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Chapter 5
It would only solidify the rumors, so denying it forcefully was also awkward. There’s a saying for a reason: a strong denial is as good as a strong affirmation.
“Please raise the child well, my lady.”
After the young ladies, having gotten explanations about the child and reservation information, had left.
Entering the boutique, I let out a deep sigh.
‘At least it doesn’t seem like they suspect the child isn’t mine…’
For now, today’s goal was achieved.
Just then, I felt a persistent gaze from somewhere.
There was someone who hadn’t left yet: Chris.
“But still, couldn’t you have told me beforehand? I’m your closest aide, after all.”
Chris grumbled, finally seeming to have gained the confidence to blabber.
“This time it seems like the perfect time for me to appear as a source in the Imperial Weekly’s corner, ‘I Want to Know That: The Truth About an Upper-Class Corrupt Owner.’ I’ve already received five interview offers….”
The reason I couldn’t tell him beforehand was because I only found out I had a child two days ago.
But I couldn’t answer that honestly, so I didn’t reply.
“Hmm, now that I see it, I understand everything. You being nauseous at the restaurant during last year’s festival, that must have been because you were pregnant.”
‘No, that was just because I can’t eat fish.’
Last year’s festival was the worst for me, as I have a weak stomach and can’t eat seafood.
At the time, my relationship with Mr. Lancel Idiz Arbiente was bad, so I was in low spirits, but I also didn’t want to be alone on a festival day.
So the partner I chose was Chris. (That day, Chris threatened to sue me for workplace harassment, asking how I could make him eat alone with his superior.)
But all the restaurants enjoying the festival boom were fully booked, and the only place we found a seat happened to be one that only served seafood.
I was dry-heaving because of the fish dish I forced myself to order there, but….
Well, if they want to fit the pieces together themselves, there’s no need to correct them.
“Ha… There I was, happy to have received a generous severance pay, not knowing that.”
Chris exhaled, full of self-loathing.
Then he patted his eyelids with his sleeve, putting on an all-out tearful acting performance.
At his pathetic acting, I finally spoke.
“Stop acting. You’re not even crying.”
“Yes, my concern is real, but tears just won’t come. I guess I’m just too much of a real man among men.”
Chris quickly lowered his sleeve.
I gestured for my most annoying (after not seeing him for a while) aide to go do his work. I was just tired.
At that time, at the port.
“Ah, home at last!”
Melvin Edward, the first lieutenant of the West port Line, stretched his arms wide.
The West port Line, carrying the symbol of the Empire’s protector, was the ship every sailor dreamed of.
A place only the absolute top student from their cadet days, excluding those from the Arbiente family, could apply for.
Why had the West port Line become the symbol of the navy?
Because there was a gate connecting to the demon realm in the sea, and at the time of the empire’s founding, the sea was occupied by demon kind.
It was the first head of the Arbiente family, leading the West port Line, who drove out those demons and made the Emperor the ruler of the seas.
‘Even so, how can you work a person this hard?’
That old fox.
Melvin ground his teeth, recalling the admiral who had calmly deceived them, saying a task that would take a full year was a six-month job.
As he continued stretching, sailors coming onto land caught Melvin’s eye.
Among those rugged men, there was one who drew attention.
Perfect, flawless silver hair, and blue eyes that shone brilliantly like the Marchen Sea.
It was Lancel, standing blankly, gazing at the capital’s scenery.
‘Why is he in that state?’
Melvin stopped stretching abruptly.
To Melvin, Lancel was both his superior and an old friend.
They had met in a persistently popular gathering for upper-class boys in the empire, the ‘Wholesome Rowing Community.’
‘Back then, we were both crazy about beer and rowing.’
He thought he’d have nothing to do with that (un)wholesome rowing buddy after becoming an adult, but they ended up entering the naval academy together and continuing their connection.
Finishing his reminiscing, Melvin approached Lancel.
“Why is our Colonel, unlike himself, in such a gloomy mood?”
He was in friend-mode after a long time.
Lancel, who had been showing signs of unease, relaxed his expression upon seeing him.
“Melvin.”
An artificial calm seeped over his chaotically tangled emotions.
“Huh? We’re back after a year, even dancing naked wouldn’t be enough! Fame and retirement security in one go! Achieve that dream with the Oberon Navy! Risk of death from overwork, but that’s okay!”
Melvin shouted, bouncing his body exaggeratedly.
But the response he got was this.
“Well, I’m just tired. My shoulder hurts again.”
It was such a bland reaction it made his overacting embarrassing.
As Lancel moved his injured shoulder, the strong smell of disinfectant wafted over.
Melvin’s expression cooled.
It seemed…
‘He still hasn’t come to his senses.’
Actually, Lancel had been in a pretty bad state for several months.
Burying his face in a pillow and saying he was going to drink 97-proof rum and die wasn’t normal, was it?
The sailors, observing his antics over several days, had a consistent reaction.
‘So this is what happens when you get dumped by your lover… What do we do about our Colonel?’
The sailors couldn’t hide their pity seeing the man, famous as a demon officer who made demons tremble at the mere mention of his name, in such a deranged state.
‘And now…’
The denial stage.
A situation where the reality faced is so harsh, he’s turning away from the truth.
The man, clearly in such a bad state, gave a hollow laugh.
“Speaking so openly about my mental state. That shows a distinct lack of loyalty to your superior.”
It was obvious he was trying to change the subject and pretend he was okay, but Melvin, pitying his friend, decided to let it slide.
“There’s such great loyalty I wouldn’t dare show it, so don’t worry.”
“Yeah, I can feel great loyalty coming from your mouth, at least.”
“Your mouth is a bit low-class for an officer.”
Their childish bickering continued for a moment.
Lancel didn’t retort further, just smiled.
…It seemed there was no answer except time. Melvin turned away.
‘It’s not just him.’
Melvin also had a lot to do upon returning after a year.
‘It would be a big problem if I can’t read apt to the capital like this.’
He had to somehow make up for the year-long gap. Trying to gauge recent trends, Melvin spotted a newspaper.
[ < Celebrity Mary Blinn’s Return! But…? > ]
Maybe sailors had been giggling over it and thrown it away, but it was clean, lying abandoned on the street.
Melvin started reading slowly from the headline.
“……”
And shortly after, his expression hardened.
‘What is this? What is this? When did it become April 1st without me knowing…?’
Melvin stammered and thrust the newspaper at Lancel.
“Hey, hey. Read this.”
Lancel was usually not one to even glance at newspapers.
He was a typical high-ranking noble who generously overlooked stories about himself and Mary as the fate of being a celebrity’s lover, but disliked being mentioned in anything else, even authorized publications.
So, into his half-those moving blue eyes, the words ‘just how far will the colonel’s reputation fall…’ entered.
What now? Lancel reacted blandly.
“It’s not a reputation that will be swayed by trivial stories, so you don’t need to show me such minor things.”
“No, you idiot. Your reputation isn’t what’s important right now…!”
I’m going crazy. Melvin tore at his hair.
At that, Lancel, as if conceding, took the newspaper with a magnanimous gesture.
“……”
And the ensuing reaction was similar to Melvin’s.
No, perhaps it was more severe.
‘…Time heals nothing. I guess we’re going under the Rüpel River bridge to crack open some 97-proof rum.’
Melvin watched Lancel with a tense heart.
Lancel read the entire article in silence, then let out an incredulous laugh.
“……Am I seeing this right?”
His ex-girlfriend had given birth to a child and was raising it alone.
The man who, just moments ago, seemed like he wouldn’t be swayed by trivial stories, was now in a state where he could neither see nor hear anything.
