Side Story – Chapter 10
Harold set Damian down on the floor. Damian’s hands trembled as he grabbed the hem of his pants, looking nervously at his mother.
After his father had rescued him, he had reunited with his mother soon after. She had checked to make sure he wasn’t hurt and said they would talk about everything once they returned.
But when they arrived at the inn, Harold had asked to speak with Damian alone. So until now, he had been with his father.
‘Dad said when Mom gets angry, she’s even scarier than him…’
…Gulp.
He was scared.
The fact that he couldn’t even imagine it made it worse.
‘But… Mom must’ve been even more scared when I suddenly disappeared, right?’
As Damian fought to hold back tears and prepared to be scolded, Diana knelt down to meet his eyes. She studied his flushed cheeks, red nose, and teary blue eyes, then spoke softly.
“You know that going into that alley alone was very dangerous, right?”
“Yes…”
“You won’t ever do that again, will you?”
Damian nodded so hard that his messy pink hair flew everywhere.
“I was wrong… I’ll never do it again. I’m sorry for making you worry.”
His voice was thick with guilt. He shut his eyes tightly—then blinked in surprise.
“…Mother?”
His mother had spread her arms wide toward him.
Confused, Damian asked, “You’re… not going to scold me?”
“You must’ve already been scolded a lot by your father, right?”
“Uh, well… that is…”
Damian couldn’t bring himself to admit that Harold hadn’t actually scolded him. He fumbled for words, but then Harold placed a hand on his stiff shoulder.
“That’s right. I scolded him until he cried.”
“…?!”
Damian’s eyes widened in shock, but Harold just gave him a sly look and patted his shoulder gently twice, as if to say, Don’t worry.
“I can tell,” Diana said softly. “Our Damian’s never been this stiff and quiet before.”
Then she looked back at her son.
“Damian.”
She smiled faintly, her expression full of warmth.
Damian hesitated, then slowly stepped forward. When he reached her, Diana’s slender arms pulled him tightly into her embrace.
“My Damian’s already been scolded by Father and learned his lesson, so I won’t scold you anymore.”
“…”
“I’m sorry too, my dear. I should’ve held on tighter. You must’ve been so scared on your own.”
Diana gently patted the back of his head, then combed through his tangled pink hair with her fingers. As her fingertips brushed through the strands, she murmured in a tender voice,
“My baby, we’ll wash up later and brush this properly, okay?”
Her voice was softer—so much softer than usual.
Her scent was right under his nose now. The tears he’d been holding back started to tremble dangerously. Damian flared his nostrils, trying with all his might not to cry.
Harold, watching his son’s face, smiled crookedly.
“He’s crying.”
“I-I’m not crying…!”
“You are.”
“Hic… That’s because… Father said I was crying…!”
“Alright, alright, cry as much as you want, my son.”
“I hate youuu…!”
Damian buried his face in his mother’s chest and cried his heart out.
Time passed. After a warm bath, Damian lay in bed, fresh and clean.
Harold and Diana lay on either side of him.
After such a big ordeal—and a good long cry—Damian’s eyelids were heavy.
He blinked slowly, feeling sleep approach.
‘I wonder when I’ll become an adult.’
He no longer denied that being seven was still young.
‘Even ten years old… Liam was ten, and he was still a kid too.’
He had been surprised to learn that the boy he’d saved, whom he thought was a tall five-year-old, was actually ten.
Damian yawned widely.
“Mom, Dad…”
His voice was sleepy and soft.
“Yes?”
“Do you need something, Damian?”
Hearing both their voices made Damian smile faintly in contentment.
‘I want to grow up soon.’
He still dreamed of becoming an adult—someone as cool as his father and as kind as his mother.
“I love you…”
With that sleepy whisper, he closed his eyes completely. Soon, only the sound of his gentle breathing filled the room.
Diana and Harold looked at their sleeping son, smiles touching their lips, and then laughed quietly.
“He fell asleep before hearing our answer.”
“He always does.”
Their blue and navy eyes met in the dim light. Together, they leaned down and kissed each of Damian’s cheeks.
“I love you, Damian.”
“We love you. We’ll tell you again when you’re awake.”
After watching him sleep for a while, they quietly left the room and went next door. Neither of them felt ready for sleep yet.
Harold poured wine into two glasses. The transparent glass filled with deep red.
