TYWML 42

chapter 42. Noah Lorraine (4)
2024.06.11.

Riena grasped Cassel’s trembling fist.

“It’s not too late, even now. There’s still plenty of time to make good memories with Noah. So, have you discussed things with the Marquis?”

“At first, Marquis Lorraine insisted on raising both children at the Marquis’ estate, just like now. He said he couldn’t watch the children be treated as burdens in the Winkler household. But in my opinion, it seemed like he was trying to hide the fact that he had neglected Noah all this time.”

“So, what happened?”

“After a long discussion, we decided to take only Noah for now.”

What kind of conversation had they had for Marquis Lorraine to give up his stubbornness? Riena asked, but Cassel refused to answer.

‘Is there some complicated backstory?’

If that was the case, she had no right to interfere any further. Instead of pressing him, Riena got up and reached out her hand to Cassel.

“So, are you taking Noah today? I’m glad I told you to prepare the room in advance yesterday. The kids will be waiting. Let’s go quickly.”

Cassel hesitated but then took her hand and stood up.

Holding hands side by side, they headed back to the playroom. Riena glanced at Cassel’s profile.

Now that she thought about it, there was still so much they didn’t know about each other.

They had only spent a little time together when they were young, and that was it. They had spent far more time apart than together.

She wanted to fill that ten-year gap.

She wanted to know more about Cassel. She wanted to let him know more about herself.

And…

‘I don’t want to let go of this hand.’

She couldn’t help but feel greedy.

Even if they didn’t love each other passionately, maybe they could live a lifetime together with understanding and care for each other.

Just like ordinary noble couples.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, it’s nothing… just…”

Riena gave a vague reply and returned to the playroom. But the children weren’t there.

“Where are Noah and Chloe?”

She asked the maid who was tidying up the room and heard back that both children had returned to their rooms.

“They said they’d bring Master Noah soon if you wait in the hall for a moment.”

“Okay.”

When Riena and Cassel heard this, they went down to the hall and waited for Noah. Then Chloe, having changed clothes, ran up to Riena and hugged her.

“Sis! Can I come too? I want to go!”

“Hmm.”

Riena smiled awkwardly.

Cassel had planned to take both Chloe and Aaron to the Winkler Duke estate, but the Marquis strongly opposed it, so it was decided that only Noah would go.

That was probably best for Chloe as well. She must feel a strong affection for her family and the people in the mansion.

Still, Chloe seemed quite jealous of Noah going with Riena.

Riena comforted the child.

“It’s a bit difficult today. Come visit next time, okay?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You can visit anytime.”

“Okay!”

Chloe reluctantly stepped back. Riena gently pinched her cheek without hurting her, then looked up the stairs. Noah was coming down with his attendant.

Noah, freshly washed and dressed, looked very different from before. However, the attendant wasn’t carrying much luggage.

That was because Noah himself didn’t have many belongings, and Cassel had told him to bring only what was really necessary since Winkler would provide for everything.

“Si-sis…”

The child was still bewildered and kept touching his own body with both hands.

“Am I really going with you?”

“Yes.”

“But I…”

Riena knelt to meet the child’s eye level and smiled.

“I’m very happy that you’re coming with me. Aren’t you happy?”

“I-I’m happy too! But…”

Noah’s gaze shifted to Cassel, who stood behind Riena. Apparently, Cassel’s stern and large presence scared him a little.

“Uncle Cassel is happy you’re going too.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Riena even motioned to Cassel.

“Come here and say something.”

Cassel obediently stepped next to her. Noah looked a little intimidated and asked,

“Un-uncl—Is it really okay that I’m going with you?”

“Yes.”

Cassel’s short answer was enough to stir the child’s feelings.

Noah lowered his head, blushing. Riena swallowed her smile and stood, taking the child’s hand.

“All right. Shall we go?”

“Y-yes.”

The three of them got into the Winkler carriage.

From now on, a new life awaited Noah. Riena was truly glad to be able to accompany him into his future.

