ATRF C6

Chapter 6

What on earth was going on?

Dahlia rushed straight to her room and locked the door behind her the moment she entered.

What is happening…?!

A loud crash echoed through the slightly open window.

Is he insane?

Had he actually tried to break the door down just because she wouldn’t open it?

Given how old the mansion was, it wouldn’t have been strange at all if Leonard had managed to break it with sheer force.

Her heart pounding violently, she cautiously stepped toward the window.

At that exact moment, her eyes met Leonard’s as he was trying to force his way through the door.

“Gasp…!”

Damn it.

Swearing under her breath, Dahlia hurriedly drew the curtains and dropped to the floor.

No—this wasn’t the time for that.

She immediately ran to the wardrobe and pulled out a corset.

If she tightened her waist with it and wore a dress full of lace, it might be enough to conceal her protruding belly.

Holding the corset, Dahlia’s eyes darted around in haste.

But inside the wardrobe, there wasn’t even a single dress with enough lace to hide anything.

All she had were a few plain dresses, stripped of decoration as much as possible due to her family’s circumstances.

The only thing that came to mind was the dress Leonard had given her for her birthday—but that wasn’t here. It was displayed on a mannequin in the dressing room.

Of all times, that dress…!

In truth, it could hardly even be called a dressing room. There was only that single dress Leonard had given her, placed at the center.

Though she had said her father sold things off and such, she had treasured that dress more than any other and kept it there.

At least the corset… somehow…

In the end, giving up on changing her dress, Dahlia was about to put on the corset when—

“I’ve seen everything, Dahlia.”

Her shoulders flinched at the familiar voice from outside the door.

“Open the door.”

There was no anger or disappointment in his voice—only concern.

“I’ve been worried.”

Leonard leaned his face against the door, gripping the handle tightly.

“I heard Count Noirose has been getting involved in some rather unsavory dealings lately, so I thought… just in case…”

His face twisted in distress.

“…that he might have even sold you off.”

Only then did Dahlia recall the words she had once said to him in jest.

‘Who would take a woman without a single coin of dowry? I’d be lucky if I weren’t sold off somewhere. Besides…’

She had never imagined he would remember that.

Her lowered lashes trembled faintly.

“And on top of that, I couldn’t reach you. You’ve never gone silent for this long before.”

Still staring resentfully at the unopened door, Leonard frowned and spoke firmly.

“I’m seeing your face today no matter what. So open the door.”

Dahlia swallowed dryly, her tension evident.

He was usually gentle—but once he became stubborn like this, there was no stopping him.

She knew that better than anyone.

In the end, she let out a small sigh and spoke.

“…Lancaster.”

At the long-awaited sound of her voice through the crack of the door, his head snapped up.

“Dahlia…!”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you. I haven’t been feeling well for a few days.”

It was an excuse even a child wouldn’t believe—claiming she had been unwell for two whole months, enough to not send even a single reply.

But Leonard didn’t press her.

“What’s wrong? Should I call a physician?”

“…No. I’m sorry, but could you just go back today? I really don’t feel well.”

Her reply was obedient—too obedient.

Unlike her usual self.

Narrowing his eyes, he stared at the doorknob.

“I’m sorry, Dahlia.”

“…What?”

“I’m opening the door.”

Without hesitation, Leonard struck the doorknob with the hilt of his sword.

Bang!

With a chilling creak, the broken door slowly opened.

Startled, Dahlia quickly retreated, clutching her stomach.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

He stepped inside without restraint.

His blue eyes swept over her body.

Her frail frame, as if she hadn’t been eating properly—and the slight swell of her abdomen, covered by her hand.

The first thought that crossed his mind—

“You… don’t tell me…?”

That she was carrying a child.

Completely unprepared for such a situation, the sword slipped from Leonard’s hand and clattered to the floor.

Dahlia couldn’t even begin to imagine the extent of his shock.

She wanted to burst into tears, but she held them back, shouting instead with a flushed face.

“Get out! Who said you could come in? Just because you’re a duke, does that mean you can behave so rudely?!”

“Dahlia!”

Normally, Leonard would have stepped back.

But not this time.

“Tell me the truth!”

His voice rose without him realizing it.

“It’s… my child, isn’t it?”

“No.”

Dahlia lied calmly, her expression unchanged.

“It’s my child.”

“It’s not yours.”

“Noirose!”

Frustration tightening his fists, Leonard shouted.

“When have you ever had another man? Other than me—who is there? You don’t even have any friends!”

At his words, she let out a hollow laugh, as if she had lost her mind.

“Ha… haha…”

He was right.

No men. No friends.

The only person she could even call either stood right in front of her.

How could a single life be so utterly miserable?

Still laughing with tears forming in her eyes, Dahlia slowly lowered her hand.

“That’s right.”

With her hand removed, her belly became more visible.

“It’s a child with the blood of Lancaster—the very blood you despise so much.”

Biting her lip, she stared straight at him.

“You must find it disgusting. You must be wondering what I’ve been doing all this time, letting the baby grow this much.”

A storm of emotions—anger, sorrow, something indescribable—raged within her.

Yet she continued speaking as if she felt nothing.

“I tried everything I could. I even stepped into blazing heat… and I drank poison.”

Leonard’s eyebrow twitched.

“But the baby…”

At last, the tears she had been holding back streamed down her face.

“…wants to live.”

How foolish must she look?

“It clings to me, as if it’s begging me to let it live…”

How repulsive must this seem?

“I can’t abandon this child anymore…!”

Carrying a child born from what had been nothing more than a fleeting affair—raising her voice like this.

“I can’t turn away from it!”

She hastily wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“I’m going to have this baby, Lancaster.”

Steadying her breath, she forced down her sobs.

“I won’t cause you any trouble, so don’t worry about it. Now that you understand—leave.”

She had hoped not to sound like she was appealing to his emotions.

But she had already poured out too much.

Turning her back to him, silence fell between them.

After a long moment, Leonard finally spoke.

“You should have told me, Dahlia.”

“And if I had—what would change?”

“Do you really not trust me that much? You couldn’t even tell me something like this, and instead handled it alone like a fool—”

“How could I tell you that?”

She turned back, glaring at him.

“You said yourself—you had no intention of marrying, and that you never wanted to continue the bloodline of the detestable Lancaster. How could I possibly tell you…?”

“Dahlia! Duke Lancaster!”

Count Noirose, who had been blocked by the knights, finally forced his way into the room.

“Count Noirose!”

The moment he entered, Leonard turned sharply toward him.

And then he said—

“I will marry Lady Noirose.”

“Lancaster!”

Startled, Dahlia stepped between them.

“What are you doing right now?!”

“I will marry her.”

Firmly gripping her shoulders and moving her aside, he continued without hesitation.

“I don’t require a dowry. Just give your permission.”

“Y-You…”

Count Noirose’s eyes spun in shock.

“There’s no need for further argument.”

Leonard looked directly at Dahlia and spoke in a low voice.

“Marry me, Dahlia.”

It was a proposal devoid of any romance—

cold, and utterly desolate.