When I Took Back My Beloved Child Who Had Been Taken From Me, My Husband's Obsessive Love Began. Why? - Episode 33

“Sir, are you okay?”

“It’s okay. Thank you, Leoldo. I’m a bit shocked by my own incompetence, though.”

To Leoldo, who was worried about Craig’s complexion, I replied as if nothing was wrong.

It’s utterly pathetic to worry my two-year-old son, but it’s all my own doing.

Even so, Craig brought the conversation back, thinking he needed to listen properly.

“So, is there anyone else who has been mean to Lucienne—Mother?”

“…It seems like there were a lot of people who wanted to see me. But everyone refused. Only Claudine always forced her way in, and it looked like Mom had a hard time pretending everything was fine.”

“Lucienne always overdoes it.”

Yes

What Leoldo didn’t know was that even when Lucienne boarded the detached palace over a year ago, she had dealt with Craig with a brave demeanor.

However, when I calmly recall that time, I think Lucienne was astonishingly emaciated.

The fact that he attacked Lucienne out of jealousy and anger without even trying to see the reality before his eyes tormented Craig deeply.

I don’t know how to make amends to Lucienne.

I haven’t properly expressed my gratitude for giving birth to such a precious child.

To Craig, whose emotions were all mixed up and couldn’t be sorted out, Leoldo conveyed an even more shocking truth.

“My mother gave birth to me, and the chances of me living were almost none.”

“—Huh?”

“But, Aman thought hard to help Kaashama, and I was born from that. Kaashama never held me once, but I was okay with that. Kaashama was crying, but I prayed to God for Aman to help Kaashama.”

Women lose a significant amount of magical power during childbirth.

Even Craig and everyone else blamed Lucienne, who had forgotten such an obvious thing and had never once held her own child—Leoldo.

Even Claude and the Marquess of Arment, not to mention the rest of the family, did not side with her, and within the palace, there were only those who slandered the Empress, saying how cold she was.

In the midst of isolation and lack of support, Craig unknowingly shed tears at Lucienne’s courage and love for returning to meet Leoldo.

“Father, are you crying?”

“Ah, I see.”

As far back as he could remember, Craig was surprised to find himself touching his own cheek as he shed tears for the first time.

It is always Lucienne who stirs Craig’s emotions. And now it’s also Leoldo.

Chuckling softly, Craig looked down at the doll that Leoldo had lent him.

When Craig was given the doll so he wouldn’t be scared, I didn’t understand the meaning, but perhaps Lucienne said that to comfort Leoldo when he was scared.

Leoldo’s kindness was inherited from Lucienne.

Until now, Leoldo, whom I had met a few times, was completely indifferent to everything, just like I was when I was a child.

Craig hugged Leoldo tightly, along with the doll, and let out a deep sigh.

“Master?”

“…Will Mother forgive Father?”

“Hmm? I’m not angry, so it’s fine.”

In response to Craig’s timid words, Leoldo replied reassuringly.

Just as he felt a sense of relief, Craig realized that he wanted more than just forgiveness from Lucienne.

“……Will Mother come to like Father?”

“Hmm? I don’t understand that.”

Unfortunately, this time it was an unreliable response.

But that’s also self-inflicted, and I shouldn’t rely on my two-year-old son.

Even so, Leoldo gently pats Craig’s back near his side with his small hand.

The position where I could reach with all my might while stretching my arm was probably near my side.

“Father, do your best.”

Craig couldn’t help but burst out laughing at being encouraged by his young son.

If Lucienne can forgive Craig, then he should regain her trust and win her love from now on.

At that moment of determination, the door to the bedroom quietly opened.

When I suddenly turned around, there stood Aman.

“As I thought, it was Your Majesty…”

Aman, who had quietly closed the door behind him and murmured softly, widened his eyes in surprise upon seeing Craig’s face.

Perhaps she realized it after the tears.

“Is something the matter?”

“Yeah… ah, that’s right. I’ve come to realize just how ignorant and arrogant I’ve been until now. And that Leoldo is a genius too.”

“I just conveyed what Mother said.”

“Still, remembering the time when I was in Mom’s belly is genius. And thank you for teaching me, it really helped. Thank you, Leoldo.”

Craig, still holding Leoldo, stood up and looked at Aman, who was standing there in shock.

Then, I lowered Leoldo and bowed deeply.

“Your Majesty!?”

“Thank you for saving Lucienne and Leoldo. I truly can’t express how grateful I am. Thank you, Aman.”

“No, that’s not true…”

Aman was so flustered by making Emperor Craig bow his head that he couldn’t even give a proper response.

I’ve never heard that Leoldo had memories from when he was in Lucienne’s womb, and I can’t even comprehend that information.

In the meantime, Craig cast a purification spell on himself to erase the traces of his tears and returned to his usual dignified emperor self.

“If possible, I’d like to see her face, but I don’t want to wake her. Excuse me for this, but I would like to meet again once Lucienne has calmed down. Please convey this.”

“Y-yes, understood.”

After ruffling Leoldo’s hair, Craig turned on his heel.

Aman, still unable to process the newly acquired information, bows his head and sees Craig off.

And then Craig, who had just left Leoldo’s room, returned to his office with an unprecedentedly stern expression that made everyone he passed bow in fear.