TYWML 36

36. Ominous Dream
2024.06.05

But the problem started from there.

It turned out that Asher’s wife, Louisa Winkler—no, Louisa Lorraine—was in the early stages of pregnancy.

If the child between Louisa and Asher had been a girl, it wouldn’t have been a big issue. But the children Louisa gave birth to were twins—a boy and a girl.

With the birth of Asher’s son, the succession structure of House Winkler became complicated.

Cassel’s father, the former Duke of Winkler, firmly declared that Cassel Winkler was the heir.

He also added that Cassel’s descendants would continue the family line.

The Marquisate of Lorraine gave the twins the Lorraine surname and raised them within the marquis household.

Louisa Lorraine had declared that she was no longer part of House Winkler, that her children would not inherit the Winkler name, and that they should not be interfered with.

“My father truly severed ties with the Lorraine family. I haven’t even properly seen my nieces and nephews.”

“I see.”

Riena nodded.

She couldn’t fully understand how the former Duke of Winkler had never even seen his grandchildren just because of family interests, but she accepted that people in the world were like that.

“Then, do you plan to reconnect with the Lorraine family and your nieces and nephews?”

“No.”

Cassel answered gravely.

“I intend to bring my nephews to House Winkler.”

“To Winkler?”

“Yes. I’ll put aside the matter of succession for now. I plan to raise them safely here.”

There was something odd in his words.

‘Raise them safely?’

Was he saying that the Lorraine household wasn’t safe? From what she just heard, it sounded like the marquisate and Louisa Lorraine cherished the children.

Riena didn’t mind even if Cassel brought his nephews.

She was someone who would eventually leave, and matters of the family were Cassel’s to decide.

‘Even if we were to actually get married, it still wouldn’t be my concern.’

The fact that Cassel was being so adamant meant he had his reasons. Riena wanted to respect that.

However, there were still a few parts that puzzled her.

“But weren’t the children supposed to be raised in the marquisate?”

She asked without much thought, then quickly added while watching Cassel’s expression:

“It’s not that I don’t want the children here. I actually do. I really like those kids.”

It wasn’t a lie to ease Cassel—it was the truth. Riena genuinely liked children.

When her half-brother Aaron was born, she had spent the whole day by the cradle, watching him squirm and coo with joy.

‘Though Aaron didn’t really like me back…’

If Aaron had followed her as much as he followed Bianca, she might have loved and cherished him even more.

“I just wondered if things with the marquisate were already settled. I don’t think they’d just let the children go on such short notice.”

“That will be resolved soon.”

“So, they haven’t agreed yet?”

“…”

So that meant no.

“Their mother is still living in the marquisate. Would they really send only the children? If it were me, I wouldn’t want to be separated from my kids.”

“I’ll handle that matter properly too.”

Since he spoke with certainty, Riena decided not to pursue the topic further. Instead, she asked something else.

“Is there a reason why you suddenly want to bring them here? Even if I took care of them, I doubt I could be better than their mother.”

“They’ll be placed with a nanny once they arrive. And next spring, I plan to enroll them in the academy. You won’t need to worry much.”

Riena muttered unintentionally,

“You often say mysterious things, Your Grace.”

“…”

“Yes, even if we marry, we probably won’t be a real couple. I won’t meddle in your affairs either. Not that I’d have the right, but still.”

She looked straight into Cassel’s eyes and said,

“But as long as we’re married, I plan to do my part as your wife. I’ll take care of the family as the mistress of House Winkler.”

“…”

“If they’re your nephews, they’ll be mine too, at least for a while. And you say I don’t need to worry? I may not look reliable, but I can take care of children.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you.”

“Then what is it?”

Cassel hesitated before answering,

“This is something I decided on my own without consulting you. I never explained any of this before bringing you here. I just don’t want to burden you with this now.”

“A burden?”

Riena gave a soft smile.

“I actually welcome it. I’ve been feeling a bit lonely.”

Cassel had come to the Dyke estate at the age of eleven. His nephews were nine. Maybe they’d remind her of Cast, the boy she remembered.

That might be why she looked forward to meeting them.

