Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 174

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Side Story, Part 2, Episode 1
Side Story 2: A Holiday in Spring
Imperial Calendar Year 984, May 29th.
For the past month, Brizni had marked the date on her calendar and crossed it off day by day, counting down to this moment. Tezebia watched her daughter rise onto her tiptoes to mark another cross on the calendar, her face warm with affection.
“I hope that day comes quickly, Brizni.”
“Me too!”
That day marked the arrival of those she held most dear—aside from her parents, Duke Lebanon and his wife, and her childhood friend Alexio—to visit Lebovni. It had been three years since Brizni last saw them, so her eager anticipation was hardly surprising.
“And this time, that person is coming too! I’ve missed them so much!”
Tezebia braided her daughter’s vibrant crimson hair on both sides, suppressing a knowing smile. At twelve years old now, Brizni’s thoughts were entirely consumed by “that person.”
“Just four more days and I’ll see them…!”
Silver hair with an ethereal shimmer. Crimson-tinged eyes burning with intensity. Smooth, porcelain cheeks. Like an angel descended from the heavens.
Brizni giggled to herself as she painted this image in her mind, oblivious to the figure watching from beyond the doorway. It was Tezebia who noticed first.
“Oh my, Alexio. You’ve arrived early.”
A boy with black hair and amber eyes bowed respectfully at the waist. Brizni remained unaware of her friend’s presence until Tezebia finished smoothing her hair and rose from her seat.
“Oh, Lexie’s here.”
“…I have returned, Lady Brizni.”
Alexio offered a proper greeting even to Brizni. For a twelve-year-old, his movements were remarkably composed and precise. His growth had accelerated beyond his peers, and since beginning his sword training, both his height and frame had expanded considerably. He had long since surpassed Brizni’s height. Alexio had only just returned from a sword training journey he’d undertaken with his father a fortnight ago.
“You’re back sooner than expected.”
“It seems you’re not particularly pleased about that.”
“That’s not it at all.”
Yet regardless of whether her friend had returned or not, Brizni’s thoughts remained fixed on the imagined “that person.” Tezebia smiled knowingly and gestured to Alexio.
“Come inside and talk with each other. We’ll see you both at dinner.”
“Okay. Come in, Lexie.”
“…Yes.”
The moment Tezebia left the room, Alexio strode toward the sofa.
“What were you doing?”
“Just talking with Mother.”
“Doesn’t seem like it.”
Brizni paid no mind to his sudden shift from formal speech to casual tone—they had, after all, practically grown up in the same cradle. Alexio observed his distracted friend before his gaze fell upon the calendar, covered in countless cross marks.
“Who exactly is coming? You were staring at that calendar a fortnight ago, and you’re still at it.”
“You don’t need to know.”
“Why shouldn’t I know? You completely forgot that we promised to practice swordplay that day.”
“We can practice swordplay anytime. It’s not that important.”
Brizni answered thoughtlessly before catching herself, turning to her childhood friend with a guilty expression. His already cold features had frozen into an icy mask. She quickly changed her approach.
“It is important. Yes, of course it is. Exercise is so vital. Since we’re on the subject, should we go practice right now?”
“…”
“Right, you said you got back this morning, didn’t you? Then rest with me today, and we’ll do it tomorrow. Okay?”
Alexio appeared stern and cold on the surface, but he was hardly difficult to manage. After all, he was still only twelve, and Brizni had grown up alongside him since infancy—she knew exactly how to handle him.
“How was the training? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“…No.”
At the sweet tone of her voice, Alexio’s expression finally softened. Brizni watched her friend fidgeting with her own long, silky red hair and laughed inwardly.
‘I’m sorry, Lexie. But right now, I want to see that child more.’
She could be certain of it. The moment she saw that child, she would fall in love at first sight. Just as she had fallen for the “handsome uncle” when she was very young. And exactly three days later, Brizni’s prediction became reality.
“Is this Lebovni?”
The moment she saw that small child holding her beloved aunt’s hand, looking around curiously.
‘How is this possible…. She’s even more beautiful than I imagined.’
