When I Took Back My Beloved Child Who Had Been Taken From Me, My Husband's Obsessive Love Began. Why? - Episode 50

“What on earth…?”

Lucienne was startled by the unusual atmosphere in the room and muttered to herself.

But soon, realizing that I shouldn’t show this to Leoldo, I cover the small face in my arms with my hand.

“Mother…?”

“Leoldo, let’s take a bath for now. Your body is cold from the morning dew.”

At Lucienne’s words, Craig immediately complied, led the two of them across the room to the bathroom, and filled the bathtub with hot water using magic.

Finally, Craig let Lucienne and Leoldo down.

“Are you okay?”

Craig’s question, whether it was about what he had just seen or whether he could stand alone, was unclear, but Lucienne nodded anyway.

And then, gently standing Leoldo up, I ask him the same question.

“Is Leoldo okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Well then, I wonder if I can take off my clothes by myself?”

“I can do it!”

When they first returned to the palace, Lucienne took care of Leoldo as much as possible, so she even helped him undress for his baths.

After that, I left it to Leoldo, who insisted he could do it alone, and only helped him occasionally, so this time too, he is doing it well on his own.

Lucienne gently watched over him and glanced at Craig.

Noticing the gaze, Craig gave a small nod and called out to Leoldo.

“Leoldo, your father has a few things to do, so make sure to listen to your mother and warm up your body properly, okay?”

“Yes, sir. I’m fine.”

It seemed that Leoldo hadn’t seen the earlier scene, and he responded cutely.

Lucienne and Craig both let out a sigh of relief.

Actually, Lucienne also wanted to know what was going on as soon as possible, but for now, she left it to Craig and took care of Leoldo’s bath.

The scene from earlier—upon entering Leoldo’s room, I saw Namia being restrained by Rite and the new maids.

I had been slightly suspicious for a while. This time, it turned into certainty.

Therefore, I had been thinking that I needed to detain and interrogate Namia, but I was surprised to find that Rite and the others had acted first.

Even though he doubted them, Lucienne was the one who postponed their treatment because Leoldo, who disliked Claudine and the others, was the only one he trusted.

But I never imagined they would go so far as to put Leoldo in danger.

It is undoubtedly a mistake brought about by Lucienne’s sweetness.

Even though I was entrusted with Leoldo’s safety while Craig was keeping the Marquess Arment and Claudine under surveillance.

Lucienne managed to suppress the rising nausea and trembling of her body at the thought that it could have ended in the worst possible outcome, and she smiled.

“……Leoldo, did it get warmer?”

“Yes!”

“Alright, reach out your hand here… whoosh!”

I lift up Leoldo, who has both hands raised, and wrap him in a fluffy towel.

Leoldo was joyfully squealing, and upon hearing that voice, Craig returned to the bathroom.

“Leoldo, are you warm enough?”

“Yes!”

“Alright. Then, I’ll dry it for you, my dear.”

It was always Namia’s job to dry the wet hair.

However, it seems that Leoldo genuinely enjoyed being taken care of by his father and didn’t question the absence of Namia.

As Lucienne felt relieved, Craig even dried the slightly damp clothes for her.

“Oh, thank you.”

“This is nothing to be thanked for. More importantly, is Lucienne okay? That light was Lucienne’s magic, right? Is there any disturbance in her magical power?”

“I’m fine. I just had plenty of rest a little while ago.”

Despite using light magic after quite a long time, I didn’t feel any loss of magical power.

Right after releasing it, I was overwhelmed by a sense of weakness, but I desperately managed to escape with Leoldo. Now, though, it feels like my magical power is recovering.

For a moment, I panicked, thinking I might have stolen Leoldo’s magic, but he is still as lively as ever.

Lucienne answered casually, but it seemed like she really had taken a break thanks to Craig.

That warm feeling I thought was a defensive spell—could it have been Craig’s magic?

I suddenly raised my face, thinking that perhaps Lucienne had had her magical power replenished by Craig.

Then, I lock eyes with Craig, who is smiling mischievously.

“I was also taking magic manipulation classes with Aman.”

“Manipulation of magical power…?”

“Ah. Even if it’s not as much as Aman, I seriously trained to be able to stabilize and compensate for the magical disturbances of Leoldo and Lucienne. I want to save my family too. It’s frustrating to only be able to watch.”

