AFRPR 31

Chapter 31

Huh.

Estelle and Duren were sleeping soundly, completely unaware of the world around them.

Estelle was holding a book tightly in her hand, and a tall pile of books stood next to her. Just by looking, it was easy to guess what had happened.

Lennox was about to wake Estelle but paused.

If the concept of “family” could be captured in one image, it would be this moment.

It looked so peaceful that he didn’t want to disturb it.

“She just got out of bed recently… I can’t bring myself to interrupt her sleep.”

With that thought, Lennox looked down at Estelle, a little crookedly.

“Did I really give her actual mandrake medicine?”

The results weren’t satisfying.

Even now, just watching her made him feel uneasy.

Would that unease go away if she gained some weight and got stronger?

She kept pushing herself for others with that small, weak body—barely half his size. He couldn’t help but keep watching her.

She didn’t care if she broke herself trying to help the one she loved. That kind of person was right in front of him.

“If everyone in the world was like you…”

His hand slowly reached toward her.

His fingers trembled slightly.

But after so much hesitation, he ended up not even touching a strand of her hair and just muttered,

“Then the word ‘betrayal’ wouldn’t exist.”

If that were true… maybe Lennox’s family would still be intact?

He pushed that impossible “what if” to the back of his mind.

* * *

‘I fell asleep just like that…’

Estelle woke up feeling refreshed, but for some reason, a chill ran down her back.

Her plan to sleep separately from Duren had failed.

‘Tonight, I won’t fall asleep before Duren does.’

Determined, Estelle took messy-haired Duren to the dining room.

There, she unexpectedly met Lennox, who was already seated.

Their eyes met, and Lennox looked visibly flustered. After a brief hesitation, he said,

“…You woke up earlier than I thought.”

‘What does that mean? Is he upset? Or was he waiting for us?’

Estelle’s thoughts showed clearly on her face.

Duren, clinging tightly to her, eyed Lennox warily.

Just then, Pippin, who stood behind Lennox, spoke up.

“Normally you say eating is a waste of time and don’t leave your office. Yet you’ve had five cups of coffee here this morning alone.”

So he’d been waiting here since very early.

Estelle finally understood—Lennox had just said something awkward because he wasn’t used to the situation.

“You can just say ‘Good morning,’ you know.”

“…What?”

“In situations like this.”

She had said she wouldn’t help him get closer to Duren, but this much was okay.

“…Good morning.”

Lennox looked at Estelle, then at Duren, and said awkwardly.

“The weather’s really nice today. Isn’t it, Duren? Say good morning to the man.”

“G’morning.”

Duren replied reluctantly.

Lennox still seemed uncomfortable.

Estelle noticed but deliberately seated Duren right next to Lennox.

“…”
“…”

Of course, just sitting next to each other wouldn’t make them talk easily.

Awkward silence filled the air.

“Bring me the morning paper.”

“Here it is, madam.”

Pretending not to notice the tension, Estelle took the paper and skimmed through it.

‘Nothing special yet.’

Count Bellonsa had been quiet lately.

She thought Matthias would use his usual excuse—failed business—and ask for money again.

‘But maybe they’re being careful since I changed my attitude.’

Still, their patience probably wouldn’t last long.

‘It’s time to make my move.’

Her health had improved. She had nothing to fear.

Even if the atmosphere at the dining table was painfully awkward.

‘I’ve been reading this paper a long time…’

Lennox and Duren hadn’t spoken a single word to each other.

Wiggle, wiggle.

Duren squirmed, like he wanted to move farther away from Lennox.

Glance, glance.

Lennox, pretending to read documents, peeked at Duren.

They weren’t ignoring each other completely.

‘Come on, the adult should start the conversation!’

Watching them made Estelle want to scold both of them.

“Duke, aren’t you curious about anything Duren does?”

Eventually, Estelle stepped in.

After hesitating, Lennox managed to ask one question.

“…What have you been up to lately?”

Ugh. Terrible.

It sounded like something an uncle would say at a boring family reunion.

Duren looked up at him with wide eyes.

Was that question for me?

He clearly wasn’t sure.

‘He didn’t even ask what Duren’s doing today. “What have you been up to?” What kind of question is that?’

Estelle felt a headache coming.

This conversation wasn’t going anywhere without help.

“Duren, the man’s asking what we did last night. What did we do?”

Duren’s eyes lit up. “Mom told me a star story!”

“Star story?”

“The star went BOOM!”

Duren punched the table to mimic the story.

He must have liked the part where the star was compared to a punch.

“And the man was bad!”

“Not that man—his great-great-great-grandfather.”

Estelle quickly corrected the misunderstanding.

“Right! The great-great-grandpa hurt the pretty lady! So she got mad and he got caught!”

Now Lennox realized what kind of story Duren was talking about.

His eyebrows twitched.

No one likes seeing their ancestors made into villains in a kids’ book.

Estelle quickly changed the subject.

“What other books did we read?”

“Hmm. Lots!”

He couldn’t remember. Duren didn’t know how to lie.

“As you heard, Duren loves books. Did you know that?”

Of course, he didn’t.

Lennox shook his head.

“We’re going to read a book together again tonight. Want to join us? Since you’re Duren’s father, I’ll let you.”

Estelle offered the invitation like she was doing him a big favor.

Lennox almost laughed.

He’d seen Estelle fast asleep with a book in her hand last night. She clearly dozed off while reading to Duren.

So he easily guessed her plan.

‘She probably thinks there’s no way I’ll fall asleep before Duren.’

Obvious trick.

“Alright. I’ll join you.”

But he accepted the trick anyway.

He had just realized something:

Without Estelle’s help, he couldn’t even last one minute with Duren, let alone an hour.

Quick deal made.

* * *

“You’re getting work done quickly today.”

“I’m always fast.”

Lennox brushed off Pippin’s teasing with a smirk and stood up.

“Just one last thing to check. This message just came from the temple.”

“Ugh. The temple never brings good news.”

Lennox frowned as he read the document.

“They’re sending a priest for pilgrimage? Isn’t that a bit sudden?”

“I thought so too.”

This kind of visit didn’t happen around this time of year. Not in his past life, either.

“Tell them not to come.”

But as he tried to set the document aside, one name caught his eye.

‘Helios Kreuzen?’

Estelle’s ex-husband.

His name was on the list of priests visiting for the pilgrimage.

Lennox stared hard at the name and gave a new order.

“Tell them to come next year instead.”

He didn’t want Helios and Estelle to meet.

‘So this sudden visit is about Estelle.’

Did Helios still have lingering feelings?

‘Or maybe he’s come for revenge? If so, he’s pathetic—in both body and mind.’

Lennox hated Helios.

In his past life, Helios was the temple’s dog who bought the mandrake.

“No. Actually, tell them never to come. I’m handling the monsters fine, so he can forget about visiting Winterlen.”

Pippin held back a laugh.

He could tell this was all about the madam.

“If they insist, I’ll tell them: no priests whose names start with ‘Hel’ are allowed.”

“Yes, that’s—wait, what?”

“Oh, and the little one’s waiting for you. I’ll handle the rest. You go ahead.”

“It’s not because of Estelle.”

“Sure, sure. I understand.”

Pippin grinned as Lennox left for Duren’s room.

He had no idea he was about to face a very awkward bedtime story session.