“Who can’t hear it?”

“Uh… Dad, when did you get here? I didn’t hear the door open.”

“When there’s something I absolutely can’t be discovered doing, I hide my presence with all my might. Can you leave us for a moment, Lizzy?”

Though his request sounded gentle, Lizzy knew all too well that her mother was about to face judgment.

“Ricardo wanted to come see the kids, so I finished up work at the duke’s estate quickly and came back. He’s done me a huge favor.”

Marsden smiled, but Olivia clutched Lizzy’s hand tightly, pleading.

“Lizzy, don’t leave me. If you do, I’ll never get out of this room.”

“Lizzy, you heard me. Your on your father’s side here. It’ll only be for a moment… I’ll try not to start a fight.”

Lizzy looked between her parents, conflicted. Olivia gave her a desperate look, but as much as Lizzy cared about her mother’s duties as a Marchioness, her health and safety came first.

“I’m sorry, Mom.”

With a quick apology, Lizzy left the room. Olivia clung to the bedpost.

“Talk from there. Stay right there.”

“Why, are you afraid I’ll tie you up and keep you from leaving the bed? I mean, would I ‘really’ do that?”

“Yeah, I think you ‘really’ would.”

At Olivia’s immediate response, Marsden’s smile disappeared.

“Then why try to lie, knowing that?”

“…”

“Especially about something that concerns your life?”

Marsden’s face twitched, his eyes reddening with anger. Olivia’s heart raced with anxiety.

“If you know the answer, then there’s no need to argue. Don’t even dream of going to the battlefield. If you don’t want to be locked up for the next 10 months, that is.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”

Olivia couldn’t hold back and shouted.

“This is why I wanted to keep it a secret. The matter of the border is my business. Mind your own business.”

The phrase “don’t worry” accidentally came out as “mind your own business.” Olivia realized her mistake, but it was already too late once she’d said it.

“‘Mind your own business’?”

It was clear that Marsden was furious, and Olivia didn’t need to look closely to know it. She felt sorry but didn’t want to pull out the apology card just yet.

“What I meant was, I’m sorry for hiding the pregnancy, but I want you to respect my duties as the border master.”

“But you’re in the early stages of pregnancy… You’re planning to go to the contested zone between two kingdoms where a war could break out at any moment and act as a mediator? Even if you’re trying your best as the empire’s border master, one wrong word in a diplomatic meeting about a war, and bullets could start flying.”

Marsden took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

“I understand your intentions, but I can’t let you go to such a place when you’re not alone. Just send a retainer in your place. That would be fine, right?”

“And if war breaks out, are you going to say the same thing?”

Olivia’s sharp retort made Marsden fall silent.

“There will be many variables in my life moving forward. Just because a few years ago I hit rock bottom, does that mean there won’t be any more hardships in the future? Even if it wasn’t pregnancy, we would still face difficult situations. Should I make excuses and just lie in a comfortable bed every time?”

Marsden’ eyes trembled with sorrow, but Olivia couldn’t back down.

“I know you care about my safety more than anything in the world. I know that pain clashes with my position every time. But Marsden, I am the Master of Donau. If I start relying on others for small things, I’ll become even more of a coward when bigger things come up.”

Olivia gripped Marsden’ hands firmly.

“It’s no big deal. I’ll be back in a day, maybe less. It’s hardly a kingdom; it’s just two big villages fighting, and we’re going to say, ‘Let’s all get along, and we’ll help you.’ You know that.”

“I know, I know, Buddy.”

Marsden gave a bitter smile and lowered his gaze.

“But I’m the kind of person who’s terrified of even a 1% chance that you might get hurt. Without you, I fall apart. And if I fall apart, now our children will fall apart too….”

Marsden closed his eyes tightly.

“I can’t leave the empire, so I can’t follow you and will have to wait. I know, given what I’ve done in the past, this is selfish. But I’m just… more hurt by the fact that you thought about hiding it and making excuses rather than trusting me.”

This time, Olivia lost her words. He was right. She had been thinking of ways to keep Marsden out of it.

“After all, I’m the one who taught you to take responsibility for your duties and protect your people with your life. Even though that teaching got you killed.”

“Marsden.”

When Marsden tried to pull his hands away, Olivia held onto them again. Still, he refused to look at her.

“Go. But if you’re gone for more than a day, you better be ready for what I’ll do.”

It was the first time since her return that Marsden had shown such a cold demeanor. Olivia couldn’t hold him back any longer. The room he left behind was filled with silence.

She hadn’t been able to tell him. The reason she was trying to do her job as the border master properly was for him. Because the better she did, the more he’d be free.

‘How am I supposed to fix this?’

Even after all their years together, fighting with him was still hard. So Olivia quietly sat by the bedside, lost in thought for a moment.

* * *

Lizzy had postponed all her plans and collapsed onto her bed. Whenever her parents fought, the whole house held its breath. Normally, it was just playful bickering, something everyone would joke about quietly. But today felt different.

“Sister, did Mom and Dad fight?”

With the house so tense, her two younger siblings, Themis and Iris, had also picked up on it. They climbed up onto Lizzy’s bed.

“They fought a little. They’ll make up soon.”

“Then why does your face look so gloomy?”

Iris’ golden eyes stared at Lizzy, as if piercing through her. Though she was only four, Iris’ sharpness in sensing people’s emotions surprised Lizzy.

“It’s just… there’s nothing I can do.”

Lizzy understood both her mom and dad’s perspectives. Her mom, Olivia, was extremely responsible and believed with all her heart that the better she did, the more her family would benefit. She always put her family first.

Her dad, Troy Marsden, on the other hand, loved his children too, but Olivia was the most precious person to him. He would turn his back on the world for her.

A person willing to burn themselves out and someone determined to protect that person were bound to clash sometimes. Knowing that, Lizzy didn’t know what to do.

“Is it about Mom and Dad?”

Then, Themis squeezed Lizzy’s cheek and asked.

“What do you mean, Themis?”

“I mean, did someone do something wrong between Mom and Dad?”

“It’s not really like that… It’s just really complicated.”

‘How do I explain this?’ Lizzy was struggling when Themis pinched her cheek again. Lizzy yelped, “Ouch,” and Themis grinned mischievously.

“If it’s complicated, doesn’t that mean there are a lot of people involved?”

“Huh?”

“I’m asking if there’s anyone who can help mom and dad make up!”

Themis tapped Lizzy on the shoulder sharply. Iris just lay there, quietly watching the two of them.

“Someone to help….”

‘Why didn’t I think of that? This wasn’t a situation I could handle on my own. It wasn’t just that dad was jealous or that mom was annoyed by dad’s clinginess.’

“There’s one person.”

“See! Hurry up and ask for help, sis. I caught a glimpse of dad earlier, and he looked like he was about to dig a hole and crawl into it.”

Lizzy shot up. It was still afternoon, so there was time. It was a crazy idea, but worth trying.

“Themi.”

“Yes?”

“You’re a genius, you beautiful thing!”

Lizzy ruffled Themis’ hair playfully. When Themis smiled, clearly pleased, Iris also smiled in response.

“Themi, I’m heading out. Take good care of Iris. I’m counting on you..”

“Of course!”

Themis placed her hands on her hips and proudly shouted. In reality, Iris seemed more like the older sister, but Lizzy intentionally praised Themis to boost her confidence. It always worked.

‘I can do this.’

Lizzy discreetly called a few maids to help her get dressed. And the place she headed with only one escort knight was…

“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the palace.”

It was the palace. Lizzy was on her way to meet Emperor Hellebore.

TL NOTE: Visit dusk blossoms for more chapters of the side story.