My Ex-Boyfriend Gave Birth to My Child? What Does That Mean? - Chapter 18

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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-Boyfriend’s Child Was Born From Me — What on Earth Is This About? Episode 018
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“According to the records, the ancestors of the Soleian Royal Family witnessed the very moment of hatching, just as we did.”
The Crown Prince spoke with unmistakable pride.
“The moment a crack appeared in that luminous golden egg, magic came into being in the world, or so the legend claims.”
Magnificent. The truth behind the Founding Myth itself.
Though I would have preferred not to know it.
“Ever since he created that egg, my family’s expectations have been through the roof! A Dragon Egg—something that existed only in legend! My father was absolutely thrilled at the thought that whatever hatched from it would surely reshape the world once more. As for me? I didn’t sleep for days after witnessing him rip his own heart out raw to create it!”
The Crown Prince crossed his arms and shook his head.
“But then, just a short while ago, a human infant of unknown origin was born from that egg. We’ve checked and examined it countless times, and it’s absolutely, unmistakably a human child.”
The Crown Prince’s words flowed as casually as water, but inside my head, words like “dragon,” “egg,” and “human child” were locked hand-in-hand, spinning in endless circles.
The Crown Prince crossed his arms and shook his head.
“In the end, my father collapsed from the shock.”
Surely this was the sort of matter that ought to be sealed away by magical contract, not common knowledge. Was I really supposed to know that the king was now bedridden and ailing?
“Right now, Duke Voltein’s child is in an extraordinarily precarious position. We won’t lay a hand on the child, but the child’s status must be resolved as quickly as possible.”
I didn’t need to hear the rest.
Whatever his true identity might be, Leon Voltein was officially the Crown Prince’s cousin—the heir to the first place in the line of succession. His position in the order of succession was far from low.
But what would become of the realm if even a whisper of the unsavory rumor spread—that Leon Voltein’s son had been born from a Dragon Egg?
If the Religious Order ever learned of it, they who denounce magic as sacrilege yet revere dragons as divine messengers?
This was a catastrophe that could strike at the very legitimacy of the crown itself.
While I sat there half-frozen, battered by truths I’d never wanted to know, a crystalline bell chimed from somewhere—twice in quick succession. Then again, twice more. The Crown Prince’s face changed in an instant, and he bolted toward the open stairwell.
“Where are you going? Don’t follow me.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Two chimes with a pause means my older brother is on his way. Hurry upstairs now. Quickly! The attendants will buy us time, but if we’re caught, things will become troublesome.”
It had taken me a while to come down, but climbing back up was swift. We had no chance to admire the remarkably sophisticated magical architecture of the building as we hurried back to the office.
The Crown Prince quickly drew the curtains aside again, letting the outside light flood the room, while I helpfully assisted from where I stood.
In the meantime, Leon Voltein stretched across the office sofa with a yawn. Even when I irritably kicked past him while pretending to arrange the curtains, he didn’t so much as twitch.
After the room was put in order and a few seconds had passed, a voice came from outside.
“Your Highness Adrian. His Highness Raul has come to visit.”
“The office is a mess. It’s dreadful! I’ve even heard complaints about it from Isabella. I can’t possibly receive my brother in such a state. Wait a moment! I’ll come out.”
The Crown Prince spoke loudly for show, but then lowered his voice as he turned to us.
“Stay here a moment, and when the attendant opens the door, that’s when you leave. Meeting my brother right now would not be a good idea. Do you understand?”
“Understood, Your Highness!”
“And keep the secret well.”
The Crown Prince held up his thumb and forefinger as if to say “I’m watching you,” pointed them alternately at his own eyes and then at mine, and then dashed toward the door.
Just before opening it, he paused with an “oh” and turned back to us.
“You two seem quite close. Why don’t you just get married?”
Before I could respond, the door swung open, and the Crown Prince vanished as though sucked out into the hallway.
I was left alone with Leon Voltein, sprawled lazily across the chair, a derisive snort escaping his lips.
‘…Should I just go ahead and steal that Jeweled Paperweight while I’m at it?’
