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Chapter 73
“It seems… a lot of time really has passed.”
Mehen sat down, lost in thought.
“The mansion is the same, but the imperial capital has changed a lot.”
What was that bastard trying to say?
Today, Halbern Grand Duke’s usually violet eyes shone with a crystalline clarity, faint amusement glimmering within them as he looked at Mehen.
“Suddenly, ‘Mom’?”
Mehen didn’t answer.
The man burst into booming laughter, as though to wash everything away with his mirth, but when he got smacked and ended up with a red forehead, he was still laughing, still infuriatingly handsome.
“Look at you. I turn my back for a while and now you’re someone’s mom. Time really does fly, doesn’t it? Who would’ve thought? Mehen, a mother.”
“If you want to die, keep talking.”
“Oho, a straight-up assassination notice? Thrilling already.”
“Why do you think it would be an assassination?”
“Then what—are you going to kill me openly and honorably? That would be refreshing in its own way.”
“Stop spouting nonsense.”
“So, who’s the kid’s father? Don’t tell me—it’s me?”
Pfft.
It was a sudden blow. The maids and butlers burst into laughter without restraint, and Mehen’s face burned with shame, though she endured it.
“So that means you’re my wife, Mehen?”
“Do you want to die?”
Her instant retort only made the Grand Duke laugh harder, until he was nearly out of breath.
“Why so cold, dear? Don’t treat your husband so harshly after so long.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“But when did we even get married?”
“I said shut it.”
The veins in Mehen’s forehead throbbed. If Arellyn hadn’t been sitting beside her, she would’ve already lost her temper and beaten him with whatever was at hand.
‘But I can’t do that.’
It would be bad for the child’s education, and harmful to her emotional well-being.
Mehen desperately suppressed the urge to kill.
“Hah, this is fun.”
“Oh, is it?”
The Grand Duke rested his chin on his hand, swallowing his regret, because he knew if he pushed any further, she really might strangle him.
His gaze slid over, toward the small child who had clung tightly to Mehen from earlier, refusing to let go.
Flinch.
The child immediately hid behind Mehen, using her as a shield, and the Duke’s expression darkened.
“Hm.”
That obvious display of interest was enough to finally push Mehen to sigh, sensing the subtle tension rising.
‘That bastard.’
“Arel, go on and get some rest.”
Buried almost entirely in Mehen’s side, Arellyn peeked out.
“Is it really okay?”
“Yes.”
Mehen didn’t want to pressure her daughter into anything in this disastrous “first meeting” with her father.
Not while that so-called father was acting like this.
“Mmm.”
Arellyn glanced at Mehen, then flicked a nervous look toward the Grand Duke. She seemed too wary to look at him directly.
The Grand Duke’s expression turned strange at the sight of the little girl’s hesitant deliberation.
“It’s fine. You can go.”
Only when reassured with Mehen’s gentle, kind voice did Arellyn smile, rising from her seat.
“See you later.”
Her small whisper was filled with trust and faith.
After Mehen gave her a quick hug, the girl left without a backward glance at her father, holding the maid’s hand.
The Grand Duke watched her go, tilting his head.
“Dear, our daughter is afraid of me.”
A cushion flew at his face.
“That’s called retribution, you bastard.”
Mehen finally let her pent-up anger burst.
“So.”
Mehen pressed her fingers against her temples.
“Where have you been all this time?”
“An interrogation the moment I arrive?”
The Grand Duke drooped his handsome eyes in mock weariness, feigning a pitiful look.
“I’m tired, you know.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“Unyielding as ever.”
He pouted childishly before propping his chin up again.
“Fine. Go on.”
Mehen tossed that morning’s copy of the Albrecht Times onto the table. The Duke tilted his head.
“What exactly have you done this time?”
“Well, it’s not exactly easy to leave the northern fortress unattended.”
“So you slay a dragon instead?”
