Chapter 1 – Eye Contact (1)

Their eyes met.

As soon as Alicia realized that, she reflexively embraced her child.

Thump Thump

She could not tell if it was her heart that was beating so fast, or if it was her child’s who had been jumping just now.

There was a part of her that didn’t want to know the answer.

Alicia’s embrace tightened.

“Is it your child again?”

Alicia’s voice fell and she couldn’t look away.

The sensation of the sweat on her back made her want to cower in fear.

She wanted to run away if she could.

However, there was a child in her arms.

“Well, it doesn’t matter.”

The man walked towards Alicia.

Alicia knew it was pointless, but still covered her child’s face so that it would not be seen by the man.

Although he had inherited her red hair and grey eyes, her child looked more like someone else than her.

Alicia was afraid that the man would notice.

“Alicia.”

Alicia bowed her head. Her cheeks seemed to be burning hot even though he had only just called her name.

In the past, Alicia loved having that man call out her name that way.

She knew that every time he did that, a faint smile, would appear on the face of the indifferent man.

But now he won’t even laugh when he calls her name.

“I have told you not to lower your head in front of me.”

His rough hand lifted Alicia’s chin.

Alicia bit her lower lip when the warmth of another person touched her skin for no reason.

Her eyes were sore and could not focus. She thought she would start crying.

Even though he ordered her, his hands were always cautious. Both in the past and present.

The fact has kept her occupied.

“It’s in front of the child.”

It’s worth forgetting now, but the familiar touches easily brought back memories of the past.

Alicia forcefully pushed the man’s hand off her face.

“What did I do?”

The man’s mouth was slightly distorted.

“Go back. There is nothing different about it.”

Alicia avoided the man’s gaze.

Knowing that his gaze was stuck in one place from the beginning to now.

“There is nothing different?”

The man laughed.

“Ha, yes. Yes, nothing will change.”

The man’s hands grabbed Alicia’s shoulders.

Alicia swallowed. His gaze aimed at her face were fiercely persistent.

“If you come back.”

The man’s lips kissed the back of Alicia’s hand that was trying to push him away.

Alicia turned her head to hide her face that seemed to be ready to cry at any moment.

“Let’s go back, Alicia.”

The man’s hand patted Alicia’s cheek.

His hand that had held a sword for such a long time that it had taken the shape of a sword, and smelled faintly like iron.

“I cant.”

“Why?”

“I have a child.”

“If I was bothered about the child, I wouldn’t have come here.”

The man’s eyes turned to the child.

Alicia held the child closer to her face with a ferocious look.

“It’s not as easy as you say. I don’t want to be a shameful parent to my child. Your Majesty must already have a wife……”

“Wife?”

Before Alicia could finish, the man clenched his teeth and puts his face closer to hers.

Close enough for their nose to be touching.

When she felt the breath of another person touch her lips, Alicia reflexively swallowed.

The man’s breath felt exceptionally hot.

“Ha! Okay. I’ll have a wife starting today.

The man glared at her while distorting his mouth.

“Gazeff.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Take the child.”

Before Alicia processed the man’s words, her child had already been taken away.

“Mom!”

“Michael!”

The child, who instinctively sensed the danger, cried and stretched out both hands towards his mother.

Alicia tried to chase after the child but was blocked by someone’s arm.

“What are you doing?! Give him back! He’s my child! My son!”

“Don’t worry about it. I won’t kill him. From now on, I will treat him as a child with noble bloodline.”

“Cabelenus!”

“……I guess I can only hear my name from you in this situation.”

The man grinned and tilted his head.

Alicia’s eyes trembled and bit her lips.

“I won’t change my decision. If you want to get your child back from me, be my wife. That is the only way you can get that child back from me.”

“……Do you know who that child’s father is?”

“If that was important, I wouldn’t have come all this way.”

“Cabelenus.”

Alicia grasped Cabelenus’ arm with teary eyes.

His cold gaze was unfamiliar, but she thought of her child and knew she could not avoid it.

“I don’t care if it’s another child. Even if his blood is mixed, I will raise this child as if it were my own.”

“You want to raise a child whose father is unknown as if they were your own?”

“Yes.”

Cabelenus answered without any hesitation.

Alicia forgot to breathe and stared at Cabelenus.

Even at that moment, his golden eyes were still shining like the sun. Like the past years, when I was blinded by that splendour.

“Never think of running away again using your child as an excuse.”

Grabbing Alicia’s shoulders, Cabelenus snarled like a starving beast.

“Because I’m barely holding back my desire to crush that little creature that took you away from me.”