Chapter 66

“Today….”  

Johann trailed off.  

Going to the villa with Rafaella was fine.  

No, actually, he liked the idea.  

But spending time together with Lia as well….  

That made him hesitate a little.  

‘Maybe for a short while, but spending all day together would be uncomfortable for both of us….’  

Rafaella, now sitting on her grandmother’s knee, looked at him with eyes full of anticipation.  

“…Mm, I think it’ll be fine.”  

He couldn’t pretend not to see his daughter’s gaze.  

“There’s no noble council, and I don’t have anything in particular to do today or tomorrow.”  

It was such a pitiful wish that he couldn’t bear to refuse it right away.  

“Lia, what do you think?”  

Isabella asked Lia.  

She had to hear the mother’s opinion as well as the father’s.  

“…If the Duke is fine with it, so am I.”  

Lia didn’t want to disappoint Rafaella’s expectations either.  

She was a little concerned about Johann, but her daughter’s wish came first.  

“Then we can eat cake and leave.”  

Isabella smiled.  

“Just in case, I told the butler to prepare for the trip. I’m glad I did.”  

“You already had preparations made?”  

Not only Johann but everyone was surprised at Isabella’s drive.  

“Grandmother, you’re the best!”  

Rafaella kissed Isabella on the cheek.  

Isabella kissed her precious granddaughter’s forehead in return.  

After that, everything proceeded rapidly.  

They each shared a piece of cake that Rafaella had cut herself, then went to their rooms to pack a simple bag for the overnight stay.  

When they came down the stairs through the lobby, a carriage was waiting for the three families.  

Inside the carriage, Rafaella stared at Johann.  

“What’s wrong, Raffy?”  

He asked gently.  

“…Can I sit on your lap, Daddy?”  

She pointed at his thigh with her finger.  

“Of course, you can.”  

Johann put his hand around her shoulder and lifted her onto his lap.  

“Hehe.”  

His memory hadn’t fully returned.  

There were still more things he didn’t remember than things he did.  

But the big memories that had come back were a huge help in loving his child again.  

‘I’ll never forget you again, Rafaella.’  

He kissed the crown of Rafaella’s head.  

Lia, sitting across from them, watched them with a gentle smile.  

Johann’s eyes went to the smile at the corner of her lips again.  

Thump, thump.  

‘It’s not pounding as hard as before.’  

…But his heart still ached.  

Before leaving, he had hurriedly asked the mage for a checkup.  

“What? Your heart is beating too fast?”  

“Yes, I think there’s something wrong with my body. Hurry up and examine me.”  

“Your Grace, being unwell is….”  

“I have to go out, so stop talking and just check.”  

“…Yes.”  

The mage, looking baffled, reluctantly examined him.  

“Hmm, you’re in perfect health.”  

After a moment, the mage spoke.  

“Did you examine me properly?”  

Johann asked, dissatisfied.  

“What do you take me for…? When exactly does your heart race?”  

“…Do I have to say that too?”  

“If you want me to figure out why your heart is beating fast even though you’re healthy, yes.”  

The mage grumbled.  

“Well, I’m busy now, so I’ll tell you next time.”  

Johann couldn’t bring himself to say.  

That it happened sometimes when he saw a certain woman.  

For some reason, he felt he shouldn’t say it out loud.  

‘It’s not pounding now. Was it just my imagination earlier?’  

He absentmindedly stared at Lia.  

When she sensed his gaze and turned to look at him—  

Whoosh.  

He suddenly whipped his head to look out the window.  

‘…I suddenly want to look outside.’  

He could feel her looking at him, but he stubbornly kept his eyes on the view.  

Lia was dumbfounded by how openly Johann avoided her gaze.  

‘Seriously, he looked first….’  

She hadn’t liked it from earlier.  

The way he reluctantly complimented her dress, the way he kept avoiding her gaze all through the party.  

‘…And now this, why is he acting like that?’  

She folded her arms and turned her head the other way.  

She didn’t expect to return to the way things were.  

‘…I didn’t expect to fall in love with him again, either.’  

But a not-so-bad relationship as Rafaella’s parents wouldn’t be so bad.  

If not only Rafaella’s fate but even her own death could be avoided, they’d have to keep seeing each other for their daughter’s sake.  

‘If I don’t die, what about Raffy?’  

She seemed already so attached to House Blumhart.  

Compared to Lorem Mountain, there was so much more she could enjoy here as a young lady of the house.  

