom but I hate dad getting sad.”
The child was thinking of her dad even while missing her mom.
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By Anna 💓
