◊ Chapter 8 ◊
You Have to Trust Me Completely
Late at night, just as I was about to fall asleep, Coral came into my bedroom. Unlike usual, she quietly stood by the door.
She must have remembered how we used to sleep together in that tiny room before we came here.
I let her come inside, climbed into bed, and Coral quietly crawled under the blanket beside me.
Unlike before, I couldn’t hear her peaceful breathing.
She kept tossing and turning all night.
The movements were small, but it was obvious something was bothering her.
Did she have a fight with Kai?
I couldn’t stop thinking about the pale look on Kai’s face earlier that day.
“Coral… if something is bothering you, will you tell Mom?”
Even if I couldn’t always solve everything for her…
I wanted to listen to her as much as I could while I was still by her side.
“That’s what moms are for.”
The silver-haired little girl slowly peeked out from under the blanket, her pink eyes rolling around before she unexpectedly spoke.
“I’m really happy right now.”
“…Huh?”
“That’s what I’m worried about.”
It was such a strange thing to worry about.
She doesn’t know we’ll have to separate after one year…
That thought made my own nose sting.
I should tell her that this happiness will continue…
I should comfort her.
I should ask what she talked about with Kai.
But…
I couldn’t say a single word.
With tears filling my eyes, I quietly fell asleep.
*
The days passed peacefully.
Coral started attending the Imperial Academy again, and every day after returning home, she would excitedly tell me stories about school.
Among the many older boys she talked about…
Kai was included too.
At the moment, though, he only made up about thirty percent of the stories.
Kai, you need to work harder. Are you listening?
Every night before bed, Coral would come to my room out of habit.
Seeing that she still preferred sleeping beside her mother reminded me that she was still just a child.
Tonight was no different.
After another tiring day at the Academy, Coral had fallen asleep soundly in my room.
I watched her sleeping face for a while before carrying her back to her own bedroom so she could sleep more comfortably.
Then I returned to work.
The weather was perfect for a walk outside.
But, true to being a workaholic, I buried myself in paperwork once again.
The salary records… employment ledger… Coral’s education…
Most of those problems had already been solved.
The biggest issue remaining…
Was Kai’s education.
After reviewing his education records for several days, I noticed several serious problems.
Subjects every noble son should study—
Politics.
History.
Geography.
Military Strategy.
All of them were missing.
Instead, his entire education focused solely on pharmaceutical studies.
They said it was all Kai’s own choice.
But people couldn’t live doing only what they wanted forever.
He’s the male lead of the novel. How can his education be this incomplete?
The most urgent issue was swordsmanship.
In the Empire, children normally began sword training at the age of seven.
Because it relied on physical development, starting late was a huge disadvantage.
From what Momont had told me, I could roughly understand Makaron’s philosophy on raising children.
“His Highness doesn’t want Young Master Kai to grow up as harshly as he did. So he removed every lesson Kai didn’t want to take.”
As a result…
Kai would later become the Empire’s greatest magical pharmacist.
He could heal wounds and even control human emotions.
There was no one in the Empire who could surpass him in pharmaceuticals.
If Kai were destined to spend his life only as an Imperial Pharmacist…
Then perhaps Makaron’s way wasn’t wrong.
But that wasn’t his destiny.
Kai would become the Emperor.
Because he’d never learned swordsmanship…
He would nearly die countless times on the battlefield.
Every scar on his body would become proof of those life-and-death struggles.
And Coral…
She would watch every one of those battles.
She would cry.
She would suffer alongside him.
I couldn’t let either of them go through that.
Today…
I planned to talk to Makaron about Kai’s education.
The truth was…
Ever since I arrived here, Makaron had deliberately avoided meeting me by claiming to be busy with outside work.
I never imagined we’d even eat separately.
It was obvious he was intentionally avoiding me.
Honestly…
I didn’t mind.
But today… we have to meet.
This concerned Kai’s future.
The sooner it started, the better.
*
It was my first time entering the West Annex.
The atmosphere was completely different from the East Annex.
The air felt colder.
There wasn’t a single plant anywhere.
The place looked gloomy.
He sleeps and works here every day?
The dim corridors barely received any sunlight.
It almost felt like a prison.
After climbing the stairs, I arrived before a large door.
I carefully knocked.
A moment later, Makaron’s low voice answered.
“Come in.”
His relaxed tone was completely different from how he usually spoke to me.
When I opened the door…
His red eyes widened noticeably upon seeing me.
Makaron never allowed strangers into his personal space.
He trusted almost no one.
Perhaps because of that…
His gaze felt sharp enough to pierce through me.
As I set down the tea with slightly trembling hands, he watched me without blinking.
Almost as if he could see through me.
“Why are you… bringing the tea yourself? That’s Momont’s job.”
I had expected this reaction.
Even so…
His cold voice made me hesitate.
Ever since I started replacing Momont for certain household duties…
He’d looked dissatisfied every single time.
But today…
I had come fully prepared.
“People in the mansion are already talking because we’re living in separate buildings.”
He folded his arms and silently looked at me.
It was as if he were saying,
Go on.
