When they moved to the bed, Rian stared absently at his son in Belita’s arms. Seeing this, Belita smiled and asked.

“Want to hold him again? Though I think you should rest today since you must be tired.”

“Ahem. Holding him once earlier was enough. Let’s just sleep. I’m really tired.”

“Really? Alright. Then I’ll put our Thunder to bed and come back. Should I go to sleep first?”

“Beli—”

Before he could finish saying her name, Belita swiftly left the room. He had expected it to some extent, but seeing Belita so distracted by the child, he quickly became irritated, feeling as if his son had stolen her from him.

“Crazy b＊stard. Just go to sleep. Hoo……”

This residence after a long time. His own bed after a long time. Since he had always slept in Belita’s room even before the accident, this room felt very unfamiliar. His son now occupied her room. It felt like the owner had changed during his brief absence. He raised his hand in the air and stared blankly. The sensation of the child gripping it seemed to linger.

My son. My child.

“Hmph, he is cute though.”

As the child’s face came to mind, he burst into laughter again. Though it was a child he had just met, he was completely enchanted simply because it was his own bl＊＊d. Ah, I want to see him again. I should have poked those soft cheeks once.

He closed his eyes, feeling the sensation that remained on his hand. Since he would see him again tomorrow, since he would see him for the rest of his life……

Ah, but why isn’t this woman coming back?

“Surely she’s not sleeping there……”

He must have been quite tired, as his consciousness was quickly pulled into deep sleep. And he seemed to have a very happy dream. While Rian’s sleeping face was full of smiles, tears had formed at the corners of his eyes.

* * *

Six months later.

Under a clear sky after a long time, Belita spent a peaceful afternoon drinking tea in the outdoor garden. She smiled happily watching her child who had been toddling around all day since morning, occasionally plopping down on his bottom. Why do children laugh so much when they run? Do they feel like they own the world? Neither mother nor father were people who smiled often, but Belluan was always a smiling child.

Well, thanks to him, both Rian and herself had come to smile more often.

It had been such busy days. She never knew raising a small life would be this exhausting and difficult. Still, seeing the child now walking on his own feet, her heart swelled with the feeling that she had successfully raised him. How lovable he was, exploring every nook and cranny with his bright yellow eyes resembling Rian’s and his sky-blue hair like hers swaying gently.

Rian must have looked like this when he was young. Bright and innocent, just a lovable and pretty child.

She suddenly remembered the day Rian returned to the mansion. After putting the child to bed and returning, Rian had fallen asleep, probably from fatigue. She had thought he would wait for her with eyes wide open, but seeing the sleeping man made her feel deflated. Soon after, seeing the tears welled up in his eyes, she felt her heart breaking.

Why had he cried? She still hadn’t dared to ask about it. It felt like she would be touching his wounds.

Perhaps it was a wound he would carry for life. Even her parents’ accident was still so vivid to her. It just didn’t hurt as much as it used to when she thought about it, but that wound would remain scarred in her heart forever.

Moreover, the accident a year ago had added another scar to Belita’s heart. If she had lost the child and Rian that day, she might have given up her own life as well. Ah…. just thinking about that time still made her heart pound and feel dizzy.

The child, holding the nanny’s hand and walking with a big smile on his face, toddled over and fell into her arms. This moment made her happy every time, even though she experienced it daily. She hugged the child tightly, sat him on her lap, and kissed both his cheeks. The child, who had been giggling, suddenly nuzzled against her chest and whined for milk.

As she skillfully exposed her br*ast, the nanny stood in front of her, shielding her from view while checking the surroundings. When she offered her br*ast, the child latched on eagerly and sucked well.

“Eat slowly. Your father will come home late today, so no one will take it away from you.”

At ten months, his appetite had become so good that the child who used to spit out after feeding from just one br*ast now needed to feed from both br*asts before falling asleep. Even while eating solid food, he still insisted on having his mother’s milk, always looking for the br*ast and falling asleep while feeding. Because of this, Belita suffered from the br*ast competition between the two males. However, today Rian was expected to return late, so she was comfortably nursing when—

“Madam, His Grace is coming.”

“What?”

As the nanny stepped aside, Belita could see Rian approaching from a distance. The man walking with long strides, pushing back his jet-black hair fluttering in the wind, suddenly looked so handsome. The late-blooming love seemed to be growing thicker.

“Already sucking my br*ast, I see.”

As Rian approached, the nanny tactfully left. He naturally crouched down and poked his son’s cheek repeatedly. Annoyed, Belluan furrowed his brow and firmly gripped Rian’s index finger. Without fail, a smile escaped through Rian’s teeth.

