IRGS 35

Chapter 35

“I Regressed and Ended Up with a Son” – Chapter 35

Time passed, and it was already the third day of our journey.

We were inside a carriage.

Arne had been reading a book but had dozed off. It was one he bought in Kenis.

As for me, I was holding a book as well—while offering my thigh as a pillow for Arne. It was the same novel I had bought in Kenis.

I had intended to read, just like Arne. I was too curious about the contents to resist.

But not long after opening the book, I realized something new.

I was extremely prone to motion sickness.

As for what exactly happened… I’d rather not go into detail. Let’s just say I nearly made a complete spectacle of myself.

And now, with my arms crossed, I was just glaring at the book’s cover.

[The Case of the Fiancé’s Murder]

If only I hadn’t been blind before my regression—if only I had been able to check the title! I would have known this was a typical mystery novel.

‘If Bambi were here.’

Today of all days, I really missed Bambi. In truth, I’d been thinking about him for a while now.

Back before my regression, when I was blind, a strange man had read novels to me. Asking the Bambi of this life about it would be useless.

But the Bambi from before—who never left my side until I died—he would definitely have known.

That man’s identity. That book.

Before I became independent, while I was still at the marquis’s estate, Bambi used to visit me regularly every one or two weeks. He’d tell me about Leoni’s movements and all sorts of things he thought I’d like.

…Wait a second.

If Bambi went to the marquis’s estate to see me, what would happen? Around now is when he’d usually visit—and I haven’t told him I came here!

What if he went there and found my bedroom completely empty?

What if he thought I’d been kidnapped… or even killed?

That would be a disaster. He might literally turn the entire estate upside down!

No, no! The townhouse is a valuable asset of the marquis family!

“Sophia?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

I must have jumped to my feet without realizing it—my head nearly hit the carriage ceiling. I coughed awkwardly and sat back down.

Wait—what about Arne, who had been resting on my lap?!

Thankfully, Owen had already picked him up and was holding him.

Right. This isn’t the time to worry about that.

Bambi… well, no matter what, he wouldn’t act that impulsively.

Even if he misunderstood something in the moment.

Probably.

The man sitting across from me rubbed his eyes with one hand. Only then did it occur to me that Owen looked a bit tired.

“Owen, did you not sleep well?”

“No… well, I can go several nights without sleep.”

Which means he didn’t sleep.

Why? Was it the lodging? That couldn’t be it.

The places we stayed the past two nights were excellent—top-tier hotels in the city, with perfect room service.

There were enough beds, but somehow we always ended up using just one. Every night, as soon as the lights went out, the men would gather on my bed as if it were prearranged.

Arne would curl up in my arms, Owen would lie beside me, and I’d fall asleep while talking to him, listening to Arne’s soft breathing.

And every morning, Owen was always the first one awake.

In fact, I had never once seen him asleep.

“So, why didn’t you sleep?”

“It’s nothing.”

What?

After a brief moment of thought, I arrived at a logical conclusion.

…Something inappropriate?

“No.”

“Huh?”

“It’s written all over your face. That’s not it.”

Owen, still pressing his eyes, smirked slightly before finally explaining.

“The truth is… please don’t misunderstand, Sophia.”

“I’m ready.”

Even after my quick reply, Owen spoke slowly, as if he wanted to watch my reaction.

“It just so happened that I found out…”

“Yes?”

“It seemed like you were taking sleeping pills… so I was concerned about whether you were sleeping well at night.”

What?

“I don’t take sleeping pills.”

I wasn’t that sensitive about sleep. What made him think that?

Owen seemed to have expected my answer.

“You don’t need to hide it. I’m only concerned about your health.”

“No, it’s really—”

I thought carefully about why he might have misunderstood.

Ah… that time.

Back when Owen barged into my bedroom at the Bartoli residence—he must have seen the sleeping pills in my drawer.

Those were from when my father confined me and forbade me from eating. I used them to endure a week.

But explaining that now would only make things more pitiful.

So I just nodded vaguely.

“That was a long time ago. I’m fine now.”

“That’s a relief.”

Owen looked genuinely reassured. It was hard to believe this was the same man who always seemed ready to tease me.

Wait…

Then all this time—every night—had he been coming to my bed on purpose, just to check whether I suffered from insomnia? Staying awake all night beside me?

“….”

Unbelievable. I thought he was smart, but he keeps doing things that only hurt himself.

“…You could have just asked me.”

I muttered quietly, even though I knew he had done it out of consideration.

Owen responded casually.

“Yes. I did begin to suspect it. For someone with insomnia, you sleep as soundly as a sloth.”

“I told you. From now on, you should sleep like a sloth too.”

“Yes, I was planning to. Lack of sleep is fatal to aging.”

What does that even mean?

“Owen, you don’t look old at all.”

Not that it mattered—his looks were on a completely different level anyway.

But his response was oddly convincing.

“Didn’t you say you prefer younger men, Sophia? I should at least look youthful.”

I nodded absentmindedly—then froze.

Owen was smiling like he was teasing me.

Wait… did I ever tell him that directly?

Then it hit me.

That time—when Owen broke into my room at the marquis’s estate.

While embroidering on my bed, I had tried to check if he was asleep by saying:

“The Grand Duke Glentino isn’t actually my type.”

“….”

“That was a lie.”

“….”

“But I do prefer younger men.”

Oh my god.

He was awake?!

“If you were awake, you should’ve said something!”

I snapped shamelessly. Who knows what I did back then, thinking he was asleep!

My face burned red, but Owen only shrugged calmly.

“I’m more surprised you thought I’d be asleep. It was our first time sharing a bed—how could I fall asleep so easily?”

“Choose your words carefully. We weren’t ‘sharing a bed,’ we were just on the same bed.”

As I said that, I realized something else.

Back then, he had just discovered my sleeping pills—of course he couldn’t have slept.

“Anyway… from now on, get proper sleep, Owen. Forget aging—you’re just tired.”

“Yes, I will.”

He nodded kindly.

But I knew he wouldn’t actually listen.

His gaze briefly shifted to Arne before returning to me.

I pretended not to notice.

After some time, Arne and Popo, who had been asleep, woke up one after another.

It was almost lunchtime, and I was starting to feel hungry too.

Rubbing his eyes, Arne asked:

“Mom, how far is the next city?”

“We’ll arrive soon. It’s called ‘Cantalice.’ Let’s have lunch when we get there.”

“Okay…”

Arne leaned against my shoulder and fell asleep again. Popo snuggled into his arms.

Since they first met, the two had never been apart.

Cantalice, huh.

I couldn’t stop the smile from forming on my lips.

Owen, who had been watching me, asked:

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

“I feel strangely excited today.”

Though it wasn’t strange at all.

I knew exactly why.

Cantalice!

It was a city I truly loved before my regression. Whenever I felt suffocated, I would ride through the night alone just to spend time there.

This free city… was practically in the palm of my hand.

Soon, the carriage came to a stop.

If you want, I can also summarize the chapter, explain character dynamics, or translate the next chapter 👍