Chapter Eighteen: A Night Full of Warmth

Thanks to Dr. Morgan’s medicine, along with the fact that he ate, slept, and rested well, Cedric’s wounds healed in no time. In just a month, Cedric had recovered enough to roam around the garden. Due to his angelic innocence, everyone in the mansion adored him.

Nevertheless, he still stayed in the same room as me.

At night, he was still restless and sometimes had night terrors. The unforeseen violence both father and sister had inflicted scarred him deeply.

Cedric told me that around dawn, his father suddenly barged into his room, dragged him, before whipping him.

…As a result, Cedric grew terrified of the night.

Since Dr. Morgan’s medicine was unlikely to cure that, we could only rely on time.

Thankfully, my husband treated Cedric like his own younger sibling. Not only that, but Cedric was also fond of him. Recently, Cedric had begun to say, “I want to be a knight just like my brother-in-law.”

As an older sister, I was happy that he was able to figure out his aspirations at such a young age.

However, every time my husband went home, Cedric would rush to hug him, and I was worried that my husband would be offended at that…

“Brother-in-Law! Welcome back!!”

Today as well, the moment my husband appeared at the entrance, Cedric leaped at him with puppy-like innocence. As soon as he entered, my husband spread his arm to lift Cedric up, before carrying him in his shoulder.

“I’m home, Ceddie. Have you been a good boy?”

“Yes! Today, I went to the library with my sister and asked Monica to recommend a book for me!”

Cedric answered while hugging my husband, and my husband nodded in return.

His knightly attire, which was dominated by black accents, looked truly refined. Not to mention, because my husband was fine looking, the uniform suited his well-trained body flawlessly.

…Even though I saw him every morning and every night, the sight of him never failed to stir my heart.

“Welcome home, my husband.”

I took a step towards my husband and spoke.

“I’m home, Liliana.”

My husband responded with a gentle smile.

I secretly breathed in relief.

Recently, Frederick told me that my husband’s memory was gradually returning. However, the majority of those memories seemed to pertain to his childhood. Not only that, Dr. Morgan also said that it wouldn’t be strange for his memories to resurface all at once.

…Thus, each time my husband came home from work and gave me his usual serene smile, I was relieved.

I was relieved that he still hadn’t remembered the past.

To be relieved that my husband—who was relied on by many—was still amnesic…

…What a horrendous person I am.

“Liliana? What’s the matter?”

Hearing the concern in his tone, I realized that I had unconsciously lowered my head. In a hurry, I lifted my face, and saw that even Cedric was worried.

“…Sister?”

“I-I’m sorry, I was just lost in thoughts…”

“If something is bothering you, just tell me. I’ll do everything in my capability to help.”

“No, it’s not that big of a deal, so please don’t be concerned…”

When I shook my head, my husband seemed a little dejected for some reason.

“Is that so…? Alright, then.”

“I’m glad that you’re worried about me. Thank you, my husband.”

Then, his large hand stroked my head.

In the entire world, my “concerns” were probably the most difficult subject to broach to my husband…

…After all, if he were to find out the reason behind my relief, he’d loathe me.

“My husband, what would you prefer for dinner?”

“I ate with my colleagues. Have the two of you eaten already?”

“Yes.”

“Phil made my favorite hamburger today.”

18. A Night Full of Warmth

“I see, that’s great.”

“Uh-huh!”

My husband smiled back at the cheerful Cedric. Elsa, Frederick, and Arthur, who were welcoming us, also smiled.

…Recently, I began to think that Cedric’s smile alone was enough to bring peace to the world.

Afterwards, my husband went upstairs with Cedric on his shoulder, while I put my hand around his as I followed.

When he arrived at my room, my husband let Cedric down. Cedric then stood beside me.

“Then, I’ll get changed.”

“Alright.”

“Brother-in-law, do return quickly!”

At Cedric’s request, my husband chuckled and nodded, before heading to his room, but not before patting Cedric’s head.

As he promised me, my husband always returned to the mansion every day to meet us. Then, in the morning, we’d be seeing him off. Sometimes, like today, he’d return late, but we still had dinner almost every day. Thanks to Cedric’s presence, I got accustomed to having dinner together in the dining room, since I no longer felt nervous or anxious.

Although, if there was something that slightly concerned me, it was the fact that every day for the past week or so, Cedric, my husband, and I had been sleeping in the same bed.

***

Later, Cedric and I returned to our room and changed into our sleepwear. I changed into a soft silk negligee, while Cedric wore silk pajamas.

Back in our previous mansion, a maid would take care of Cedric, so he couldn’t button his shirt himself. However, after seeing how I’d take care of myself in the marquis household, Cedric began to aspire to do the same.

After coming to live in the marquis house, Cedric had grown very lively. Of course, even when he was still living with his parents, Cedric’s smile was cute. But ever since he arrived here, there wasn’t a hint of worry in his smile.

…Surely, it was because of all the servants—including Elsa, who watched over him fondly, and most of all, my husband, who was like a father figure to Cedric.

“Sister, tomorrow is Brother-in-law’s day off.”