“So, what’s the reason you want to bring them here? You haven’t answered that yet.”

Cassel wiped his face with a complicated expression.

“I’ll tell you later.”

He meant to keep it a secret. Riena didn’t want to press if he wasn’t ready.

“Alright. If you change your mind later, tell me then.”

“I’ll visit the Lorraine marquisate alone tomorrow. If it’s not too much trouble, could you prepare rooms for the children?”

“Of course. That’s something I should do.”

After their conversation, Riena asked the head maid Sandra and Amy to prepare rooms for the children.

“Children’s rooms?”

The two women were startled. Amy, in particular, looked at Riena’s belly with wide rabbit-like eyes.

“Um, so… are you…?”

Realizing the misunderstanding, Riena quickly denied it.

“No, no. Don’t be surprised—it’s not that.”

“Amy, that’s very rude to the lady.”

Sandra stepped in and calmly asked,

“Could you tell us a bit more? We’ll need to know the children’s ages to prepare the rooms properly. And which family they’re from, if possible.”

“A pair of nine-year-old twins—boy and girl.”

“Boy and girl twins…”

Sandra’s smile faded slightly.

“Are you referring to the Lorraine twins?”

“Yes. It seems the Duke wants to bring his nephews to House Winkler.”

“Why so suddenly…? No, never mind. I’ll prepare the rooms accordingly.”

It was a sudden request, so they couldn’t decorate much.

Still, Sandra and the maids took out children’s items from the Winkler storage and did their best to set up the rooms.

Riena, watching them prepare, went to sleep that night with a joyful heart.

✧ ✧ ✧

That night, Riena had a dream of Cassel for the first time in a while—but this time, the setting was completely different from her usual dreams.

The air was so heavy it felt suffocating. Gravestones stood everywhere, and people dressed in black surrounded her.

Looking down, Riena realized she too was wearing a black dress.

The drizzle made the atmosphere even more somber.

Ah, this must be a funeral, she thought, stepping forward.

A man knelt in front of a tombstone adorned with a baby angel statue.

The marble gravestone looked new—white and spotless.

Riena felt an unexplainable chill as she approached the man.

He was dressed entirely in black, from head to toe, and sobbed deeply. Beast-like cries spilled from his throat.

Riena said nothing and simply held an umbrella over his head.

Though one shoulder began to get soaked by the rain, she couldn’t bring herself to leave his side.

Eventually, the mourners began to leave one by one, and before long, almost no one was left.

Finally, the man spoke with difficulty.

“I…”

It was Cassel’s voice.

“I killed Noah… that child.”

…Killed?

The words were shocking. But Riena believed the man. She didn’t think he literally murdered anyone.

More accurately, she wanted to believe that. She didn’t know him well, but he didn’t seem like someone who could do such a thing.

She wanted to ask, “What do you mean?” but her mouth moved on its own and asked something else:

“How is that Your Grace’s fault? Noah was abused at the marquisate and died. Who could have imagined that he’d die from being hit by a flower vase? If anyone’s to blame, it’s the Lorraine marquisate.”

“If only I had checked on him sooner, this wouldn’t have happened. If I had just brought them to House Winkler…”

“…”

“If I could have one more chance… I would change everything.”

His grief-stricken voice trembled.

“Noah… and you… I should have protected you both…”

That was the last scene before Riena woke up.

She had no idea why she had such a dream. Holding her throbbing head, she sat up in bed.

‘Why did it feel so real? But it wasn’t lucid either.’

She had never experienced one, but she’d heard of lucid dreams—where you realize you’re dreaming and can control it.

She had realized she was dreaming, but couldn’t control anything within it.

All she could do was watch a scene play out—like someone had deliberately shown it to her.

‘What kind of dream was that?’

Cassel’s nephew dying from abuse? It felt too unsettling to dismiss as just a meaningless dream.

‘No way. That’s ridiculous. Abuse in the Lorraine household? And I don’t even know if Noah is Cassel’s nephew.’

Besides, all the dreams she’d had about Cassel so far had nothing to do with reality.

So this was probably meaningless too.

Still, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.

‘…I should go with him after all.’