Chapter 66

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Chapter 66

“Uncle, don’t go… Huh?”

The crying Brielle broke Kentrail’s heart.

“Brielle.”

He raised his big hand and wiped his nephew’s cheek.

“Where are you going? I want to go with you!”

Because he said he was going on a trip for a while without telling him his destination, Brielle must have been anxious. In the end, Kentrail sighed and told him some things.

“Briel, have you seen your grandfather before?”

“…My mother’s father?”

It had been a very long time ago, so he couldn’t remember clearly, but Brielle knew it was the one who gave him one of the dragon dolls in his room.

The child nodded.

“Now, your maternal grandfather is in critical condition. That’s why I’m going to go there.”

“What?”

Hearing that he was in critical condition, the child stopped crying and quickly changed to a worried face.

“Is he in a lot of pain?”

“Yes. So, you have to listen to the nanny, okay?”

Brielle nodded, wiping the tears away with the sleeve of his robe before replying, “Tell my grandfather instead of me that I hope he gets well again soon.”

“Yes.”

Kentrail hugged him tightly.

After all, perhaps it would take a month or two to see the child again.

“Did you know that if something goes wrong, you have Taylor and Derek, so you can run to them?”

He then repeated those words to Brielle.

“Uncle? Why don’t you take anyone?”

“Because there are other knights. Brielle is not friendly with other knights so uncle is going with the other knights.”

The child nodded. His uncle’s words made sense.

As he felt the crying nephew calming in his arms, he released Brielle from his arms.

“How soon will you come?”

“A month at the earliest, two months at the longest?”

“So long?”

“Yes. It’s very far from here.”

“…Then, I can’t go with you.”

Kentrail stroked Brielle’s hair. The child pouted his mouth as if regretfully, “I wish I could grow up a little faster.”

“Uncle wants Brielle to grow up slowly.”

The big eyes of the child turned to him at the unexpected words.

“Why?”

“I want to be with our Brielle a little longer? Later, when you grow up, you’ll go out into society, and we will spend less time together.”

He really wanted to catch the time passing so quickly sometimes.

“Hehe, I’ll spend a lot of time with uncle when I grow up.”

“Yes, you can’t forget, Briel?”

“Yes!”

And so, he made all preparations to leave.

“Count.”

“You haven’t slept yet?”

On his way back from comforting Brielle, he ran into Marie in the hallway.

“Yes, I can’t sleep.”

“Still, if you walk around in such a thin outfit, you’ll catch a cold.”

As soon as she heard that, she laughed.

“Why are you laughing?”

“The Count always seems to be very concerned about me catching a cold.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, because you’re actually dressed this thin.”

After examining her attire, he looked embarrassed as he answered.

“When you leave, bring some thicker clothes.”

“Okay.”

“Anything to drink or eat? Did you bring the beef jerky?”

“I told the kitchen.”

“If you travel for a long time, it will be difficult to talk. Did you prepare?”

As Marie continued to speak about her concerns, Kentrail gazed at her softly and asked, “Can I hug you once?

“…What?”

Then, he cautiously took a step closer to Marie, who was bewildered. Her hot body temperature fell on his untouched skin.

“If you don’t like it, you can push me. Can I hug you?”

When she nodded her head, Kentrail pulled her closer and hugged her as he approached her cautiously. It was a deep hug. Marie was a little perplexed by the different hugs from this time.

‘When I hugged you, it must have been nothing but light comfort.’

She dug herself deeper into his arms.

“I want you to be happy.”

At the sudden words, Marie thought about what he meant.

“Think of it first. Anytime.”

It seemed that if something happened to the Count himself, she should not be too sad or blame himself, though live in search of happiness.

“I’m happy to be next to the Count.”

Her low, firm voice flew into his chest.

“What…?”

He asked again, wondering if he had heard correctly.

“So, please come back in a healthy state.”

At her words, Kentrail hugged her a little tighter.

‘I heard you right. Happy to be by my side… Can you hear my pulse beating like this now? Can you feel it?’

He wanted his own overwhelming feelings to be conveyed to her. However, Marie was now too distracted by the sound of her own heart.

‘My heart is getting louder and louder. The Count will hear it, too… Still, I don’t want to get out of this.’

A pleasant scent emanated from him. Nonetheless, it felt strangely rational and she was ashamed.

“I’ll come back safely.”

At the sound of his promise, Marie raised her arms and embraced him.

The shadows of the two of them hung long and stayed in the hallway of the mansion for a long time.

He left

Marie couldn’t believe it.

It looked like he was still working in his office…

She sat in her own room and buried her face in her lap. Even though she tried not to show it in front of the children, when she was alone like this she would become lethargic.