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As I busied myself with various household matters, the seasons had quietly turned to winter. Snow was falling gently outside the window, but the office, with its fireplace burning at full intensity, was so warm that beads of sweat gathered on my back.
I folded the letter that had arrived from the Autrecha Estate and handed it to Cyril.
Rita, who had been watching Cyril organize the letters into boxes while bouncing on her feet, spoke in a low voice.
“How is the Baron managing these days, my lady?”
“Much the same as always. Though the estate is being run better now than it was when my sister-in-law was left as a widow.”
“And the Baroness…?”
“She’s caught a cold.”
I paused to think, then pulled out fresh stationery. Medicine that helped with colds and recovery, sturdy cloth, and quality coal were essentials of winter.
…In my past life, the Autrecha Mansion was bone-piercingly cold every winter. Pascal had bought me elaborate dresses, but he’d never spared a thought for the heating expenses of my family home.
‘It’s done. That’s all in the past.’
I added a few toys for the children and some long-keeping sugar sweets to the list, then handed the letter to Cyril.
“Arrange for these items to be procured and sent to the Autrecha Estate. Also, I’m looking to find personnel who can handle administrative work. Could you help me find someone? I’m less concerned with ability than with trustworthiness. Given that they’ll be working at the estate, the salary would be three times the standard rate. However, contracts will be renewed every six months, and I’ll conduct the interviews myself.”
“Understood. I’ll see to it.”
Cyril gave a formal bow and left the office. Rita, who had been listening to our entire conversation while pretending to dust the bookshelf, flushed with color and sang my praises.
“You are truly remarkable, my lady! Such careful concern for the Autrecha Estate.”
“Flattery. An estate is as much a matter of noble standing as anything else. Someone capable must manage it.”
Though it wasn’t written in the letter, it was certain that Schule was idling away his time, drinking as he pleased. The improvement in the household’s circumstances was likely due simply to the fact that fewer swindlers were dangling the bait of investment before an impoverished baron effectively exiled from the Capital.
For now, that was sufficient.
My resolve to strip Schule of his authority and entrust the Autrecha House to the next generation remained unshaken.
My cousins were still young, so my sister would have to serve as Regent until they came of age. Calling her and the children to the Capital separately for their education was another option, but everything had to happen only after I had successfully established myself there first.
“Oh my!”
Rita, who had been endlessly wiping the condensation from the windowpane, let out a gasp as she looked outside.
“The Duke’s carriage has arrived!”
Rita hurried over to me and, with terrifying speed—as if she had a hundred hands—inspected my hair, makeup, and clothing before breaking into a subtle smile.
“You’re always perfect, ma’am!”
I gave Rita a thumbs-up, and together we stepped out of the study.
By the time we reached the entrance hall, Leon had already removed his coat and was brushing snow from his hair. Lucian, who had followed his father, laughed repeatedly despite his face being flushed red from the cold air.
“Mother!”
When the child spotted me and came running, I no longer said things like “I’m not your mother.”
“Father fell over!”
“Did he? I would have liked to see that.”
I crouched down to meet the child’s eyes.
Honestly, the child’s features resembled Leon far more than they did me. The eyelashes were quite long, and against pale skin with rosy cheeks, he looked like a porcelain doll. Yet the round eyes framed by olive irises, the softly spread auburn hair, and the gentle line of the slightly drooping eyebrows were unmistakably mine.
Now that I even knew the royal family’s secrets, it would be absurd to deny it further.
Lucian was my child. I didn’t know what means had been used, but Leon Voltein had truly borne my child.
The small body I held was cold from the outside air and smelled fresh, like snow.
“Do you like warm lemon tea and cookies, Lucian?”
“I love them!”
The child bounced away from my arms and ran toward the drawing room. He knew exactly where snacks were served.
I gestured to the servants, who were watching with warm expressions, to bring what the child wanted, and only then did I turn to face Leon.
I stopped short.
The gaze Leon directed down at me was gentle to a degree that was difficult to explain.
It wasn’t mockery, nor was it scorn.
He was looking at me with a smile that seemed to contain all things warm and soft.

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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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