“Here you go, my wife.”
“Thank you.”
They clinked glasses, the sound of crystal breaking the stillness.
Diana took a sip and exhaled deeply. Now that she was alone with Harold, the emotions she had been holding back finally spilled out.
“…Honestly, my heart almost stopped earlier.”
She could still see it clearly—the moment she lost his hand, the crowd swallowing her small child. That helpless, sinking feeling was beyond words.
“At least it ended as just a scare,” Harold said.
“Yes, really. Even imagining what could’ve happened shortens my life by ten years. If it had actually happened…”
“Well, that would be a big problem for me. My wife losing ten years of her life in one day? I’d be devastated.”
Harold held out his glass again.
“Diana, it’s over now.”
“…I know. Everything’s fine now. And I know it’s part of our child growing up.”
“Damian’s learning swordsmanship—so sooner or later, he was bound to face something like this.”
“But it still feels too early. He’s only seven.”
“That’s true.”
Harold shook his head lightly, and Diana smiled faintly, clinking her glass against his again.
They drank together, speaking quietly. After a while, Diana stared into her half-empty glass and asked,
“Harold, do you think Damian’s grown from this experience?”
“Of course. He won’t rely on his sword talent alone anymore, won’t underestimate others, and he’ll be more careful with his own safety.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Diana smiled again, savoring the light taste of the wine on her tongue.
Honestly, seeing her child hurt or in danger made her want to build a wall around him—safe and unbreakable.
But at the same time, she couldn’t deny the pride she felt watching him grow through those experiences—learning, stumbling, becoming stronger.
She finished her glass and placed it on the table. Her gaze then fell on a small velvet box sitting on the shelf.
“Damian gave you that after dinner, right? You haven’t opened it yet?”
“No. Hmm, should I open it now? Did you open yours?”
“I did. It was a pocket watch.”
Harold retrieved the velvet box, unwrapped it, and opened the lid. Inside lay an elegant pocket watch engraved with a snowflake.
“Oh, it’s the same as mine. He must’ve bought them as matching gifts.”
“Our son has good taste,” Harold said with a proud smile.
Diana rested her chin on her hand, watching him. Her thoughts drifted back to the day with Damian—to the rabbit ice sculpture and their conversation afterward.
Then she looked back at Harold, whose expression was still full of satisfaction.
Her decision came easily.
“Harold, how about… having a second child?”
Harold raised an eyebrow.
“That’s sudden. You weren’t planning on that before.”
“I know. But Damian said he wants a sibling. And do you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because he’s happy.”
Harold blinked. Diana laughed softly.
“He said that since we’re so happy, having a bigger family would make us even happier. So he wants a sibling.”
“…That’s… not what I expected him to say.”
“Right? But ever since that talk, I can’t stop imagining another child—one that looks like both of us.”
She stood up slowly and sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. The scent of sweet wine lingered between them.
“Harold, how about you let me persuade you before you decide?”
“…I’ll listen.”
She leaned close, her voice playful.
“My divine power is gone now.”
“What?”
“My divine power—it’s gone, Harold.”
Harold frowned briefly, then chuckled as he wrapped one arm around her slim waist.
“Diana, is this what you call persuasion?”
“Yes. It’s persuasion.”
“My wife has become quite shameless.”
“Maybe because I’m your wife.”
“And you’re ready for the consequences?”
“Of course.”
Their eyes locked, full of warmth and heat. The space between them vanished.
It was the beginning of a long, passionate night.
Time passed again, and one day—
[Imperial Year XXX, Month XX, Day XX]
Weather: Sunny!
Mood: The best day ever—maybe the happiest day that will ever exist!When the food came out at the restaurant, Father suddenly said he felt unwell.
I got worried, but then both Father and Mother started acting strange.
Later, when Mother saw the family doctor, she found out—she’s pregnant!I’m going to have a little sibling!
Will it be a boy or a girl?
Mother said she had a dream where I gave her a huge golden flower as a gift.I’m already curious about what kind of baby it will be,
but no matter what, I’m just so happy to have a sibling!Family means happiness!
And the more family we have, the happier we’ll be!Come soon, little sibling.
I’ll make sure you’re happy too.
[“The Reason Why the Villainess Saved the Male Lead’s Terminally Ill Brother” – Side Story Complete]
