Chapter 10
About a month later—
After many ups and downs, we had finally arrived at a grand mansion.
“…Mom.”
The child’s body was stiff with tension as he stood in the large, luxurious reception room.
Honestly, I felt the same.
Just knowing we were about to meet his father made me nervous, and the grandeur of the room, filled with expensive things, made me feel small.
A large carpet with intricate patterns covered the black marble floor.
A chandelier sparkled overhead, surrounded by golden candleholders, while antique sculptures lined the walls and pillars decorated with gold stood tall.
Even the faint scent of expensive incense filling the room made it clear where we were.
“Ivan, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Even though I was just as afraid, I spoke calmly as if it was nothing and reassured him.
Then I picked up the teacup in front of me and took a sip.
Partly to show composure to the butler quietly observing us.
Somehow, it felt like he had intentionally led us to the finest reception room in the mansion—
to make us realize how out of place we were, and leave on our own.
Maybe it was just my insecurity.
But the fact that we had been waiting for the master for three hours made my thoughts wander.
“……”
Ivan had said his father was a noble, but I never expected him to be a duke.
On the way here, Ivan had been so excited to meet his father that he accidentally dropped the brooch into a stream.
It took us a whole month to find it again—
and only then did we finally arrive at the Duke of Lehart’s estate.
The Lehart ducal house.
From what I had learned while asking around, people called this family another royal house, second only to the imperial family.
They ruled vast lands in the western part of the empire and commanded the strongest knight order that protected the borders.
Their military strength was said to surpass even the imperial guard.
Without their loyalty, neither the borders nor the empire itself could stand.
And that wasn’t all.
Their mines and trade routes were a massive source of wealth that supported the empire’s weapons and finances.
There were many other stories, but they all led to one conclusion:
The Lehart ducal house is incredibly powerful.
And the head of that family—
Duke Rudrio Lehart—
was Ivan’s father.
Ivan… and Rudrio Lehart.
They were clearly important figures in this world, yet frustratingly, no novel came to mind when I heard their names.
Still, the situation itself felt familiar.
A child abandoned by his mother discovers his origins and returns to his noble father—
that kind of story was common.
Usually, hardship is followed by happiness.
So I tried to believe that better days were waiting for Ivan.
But I still couldn’t relax.
It wasn’t because I would have to part with him today.
If Ivan wanted to stay here—if he wanted a noble life—I had no intention of being selfish just because I’d miss him.
Even if we had to part forever, I had already decided I wouldn’t cry and would let him go.
What worried me instead—
was the rumor that the duke was a womanizer.
He didn’t have a good reputation.
A reckless noble who couldn’t resist alcohol, hunting, and women.
Still, people said he was lucky because capable aides kept the family running no matter how carelessly he lived.
“Though he can’t have children, you know. Haha—so maybe he’s not that lucky after all?”
I remembered someone at a tavern laughing as they said that.
Rudrio Lehart, despite always being surrounded by women, had never had a child.
That was why the family was worried.
If that was true—
then Ivan would be the only blood heir.
Which meant he could live here, just as he wanted.
The duke and the family would want a child of their bloodline.
He would eat well, wear fine clothes, and learn things others could never access.
He wouldn’t have to tear into stale bread in a cold, filthy house.
He wouldn’t be blamed unfairly by passing adults.
The life of being hated in the slums would finally end.
But…
I worried about whether they would truly accept the child of a prostitute.
Would he be loved—or still hated while living comfortably?
Would the people hurting him simply change from the slum residents to the Lehart family?
If only I could remember the original story, I could make a clear decision.
But no matter how much I tried, nothing came to mind.
So I ended up here—
bringing him to meet his father because that’s what he wanted,
yet still unsure if it would truly make him happy.
“Ivan, even if you go to your father, he might not welcome you. If that happens, we’ll just keep living together like before, okay?”
Before coming here, I had told him that, worried he might get hurt.
But Ivan nodded without hesitation.
Whether he believed his father would accept him—
or simply didn’t care as long as he could leave that collapsing house—
he showed no doubt.
My neck and shoulders grew stiff from all the tension and worry.
As I slowly moved to loosen them, Ivan grabbed my hand.
“…Mom, let’s just leave. Please?”
“Ivan, what’s wrong?”
His face had turned pale, and his body was trembling.
“You wanted to come here.”
“No, no… I just want to leave. Let’s go, okay?”
Seeing his face on the verge of tears, I reluctantly nodded.
If Ivan wanted, I could stay with him and raise him myself.
Of course, I couldn’t provide what a noble house could.
But at least—
I could raise him without hatred or injustice.
“Excuse me, but—”
“The master is on his way. Please wait.”
As I tried to speak to the butler while holding Ivan’s hand tightly, he placed a hand lightly on Ivan’s shoulder and cut me off.
His tone was quiet but firm.
Ivan shut his eyes tightly and didn’t say another word about leaving.
I looked at the butler again, but he had already turned away.
As if nothing would change.
Given his firm attitude, I turned back to Ivan.
…Now that we had come this far, we couldn’t just leave on our own.
“Don’t worry, Ivan. Mom is here with you.”
“……”
“If the duke turns out to be scary, we’ll just go back and live together again. That’s all.”
Even so, seeing how frightened he was, I held his hand and whispered reassuring words.
At that moment, someone knocked and entered the room, whispering something to the butler.
They glanced at us.
It was obvious they were talking about us, but they didn’t explain anything and quickly looked away.
Ivan tightened his grip on my hand.
Then—
suddenly, the door burst open.
The master of the estate entered without hesitation.
Duke Rudrio Lehart.
“I heard there’s a woman who brought my child.”
The tall man—well over 190 cm—looked at me with a faint smile.
Eyes that sparkled like jewels.
Long, dense eyelashes.
A sharp nose, defined jawline, and red lips.
His face looked as if it had been sculpted by a god.
For a moment, I just stared at him, stunned as he approached.
“Ahem, please stand.”
The butler beside me cleared his throat quietly.
Startled, I quickly stood and bowed my head to the man who looked exactly like Ivan.
As he came closer, I caught a faint scent.
Not just charcoal—
but gunpowder.
And the moment I smelled it, the rumors about him—
his love for women, alcohol, and hunting—
came rushing back into my mind.