‘I miss you already.’

His body temperature seemed to still surround her.

‘I wish you could come back before this warmth disappears.’

Deep in her thoughts, she fiddled with the necklace he had given her.

‘…I hope things are resolved soon so that I can convey this feeling.’

As she continued to look at the necklace, she heard a knock.

“Marie.”

It was Brielle.

“Young master.”

“What were you doing?”

She turned her face, which she had been burying in her lap, toward the child, and reached out her arms to sign for him to come.

“I think of the person I miss.”

“Someone you miss…? Uncle?”

Brielle got the right answer right away.

“How did you know?”

“I miss uncle so much, too.”

Saying that, the child approached her and held out what he had brought.

“I’ve done all this. Look.”

“Oh, it’s a math problem?”

“Yes.”

After he left, Brielle was more focused on his studies. Perhaps, it was because he would want to see his uncle more if he stayed still.

“It’s all correct.”

“Is that right? I’m good at math now.”

Smiling a little, Marie loosened her knees and sat Brielle, who had stood up on her lap.

“Have you been studying since morning?”

“Yes. I was with Ellie.”

“You should have lunch.”

On purpose, Marie spoke in a firm tone. It was because she didn’t want Brielle to be depressed and she wanted him to eat well even without his uncle.

“What did the Chef prepare today?”

“I don’t know. It smells delicious. Shall we go?”

“Good.”

Eventually, Marie and Brielle left the room affectionately.

Siege also prepared to leave the mansion.

“Stay a little longer…”

Barry said with regret. Since Siege said he was going down to the estate, it meant that he wouldn’t be able to see him for a while.

“I want to go, I decided to go.”

His departure was not easy either.

“Everyone is saddened to hear that you are leaving.”

Siege was also feeling that fact. Even Brielle, who had erected a wall against him, has allowed him to touch his cheeks.

“Aren’t you the most upset among them?”

Barry heard those words and tapped Siege on the shoulder. It was natural.

“Siege, can I come in?”

Suddenly, Marie visited his room.

“Sister.”

“Barry, you were here. Siege, were you packing?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, you don’t have to be so formal.”

Siege smiled softly at her words. He thanked her for taking care of him like a real sister while he was here.

“I’m sorry.”

“Yes?”

“I have to leave when the Count is not here.”

“No. Don’t worry about it. It’s just a pity that you’re not in the mansion anymore.”

If it was Siege’s skill, he would be reassured just by being in the mansion. However, he had work in the estate, so he couldn’t see the child leaving.

“Did you prepare well?”

Marie spoke while examining his luggage.

“Yes.”

She could see him packing with meticulous hands. He looked better than herself.

“Yes…”

She glanced carefully into Siege’s face.

‘Male lead… Now, just looking at that face doesn’t make me feel that way anymore. Is it because the original soty is wrong? This child will also be happy if the female protagonist appears.’

She wanted Siege’s partner to be a warm-hearted person who could share the pain of his family’s history.

“Why are you like this, sister?”

Barry had asked why she was weird like that.

“No, because I don’t think I’ll see him for a while…”

Marie muttered her words.

“I’ll come back when the estate is stable.

“Yes. You can come back here if anything happens.”

Saying that, Marie was embarrassed to talk as if she was the owner of this place, though she knew Kentrail allowed it as well.

“Yes, please thank the Count, too.”

“Yes. I’d like to hold on and talk more, but then you’ll be leaving too late.”

Unfortunately, she had to let him go.

Brielle and Ellie also came to see him off.

“Goodbye.”

Seeing Ellie’s eyes reddened, she seemed to have had a lot of affection for him during that time.

“See you.”

It was the same with Brielle.

Siege didn’t have little siblings, so whenever he saw the two children, they were cute like his own little siblings, and he wanted to do something. Although he was scared sometimes when they stared at him.

Thinking that, he reached out his hand to her children. It was his last expression of affection.

After shaking hands, he left the County.

Steam began to form on the windows.

It was because of the temperature difference from the outside.

‘Did he take out the coat he brought with him?’

She was standing where she shared a hug with him, looking out the window.

‘…Did you arrive safely? You haven’t sent me a single letter, aren’t you too heartless?’

Marie had a grumpy expression on her face. It was the expression Brielle used to express.

‘The weather is getting colder, so they’ll want to eat something warm. I’ll tell the kitchen I’ll cook for dinner tonight.’

Already she has imagined the children who will enjoy the food she makes.

‘I have to make food that they can use a spoon with. What would be good…?’

She pondered and moved on to her steps. If she didn’t do this, she knew she would be spending time standing there all day.

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