I Only Want Your Child - Chapter 63

* * *

The awkward atmosphere remained even at dinner.

Meals with Kallion were always like this, so while I ate without paying it any mind, he barely touched his food and kept clearing his throat.

Then, breaking the heavy silence, he spoke.

“That day…”

That day?

When I looked at him questioningly, he avoided my gaze and continued.

“On the day of the banquet… I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were feeling that unwell.”

Did Kallion just apologize? To me?

I stared blankly at him for a moment, then lowered my gaze and answered dryly.

“Don’t worry about it. You never cared about things like that before anyway.”

I couldn’t get used to his unfamiliar behavior. If anything, it only made me more suspicious.

At my cold response, Kallion’s brow stiffened as he continued.

“If you’d told me beforehand, I wouldn’t have forced you to attend the banquet.”

I frowned at his words.

If I’d told him I was sick, he wouldn’t have taken me to the banquet?

Right, he would have coldly left me behind.

And then he would have used that as an excuse to pick at me. He was more than capable of doing that.

Why was he deliberately saying something like that to me when I had been gritting my teeth and enduring everything because I didn’t want him or anyone in this estate to find fault with me?

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“What do you mean? I was only…”

At my sharp response, he let out a sigh as though flustered.

Then he pressed a hand to his forehead and moved his lips before seemingly giving up and changing the subject.

“…Since you’re still not in good condition, I think it would be better to postpone the night we agreed to sleep together.”

At his words, I set down the fork and knife I had been holding.

“No. There’s no need.”

Then I stared steadily at him.

“I’d like us to keep the date we agreed on.”

That was the one thing I had endured and held on for until now. I couldn’t let it go wrong again at this point.

At my firm answer, he looked as though he couldn’t understand me. Then he let out a faint sigh and replied.

“Alright. Fine. We’ll do that.”

Whatever he thought didn’t matter.

I needed to meet Denion as soon as possible, because all I wanted was to escape this place with Denion.

And I would protect him. From every danger that threatened Denion.

Even if that danger was Kallion.

“I’ll excuse myself now.”

Leaving those indifferent words behind, I rose from my seat.

I could feel his gaze following me persistently until I left the dining room, but I didn’t care.

* * *

There were only about three days left until the night we had agreed to sleep together.

It was earlier than when I had conceived Denion in the past, but I still hoped that perhaps the child might come to me sooner this time.

I had even gotten his confirmation at dinner, so barring any unforeseen circumstances, we would sleep together as planned.

My heart felt as heavy as though a lump of lead had been placed on it, but it was alright. This was why I had entered this estate of my own accord.

“Madam, a letter arrived. What should I do with it?”

I had been drinking tea when I raised my head curiously at Kate’s voice.

“That… the letters that used to come without a sender. I think it’s one of those.”

Only then did I remember the last time I had seen Lloyd. After seeing me like that, he had every reason to be worried.

I sighed, then accepted the letter from Kate.

Using the paper knife Kate had brought, I carefully slit open the envelope and checked the contents.

[ To Juliana.

You told me never to send you another letter, but please forgive me for being unable to sit still because I was so worried.

If I don’t do this, I may end up going to the Baldomer estate myself, and I know you wouldn’t want that either. ]

Was I feeling better, or had my condition worsened? Was my husband still treating me coldly? Was I receiving proper treatment?

The letter was filled with worry.

I had even collapsed right in front of Lloyd, so he must have been quite shocked. On top of that, because he hadn’t realized how unwell I was, he had even used his freezing ability. He probably felt guilty too.

If one insisted on assigning blame, I was the one who had accepted his invitation and followed him, so he hadn’t done anything wrong.