Time passed, and spring arrived.

The weather warmed enough that new sprouts appeared in the north, signaling it was time to return to the capital.

During their time in the north, much had changed. Abandoned buildings were filled with medical supplies, and the food shortage was nearly resolved. While not everything was perfect, time had taken care of many problems.

As soon as Anne and Evan returned to the capital, they were greeted by Kyle and Carly.

“Welcome back, Lady Anne!”

“You’ve lost weight, Anne.”

Kyle, with his experience in field hospitals, had been appointed as a professor in the medical department at the soon-to-be-established National Academy. Not only Kyle but Hans as well.

It seemed that Kyle had recently become friendly with someone named Martin at the capital hospital, and he was likely to offer him an assistant professor position.

Carly, on the other hand, hadn’t been visiting Calohas as often. According to Kyle, she was busy studying to enter the academy.

Seeing the more relaxed expressions on both of their faces, Anne let out a sigh of relief and said,

“I missed both of you!”

Dinner that evening was more abundant and lavish than ever. The steak in front of Anne, in particular, looked bigger than anyone else’s.

Judging by the expectant look on the chef’s face as he watched Suen, it seemed Suen had gone to great lengths to prepare the meal.

“How am I supposed to eat all this?”

“Anne, you need to eat more. Didn’t you say yourself how dangerous malnutrition can be?”

At Kyle’s firm words, Anne pouted and nodded.

“Okay.”

“How was the north? I heard the medical system there is quite poor.”

“Yes. There is a clinic, but only one doctor. It’s really not enough.”

“…I see.”

Kyle stroked his chin, lost in thought. He had recently even visited the palace to discuss the academy’s staffing.

It seemed that the expansion of medical facilities, led by Evan, was progressing smoothly.

However, there was still debate within the National Academy about how many medical students to recruit and from where.

“The Vails side wants a large number of graduates from the academy—about 900 a year.”

“…What?”

“They want to strengthen the training of doctors and nurses, as well as the areas of medical administration and welfare. It will take a long time to build the necessary facilities, but they mentioned trying to secure learning spaces in the meantime.”

Evan, who had been listening quietly, smirked and made a remark.

“Isn’t that an easy problem to solve?”

“Sorry?”

“The best way is to have them practice in hospitals, right? We’ve already secured many medical facilities by repurposing existing buildings, so for now, it would be good to focus on one-on-one practical training.”

Anne and Kyle’s faces brightened. If they could teach the basics and offer hands-on experience, they could even address the shortage of medical personnel.

“That’s a great idea.”

However, one person at the table, Carly, didn’t look pleased.

“…Kyle, but…”

“Yes?”

“You’re not going far away, are you?”

At that, Anne and Evan tilted their heads in confusion. Kyle would be in the capital hospital, so he should stay in the capital… something felt off.

“Why do you ask?”

“…Because I think I’ll be giving birth in about eight months.”

At those words, everyone in the room froze as if time had stopped. Evan, the first to recover his composure, asked in a cold tone,

“Who is the bastard?”

At the word “bastard,” Carly stood up abruptly, shouting,

“B-Bastard? Your Grace!”

“A child without even getting married?”

Evan ran a hand through his hair with an incredulous expression. He was already thinking that he needed to see the face of the scoundrel who had managed to get a count’s daughter pregnant before marriage.

“Evan, calm down.”

“Is this what you meant by living without regrets? Ha. No doubt it’s the guy the family matched you with.”

Carly was utterly flustered by the unexpected intensity of his reaction.

“No, that’s not it. And wouldn’t it be okay if we got married? Right?”

Without knowing who she was asking, only Anne nodded her head in agreement.

Evan was already thinking of how to deal with the old-fashioned nobleman who always asked about Carly whenever he went to the capital.

No, he was going to go after whoever introduced this guy who caused trouble even before marriage.

“Kyle. You’re going to marry me, right?”

Finally, Kyle, who was looking at Carly in disbelief, asked,

“…Are you saying this child is mine?”

“Of course. Who else would it be besides you, Kyle?”

“Well, I… I’m just… I haven’t fully processed it yet. Ah, I’m so happy. I’m really happy. Should we get permission for the marriage first? Or should we have the baby before we get married?”

Not knowing what the right choice was, Kyle scratched the back of his head, rambling.