“You came early?”

“Yes. Everything’s wrapped up now. We’ll have to move next year.”

“Are you really moving there?”

“Of course. That’s why I took it.”

“But……”

After returning to the Grand Duchy, she had been so focused on Rian’s physical condition and the child that she had no time to pay attention to the situation outside. Trusting Rian who said he would handle it, Belita concentrated only on childcare and supporting her husband. She had temporarily taken over as Acting Grand Duke, but it was a position that didn’t suit her at all. It seemed that raising a child and managing the household suited her best.

But now, hearing his words about leaving the Grand Duchy, a corner of her heart felt heavy. Was it really okay to leave the Grand Duchy he had tried so hard to protect?

Sensing her concern, Rian caressed her cheek and said,

“Don’t worry. The Grand Duchy has just grown larger. The people of the Grand Duchy will also move to the Count’s territory. And those who remain will be protected just as they are now. Just think of it as moving our house. Nothing else has changed.”

“Rian.”

“If you feel that sad, we can remodel this place as a vacation home. I’m a bit sad about it too since this place holds many memories for us.”

Knowing why Rian wanted to move, Belita nodded slightly, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. She was grateful for his concern about her trauma, but she still felt somewhat sad about leaving this place.

Thinking about moving reminded her of what had happened a few days ago.

For some reason, news came that Lovia had tried to take her own life. Upon hearing this, Rian stayed at the imperial palace for several days. Perhaps because his daughter had been between life and death, they said Count Thorne had gone mad and tried to start a civil war. However, with the tide already turned against him, the nobles turned their backs on Count Thorne, leaving him isolated.

Rian chose exile instead of taking two lives. It was because the Empress persuaded him not to shed bl＊＊d. She said that revenge breeds revenge, and for Belluan’s future, they should end things amicably. Belita was very grateful to the Empress. If it weren’t for her, Rian would have bloodied his hands.

As a result, Count Thorne’s territory was incorporated into the Grand Duchy. And the wealth accumulated by Count Thorne was transferred to the imperial family. Although everything was resolved more smoothly than expected, Belita kept thinking about Lovia—a woman who loved a man recklessly. Despite having everything, perhaps she too lacked love. Maybe that’s what she had hoped for from Rian.

“Sigh…. I feel like we need to raise Belluan even better.”

“Why?”

“Because the personality formed in childhood shapes a person’s character later in life.”

“Afraid he’ll take after my character?”

“No. I don’t want him to lack anything in any aspect. I wonder if all this tragedy happened because of the deficiencies that you, I, and perhaps even Lovia experienced.”

At Belita’s words, Rian stared at his son. Looking at the child who had fallen asleep while holding his hand firmly and sucking her br*ast, he too wished for the child to see only good things and grow up happily. He wanted to raise him with abundant love so he wouldn’t be scared or lonely like himself, not becoming someone who didn’t know how to receive or give love.

“How thoughtful.”

“What is?”

“He left one br*ast for his father to eat.”

“What?”

Belita’s eyes, which had been glaring at him without real anger at his typical comment, soon softened. Yes, this is who this man is. The Grand Duke who was cold but upright, and the Grand Duke who was crazy but honest, was just thirsty for love, and sometimes acted violently or coldly because he didn’t know how to give love. A man who had learned to love was like warm sunshine.

His obsession no longer bothered or frightened her. The reawakened man was still like a crazy b＊stard, sometimes proper, still lewd, and incredibly affectionate. Just as she had wished, it was as if only his good sides had been mixed together.

“Let’s go out.”

“Where?”

“Let’s go hunting for a change. I want to see your archery skills too.”

“Hmm, I won’t do it without a bet.”

“Of course we should. How about granting one wish?”

“Really?”

Rian’s lips curled up involuntarily at Belita’s expression as she opened her eyes wide and smiled brightly. Sometimes she seemed more childlike than Belluan with her innocent demeanor. Why did she become more lovable as time went on?

Rian’s eyes were as sweet as if they were coated with honey.

They left the sleeping child with the nanny and prepared for an outing after a long time. Unlike before, they each mounted their own horses, slung bows over their shoulders, and left the residence.

While reluctantly taking charge of the Grand Duchy, she had experienced many changes. She learned to ride horses and shoot arrows. Of course, she didn’t intend to participate in territorial wars directly, but she practiced desperately thinking she should at least be able to escape with the child if necessary. In the end, it was a skill she never had to demonstrate, but she was glad she had learned it since she could at least have this kind of date with Rian.