“About Noah…”

Riena stroked Noah’s head as he lay with his head on her lap. The child had relaxed and fallen asleep as soon as he got into the carriage.

Cassel, who had been looking out the window, turned his head to look at Riena.

“He looks like the Duke.”

“…You mean me?”

He seemed reluctant to admit it.

‘Of course, Noah doesn’t exactly look like the Duke.’

Noah resembled his biological father Asher more.

But Riena saw a glimpse of young Cass in Noah.

“I’m not talking about looks, but personality.”

Cassel still looked like he didn’t understand. Riena laughed softly.

“You look like you can’t admit it.”

“To be honest… yes, that’s right.”

“Of course, anyone who sees the current Duke wouldn’t agree with me. But anyone who knew scaredy-cat Cass when he was young would agree. Even your late father would think so.”

“So that nickname is…”

“Well, whatever. It’s not like I made up a nickname that didn’t exist.”

Riena smiled gently and fell into thought.

‘Scaredy-cat Cass was about Noah’s age.’

She hardly knew what Cass’s life was like at the Duke estate before she met him. She also didn’t know much about his life after leaving the Dyke estate and returning to the Duchy.

Cass had told her a little about his past earlier, but it wasn’t enough.

He spoke calmly as if telling someone else’s story, but Riena saw the pain contained within.

How much hardship must the fragile child, who cried over the slightest wounds, have endured to become so strong?

That process couldn’t have been as easy as he described.

You must have suffered a lot too.

Riena looked at Cassel staring out the window and felt pity for him.

‘By the way, it’s definitely strange.’

She recalled the dream she had put aside earlier.

In last night’s dream, Noah Lorraine had died from abuse. Although it was somewhat accidental, it was a tragedy that would never have happened if not for the abuse.

When she woke up this morning and reviewed the dream, she just thought it was a silly dream. It was unrelated to reality, and even the content didn’t make sense.

Who would believe a noble child, especially his own birth mother, was abusing him?

Her mind was tangled.

After her father’s death, the dreams she kept having strangely matched reality.

She met Cass, who she had been seeing in her dreams, and Noah’s abuse was real.

The name Johannes was also mentioned in the dream, which made her uneasy.

‘But I can’t call it a prophetic dream. The dream’s details are completely different from reality.’

Instead of begging her to leave with him, Cassel boldly proposed to her.

Thanks to that, Riena was able to refuse the proposals of Baron Berna and Johannes.

And Noah was still alive, not dead.

Still, she couldn’t dismiss the dreams just as dreams because something nagged at her heart…

‘I can’t tell anyone about this worry.’

Who would believe her if she said her dreams connected with reality? They would just say it was a silly dream.

Then why did she have such dreams?

“I’m sorry for showing you such a pitiful side. It won’t happen again.”

Riena looked up at the voice coming from opposite her.

“Huh?”

“I didn’t want to show you this side of me, so I wanted to come alone.”

“What side?”

Riena wasn’t trying to argue, but really had no idea what Cassel meant.

Cassel explained in a troubled voice.

“I only wanted to show you my good side, Lady.”

“Your good side?”

Riena now seemed to understand why Cassel was reacting this way.

Until now, she hadn’t noticed, but he seemed obsessed with being perfect in front of her.

Riena smiled softly.

“By that logic, I’ve already shown you a lot of my pitiful sides, haven’t I? You don’t say anything, but I’m so embarrassed.”

“That’s not embarrassing. Rather, those who treated you like that should know it’s their own shame.”

“That goes for you, too, Duke.”

Cassel’s eyes widened as he looked at Riena. She spoke sincerely.

“People make mistakes and show their pitiful sides sometimes. I already told you. My family wasn’t exactly ideal. But they weren’t a bad family either. It was just one of many kinds of families, and the same goes for your family.”

“…”

“To be honest, I don’t think today’s incident was pitiful, but if I had to say, it is. So you don’t have to feel that way.”

She shrugged.

“And I think you should relax a bit more and treat me more comfortably.”