Chapter 60
Lloyd and Kallion’s gazes collided.
Dark amethyst eyes like the night sky clashed sharply with sapphire eyes filled with cold.
“I’ll take my leave for today.”
Lloyd was the first to withdraw.
As though acknowledging that Kallion was still the master of this territory.
But his lowered eyes belonged to a beast ready to tear into the back of its opponent’s neck the moment it saw an opening.
Kallion stood there for a long time, staring after Lloyd with his fists clenched tight.
* * *
My entire body felt unbearably heavy, as though a slab of lead had been placed on top of me.
When I forced my hazy eyes open, a splitting headache surged through me. My stomach churned as though I had swallowed a ball of fire, and my throat felt rough and torn, as though I had swallowed a blade.
Something small flickered through my blurred vision.
Seeing that familiar and beloved figure, I noticed nothing strange and smiled faintly.
“Denion…?”
The blurry figure slowly nodded.
“Did you come because you were worried Mommy was sick?”
Denion slowly nodded again.
I shouldn’t give my cold to the child…
What time was it? Had the maids made sure Denion ate on time?
Denion was treated as though nonexistent in the estate, to the point that unless I specifically asked, they wouldn’t even take care of something that basic.
The moment that thought occurred to me, I tried to sit up.
Then that small, soft hand gripped mine as though trying to stop me.
“Mommy, don’t be sick.”
The warm sensation made me stop moving.
Then I slowly looked at the child.
Only then did the previously blurred face become clear.
The child was looking at me worriedly.
It broke my heart that a child only three years old, at an age when children should still be acting spoiled, was looking at me with an expression like that.
“Alright. Mommy will get better soon.”
As I said that, I stroked Denion’s little head.
“I’ll get better quickly and play with you in the garden.”
At that, the child smiled brightly and innocently.
The sight made the tip of my nose sting, and I opened my arms with difficulty.
Understanding my signal, Denion nestled straight into my embrace. I held that small, precious warmth tightly and whispered.
“I’m sorry, baby. Mommy’s sorry for being sick.”
I kissed the little forehead, then the hair.
“I won’t get sick, so Denion won’t have to worry.”
Denion was clearly in my arms, but for some reason, I missed my child so desperately it hurt.
I should get better quickly, then go for a walk in the garden together. I could bake Denion’s favorite cookies… Yes, going on a picnic outside would be nice too.
As I thought that, tears suddenly began running down my cheeks.
Why was I like this?
Why did my heart ache so deeply that it felt as though it were being torn apart?
The child would worry if I was seen crying.
I only wanted to show a smiling face.
But this warmth was so precious, and I had missed it so desperately.
The tears wouldn’t stop.
“I’ll get better soon… I have to get better quickly so I can protect my Denion.”
The tears kept forcing their way out, and I didn’t want the child to see me crying.
I squeezed my eyes shut and pulled Denion closer.
“So…”
Holding that tiny, fragile being as though it might disappear at any moment, I slowly opened my eyes.
“So, baby… could you wait just a little… just a little longer…?”
When I opened my eyes, Denion was nowhere to be seen.
My arms were empty, as though there had never been anything there to begin with.
I was alone, clutching myself so tightly my body hurt. Realizing that everything had been a dream, I sobbed.
“Ugh…”
The warmth and sensation of the child I had felt only moments ago had been so vivid that my chest ached enough to make breathing difficult.
“Aaagh…”
I didn’t even have the strength to make a sound, so I sobbed quietly.
Kate, who had fallen asleep while nursing me at my side, jolted awake.
“Madam, what’s wrong, Madam!”
“Hiic, aagh…!”
Gripping the front of Kate’s clothes as she anxiously examined me, I cried for a long time.
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