Brizni fell head over heels for her cousin with silver hair and violet eyes at first sight.
* * *
It had been a full three years since Yerenika last visited Lebovni.
Despite her promise to Brizni and Alexio that she would come at least twice a year, various matters kept piling up, and her visit to Lebovni kept getting postponed.
But now she could delay no longer. Yerenika tied the strings of her hat with grim determination as she looked in the mirror. A troubled voice came from beside her.
“You absolutely must rest.”
“No. I need to go now. If I stay any longer, my next visit to Lebovni will probably be five years from now. By then, Brizni and Alexio might have completely forgotten what I look like.”
“Still….”
“I’ve already packed everything. How can you ask me this now?”
Auredhian Belgot’s expression was as dark as someone who had just heard the world would end tomorrow. As always when sending his wife away on a journey, he had been restless for days before her departure. He lingered beside his wife at the mirror, hovering around her as she clumsily tied her ribbon.
“I wish I could go with you….”
“I’d like that too, but we can’t leave the Imperial Palace unattended, can we?”
“Still, I’m worried…. This time feels different from when Deb and Jena were born.”
Auredhian Belgot finally couldn’t help himself and wrapped his arms around his wife’s waist from behind. Due to their difference in height, it appeared as though Yerenika was embracing him, but the way he buried his face in her neck showed that he was the one being held. Yerenika’s eyes in the mirror widened in surprise, and then she laughed brightly.
“That’s exactly why I need to go and come back before things get harder.”
“…It already seems difficult.”
“I’m fine now. It’s much better than when I had Deb. Besides, Raulus blessed me with plenty of divine power last time.”
Yerenika added a few more words to comfort him, but they didn’t reach Auredhian Belgot’s ears. After all, Yeni’s “I’m fine” was just a habit of speech.
Auredhian Belgot was careful not to put his full weight on her or hold her too tightly. He placed his hand near her abdomen with even more care than when he touched his children.
Though it wasn’t yet visible to the naked eye, Auredhian Belgot, who knew every inch of his wife’s body, could feel the difference. Within her slightly swollen belly, their new flower was growing abundantly.
Even after experiencing it multiple times, the miracle of new life sprouting within such a small and delicate body never ceased to fill him with wonder. Their firstborn son had come as an unexpected gift. Their second child, a daughter, had been conceived by mutual agreement. And now, their third had come about because Yerenika and the children had pestered Auredhian Belgot every day for half a year. Yerenika in particular had been singing the song of a third child since two years ago.
“I think it would be wonderful to have just one more. And the children are so beautiful that I want to see the third one too.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Won’t you feel incredibly lonely when Deb and Jena go to the Academy in a few years?”
“Well…. No, absolutely not.”
“The third one will definitely have pink hair. You still don’t want it?”
“It’s not that I don’t want it, but still, no.”
“It’s only hard for the first few months, and then it’s fine. Your children don’t make me suffer!”
At first, he had firmly refused. More children were always better, but Yeni would suffer, and suffering for even a few months was still suffering.
However, Yerenika’s stubbornness, as always, easily won him over. And just as Yerenika couldn’t resist the pestering of him and the children with their sparkling eyes, Auredhian Belgot was equally helpless when his wife and children looked at him with gleaming eyes.
This situation was no different. Originally, he had intended to absolutely forbid Yerenika from leaving the Imperial Palace until after the child was born. Auredhian Belgot’s greatest lifelong wish, both when he married and now, remained unchanged: to watch Yeni play, eat, and rest for the rest of her life.
However, Yerenika showed no sign of ever fulfilling his wish. The moment the Old Physician told her she had entered the stable period, she immediately declared she would visit Lebovni.
Auredhian Belgot held the small, delicate body that fit perfectly in his arms and poured out various worries for a long time.
“I can’t put my mind at ease. And this time, you’re taking all the children with you too. Will Deb and Jena be able to take good care of you?”
“Am I being dragged down beneath Remordi?”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
Auredhian Belgot couldn’t bring himself to release her, and ultimately pulled her toward the bed.
“Then reassure me before you go.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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