Lucienne, having understood what it meant, gasped in surprise.

Because Craig, who is said to be one of the strongest magicians in history, was able to learn the special power unique to the Aman lineage—the ability to manipulate magic to influence others’ magical power.

As expected, the warm feeling from earlier was Craig supplementing his magical power.

To the astonished Lucienne, Craig gently leaned in and whispered.

“Over there, things have settled down for now.”

“Thank you very much.”

Startled by Craig’s words, Lucienne switched her mindset and nodded.

Lucienne’s feelings for Craig deepen even more as he thinks of and acts for Leoldo first, without saying a word.

I don’t think I can hold back these feelings anymore.

Even so, steeling her heart to do what needed to be done, Lucienne acted as Leoldo’s mother and as the empress.

First, I’ll give Leoldo, who must be hungry, a late breakfast, and then we’ll spend the morning together leisurely since the morning classes are canceled.

It seems that Craig also wanted to participate, but not only Claude, but also the opportunity to detain those connected to the Tranji Kingdom, such as Marquis Arment, had to be taken.

Of course, we will also have to question the envoys from the Tranji Kingdom who are currently visiting.

Lucienne had already understood this, but it seems that until recently, Claudine not only did not participate in the Marquis de Ament’s misdeeds, but was also unaware of them.

She must have purely believed that she would be chosen by Craig and become the empress—at least, that she would become his favorite concubine.

Lucienne felt a faint sense of sympathy for Claudine, but more than that, she couldn’t forgive her for trying to hurt Leoldo.

At that time, the thought of Leo being taken away without us knowing where he was sends shivers down my spine.

Hugging her trembling self, Lucienne looked at the sleeping Leoldo.

Not only did he skip the morning magic technique class, but he also took a break from the afternoon class. After having a light lunch, Leoldo is taking an early nap.

As expected, perhaps because he had woken up early, Leoldo got into bed obediently and fell asleep in no time.

Lucienne let out a deep sigh, picked up the abandoned picture book, and flipped through its pages.

Yesterday, since Leoldo was so concerned about the Fairy’s Drop, he should have considered taking some action.

The reason Leoldo was able to sneak out of his room early this morning and head to the white bell flowers blooming in the courtyard was because he had an accomplice.

Lucienne always puts them to bed, but there are plenty of opportunities for the accomplices—Namia and Leoldo —to be alone together.

No matter how much protective magic is cast on Leoldo, if he leaves the room on his own, the magic won’t activate.

Since it is unlikely that Namia planned it out to that extent, he probably skillfully lured Leoldo as instructed.

Still, putting Leoldo in danger…

Even if I was hired by Claudine, I believed that the love I poured into Leoldo was genuine.

That’s why, even when malicious rumors misinterpreting Lucienne’s words and actions spread, I pretended not to notice.

I thought it wouldn’t be a problem at that level.

The relationship between the magical powers of Leoldo and Lucienne that Claudine mentioned in the courtyard is also information that Namia would have been able to know.

Namia must have somehow eavesdropped on Lucienne and the others’ conversation and secretly passed on the information.

He had the other servants keep watch, but Lucienne deeply regretted his own poor judgment.

And so, when Leoldo had finished his lunch and was quite relaxed, Lucienne casually asked to confirm.

Then, it was said that Namia encouraged me to go get the “Fairy Drop” after all.

It seems that Leoldo was collecting “Fairy Drops” because he wished for his mother and father to get along like the princess and prince in a story.

Even though she thought she was hiding it, she realized that her parents’ awkwardness had indeed been conveyed to Leoldo, and Lucienne regretted it.

Craig had clearly expressed his feelings and shown them to me many times, but it was my lack of confidence that caused this…

Lucienne was so preoccupied with her own pain that she didn’t realize she was hurting the two people she cared about the most, Leoldo and Craig.

I wonder if such a foolish person like me deserves Craig’s love, and I shake my head slightly to myself.

Again, I’m trying to run away.

Even if she doesn’t deserve Craig’s love, even if she is rejected now as it’s too late, Lucienne should honestly express her feelings.

Lucienne, placing both hands on her chest and taking a deep breath, kissed the sleeping Leoldo as if to draw courage from him.