Seeing this, the strength drained from Evan’s tightly clenched fist.

“So you’re the bastard?”

At Evan’s sharp question, Kyle answered seriously,

“I believe I am, Your Grace.”

Evan didn’t respond. If the man Carly was seeing was Kyle, then the one who introduced him was…

“When did this happen? Now it all makes sense,” Anne said with wide eyes.

Now that she thought about it, the two of them did seem unusually close. She was happy for them, but she was slightly concerned about whether the Dehart family would accept this.

After all, Sir Ferrell Klein had faced a lot of opposition due to the difference in status.

Carly, with a happy smile, rubbed her belly with one hand and said,

“It was while Anne was in the North. I realized that I feel most comfortable and happy when I’m with Kyle. And then…”

Anne quickly handed Carly a glass of fruit juice. It was rich in vitamins, something Carly, as an expectant mother, absolutely needed.

“Congratulations. Really, there’s nothing else to say. Kyle, congratulations too.”

“Thank you, Lady Anne, as always.”

“Y-Yes, thank you.”

After finishing the meal, Carly sent Kyle up to the guest room first and then went to find Evan in the study.

She wanted to push through the marriage with Kyle, even if she had to rely on the Duke’s power. As his silence suggested, the family was bound to strongly oppose it.

When she entered the study, led by a servant, she saw Evan sitting on the edge of his desk, with the window open.

“Evan.”

“I never thought I’d have to make such a tough decision twice.”

“……”

“You’ve come to ask for help, haven’t you?”

“That’s right. I want to escape from the Dehart family, even if I have to borrow your strength. Selfishly.”

Carly sat on the sofa, crossing her legs, and thought. At this point, she was already as good as disowned, so her father might give up on her.

But she was still worried about her father.

When he said that a lowly commoner had tainted the Dehart bloodline, it felt like the sky was falling. She never wanted the person she loved to hear such words again.

“I can’t interfere in personal matters.”

“…But you know what our family did to Ferrell!”

“That was a different situation. Kyle isn’t even a knight sworn to the family.”

Carly’s eyes turned red. At that time, Ferrell wasn’t sent to the battlefield because he was a knight of the family but because he was the man she was seeing. She couldn’t even imagine what schemes they might come up with this time.

“It’s the same.”

“No matter who I am, I don’t have the right to intervene in family disputes. If I did, it would cause a major problem.”

“……”

Evan looked at Carly with a troubled expression. He recalled Anne pulling him aside after the meal, reminding him that Carly was still in the early stages of pregnancy and should avoid any intense arguments.

Dealing with a woman who wasn’t alone was no easy task.

“…The only option is to live in Vails for the rest of your life.”

Evan unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and took a document out of the bookcase.

“The academy will be built in the Vails Tobiren area, adjacent to Terossa. If Kyle proves himself there as a professor, I’ll make arrangements for him to receive a title. Isn’t that the best way for Kyle to accept this?”

“……”

“But it won’t be easy to do that right away. Until then, you’ll have to make the choice to abandon your family.”

To abandon the family. The impact of those words would be immense.

It was already rare for nobles and commoners to build a family together, and even when it happened, it was usually reluctantly accepted by the noble family.

“I can abandon them. Just make sure he doesn’t get hurt.”

“Alright.”

* * *

Returning to the bedroom, Evan pulled the blanket over Anne, who was lying down, and asked,

“You haven’t slept yet?”

“No. I’ve had a lot on my mind since seeing the two of them off.”

“…Let’s start preparing for our wedding soon.”

“Okay.”

Her response was simple, but Evan could sense the sadness and frustration behind it. He also knew she envied Carly for being able to have children.

“Anne, Carly and Kyle have decided to stay here until spring.”

“What? What do you mean? Why?”

“It’s confidential, but the National Academy’s medical department will be established across two campuses, in Terossa and Vails. The first reason is that they need someone to work in Vails.”

“And the other reason?”

“The Dehart family is certain to oppose their marriage.”

This was unexpected. She had forgotten.

Although everyone kept quiet about it, Carly must have suffered greatly when she buried her old love due to her family’s opposition.

Anne asked with a complicated expression,

“Is there a way to persuade them?”

TL NOTE: For more chapters of it’s side story visit dusk blossoms .