Between the two men who had been bickering, only a tense staring contest remained.
Why were they like this? Ah, so that was why. If he had known everything, then Ashid’s reaction made sense. Unaware of the situation, she had tried to reassure the child.
“It’s okay, Ash. Lexion is just lending his name. It’s not like he’ll actually be your uncle.”
Only then did the child, who had been fuming, relax. But what he said next was utterly ridiculous.
“Yeah, even if you end up with the label of a divorcée, I’ll take responsibility. I’ll make sure you live well, Auntie.”
Since when was Ashid such a devoted child?
Milena chuckled wryly, gently stroking his hair.
Recalling yesterday’s events, she turned back to Ashid and asked,
“Did you know that Lexion is from the House of Silbert?”
Ashid avoided her gaze for a moment before nodding.
Sigh.
As she exhaled deeply, her eyes landed on Lexion, who stood as if he were being punished.
Why was he acting so nervous? Did he actually feel guilty about keeping it a secret all this time?
The two of them, shifting awkwardly, looked strangely alike.
Ashid, sensing her potential anger, quickly held out a rose.
“Auntie, it’s a fake marriage, but congratulations anyway.”
Milena glanced down at the rose he had suddenly thrust toward her. It was a red rose left over from the bouquet, chosen because its color resembled Lexion’s eyes.
She carefully accepted it. For some reason, it made her smile.
I’ve never received flowers from a man before.
Lexion, quick to pick up on her softened mood, smoothly inserted himself into the conversation.
“Nephew, a fake marriage can turn real, you know? That kind of talk hurts my feelings.”
Twitch.
Ashid, who had been laughing along with Milena, immediately scowled.
“Why the hell am I your nephew? Watch what you call me. It’s a fake marriage, so don’t act like you’re something you’re not.”
“Hmm, our dear nephew. As your uncle, I think we need to work on your manners.”
Lexion smiled sweetly, though his expression hinted at the urge to flick Ashid’s forehead.
“Hmph.”
Ashid puffed out his cheeks and turned away with a huff.
“Both of you, stop. I’m going to change, so no fighting while I’m gone.”
As Milena disappeared into the dressing room, a secret conversation began between the two.
“If you keep acting like this, I won’t take you with me.”
“What?! You had no right to make a contract marriage with my aunt in the first place! Stop trying to pull anything on her!”
“Listen, nephew. Shouldn’t you be more worried about whether she even agreed to let you come with us?”
Ashid flinched.
He hadn’t asked for permission yet. He had already prepared everything to leave, but…
Seeing the boy sulk, Lexion sighed.
“If all you do is demand to come along, of course she won’t allow it. Didn’t I tell you? You’re a noble heir. Think about your position.”
“I know. I know that coming with you will be a burden on Auntie.”
Ashid hung his head, fiddling with his black rabbit plushie.
Lexion quietly observed him before speaking.
“Who am I?”
“A womanizer.”
“……”
This little brat.
Lexion’s mouth twitched in irritation, but he tried again with patience.
“Let me ask again. Who am I?”
“…The third son of Silbert, a scoundrel, a womanizer, a gambler. What? What do you want me to say?”
Ashid knew the right answer but refused to say it.
The idea of this man being his uncle, even just on paper, was unbearable.
Frustrated, Ashid lashed out, only for Lexion to hand him a document.
“What’s this?”
“Read it, and you’ll see. It states that I’m officially becoming your guardian. As your uncle, that means I’ll be your legal protector. So, if I approve, you can come with us.”
Ashid’s pink eyes widened as he saw the official seal of the Duke stamped on the document.
How…?
“I told you, I’m stronger than your father.”
Lexion’s meaningful smile seemed to shine with a halo of light behind him.
“U-Uncle!”
Of course, the document had been forged by stealing the Duke’s seal, but at least it had successfully won over Ashid.
Milena braided her light blonde hair and pinned it up.
She had always handled everything alone, both then and now.
Regaining her memories hadn’t changed that.
This should do.
Dressed in simple attire suited for running away, she pulled a black cloak over her shoulders.
Her original plan had been straightforward. She would hide in Lexion’s supposed commoner house for a year, then briefly return to her family home to retrieve her mother’s inheritance.
By the time either her sister returned on her own or Calion found Larriete first, she would have finalized her divorce and started a new life.
But the name Silbert had changed everything.
She hadn’t expected him to be from such a high-ranking noble family.
Having lived only in the North, she knew little about central aristocracy.
She had studied briefly for a trip to the capital as a child, but that knowledge was long outdated.
So, when they left the wedding hall, she had been honest with Lexion.
“I don’t even know if you’re from the main family or a branch. You use the Silbert name, so I assume you’re direct lineage, but I don’t even know how many siblings you have or the Duke’s name.”
“Well, you can learn over time. I have an older brother and sister. The three of us make up the family. As for the Duke’s name…”
At that moment, Lexion’s expression darkened slightly.
“Sharfel Silbert.”
A name she had never heard before.
Not that she knew anything about the Silbert family to begin with.
After being brainwashed by her sister’s magic, she had lost all interest in the central nobility.
So, Lexion’s brother was the Duke?
Was it really safe to join such a family?
It was shameless, but as long as she was outside the North, she had nowhere else to go.
Staying in the Grand Duchy was no longer an option after everything that had happened.
What worried her most, though, was Ashid.
If he was left behind, wouldn’t he learn the truth about his mother?
Would the things she did out of anger toward Calion end up hurting Ashid instead?
Lost in thought, she opened the dressing room door—only to stop in her tracks.
“Since when did you two get so close?”
Ashid, who had been openly hostile toward Lexion, was now clinging to his waist.
Had they bonded while fighting?
Perplexed, she watched as Ashid beamed.
“Auntie, Uncle said I can come too!”
“…What?”
Uncle?
The same boy who had been against her marriage was now calling Lexion his uncle without hesitation.
Just how had he convinced him?
“What is going on?”
Lexion simply smiled and handed her the document.
She had been debating whether to take Ashid with her.
But Lexion had already taken care of that.
“Does this really have legal validity?”
It’s obviously fake, she wanted to say, but Lexion casually replied,
“The Duke’s seal is real. And if it’s not legally valid, I’ll make it valid.”
“How?”
“Would you like me to get the Emperor’s certification?”
His tone was light, but his words were anything but.
“Or maybe the Crown Prince’s seal? That should be enough, right?”
Suddenly, she was reminded that he was a noble of the highest rank.
She shook her head, afraid he might actually do it.
“Forget it.”
Then, Ashid tugged at her cloak.
“So… can I come?”
Milena hesitated.
And then Ashid dropped a bombshell.
“I already know my mom is alive, Auntie.”
