Chapter 10

Clip-clop, clip-clop—  

The carriage carrying Princess Stephania arrived at the Conver Ducal House.  

But it was not Duke Conver who greeted her.  

He was not at the mansion.  

It seemed she was a step too late.  

“Where has he gone?”  

“He went to the place where Young Master Ray has been staying. All we know is it’s a cabin at the foot of Hurt Mountain.”  

The butler of the Ducal House answered the Princess’s question politely.  

Disappointment was evident on Stephania’s fair and delicate face.  

Her pale and fragile body, along with her known illness, easily evoked a protective instinct in those who saw her.  

Seeing the Princess’s disappointed expression, the white-haired butler felt as if he should apologize, even though it wasn’t his fault.  

The butler asked politely again.  

“Would you like some tea while you wait, Your Highness? I will prepare your favorite Brolin tea.”  

“No tea is necessary.”  

“Your Highness, I know where they reside. I will escort you there.”  

It was then that James, the commander who had been silent, spoke up.  

Princess Stephania’s party hurriedly left the Ducal House as they had entered.  

The butler consoled himself as he watched the Princess’s carriage fade away.  

Though he couldn’t serve her Brolin tea, he took comfort in having had a brief conversation with her.  

* * *  

In front of Isabella’s stone grave.  

In front of it was a long bench.  

Ray and Astrid would pack sandwiches and come here on Monday mornings, the start of the week.  

It was Astrid’s idea, wanting to show Ray’s growth to his mother.  

Duke Bryce Conver and Ray sat side by side on the bench.  

An awkward air flowed between the father and son who met for the first time today.  

It was Ray who spoke first.  

“As said my mom had a really pretty smile.”  

“Yes, she was beautiful.”  

“What kind of person was my mom?”  

“Isabella was gentle and kind.”  

“……And?”  

Ray widened his round eyes and stared at Bryce intently.  

“The truth is…… I don’t know much about Isabella.”  

“Why not? You were married.”  

“We were married by arrangement, and we only met a few times to get acquainted before the wedding. Besides, I was deployed to a monster subjugation operation a week after the wedding.”  

“…….”  

Bryce continued to speak calmly about the past with a composed expression and voice.  

Ray perked up his ears and focused on the story from before he was born.  

“Six months later, when I returned from the operation, our family was already scattered and ruined.”  

“…….”  

“After that, I searched for news of Isabella, but there was no significant result. Then today came, and I finally met you.”  

“I see.”  

Ray nodded slowly, feeling a bit downhearted.  

Compared to the stories he had imagined since he was very young, it was a very dull and uninteresting story.  

“I thought maybe my mom was chased by a dragon and ended up at Hurt Mountain, but I guess that wasn’t it.”  

At the child’s innocent idea, Bryce chuckled.  

Bryce patted the head of the child who resembled him.  

“I’ve always felt sorry for Isabella.”  

“Why?”  

“If she hadn’t married into our family, she could have lived a normal life.”  

Ray nodded quietly.  

Bryce put an arm around Ray’s shoulders and continued to speak.  

“And from today, I should live my life always grateful to Isabella. Because she gave birth to you.”  

Bryce smiled at Ray.  

Ray shyly smiled back at his father.  

Despite being so young and likely very surprised, he was calm and accepting of the situation, which was admirable.  

Bryce patted Ray’s shoulder and stood up.  

He approached the stone grave and spoke.  

“Isabella, I’m sorry for coming so late. And…… I’m sorry for leaving you to die alone in such a place.”  

“Um…… Father?”  

Ray approached Bryce and called him.  

He had to clarify things that needed clarification.  

To avoid misunderstandings.  

“Yes?”  

“Mom didn’t die alone. As and I were with her.”  

“Oh, right, of course.”  

Father and son looked at each other and smiled gently.  

Bryce turned his gaze back to the grave and spoke.  

“Isabella, don’t worry about Ray. I’ll take good care of our son. I’ll raise him to be the heir of the Conver House without any shortcomings…….”  

“Um, Father?”  

Ray spoke again, his expression bright.  

