Chapter 9

To be reminded of a woman you love and to marry a woman who looks like her, even though he can’t see her face in agony. His perseverance was remarkable in a way. How much must one love to make such a choice? To marry a woman who made him suffer just by looking at her.

“How did you…”

“How could I not know. Did you think I wouldn’t notice for years?”

Every time Raphael saw Amelia, he thought of his first love. It was a faint memory, but it was so similar to Amelia, from her silver hair and purple eyes to her gentle smile. Everything was remarkably similar to Amelia. The blurred lines on her face became clear when he saw Amelia. Perhaps she was just a superimposition of a lost memory.

“You couldn’t have known.”

He thought Amelia would never know about the existence of his first love. Since he had never mentioned it, it was natural that she didn’t know. But Raphael had overlooked something. Amelia Seraphin, this woman, really wanted and loved him. The woman’s intuition was excellent, and it was only a matter of time before Amelia, who was focused on Raphael, realized that fact.

“It’s hard for you to face me.”

“……”

“I’m sorry. For all this time.”

Even though Amelia knew everything, she didn’t stop. Or rather, she couldn’t stop. Love wasn’t something she could stop just because she wanted to. She even hugged him, pretending to be his first love, during his moment of confusion. Hoping that he would turn back to her someday.

And Amelia revealed these facts to Leonel. She pushed the child and told him that if he were born as a half-breed, he should have been born with silver hair and purple eyes like her. Unknowingly, those words left a big scar on Leonel.

“Today, I made an appointment with Leonel first, so Your Grace can have a separate meal with him later.”

The strange aversion she felt towards Raphael was because he knew all these facts. Strangely, a corner of her heart felt numb when she saw him. It felt like blood wasn’t flowing in her hands. Like her body was telling her to run away from him as soon as possible.

“Then, I’ll be going now.”

Without responding to her words, Amelia walked away, leaving Raphael behind. She had a lot to clear up with Leonel, but there was a lot to get through with him as well.

That way, she could leave this place later.

***

“Y, Your Highness…!”

“Let’s go.”

It was something she’d noticed since yesterday, but the maids following her was a little annoying. They were there to serve her, but it wasn’t like she was used to being served in the first place……

“But is there a reason why so many people need to follow me around the castle like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“The number of maids. It’s too many. It’s not like I’m going out or something.”

It was absurd that even head maid May was following Amelia around. Of course, it was for her surveillance, but there were too many of them. Amelia wasn’t a busy person to require five people to hold an umbrella for her.

It wasn’t like she was going to a party.

“This… was ordered by the Madam, no, Your Highness.”

“Ah, I remember saying that.”

Someone must have been wasting manpower like this, but it turned out to be her. It was rather odd for her to know, even though she hadn’t said it.

“I think we can reduce the number of people now.”

It wasn’t difficult to guess why Amelia had increased the number of maids holding umbrellas for her. She must have wanted to establish her authority within the grand ducal house in some way.

“Leave only the necessary personnel and the rest may go.”

“… Yes, understood.”

She thought she would object, so she was surprised that she answered right away. From what she’d seen, the only time she stopped Amelia was when she did something that would make Raphael hate her. In other words, whenever she tried to live a little properly, she was immediately tackled.

“Young Master, Her Highness has arrived.”

“Mother…”

As soon as he heard that she had arrived, she could tell how much Leonel had been waiting for her through the opening door. He tried not to show it, but his blushing cheeks and ears were proof. It was embarrassing that he couldn’t even express what he liked properly. House Siegfried and Amelia must have made him that way.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Sorry, I had something to do on the way here.”

“I didn’t wait long.”

Amelia smiled a little at the way Leonel said no, even though he must have been waiting a long time. It was both cute and heartwarming to see a child pretending to be polite. She couldn’t force him any further, knowing that this was the best she could get from him.

“Let’s go eat. What does Leonel like?”

“……”

As she reached out her hand to go to the dining hall together, Leonel just looked at her without saying anything.

“Leonel?”

“……”

“Ah… do you not want to hold hands with me?”

He seemed to dislike it when his mother, who had been tormenting him, suddenly asked to hold hands. In the end, Amelia reluctantly withdrew her hand. She realized that she had been thoughtless. She had easily overlooked Leonel’s wounds. But he looked endlessly adorable in her eyes, and she couldn’t bear it.

Regardless of everything else, Leonel was a beautiful child to anyone who saw him.

“Shall we go then?”

“……”

“Leonel?”

Even though she had put her hand away, Amelia raised her eyebrows as Leonel continued to stand there like a statue. Perhaps the reason he waited until now was to refuse to have a meal with her.

“Or is it uncomfortable for you to eat with me?”

If that was the case, she didn’t have to force him. She had suggested the meal because she wanted to get closer to Leonel, not because she wanted to impose it on him.

“You can tell me whatever makes you comfortable.”

“……”

Amelia lowered her waist and shared her gaze with Leonel, who couldn’t even meet her eyes.

“Leonel?”

“…hold hands.”

“Huh?”

“I want to… hold hands with you, Mother.”

He didn’t lower his head because he disliked it. It was because he was too embarrassed to hold hands and couldn’t even make eye contact. Seeing Leonel speak with eyes that seemed like he could cry at any moment, Amelia quickly reached out her hand.

“…….”

She held her hand out quietly, as she didn’t want to startle him. And it would be better if Leonel would take her hand first rather than her grabbing his.

“Shall we go then?”

“Yes…”

Unlike earlier, he didn’t hesitate this time. The small hand that held hers was so small and precious that she couldn’t move it. It was the first time she had shared warmth with someone since coming here. The tip of the hand that held hers, as if relying on her, was weak but filled with strength.

“Ah…”

“What? What did you say?”

“I… I like anything. I like anything if it’s what you like, Mother.”

Amelia bit down on the inside of her cheek tightly when Leonel, who seemed to be paying attention to what was said a moment ago, brought it up and said that he was fine with anything. If she hadn’t, she would have screamed at his cuteness. But she had no idea how that would appear to others.

“What about dinner?”

“It’s all ready”

She was worried that Raphael might be in the dining hall, but thankfully he wasn’t there. It would have been a problem if he had come after what he said.

“We have salad and salmon steak, soup, and lamb. Which one would you like?”

She was surprised by the maids who asked about the menu, which was unlike the day before but pretended not to. Something had definitely changed in the way they treated her. Was it because Leonel was next to her?

“Salad and salmon steak for me. And Leonel?”

“I’ll have the same.”

He had chosen it because the lamb would be a heavy meal to eat for breakfast, but she hadn’t expected Leonel to choose the same thing as her.

“Do you like fish?”

“Yes… I like everything.”

He didn’t seem to dislike her, but he strangely avoided eye contact with her. Or more precisely, he was avoiding her.

“His Grace and I discussed about your education yesterday.”

“I’m really fine.”

“It would be fine even if you’re a little late.”

“I enjoy spending time and learning with Father.”

Why would he want to continue with such a harsh education, that he even had to lie to me? It was a cruel thing to say, but no matter how hard he tried, Leonel couldn’t awaken his abilities. The one who helped Leonel awaken was the female lead, Sierra. Whether it was because of her ability as a saint, or because of her unrequited love, it wasn’t clear why.

“It’s true.”

It was definitely not a misunderstanding. Leonel deliberately avoided her gaze.