“If you don’t want everyone to find out this is only a contract marriage… then please allow me to do at least this much.”
“…”
His unreadable expression made me falter for only a second.
Then I met his eyes directly.
I came into the tiger’s den. I was prepared for this much.
Since it had come to this…
I decided to use my last card.
“Otherwise… why don’t we just live together in the West Annex?”
Honestly…
I only suggested it because I was certain he’d refuse.
But… why is he looking that shocked?
He looked like a rabbit that had suddenly come face-to-face with a tiger.
“Ahem…”
“Let’s… do that.”
…What?
I thought it would take far more convincing.
Instead…
He agreed almost immediately.
Is living in the same annex with me really that shocking?
I got exactly what I wanted…
Yet somehow…
It didn’t feel like a victory.
Not at all.
I took a sip of tea to calm myself.
Makaron smiled meaningfully.
“I doubt you came here this early just to say that.”
“If you have something to discuss… go ahead.”
Since he’d opened the door for the conversation, I got straight to the point.
“I’d like Kai to begin swordsmanship training.”
The moment Kai’s name came up…
Makaron’s relaxed attitude disappeared.
His eyes narrowed like an alert cat.
“What suddenly brought this on?”
“Other noble boys younger than Kai have already begun sword training. Shouldn’t Kai start too?”
His crimson eyes gleamed.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“I’d prefer that you stay out of matters concerning Kai.”
Though he smiled…
His eyes clearly drew a line.
Don’t interfere.
“No.”
“I have to.”
He’s my son now.
And in the future…
He’ll become my son-in-law.
How could I ignore him?
No parent would stand by after seeing the hardships waiting for their child.
Of course…
Makaron couldn’t understand that.
To him…
A contract wife suddenly trying to interfere with his son’s education probably sounded ridiculous.
Judging from his expression…
He genuinely couldn’t understand me.
“Because he’s my child now.”
Makaron’s expression became complicated.
The smile disappeared from his face.
Long eyelashes cast shadows over his eyes as he quietly looked at me.
“I want Kai to grow up peacefully in the Grand Duke’s household I’ll build.”
“I don’t want him dragged into the complicated world of noble politics.”
Those words…
Sounded exactly like Makaron himself.
The man who rejected the throne to become a Grand Duke.
Unlike most noble parents, he didn’t see his child as a tool.
It truly showed how deeply he loved Kai.
But…
There was one flaw in his reasoning.
“What do you think made this peace possible in the first place?”
Makaron tilted his head.
“What do you mean?”
Smiling, I picked up the queen piece from the chessboard on his desk and moved it backward.
“This peace exists because Your Highness possesses greater power than the First Prince.”
“Those are dangerous words.”
“This is our home.”
“And you’re my husband.”
“So I think saying this much is acceptable.”
For some reason…
Makaron’s ears turned slightly red.
Ignoring that, I moved the queen forward again.
“What if the First Prince someday becomes stronger than you?”
“Do you still believe this peace will last?”
The First Prince was an ambitious man.
Makaron knew that better than anyone.
He rested his chin lazily on one hand.
“So that’s why you think Kai needs swordsmanship?”
Even if Makaron successfully became the Grand Duke…
His family would always be viewed as a potential threat to the Imperial Family.
So my argument was completely reasonable.
“Without strength, no peace can be protected.”
“Peace is simply the mercy shown by the stronger side.”
Makaron’s crimson eyes shook ever so slightly.
“After hearing your reasoning…”
“You’re right.”
…That was it?
I had expected much more resistance.
He’d accepted my argument surprisingly quickly.
“But…”
“There is one condition.”
There it was.
I hadn’t expected him to agree so easily.
I’d even prepared an hour-long presentation.
“I’ll only allow swordsmanship training…”
“If Kai himself wants it.”
No matter how great the teacher…
It was useless if the student had no motivation.
Honestly…
I had no intention of forcing Kai either.
But…
That was the difficult part.
He’s basically telling me to convince Kai myself.
His eyes curved slightly.
As if he were certain I would fail.
I confidently looked him straight in the eye.
“Then that’s what I’ll do.”
“It won’t be easy.”
“Kai hates physical training.”
Says the man who raised him that way.
“I guess we’ll see.”
“I’m sure he’ll agree.”
Makaron smiled with genuine interest.
The challenge had been set.
Everything now depended on Kai.
And I was certain…
His heart had already begun to change.
“How can you be so confident?”
“I simply…”
“Have something I believe in.”
“You’ve barely even met Kai.”
His words sounded sarcastic.
But strangely…
His tone wasn’t mocking.
He seemed honestly curious.
Then again…
That father and son pair had both been avoiding me like we’d made some secret agreement.
“So…”
“Kai still dislikes me quite a bit, doesn’t he?”
Perhaps I had been too blunt.
Makaron almost choked on his tea.
After composing himself, he finally looked at me.
I smiled gently.
“I’m someone new.”
“It’s only natural that he finds me difficult to accept.”
For some reason…
That only made him even more uncomfortable.
Finally, Makaron reached a decision.
“I’ll arrange a family dinner soon.”
