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Chapter 07 …
At that time.
Duran Dayrte, who was attending the regular Republican Party meeting, tapped his chest irritably and let out a sigh.
A nearby Republican Party member asked with concern.
“Are you feeling unwell? Should I get you some water?”
“No. It’s not something that can be solved with that.”
As Duke Dayrte briefly refused, the party member nodded and left him alone.
So they did meet after all.
The Duke had seen Seimon frantically searching for Christine with his own eyes, yet he kept silent to honor a promise made to his former daughter-in-law.
But his clever son eventually realized it was his doing and stormed over with a terrifying aura.
Seimon had been even angrier upon learning that Duran had arranged the divorce in his absence than when he first discovered it.
If you were going to go that mad over her, you should have treated her better during the marriage.
The Duke clicked his tongue.
He had a good business mind, but when it came to women, he was hopelessly ignorant.
After Seimon unleashed a barrage of harsh words and left for the New Continent saying he would return to talk again, two weeks had passed.
There was still no news.
The attendants raised by his son were all tight-lipped and loyal, so no one could tell what Seimon was doing.
“Next, we will hear from the representative of the radical faction.”
Pulled from his thoughts, Duran lifted his head as the radical faction leader stood up.
The man insisted that all traces of the Chester Empire must be erased and a true “Republic” established, even if violent means were necessary.
Has he forgotten how that once pushed the Republican Party into a corner? What is he trying to say now?
Thinking of the Crown Prince Martin incident, Duran frowned and watched him closely.
The radical representative looked around the party members and spoke coldly.
“You are all cruel. Our comrades have been sentenced to life imprisonment and are suffering in Swark Prison, the harshest facility, yet why are we not even given a chance to submit a petition to the Commander?”
“We already answered that. Even the commutation from death penalty to life imprisonment happened because of overwhelming public opposition.”
“You should be grateful they are alive at all.”
“If the public finds out the Republican Party is moving for those prisoners, another riot will break out.”
The party members refuted him one after another.
The radical representative’s face flushed red.
“Even so, how can you—!”
“…A man has died. Do you still want to blindly protect them?”
The Duke quietly rebuked him.
Silence filled the room. The radical representative bit his lip tightly and sat down.
We barely managed to restrain him again today.
He would likely go on again about granting leniency to the four radical members who attempted to assassinate Crown Prince Martin and were sent to prison.
Duran let out a light sigh.
While staying at the Dayrte estate, Christine—who had always feared the Republican Party, especially the radicals—came to mind.
The last remaining royal bloodline.
Yet at the same time, just an ordinary human like them.
She should be fine.
He murmured, gazing toward the direction of the Rojas Republic.
“Hold on to her this time, Seimon.”
If the two reconciled, he intended to block any political interference with his own body if necessary.
But he did not know about his son’s illness.
A terrible one.
Christine’s morning
Suddenly waking from sleep, Christine slowly opened her eyes and checked the clock, letting out a sigh.
“…Oh no.”
It was already morning.
She felt embarrassed that she had fallen asleep without waiting for Seimon.
She had clearly been sitting in a rocking chair, so it was likely Seimon had carried her to bed.
Why, when he’s sick…
He should’ve just woken me up.
Was Seimon alright?
Chiding herself for falling asleep so carelessly, Christine washed up and carefully walked into the living room.
“…Ah.”
There, Seimon was sitting at the island counter, drinking coffee.
As always, he was impeccably dressed, his hair neatly styled. There was no trace of the man who had been writhing in pain in the hotel lobby the previous night.
It felt like a dream.
Sensing her presence, he spoke without even looking up from his newspaper.
“Eat this and go to work.”
On the table he indicated were two lavish brunch plates and three glasses of juice.
The amount was overwhelming, and Christine was dumbfounded.
“You’re not seriously expecting me to eat all of this alone, are you?”
Seimon folded his newspaper and gave her a relaxed glance.
“No. It’s all yours.”
“All of it…?”
Her expression of disbelief made a playful smile appear on Seimon’s lips.
“Yes. Eat everything. Dinner will be even more than this, so be prepared.”
He slowly lifted his coffee and watched her confused face leisurely.
“They say pregnant women need to eat well.”
His indifferent tone carried careful consideration. Christine was speechless.
“Do you really believe I’ll come back here again?”
