MCAV Chapter 27

Chapter 27

A subtle expression crossed Ronshka’s face — something between disbelief and disappointment.
The child pressed her lips together and fell into thought for a moment. Then, after a short silence, she asked again,

“Where is he?”

Even though Adele had decided to tell the truth, the words wouldn’t come easily.
It took her a long moment of effort before she could finally answer.

“He’s… nearby.”

“Is it that man?”

“That man?”

“Heirin.”

Adele felt her breath catch.

“W–why do you think that?”

“Because he said so.”

“What exactly did he say?”

“He said he’s my dad.”

Adele bit her lip hard.
Did he really not understand why she had turned away from him?
If he had any conscience at all, he should never have let that word cross his lips.

After abandoning both Ronshka and me!

Didn’t he know what it meant — a single mother and her child living in that tiny, prejudiced mountain village?
How they would be treated?

The hatred she’d buried deep for so long surged up like fire.

“Mom?”

“Ronshka…”

Adele pulled her daughter tightly into her arms.

“Yes, that’s right. He’s your father.
But Ronshka — just because someone gives birth to a child doesn’t make them a parent.
A true parent is someone who can take responsibility for their child.”

“Like you, Mom?”

“No… I’ve also done many wrong things to you, Ronshka.”

The Adele from the past — the one who knew nothing — had hurt Ronshka deeply.

“But you love me, right?”

Ronshka said softly, watching her mother’s face.
This was the same child who used to love her but never dared to come close — and now she could finally say love aloud.
All those days of telling her “I love you” again and again… finally, it had reached her.

“Yes. Mommy loves you, Ronshka.”

“Then it’s okay. I don’t need a dad.”

The little girl lifted her small arms and hugged Adele back.

“Dad’s a bad person, isn’t he?”

Adele froze.
Just because she was young didn’t mean she hadn’t heard things.
Ronshka must have remembered all the gossip whispered in the village where she’d been born.

People had no respect for Adele — she was an easy target for their cruelty.
Ronshka had heard it all.

Adele bowed her head, unable to answer.
She didn’t want to pass her hatred on to her daughter.
But neither did she want the child to feel any affection toward Heirin.

So they stayed like that — holding each other in silence, sharing warmth.

Meanwhile, after hearing from Leon about what Heirin had done,
Lucas dropped everything and stormed toward the annex.

“Heirin!”

“What now?”

“What did you do, calling for the children like that?”

“Do?” Heirin’s voice was calm. “I simply told them the truth.”

“What truth!”

“Do you really want to know?”

Heirin’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.

“Come to think of it, Adele’s been assisting you lately, hasn’t she?
How impressive — trusting some ignorant country woman with your work.
That’s so very you, Lucas. Cold and rational on the surface, but soft when it really matters.”

“Adele is a capable person.”

“If you say so.”

Heirin shrugged and stood from his seat, stepping closer.

“I think I’ve been far too patient until now.
Truth is, I should’ve done this long ago.
Lucas — I’m taking Adele and Ronshka.”

“By what right?”

Lucas’s voice was ice.
Heirin didn’t flinch. Their relationship had never been friendly; this tone was fitting.

“By what right?”

He swept his hand through his vivid red hair.

“By the right of a father.”

The light caught the strands — that unmistakable red, identical to Ronshka’s.
Lucas unconsciously raised a hand to his mouth.

Every time he’d looked at Ronshka, he’d felt a vague sense of dissonance.
Now it made sense.
Before becoming an adult, he had known Heirin well — and yes, the resemblance was clear.

So Heirin really is Ronshka’s father.

And if that was true, then Adele’s connection to him could be easily guessed.

“Didn’t you have a wife?”

“She died after giving birth to Rosalyn.
Useless woman — frail, couldn’t even manage the household,
and failed to give birth to a proper child.”

The venom in his voice made Lucas’s brows draw tight.

“People aren’t tools.”

“And that weak thinking is exactly why you ran away from reality.”

“Heirin!”

“Am I wrong? Albert!”

From the corner of the room, a man who had been standing like a statue approached and handed Heirin a long, rolled-up tube.