Rafaella would surely want to enter the Imperial Academy.  

In many ways, growing up in House Blumhart would be better for her than being raised by her mother.  

‘…What do I want to do?’  

If she could escape her terminal fate.  

…Magic potion.  

She wanted to study and research magic potions more.  

‘Should I get a room nearby and live there, visiting Raffy often? Or maybe Raffy could come visit me.’  

What about Lorem Mountain? Alma and Raul?  

Should I live going back and forth?  

Her mind grew so tangled that she furrowed her brow without realizing it.  

“Mom, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”  

Rafaella, copying her mother, furrowed her own brow and asked.  

“No, I’m not sick, Raffy.”  

Lia gently smoothed out her daughter’s brow with her hand.  

‘For now, let’s escape from the Interim Empress and her maid, and worry about the rest later.’  

There was still time to think about what came after.  

“…We’re here.”  

Before they knew it, the carriage arrived at the villa.  

Lia and Rafaella, escorted by Johann, got out of the carriage.  

The villa was a small two-story house, quite modest compared to the Blumhart estate.  

On the path to the front door, well-tended freesias bloomed in yellow among white wildflowers.  

“Daddy, is this it?”  

Rafaella asked in an excited voice.  

“Yes, do you like it?”  

“Yes! It’s so pretty and I love it!”  

Rafaella answered in a delighted voice, grabbing both her parents’ hands.  

Lia and Johann exchanged an awkward glance.  

“…Then, shall we go?”  

Johann, clearing his throat awkwardly, led Lia and Rafaella.  

The sweet scent of freesia surrounded them as they walked toward the house.  

In front of the house stood six maids and servants.  

“We’ve been waiting, Your Grace.”  

They were staff specially selected from the Blumhart estate.  

“Let us show you to your rooms.”  

Lia, Rafaella, and Johann unpacked in their separate rooms and gathered on the first floor.  

“Raffy, what do you want to do?”  

Johann bent down and asked.  

“Um, I want to go to the lake!”  

When they ate birthday cake, Penelope had told her how beautiful the lake near the villa was.  

“All right. Let’s go to the lake.”  

With a picnic basket prepared by a maid, the three of them headed for the lakeside.  

It was close enough to reach by walking.  

“Wow!”  

Rafaella, excited, ran ahead.  

“…It’s my first time seeing a lake.”  

Lia murmured blankly.  

The afternoon sun sparkled on the lake like a shimmering jewel.  

It was more beautiful than any precious gem.  

“Thanks to Raffy, I get to see such a beautiful lake.”  

She murmured absentmindedly.  

“…If Raffy likes it, let’s come often.”  

“Yes.”  

They spread a linen cloth under the shade of a tree.  

Lia sat quietly, taking in the view of the lake.  

The beautiful chirping of birds, the sound of leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.  

It was a joy not only to her eyes but to her ears as well.  

Johann rolled up his sleeves and taught Rafaella how to skip stones.  

Rafaella, laughing brightly as she skipped stones, looked nothing but innocent.  

It was such a peaceful moment that it brought tears to her eyes.  

‘It may only be a fleeting dream….’  

Lia wiped her moist eyes with her hand.  

Before darkness fell, they returned to the villa.  

After washing up, they came down to the dining room for dinner.  

There was steaming lamb stew, freshly baked white bread and butter, ham, and a variety of fruits.  

After a delicious dinner, Johann carried Rafaella, who was rubbing her sleepy eyes.  

“Tired, Raffy?”  

“…Yeah, haaam.”  

He carried his daughter to her room.  

“Good night, Raffy. Sweet dreams.”  

He laid Rafaella on the bed.  

“Good night to you too, Daddy.”  

Rafaella waved at Johann.  

“Duke, see you tomorrow.”  

“Yes.”  

After Johann left, Lia lay down beside Rafaella.  

“Raffy, did you have fun today?”  

“…Mmm, so much!”  

Rafaella answered, forcing her sleepy eyes open.  

“All the presents were wonderful, and spending my birthday with Mommy, Daddy, Grandmother, and Auntie Peppy. Everything, everything!”  

“Mommy’s happy because Raffy’s happy.”  

Lia gently hugged Rafaella.  

“I want to live like this with Mommy and Daddy forever…….”  

Mumbling those words, Rafaella fell asleep.  

‘…Raffy, I’m sorry. That might be too hard.’  

With a sad face, she stroked her sleeping daughter’s cheek.