Chapter 86
***
On his way to Elisa and Noah’s hospital room after seeing off Conrad, Ethan spotted Count Leslie pacing nervously up and down the corridor.
“Count?”
When Ethan called out in confusion, Count Leslie flinched and looked up at him. After glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby, he strode over quickly.
“You. Come with me for a moment.”
The look in his eyes was far from ordinary. Ethan had questions of his own for the count, so he followed without protest.
Count Leslie led him into an empty patient room nearby. After locking the door, he turned to face Ethan, anxiety and worry filling his eyes.
“What’s the assistant to Prince Howard doing here? Don’t tell me the royal family intends to sweep this whole incident under the rug?”
“That’s not the case.”
Though the palace was clearly doing everything it could to make that happen, nothing had been finalized yet.
“Sir Conrad merely delivered a letter from His Majesty.”
“What?”
“I assure you—it’s unrelated to this incident.”
Count Leslie’s face hardened at those words, and Ethan repeated himself firmly. Of course, it was a lie. But telling him the truth would only heighten his anxiety when there was nothing he could do about it.
“Well… that’s a relief, then.”
“Have you seen Elisa yet?”
The count eyed him suspiciously, but Ethan naturally steered the conversation elsewhere.
Despite coming all the way to Ronfay out of worry for his daughter, Count Leslie still hadn’t gone to see her. Yet every day, he sent inquiries about her condition. People around them found it strange.
“Ahem.”
The count cleared his throat, making it clear he didn’t wish to discuss the topic further.
“Why have you seen Noah but not Elisa?”
Ethan pressed on.
“…I remember you being quite perceptive. Seems I was wrong.”
“It’s been a while. Understandable.”
At that cheeky reply, the count gave a dry laugh.
“I still dislike you.”
“I’ll respect that sentiment.”
“You never lose an argument, do you?”
“If you’d prefer me silent, I can…”
“Never mind.”
He sighed and waved a hand wearily. The exhaustion on his face was unmistakable. Ethan quietly observed him before speaking again.
“The other day, Elisa came all the way to your estate, yet you refused to meet her. But you showed up at the train station to greet her. Was that for the same reason?”
The count’s fingers twitched as if he’d been struck at his weak spot.
“So much for my memory being wrong—you were mocking me.”
“Perish the thought.”
“You’ve certainly grown bolder than before.”
Despite the pointed rebuke, Ethan simply smiled without offense. Displeased by his composure, the count narrowed his eyes.
“I’ll say it again—I really dislike you.”
“I know.”
“And I always will. Even to the day I die, I’ll never acknowledge the relationship between you and my daughter. So don’t ever pull something like that again.”
“Something like what?”
“Trying to gather investors for my business through Prince Howard, of course.”
Ah, that. Ethan let out a faint laugh.
“So that’s why you refused?”
“Exactly. As I’ve said many times, I’ll never accept you.”
The count looked out the window at the pale sky, murmuring almost to himself.
“But when trouble comes, my daughter will need a place to return to.”
His tone had softened, calm now rather than bitter.
“Just as you—who’d never even held a sword—came back as a war hero, the world is unpredictable.”
He paused briefly, then met Ethan’s eyes.
“So in case the worst happens, I’ll remain her refuge.”
***
When Ethan entered Elisa’s hospital room, lunch had just been served. The table was filled with delicious food—not bland hospital meals, but proper dishes since she wasn’t truly ill.
“I was just about to go looking for you since you were late for lunch.”
“The talk ran long.”
As Ethan sat down, Noah reached for the teapot, trying to pour him tea himself. It was adorable to see those tiny hands lift the pot, but if he dropped it, it’d be a mess. Ethan gently took it from him.
“You can do it when you’re older.”
Noah looked disappointed but nodded obediently. Good thing he didn’t inherit his mother’s stubborn streak, Ethan thought, patting the boy’s head.
“So, if the talk ran long, I’m guessing it wasn’t good news?”
Knowing he’d gone to meet Conrad, Elisa asked worriedly. Instead of answering, Ethan handed her the king’s letter.
“So basically, ‘stop interfering and get lost.’”
After reading it from start to finish, Elisa gave a sharp summary. Ethan smirked. Exactly what I thought.
“So, what will you do? You’re going?”
“I have to. Can’t defy a royal order.”
“True enough.”
Though she disliked it, Elisa couldn’t argue with that.
“Then you’d better pack.”
Only four days remained until the weekend. It took less than a day to reach Karsten from Ronfay, so they could pack later—but early preparation never hurt.
“I’ll handle it.”
“You can pack your own things, but I’ll handle Noah’s and mine.”
“Why would you pack for you and Noah?”
“…What?”
A brief silence fell between them as they realized they were talking about different things. Elisa tilted her head in confusion.
“You mean you’re going alone to Karsten?”
“Of course. You and Noah will stay here until Derek Grenville’s sentencing is over. That way, the investigators and royal lawyers won’t dare summon you so easily.”
That wasn’t the only reason. The Karsten manor and knights’ quarters were still under repair after Derek’s mistaken payment during the kidnapping incident. It wasn’t ready for living yet, so staying in Ronfay was far more practical.
“But for you to go alone…”
Ethan cut her off by slipping a piece of bread into her mouth.
“I’ll be fine. It’s not far, and I’ll come whenever I can. Don’t worry.”
I know. It’s just… I don’t want to be apart from you.
Swallowing back the words that rose to her throat, Elisa quietly chewed her bread. Ethan helped Noah with his food, then began eating himself.
They avoided gloomy topics while Noah was eating, talking instead about how the boy was speaking more these days, or the funny drawings he’d made.
By the time they finished, the mood was warm and lighthearted. Together, they went up to the rooftop garden—an area reserved for patients in luxury suites, where they could enjoy privacy and peace.
As soon as they arrived, Noah ran off like a puppy, rolling in the dirt and turning his clean clothes into a mess.
“Goodness, I wonder who he takes after to love the outdoors so much.”
“Who else? You. He’s just like you were as a kid.”
“Me? Don’t be ridiculous.”
Elisa waved her hands, but Ethan chuckled.
“Remember how you used to ignore the countess’s lectures about how a proper lady should behave, and crawl out through the dog hole every day?”
“That was—”
“And when they blocked the hole, you climbed the wall instead. Until you slipped, fell, and broke your leg.”
“S-stop talking about that!”
Mortified by the flood of embarrassing childhood memories, Elisa shoved him away. Their laughter echoed softly through the wide garden.
“If you ask me, Noah looks more like you. The hair, the eyes—it’s all you.”
“Everything else is you. The way he can’t sit still, loves the outdoors, the way he smiles—and even the way he cries.”
Lifting Noah into his arms as the boy ran back to him, Ethan smiled.
“That’s why when Kan first saw him at the station, he recognized right away that this child was ours—you and mine.”
