IRGS 26

Chapter 26

“We’re going to see my mother… the Grand Duchess… this suddenly?!”

Honestly, I wasn’t thrilled about it.

First, because the very existence of my future mother-in-law was intimidating enough on its own.

Second, because during my engagement ceremony with Arnold, the Grand Duchess had looked at me with eyes that clearly said she did not approve of me.

Third, because after becoming engaged to Arnold, I sent New Year’s cards to the ducal couple every year and never once received a reply.

Fourth, because she had never called for me or met me privately after that. We hadn’t even crossed paths at Arnold’s funeral not long ago. She had probably avoided me on purpose.

To the Grand Duchess, I was already the fiancée of the second son she disliked. And now she was surely going to think I had seduced the first son and was trying to marry him instead! On top of that, I was personally marching into the home of her birth family to ask for the absurd permission to bring my own son into the ducal family register! And this wasn’t even long after her second son had died!

It was a disaster. Every possible condition was against me.

But I nodded readily anyway.

“Okay. Let’s go see the Grand Duchess.”

“Yes, I understand you wouldn’t want to. Instead, on the way, I— …Pardon?”

Owen stopped mid-sentence and asked,

“Are you truly alright with this?”

“What is there to be alright or not alright about? Like you said, we have to meet her eventually anyway.”

If it was a necessary meeting, it was better for me to get it over with quickly.

Besides, if this was the price of winning the most handsome man in the empire, then it was more than worth it. Honestly, I was getting off cheap.

Owen still looked bewildered.

“Well… that is true, but…”

“Then let’s leave tomorrow. We should tell Arne too. He’s probably awake from his nap by now, isn’t he?”

I sprang to my feet.

“Yes. Then let’s go together.”

Truthfully, I also had something I was relying on. No matter how much the Grand Duchess disliked me, no matter how loudly she screamed, “You can’t have my son!”, there was no real way for her to stop the marriage itself. And registering Arne into the family could probably be done through the Grand Duke’s authority alone.

So in a way, this wasn’t about asking permission but asking forgiveness.

For a moment, it occurred to me that I was doing exactly the same thing Owen had done, but I quickly shook the thought away.

Besides, once she saw the unbelievably adorable Arne, surely the Grand Duchess’s heart would melt too.

…Or maybe not? Would she hate him simply because he was my son?

Still, surely she wouldn’t imprison me or try to assassinate me like Leonie had… right?

Anxiety slowly crept over me.

Just as I was about to leave the drawing room, I called softly to the son I had stolen from the Grand Duchess.

“Owen.”

“Yes, Sophia.”

“You need to do a good job mediating between us as the husband.”

As though he understood what I meant, Owen answered confidently.

“Yes. I’ll bring guards along, so don’t worry.”

Good heavens. The fact that we needed guards just to visit your mother is exactly what worries me!

With a heavy heart, I stood in front of Arne’s bedroom door. Owen and I planned to explain things to him carefully, step by step.

That Owen and I were going to become his mother and father.

That we were going to get married soon.

That, for this reason, we were going to ask Owen’s mother for permission.

And that legally, he would be registered as the youngest son of House Glentino, Owen’s younger brother.

We would avoid difficult terminology as much as possible, but I worried about how much Arne would understand.

Knock, knock.

“Who is it?” came a voice from inside.

So he was awake after all.

I took a deep breath and said,

“Arne, is now a good time?”

The moment I finished speaking, I heard the rapid patter of little footsteps. A tiny boy grabbed the doorknob himself and opened the door. Arne was clutching Popo tightly in one arm.

I stayed silent for a moment as I tried to gather my thoughts. Because of that, I didn’t notice Arne quietly studying my face.

When I finally lowered my gaze to look at him, tears were already pooling in his eyes.

Startled, I quickly knelt and held his shoulders.

“Arne, what happened? Did someone upset you?”

As I frantically wiped away his tears, the little boy burst into even louder sobs.

