Two small fingers were made into tongs and gently stretched toward the end of the dragonflyâs wings. But even before it touched, the dragonfly flew away.
âOhâŠâ
Dana bowed her head deeply as she looked at the dragonfly that flew away with a disappointing face. It may be because Leon was told that she was his bride, but he was somehow concerned that her small shoulders were drooping.
âThere are dragonflies all over here.â
âHuh?â
âWait, Iâll catch it for you.â
âReally?â
The blue eyes that seemed to capture the clear autumn sky shone. Leon was proud of his small hand and somehow burdened by his liking.
âYes, follow me.â
Still, he shouted confidently and headed toward the inside of the garden, and Dana nervously followed him.
Owen and Russell watched the children from the second floor of the room. Even though it had been a while since the two met, they didnât talk for a while.
ââŠDid you hold the funeral well?â
âYes, I put on makeup and sprayed it on sunny places.â
Owenâs eyes turned red. He looked out the window on purpose to hide it. Russell looked sideways at him and carefully opened his mouth.
â⊠Iâm sorry. Your Grace.â
âWhatâs there to be sorry about?â
âHe⊠After running away together for a long time⊠Listen to meâŠâ
âDid you think Iâd blame you for that?â
Owen turned his head and looked at Russell and tapped him on his shoulder.
âI was more relieved because it was you. You are a responsible and good person, so you must have made her happy.â
âYeah, it was hard wandering around⊠I was so happy to have a child.â
âProtect your child well. Sophia is⊠a persistent person. Iâll keep an eye on her, but in Elishaâs time, she did things without even a mouse or a bird.â
Owen sighed with a gloomy look. In a situation where there was doubt but no physical evidence, he could not drive his wife, Sophia, as the culprit.
Furthermore, Elisa was the woman of the fallen nobility and was even more so because she was wanted.
Russell clenched his fist and said, suppressing his anger.
âYes, I used to pick up several children of similar age and take them around on purpose. Even at the top, only a few people know who she really is.â
âThen who usually takes care of the child?â
âI put a nanny who canât talk. Iâd like to ask Countess Felice to educate her when she grows up a little bit more.â
âIf itâs Mrs. Felice⊠How do you know her?â
Russell explained to Count Felice in a reliable voice.
âYes, she is my motherâs relative. Sheâs a strict and upright teacher, so sheâll be a good teacher.â
âThe child is the last in the bloodline of the Romoc family. All I have is a guilty heart. No, itâs a sin for everyone in the kingdom thatâs gone.â
âAt that time, that was the best we could do. But I heard that the Haschel Empire is very considerate of this side.â
It had been a long time since it became a country, but they still talked about the Haschel Empire as if they were talking about another country.
âCaring, well.â
Owen smiled fishy and readily disagreed with Russell.
âThen, I donât think Elisa would have to run away like that⊠she wouldnât have died.â
âYour Grace.â
âIf she knew we met today, she wouldnât stay still again.â
âYes, Iâm going to wander around the continent with my child for a while. I want to let her see and experience a lot.â
Owen nodded lightly, and Russell suddenly knelt on one knee as he saw him. He took out two rolled papers that he had in his arms and held them out.
âYour Grace.â
Owen looked down at him with grateful and sorry eyes, not stopping him.
âAll the money at the Deniz merchants is the property of the Tertius family. It was done with the seed money Your Highness entrusted to me. I will never do it in vain. And Iâll give it back to you whenever and whatever it is. Iâm here to promise you that.â
âHow can you be so obsessed with what youâve been called? Thereâs a clearer way than that.â
âWhatâs that method?â
Owen took his eyes off Russell and stared out of the window. Eyes remained on the children running between the gardens for a while.
âLeon is a pretty picky guy, and he plays well with your daughter.â
Owenâs way of speaking was somehow filled with serious mischief. At what he said, Russell also stood up and looked at Dana and Leon.
âThe relationship that Romocâs veins have had with our Tertius is not just one or two generations long. Itâs not a grand idea to regain the old glory, but doesnât it feel strange to see him like that?â
âYour Highness, may IâŠ?â
âNo, itâs not. Thatâs also a blood call. But you need to be a little more solid. Also, I have to give that child a suitable position again. Otherwise, Elisa, who went first, and Romocâs family will not be able to see each other.â
They lowered their voices and talked a little more. The expressions of the two who left the door seemed mixed, but when they saw the approaching children, they brightened up again.
Owen looked at Dana gently and smiled.
The children ran quite a bit, and young Leon was staring at Dana from the side with his cheeks blushed.
âWell, she looks a lot like her. For you⊠Iâm always grateful.â
âNo, Your Highness. I will always live with the guilt. I hope you stay healthy for a long timeâŠâ
âIâm sorry for you. I canât even raise my head. Because I couldnât stop her even though she was next to me⊠I promise this child will definitely be greeted by Duchess Tertius.â
âYour Grace.â
Unlike when he first met him, Russell politely greeted Owen as an example of a Knight. Dana pulled Russellâs hem from the bottom. The other hand held Leonâs hand tightly.
âYouâre already going⊠I havenât caught a single dragonfly yet.â
Dana muttered in a gloomy voice, and Leon, who didnât say much, was also full of regrets on his face.
After a long time, Owen stroked the tops of the two childrenâs heads with a pleasant smile.
âGuys, youâll be together for a long time in the future.â
At that, Leon recalled Owenâs words that Dana was a priest earlier.
âReally? See you again?â
Dana opened her eyes wide and checked with Leon once again. Leon grabbed Danaâs hand, which he was holding tightly, and put it down.
âYes, see you again.â
He thought the two children would be able to meet again soon, but it took much longer than he had expected.
In the meantime, a lot had happened to each of them, and they had completely forgotten their memories of each other.