Chapter 81
Since this topic had already caused a stir at Baltar palace once before, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess didn’t even bat an eye. Lilien, on the other hand, was the only one taken aback.
“What are you talking about?”
This was the first time she’d heard any of this. She was so stunned, she forgot where she was and raised her voice in front of her in-laws.
“Exactly what I said.”
“You’re talking about my body—how can you decide something like that on your own? Is this because you think I can’t have children?”
Cairn had meant it as consideration, but instead he’d only stoked her insecurities.
“Headington men have always struggled to have heirs. If we end up without children, it’s something I inherited from my family, not because of you.”
Out of respect for his father, Cairn didn’t elaborate on what exactly he’d ‘inherited’.
“From your family line? That’s ridiculous. And why do you get to decide our future children on your own?”
Lilien felt her mind spin. She suddenly remembered what this dinner was supposed to be: a celebration of their marriage, in front of Cairn’s parents. His casual, brash attitude was out of line.
“How could a girl who’s practically a child herself think about having children?”
Cairn let out a sigh, his voice rising a little.
“Don’t raise your voice in front of the adults.”
Lilien turned her head.
But to her surprise, the Grand Duke was watching calmly, as if this were all perfectly normal, while the Grand Duchess actually encouraged the debate.
“Go ahead, let’s hear some more.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Lilien replied, thinking of it being gently chided and apologized for the disrespect. Honestly, she’d rather have been scolded than dragging the argument at the table.
“It’s a problem you’ll have to reach a compromise on eventually. If you need an objective perspective, I’m happy to be a judge for you both.”
The Grand Duchess added sincerely.
Lilien shot a pleading look at her for help, but the Grand Duchess just nodded reassuringly.
“I want to have children. I’ve even gone to see Dr. Marceau, and there’s nothing wrong with me.”
“Exactly, Cairn. You get all the pleasure, and Lilien has to carry the whole burden—what gives you the right to decide?”
Lilien nodded enthusiastically at her mother-in-law’s support.
“No. You’re too frail, Lilien.”
“There are plenty of women my size who have kids and do just fine! Sure, sometimes….”
For a moment, Lilien’s gaze grew distant.
“Sometimes things do go wrong, I guess but not everyone.”
“Lilien, you don’t have to have children to be happy. The two of us can still have a wonderful life together, just the way we are.”
“We could be even happier.”
Lilien reached out for Cairn’s hand and squeezed it tight. Even with both her hands, she couldn’t fully hold the man’s large one.
“Aren’t you even a little curious, Cairn?”
The hand that Lilien took was already weaving her fingers through his.
“Would our child be big like you, or small like me? Would they love riding horses or hate the sun? Would they have blue eyes like us? If we had a son who looked like you, he’d be adorable. Hmm…What if they took after me?”
Cairn couldn’t help but let out a breathless laugh.
Asking him to imagine a child that looked like Lilien—that just wasn’t fair.
His jaw tensed as he kept silent, but the Grand Duke quickly passed judgment.
“Cairn, you’ve lost this one.”
It always seemed like Cairn was the winner, but when it came to the truly important matters, it was Lilien who always claimed victory.
“Well done, Lilien.”
Lilien responded with a bright smile at the Grand Duke’s praise
* * *
Cairn ducked through the side gate in the castle wall, and Lilien trotted after him. She was so much shorter, she didn’t even need to stoop.
Still fuming that things hadn’t gone his way, Cairn strode ahead without so much as a backward glance.
Lilien, picking her way carefully over the uneven stones, finally came to a halt.
“Cairn, hold my hand.”
Even her small voice made Cairn pause and turn around.
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