After hiccupping for a long while, Arne finally managed to speak through his crying.

“Please don’t abandon me, Mom…”

Oh, heavens.

Seeing such an angelic child crying so pitifully made my chest ache.

I hugged Arne tightly and soothed him.

“Arne, of course I wouldn’t. Who told you that, hmm?”

Still sniffling, Arne spoke in a nasal, tearful voice.

“But… but… your expression looked so strange, Mom.”

“My expression? How?”

“It looked like the face of a judge watching a baby pig sadly lose a Beautiful Pig Contest.”

Oh dear.

I hugged him even tighter. At that exact moment, Arne made a squealing baby pig noise, so I quickly loosened my grip again and said,

“How could such a pretty pig ever lose? And even if you did lose, that’s okay too. You don’t need other people’s approval. You’re already a child who shines like a jewel just as you are.”

I lifted Arne up and sat him on the bed. He was so light that it was hard to believe he was ten years old. Thin and frail.

This won’t do. First I need to feed him properly and put some weight on him.

But before that, there was something else I had to do.

Arne’s appearance in my life, Owen’s proposal, leaving the marquis household—everything had happened so chaotically.

Because of that, I realized I had never once properly introduced myself to Arne with my own words.

Thinking about it, fate truly was a strange thing.

When I first met Arne at Arnold’s funeral, when the little boy had shouted, “A pretty lady!”, I never imagined he would someday become my son.

But like Owen said, surprises—and life itself—were originally like this.

Arne was still sniffling, but he was gradually calming down. I steadied my breathing and took the little boy’s hand.

Then, looking into his eyes, I said,

“Hello, Arne. My name is Sophia ta Bartoli.”

Even at my sudden introduction, Arne simply widened his eyes and sat quietly, listening intently.

As if engraving my name into his mind, he silently mouthed, “Sophia ta Bartoli.”

Perhaps realizing my intention, Owen sauntered over beside me in his usual lazy manner.

“I’m your Aunt Ellie’s older sister. And I’m truly happy that you came into my life, Arne. I’ve never been a mother before, so I may be clumsy at it, but I promise I’ll cherish and love you from now on.”

The little boy’s eyes widened further. Nervously, I waited for the answer from the child who would become my son.

After hesitating for a moment, Arne asked in a trembling voice,

“Even if… I’m stupid? Even if I’m completely useless?”

Those words made emotion surge in my chest.

Because they reminded me of my foolish past life.

In my previous life, I had to become someone worthy in order to earn my father’s love. It was proof of my value. Because the useless me could not even love myself.

But that was wrong.

Holding Arne’s hand tightly, I said,

“That’s what family is. Just existing, just staying by each other’s side, already gives strength and comfort. So how could you not be precious?”

Arne’s eyes widened at my words.

Come to think of it, I was saying this to myself too. In this new life, I had gained a new family as well. A family I had chosen for myself.

Feeling tears threaten to fall, I quickly grabbed Owen’s hand and pulled him closer.

“And this person here is the man who’s going to become your father. Owen, introduce yourself.”

At my words, the man obediently opened his mouth.

“Hello, Arne. My name is Owen ta Glentino. We’ve seen each other often.”

When I shot him a look, Owen folded his long legs and lowered himself to meet Arne at eye level.

Sitting on the bed, the little boy asked innocently,

“What is a father?”

Owen answered calmly,

“A person who loves your mother. And of course, someone who loves his child too. As your father, I promise to cherish and love you together with your mother. Because we are family now.”

I had expected Owen to answer carelessly, as if it were bothersome, but unexpectedly, he spoke with warmth. Arne also nodded with fascinated eyes.

This child was like me.

In the sense that he did not know what a father was supposed to be.

Fortunately, now he would get to learn.

And as proof of that, Arne’s pale green eyes sparkled as he said,

“I’ll cherish and love Mom and Dad too. Please take good care of me, Mom, Dad.”