Episode 7
At that time…
Duke Deyrte was attending the Republican Party’s regular meeting. He sighed heavily and tapped his chest.
A member beside him asked with concern,
“Are you feeling sick? Should I get you some water?”
“No, that won’t help,” the duke replied shortly. The member nodded and left him alone.
‘So, they finally met again…’
The duke had seen his son, Seimon, going crazy looking for Christine, but he kept his promise to his former daughter-in-law and didn’t say anything.
Still, his smart son figured it out and came to him furiously.
Seimon was even angrier when he found out that the duke had pushed the divorce while he was gone.
‘If you loved her that much, you should’ve treated her better when you were married,’ the duke thought, clicking his tongue.
His son was brilliant in business, but completely clueless about women.
It had already been two weeks since Seimon returned, yelled a storm, and then left again for the New Continent, saying they’d talk later.
No news came from him since.
His attendants were loyal and tight-lipped, so the duke had no way of knowing what Seimon was doing.
“The next speaker is from the Radical Faction.”
Deyrte raised his head from deep thought.
The radical leader wanted to erase all traces of the old Empire and turn the country into a pure Republic—even if that meant using violence.
‘Did he forget that the radicals almost destroyed the party once? What’s he up to now?’
The duke frowned, remembering the assassination of Prince Martin.
The radical leader stood and said coldly,
“You’re all cruel. Our comrades are locked away for life in the worst prison, and you won’t even ask the President to help?”
Someone replied,
“We talked about this already. The public was furious they weren’t executed.”
“They should be thankful they’re alive.”
“If the public finds out we’re helping those criminals, there will be more riots.”
One by one, members shut down the radical’s argument. His face turned red with anger.
“But still—!”
“Someone died. You still want to protect them?” the duke said quietly.
The room fell silent. The radical sat down, biting his lips.
‘Another crisis avoided—for now.’
He knew this guy would try again to ask for mercy for the four radical members who assassinated Prince Martin.
Duke Deyrte sighed.
He thought of Christine, who used to live at his mansion and was always afraid of the radical faction.
She was the last royal family member… but just an ordinary person too.
‘She’ll be okay.’
Looking toward the Republic of Rojas, he whispered,
“Hold on tight this time, Seimon.”
If the two got back together, he would protect them from political trouble himself.
But he had no idea his son was seriously ill.
A terrible illness.
Meanwhile…
Christine woke up and sighed as she checked the time.
“It’s morning already…”
She had fallen asleep waiting for Seimon. It was embarrassing.
She remembered sitting in the rocking chair, but she woke up in bed—so Seimon must have moved her.
‘He’s sick… He should’ve woken me up instead.’
She worried about him and quietly came out to the living room.
“Ah…”
Seimon was calmly sitting at the kitchen island, drinking coffee. He looked perfect—clean clothes, neat hair. The suffering man from the hotel lobby was gone.
It felt like a dream.
Without looking up, he said,
“Eat this before you go to work.”
On the table were two large plates of brunch and three glasses of juice.
Christine blinked.
“You don’t mean all that is for me…?”
Seimon folded his newspaper and looked at her playfully.
“Yes. All yours.”
Her face showed disbelief. He smiled.
“Eat up. Dinner will be even more, so be ready.”
He sipped his coffee calmly, watching her shocked expression.
“Pregnant women need to eat well.”
His voice was casual, but his care was obvious. Christine was speechless.
“Do you really think I’ll come back to live here?” she asked.
“Of course.”
He sounded so sure. Christine put her hands on her hips.
“What makes you so confident?”
Seimon put down his cup, stood up, and walked over. His tall frame came close, and Christine felt nervous.
“Just because…”
He bent down to her eye level and whispered,
“I can’t live a single day without you.”
He smiled and calmly returned to his seat, reading the newspaper again.
‘What… what is this…?’
Christine’s face turned red. Seimon chuckled and added,
“We didn’t finish talking, remember? But our baby got tired and fell asleep early.”
