My Ex-Boyfriend Gave Birth to My Child? What Does That Mean? - Chapter 15

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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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My Ex Got Pregnant with My Child — What’s Going On Here? Episode 15
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When speaking of House Shastan, the Behemoth Knights are mentioned first.
The largest order of knights in the Kingdom, the Behemoth Knights are a mixed force of roughly equal parts mages and warriors, and about three in every ten mages who passed through the Magic Tower chose to make it their career.
I never understood people who harbored romantic notions about hunting Magical Beasts or the beasts themselves, yet one thing was certain — they were engaged in noble work.
The important clause comes at the beginning.
I never understood people who harbored romantic notions about hunting Magical Beasts or the beasts themselves.
For instance, someone like the man sitting right in front of me.
“You were nobility, Dominic?”
I set down my teacup on the side table and looked up at the man across from me.
Masculine features. Thick brows. A handsome man with crimson hair, his body hard-hewn as stone crammed into a uniform that seemed ready to burst at the seams, scratched the tip of his nose and laughed.
“At the seat of learning, it’s customary to conceal one’s station. My apologies for the deception.”
“No, it’s not really something to apologize for… Ah, please speak at ease. I’m begging you.”
“The old way feels more natural to me.”
“That old way feels a bit strange now, honestly. And there’s the difference in our stations…”
“I’ve grown quite a bit since then.”
Not just in height, but in muscle as well — he’d doubled in width. The difference in build was so pronounced that he gave off a sense of physical dominance that was almost bestial.
Surprisingly, the second son of the Countess Shastan, who claimed to owe me a debt of gratitude, had been a fellow student during my time at the Magic Tower.
If Leon Voltain was the obsessive type infatuated with the Magic Tower’s famous beauty, then Dominic — or rather, Dominic — was a promising newcomer who’d briefly charmed everyone with his handsome features and gentle nature.
The fact that his popularity was fleeting had, unfortunately, rather understandable reasons.
“So the second son of House Shastan was hunting Magical Beasts to your heart’s content, I see.”
“You remember my tastes so well!”
Dominic’s face brightened at once, and he launched eagerly into tales from their recent hunt.
A long expedition of twelve knights that began when a farmer in a village discovered a suspiciously large egg — dreams, adventure, and… a Magical Beast.
The story that began when the sun hung at its zenith drew to a close as the sky turned orange.
“…And that’s how we discovered the young drake and managed to extract its claws!”
“You haven’t changed. Even back at the Magic Tower, your grade in Magical Beast Dissection was exceptionally high.”
I replied in a slightly weary tone.
Yes. This man was mad for Magical Beasts. He could talk about them for three days and nights straight.
In the end, it was an adventure where someone had died, so I couldn’t quite manage to say it all turned out well. Instead, I offered admiration and light applause. Only then did he seem to realize he’d talked far too much, and his cheeks reddened as he scratched his nose again.
“I’ve come today on different business. Thank you for making time for me.”
“Come on, don’t be so formal with me. So, what brings you here?”
“I’ve brought you something.”
I accepted the envelope he offered.
When I asked if I could open it now, pointing at the wax seal, he nodded.
The moment I opened the envelope and glimpsed its contents, I regretted unfolding it immediately.
It was a Marriage Proposal Letter.
“…”
I looked between the letter and Dominic, back and forth.
Was this really happening?
Noticing from my expression that I couldn’t quite process the sheer volume of information, Dominic began to elaborate.
“You’ve grown weary of danger, it seems.”
“Huh?”
I realized a moment too late that his metaphor was referring to Leon Voltain. Both of them — why couldn’t they just speak plainly?
“Leon Voltain is a dangerous man. Politically, needless to say, and as an individual as well…”
“Wait, wait just a moment.”
I cut off Dominic’s lengthening explanation and asked what I most wanted to know.
“What on earth does Leon Voltain being dangerous have to do with this proposal?”
“I know he’s troubling you right now, Irina.”
“That’s true.”
“As someone who owes you a debt of life, I want to save you from becoming his Magical Beast.”
“Dominic, you’re a knight. If you proposed every time you owed someone your life, you’d need ten bodies.”
“That is to say…”
Dominic’s face flushed crimson. I regretted the words the moment they left my mouth. I hadn’t particularly wanted to hear what came next.
“It’s because I’ve come to have feelings for you…”
I sighed and leaned back against the sofa. Strangely, looking at the knight with his innocent face, I felt like I’d become one of those wicked women from cheap novels…
One question formed in my mind.
So, why didn’t you come in my past life?
I realized I was being petty. In truth, this was something I’d wanted to say to Leon Voltain as well.
Why had these fine men suddenly taken an interest in me?
In my past life, I never paid any attention to how I lived. So why the sudden interest now?
Because my family was an obstacle? Because I broke off my engagement? Because I’ve grown wealthier? None of that makes sense. If these men had truly wanted me, none of those conditions would have mattered.
Love?
That’s a pretty word, I suppose. But I’ve learned my lesson about believing in it.
“I would have done the same thing even if it wasn’t you.”
“Irina.”
“I saved your life not because it was you, but because it’s only natural to save someone when they’re about to die.”
I took the Marriage Proposal Letter he had given me and slid it across the table toward him.
“Even for the sake of our friendship, I’m telling you plainly. Take it back.”
“Irina, couldn’t you give this more thought?”
“I want you to consider it the greatest gift you could ever give me—to pretend this never happened.”
I pressed on, hoping my words would sway him.
“Does Countess Shastan know about this proposal?”
“……She doesn’t.”
“How wonderful. So I’ll become the most notorious wanton in history—entangled in scandal with Duke Voltain and now seducing Countess Shastan’s son as well.”
“I’m the one who proposed. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“And who would believe that?”
Dominic stared at the Marriage Proposal Letter on the table for a long moment, then spoke in a subdued voice.
“……Leon Voltain has always been like that. He uses you, hides behind the pretense of being your lover, and makes you the one who takes the arrows meant for him.”
He reached out his hand. It didn’t seem to carry any particular intention, so I let him do as he wished.
The man took hold of my hand and pulled it toward him. It wasn’t a contact born of sinister intent. He examined my fingertips with careful, gentle movements.
My hand, scattered with innumerable small scars like stars. A hand utterly unlike my mother’s soft one.
Still holding my rough hand, he lifted his gaze and met my eyes.
“Who could have done this to the hands of someone they love?”
I pulled my hand away from his and reached for my teacup. The tips of my fingers trembled slightly as I lifted it.
“There’s no need to talk about the Magic Tower days. That was then, and this is now.”
“I cannot stand idly by and watch the same thing happen again.”
In his stubborn tone, I caught a glimpse of who he had been. Though his appearance had changed greatly, his core seemed almost untouched from those days.
“But,”
Dominic picked up the Marriage Proposal Letter from the table and tore it into several pieces. Rising slowly, he pushed the shreds into the flames of the fireplace.
“Since you say you dislike such hurried proposals, I shall withdraw for now.”
His profile, illuminated by the sudden flare of the fire, looked as resolute and unyielding as carefully carved stone. As I stared at him, his warm brown eyes eventually met mine.
“But I won’t simply stand by and watch you be manipulated by him.”
I let out a dry laugh at the earnest man before me and offered him my counsel.
“Believe it or not,”
Well, whether he believed it or not was up to him.
“That man gave me a great deal back then too.”

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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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