“As is enough to protect and raise me. So you don’t have to worry too much, Father.”  

Bryce found it hard to understand the child’s words.  

He looked at Ray and asked.  

“What do you mean?”  

“What do you mean, what do I mean?”  

Ray blinked his big eyes, looking at Bryce as if he didn’t understand.  

“I’m your father. It’s my duty to protect you. From now on, your guardian is me, not Miss Astrid.”  

“Where does that come from?”  

“What?”  

This time, Bryce blinked in confusion.  

Ray’s small fist clenched tightly with determination.  

“I’ve been living very well with As, and just because I suddenly have a father, I can’t separate from As and go with you.”  

“…….”  

“As is like a real mom, a sister, and aunt all combined, even though she’s none of those.”  

Bryce couldn’t easily continue speaking.  

He didn’t know how to persuade a child who couldn’t accept what seemed obvious.  

And Ray’s words weren’t unreasonable.  

Ray had lived with Astrid all his life.  

Even just observing them at the dining table showed how deeply they trusted and relied on each other over the years.  

But he couldn’t just leave things as they were, so he began to reason with Ray.  

“Yes, we’ve been greatly indebted to Miss Astrid. Even if I repay it all my life, it won’t be enough.”  

“…….”  

“But now that I know you’re my son, I can’t leave you with Miss Astrid. You must come to the Conver House and become my heir.”  

“…….”  

“From now on…… everything will change a lot from what it has been. You’ll have the best teachers and the best caregivers…….”  

“Wait a minute.”  

Ray finally interrupted, unable to hold back.  

It was hard to keep listening to the strange words coming from his father’s mouth.  

The child’s face was scrunched up as he asked.  

“That’s purely adult logic. Made for adults’ convenience. So I don’t know about that.”  

“……Ray.”  

“Does As think like this too?”  

Ray’s sharp eyes turned to his father.  

Bryce felt conflicted seeing the clear water welling up in the eyes of the child who resembled him.  

“Probably. That’s why she came to find me in the first place. After all, Miss Astrid is an adult too.”  

Ray stood up abruptly.  

There was no time to linger here.  

He had to ask As directly.  

Whether she shared the thoughts of this suddenly appearing father.  

If so, it was a big problem.  

The thoughts and logic of adults were hard to follow.  

Pure nonsense.  

The small boy began to run.  

“Ray!”  

He heard his father calling from behind, but there was no time to waste stopping or looking back.  

His short legs moved faster than ever.  

* * *  

The door burst open.  

Ray, panting heavily, came inside.  

“Where’s the Duke, and why are you alone?”  

“He’ll be here soon. But Uncle Neil, what are you doing here?”  

Ray looked up at Neil with a flushed face.  

Neil laughed heartily.  

“You met your father, didn’t you? So I came to say goodbye to you, little one.”  

“Goodbye?”  

Ray looked at me instead of Neil and asked.  

The child’s already flushed face grew hotter.  

“As, answer me. Goodbye? Are we parting ways?”  

“Ray…… it’s just…….”  

“Am I supposed to live with my father now? As, are you abandoning me?”  

“Abandoning you? What are you talking about? I would never abandon you.”  

“Right? We’re going to keep living here together, right? You and me, As?”  

“…….”  

“Is it just that Father and Uncle Neil don’t know what they’re talking about?”  

Ray glared at Neil as he spoke.  

His fiercely determined eyes were now wet with tears.  

Neil scratched his head awkwardly.  

She uickly knelt on one knee to meet Ray’s eyes.  

Though her throat was tight, she spoke the words she needed to.  

“Now that we know who your father is, Ray, it’s impossible for us to keep living here alone like before.”  

“…….”  

“You have to go with your father to the Conver House. It’s much safer there. It’s for you, Ray.”  

“Then As, come with me. That’ll work, right?”  

“I can’t do that. You’re a member of the Conver family, but I’m not. I have to stay here. Let’s just visit each other sometimes.”  

“What do you mean by that? You and I, we’re family, right? You said so. You said I’m your only family, and you’re my only family. How can family live apart?”  

His tear-filled eyes stared intently at her.