“Were you worried about me? Don’t. I didn’t get hurt, dear.”
“Call me ‘dear’ one more time, and I’ll sue you for workplace harassment and defamation.”
“Such a scary reaction.”
He shivered dramatically, grinning all the while—clearly not scared at all. Dealing with him was exhausting.
Mehen fought down the overwhelming urge to strangle him.
Patience. Patience brings blessings…
“So how did you end up becoming a mom?”
“That’s none of your concern, you irresponsible man.”
“Harsh. Truly harsh.”
She glared, wanting to bite back harder, but knew if she followed his pace, she’d just fall into his rhythm again. Forcing her temper down, she asked coldly:
“How did you get here?”
“It’s obvious. You already know.”
Was he saying such a relic really existed?
Mehen’s eyes sharpened. And he never used it until now?
Perhaps sensing her skepticism, the Grand Duke lounged deeper into the sofa, smiling lazily.
“I’m not going anywhere, so no need to stare so intensely.”
“Can I hit you?”
“I won’t let you.”
She threw another cushion. He dodged with a tilt of his head and smiled infuriatingly.
“No questions? You must have a lot.”
“Ha.”
Questions? She had plenty—so many her head might explode.
But the one that came out first was the most important.
“Why did you come back?”
His violet eyes blinked, long lashes fluttering before lowering.
“You advised me to, didn’t you?”
“For that alone?”
“Do I need a greater reason?”
It sounded like a joke, but his eyes weren’t laughing. They seemed to say more, but Mehen neither wanted to know nor acknowledge it.
“Then you should have come back earlier! I begged you for years to return, and you never showed your face—until now?! Do you really want to die at my hands?!”
“If it’s by your hand, it would be an honor.”
“Stop joking!”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
Mehen let out a long, guttural sigh from the depths of her chest.
“Forget it. I won’t talk anymore.”
The Grand Duke laughed.
“You’re laughing? At a time like this?”
“Why are you so angry?”
“Do I look like I wouldn’t be?!”
Causing trouble was one thing, making her clean up after him was another—but there had to be limits.
“So why did you even go to the northern fortress?”
“For a deal.”
“A deal? What kind of deal?”
Mehen’s face tensed with unease.
The Grand Duke pressed a finger lightly against his lips and shook his head.
“I can’t say. Unfortunately, I made an Oath of Silence.”
Mehen’s expression hardened.
The Oath of Silence was the strictest kind of binding vow. Once sworn, it was impossible to break.
She let out an involuntary sigh as her mind raced.
An Oath of Silence. The Imperial Palace. Halbern.
“Why?”
What could the Grand Duke Valere possibly lack, that he would strike such a bargain under such extreme conditions—forced to hole up in the northern fortress?
She wanted an explanation she could accept. But, as always, the Grand Duke only smiled faintly.
“You’re giving her the medicine properly, aren’t you?”
“……”
“It’s precious. Make sure she takes it, alright?”
Mehen froze.
Finally piecing together the connection, she groaned.
“If you hadn’t looked into the source of that mysterious monthly delivery of medicine, you wouldn’t be the Mehen I know.”
“Yes, I looked into it.”
“And what did you find?”
His soft voice was insufferable.
She really felt like hitting him just once would be worth it.
“The Imperial Palace.”
Her investigation had traced the unknown medicine back to a discreet channel, ending in the palace—though the exact location remained shadowy and secretive.
‘And I left it buried, knowing it would only bring trouble if I dug deeper…’
Now the fatigue weighed even heavier. Rubbing her darkened under-eyes, Mehen spoke in a rare, polite tone—her long-lost respect for her liege briefly returning.
“That medicine… it was your arrangement?”
“Who else would it be?”
His low voice was tender. Mehen’s face twisted in frustration.
“So you’ve been stuck in the northern fortress all this time because of that medicine?”
The Grand Duke only shrugged.
At last, one of the long-unanswered mysteries was finally resolved.
