When I Took Back My Beloved Child Who Had Been Taken From Me, My Husband's Obsessive Love Began. Why? - Episode 41

“I won’t run away anymore. For Leoldo’s sake, I will also believe in myself.”

“—Lucienne, thank you.”

Hearing Lucienne’s determination, Craig smiled happily.

And then, standing up, I sit down next to Lucienne and hold her hand.

“I can’t express how happy I am with words. No, even though I could have conveyed it in other ways, not doing so has undoubtedly hurt you. So, from now on, no matter how long it takes, please allow me to make amends.”

“Atonement, huh…”

“Of course, it’s not just about atonement. I intend to actively seek love.”

Craig whispered in a low, sweet voice and kissed Lucienne’s hands.

As Lucienne was flustered by his behavior, Craig looked up and smiled faintly.

“It’s a bit frustrating that the source of your actions is Leoldo, but for now, I’ll concede to Leoldo.”

“Craig?”

“But, someday… when Leoldo no longer needs our help, I want to be the best.”

“……Yes”

Knowing that Craig felt something like jealousy towards Leoldo, Lucienne’s heart felt tickled.

I don’t know if it’s love or just a romance in our memories, but it doesn’t change the fact that we both cherish Leoldo.

What made Lucienne happier than anything else was that she and Craig understood that Leo should be the top priority right now.

“I’ll have a proper talk with Leoldo once. He seems to be worrying about things he doesn’t need to blame himself for because he’s such a smart kid.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

That’s why they are worried about the relationship between Lucienne and Craig.

If I tell them tomorrow that the two have made up, they will be genuinely happy.

According to Aman, mental stability is also related to the disturbance of magical power, so the symptoms of magic intoxication might be somewhat alleviated.

After thinking that far, Lucienne realized that, after all, Leoldo was still number one for her, and she couldn’t help but smirk inwardly.

However, it seems that Craig was thinking the same way.

“How about having lunch together tomorrow? If we tell Leoldo that the two of you have made up, he will surely be happy. That way, your condition might stabilize as well.”

Lucienne couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

Then, Craig makes a hurt expression.

“Oh, no. I laughed because I was thinking the same thing, and I was happy to think that for Craig, too, Leoldo is the best.”

“I see…”

Lucienne understood, strangely, that although he had answered with a single word and an expressionless face, Craig was happy.

Until now, I would have thought about what you were thinking or if you were angry.

Lucienne was surprised that just being able to believe in Craig’s feelings could give her so much confidence.

“Well then, will you have lunch with me tomorrow?”

“Yes, of course.”

If Lucienne answered firmly, Craig nodded seriously.

Even without a smile, I won’t get hurt anymore.

However, Lucienne’s buoyant mood plummeted rapidly at the next name Craig mentioned.

“It’s about Claudine…”

“Yes, what is it?”

“……Sorry, but please don’t let Leo meet her…… No, I want you to keep your distance from her for a while too.”

“Huh?”

As expected, Lucienne was surprised by the unexpected words.

Craig hesitated slightly, continuing while staring intently into Lucienne’s eyes.

“Until now… I have been trying to reform the government from various angles and expose corruption ever since I ascended to the throne.”

“Yes, I am aware.”

“I was so preoccupied with that matter that I kept overlooking the faint sense of discomfort.”

“Discomfort, is it?”

“Ah. At that time, I was too busy to notice the oddness in Claudine’s words. But now that I think back on it, there are many things that just don’t sit right with me.”

“Are you serious, do you remember all of Claudine’s words?”

For some reason, Lucienne felt awkward and said it half-jokingly, but Craig readily agreed as if it were obvious.

“That’s true. However, if you’re talking about every single word, I’m not confident.”

“……Could it be that my words too?”

“I remember every single word you said.”

“Y-You mean… even things from when I was a child?”

“Ah”

I wonder just how much Craig needs to surprise Lucienne to be satisfied.

Lucienne stared at Craig in astonishment.

However, unfortunately, there is no sign of a joke.

Remembering the silly, trivial stories they used to tell as children, Lucienne’s face turned red.

I suddenly realize that I wish I could forget it, if possible.

“Could it be… that Leoldo is the same way?”

“Probably so. What I remember is from the time my magic went out of control, but Leoldo has been like this since before he was born, so it’s surprising.”

Normally, Craig would have been more surprised by Leoldo’s behavior or would have dismissed it as the ramblings of a child, but he accepted it because he also had memories from his own childhood.

Furthermore, it seems that Leoldo’s memory—though I’m not sure if that’s the right way to put it—like his magical power, is superior to Craig’s.

Regarding that, Lucienne was greatly relieved that Craig showed no signs of jealousy.

If possible, I don’t want to make him go through an experience like Craig’s—being not only rejected and envied by his father but also feeling alienated and obstructed.

Lucienne’s feelings for Leoldo are undoubtedly the same as Craig’s.

At that moment, Lucienne was startled.

“What’s wrong?”

The conversation had strayed again, but Lucienne remembered something when Craig mentioned his discomfort with Claudine.

This time, Craig is looking at Lucienne with a clearly worried expression.

Lucienne hesitated about whether to say it, but she steeled herself, deciding it was better to convey it for both Leoldo and Craig’s future.

“Craig, regarding Lady Aurelia’s will—were you informed by Claudine that she left the villa to me in her will?”

“Impossible! There’s no way they would say something like that!”

“Right…?”

At that time, I was hurt because I thought Craig had confided in Claudine, but now I believe he wouldn’t say such a thing.

If that’s the case, I think it’s strange that Bertrand would teach Claudine as a form of harassment.

“Lucienne, could it be that Claudine knew our mother’s will?”

“…Yes. I thought for sure that Craig had revealed it… Was it the previous Emperor?”

I didn’t want to say it, but I mentioned whether Bertrand might have conveyed it to break up Craig and Lucienne, and I still felt a sense of discomfort.

It seems that Craig is the same way.

“The previous Emperor—my father probably believed the rumors about me and Claudine. If that were the case, my father wouldn’t have gone out of his way to try to bring me and Claudine together.”

“Unfortunately, I think so too.”

Responding to Craig’s guess, Lucienne hesitated about mentioning what happened back then, but eventually spoke up, saying that in this situation, there should be no secrets.

If it were true, I wouldn’t want to tell my son—Craig—that his father had been harassing him.

“The day before the wedding… His Majesty summoned me and said that Craig was marrying me to reclaim the royal heritage, such as the detached palace, which had been bequeathed by Lady Aurelia.”

“…I see.”

The words Craig muttered were tinged with resignation.

It is also a testarment to how much Bertrand despised his son, to the extent of trying to tear apart their relationship—his marriage.

Unable to bear seeing Craig hurt again, Lucienne squeezed his hand back.

Then, immediately, Craig lifts Lucienne’s hand and kisses it again.

“Thank you, Lucienne. But I’m fine.”

In Craig’s usually unchanged expression, a faint smile appears.

It was a reflection of Craig’s very kind and warm, yet somewhat awkward, heart.