“Of course.”
At his confident answer, Christine placed her hands on her hips.
“What kind of confidence is that?”
Seimon set down his coffee and stood up, walking slowly toward her.
As his tall frame and broad shoulders approached, Christine felt her breath tighten.
“Just because.”
He paused, then leaned down to meet her eye level and whispered softly.
“Because I can’t live even a day without you.”
Then, as if nothing had happened, he returned to his seat and casually reopened the newspaper.
“…W-what…”
Christine’s face turned bright red.
Seimon, glancing at her, spoke again with a faint smile.
“We haven’t finished our conversation yet. Our baby fell asleep early, so we couldn’t finish talking.”
He finally turned his eyes toward her and smiled.
Embarrassed, Christine blushed deeply and felt unfairly accused.
Sleeping a lot was normal for pregnant women. She wasn’t usually like this…
To change the subject, she crossed her arms.
“…So what are you planning to do here at the hotel? You said you didn’t come here for business.”
“Hm. Are you worried about me? Even though I’m just a stranger?”
Seimon replied teasingly.
“Stop joking. That’s not how you used to be. Why do you keep confusing me?”
Christine leaned on the table, frowning.
Seimon folded his newspaper and smiled.
“People change when they’re about to die. Let’s leave it at that.”
Christine was speechless.
That’s what you call a thing to say?
His casual tone about death both frustrated and saddened her.
She had reasons to dislike him—but her heart still reacted strangely around him, which was ironic.
She grabbed her bag.
“I’m going to work.”
“No. You should eat first.”
His tone was firm. She sighed.
This is definitely a man I shouldn’t stay too close to… I keep softening.
In the end, Christine had to finish both plates under Seimon’s watchful gaze.
“…Ugh, I’m full.”
Rubbing her stomach, she glanced into the open study.
On the desk were scattered documents and a single white sheet of paper.
“Even while sick, he’s working…”
Frowning, she entered to tidy the papers.
But as soon as she reached the desk, she froze.
The white paper bore Seimon Dayrte’s signature.
It was his will.
Seimon… you…
Her heart dropped violently.
She felt as if she were falling into darkness.
He was really going to die.
Christine broke down in front of that single sheet of paper.
At the Magic Inspection Office
What is this?
Arriving at work already feeling emotionally drained, Christine immediately sensed something was off.
Everyone was watching her.
When their eyes met hers, they quickly pretended to work, and whispers followed her everywhere.
“She looks so proper…”
“Did she play with Riart like that? Who’s the real man then? How many men does she even have?”
“I heard the child’s father is someone else too?”
At first, she thought it was her imagination—but the whispers grew clearer.
Ha…
It didn’t take long for her to understand.
Just then, she saw Riart carrying documents in the distance.
He flinched and avoided her gaze.
Coward.
She immediately realized this was his doing and rushed toward him—but Riart quickly fled.
She clicked her tongue in frustration but couldn’t chase further.
Ugh.
Her lower abdomen tightened from stress.
“Ha…”
She sat down, calming herself and the baby.
Then decided to ignore it entirely.
It’s not even true anyway.
Just gossip. It would fade with time.
But then—
“Christine. Is it true? No, right?”
It was Liah.
Something inside Christine snapped.
“What rumor are you talking about? Tell me exactly.”
Liah hesitated.
“That you tried to seduce Riart. That you asked him to go home with you.”
Christine’s head spun.
Absurd.
Rumors had twisted everything: that she flirted, invited him home, and even that another man attacked Riart.
“That’s ridiculous, I know.”
Liah said she didn’t believe it either.
Relieved, Christine said:
“None of that is true.”
But then—
“Then… is it true you had a confrontation with Riart and another man at the pub?”
“Liah…”
“Who was it? A new lover? Don’t tell me it’s the father of your child?”
“It’s nothing like that.”
Christine sighed heavily.
“I’m exhausted from all this nonsense.”
Liah apologized and returned to her desk.
But guilt lingered in her.
What should I do…
She remembered a man who had visited earlier.
He had introduced himself as Andrei Bern and told her to contact him if anything happened to Christine.
She didn’t know who he really was—but he didn’t seem like he was lying.
I can’t let Christine suffer like this.
Liah quietly took out the contact number Andrei Bern had given her.