“A letter from His Majesty.
Seems the Emperor dearly misses his runaway knight.”

“So that’s what this is really about.”

“Indeed. I’ll expect your answer by tomorrow.
You’ve been ordered to leave the estate by then, haven’t you? Perfect timing.”

“…Fine.”

Lucas took the tube from Albert.

“One more thing — I’d like to see Adele.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Even after everything I’ve told you?
You’d still refuse me? Isn’t that overstepping your bounds?”

He wasn’t wrong — Lucas didn’t know everything that had happened between Adele and Heirin.

“Adele said she doesn’t want to see you.”

“And you think running away forever will solve anything?”

Heirin clicked his tongue.

“Ask her again. This time, she won’t say no.”

“Heirin…”

Lucas’s gut twisted, but he couldn’t reject the man’s words any longer.

Lucas strode down the corridor, his steps harsh and heavy.
Someone called his name behind him, but he didn’t stop.

His chest felt tight, unbearably so.
He had taken Ronshka in because she reminded him of his past self —
and along with her came Adele.

At first, he had found her bothersome.
But as time went on, they had grown used to one another.
Their relationship had slowly softened.

Now, they sometimes spoke while working, even shared jokes.
Sometimes Adele would bring sweets she’d baked with the children,
offering them with that bright smile of hers.

When she walked through the estate carrying a basket full of cookies,
everyone would smile as she passed.

She was like sunlight.

Lucas stopped dead in his tracks.

What am I thinking right now?

He could say with certainty — he had never felt this way toward anyone before.
Back in the imperial capital, he’d met plenty of noble ladies,
but none had ever stirred his heart.

They bored him.
Because he knew that what they looked at wasn’t truly him.

“Good grief…”

He tried to deny the faint warmth blooming inside.
This was just simple affection — one person to another. That was all.

Yes. That’s all.

He couldn’t send Adele and Ronshka away.
Heirin was a serpent — even after years together, Lucas had never been able to feel close to him.
Just watching how he treated his own daughter Rosalyn was proof enough that they were nothing alike.

Besides, the Weatherfield family valued power above all.
Ronshka’s potential might protect her, but could she really smile there the way she did here?

No. He couldn’t let them go.

But how?

Heirin held the greatest weapon — blood.
If a father claimed his own child, Lucas had no legitimate grounds to stop him.

That was the problem — legitimacy.

It was that very thing that had driven Lucas to leave the capital and build a life here.

Standing before Adele and Ronshka’s room,
Lucas raked his hand through his hair.
No answers. None at all. What should he—

Just then, the door opened, and a familiar figure appeared.

“Sir Lucas? What’s the matter?”

Adele blinked up at him, her green eyes shimmering, the corners red as though she had been crying.

“You’ve been crying?”

He regretted asking the moment it slipped out.

“No… I haven’t.”

“…That’s good, then.”

“Yes. Thank you for worrying.”

At the sound of his voice, a small head peeked through the crack in the door — Ronshka.

“What’s going on?”

“I need to speak with your mother.”

“With Mom?”

“Yes.”

Adele smiled faintly at that.

“You must have had a long day again, haven’t you? I told you to rest.
Should I go back to the office with you now?”

“What about the pancakes?”

Apparently, Adele had promised to make pancakes for Ronshka.

“You can make them next time.
If Mommy works hard, she can buy you what you want.”

“But I don’t want anything.”

“Really? Didn’t you say you wanted a handkerchief just like mine?”

“I want it!”

Her bright, confident voice filled the hallway.
It was such a heartwarming sight that Lucas couldn’t help but smile.

“Alright then. Mommy will be right back.”

Adele stepped out first, and Ronshka followed close behind her like a baby duckling.

“I’ll go with you — at least until the office.”

Of course, Adele didn’t refuse.
And so Lucas found himself walking alongside the mother and child.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, catching in Adele’s green eyes,
making them sparkle like spring leaves.
Whenever her gaze fell on Ronshka, those eyes deepened with warmth.
Without realizing it, Lucas’s lips curved upward.

Now, he had no doubt — Adele truly cherished Ronshka.
And for that very reason, he knew…
he could never allow Heirin to take them away.