# 80
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“I'm constantly looking for Charles.”
Elinor spoke reluctantly.
“Even though the purification is over, I have to find the baby’s mother.”
“Are you worried that you might not find your sister in the end?”
“Not that...”
Elinor hesitated.
Can she be honest with Matthias?
But based on her experience so far, Matthias had always listened to her seriously.
Even if the others weren't, Matthias at least wouldn't seem like he would intentionally separate her from the child against her will.
If there are misunderstandings, he will clear it up, and if it is not a misunderstanding, he will solve the problem.
Elinor fiddled with her fingers and cautiously shared her worries.
“I was thinking about whether I would be able to stay at Hilliard with the baby even after Charles was found.”
“You were thinking about this?”
Matthias frowned with one eyebrow.
It seemed as if the word “unnecessary” had been dropped from his sentence.
But Elinor felt relieved.
At least, it didn't look like he was going to kick her and the baby out.
She dared to say:
“Except for your family, people still think that the child is my son and your illegitimate son.”
“Ah… right.”
“So, I was thinking if we find Charles later, will I have to leave to end the rumors.”
“Do you want to leave?”
"What?"
“Do you want to leave Hilliard, leave me?”
His blue eyes, deep as the sea, stared at Elinor.
He was just looking at her, but she couldn't escape those looks.
Are you lying to him? But she no longer wanted to lie.
Elinor opened her mouth.
“I don't want to leave.”
His eyes lit up with vitality.
“If possible, I want to stay. With the baby and Charles, together.”
The capital was not a safe place for a child.
There are her parents who tried to kill an infant.
She couldn't break off ties for life, so the conflict would have to be resolved one day, but she didn't want to face it unprepared.
“Of course, this is not my decision alone, you must agree-”
“I want you to stay at Hilliard.”
Matthias said without breathing.
“With the baby. And of course, if you want, with your sister as well.”
"…truly?"
“I am Duke Hilliard. Can’t I make room for your family at the palace?”
“Did my words make you feel embarrassed?”
Elinor fiddled with Matthias' robe wrapped around her shoulders.
“Before, I promised you that after everything was over, I would bear the stigma of being an illegitimate son and leave. But suddenly I changed my mind and said that I wanted to stay at Hilliard...”
“I change my mind ten times a day.”
Matthias said something ridiculous.
“What's the problem if you change your mind once?”
“If we stay at Hilliard, rumors may persist that the child is your illegitimate son.”
“Then the child will have the best support.”
Matthias shrugged.
“He will have Duke Hilliard as a father. But in fact, since the child has a real father, wouldn’t this matter be resolved naturally? You said that your sister ran away with the child’s father.”
“Ah…”
“If you're worried about this, don't worry.”
Matthias hesitated for a moment, then gingerly took Elinor's hand.
“I'll figure it out. So, trust me and leave it to me.”
“Is this really good?”
“Yes. And I wish you would tell me more. That way I can share your burden.”
Elinor looked at the hand that Matthias was holding.
They were both wearing gloves, so she didn't feel the warmth of his hand, but she did feel a kind of warmth from his touch.
You did the right thing by telling him. It was good to acknowledge him.
Elinor smiled sweetly.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“This is nothing.”
Mathias raised the corner of his mouth elegantly.
“As long as I can be with you- Achu.”
Elinor's eyes widened.
Mathias rubbed his nose in embarrassment.
“Sorry, sudden sneeze.”
“You're cold now, aren't you?”
“No, I'm not cold at all.”
He smiled unnaturally.
“This weather is good for swimming outside- acho!”
Elinor quickly took off the robe.
Matthias waved his hand desperately.
“I told you I'm not cold.”
“I'm not cold anymore either. So, take it.”
"no."
“Why are you so stubborn? It’s already your dress.”
“If you wear it, you will feel cold.”
Matthias dodged her hand as she tried to pass the robe to him.
Elinor frowned.
He's not a dog that refuses to be bathed, so why does he keep avoiding it?
If he keeps running away like this...
“Ah!”
Matthias stopped suddenly.
Elinor had suddenly hugged him by the waist.
In fact, it was more like she was grabbing him, but he felt like she was hugging him.
“Miss Elinor?”
While he was frozen in amazement,
Whoosh-
Elinor quickly wrapped the robe around them.
What is this? heaven?
Even more stunned than before, Matthias froze, blinking.
Elinor raised her head slightly as she stood close to him, as if she were on his lap.
His face was reflected in her sparkling red eyes.
“So, let's get in on it. That's good, right?”
Not good...it's very good.
“You looked smart in your coat today. But it's still cold, so dress warmly.”
I should just wear a coat next time too.
Happiness is never far away.
Even if I go out with just a coat, I can feel happiness, and those who don't find it are fools.
With these arrogant thoughts, Matthias enjoyed the moment.
* * *
Last day of February.
The baby's birthday, which everyone has been waiting for, is today.
Even though it was an indoor party attended only by people from inside Hilliard Castle, the castle had been noisy since the morning.
In the kitchen, they had been preparing food for the party since dawn, and smoke had not stopped rising from the chimney.
It was said that the cake to be given to the child had been prepared for days.
A three-layer icing cake, so dazzling that it looks like a work of art.
“This is a kitchen gift for a child.”
Tidian visited Elinor's room in the morning to see the child, his cheeks puffed out.
"Unfair. Cake as a gift? A kitchen gift shouldn't be a child's favorite."
“Did you take part in the bet too, sir? Which gift would the child like best?”
"naturally!"
Tidian shouted excitedly and laughed.
"But my gift is amazing too. I can't lose to the kitchen team. I'm sure the baby will love my gift even more."
“…It's not something that expensive, is it?”
“It's a secret!”
Definitely an expensive thing.
Elinor swallowed her moan.
However, she couldn't refuse what the other party had prepared, so Elinor felt that she had to give Tidian a good gift on his birthday.
Biiii-
The golden bird, which was flying in the air, landed on the child's bed.
“Kiya.”
The hero of the day, the child, was dressed in cute yellow clothes like a golden bird.
The child extended his hand towards the golden bird, and then a knock sounded on the door.