She couldn’t even think of wiping away the tea dripping down her chin. It felt like all her thoughts had stopped at the madam’s bombshell statement. What? A second child? Was she implying that a child would be born between her and Raphael?

“Your Highness! Are you okay?”

“Ah…”

Even as Emila quickly handed over a handkerchief, Amelia just stared blankly ahead. Why would she say that? Did she do something wrong… Or did it really look like she and Raphael were close? She didn’t know how to excuse such a ridiculous misunderstanding.

If Raphael had been here, he would have been furious, for sure.

“It’s, it’s okay…”

She started to come to her senses when she saw the table covered in tea. Spitting out tea at someone was a breach of etiquette. It wasn’t just a breach.

“I’m sorry, madam. I was so surprised that I was rude.”

“No… I was too excited and wasn’t careful enough.”

The madam meant well with her friendly comment, but it was a huge shock to Amelia. It was hard to calm down her still-agitated heart.

“Thank you for thinking well of me and His Grace.”

Amelia quickly wiped off the tea from her mouth and ordered a maid to clean up the mess. Fortunately, she had taken etiquette lessons from the madam over the past few days. She hadn’t understood why nobles spoke in such a way, but now she realized it was for moments like this.

“But maybe… there probably won’t be a child.”

“Is something worrying you?”

She shook her head with a bitter smile. She couldn’t give her any hint of possibility. The madam had significant influence in society. Whether it be about the grand ducal couple’s relationship or a child that wouldn’t be born… She would be the one in trouble if rumors spread.

“I wish Leonel would grow up as an only child.”

Raphael was a father who shouldn’t have children. Thinking about what Leonel had gone through… She could wake up in shock from sleep.

“Leonel is too adorable to bear…”

This was absolutely, a hundred percent, the truth. With Leonel’s appearance, world peace seemed possible. On the contrary, Raphael’s was like conquering the world. They looked alike, but the atmosphere between the father and son was completely different.

“You’re talking about the young grand duke. He’s exceptionally bright, unlike most children”

“Right? Is Leonel also receiving education from you, madam?”

If she had seen Leonel, she would agree with her opinion. Leonel was a child whom you couldn’t help but fall in love with at first sight. At first, she didn’t understand why every mother brags about their child, but now she seemed to get it.

“The child is more mature than his peers, but he has many cute sides.”

Sometimes, people had a tendency to dislike children who were too mature. Amelia did her best to support Leonel while observing the madam’s expression.

“Ah, I’m not the one giving the young grand duke education.”

“What?”

Then who is conducting it? Is there a separate tutor?

“I believe His Grace the Grand Duke is taking care of the education himself.”

Who is he getting education from…? Does this mean that Raphael and Leonel are left alone together? Amelia was shocked at the fact that the utterly ruthless man and the gentle Leonel were together. Even he once claimed going to the western forest border as training.

“Your Highness…?”

“Is today’s lesson over?”

“Yes… I thought you might be tired today, so I decided to stop here.”

She had to go to Leonel right away. The child was already afraid of Raphael. He must be so scared to receive education alone with him. Recently, it seems he hasn’t been going to the western forest border… Even if eating together every day had become a routine, being alone together was different.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With an anxious heart, Amelia saw off the madam and headed straight to Leonel’s room. It was evident she hadn’t been able to pay much attention to the child due to her busy schedule.

“Your Highness? Are your lessons over?”

“Yes. Is Leonel in his room?”

Despite Ann and Jane’s friendly approach, Amelia’s face remained stern. She hadn’t been able to spend much time with the child because it was tough. Although she saw him several times a day…

“Yes, the young master is in his room. But…”

Hearing that he was in his room, she quickly opened the door.

“Leonel! What are you… doing?”

Inside the room, Leonel and Raphael seemed to be in a standoff as if they were about to fight.

***

“Why…”

What are all these magics floating in the air? They disappeared as soon as she entered, but she saw them clearly with her own eyes.

“Were you about to use magic on the child?”

She thought that at least he didn’t completely hate the child. If that were true, he wouldn’t appear at every mealtime. Not taking Leonel to dangerous places was also proof of that.

“Amelia.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I think I understand everything.”

Amelia quickly approached Leonel and hugged the child. To think she was dancing leisurely with him, unaware of this happening.

“Mother…”

“Leonel, are you okay?”

How could he use magic on such a small child? She glared at Raphael with fierce eyes. She had momentarily forgotten what kind of person he was. For the child’s sake, she had to leave him. Only then could Leonel be happy.

“So now I’ve become a heartless parent who attacks his own child.”

“…”

“Mother…”

But his reaction was somewhat strange. A person who would never get hurt was slightly furrowing his brow…

“Why don’t you ask your precious son whether I used magic or not.”

So, it wasn’t magic cast by Raphael? But it was hard to believe… The magic was too aggressive and massive for a child to have done it.

“Mother, it was me.”

“Leonel? Why would you…”

She thought perhaps he was covering for Raphael’s mistake, but that wasn’t it. Why did she immediately suspect him?

“I was learning high-level magic from Father…”

“Why would you do such dangerous magic practice inside the room…!”

“I’m here.”

Normally, magic practice isn’t done just anywhere because of the risk of accidents.

“I can eliminate it before any accident happens.”

His answer was full of arrogance, but she knew it was true. She wasn’t unaware of how capable this excessively arrogant man was.

“I’m sorry… I…”

She had obviously mistaken Leonel for being attacked by him. He didn’t like the kid, and… she hadn’t expected the gentle Leonel to use such terrifying magic.

“I wonder what kind of person you think I am in your head.”

Raphael Lloyd Siegfried was not someone who gets hurt. There was no being that could physically or mentally harm him.

But now, he looked hurt in front of her.

“We should stop here for today.”

Without a chance to hold him back, Raphael left. More precisely, she couldn’t hold him back. She couldn’t speak because of his tone and his gaze.

“…”

“Mother?”

Leonel’s hand on hers made her come back to her senses. To her, he was someone she could obviously doubt, someone who wouldn’t get hurt. Because that’s the character he had to be. Because there was a justification for him to be that way.

“I’m sorry. I made Mother misunderstand for no reason.”

Hearing his tearful voice and seeing the tears rolling down his cheeks, she finally came back to her senses. Leonel was crying.

“Leonel? Why are you crying?”

“I feel like I caused a fight between you two…”

She shouldn’t have acted that way, at least in front of the child. It was clearly her mistake.

“No, that’s not it… We didn’t fight.”

Knock knock.

As she was comforting the child, there was a knock on the door. Thinking Raphael had returned, she opened the door. However, it was Jane holding a letter.

“Your Highness, an urgent message has arrived from the Chester Merchantry.”

From the Chester Merchantry?

“Yes, alright.”

It seemed like the result of something she had requested. But with Leonel in front of her, she couldn’t open the letter.

“…”

Amelia was pondering what to do when she realized that the sobbing had stopped. Leonel’s tears, which seemed endless, had ceased. Amelia was slightly taken aback by his now-calm face, looking as though he had never cried.

“Leonel…?”

“Did you go out again?”

His voice was clear, the whimpers gone. The pitiable look from moments ago was nowhere to be found.

“Do you have to go to that man?”