He looked at her with a teasing smile.
She blushed, feeling embarrassed.
‘Pregnant women do get sleepy easily… I’m not usually like this.’
Trying to change the subject, she crossed her arms.
“So what are you doing at the hotel? You said it’s not for business.”
“Oh? Are you worried about me? Even though we’re strangers now?”
“Stop joking. You didn’t use to be like this. Why are you confusing me?”
She frowned, touching the table edge. Seimon folded the paper and smiled.
“They say people change when death is near. Just accept it.”
Christine went silent.
How could he talk so lightly about something so serious?
She knew she had reasons to hate him, yet he still made her heart race. She picked up her bag.
“I’m going to work.”
“Nope. You have to eat first.”
He was firm. She sighed.
‘This man… I shouldn’t be near him. I keep getting soft.’
In the end, under Seimon’s watchful eye, Christine ate both plates of food.
‘Ugh… I’m too full.’
As she walked back to her room, she passed the study and noticed the door open.
Papers were scattered on the desk, like someone had worked there overnight.
“Even while sick…”
She walked in to tidy up, but when she saw the white paper on the desk, she froze.
It was Seimon’s will—with his signature on it.
‘Seimon, you…’
Her heart dropped. Her whole body went cold.
‘He’s really going to die…’
Just one piece of paper… and Christine fell apart.
Later…
Christine went to work at the Magic Quarantine Office, but something felt off.
People were staring at her, whispering, then pretending to work.
“…She looks so quiet, but…”
“Wasn’t she using that sincere guy, Liet? And now there’s another man?”
“Even the baby’s father is someone else, they say.”
At first, Christine thought she was imagining it. But as she listened carefully, she understood what had happened.
‘…Unbelievable.’
She looked up and locked eyes with Liet, who quickly looked away.
‘Coward.’
She instantly knew Liet had started all the rumors. She stomped toward him, but he ran away.
‘So pathetic.’
She tried to chase him but stopped—her stomach was tightening from stress.
“Whew…”
She sat down and breathed deeply, calming her baby and herself.
She decided not to fight back.
‘None of it’s true. It’ll pass.’
As she sat back down, her coworker Lia came over and whispered,
“Christine, is it true? No, right?”
Christine, who had just calmed herself, snapped.
“Lia, what exactly are people saying about me?”
Lia nodded with a worried look.
“They say you kept flirting with Liet. You even asked to go to his place…”
Christine’s head spun. Lies. All lies.
They said she acted cute, asked him to find her a house, had dinner with him, and even invited herself to his home—but then a new man appeared, and he tried to hit Liet.
“I know it’s nonsense,” Lia added.
She didn’t trust Liet and knew he had been the one overly interested in Christine. She felt guilty for ever leaving them alone.
“He tried to hit him? That never happened!” Christine protested. Though… she did want to punch him now.
“Wait… so that night at the pub, you were with Liet and another man? So the story is true?” Lia asked.
“…Lia.”
“Who was he? A new boyfriend? The baby’s dad?”
Christine looked uncomfortable.
“He’s no one. And anyway, I’m exhausted from all these lies. Just know that what Liet said isn’t true.”
“I believe you. Liet always seemed shady. He’s been known to hit on women.”
He didn’t just flirt—he made up stories and tried to ruin her.
Christine’s face darkened.
Lia rubbed her shoulder and promised to help clear the rumors.
“Bad gossip spreads fast, but don’t worry. This is just a workplace. I’ll help.”
“Thank you, Lia. It means a lot. Even if just one person believes me, I’ll be okay.”
“Sorry I can’t do more.”
Lia waved and returned to her desk, feeling guilty.
‘What should I do…?’
She remembered the man who had visited before.
He introduced himself as Andrei Bern and told her to contact him if anything ever happened to Christine.
She didn’t know who he really was… but he didn’t seem like a liar.
‘I can’t just leave Christine suffering like this.’
Lia looked around, then quietly pulled out the contact card Andrei had given her.
