Chapter 71
Ethan’s leg had not yet fully healed, but Elisa had no choice but to let him leave the house. After all, it was the King of Petra himself who had summoned him.
And knowing what that summons was about, she couldn’t bring herself to stop him.
Outside the window, the garden was still in full bloom — yellow roses glowing bright under the sunlight.
Noah was, as always, dashing across the lawn, his laughter echoing faintly through the air.
But today, none of it brought her peace. The beauty of it all felt hollow. Her fingertips, cold with dread, fidgeted as she paced the room.
That day when Prince Howard had come all the way to the Estevan manor, Ethan had told her everything about their conversation.
Only then did Elisa remember — the law that a child inherits the social status of their father.
And at that moment, she understood.
She finally realized why her father had so fiercely opposed her marriage to Ethan.
If Ethan married her and was entered into the Leslie family’s registry, his status would rise to that of a noble.
That was possible only when he was officially a commoner. But now that it had been revealed his biological father was a slave, his own rank would be demoted to that of a slave as well.
That meant Noah — and any children they might have in the future — would also become slaves.
Worse yet, the Leslie family would bear the disgraceful mark of being “a house tainted with the blood of slaves.”
High society would sneer, shun them, and eventually force the family into ruin.
So that’s why. That’s why Father was so against it.
The truth struck her like a blade. Elisa pressed her trembling hands against her face.
How foolish she had been — resenting her father for judging people by birth, when all along he had simply been trying to protect her.
Part of her still resented him for not explaining things properly, but even that she began to understand.
Back then, she’d been blind with love, unwilling to listen to anyone.
Count Leslie must have known — saying it aloud would only make her rebel more.
Even if he had told her everything, she wouldn’t have listened.
A wave of heat surged from deep in her chest, and Elisa bowed her head, covering her face as her shoulders shook.
Just when she was about to drown in that endless pit of despair — a small hand reached for her.
Noah had come over, his little face crumpled in worry as he looked up at her.
Standing on tiptoe, he brushed away the tears on her cheeks with his tiny fingers.
“Ah…”
Only then did she realize she was crying. She quickly wiped her tears away, forcing a shaky smile for his sake.
“Mommy’s not crying,” she whispered. “It’s just… dust in my eyes.”
Even she knew how weak that excuse sounded. And of course, Noah wasn’t fooled.
Without a word, he wrapped his small arms around her and patted her back, clumsy but gentle.
The child’s warmth should have soothed her — but instead, it made her want to cry even more.
As much as she loved Ethan, when she first learned that a child inherits their father’s status, her first thought hadn’t been for him.
It had been for Noah.
If it became known that Noah was Ethan’s son… then he, too, would be branded a slave.
“Don’t worry.”
When her face had gone pale with fear, Ethan had smiled softly and pressed his lips to her cheek.
“I’ll make sure nothing happens to Noah.”
He was the one most affected by all of this, yet Ethan’s first concern had been for her and their son.
Elisa, ashamed that she had thought of Noah first instead of him, could only nod in silence. She couldn’t even bring herself to ask what he planned to do.
Will it really be all right? Will he be able to fix this?
It wasn’t that she doubted him — it was that the situation itself left no room for hope.
No matter how hard Ethan tried, he couldn’t change the kingdom’s laws.
Even the King himself couldn’t.
“Milady,” came the butler’s voice, breaking through her thoughts.
She was still sitting there, holding Noah and quietly weeping when he approached her with unexpected news.
“Sir Derek Grenville is here to see you.”
***
This was Ethan’s fourth time meeting with the King of Petra.
In the past, Prince Howard had always been by his side — but not today.
This time, Ethan stood alone before the King.
The monarch sat on his throne, his face marked by age and deepened further by worry.
“…So you truly didn’t know your father was a slave?”
Even in his weary voice, one could hear the weight of exhaustion and doubt.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Ethan replied, bowing his head.
He had decided to feign ignorance — not to deceive the King, but to protect the sacrifice his late mother had made for him.
Her struggle had given him freedom. The least he could do was not let it go to waste.
“Then tell me,” said the King after a pause, “how do you think this matter should be resolved?”
He wasn’t asking out of curiosity.
He was asking because he had no solution.
The revocation of Ethan’s title was all but certain. The Queen’s faction had already demanded he be punished for deceiving the crown and the people.
But since Ethan himself claimed ignorance, that part could be overlooked.
Regardless of his birth, his service in the war could not be denied. Ethan Estevan was still a hero who had shed blood for Petra.
Even if his title were revoked, he still deserved recognition. The King had even considered granting him commoner status again as a form of compensation.
But what came after that was the true problem.
After the war, several nations had tried to recruit Ethan — even the Empire itself had reached out in secret.
He had refused them all, declaring that he was a citizen of Petra and had fought only for his kingdom.
The King had been moved by that loyalty.
At one point, he had even thought of promoting Ethan to viscount, but the nobles had objected, saying such honor was unfit for a man of uncertain birth.
They had compromised on the barony instead.
But now that his father’s status as a slave had been revealed, all of that changed. Every reward he had received could be stripped away.
Would Ethan remain in Petra after losing everything because of a man long dead?
Of course not. The King knew — Ethan would leave.
Other nations with looser class systems would welcome him gladly.
And Petra would become a laughingstock for driving away one of its greatest heroes.
If he were to cross into the Empire, things would become even worse.
With Ethan on their side, they could start another war — one Petra would not win.
And yet, the King couldn’t simply ignore the law and allow a slave’s son to remain a noble.
Even if he tried, Ethan would never survive in the noble society that despised his blood.
Either way, the outcome was the same — Ethan would leave the kingdom.
Trapped between law and loyalty, the King could only sigh, his thoughts spiraling deeper into despair.
“Your Majesty,” Ethan said suddenly, his voice steady. “Please send me to Carsten.”
The King lifted an eyebrow. “Carsten? You mean the border city by the Empire?”
“Yes. I’ve heard that no one dares to go there — too afraid that the Empire might attack at any time.”
The King nodded slowly. It was true. Carsten was one of Petra’s most remote frontier cities, perpetually under threat of war. Few volunteered to go there — and since the last war, not a single noble had stepped forward to take the post.
“I will never acknowledge any claim that my father was a slave,” Ethan continued firmly. “No matter what evidence they bring.”
“Hm…”
“In the meantime, please issue a royal decree assigning me to Carsten.
If anyone objects, tell them they’re welcome to go in my place. They’ll whisper behind your back, perhaps — but none will dare to oppose you openly.”
Ethan bowed deeply, his tone resolute.
“If I disappear from the capital, the rumors will fade with time.
So please, Your Majesty — appoint me as the Lord of Carsten.”
