When I Took Back My Beloved Child Who Had Been Taken From Me, My Husband's Obsessive Love Began. Why? - Episode 23

Even though it was the first time the three of them were together as a family, Craig didn’t even try to look at Lucienne.

I’m just listening to Leoldo’s story.

Eventually, even Leoldo seemed to notice the distorted atmosphere, suddenly closing his mouth and looking at Lucienne with a worried expression.

“……Mother?”

“What is it?”

“Mother… are you happy to see Father?”

“— Yes, of course.”

If you answer with a cheerful smile, Leoldo will laugh as if relieved.

Regretting having made such a young child feel concerned, Lucienne turned her gaze towards Craig with a smile.

“Welcome back, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, it seems like a lot happened while I was away. Tell me about it again.”

To avoid making Leoldo anxious, Lucienne desperately hid her nervousness and spoke to Craig for the first time in over a year.

Craig’s tone when he answered was calm, but it was different from the one he used towards Leoldo.

It is also something that seeks an explanation of the meaning of those words and the intention behind them.

However, both Lucienne and Craig shared the common feeling of caring for Leoldo.

“Of course. But first, Leoldo needs to take a nap. Right, Leoldo?”

“But…”

“Don’t worry, both Father and Mother will always be here. It’s okay.”

It’s almost time for a nap.

However, whether it was because he was reluctant to part with his father whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, or because he sensed the tension between them, Leoldo was unusually hesitant.

Lucienne spoke in an unusually gentle tone to reassure him, and Craig also kissed Leoldo’s head in agreement.

“Leoldo, don’t worry. Father won’t be going out for a while either.”

“……I understand.”

Although he answered honestly, Leoldo looks anxious.

Lucienne desperately suppressed her trembling body and approached Craig.

“Leoldo, let’s go to bed.”

“Mother”

When Lucienne reaches out her hand, Leoldo also leans out from Craig’s arms in response.

When Lucienne caught Leoldo, she briefly exchanged glances with Craig, but quickly averted her eyes.

Then, as usual, I entered the bedroom, but there was no sign of Craig following me.

With a complex mix of relief and disappointment, Lucienne laid Leoldo down in bed.

As expected, perhaps due to the excitement of his father’s return, Leoldo had trouble falling asleep, but eventually, as his gentle breathing began to be heard, Lucienne finally let out a sigh of relief and relaxed.

The interaction with Craig was brief, but I’m quite exhausted.

Moreover, a direct confrontation with Craig awaits us after this.

No, it’s not like we’re having a showdown or anything, right?

I want to discuss this amicably, but after seeing Claudine’s expression, I can’t be optimistic.

Lucienne stood up from the chair by the bed, feeling anxious about when Craig’s earlier “again” would be.

Maybe because I’m nervous, my throat is drier than usual.

When I quietly left the bedroom so as not to wake Leoldo and returned, I was surprised to find Craig still there.

“Craig…”

Unintentionally, a nostalgic call slips out of my mouth.

Craig just raised an eyebrow at Lucienne with a sarcastic look and said nothing.

However, he pointed with his hand to the sofa across from him, where he was sitting comfortably.

It is evident that many documents, apparently brought over, are piled up on the table, and that work was being done even until the time Leoldo fell asleep.

Since I had been away from the palace for a while, it was only natural that the work had piled up.

Lucienne was puzzled about how to interpret the fact that it was being organized not in the office, but in the small living room for Leoldo.

Are you worried about Leoldo, or do you not want to be apart from him?

In that case, I think they might have also put them to bed together.

So, do you want to settle things with Lucienne as soon as possible?

It seems that the latter is correct, judging by Craig’s sullen face.

Before sitting down, Lucienne asked Namia to wait in Leoldo’s bedroom just in case.

Then I sit down across from Craig.

With a pale face, Rite brought the tea over.

Lucienne smiled as if to say she was okay, but there was no way she could hide it.

Craig silently tidied up the papers spread across the table in the meantime.

“— Now then, what are you planning? Care to explain?”

The two of them silently drank their tea for a while, and at the moment Lucienne set down her cup, Craig spoke up.

Lucienne hesitated, unsure of where to start her explanation.

Craig glares at Lucienne.

“Until now, you showed no interest in our child and never even tried to hold them. What on earth are you thinking? Moreover, you suddenly show up and seem to have distanced Claudine and the Arment Marquis couple, who have been taking care of Leo, from him, and it seems you even fired the magic technique teacher.”

I had anticipated it, but it seems that the sudden appearance of Leoldo in front of Craig is his biggest concern.

Perhaps, the reason for keeping Claudine and the uncle and aunt away—though in reality, they were only turned away once—is because they think Lucienne is trying to take over Leoldo.

At the very least, that’s what I was told.

Right now, no matter how many words I pile on, it will only sound like an excuse.

More than that, the most important thing for Lucienne—there is a consistent reason behind all her actions, so she just needs to convey that, she thought, clenching her trembling hands tightly and opening her mouth.

“Regardless of what Your Majesty or everyone else thinks, I love Leoldo.”

“Ridiculous”

As if to say it was a lie, Craig scoffed at Lucienne’s confession.

However, Lucienne continues, thinking, “I won’t back down here.”

“It was known from the time of pregnancy that Leoldo possessed immense magical power. This was expected to cause a longer recovery period after childbirth, as predicted by my attending physician, Aman. Additionally, Aman anticipated that Leoldo’s ‘magic intoxication’ symptoms would be quite severe, and I was instructed to avoid any contact with Leoldo—avoiding even meeting him—until I had fully recovered.”

“Is that your excuse for not meeting Leoldo until now?”

“It’s not an excuse.”

I wanted to explain in more detail, but it would be better if Aman were also present for that.

I made that judgment and gave a brief explanation, but Craig, without even trying to understand the details, dismissed it as an excuse and laughed sarcastically.

Lucienne, though shocked by the twisted smile directed at her for the first time by Craig, responded calmly.

It seems that ignited Craig’s anger.

“Isn’t that a ridiculous excuse? I understand that it was tough during pregnancy and childbirth. But does it really take two years to recover? You were perfectly fine a year ago!”

“That is…”

As he spoke, perhaps unable to contain his emotions, Craig’s tone gradually became harsher.

At the same time, the magical power flows out, disrupting Lucienne’s magic.

Lucienne was once again struck by dizziness, desperately gripping the armrest to keep from collapsing.

Aman rushes in from the next room.

“Lucienne-sama!”

“Aman…”

Recently, even though my magical power has been disturbed by Leoldo, it hasn’t been that much.

However, Lucienne now has lost all color, her face and even the tips of her fingers have turned pale.

Without even obtaining the emperor Craig’s permission, Aman rushed over, knelt beside Lucienne, and held her hand.

Seeing the two of them trust each other right in front of him, Craig’s anger seemed to reach its peak.

“Enough already! You guys just never learn, do you――”

Craig’s words, seemingly lost in anger, were abruptly cut off by the overwhelming magical power that suddenly appeared.

Even Lucienne, who was on the verge of losing consciousness, suddenly turned her gaze towards the door leading to the bedroom.

Before I knew it, Leoldo was standing there.

“Leoldo――”

“Don’t bully Mom!”

Leoldo’s anger triggered a magical explosion, sending a great shockwave through the surroundings along with a flash of light and a loud noise.