Chapter 64
“Because I thought you’d like it.”
Kallion’s matter-of-fact reply left me momentarily blank.
When he saw my expression, the corner of his lips curved slightly.
“I’m glad—looks like I was right.”
The golden sunset spilled across his profile, the light tracing every sharp line of his face.
It was so striking, almost unreal, that I found myself staring without meaning to and then quickly looked away in surprise.
I told myself it was only the memories of Denian tied to this place and the beautiful sunset making me lose focus for a moment.
Before long, the carriage arrived at a handsome seaside villa.
As if expecting us, the butler and servants were waiting.
Kallion stepped down first, naturally extending a hand toward me.
I hesitated briefly, then placed my hand in his and stepped down calmly.
“You’re here. We’ve been waiting since we received word,”
said Altis, the villa’s butler, smiling warmly.
“It’s been so long since you last came—you used to visit often when you were younger.”
He then turned to me and bowed deeply.
“This is our first meeting. I’m Altis Benain, butler of this villa.”
“Pleased to meet you, Altis Benain.”
“Please, just call me Altis.”
He looked exactly as I remembered, one of the few in Valdormer who had shown me kindness without prejudice.
He never treated me as the enemy’s hostage or a spy for Heister, but simply as myself.
Perhaps that’s why I had always felt comfortable here.
If I had to name the happiest moments of my first life, this place would come to mind without hesitation.
Dallot, in Valdormer’s southern region, was close to Highland.
Kallion had occasionally come here to meet the Highland lord about southern affairs.
Originally, he had stopped visiting, but after Denian was born, I’d begged him to come along so Denian could see the sea.
I had expected him to refuse, but surprisingly, he had allowed it without much fuss.
Now, those memories existed only in my mind…
Was it just a coincidence that he had brought me here again?
I found myself staring at Kallion’s profile as he spoke with Altis.
He must have felt my gaze, because he turned to look at me in puzzlement.
I quickly looked away.
“The servants will handle the luggage. You should change into something comfortable.”
As he started to walk away casually, I spoke quickly,
“Why did we come here?”
Kallion looked down at me, then gave me a gentle smile I’d never seen before.
“Let’s call it… a trip?”
“A trip…?”
At my confused tone, he grinned.
“We’ll stay here for two weeks.”
“Two weeks?”
When I repeated it in surprise, his next words were heavy with meaning.
“This is a compensation for our first night together—the one that I ruined.”
I froze, then realized what he meant.
That night, stained with suspicion and hostility.
His cold words and actions had frozen my heart.
Yes — he meant that night.
As the memory faded into the distance, Kallion met my gaze and smiled softly.
“I intend to make it up to you here.”
Our bedding night was supposed to be nothing more than an obligation, once a month, as agreed.
So why was he looking at me like that?
Why did my fingertips tense at his words?
No — this was just relief.
Relief that the delayed bedding night would finally happen, and hope that it might bring me one step closer to Denian.
I told myself that firmly, avoiding his eyes.
“Until that night, we used separate rooms.”
He only shrugged as if it didn’t matter.
“As you wish.”
A maid assigned to me approached cautiously.
“My lady, may I show you to your room?”
“Yes.”
I left immediately, almost glad for the excuse.
***
Kallion sat at his desk, staring out the window.
It was just like in his dream, this office, the view of the sea, the waves breaking white.
The only difference was that she wasn’t smiling now.
And the small child at her side in the dream was missing.
Who had that child been?
Was he taking a simple dream far too seriously?
It didn’t make sense.
Yuliana had never been to the Dallot villa before, and even he had only come here once as a boy, accompanying his father.
So why had the dream felt so vivid, as if it were yesterday?
He was still lost in thought when a knock sounded.
“Lord Kallion, the Highland lord, has arrived.”
“Show him in.”
Felix, lord of Highland, had come to greet him after hearing he was in Dallot.
When Felix entered, Kallion nodded at his polite greeting.
“I was hoping to hear the southern situation directly. Please, sit.”
Felix, though respectful, moved with the ease of someone whose family
was the most influential among Valdormer’s vassals.
He often spoke for the other lords, so even Kallion treated him with a certain care.
Once they were seated, Felix smiled amiably.
“The south is warm as ever, and trade remains active.
Aside from what was in the last report, there’s nothing unusual.”
Kallion’s expression sharpened slightly.
“You didn’t come all this way just for pleasantries.”
Felix laughed, caught off guard.
“As expected, sharp as always. I came to offer some cautious advice.”
“Advice?”
Kallion raised a brow. Felix hesitated under his commanding presence, then spoke carefully.
“Since the Schultz family’s expulsion, there’s been a lot of talk among the vassal houses.”
Kallion’s brows drew together.
“They leaked secrets to Silverstel and betrayed Valdormer. I gave them the punishment traitors deserve. Why should that be cause for gossip?”
“Of course, they were in the wrong. But the Schultz family had served Valdormer loyally for over 500 years. Many think such a matter should not have been decided without
a vassal council meeting.”
Kallion let out a dry laugh.
Still, Felix pressed on.
“Some say you’ve been swayed by the Heister daughter and are neglecting your vassals.”
Kallion slammed a hand on the sofa arm.
“Watch your tongue. She is the Lady of Valdormer, not the Heister girl.”
Felix didn’t flinch.
“It’s a marriage of formality, is it not? No one knows when the contract with Heister will break.”
It was true — the marriage was a symbolic contract, and war with Heister could break out again at any time.
If it did, Yuliana would be little more than a hostage.
Perhaps Heister had even sent her, expecting she’d be useless.
The thought made Kallion’s hands tighten into fists.
“You sound as if you’d like that to happen.”
Felix lowered his head slightly.
“I only mean we must be prepared for any possibility.
Unless the two of you have a child, the bond between the houses will be like a candle in the wind.”
He spoke as if certain that such a thing would never happen.
“Then I’ll take my leave…”
He bowed politely again and left.
Kallion sat frozen long after the door closed.
A child…?
A child between Yuliana and himself?
He had never once imagined such a thing.
So why… was his heart pounding so uneasily now?
Felix … you look really suspicious 🤨