Suddenly, Cedric approached me, who was sitting on the edge of the bed.

As of the present, there were only the two of us in the room.

“That’s right. This morning, he did mention that…”

“Then, should we read a book together tomorrow?”

I smiled wryly and caressed Cedric’s cheek. The fluffy and soft cheek—peculiar to children, was just adorable.

“My husband is probably tired from work, so let’s not bother him too much. There’s also a chance that he brought his work home with him…”

I felt a pang of guilt when I saw the gloomy Cedric.

“…But if my husband agrees, then you can read a book together.”

Cedric broke into a smile. Because of how adorable he was, I kissed him on the forehead as if to pamper him. In response, Cedric also kissed me on the forehead.

“I love you, Sister!”

After that, I read to Cedric, who sat on my lap, as I waited for my husband.

When my husband came to the room—relatively quickly, at that—Cedric happily called out to him.

“Alright, so Cedric, tell me everything about your day.”

My husband laid down on my bed, while Cedric sat down and nodded.

Ever since we started sleeping together, Cedric would share his day with my husband every night. As for my husband, he’d listen attentively, without a hint of disgust on his face.

“Brother-in-Law, today, Mr. Oswald praised me.”

“You’re very smart, Cedric.”

With a smile, my husband listened to Cedric’s story as he laid beside him. Lately, it had become a daily routine for me to occasionally stroke Cedric’s hair as I watched over them.

“Liliana, come here.”

“Sister, c’mon! If you don’t go to bed early, I’ll leave you!”

Then, together with Cedric, I’d sleep in my husband’s arms. As I held Cedric from behind, my husband would wrap his hand around my waist.

Time passed as Cedric excitedly spoke about whether or not we should go by horse, by carriage, or if we should bring our own lunch—

—but all of the sudden, he grew silent.

Then, I heard his peaceful slumbering noise…

…I could see my husband draping a blanket over me and Cedric as he stifled his laughter.

“I was surprised because he suddenly became silent.”

“Fufufu, I’m sorry about that.”

I rolled over and caressed Cedric’s hair. As he snuggled into my chest, I narrowed my eyes.

I never got tired of seeing his innocent, sleeping, face.

“…I’d like to talk about Sandra and Margaret.”

At the names that suddenly came out of my husband’s mouth, I looked up in surprise.

Even in the faint light of the candle, the confusion on my husband’s face was vivid.

“The day before yesterday, her divorce was officially established.”

“Oh, dear…”

To reveal my surprise at the unexpected subject, my hand involuntarily flew to my mouth.

“They also refused to be put under house arrest… I’ll have to say, to finish the divorce preparation in such a brief period of time, I applaud their efficiency. Perhaps, they were aware of the ever-growing debt.”

“Then, did they move to the Baron Disley family?”

“No, instead, an acquaintance of Margaret has taken it upon him to shelter them.”

Stepmother—no, it didn’t matter anymore, so let’s call her Sandra. Sandra hailed from a baron family. During an evening ball, she encountered my father, and eventually became his lover. However, because her status was deemed as inadequate, my father’s family strictly opposed their marriage. In the end, my father adhered to my grandparents’ words, and married my mother.

Afterwards, my grandparents succumbed to the plague, while my mother also passed away—

—then, my father welcomed Sandra.

Enamored with Sandra, he always obeyed her every words—

—as such, divorce must’ve come as a shock to him.

Presently, my father was making arrangements to leave for the territory of Eighton in a few days.

“I thought I’d tell you just in case. However, it’s up to you whether to tell Cedric or not. If you deem it too difficult, I’ll relay it to him. Please rely on me as much as possible.”

“Thank you. I’ll be sure to tell him after I’ve calmed down a bit.”

“I see… Oh, that’s right. Tomorrow, Al will come, too…”

“Oh my, Al…?”

This past month, I had been busy with Cedric, so I had only met him twice. As a thank you, I gave him a handkerchief embroidered with the royal coat of arms. Also, since he was also a knight, my husband would meet him every day, so he’d talk about him often…

“Despite bragging about Cedric’s cuteness almost every day, he didn’t get to see him when he first came to visit, right? I’m kind of reluctant to let them meet…”

“That’s right, since Cedric was asleep with a slight fever. Is it alright for him to meet the crown prince again?”

“Considering how good and well-behaved he is, it’s alright. Not like he cares about it. Besides, it isn’t a formal meeting. Let’s go to sleep, too. If we oversleep, Cedric might get angry.”

My husband smiled, before twisting his body to turn off the lamp on the sideboard.

The room suddenly grew dark and quiet.

“Good night, Liliana. Sweet dream.”

“Good night, my husband, have a nice dream.”

I held Cedric again, and surrendered myself into my husband’s arms.

It was a very warm and kind solace, but my husband’s scent made me nervous—

—Regardless, I was very happy.

Realizing that I wished for such happiness to last forever, I let out a wry smile as though hiding it behind Cedric’s hair.

---

***T/N: Liliana is so sure that once he regained his memories, he’d ditch her, done and dusted. Me, on the other hand, would like to see a tsundere Will fighting with himself ohohoho

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