Chapter 253
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
Emilia was a bit worried but nodded in agreement. Hearing their conversation, Mikhail got up from his sleep.
“Emilia.”
“You’re awake?”
“Are you feeling alright?”
He immediately reached out and placed his hand on her forehead.
A sigh of relief escaped as he confirmed her fever had subsided, then he lowered his head deeply.
“I’ll bring you some warm tea and medicine.”
Dell gave a slight bow and left the room. Emilia gently stroked Mikhail’s hair as he rested his head on her hand.
“The baby is so beautiful. He looks just like you.”
At last, he raised his head and met her gaze.
“He should take after you to be pretty. If he’s like me, he’s bound to be troublesome.”
“Why’s that?”
“I’ve caused you plenty of trouble too.”
Emilia chuckled softly but bit her lip as another wave of pain rolled in.
“…Maybe I shouldn’t say anything.”
“Don’t say that. How long did they say I have to stay in bed?”
“At least five days.”
“No way!”
“There was a lot of bleeding. Your body’s weakened, so you need to rest fully for that long.”
“But wasn’t it supposed to be just three days?”
“Not for you.”
Five days stuck in bed already felt overwhelming to Emilia.
She’d heard three days was usually enough, so something must have been wrong.
Reading her expression, Mikhail spoke firmly.
“Even if it feels stifling, there’s no choice. But I’ll be here so you won’t be bored.”
Emilia looked at Eckart nestled in her arms.
“Just watching the baby will make the day pass quickly, right?”
“The nanny will care for him. You need to rest. You can see him whenever you want, but you mustn’t take care of him yourself.”
She nodded lightly.
“Look, Mikhail.”
Her finger was gently wrapped by the baby’s tiny hand, and Mikhail’s nose tingled with emotion.
“No matter what, you can’t do that. I’ll watch him. You rest.”
Mikhail lifted Eckart into his arms just as Dell returned with medicine and warm tea.
When Emilia sat up slightly, her belly ached sharply.
She forced herself to maintain her composure and swallowed the medicine.
Though the baby was beautiful, she wasn’t sure she’d want to go through this again. Lying back down, Emilia gazed at Mikhail and the child in his arms.
‘Hmm, maybe I could do it again.’
The sleeping baby looked like a little angel.
His golden hair fluttered softly in the breeze. His eyes slowly opened.
Beneath long golden lashes, eyes the color of emerald revealed themselves.
Though he shouldn’t have noticed, Eckart’s gaze never left Emilia.
“Mikhail, Eckart opened his eyes.”
Though she thought the child would have his red eyes, Eckart’s were a clear green.
“Those are your eyes.”
Mikhail also fixed his gaze on Eckart.
Just watching felt like time was speeding by.
❖ ❖ ❖
“It’s truly beautiful.”
Emilia spoke as she gazed out at the horizon beyond the estate.
She cherished these quiet moments spent staring blankly at the sea with him, especially as the sun was setting.
After giving birth and recovering her strength, she had been confined to the estate, unable to fully appreciate Bromley.
But now, months later, she wandered Bromley’s corners, enjoying a peaceful retreat with him.
Though the capital sent letters urging Mikhail to return, he remained steadfast.
“Are you sure it’s okay not to go back to the capital? If it’s too much, you should go.”
“They manage fine without me. They’re just exaggerating.”
“But they might really need you.”
“There are plenty of capable people in the capital. If the country can’t run without me, then that’s a serious problem.”
Since the royal family’s dissolution, Bartsch had undergone many changes.
Endless power struggles flared between nobles and citizens, conflicts over dividing interests never ceased.
Even Marquis Gepetto voiced his difficulties.
“This will take a long time.”
“Of course. Friction is inevitable. There’s no perfect agreement for everyone, so it’s a never-ending battle.”
Mikhail pressed his temple as a headache throbbed.
“They’ll have to compromise. Greed only leads to harm for all.”
The class system wouldn’t vanish overnight. Mikhail seemed burdened by it all, and Emilia felt sorry for him.
“Shall we take a walk?”
“This time with you is precious; I can’t say no.”
He smiled warmly.
Side by side, Mikhail and Emilia strolled.
Their estate stood on a hill overlooking the sea, offering a breathtaking view.
Holding his hand no longer felt awkward.
“I’ll never forget the sea I saw from that hill.”
It was as if a fairy scattered golden dust over the ocean. The sun slowly vanished beyond the horizon, turning the golden hues into a fiery red.
The sky shifted from pale yellow to purple, then blazed with crimson. The cool breeze, the perfect temperature, the salty sea scent brushing her nose—
Everything was vividly etched in her memory.
It was a Bromley she would never forget.
“If you wish, you can always rest here—quietly, peacefully.”
“Bromley is indeed a quiet place. But wouldn’t it feel lonely if it stayed that way?”
Emilia asked, watching the fading sky.
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